Socrates reaches into his archive and selects a bunch of stories he considers his favourites. This is the first in his list of sagas he considers the most memorable. JUST SIX WORDS – Have you ever wished that you could meet and have a conversation with someone you idolize? What would you say to your idol to convince them to want to stay in the conversation? What would they say in response to your brilliant social skills? How would the conversation go? How would it leave you feeling? An Australian ex-professional athlete who had played with and against some of the greatest basketball talent that this country has ever seen (Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace, Shane Heal, Phil Smythe) once, by chance, had a meeting with possibly the greatest and most famous professional sports person that has ever lived. The superstar he bumped into, in a New York elevator, just happened to be the Aussie basketballer’s idol. How did the meeting turn out? Click the pic and discover the six most memorable words in this Australian point guard’s life.
Waves of Pain
Don’t thank me. Just completely ignore me!
There are many kinds of pain that can be experienced in the surf. Physical pain, of course! The array of painful injuries that the ocean can dish out is endless. The pain of being humiliated by the cruel actions of the sea is another. The pain of being mistreated by fellow surfers is also a big one. In this example of the Waves of Pain the injury suffered by the hapless individual is an unusual one. Here is a story about the pain of a heroic surfer who is completely ignored by the very people who he worked so hard and risked so much to assist. That is a very special and unusual kind of pain. Click the pic to get the full story,
Surf characters
Want to surf at The Pass, Byron Bay? Perhaps you should reconsider.
There are lots of good reasons for surfing at The Pass. Beautiful environment. Gorgeous people. Lovely waves. There are a few good reasons why plenty of locals avoid the place like the pox. The crowds of wave-hungry surfers are one reason. But even nastier than the crowds are the assortment of annoying characters who frequent the place. Discover the ratbag types that you can meet at any time at the Pass. There are lots of them, Click the pic and read about them all.
The Greatest Race Ever – Atalanta versus Hippomenes
In ancient Greece, Atalanta was the greatest runner of all. Not just a brilliant hunter, wrestler, archer and fighter but the fastest track athlete ever born. Why would anyone challenge her to a race when the penalty for losing was instant execution? While this story about the greatest footrace ever might, superficially, be about a contest between Atalanta and the boy who loves her (Hippomenes), perhaps it is, just as significantly, a battle between the rival beautiful goddesses of love (Aphrodite) and chastity (Artemis). Is Atalanta’s loyalty to her beloved mentor Artemis as powerful as the lure of Aphrodite? The Goddess of the Gonads, as Artemis likes to think of her sister, wants Atalanta to experience the joys of erotic and romantic love but Artemis wants to put a stop to that. Find out who wins. Click the pic for the story.
From Socrates News Desk
Stop the NRL theatrics and play footy!
Hudson Young deserved the penalty and the ten-minute rest. This time, Klein got it right! Socrates, from his news desk, takes a close look at the incident and then takes a swipe at the dozens of journalists, pundits, broadcasters and ex-players who have spent the last few days whinging about how a player should never be penalized or sin binned for mouthing off. They think head butting is a far more serious crime and only the Broncos super-kid should have suffered consequences for his retaliation against Young’s chin. Socrates doesn’t agree. He argues for referees to take a hard line against the drama queens who puff their chests out and sledge instead of getting on with playing football. Click on the pic to get the full story,
The NRL Bunker and forward passes – here’s the perfect solution!
Forward passes… and the hopeless refereeing of them… are ruining the game according to dozens of NRL experts. Something has to be done. But giving the job to the bunker is no solution. Socrates agrees that something should be done but his solution is a bit unconventional. Socrates says make forward passes legal. Don’t laugh. It’s not as silly as it sounds and, despite arguments to the contrary, it would not fundamentally change the game. It would, argues Socrates, however, make the game much better. Click the pic and get the full story. Hear him out!
