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Joined February 2015
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Canada has brought plenty of good into the world. Neil Young. Rachel McAdams. Degrassi Junior High. The beer isn't too bad either and the…
Can you see 49,000 New Yorkers cheering madly for Brian Lara? A cricket ball getting stuck in the famous ivy of Wrigley Field? Vin…
The Seattle area is prone to earthquakes – I went through a couple when I lived there – but there are similar tremors every…
Let me get this straight. LeBron James says this of Matthew Dellavedova: "He defended. He rebounded. He made timely shots. He gave us everything…
You'd be hard pressed to find two more unlikely cities to host the NBA Finals. There will be no glitz and glamour of Los…
A-League fans have been complaining for years that coverage of their game in the ‘mainstream' media doesn't accurately reflect what's really going on. A…
The AFL has a history of trying to emulate (some would say copy) things the NFL does. There is a salary cap, a draft,…
Most of you neutral NBA fans out there are probably hoping that Golden State – with Aussie Andrew Bogut and the sublime Stephen Curry…
Many years ago when I was a teacher, one of the school's football coaches announced to the lunch table that he was taking the…
It was a week or so before the NFL draft, and guess who was the most talked about quarterback? Jameis Winston? Marcus Mariota? Some…
This is the Land Down Under. The Sunburnt Country. A place where barbies and the beach go hand-in-hand. But I'll let you in on…
It's hard to say how many Australian basketball fans got up at 5am on Sunday morning or had their Foxtel IQs rolling on ESPN,…
The famous USC marching band holding a pep rally in Federation Square? Sparky the Sun Devil riding a tram? Ralphy the Buffalo leading his…
Get Adam Silver on the line. Maybe even put in a call to David Stern. Something is rotten in the NBA. The Golden State…
Eight teams have never won the World Series and two, including my team, the Seattle Mariners, have never even been to the World Series.…
College basketball is struggling. Attendance has dropped each of the past seven years, as have television ratings, with ESPN's current average down 6 per…
Jarryd Hayne's signing with the San Francisco 49ers is a feel-good story for everyone, except Parramatta fans and those Aussies who are tired of…
If you've been following the latest NFL stadium news, you might think Los Angeles is about to get a new pro football team. Or…
Once Simmons has declared and played in a FIBA competition (which he has) I believe it would only be an extreme hardship case that would allow him to switch. He’ll be a Boomer!
We just got a glimpse into the future of Australian basketball
Pete, this article from 2013 is worth a read. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/refugees-escaping-war-are-aiming-for-the-stars-20130810-2rovx.html – not saying it is 100% accurate but it does explain a few things about the challenges of incorporating Sudanese/Australian kids into mainstream basketball programs.
We just got a glimpse into the future of Australian basketball
Thanks for commenting Lachlan. Yeah, those mock drafts change a fair bit. Going to be fascinating to watch Simmons at the collegiate level next year. Let’s hope ESPN shows plenty of LSU games, the way they did with St. Mary’s when Delly and co. were there.
We just got a glimpse into the future of Australian basketball
I think you MAY see a Super Bowl in London but it’s a long, long way off.
College football Down Under is a great idea if done properly
Great knowledge. I was talking to someone about that the other day. Wyoming and UTEP. Wow. Interesting on Brisbane. I supposed Victorian Major Events has been so aggressive that you just natural expect them to come up with more events!
College football Down Under is a great idea if done properly
I liked the John Oliver bit. Plenty of truth in there for sure.
College football Down Under is a great idea if done properly
Johnno. I was the Communications Manager for the South Dragons. We won the title and then folded. I have done a little bit of NBL on internet radio, but that’s about it. Thanks for asking.
College football Down Under is a great idea if done properly
Johnno, I’m a huge ABA guy. Have you read Terry Pluto’s “Loose Balls?” One of the great sports books. Also the 30 for 30 “Free Spirits,” which took a lot from Pluto’s book.
Dynasties and superstars: History says it's the Spurs or LeBron
Did I call it an American sport? Think I just included the NHL with MLB, NFL and NBA, where it belongs…(update) I just realised you were referring to the question above. Personally I usually use “North American sport” when NHL is involved.
