Manly Beach, 1913. Olympic silver medalist swimmer, Cecil Healy, meets a local ratbag beach bum for a beer and a chin wag. Hmmm. Maybe this chat never actually happened. But it could have. Tommy skips down the two sandstone steps from the front door of the Seagulls club house, traverses the tarmac footpath, crosses the South Steyne, then wanders past the timber surf club to … [Read more...]
Their sporting life – A journalist’s story
Last weekend, when driving around a sharp bend (that overlooks one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful ocean views anywhere in the world), I remembered an incident that happened on that very spot over forty years earlier. On that day, my best mate demonstrated that he would not put up with bullying or bullshit from anyone. He bloody nearly got himself (and me) killed, but … [Read more...]
Olympics Rugby Teams – Who are the greatest?
U.S.A. Olympic Rugby Champions The mighty United States of America hold the record, of course! The Seppos won the gold medal in the 1920 (Antwerp, Belgium) games and the 1924 (Paris, France) games meaning that they are the only country to win the Rugby Olympic gold medal twice. Other gold medalists are France and Australasia (Wallabies) who have won the gold once … [Read more...]
Meaning of Valentine’s Day? A day of commemoration for lovers of surf journalism.
February 14 is most commonly associated with Valentine’s Day… or the day in which lovers declare their devotion to the special person in their life. To most of the population February 14 means red roses, chocolates and the baring of one’s soul to a secret beloved. To true sports lovers, however, February 14 is not a day of celebration, but it is a day of remembrance and … [Read more...]
Confessions of an addicted mungo – my love for League (and the Rabbitohs)
We’ve all heard the joke about the good ol’ boy from Bumcrack, Alabama, who likes two kinds of music - country AND western. Well, I am similarly mono-cultural in my appreciation of footy. Being born and bred in Sydney in that golden age before the AFL’s South Melbourne arrived in town to re-brand itself as the Swans (until they won the 2005 grand-final, whereupon coach … [Read more...]