Inclusive sports
Sporting Clubs – where you can be who you are
The worst thing about “coming out” according to master broadcaster Josh Szeps was not homophobic attack. Greater concern for Josh was the pressure he felt to suddenly become someone he wasn’t. When Socrates heard Szeps speaking about his “coming out” experience on Radio National’s “The Year That Made Me” programme it made him thing of all the LGBTQI+ sportspeople who feel like they don’t quite fit into either the straight or gay world’s. Josh’s feelings about not wanting to change who he was when he came out is not unusual. Many people who identify as queer feel uncomfortable conforming to expectations about how they should walk, talk, dress, behave, think and even vote. Inclusive sporting clubs like The Sydney Convicts Rugby Club provide a community for gay athletes (and their friends) where they can express themselves through sport without feeling that they have to change who they are. With the help of a little AI research Socrates takes a look at The Sydney Convicts Rugby Club and how it makes a difference to the lives of its members. And the convicts aren’t alone. There are hundreds of sports clubs around the world that provide a welcoming home for athletes who identify as queer. Click on the image to get the full story,
research
Surfers and melanoma – how great is the risk?
We all know that surfers are at greater risk of skin cancer than the average non-surfer. It’s obvious. They spend more time in the sun. Should that be of real concern to surfer? Is it really that big a risk? Recent research from Southern Cross University indicates that it is a way bigger risk than most surfers… and people… imagine. Going through treatment for skin cancer lesions, even when the treatment is successful, is not fun. Surfers should be aware of the risks and take precautions. Click the pic to get the full story.
ACL and the sports bra
Why are female athletes at greater risk of ACL injuries than their male counterparts? Biological differences? Biomechanical differences? Hormonal differences? Yeah. Probably all of these things play a significant part. However, recent research indicates that a key factor may be breast movement and that the choice of a good quality and well-fitted sports bra may make a significant difference for female athletes. Choice of bra a factor? Yup. Choice of bra! Sports people who choose to play braless or with little concern for bra choice might want to read this story. Click the pic!
Why are some sports addictive?
Why would a thirteen-year-old girl risk death or brain injury over her sport? Because she is addicted to bull riding. Why do surfers risk becoming derelicts? Because they are addicted to surfing. Some sports are so complex and so hard to master that they have an addictive and enchanting effect on their victims. Such sports can be disabling. Even the most highly respected legends of such sports openly acknowledge the toxic impact that their sport can have if the participant is not careful. Click the pic to get the story.
Where’s Miki?
Rusty and an ice cold beer – Photo 4.
When it comes to best Australian sporting photographs with a killer back story, this one is hard to beat. What a beautiful image of a champion surfer and his mate at the infamous Sunset Beach in Hawaii. Think it looks good now? Wait until you see what the editors at an American advertising agency did to it. Ouch. Click the pic and read the full story!
greatest photographs
Peter Norman Wins Silver! But that’s not all – Photo 3.
The third in the series of all-time greatest Australian sports photographs. The image of Peter Norman collecting his surprise (and Australian record) 200 m silver medal at the Mexico Olympics in 1968 is only part of the story. The role Norman played in helping his human rights activist fellow competitors make their protest is possibly even more significant.
The flags that united a nation – Cathy Freeman Gold! – Photo 2.
The second in the series of epic photos from Australian sporting history that have a killer back story. While all of Australia celebrated with Cathy Freeman when she won gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, her victories and celebrations in similar events some years earlier attracted almost as much criticism as they did praise. Find out how Freeman and her flags changed attitudes and united a nation.
The Cutback that Changed the World – Photo 1.
Socrates introduces his series of the greatest photos from Australian sporting history. The first image in the series shows Midget Farrelly’s cutback that changed the world. With this photograph… as with the other images in the series… the story goes much deeper than the photograph shows. Click the image to read Socrates’ explanation of how this frozen moment in time represents a critical shift in Australian sporting culture and performance.
Kahanamoku – Australia’s first surfer? Nah!