Dynasties and superstars: History says it's the Spurs or LeBron
I agree with Rarojuice. There was a time when Duncan was, as you say, woefully underrated. He was a quiet, low-key guy who wasn’t spectacular. But after five titles and two MVP awards, I think people know his true worth.
Dynasties and superstars: History says it's the Spurs or LeBron
Micky – thanks for reading and commenting. NFL has done a great job of making it seem like a year round sport. The draft has been an “event” for years and now they’re doing the same thing with the combine. It keeps fans engaged, and with the NFL Network, they can replay games as well as provide original content. But you’re right about the short season helping – the NBA and especially the NHL regular seasons are all about jockeying for playoff position. Pretty much every game is important in the NFL.
Baseball needs the Cubs to win
I agree 100% that Red Sox mania will be hard to match. Part of that, of course, is driven by ESPN – headquartered in Connecticut – which is full of both Red Sox and Yankees fans. The Sox/Yanks rivalry (and Boston’s curse-breaking win) is a dream scenario for ESPN and the East Coast media. I do love that quote – I have a friend who grew up in St. Louis and told me there is a bar somewhere in Illinois that is painted half in Cardinals colours and half in Cubs colours.
Baseball needs the Cubs to win
Excellent question. I think the speed of the game is an issue for some people a la cricket. Baseball skews very old and very Caucasian in terms of fanbase and is not a big sport in the African-American community. There is still some residual fallout from steroid scandals and the missed World Series in 1994. And of course, the NFL and college football have become near year-round sports.
Baseball needs the Cubs to win
Kurt, love it! I really shouldn’t criticise any fanbase, considering my M’s have never made it to the World Series. And Wrigley is one of the great American sporting experiences.
Baseball needs the Cubs to win
Ryan: great comments. That’s probably an entirely different article, but you’re right about the lack of three or even four-year stars in college hoops. You still get it in college football, which helps the NFL immensely. I think Adam Silver would love to see fewer young, immature players in the NBA draft, but that’s a delicate issue for a number of reasons.
Can March Madness save college basketball?
Johnno – it’s a bit complicated but a star RB or QB can make millions (per year). Hayne, as I understand it, is guaranteed approximately $100,000 even if he doesn’t make the team. Here’s a link to a site that has all NFL salaries: there are others out there too that will be more helpful than me! http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/
Better get used to hearing about 'Rugby star' Jarryd Hayne
Simmo – hard question to answer and I’m probably not the right guy to answer it. But your point is an interesting one: the US certainly has a big population base, plenty of good athletes and a tradition of playing rugby. Have a look in 15-20 years and see where rugby in the US is. That will be fascinating.
Better get used to hearing about 'Rugby star' Jarryd Hayne
Thanks Phill and BTW, headline has been subsequently changed to align with my initial thoughts. And you’re right, Hayne has a long, long way to go!
Better get used to hearing about 'Rugby star' Jarryd Hayne
Mark, I fight that battle all the time here in Melbourne.
Better get used to hearing about 'Rugby star' Jarryd Hayne
Phill – you’re not ex-Tall Black Phill Jones are you? What is it with Kiwis and the double-l in Phill 🙂 – well-written response and to be honest, the headline was not mine. League will always have a tough time getting recognised in the US.
Better get used to hearing about 'Rugby star' Jarryd Hayne
Your last line is what I tell my American friends all the time. They can’t believe it.
Better get used to hearing about 'Rugby star' Jarryd Hayne
Very good point and a crucial question to be answered. The NFL has dipped its toe into the waters with the “London Jaguars” experiment but the true test, as you point out, is eight home games every season.
WYATT: One, two or three NFL teams for Los Angeles?
That is a very pertinent question and I’m not sure about the answer. There’s no doubt the NFL would love to get into Toronto, but the CFL has a very special place in Canadian sporting history and culture. I’ve always said the NFL would be in London before Toronto, but that’s just a guess.
WYATT: One, two or three NFL teams for Los Angeles?
Thanks mate. Not sure about the adjective “great” but appreciate your kind words.
WYATT: One, two or three NFL teams for Los Angeles?
Matthew, I did have some NBL references in here originally, but took them out. That’s an entirely different article.
We just got a glimpse into the future of Australian basketball