Roar Guru
Joined April 2010
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Throughout the often robust discussions here on The Roar one of the debaters will say words to the effect of 'true fans stick with…
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…
As the clock ticks down towards the opening ceremony of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, we continue our look at the athletes…
As we countdown to the opening ceremony of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, we are taking a look at the athletes who…
As we barrel into the final week before the opening ceremony of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil it is time to…
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reported that yet more athletes have failed doping re-tests, bringing the total from the current tranche of re-tests…
It was announced on Friday (8/4/16) that Sydney shooter and current World Champion Warren Potent has qualified for the Australian shooting team for the…
After catching up with the Brett Papworth-Bill Pulver saga over the last few days I began to reflect on why I simply don't follow…
The 51st International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) All Event World Championship are under way in Grenada, Spain, and representing Australia in the finals of…
In John O'Grady's classic Australian novel They're a Weird Mob, main character Nino Culotta struggles to understand the psyche of Australia in the late…
Most elite sports take the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) quite seriously. If you are at the top of your game, you accept…
Thomas Morgenstern, the reigning Olympic Ski Flying Champion has had some good days "at work". The 27 year old Austrian has won the Overall…
The Wallabies scrum is diabolical. Dumb, disjointed and not working as an effective unit. We need to pressure the ARU to get on with…
Up until recently, not far from here was a small corner shop. For decades this store had been frequented the local kids on their…
Last weekend saw the British and Irish Lions kick off their Australian tour with a 59 to 8 victory over the Baa-Baa's in Hong…
Is it just me? Ok I'll admit it, I think I must be getting old. The sports media seems to be becoming something that…
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has finally indicated it has had enough. Reports are that ASADA have suspended any further interviews with Cronulla…
It seems that quite a few Roarers don't really understand just how seriously ASADA and WADA take the strict liability principle. The principle was…
Previously we have had a wrap up of the Biathlon World Championships Men's events, from Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic. Today sees a…
The 2013 Biathlon World Championships came to an end last week, at the stunningly beautiful Vysocina Arena in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. This first…
Very sad news, indeed.
I will always remember the evening in an Ultimo pub – it was a The Roar get together – sitting and chatting with David.
Vale.
We are diminished.
RIP, David Lord: Australian sports journalism icon was 'always thoughtful and thought-provoking'
I do wonder if what you think embattled means is what it does mean.
Embattled: engaged in battle, conflict, or controversy.
I reckon the Rebels are all of that and more.
Hurricanes put half-century on Rebels in ugly scoreline for embattled Super Rugby franchise as injuries add up
And what, pray tell, am I supposed to do this afternoon, now?
Joy of six: Lyon dismembers Black Caps as Aussies surge to commanding win, 1-0 series lead
I like Gleeson as front man for The Angels, but he’s really at his best out the front of the Screaming Jets…
'Tough call': Reds too good for Tahs in cracking Aussie derby, as controversial penalty try, yellow to Jorgo proves telling
The race may be a humdinger.
For those playing at home who were subjected to the abysmal Channel 7 coverage, it was torture.
Ads every three or four minutes (about two laps).
Even before the sun came up they were jabbering on about fuel strategy.
Then the nail in the coffin – when the sun came up, the augmented reality billboards and crash barriers appeared. Three quarters of the screen was simply poorly executed advertising.
I gave up and did the ironing – it was far more enjoyable.
The hidden motorsport gem that is the Bathurst 12 Hour
I guess you have blinded yourself with you internal bias.
No one (except you) has mentioned a second division.
A second tier competition is not a second division. Given the small market in Australia a second division with relegation and promotion cannot work as there is not enough capital to support both divisions professionally to ensure relegated teams can have the resources and quality to ever be promoted.
There just isn’t enough money in the system.
'It would be great to see the Jets in the big league': Albo throws weight behind Newtown in the NRL
Yes, yes they are.
The KOE Cup in NSW and the Hostplus Cup in QLD teams act a feeder clubs to the NRL franchises (over and above being high quality competitions in their own right).
The clubs may not move in and out of the NRL, but the players certainly do. Thus they are second tier clubs.
Simples.
'It would be great to see the Jets in the big league': Albo throws weight behind Newtown in the NRL
Ummm, the Bears and the Jets are already in the second tier competition – The KOE NSW Cup.
'It would be great to see the Jets in the big league': Albo throws weight behind Newtown in the NRL
So two young blokes, who live in a testosterone bubble and have never had anyone ever say no to them decide to go all handbags at 5 metres and somehow it is newsworthy and an ‘integrity’ issue.
Slow news day?
Broncos brawlers get their first slice of Vegas luck after breach notices served but bans unlikely
Umm no.
January 26 1788 (or January 27 1788 Royal Navy ship’s time) was simply when the convoy left Botany Bay and entered Port Jackson for the first time.
Curiously, at the same time two French “ships of discovery” also arrived in Botany Bay.
So even if Cook and Phillip hadn’t claimed the continent “for the British crown” then the French would have claimed it for their King.
Either way, possession would have been taken, as was the custom at the time, and the local “indians” as they were referred to, would have had little choice…
Cricket can’t solve Australia Day conundrum - it’s not up to sports to make tough decisions for governments
It seems strange that the selectors have known for more than a year that Warner is retiring. Yet they seem no closer to having formed a succession plan.
I would have thought that such planning was the core of their job.
