Category: general sport

Links on Friday

Having grown up near Te Rapa Straight, one of our great impromptu race-tracks I can confirm that the ‘Tron is NZ’s rightful home of barely-legal street car action, so it’s only fair to hand the mean streets over to the pros for the weekend. Good luck to everyone heading to the V8s, and go the Chiefs

Everyone remembers that Colombian goalkeeper’s Scorpian save at Wembley – but can you score like that? Bloody oath

Alex Higgins is Snooker’s George Best, with outrageous talent at sport and the booze

Southampton turn into Brazil all of a sudden and Kev scores a wonder-goal – only to be ruled out. Robbed

Mitchell and Webb are really funny

Links on Friday

Pure gold from Pulp Sport – Chris Martin (test average 2.55) brings you his Learn to Bat dvd. He’s just so serious.

Smug Shots is people, usually pissed, going up to footballers, usually in a bar or airport, and having their photo taken. That reminds me, I must dig out that photo of me with Glenn Osbourne.

Let’s face it – ten pin bowling isn’t cool, unless you’re The Dude. It’s all corporate team building and weird shoes smelling of watered down disinfectant and that. If I was going have a go, though, I’d be wanting to do something like this.

If you’re like me and spend all day in an office, you may enjoy Whack Your Boss. Disclaimer – I don’t want to whack MY boss. Annoy – yes. Whack – No.

Links on Friday

So simple it’s brilliant. It’s American football, it’s Brett Favre going about his business wearing shoulder pads, and a fan steals the ball. There’s nothing left to say, really

The hilarious Stuff White People Like blog scores a big fat bull’s eye on the idea of soccer

Speaking of which, they say footballers are prone to gaming referees and try to gain unlawful advantage. This is, of course, completely untrue

Here’s 100 things never to say in a job interview. I’d probably ask if the stationary was  locked up at night

In case you missed it, here’s Andrew Symonds’ shoulder charge. Legendary raisin Richie Benaud’s comment proves he’s STILL the master

Third place rower unimpressed with race coverage

Rower photoSRPA: Rower Dave Everlast lashed out at the media storm surrounding today’s showdown between triple world champion Mahe Drysdale and double world champion / Olympic gold medalist Rob Waddell on Lake Karapiro today. Everlast finished 25 seconds behind second placed Waddell. “I was prepared to answer a few questions today, but those reporters jostled me getting out of the boat. I could have drowned.” said Everlast. “Those guys don’t get rowing at all”.

Everlast, whose career highlights include finishing behind Drysdale and Waddell on numerous occasions, and giving Drysdale’s truck a jump start one time was not enthused by the prospect of becoming a trivia question in years to come. “Well whoop-de-fuckin’ shit” he said.

Links on Friday

– American Football is so hot right now, with yer Giants, Brady, and second and seven and all that. I still reckon the Glasgow Diamonds are the best, though. They’re here to play football. And rap.

– Scotty Pippen gives Spike Lee what-for

– Out of context takes your Hollywood movie stars and makes them look like dicks – contains spooky foreshadowing of Tom Cruise’s Scientology rant

– Sandwich encyclopedia – for those of us that think bread and dead animal are the cornerstone of any delicious meal

Links on Friday

– Gilchrist’s 57 ball century – Gilly is cool, dogdy “I always walk / but sometimes like to appeal for obvious non-catches, too” stance aside

– Attention wincing fans! Here’s the 15 Greatest Mountain Bike crashes eva

– Before Spike Jonze became the guy being mean to Scarlett Johansson in Lost In Translation, he made skateboard videos – and pretty bloody well, too

– Worst sport movies ever – they’re no Carry Me Back, that’s for sure

sport review best of 2007

I’m stoked 2007 is over, sports-wise. After three World Cups and a big yacht race for no trophies, we’re left to pick up the pieces after a year of early starts, late finishes, big build-ups and crushing disappointments. What have we learned? Nothing, if you believe Henry’s reappointment was a mistake (which I don’t), but 2008 will be very interesting indeed, with Robbie Deans leaving the rabid for success for the slightly shit. So bollocks to 2007, but it’s time to get over it.

Luckily, blogging-wise, I’ve really enjoyed it. Getting a cartoon in the paper was nice (another one soon!). I liked this one. And this one. This wasn’t a good idea.I loved making up news stories.

In 2008, I really need to get my shit together with a proper domain (keep your eye on sportreview.net.nz) and WordPress, particularly before sportreview jr. comes along.

Here’s my best for 2007.

Sporting moment
Hard one. A couple of America’s Cup races were pretty amazing. I’m too childish to nominate Fiji v South Africa. Oher than a few Berbatov goals, it’s looking pretty bleak. I’m going for Luaki handing off Richie McCaw – it’s been that kind of year.

Web
Guardian Unlimited (football and sport) remain my go-tos for sport news, writing, and youtube clips. Locally, the Dropkicks podcast is the best in NZ sport on the web. I love the communities springing up at Sportsfreak and The Silver Fern – I wish I had more time to participate. I joined Facebook, and found it great for finding the long lost, but kind of annoying otherwise. I discovered last.fm. I really enjoy Public Address and Jason Kottke, still.

Links on Friday
– Richie Benaud on the underarm
– Zombie vs Shark
– Never poke a big cat with a stick
– Full Metal Wii
– The Mack vs the Nuge

Albums
Person Pitch – Panda Bear (thanks, Fraser), Happy Ending – Phoenix Foundation, Sound of Silver – LCD Soundsystem

Book
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union – Micheal Chabon

Films
Superbad, The Devil Dared Me To, Hot Fuzz

Top three songs on last .fm
Ramble Tamble – Creedence
Fourtunate Son – Creedence
Sleepwalk – Santo & Johnny

Links on Friday

Sorry team, I know this is turning into a kind of links-only site – more stupidity soon, I promise
– Remember Cullen bungling a try by not forcing it properly a few years ago? That’s nothing
– I’d like to thank… SHIT! – it’s not over till you’re in the clubhouse drinking and worrying if your feet smell, as this guy finds out in a hurry
– Inky on the All Black coaching dilemma – it’s all academic now that Ted’s back in. Inky’s way smart though, you should read him, not me
– Some people say Footballers feign injury to con free kicks – and they’re right. Miraculous recovery here

World Championship Netball tournament concludes; crowd fails to notice

Australia left Waitakere Arena with the Netball World Championship trophy late on Saturday night. The colorful crowd, many of them wearing costumes and outlandish objects on their heads, is still singing along to the PA in the otherwise empty stadium. “Come on, Silver Ferns, you can do it!” said one fan. “Well, crocodile rocking is something shocking, when your feet just can’t keep still” explained another. “Sitting around an empty stadium singing fits seamlessly into our target market’s lifestyle.” said Netball NZ Marketing Manager Jacinda Severebrows. “Sure, they love top-class Netball, but throw in Van Morrison at 110 db… that’s a total entertainment package unprecedented in New Zealand.”

Links on Friday

– The best sporting interview ever – Martin Brundle with Kimi Raikkonen. Jerry Collins would’ve just done it on the grid
– Kevin Pieterson reverse sweeps Murali for six – says it all really – what a blow
– Wired’s saddest cubicle competition ‘winners’ – makes my paper-and-dirty-dishes covered mess look like a little slice of heaven. It’s still bloody scary turning my keyboard upside down, though
– Friday 13th through the years – I’ve not seen much after about #5. Actually all my Friday 13th experiences have been on VHS, I think