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Raised in a family of rugby tragics, Kath Logan attended her first rugby test in a baby basket in 1970. Passionate about good people and good communities, she has worked in numerous regional and remote areas where sport has been a powerful force for change. What happens off the field is often more exciting than what happens on it.
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Socrates silenced a gossiping student with the Test of Three. Before speaking, the student was invited to test his comments by asking, “Is it…
There hasn't been a bigger storm in a schooner glass since Todd Carney tried to follow in the steps of the great yogis and…
Racing has a long history of amateur pharmacology and the dose of the day is cobalt. Current stewards' inquiries into cobalt use in NSW…
If the NRL would quietly settle up and let Alex McKinnon get on with his life, he wouldn't have had to go on 60…
The spotlight on the Westfield Matildas' stellar performance in the Women's World Cup attracted the attention of plenty of people who'd never give the…
The greyhound racing business has put itself in a world of hurt. It's not going to end any time soon and they deserve every…
Sport is a microcosm of society, a distillation of human nature at its basest and most beautiful. Last week, that truth was writ large.…
Last Thursday it was revealed that Alex McKinnon had taken legal advice on whether to not to sue the NRL for a spinal injury.…
Even though the footy season's only just started, a lot of players are already planning the end of season boys trip. 88 Australians were…
When he sprayed champagne in the face of an unwilling Chinese podium girl, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton single-handedly reignited the podium girl debate.…
I've written before about the NRL's generally lame response to domestic violence, and briefly about the inadequacy of the current penalty regime for on…
Most people think that survival of the fittest is the triumph of brute force. It's not. The survivors are those fittest to survive in…
Concentration camps taught Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel that the opposite of love was not hate, but indifference. The two…
In 2009, I wrote that some sports stars needed a reality check. Not a whole lot has changed in six years, with management across…
The 2013 Australian Rugby Union Annual Report is a revealing document that highlights the dire situation Australian rugby currently finds itself in. Of the…
The death of Philip Hughes, and the suffering of Sean Abbott, has grabbed the hearts of the nation and squeezed them hard with both…
In 2014, the NSW government's Tackling Violence program focused on country rugby league clubs and was supported by rugby league stars and greats. Contrast…
The Kurtley Beale/Di Patston debacle is not about rugby or gender, it's the story of a management team that neglected their core business -…
Nobody likes to see criminal and antisocial behaviour from highly paid professionals. Those on the average wage and less may be quietly applauded by…
As someone who has an understanding of Buddhism, you will also know that thoughts give rise to words give rise to deeds.
“So, as for racist taunts, well, if the worst that can happen to you is to be verbally insulted, you’re doing a lot better than people in less tolerant societies than ours. I’m not saying verbal insults are okay, but merely providing perspective. There’s a lot worse going on around us.”
Completely illogical. There is no perspective on racism. Racist actions come from racist words which come from racist thoughts therefore racist words are never OK.
Racism is a wart that blights our nation and we need to rid ourselves of it. Zero tolerance.
Knowing your place in Australia - it's a tough game
Interested to hear what happened last time you did that at a match. Fill us in.
Hear no evil: Adam Goodes and our disturbing desire for silence
Thanks Alvin.
It should be straightforward to determine reasonable compensation. Both parties know what it takes to keep a quadriplegic person healthy and can accurately estimate McKinnon’s lost earnings.
In situations like this both parties need to think really carefully about what a win is. Being in public conflict is expensive, financially and reputationally. Once conflict goes to litigation, it’s out of the parties’ control and they have to take what a judge gives them.
In this case, why not just settle up quietly and get on with life?
Here is a link to a previous article of mine that covers the McKinnon issue in detail. http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/05/20/nrl-needs-numbers-mckinnon
Liz Hayes' blunt hatchet not up to the job
Nordster, they are American figures on an Austrian website. See this link for an Australian context on pay equity (not equality) https://www.wgea.gov.au/addressing-pay-equity/about-pay-equity
Matildas undervalued by billionaire
Jimbob do you have a source for the club salaries? I haven’t been able to find any figures for them.
Matildas undervalued by billionaire
Dogs are 20% of bets placed nationallly. I was surprised too.
Greyhound industry’s recovery is a dog's breakfast
You have raised an interesting issue. People are extremely discriminatory in their expectations of the kind of treatment different animals deserve, and wilfully blind to their part in it.
Animals bred for sport or food are commodities in larger industries. As long as they are treated kindly and killed humanely, people who support those industries should have no concerns. The industries only exist because those people choose to be consumers.
Strangely, after the 2014 Melbourne Cup there were plenty of BBQ goers chomping into a steak grieving the death of two racehorses and the money they lost on the race. That’s wilful blindness.
All three racing codes are extremely wasteful in their breeding practices.
