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The Roar

Spencer Kassimir

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Joined November 2016

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@BallsOutPhD - host of @LeadFromTheSide (formerly @ChatandBusiness) podcast (where we chat with c-suite executives, athletes, and industry leaders about the sports business). Chief Representative Australasia at Sportsbeams (lighting the Super Bowl and Philadelphia Eagles etc), sports consultant, PhD researcher, and writer. https://open.spotify.com/show/4PFq9pOifldbEJaRnKbR9V https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lead-from-the-side/id1697789587 Tread lightly but dive in head first.

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Great idea! Why didn’t we try this 150 years ago when the football games were being codified?

Except, we did.

Failed.

If you think there are holdups to get the call right now, the ‘debates’ of yesteryear would make today’s look like microseconds.

Be serious.

Ugh… may have to write an article about why this is a bad idea.

Two simple ways to solve the NRL’s creeping penalty trend

This has been an interesting series on the pitch but off the pitch too.

It would be interesting to know how Kohli going vegan around six months ago has been a factor in his cricketing. The cases I know of in contemporary sports athletes switching to plant protein are with a quarter of the Tennessee Titans in the NFL and Leeds Rhinos prop Anthony Mullally in Super League have all been in contact sports though the overarching theme has been decreased recovery time amongst other factors.

Kohli and Rahane stall Australia

I’m assuming all of these questions are rhetorical and/or for dramatic effect so just reread what I wrote.

You don’t have to like how the short form impacts the style of game you enjoy.

As such, T20 does all the things you “asked” about in a shorter format that encourages more high-risk swings at the ball and more high speed/effortsome bowls since it will be done with only twenty overs…

If you don’t like change, go play four balls per over cricket and keep score on a stick as the “real” traditionalists did in the 1700s…

Limited overs: The single-use plastic bag of cricket

@Dane I really did enjoy the article so thank you for putting it out there.

There is nothing wrong with T20. It’s closer to baseball in terms of the respective value of runs to outs. As such, due to the 120 bowls (Baseball has around 146 pitches), it employs a “use it or lose it” ultimatum in the batting tactics that encourage more higher risk big swings in a short period of time instead of the test or 50/50 style where “defensive attrition” aka wearing down the bowler is critical.

We could always go back to five balls in an over unless you prefer the pre-1889 model of only four and, while we’re at it, only give sixes when the ball is hit over the stands and award “fivers” when the ball was hit over the boundary on the full.

PS You played indoor cricket but still wrote this!? Hmpf…

@BallsOutPhD (Twitter/Insta)

Limited overs: The single-use plastic bag of cricket

Watching Toronto has been fantastic but let’s not forget the flipside. Promotion/Relegation is a system where a lot of damage can also be caused to even the most established clubs.

For example, when a team like Bradford slides from SL to Championship and lands in League1 and then stays there out of the top comp… A lot of value is lost (supporter, financial, and/or other), which turns the odds against the team being able to field players with the capability of making it back.

Now imagine as if this were your club. Not a perfect analogy but will you be like South Sydney that came back, founding clubs like Newtown or North Sydney that still have fans in NSWRL, a state club team that few supporters follow, or one of the many others that have become a faint memory of the past?

@TheCheeseCo – Thank you for writing this as these are the types of conversations we should be discussing and analyzing.

An alternative to the NRL expansion

Hey Andrew,

Great to have a Roar Guru writing on college football.

Frankly, it’s the better game to watch for most Australian given the day/time differences.

Enjoyed the read and keep it up.

College football 2018: Week 6 heroes and villains

I can’t say I agree with anything your wrote but am glad some people are having a shot.

What’s most important is that the reasons for any changes are clearly spelled out as part of a well defined greater picture.

For me, the goal is to provide the most entertaining product to view while respecting the game’s history and culture but this must be done with participation at all levels as a priority.

1. A five point try (RU) or even six (NFL) are all well and good but to what goal? I personally find no issue with four points and two for the goal since it blends two aspects of the game that are different but get people out of their seats and at the edge of their seats respectively.

2. There is nothing wrong with a 1 point field goal. The problem is that RL has a 10 meter retreat and markers must be squared, which makes is very difficult to block compared to other codes that line up head to head with their opposition. However, moving the goalposts with over the deadball line would assuage this by reducing the distance between the defending line and ruck within 10 meters of the goal line and increasing the kicking distance by six to 12 meters depending on the ground (eight for NRL).

3. The ball should go to the defending team though I’m not convinced a seven tackle set is justified.

4. Actually, I think you may be onto something here. If players want to play a sloppy game and, as in your example, milk penalties, then let the ball stay live and have a sloppy game. Judging purely by position and actions, as we can’t know intent, both players were not doing the normally done thing so why force a referee to try and interpret intent.

If anyone is interested in this and/or other thing related, I high recommend you join me at the Tom Brock Lecture for rugby league research this Wednesday at 99 York in Sydney. It is overbooked but you still may be able to get a last minute spot. It features Brian Canavan, Roy Masters, and Tracey Holmes with Terry Williams moderating.

Full disclosure, I am the 2018 Tom Brock Scholar so, of course, I would love to see everyone there.

@BallsOutPhD

Four rule changes for rugby league

Very curious as to how many in the tv/media audience were watching out of the potential 60mm.

England vs New Zealand: International rugby league live scores, blog

Agreed. Still, any ground looks empty when proportions are taken into consideration. Assuming the crowd number remained, I can’t help but think how good it would have looked at the LA Chargers (NFL)/LA Galaxy (MLS) home ground.