Was Duke Kahanamoku Australia’s first surfer? Tim Edwards looks at a possible alternative history of surfing around Sydney in the early twentieth century. Whatever the truth is, even one hundred years ago, celebrity counted more than truth!
right and wrong
When is cheating okay?
When Socrates found out that Rugby League legend Wally Lewis had pulled off an outrageous State of Origin scam without a soul even realizing, it occurred to him that sometimes pulling a swifty should be tolerated. Here Socrates explores the history of sport and tries to establish the circumstances under which a little bit of rule book stretching is okay. Click the pic and see if you agree with him.
Yarns – Facts and Fiction
Don’t thank me. Just completely ignore me!
There are many kinds of pain that can be experienced in the surf. Physical pain, of course! The array of painful injuries that the ocean can dish out is endless. The pain of being humiliated by the cruel actions of the sea is another. The pain of being mistreated by fellow surfers is also a big one. In this example of the Waves of Pain the injury suffered by the hapless individual is an unusual one. Here is a story about the pain of a heroic surfer who is completely ignored by the very people who he worked so hard and risked so much to assist. That is a very special and unusual kind of pain. Click the pic to get the full story,
JUST SIX WORDS…
Socrates reaches into his archive and selects a bunch of stories he considers his favourites. This is the first in his list of sagas he considers the most memorable. JUST SIX WORDS – Have you ever wished that you could meet and have a conversation with someone you idolize? What would you say to your idol to convince them to want to stay in the conversation? What would they say in response to your brilliant social skills? How would the conversation go? How would it leave you feeling? An Australian ex-professional athlete who had played with and against some of the greatest basketball talent that this country has ever seen (Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace, Shane Heal, Phil Smythe) once, by chance, had a meeting with possibly the greatest and most famous professional sports person that has ever lived. The superstar he bumped into, in a New York elevator, just happened to be the Aussie basketballer’s idol. How did the meeting turn out? Click the pic and discover the six most memorable words in this Australian point guard’s life.
style corner
Want to surf at The Pass, Byron Bay? Perhaps you should reconsider.
There are lots of good reasons for surfing at The Pass. Beautiful environment. Gorgeous people. Lovely waves. There are a few good reasons why plenty of locals avoid the place like the pox. The crowds of wave-hungry surfers are one reason. But even nastier than the crowds are the assortment of annoying characters who frequent the place. Discover the ratbag types that you can meet at any time at the Pass. There are lots of them, Click the pic and read about them all.
The Greatest Race Ever – Atalanta versus Hippomenes
In ancient Greece, Atalanta was the greatest runner of all. Not just a brilliant hunter, wrestler, archer and fighter but the fastest track athlete ever born. Why would anyone challenge her to a race when the penalty for losing was instant execution? While this story about the greatest footrace ever might, superficially, be about a contest between Atalanta and the boy who loves her (Hippomenes), perhaps it is, just as significantly, a battle between the rival beautiful goddesses of love (Aphrodite) and chastity (Artemis). Is Atalanta’s loyalty to her beloved mentor Artemis as powerful as the lure of Aphrodite? The Goddess of the Gonads, as Artemis likes to think of her sister, wants Atalanta to experience the joys of erotic and romantic love but Artemis wants to put a stop to that. Find out who wins. Click the pic for the story.
rugby and rugby leaguer
Billionaire proposes hybrid Rugby competition! – “Heart of Rugby”
“Billionaire announces that he is backing a new hybrid-rugby competition” – In an unlikely and unbelievable April Fool Day story that has been dropped a few weeks early Socrates reveals his fantasy about where the two rugby codes should be heading and why. But Socrates is no fool. He knows the kinds of people who run the footy business in Australia and the world, and he doesn’t really expect them to actually embrace something that is innovative and makes sense. In other worlds, he’s not holding his breath.
code switch rumours
Stop the NRL theatrics and play footy!
