I heard Cooper Cronk’s appearance in the 2018 NRL Grand Final (despite breaking a scapula only one week earlier) described as disgraceful... and as a piece of alpha male stupidity. More generous critics suggested that he should have prioritized his health above what was just a football match. The most intelligent of Cronk’s critics made the point that, of course Cronk would … [Read more...]
Golf – The best origin story?
For many years I thought that the funniest sporting origin story I had ever heard was the “Fractured Fairy Tales” version of the origin of golf. According to Edward Everett Horton, the Fractured Fairy Tales narrator, golf was invented by a very clever King who came up with the idea of belting a little ball into a hole. The sport he created was so difficult that he, initially, … [Read more...]
The (occassional) magic of Thredbo!
I am one of the world’s crappiest skiers but, despite my crappiness, I have had the opportunity to ski (like a kook) in some pretty remarkable places. Furano in Japan, Aspen in Colorado, St Moritz in Switzerland and Livigno in Italy are all paces that have thrilled me to the core, not just because of the athletic opportunities that they provided but because of their … [Read more...]
Can Usain Bolt succeed at soccer?
A couple of days ago the perceptive and articulate (especially in relation to sporting matters), Peter Fitzsimons, threw his hat (or bandanna) into the twitter sphere ring of people commenting on Usain Bolt’s intention to swap his snug running daks for baggy soccer shorts. Fitz was less than enthusiastic about Usain’s prospects and offered a catalogue of sound reasons why the … [Read more...]
Footballers may suffer from rare disorders!
While many have criticized some footballers (soccer players), throughout the World Cup, for an abundance of what appear to be less than life-threatening injuries, a senior American research fellow in rare illnesses, Professor Gerard Ouchy of the Bostonian Institute for Societal Degenerative Functionality Disorders (BISDFD) has pointed out that several players may well be … [Read more...]