Year: 2009

Observer sport monthly

New OSM today. Includes the ’74 Lions…

When another fight broke out, the Wales full-back and orthopaedic surgeon, JPR Williams, ran fully 60 yards, in the spirit of “99”, to deliver a right hook to second row Moaner van Heerden. “That’s not something I’m proud of,” Williams said later.

…Team Rwanda’s Tour De France preparations, 10 teams too good to go down, and asks just who makes up football chants:

“Two Andy Gorams”, after the goalkeeper was reported to have schizophrenia, “there’s only two Andy Gorams”.

Links on Friday

Ronaldo, the proper one, is back playing in Brazil. Not a bad first touch, that. Accept no imitations.

Padraig Harrington is always game for a laugh – when not playing an EXTREME par three, he’s helping some nerds test the Happy Gilmore swing.

PJ O’Rourke is in NZ to talk to some rich guys. Hamilton Public Library’s PJ trove was a formative influence on a young sportreview.net.nz – if you don’t know him, start with the classics.

I think he’s just circling the airport – are you alright there, Dougal?

Meandering toward the big IPL bucks

Big talking point is Flintoff and Pieterson’s failure to earn their money by actually playing well and that before they bugger off. This fascinating article from Lawrence Booth theorises that English players just think too damn much:

Nottinghamshire batsman Mark Wagh recalls asking his former Warwickshire team-mate Brad Hogg “about his pre-delivery movements”. He goes on: “Should I go back and across or press with the front foot?” Hogg, the former Australian left-arm wrist-spinner, replies: “Not a clue, mate, sorry.” Wagh’s conclusion? “It’s funny how aiming to middle every ball causes the rest of your game to fall into place.”

Exhibit A: getahundred.com’s net session; the poor bloke gets himself in bits thinking about just what the fuck his feet are up to [NOTE: Not-English Tom defends his batting in the comments on this post!] . Exhibit B: My own shonky golf game improved no end after reading this book – it says, basically, your mind needs something to do to occupy itself while your body gets on with the job. I bet Sehwag doesn’t lose much sleep thinking about his feet.

My moment of the tournament so far is Kevin Pieterson attempting to switch-stance Dan Vettori, and being bowled about halfway up middle stump (above) – if someone can find the youtube clip, I’d be very grateful.

The other highlight has been JRod’s Dirk Nannes coverage. Greater love hath no paragraph-challenged cricket blogger than that for a hairy, lairy, barely under control Aussie fast bowler.

The online buzz is, of course, the Fake IPL player blog. I’m surprised sports betting outfits aren’t running odds on the IPL stooge. The nicknames mean most of it’s flying over my head, but it’s super stuff, I’m loving the bits about the commentators making cocks of themselves, as if they needed any help. Come home, Danny Morrison, your country needs you to shut the hell up for five minutes.

Who’s going to win it – who are you putting your money on in the IPL betting? Does it even matter? Really, it hasn’t really fired yet. I’ve gone from MySky-ing entire matches to taping the 1/2 hour highlights packages if that’s any indicator. This year’s tournament has been hampered by rain and comparisons with last year’s extravaganza, which buzzed with the novelty of the big money, the dancing girls and Brendan McCallum scoring runs. For me, the IPL seems to be mostly about things that aren’t cricket related.