Hudson Young deserved the penalty and the ten-minute rest. This time, Klein got it right! Socrates, from his news desk, takes a close look at the incident and then takes a swipe at the dozens of journalists, pundits, broadcasters and ex-players who have spent the last few days whinging about how a player should never be penalized or sin binned for mouthing off. They think head butting is a far more serious crime and only the Broncos super-kid should have suffered consequences for his retaliation against Young’s chin. Socrates doesn’t agree. He argues for referees to take a hard line against the drama queens who puff their chests out and sledge instead of getting on with playing football. Click on the pic to get the full story,
Socrates thoughts…
JUST SIX WORDS…
Socrates reaches into his archive and selects a bunch of stories he considers his favourites. This is the first in his list of sagas he considers the most memorable. JUST SIX WORDS – Have you ever wished that you could meet and have a conversation with someone you idolize? What would you say to your idol to convince them to want to stay in the conversation? What would they say in response to your brilliant social skills? How would the conversation go? How would it leave you feeling? An Australian ex-professional athlete who had played with and against some of the greatest basketball talent that this country has ever seen (Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace, Shane Heal, Phil Smythe) once, by chance, had a meeting with possibly the greatest and most famous professional sports person that has ever lived. The superstar he bumped into, in a New York elevator, just happened to be the Aussie basketballer’s idol. How did the meeting turn out? Click the pic and discover the six most memorable words in this Australian point guard’s life.
Greatest Cheats in history
Greatest cheats ever Contender No. 2 – 2000 Paralympic Spanish Intellectually Disabled Basketball Team
When it comes to ranking despicable acts of cheating in sports history the performance of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Spanish Intellectually Disabled basketball team comes close to the top. Click the pic and get Socrates story here.
Greatest cheats ever Contender No. 1. Nero
Socrates kicks his series of the greatest cheats in sporting history off by examining the illustrious career of the “great” Roman Emperor Nero. Bet you didn’t know that the mighty Nero competed in the AD 67 Olympic Games in the Chariot racing event. Like some other politicians, he wasn’t unprepared to go to unusual lengths to achieve a positive outcome. Read about his extraordinary efforts here. Click on the pic. Stay tuned for more talented cheater stories.
expert gets it wrong
Stop the NRL theatrics and play footy!
Hudson Young deserved the penalty and the ten-minute rest. This time, Klein got it right! Socrates, from his news desk, takes a close look at the incident and then takes a swipe at the dozens of journalists, pundits, broadcasters and ex-players who have spent the last few days whinging about how a player should never be penalized or sin binned for mouthing off. They think head butting is a far more serious crime and only the Broncos super-kid should have suffered consequences for his retaliation against Young’s chin. Socrates doesn’t agree. He argues for referees to take a hard line against the drama queens who puff their chests out and sledge instead of getting on with playing football. Click on the pic to get the full story,
myths
Peter Norman Wins Silver! But that’s not all – Photo 3.
The third in the series of all-time greatest Australian sports photographs. The image of Peter Norman collecting his surprise (and Australian record) 200 m silver medal at the Mexico Olympics in 1968 is only part of the story. The role Norman played in helping his human rights activist fellow competitors make their protest is possibly even more significant.
coaching
Postecoglou coaching pointers
Celtic football coach Ange Postecoglou’s post League Cup interview avoided the normal “we knew we had to…”, “full credit to the boys…” and “we talked about blah blah blah during the week…” bollocks that is so common in post-match player and coach chats with the media. The coach actually revealed important insights into the way great coaches think and how they seek to get the best out of their players. Any coach aspiring to become a great coach, no matter what sport they teach should listen to this interview. Postecoglou is the real deal. There are few coaches better at getting the most out of their team.
Socrates and the cranky coach…
Socrates, the ancient well known busy body, grabs a forlorn famous sports coach when he is trying to enter the gym and pesters him about why he gets so upset with referees. The ensuing discussion tests the meaning of words like “cheating” and “rules” and asks whether a coach has a role in how his or her players should approach the rules of the game and the officials.