England vs New Zealand: International rugby league live scores, blog

Love to see the thinking side of the game being discussed.??

KNOW YOUR LAWS: An onside offside?

I really am just so excited for this. Nothing important to say here but yeah… couldn’t be happier to be hosting the boys from Ireland.

Ireland's tour of Australia 2018: Young bloods on the track

Maybe it’s just me but I have found the game to be so much better in recent years compared to the old series of grapple tackle,
slow down the ruck, first receiver hit up, rinse lather repeat ad nauseum.

No, there has been no earth shattering shift in tactics but things have definitely moved the needle in the right direction.

I would watch if the Walker brothers got an NRL gig whether they won right away or not. Unfortunately, we no longer live at a time where a coach is given very much time to create/change a culture and system before being fired for failure to win immediately.

Six interchanges: The big pigs are to go the way of the dinosaurs

Historically, unlike the contemporary play-the-ball and line of scrimmage in the gridiron, the scrum being awarded to a team didn’t give true possession of the ball but advantage in the contest over the ball.

In that sense, Mushi, I see what you mean but wouldn’t phrase it as such.

As things would have it, I will be discussing this in the Tom Brock Lecture next month on the 14th in Sydney as changing from a contested scrimmage/scrimmage to uncontested had consistently changed the physiology of players.

@BallsOutPhd

Six interchanges: The big pigs are to go the way of the dinosaurs

Glad you clarified nearly. We can’t have party fouls!

Six interchanges: The big pigs are to go the way of the dinosaurs

Love reading your articles Tim.

I think we should delve back a bit further for some more perspective.

The beginning of the end of the “big men” started when the scrum ceased to be contested because there was no longer a need for body types as large or as specialized for the position. Unlike rugby union where the forward pack would still have to protect the ball on the ground and go up for lineouts, this is not the case for league so the drop off in size was seen quickly and noticeably.

Reducing interchanges DOES mean that cardio levels must go up and, inevitably, body weight does drop so I see what you’re getting at.

However, who isn’t to say that you can leave a big man on the field for longer segments of time but not utilize him as much thereby allowing him to keep the girth for a few good hit-ups?

Six interchanges: The big pigs are to go the way of the dinosaurs

It is a bit strange how much is happened since the Tahs won their last championship only a few years ago.

I remember it so well, 3 AM at “The Australian” on 38th St. in New York.

Super Rugby Round 12: who’s the second ‘A’ in SANZAAR, again?

Genuinely enjoyed the read. So many unsung heroes lost to the sands of time due to playing for relegated, unmemorable, and/or forgotten clubs.

I guess we have to ask ourselves if greatness as an individual player is enough or do we require that said person also have the luck of being on a good team to get such high awards….

Thank you for writing this on Irvine.

Why isn't Ken Irvine an Immortal?

Super Rugby is a testament to how complicated things can be made but still float.

There are just so many interests that are at loggerheads here since, for one, it creates a national identity while being a club competition.

The Wrap: Super Rugby continues to shoot itself in the foot

@Rugby Tragic Too –

No worries and totally understand that you are coming from Voltaire’s POV but am not certain everyone else is doing the same ergo my above additions.

Happen to be having a similar discussion on another page in terms of the logic pattern being nearly identical, albeit, the topic itself being more on sport itself.

Global warming caused by rise in hot takes

Folau has broken the 12th commandment

@Mike, @Rugby Tragic Too, and presumably others, the following quote may be of interest to you.

The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” ☛ Newsweek: “A Cult of Ignorance” by Isaac Asimov, January 21, 1980, p. 19

Before anyone assumes anything, 1. no, this is not directed at any one group or ideology specifically but is geared towards a greater trend across the human landscape and 2. this was written nearly forty years ago so one wonders how much further down the proverbial rabbit hole we are in light of the technological advancements that have likely sped up the process.

Folau has broken the 12th commandment

@Dane, that reminds me, I’m this year’s Tom Brock recipient and will be giving the lecture that partially covers similar ground in Sydney and Melbourne. Both will most likely be in June and I’d love to have you join if you’re interested. Just DM me on Twitter/Instagram @BallsOutPhD

Global warming caused by rise in hot takes

@Geo – Agreed with Dane! You at least have the knowledge and cojones to write something to contribute!

Global warming caused by rise in hot takes

Guess it was bound to happen in some universe… why not ours? :-p

Global warming caused by rise in hot takes

Glad to be on the same page. Can’t say things are as civil where I’ve commented today on another page…

The funny thing is that the logic pattern is nearly identical between both though the topic is different…

Folau has broken the 12th commandment

Global warming caused by rise in hot takes

1. Technically, Australia does not have explicit freedom of speech though it is understood to be implied. This is quite different, and more flexible on how much or little is granted compared to countries like the US that have explicit and constitutional freedom of speech.

2. You’ve roped me back in. Re: homosexuality as interpreted by many Semitic religions, I recommend this video featuring Jack Black as Jesus…

Yes, it’s funny but, without having to get too technical, it is pretty accurate from Leviticus etc.. The same words and legal phraseology do come up against shellfish, pork, and male homosexuality.

As such, this creates a conflict as to why two of the three are considered to have been “fulfilled Commandments” from a Christian perspective but one is still on the books and “binding” today.

Now let’s go back to arguing as the “fanatics” we are about sports a.k.a. “fans”…

Folau has broken the 12th commandment

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