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Joined March 2014
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Sports journalist current host of ABC Grandstand.
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You're sick of hearing the kind of reaction generated by Chris Gayle's sideline chat up of Mel McLaughlin on Monday night? I'm sick of…
I know we're only into the third week of the NRL season but honestly, I feel like it's been going for months already. And…
Having finally come down from the high of being there when the Socceroos were crowned champions of Asia a couple of weeks ago I'm…
Maybe the fact I've been binge-watching Deadwood over the holidays took the edge off it for me, but I'm still amazed Nick Kyrgios's alleged…
During the Australian Open tennis several years ago I was shopping for a new television and, with my granddaughter in tow, went to one…
What to buy? How much to spend? Will it be useful? These are questions many of us are wrestling with at this time of…
There's a touch of the Stawell Gift about the A-League heading into this weekend's sixth round. Last year's grand finalists Brisbane Roar and Western…
As I left Parramatta Stadium after watching the Western Sydney Wanderers reach the final of the Asian Champions League with a 2-0 win over…
One of the smartest things I did this NRL season was, for the first time in years, sidestep being involved in any tipping competitions…
It's been an extraordinary week for me where the pieces of a puzzle have fallen in to place in a fashion I never imagined…
This column is a little later and more rushed than usual, because I'm sport shifting. And time shifting. I'm preparing to fly out to…
On Sunday night I wanted to send rugby league and its platoon of "what's wrong with a bloke havin' a bit of fun, he's…
Has this been the biggest week for Australian sport since Captain Cook was competing at the World Youth Sailing championships? It's hard to think…
You're on a screamer of an annual holiday. It's non-stop excitement and entertainment. You're burning the candle at both ends and trying to set…
Let me declare right up front my position regarding Arsenal Football Club, who recently took out the 2013-14 FA Cup. I'm obsessed with Arsene…
I understand it's about to change, but I still can't quite get my head around the fact that the AFL has, so far, declined…
The homage paid to Shinji Ono by the Western Sydney Wanderers faithful last Saturday at Parramatta Stadium was a highpoint after a fortnight of…
And so there we all were, fussing and fretting about the likelihood of rugby league players in their fifties and sixties suffering long-term damage…
I'm not monogamous when it comes to sport. Yes, I've had a long-standing relationship with rugby league, but it was always an open relationship,…
Tad, where on earth do you get the idea I’m anti-AFL?
So many people on this site seem obsessed with “my code vs your code”. I’m not into that pointless debate. It’s bullshit “my Dad’s tougher than your Dad” stuff. Each code has its followers and its own merits.
I don’t get a lot of opportunity to focus on AFL because I host a rugby league radio program and also call a-League football and there are only so many hours in a day. But, it doesn’t mean I’ve got an agenda against the AFL. I appreciate all codes. And I take the piss out of them all equally. Strangely enough the code I struggle with most is rugby union, yet union players and fans have always been very kind to me.
The defensive attitude of some AFL fans in The Roar crowd is quite a revelation to me.
You guys do realise that NRL clubs put on very similar ANZAC day themed promotions to the AFL don’t you? And that when I have a dig at ANZAC match day marketing it’s not logical to assume I’m attacking the AFL???
Service, sacrifice and, um, selling the game
Thanks so much for your comment, Brendan. It’s a relief to know it’s not just me imagining it.
Service, sacrifice and, um, selling the game
“Cross” promotion on Good Friday? That’s what I’m worried about 😉
Service, sacrifice and, um, selling the game
Again, show me where I slam the AFL specifically re their ANZAC Day marketing? I say I’m uncomfortable with how both codes do it. Can you get your head around the fact I’m talking about an issue, not engaging in code wars? Which code I mentioned first is irrelevant.
Good Friday and ANZAC Day being a week apart seemed a logical comparison re public holiday scheduling and promotion. I started with the AFL not scheduling a Good Friday game while the other three did, because that triggered the discussion on my radio show last weekend.
Re the tab, I don’t know. I’m new to this site and found I had to choose a tab to enable the article to be filed. I tried to tag it both AFL and NRL and that wasn’t possible. Shrug.
I have no doubt there were players from all codes who died fighting wars for Australia. I personally don’t find that a justification for harnessing the emotion of war loss to fire up a crowd and players for a football match,
And with respect, I’ve never been tempted to change my mind about anything based on the opinion of Bruce Ruxton. But if he’s someone you look up to, no wonder you’re concerned that I see naked men in dressing rooms.
Service, sacrifice and, um, selling the game
Show me where I’ve singled the AFL out regarding ANZAC day? I’m talking about both codes using the ANZAC theme to promote games on the holiday.
Some people in the discussion have suggested the AFL started this, but I’m not interested in who did it first. I just feel uncomfortable with the concept, full stop.
Seems you’ve labelled me an NRL fan and therefore assumed I’m slamming the AFL.
Service, sacrifice and, um, selling the game
So glad that you two understand what I’m getting at. I honestly find sports marketing cashing in on the loss and sadness of war quite distasteful. The fact that it’s disguised as paying tribute bothers me. Go ahead play the game on ANZAC day, just don’t dress it up as something it’s got no right to be.
Service, sacrifice and, um, selling the game
I say “bunch of westies” fondly, Peter budd, as I am one myself.
Goodbye to that tensai guy, Shinji Ono
Well I don’t to ask you what planet you’re on, you’re clearly communicating direct from Planet Melbourne Hatred. Thanks for your balanced point of view.
My “you can’t legislate against twists of fate” line was more in response to those suggesting a ban on gang tackles in response to this incident.
You can't legislate against one-off twists of fate
Thank you Bearfax, but I’m quite happy hosting ABC Grandstand’s radio coverage of the NRL on Sundays and doing the occasional Monday sideline reporting gig for them.
You can't legislate against one-off twists of fate
I’m not in any way suggesting he go unpunished. But he should punished for lifting in the tackle and his sentence not affected by the severity of the injury.
You can't legislate against one-off twists of fate
Ah, thank you Tim.
That’s more like the kind of reception I’m used to 😉
Dear sports, we need to talk
Hi Justin,
I joined your league, thanks for the invite.
You’ll find me down near the bottom of the league table, but not quite as low as the OTHER stable called SaintlyLodge. Obviously, I’m not highly original when it comes to my stable name (although, in my defence I have used that name for the past few years.)
Dear sports, we need to talk
JaviCab, what is this “social life” concept you refer to? 😉
Dear sports, we need to talk
I think you’ve got me mixed up with Karen Tighe, Johnno. I’ve never covered the Hopman Cup, sadly.But I’m happy to be confused with someone who’s younger than me. And blonde.
Dear sports, we need to talk
Thanks for the welcoming comments. When do we start arguing 😉
Dear sports, we need to talk
Little known fact: I worked for the Department of Defence before I became a sports journalist.
I think a know a little bit about both sport and war, although I’ve not been directly involved as a participant in either. And the fact that I regret that lack of opportunity in one arena and am incredibly grateful to have escaped the other should highlight the difference.
IMHO you can make analogies between war and the stock market. War and politics. War and sport. War and family disputes. But, in the end, war changes lives, countries, histories and economies and comparing it to other contests or disputes is like comparing fireworks to “Shock and Awe.” Yes, both involve explosives and the sky being lit up, but to see them as in any way alike is not helpful.
So, explain to me why I’m in the wrong job, KB?
Service, sacrifice and, um, selling the game