Best Model of Sports Leadership? King Henry V
What are the skills and qualities that enable a coach or captain/coach to lead their team to great victories against all odds? One of Australia’s greatest ever actors, John Bell, reckons that Shakespeare had this leadership business summed up pretty well with his character King Henry V. Henry crops up in a few of Shakespeare’s plays but, as a gun fighter and captain coach of a top-notch brawling army, he came into his own around the time of the Battle of Agincourt when his English troops gave the French army a good thrashing (much to the bookies surprise). Click the pic and get the full story here. What wins great battles and sports matches? Leadership or the technical skills of the boss?
Fashion – can good turn bad?
Sporting Clubs – where you can be who you are
The worst thing about “coming out” according to master broadcaster Josh Szeps was not homophobic attack. Greater concern for Josh was the pressure he felt to suddenly become someone he wasn’t. When Socrates heard Szeps speaking about his “coming out” experience on Radio National’s “The Year That Made Me” programme it made him thing of all the LGBTQI+ sportspeople who feel like they don’t quite fit into either the straight or gay world’s. Josh’s feelings about not wanting to change who he was when he came out is not unusual. Many people who identify as queer feel uncomfortable conforming to expectations about how they should walk, talk, dress, behave, think and even vote. Inclusive sporting clubs like The Sydney Convicts Rugby Club provide a community for gay athletes (and their friends) where they can express themselves through sport without feeling that they have to change who they are. With the help of a little AI research Socrates takes a look at The Sydney Convicts Rugby Club and how it makes a difference to the lives of its members. And the convicts aren’t alone. There are hundreds of sports clubs around the world that provide a welcoming home for athletes who identify as queer. Click on the image to get the full story,
Toxic style
Surfing and cool sports styles have an odd thing in common. If you get too much of either of them, they become toxic! Addiction to surfing can damage health, careers and relationships! Addiction to a popular sports fashion may not be quite so physically or emotionally dangerous, but it can ruin your ability to project an original, modern and iconoclastic persona. Be careful with your sports styling. It’s unfortunate but some of the very finest examples of elegant design and thoughtful manufacturing can make the wearer look thoroughly mainstream! And toxic!
Are surfers sheep?
Where do you surf? What’s your primary source of information about where is the best place to choose to surf? Over several weeks I watched the surfing grape-vine drag punters from one surfing spot to the next according to what the latest “word” was telling them about where they needed to surf. It made me wonder whether many surfers were just happier being part of the mob than in actually surfing great waves. It wasn’t long before I discovered that more people suffer from the sheep syndrome than I originally imagined. It is a powerful disease.
Sport changing lives
Billionaire proposes hybrid Rugby competition! – “Heart of Rugby”
“Billionaire announces that he is backing a new hybrid-rugby competition” – In an unlikely and unbelievable April Fool Day story that has been dropped a few weeks early Socrates reveals his fantasy about where the two rugby codes should be heading and why. But Socrates is no fool. He knows the kinds of people who run the footy business in Australia and the world, and he doesn’t really expect them to actually embrace something that is innovative and makes sense. In other worlds, he’s not holding his breath.
Sport made fun for all – Urban Rec
My son calls me on the phone. He’s desperate. “Can you play European Handball with my team at Urban Rec tonight?” he says. I didn’t know what Urban Rec was. I didn’t know what European Handball was either. But I found out. It was a blast. What’s the best mid-week thing you can do for fun, friendship and fitness without worrying that some jerk is going to take it all too seriously? Its probably Urban Rec. I talked to Australian Urban Rec founder, Madeleine Wilkie, to get the low down. Don’t miss this story… or you might be missing your sporting future.
