I read in today’s Sydney Morning Herald that one of the doyens of rugby writing, Spiro Zavos has “hung up his keyboard” and has written his last rugby column for the Herald.
As we all know Spiro is a prolific rugby writer and is a regular here on The Roar. In fact, Spiro was one of the driving forces behind getting The Roar off the ground in the first place.
His columns were always thought-provoking and always found a new wriggle or twist on a story. Impeccably written and researched, he delivered news and explanations rather than opinion dressed up as facts.
For more than 30 years Spiro has delivered. His final Herald column describes some of the trials and tribulations faced in those 30 years.
I’ve only had the pleasure of meeting Spiro once. It was a few years ago at a gathering of The Roar experts and gurus in a pub at Ultimo. Funnily enough, my wife who was a somewhat unwilling participant, spent most of the evening talking with Spiro and David Lord.
I’ll let her words sum up my feelings after meeting Spiro.
“Gee Spiro is a really nice guy”.
Despite what the increasing number of angry trolls who are infecting The Roar might say, Spiro has been at the forefront of rugby journalism for more than three decades and has taught us all a few things about rugby and about being a nice guy.
Spiro, I hope your move away from the Herald doesn’t mean you will stop writing for The Roar.
Thanks for all the insight over the years – not a bad effort for a Kiwi!!
Suzy Poison
Guest
Keep em coming Russian Wrestler!
deanB
Guest
Soccer and Afl? Games for the masses, nothing discerning about those choices. The fact that a vast number of Australians have no idea about Rugby doesn't diminish the games' credentials wherever else it is played and enjoyed in the world.
Jock M
Guest
Mood killer maybe but at least I can see what has happened to the game- anyone that refuses to see is just as culpable as those that instigated the law changes particularly pompous journalists who claim to be the font of all knowledge . Australian Rugby is in serious decline because we have discerning sports fans and plenty of choice - Soccer and AFL are blitzing it. Rugby has lost that something special that it needed- its soul in other words. Any way go on kidding yourselves.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Good onya Jock - mood killer!!
gatesy
Roar Guru
Hey Sheek, You seem to be in the know, so next time there's a drink (or a stink) on, could you let us know..?
Robbo in Dublin
Guest
My Dad tipped me off about Spiro some years ago.. I've always made a bee line for his articles.. I've always found him bright interesting and willing to present a different point of view - not just to be different -- but to get his readers to look at something in a fresh light... So pleased Spiro will continue to write for the Roar..
Tony Hannon
Guest
Years ago Spiro, whose sons went to Sydney High. used to sit next to me on the 1st XV bench quietly analysing the play. Just before half-time as, our team was being rag-dolled and the squeeze of panic was numbing the coach, me, he would cut through with one simple observation e.g. "Your forwards are faster than theirs. Move the ball wide." He was always right. He knows how this game works. He made me look clever. Talking with him in the local shop that we still share I realised that he wrote his column in his head a week before publication and he was effortlessly refining it as he chatted with people. His quick first draft was his excellent final draft. I'm delighted that he will continue to write for "The Roar".
Sandgroper
Guest
Spiro, Thanks for replying to me about a SMH post about 10 years ago and sending me here to find a whole new world of fellow travellers. My day is not complete without a Roar read. I hope the successors at the SMH are up to the task. Thanks Spiro. Look forward to seeing you out here in he West one day!
Taylorman
Guest
Full of grammar errors... Lord is no better too... Okey dokey then...
Thorney
Guest
Bakkies must be reading somebody else's articles or is he like his namesake the SA thug and can't read. To say Spiro is sloppy etc is just ridiculous. In fact preposterous and the answer is just stop reading his articles
Bakkies
Guest
His articles have been sloppy full of factual and grammar errors, which is disappointing given his experience and putting his reputation on the line building this site. Lord is no better too. He's already had one article deleted due to an outcry from readers and contributors. He went on a blatant fishing expedition about the Pumas place in the 4 Nations.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Oops...
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Disagree with the sloppy classification. Don't always agree with Spiro and agree with you that idea is not good, but its just an idea for discussion. Agree with you on Growden. It was horrible reading, like having your grumpy old uncle in a bad day writting about rugby - everything was wrong, everything was terrible.
Jock M
Guest
If Spiro was so good why hasn't he called the modern Rugby for the sham that it is? The Rugby media have a lot to answer for. Blind Freddy can see that the game has morphed into a League lookalike and the media have acted as a cheer squad .
Ken Cathpole's Other Leg
Guest
Not Mario Milano? Tex McKenzie? Brute Bernard? Roy Heffernan? Murph the Surf?
Ken Cathpole's Other Leg
Guest
Sherriff, I was just trying to remember how and when i discovered the Roar and I just remembered it was an email to Spiro years ago, and in his response he mentioned the Roar.
Bakkies
Guest
'Very interesting idea he dropped in his last article. ‘Sack the ARU board and install John ONiell as chairman’?' It's a dreadful idea. Spiro has been very sloppy over the past two years in his articles on here. Can't speak for the Hurled. They lost me as a reader when they had Growden spouting tripe week in, week out.
Pickett
Guest
The Russian wrestler..lol.. Think AJ was thinking about Spiros Arion - my favorite wrestler. Glad you're still at the Roar, Spiro.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Wel, this means more good and different angles to see thing here at The Roar which it always good for all of us.
Harry Jones
Expert
Jolly good fellow! Write on, Spiro.