Today I got a lesson in surf philosophy. Is there a better way to start the day than to share a surf, a cappuccino, and an epistemological and ethical debate? “That’s the problem with you… you’re loud but you don’t act,” said my surfer friend when I explained to him that my neighbour had fenced off and “acquired” the public road that adjoined both of our properties. “If … [Read more...]
Sport 2021 – Sports philosopher No 2. Aaron Kearney
It’s hard to summarise the sporting life of multi-award-winning journalist Aaron Kearney. Attempts to do so demand more print space than is possible for the average sporting story. Suffice it to say that Kearney has played, watched, reported on, commentated (T.V. and radio), anchored, written about, produced, organized and facilitated more sports and sporting events than most … [Read more...]
Sport 2021 – Sports philosopher No 1. Peter Fitzsimons
Some day the virus will be gone, and our sporting lives will return to normal. Manly and Melbourne will again battle it out for the honour of being the NRL’s most hated club. Collingwood supporters will still be the butt of jokes of their fellow AFL fans. Multitudes will again, cruelly and not completely accurately, complain about how crap the A League is. But will things … [Read more...]
Socrates the spewer – Two philosophers look at pre-game anxiety
Socrates and Seneca are enjoying each other's company at the philosopher's sports bar when Socrates confesses to his mate that he has a problem that is driving him nuts. Little did Socrates think that he was about to get an earful of stoic philosophy from the "hard-man" Roman. Socrates: Mate. I can’t stand it. Its driving me nuts. I love playing rugga, but these pre-game … [Read more...]
Sports funding – Why bother with a Sports Commission? The Minister knows best!
Socrates and Aristotle are in the philosopher’s sports bar when Aristotle raises the subject of the Australian National Audit Office’s enquiry into the former sports minister’s awarding of funding in the Community Sport Infrastructure Program. Socrates slams his beer on the bar. Socrates: One hundred million bucks! One hundred million bucks! That’s what she gave out. That … [Read more...]