How working with horses changes young lives
Most of us know that sport, exercise, and a whole range of other physical activities are great for mental health and provide positive relief from trauma. But physical activity with horses? Why horses? Could horses actually change the lives of young indigenous people (who have experienced extensive trauma in their young lives)? Professor Juli Coffin, who designed and runs an equine assisted learning programme (Yawardani Jan-ga) for troubled young folks between the ages of seven and twenty-six in Broome, Western Australia, is confident that the relationships that are formed between horses and programme participants are making a big difference.
reviews
Girls Can’t Surf – film review
The blokes said that the girls will never be able to surf as well as them. Did they have a point? Film makers Michaele Perske, Christopher Nelius and Julie Anne De Nuvo take a look at the early female surfers of the seventies and eighties and explore their lives and careers in their new documentary film, “Girls Can’t Surf”. Amazing characters from professional surfing history like Jodie Cooper, Pauline Menczer, Pam Burridge and Lisa Anderson describe the lousy treatment, horrible conditions and discrimination they experienced in the early days of women’s pro surfing. Check out Socrates’ review. Click the image and read on?
Road Test – Cameron Smith versus Tom Brady (Socrates looks under the hood of second hand athletes)
At their prime they were the best in their class… but twenty years down the track do they still perform? Do one, or the other, or both offer value for money into future years or does their advanced years and way too many kilometres on the clock mean that they should be avoided like the plague. Socrates test drives the 1983 model Storm hooker and the 1977 model Bucc quarterback, rates their present-day performance, and considers the likelihood of them providing a satisfying driving experience into the future. Is one a better buy than the other? Is one more likely to win future championships than the other? Don’t consider buying a Cameron Smith or a Tom Brady without having read Socrates’ road test comparison report first!
Philopher’s Cafe
Surfer philosophy – Let no wave be unridden, no flip-flop unworn!
Two surfers sat down to a post-surf coffee and the discussion turned to philosophy. While one lamented the ill-fortune he had been dealt in recent weeks the other pointed out that he needed to take a look at himself and learn some of the important philosophical lessons that the beach and the surf can offer. Click the pic and discover the critical life lessons… epistemological, ethical, metaphysical and logical… that one surfer offers the other that were hard won through a life of surfing.
newsdesk
JUST SIX WORDS…
Socrates reaches into his archive and selects a bunch of stories he considers his favourites. This is the first in his list of sagas he considers the most memorable. JUST SIX WORDS – Have you ever wished that you could meet and have a conversation with someone you idolize? What would you say to your idol to convince them to want to stay in the conversation? What would they say in response to your brilliant social skills? How would the conversation go? How would it leave you feeling? An Australian ex-professional athlete who had played with and against some of the greatest basketball talent that this country has ever seen (Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace, Shane Heal, Phil Smythe) once, by chance, had a meeting with possibly the greatest and most famous professional sports person that has ever lived. The superstar he bumped into, in a New York elevator, just happened to be the Aussie basketballer’s idol. How did the meeting turn out? Click the pic and discover the six most memorable words in this Australian point guard’s life.
In sport – what’s more important? Fairness or money.
Who deserves the harshest consequences for unsporting behaviour? A serial offender and ludicrously wealthy professional athlete or a homeless teenager with a lot of tough stuff going on in her life? When bad behaviour occurs on the pitch should a wealthy pro be treated more leniently than a homeless teenager? With this question in mind Socrates asks the broader question “what is the central role of sport in society”. While money, entertainment, education, personal development, community building are all part of the equation, fairness must always be at the centre of sporting questions.
rugby test
When is cheating okay?
When Socrates found out that Rugby League legend Wally Lewis had pulled off an outrageous State of Origin scam without a soul even realizing, it occurred to him that sometimes pulling a swifty should be tolerated. Here Socrates explores the history of sport and tries to establish the circumstances under which a little bit of rule book stretching is okay. Click the pic and see if you agree with him.
COVID IMPACT
Want to surf at The Pass, Byron Bay? Perhaps you should reconsider.
There are lots of good reasons for surfing at The Pass. Beautiful environment. Gorgeous people. Lovely waves. There are a few good reasons why plenty of locals avoid the place like the pox. The crowds of wave-hungry surfers are one reason. But even nastier than the crowds are the assortment of annoying characters who frequent the place. Discover the ratbag types that you can meet at any time at the Pass. There are lots of them, Click the pic and read about them all.
