Welcome to a new, slightly tongue-in-cheek look at all things sport for a week that has showcased some of the most controversial and amusing affairs in recent memory.
Taking a piss or the piss?
The latest debacle in the ‘Splashes’ saga has resulted in English players celebrating their victory by urinating on The Oval pitch.
The incident directed ‘bad light’ to the end of what was ultimately a successful series for the Pommies and a rather lacklustre one for us Aussies.
Whether England can hold their drink or not, I’m sure our own pitches will have a bit more moisture in them come November.
As for Stuart Broad, good luck fronting up to the Aussie fans.
Keyboard warriors
Kade Snowden’s season-ending shoulder charge, Matty John’s man love segment, and Blake Ferguson’s will to maintain his reputation as an international man of mystery don’t even top my list for this week’s NRL howler.
In the aftermath of the Roosters-Sharks clash on Monday night, Cronulla captain Paul Gallen was the subject of a heated Twitter exchange with former NRL coach, Brian Smith.
Paul’s father Garry took to the keyboard to defend his son, who was accused of avoiding Rooster Dylan Napa after he was slammed by the fiery youngster late in the first half.
To be frank, I don’t blame him. But then again the Gallens aren’t the sort to go down without throwing a few punches – just ask Nate Miles.
The duo tweeted back to Smith saying, “looking forward to the time I run into u Brian u couldn’t play couldn’t coach.”
I would question their grammar, but not Gallen’s right shoulder, which led him to a man of the match performance in Cronulla’s 32-22 upset against the Chooks.
The Tomics
This time it’s not Bernard Tomic making the headlines for his hooning but his father, John, who has been taken for a spin by the USTA.
John has been refused entry to the year’s US Open and he is facing a potential ban from the tournament, even as a spectator.
Half the genes behind our greatest hope for Australian tennis was already banned from competitions earlier this year, after being accused of assaulting Bernard’s hitting partner.
Nonetheless it would be worth jumping the fence to see Bernie in action. The young star won a thrilling five-set opener against Albert Ramos to silence his doubters.
Refs are having a blinder
After tempers boiled over in the Wallabies’ loss to the All Blacks on the weekend, it is only fair we have a good old fashion crack at the referee.
Jaco Peyper denied Stephen Moore a meat pie in the seventh minute without consulting the TMO, which to us couch critics appeared to be a blatant five pointer.
The South African referee awarded Australia an advantage penalty instead, which of course changed the momentum of the game and resulted in a 27-16 loss to the men in black.
Lessondon
There’s a lesson in all this, poke the wrong person and you will front the consequences.
It has been a more than contentious end to Essendon’s on-going arm wrestle with the doping scandal that rocked the AFL this year.
The club has been banned from the 2013 finals series and the opening two rounds of the national draft, not to mention having to front up to a hefty $2 million dollar fine.
I’m just glad it’s over.
See you next week.
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