If you had a chance to invite any five sports people to dinner, who would you choose? What rationale would you use in choosing them?
These are mine, but Roarers, who would be yours?
Wayne Carey (Australian rules)
In many circles, Wayne Carey is seen as a rat-bag with little or no redeeming features.
I am so intrigued by him due the fact that he is so accepting of his flaws, and the many mistakes he has made. This can be seen in how open and honest he is in commentary on Triple M.
It makes me want to dig deeper, firstly about his career in the game where he was viewed as the ‘King’ and often put on a pedestal as the best ever. After that, I would love to rack his mind on the current game, which he shows he has such an intimate understand of by his perceptive remarks.
Taking this a step further, I would love to see if he was open to a coaching position if he was ever offered one.
Viv Richards (cricket)
Part of the reason for inviting Viv is a vain attempt to live vicariously through the ‘King of Cool’.
Outside of that superficiality, it would be grand to bask in the stories of his career that left a legacy not only as a batting icon, but a cultural one.
I would love to delve into how he managed to put the fear of God back into the bowlers, especially the fast men, who exposed many yellow streaks in accomplished batsmen with blistering short-ball assaults on supportive tracks.
He flipped the coin with his audacious counter attacks that reeked of brutality, making bowlers cower in his wake.
After a few rums, I would touch on the tragic demise of West Indies cricket, and how it could be returned to the days when it was the lifeblood of the game.
Justine Henin (tennis)
Fans of tennis will find this as an almost absurd statement, but I always saw Justine Henin as the ultimate rebel. To give this credence, she came into the game when everything in the women’s game was about power, as well as the insidious tactical grunting and accent on fashion sense.
All of which diminished the quality, and credibility of the women’s game.
Inspirationally, she defied this through an embrace of traditions as if she was a Chris Evert clone, with her game exuding similar technical perfection. Her backhand was a sublime gift from God with no comparison in the men’s or women’s game.
The killer blow in her arsenal was her mind, steeled with a relentlessness that overawed most, if not all of her opponents.
In a very real sense she was a throwback to when the traditions of the game mattered.
Love to hear her recount of her victorious ’03 French Open campaign, where she defeated Serena Williams at her very best in what was arguably the best women’s match ever.
Gai Waterhouse (horse racing)
The natural eccentric brightness of her disposition makes Waterhouse a perfect dinner partner already.
But, behind her ever glowing smile is a woman that not only found a place in a predominantly male-dominated sport, but rose to the summit above all.
In a dramatic sense, she became a queen that ruled in the sport of kings.
Her rise as a trainer in horse racing has had so many compelling subplots. Her husband Robbie was banned for race fixing, the stories about her iconic father T.J.Smith’s part in her life and her struggles to win a big race in Melbourne.
I would love to witness some of her tales.
Jimmy White (snooker)
How can you not love Jimmy White?
A combination of flawed genius and self-effacing sincere charm that sealed in stone his ‘people’s champion ‘ moniker.
I think most snooker fans lived through him in his ill-fated six runner-up places at the World Championships. With his last in 1994 that went to a deciding frame with its destiny on his cue, only to have him miss an easy shot, inviting his opponent Stephen Hendry to feel like Lazarus in victory.
It left all heart broken on behalf of ‘The Whirlwind’ White.
The charisma in his style reached in you and made you feel a gamut of emotions. As soon as he approached the table, the record button was mandatory, just to allow you to bask in his audacious and attacking style after.
He never compromised himself, with the lack of a World Championship making pundits question whether he should adopt a more conservative style with less attack, and more safety.
White would be the perfect dinner guest. As a sportsman, he was an entertainer first, and worried about honours second.
FrozenNorth
Guest
This
jamesb
Guest
Sticking with the football theme, if I had to invite 5 Arsenal players they would be: Ian Wright Dennis Bergkamp Tony Adams Patrick Vieira Thierry Henry
Johnno
Guest
Many will say one of thse was the best ever not to win a World Cup Chritiano Ronaldo,Baggio,Alan Shearer,Messi,Roy Keane,Giggs,Platini,Van Basten,Hagi,Cantona,George Weah.
jamesb
Guest
Steve Waugh- hard as nails. Likes coming in when the score is 3/30 rather than 3/300. Steffi Graf- female version of Waugh in personality, great player and great legs. Johan Cruyff- pioneer of Total Football. The best player to have not won a world cup. Larry Bird- proving that white man can jump, fly (pun intended) and play. His duels with Magic Johnson were legendary Franz Beckenbauer- Der Kaiser who invented the modern sweeper role and the only person to have captained and coached his country to world cup wins. All five are legends with integrity.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Bernie Ecclestone - Because I want to pick his brains. Niki Lauda - Because I want to hear him say how everything today is bulls*** Valentino Rossi - For his humour. Chris Gayle - Because he'd chill the whole place out. Kimi Raikkonen - Because I believe in a relaxed environment, he could be a great person to talk to.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Some big boys there. You'll need two fridges for food and four for beer :)
Tom
Guest
Warney John Daly Wade Boggs Rob Gronkowski Matt Dunning Brendan Fevola Freddie Fittler Paul Gascoigne Boonie That's 9 but what of it
Ornyhay
Guest
Ana Ivanovic Anna Kournikova Lindsay Vonn Michelle Jeneneke Eugenie Bouchard
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
I reckon Warnie could use a knife and fork in one hand and be texting Elyse with the other :)
Mango Jack
Guest
I can imagine everyone calling Aker a d***** a few times. And they would be right.
Mango Jack
Guest
I would put Warnie and Ellyse at opposite ends of the table. Could get awkward.
Mango Jack
Guest
Artie would be a bit quiet.
Zee
Roar Guru
Hey Steven, yeh all good.. thanks for asking. Just been tied up with Uni, hell yeah, he is a mad scientist who is gonna in time, get us back to the good old days of playing beautiful, attacking football. I AM SOO EXCITED ... new chapter, fresh beginning... bring it on already.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
I can imagine Ian Chappell calling Lance a d******* a few times during the night
Evan
Guest
Kelly slater Jason ackermanis Eddie jones Lance armstrong Ian chappell
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Cheyne Horan - best surfer never to win the world title Shane Warne - good fun Kerry O'Keefe - even more good fun Bob McCarthy - I had his number on my first Souths jersey Ellyse Perry - great sportsperson and with the rest of this crew we need some good looks as well!
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Zee, you've been rather quiet lately!? All ok I trust, looking forward to Van Gaal??
Zee
Roar Guru
Mike Tyson, Eric Cantona, Ben Te'o (For checking out purposes only), Andrea Pirlo, Arthur Beetson
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Sorry, pressed enter too soon. Mourinho, just love him and would love to hear his take on man management. McEnroe, great character and am sure some great stories and opinions. Tyson - mate, what the hell happened in the past 30 years!? Jimenez, anyone who smokes cigars on the practise putting green whilst leading the Open, gotta be worth a shout. Cantona, well has to be good value doesn't he.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
These are always good fun. For me........... Jose Mourinho, John McEnroe, Mike Tyson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Eric Cantona.