True story from the world of sport
JUST SIX WORDS…
Socrates reaches into his archive and selects a bunch of stories he considers his favourites. This is the first in his list of sagas he considers the most memorable. JUST SIX WORDS – Have you ever wished that you could meet and have a conversation with someone you idolize? What would you say to your idol to convince them to want to stay in the conversation? What would they say in response to your brilliant social skills? How would the conversation go? How would it leave you feeling? An Australian ex-professional athlete who had played with and against some of the greatest basketball talent that this country has ever seen (Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace, Shane Heal, Phil Smythe) once, by chance, had a meeting with possibly the greatest and most famous professional sports person that has ever lived. The superstar he bumped into, in a New York elevator, just happened to be the Aussie basketballer’s idol. How did the meeting turn out? Click the pic and discover the six most memorable words in this Australian point guard’s life.
rugby league shock
Stop the NRL theatrics and play footy!
Hudson Young deserved the penalty and the ten-minute rest. This time, Klein got it right! Socrates, from his news desk, takes a close look at the incident and then takes a swipe at the dozens of journalists, pundits, broadcasters and ex-players who have spent the last few days whinging about how a player should never be penalized or sin binned for mouthing off. They think head butting is a far more serious crime and only the Broncos super-kid should have suffered consequences for his retaliation against Young’s chin. Socrates doesn’t agree. He argues for referees to take a hard line against the drama queens who puff their chests out and sledge instead of getting on with playing football. Click on the pic to get the full story,
learning about life through sport
Sporting Clubs – where you can be who you are
The worst thing about “coming out” according to master broadcaster Josh Szeps was not homophobic attack. Greater concern for Josh was the pressure he felt to suddenly become someone he wasn’t. When Socrates heard Szeps speaking about his “coming out” experience on Radio National’s “The Year That Made Me” programme it made him thing of all the LGBTQI+ sportspeople who feel like they don’t quite fit into either the straight or gay world’s. Josh’s feelings about not wanting to change who he was when he came out is not unusual. Many people who identify as queer feel uncomfortable conforming to expectations about how they should walk, talk, dress, behave, think and even vote. Inclusive sporting clubs like The Sydney Convicts Rugby Club provide a community for gay athletes (and their friends) where they can express themselves through sport without feeling that they have to change who they are. With the help of a little AI research Socrates takes a look at The Sydney Convicts Rugby Club and how it makes a difference to the lives of its members. And the convicts aren’t alone. There are hundreds of sports clubs around the world that provide a welcoming home for athletes who identify as queer. Click on the image to get the full story,
Toxic style
Surfing and cool sports styles have an odd thing in common. If you get too much of either of them, they become toxic! Addiction to surfing can damage health, careers and relationships! Addiction to a popular sports fashion may not be quite so physically or emotionally dangerous, but it can ruin your ability to project an original, modern and iconoclastic persona. Be careful with your sports styling. It’s unfortunate but some of the very finest examples of elegant design and thoughtful manufacturing can make the wearer look thoroughly mainstream! And toxic!
Waves of Pain
Don’t thank me. Just completely ignore me!
There are many kinds of pain that can be experienced in the surf. Physical pain, of course! The array of painful injuries that the ocean can dish out is endless. The pain of being humiliated by the cruel actions of the sea is another. The pain of being mistreated by fellow surfers is also a big one. In this example of the Waves of Pain the injury suffered by the hapless individual is an unusual one. Here is a story about the pain of a heroic surfer who is completely ignored by the very people who he worked so hard and risked so much to assist. That is a very special and unusual kind of pain. Click the pic to get the full story,
Teen’s toes attacked at Tallows Beach
The ocean never fails to surprise with its choices for methods of torture of its adherents… as Byron Bay young gun surfer, Jack, discovered a few years back. While Jack had his heart in his mouth when he turned up for his surf lesson to discover that the Ocean at Tallow Beach was in an angry mood, he would never have imagined, in a million years, that his session would end up as it did. Click the pic and read about Jack’s adventure and discover how weird the ocean can be when it gets grumpy.