Greyhound industry’s recovery is a dog's breakfast
If players kissing a cross winds you up, google the NFL’s Tim Tebow. His regular, ostentatious, on-field post-score genuflections will have you throwing things at the computer screen.
Rugby doesn't need public displays of faith
Lano I’m really interested to know more about this – would you be kind enough to give me a reference please?
Cross Kuta off the list for the end of season footy trip
You’re correct, that is how the TdF podium girl started. Now, it’s a team of 4 women who do every podium event for the duration of the Tour.
Will sponsors push podium girls off their pedestal?
The photo is the editor’s choice. I suppose they put this photo up because it’s representative of the overwhelming majority of the men of league, the good ones.
Good men of league, it is time to step up
When I was a student, Richie and Mrs Benaud used to come to a restaurant I worked at. He was a wonderful gentleman. His real life diction was the same as his commentary: We’ll have two, that’ll be two snapper for the ladies and….
Cricket legend Richie Benaud dies aged 84
Yes! There were also wagon wheels and orange juice in one of those old dispensers with a stirrer. One of the storage rooms had been converted into a sort of invitation-only gentlemen’s club where the men would have drinks undisturbed. Uncle Bill was a wonderful gentleman. Men of his ilk are the ones that made wearing the jersey an honour.
Rogues Gallery: memories of a rugby past
There’s only one thing for it Johnno. Get your ref’s ticket, get on the paddock, show them how it’s done and roll with the punches.
Fans won't stand for Bulldog bullyboys
Good points Mick.
On the first point, as much as everyone would have liked to have seen it, taking immediate action is fraught. There are so many people, contracts and rules (NRL and contract law) at play that the most prudent thing to do is gather all the information and make a decision that will last the distance. It will take at least a week. An aside, I don’t think Raelene has any truck with acting for the sisterhood. She’s too busy being a bloody good business person who holds her own.
On the second, Gallon has been given a hefty fine. Is it enough or too much? I think the point is that penalties are inconsistent between clubs, within the codes and when compared with common law. And do fines alone deter bad behaviour? No, they just make it expensive. The penalty regime has to be reviewed to rely far more on non-financial penalties.
I can’t find any evidence that Packer’s contract has been submitted to, or approved by, the integrity unit. Given the number of decent people who are also very good players, the sport doesn’t need him. Apart from the ethical issue, he’s a massive PR risk. It’s not like his absence has left a gaping hole. I’m a passionate believer in people’s ability to change, but he really needs to prove that he has changed before he’s allowed back in to the game.
Fans won't stand for Bulldog bullyboys
You’re talking about the three-month suspension?
PRICHARD: NRL must throw the book at the Bulldogs
League is too forgiving of bad behaviour. Thugs and criminals shouldn’t be given a second go. Abusing referees? Off the field for a number of games. On criminal charges? Off the field until it’s sorted in court. Criminal convictions for crimes against the person? Life ban. Russell Packer leaving the game has left as big a hole as pulling your fist out of a bucket of water. There are too many good players out there to indulge bad ones.
Fans endangering others? Life ban. Let them chuck water bottles around their lounge rooms. Cos they wouldn’t be allowed to do it at the pub or any other public place.
PRICHARD: NRL must throw the book at the Bulldogs
It’s misspelt. Mizpah is a Hebrew word meaning “watchtower.” In Victorian times it was used colloquially to mean a bond between two people. You will often see jewellery in antique shops with “Mizpah” inscribed on it.
BREAKING: NRL announce crackdown on "bogan tattoos"
I haven’t asked for anything to be moderated off.
Pocock didn't just challenge Potgieter, he challenged our indifference towards homophobia
Totally agree
Pocock didn't just challenge Potgieter, he challenged our indifference towards homophobia
I think that if enough people just had that quiet word, Panthers wouldn’t be in the position they’re in.
Pocock didn't just challenge Potgieter, he challenged our indifference towards homophobia
TomC, agree that this article puts a big umbrella over drug use but I’d call it the “whatever it takes” umbrella. That’s what’s so disturbing – there are employers and leaders at all levels of sport who are willing to risk employees/players health for a win. Which in turn raises the question of what a win really is. At the moment, some sports doing their best to change a win from a merit-based award to nothing more than a Christmas cracker medal for the best covert cheat.
Fiddlesticks, if any other employer was encouraging drug use to increase productivity there would be outrage. And rightly so.
Perry Bridge, you can’t be serious saying that a professional sports person needs mysterious, off-market supplement to overcome the common cold or flu? This kind of amateur pharmacology is at the root of acceptance of drug abuse in sport.
Drugs aren't football's problem, disregard for player welfare is
Gosh Not Bothered, you have been on the grumpy juice, haven’t you?
ARU are missing a trick by keeping rugby elite
Chris how about putting a surname on your profile? Writing controversial comments without owning them makes you look like you lack conviction.
Knowing your place in Australia - it's a tough game