Every Australian Test opener option, ranked: Why sending Smith up is a recipe for disaster
A genuine question:
Does anyone really follow this race any more?
It seems to attract almost wall to wall coverage in the media, yet it rarely comes up in conversation.
I used to be an avid follower, from heading out on boats to watch the start to following the “sked” calls on HF radio.
This year I watched a few minutes of the start but gave up as the commentary was so dull and “advertising managed”.
Now it seems that it is just another way to put billboards on TV and radio. Especially since this thing of putting the sponsor name as the main part of the vessel name became a thing.
Does anyone actually follow it any more?
Sydney to Hobart ends in Derwent cliffhanger as LawConnect pips Andoo Comanche at finish line
Why on earth should any professional sport expect the taxpayer to stump up to pay for their place of business?
The amount of money wasted by governments on stadia is ridiculous.
If professional sports cannot fund their own grounds, then the business case simply does not stack up.
Underfunded and disrespected, football in Queensland needs a new home - and the solution is at Perry Park
Will he be required to wear the purple shorts? 😁 😛
'Milked the game and contracts dry': 100-cap Wallaby announces shock return to rugby at the age of 41
Checks date….
Nope, not April 1st.
FFS 😔 😢 🤢
'Everyone's in the hunt': RA won't rule out stunning Wallabies return after Cheika departs Argentina role
Every child must get a prize.
First Test team announced: Australia spring a surprise with leadership change - 'trying to give opportunities to others'
I wonder if anyone could tell me when the complete fascination with continuous articles about the back room and boardroom shenanigans at RA will end? Just give me a ball park date and I will come back after then.
Australia won the ODI World Cup and even that took a back seat to this rot.
Please, dear editors, pick a new subject you’ve done this to death and it has become boring.
COMMENT: 'Best interests of the game'? Hamish's dummy spit proves RA was right to cut him loose
Yawn.
Three headline articles, by the same author, talking about the same back room shenanigans.
By all means report on it. Just don’t rehash and regurgitate the same thing over and over.
In all of this a key ingredient is missing.
Why is it entirely the chairman and coaches fault?
Surely the fact the highly paid players simply cannot perform must also be part of the issue? That is, the guys who cannot run, tackle, kick even though that’s what they are supposed to do in their profession.
How about some coverage of the poor quality of the playing group? Or are they all untouchable gods who can do no wrong?
States not RA the issue Australian rugby is facing as Wallabies great calls on reform measures to be backed
Definitely a penalty.
Failing to roll away.
😁 😂
Exclusive: Embattled chair asks for extension, Rugby Australia meet AGAIN as civil war breaks out
You are mistaking him for Terry or Bluey Zarszoff. Be careful of the Bum sweat though…
COMMENT: Congratulations, AFL - 'Opening Round' is the dumbest thing you've ever done
Until just now I hadn’t even heard that descriptor – so I guess I need to up my obsession game…
RWC News: 'Take some gas out of that bomb' - ABs' response to Bok weapon who's 'some human', twist in Bongi slur saga
Let me preface this by saying I am very much a bandwagonier – I jump on and off the bandwagon. However, I suspect that makes me one of the folk the game seeks to retain.
I think the premise of “we need a crowd before we can make the game improve” is completely back to front.
Professional sports are simply part of the entertainment business and after 40 odd years in and around the music business it appears to me that there is some sort of hubris around football that is based on completely different markets and that administrators and supporters seem to believe that “their” game has universal appeal.
To put it simply, the product must be attractive and must make punters want to get off their backsides and shell out cold hard cash to attend. Football simply doesn’t do that for many.
Making the excuse that you can only improve if folk come to the game is fallacious – imaging a band saying “we’ll learn to play better if people turn up to the gigs”? It’s not going to work.
As an occasional watcher, the focus on so-called “active supporters” and this seeming fascination with making it all feel like it does “overseas” is a barrier to many becoming supporters.
Why is that?
It is quite a simple thing, that has two issues at its core:
1) The average sports follower in Australia goes to watch the game and the product on offer just doesn’t appeal to many.
2) The focus on “active support” is a negative to many, as there is a perception that the game is secondary to the supporter shenanigans and if you are there to watch the game it takes away from the entertainment value. The fact that the active support occasionally spills over into “crowd incidents” also plays a very negative part.
The need for a product that people want to follow is paramount, so that needs to exist before people will follow, not the other way around.
I know some people are happy with the product, in fact, I suspect most of those who will now attempt to vilify me are of that belief, but attendance numbers and ratings would suggest that for the greater population it is just not that attractive.
'If fans don’t come, how can the product improve?': Socceroos implore fans to back A-League after Matildas’ breakthrough
More importantly, why do they expected the taxpayer to pay for it?
Especially during a well documented “cost of living crisis”.
They are a business. They need to fund their business premises.
The last thing the Wests Tigers need is another stadium - so why are they trying to build one in Liverpool?
I must have misunderstood – I thought they were still taking a few days (three?) off.
Comment cheerfully withdrawn.
The ghost game that gives Wallabies coaches the biggest challenge of their careers
Back in, I don’t know? 2008 or 2009?, when I first started reading The Roar I was amazed that much admired journalists like David, Spiro and Kersi Meher-Homji would comment and discuss matters, sometimes in much depth, with nobodies and randoms like me.
It was a different era, for sure.
RIP, David Lord: Australian sports journalism icon was 'always thoughtful and thought-provoking'