Philosopher’s Sports Bar
Surfer philosophy – Let no wave be unridden, no flip-flop unworn!
Two surfers sat down to a post-surf coffee and the discussion turned to philosophy. While one lamented the ill-fortune he had been dealt in recent weeks the other pointed out that he needed to take a look at himself and learn some of the important philosophical lessons that the beach and the surf can offer. Click the pic and discover the critical life lessons… epistemological, ethical, metaphysical and logical… that one surfer offers the other that were hard won through a life of surfing.
Sport 2021 – Sports philosopher No 2. Aaron Kearney
Multi-skilled and multi-award-winning sports presenter, sports expert, sociologist and philosopher, Aaron Kearney, joins Socrates in the philosopher’s sports bar to run through some of the changes that we might expect in our sporting lives when the dust from the Covid19 epidemic settles. Not only does Kearney describe a bunch of changes that are likely in the world of sport over the next twelve months but he has a bit of a wish list as well. Let’s knock the boring sports celebrities down a peg or two might be one of his hopes! Other than a democratization of the world of sports stardom there is not a lot of negative in the sporting world of 2021 that Kearney imagines. Check out his conversation with our beloved “Round Mound of Scrumming-Down” (Socrates) here. Just click on the pic.
melbourne cup
Surfers and melanoma – how great is the risk?
We all know that surfers are at greater risk of skin cancer than the average non-surfer. It’s obvious. They spend more time in the sun. Should that be of real concern to surfer? Is it really that big a risk? Recent research from Southern Cross University indicates that it is a way bigger risk than most surfers… and people… imagine. Going through treatment for skin cancer lesions, even when the treatment is successful, is not fun. Surfers should be aware of the risks and take precautions. Click the pic to get the full story.
aphorisms, insights and wisdom… about fishing!
“You know when they have a fishing show on TV? They catch the fish and then let it go. They don’t want to eat the fish, they just want to make it late for something.”
Brilliant and unorthodox American comedian, Mitch Hedberg, who like so many other comic geniuses, died way too young.
Wisdom
“Rugby is a good occasion for keeping thirty bullies far from the centre of the city.”
Oscar Wilde
While I appreciate Oscar’s humour, I gotta say he is being a bit harsh. There are a few rugby players who are not bullies!
wisdom
“These are my new shoes. They’re good shoes. They won’t make you rich like me. They won’t make you rebound like me. They definitely won’t make you handsome like me. They’ll only make you have shoes like me.”
Who else but the incomparable Sir Charles “Round Mound of Rebound” Wade Barkley.
socrates favourite stories
JUST SIX WORDS…
Socrates reaches into his archive and selects a bunch of stories he considers his favourites. This is the first in his list of sagas he considers the most memorable. JUST SIX WORDS – Have you ever wished that you could meet and have a conversation with someone you idolize? What would you say to your idol to convince them to want to stay in the conversation? What would they say in response to your brilliant social skills? How would the conversation go? How would it leave you feeling? An Australian ex-professional athlete who had played with and against some of the greatest basketball talent that this country has ever seen (Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace, Shane Heal, Phil Smythe) once, by chance, had a meeting with possibly the greatest and most famous professional sports person that has ever lived. The superstar he bumped into, in a New York elevator, just happened to be the Aussie basketballer’s idol. How did the meeting turn out? Click the pic and discover the six most memorable words in this Australian point guard’s life.
sports style – or lack of it
Seven deadly sins of sports sartorialism and style.
There are hundreds of fashion choices that look ridiculous, foolish, horrible and offensive in a sporting context but seven particular style choices brand the “sinner” almost beyond redemption. Socrates smugly sticks his massive nose in the air and points the finger of sartorial disgrace at the “sins” he finds most hideous.
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