Crikey Sports

Our balls and all sports blog

No luck for the Irish as French cheats prosper

November 19, 2009 – 4:40 pm, by Neil Walker

Begorrah. Talk about the luck of the Irish. Ireland’s football team was cruelly denied a place at next year’s World Cup in South Africa due to a blatant piece of cheating from the French this morning.

In an act of grand larceny, ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry – currently at Spanish giants Barcelona – handballed twice (the second time deliberately to control the ball), to set up France’s goal in a 1-1 extra time draw against the Irish in Paris this morning. France qualified for the World Cup at Ireland’s expense thanks to a 2-1 aggregate ‘win’ over two matches.

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The referee and linesman failed to spot the handball despite Henry almost catching the ball at the back post before squaring to teammate William Gallas to score. Post-match, Henry decided to “be honest” (!!) and admit “the ball hit my hand” but “I am not the referee”. Who said cheats never prosper?

For the good of the game of football, this result cannot be allowed to stand.

FIFA needs to order this match to be replayed at a neutral venue. It’s an absolute disgrace and here in Australia, gives further ammunition to football’s critics to mock the game’s integrity.

Henry is a fantastic player but he’ll now be forever remembered as a cheat. Perhaps he should have a word with his former manager at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, who offered to replay a 1999 FA Cup match against Sheffield United after a controversial winning Arsenal goal. Arsenal won that replay 2-1 but also won something far more important – the admiration of sports fans for their sense of decency.

Will the French manager, Raymond Domenech, follow his compatriot Wenger’s example and offer the Irish a replay? In the high financial stakes game of World Cup qualification, it’s doubtful. FIFA must intervene.

We’ve been here before, of course. Diego Maradona’s handball against England in the 1986 World Cup led to FIFA instigating a Fair Play campaign. It’s worthless if FIFA refuse to get some balls and order the French to replay the match.

This result sullies the game of football. If not addressed, it’s tempting to forget about football. What’s the point if this kind of cheating behaviour is rewarded at the supposed pinnacle of the sport?

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The Crawford Review: time to stop chasing the Olympic dream?

November 18, 2009 – 10:43 am, by Ruth Brown

The long-awaited Crawford Review of Australian Sport has finally been released (read it here) and it’s causing quite a stir in this sports-mad country of ours.

As Bernard Keane reported in yesterday’s Crikey Daily Mail:

[The report] has in effect called the bluff of successive Australian governments and proposed a re-weighting of sports funding away from elite Olympic sports toward grassroots participation.

The Crawford Review has brought that contradiction out into the open, suggesting “the funding imbalance between Olympic and non-Olympic sports should be questioned. More emphasis should be given to sports that are popular with many Australians … The bias toward funding Olympic sports leads to outcomes that make little strategic sense for Australia.”

For many, the criticism of Australia’s gold-medal-hungry sports policies have been a long time coming.

In the SMH, Richard Hinds writes:

David Crawford and his panel should be hailed for one thing: attempting to unshackle the government-funded sports sector from the limited, stifling and self-serving influence of the Olympic movement and its costly, self-aggrandising gold-medal obsession.

The Age’s Greg Baum takes a similar line:

Now the Federal Government must decide if it believes failure to win a medal in the 50-metre backstroke in London in 2012 represents a calamitous failure of national vocation that will put Australia at risk of disappearing off the face of the globe, or merely will spare the world three gratuitous ”oi’’s. I think we will survive.

But in other (decidedly more Rupert-flavoured) corners, the assault on Australia’s Olympic hopes have not been so well-received.

The Australian’s sports editor Willy Mason writes:

To follow the recommendation of the Crawford review of sport and abandon the aspiration to remain in the top five Olympic nations and settle for mere sporting mediocrity is to throw away part of our national identity.

…

Every Australian athlete, no matter what their sport, deserves the chance to strive for Olympic selection and a medal. And every Australian deserves the chance to celebrate when they succeed.

So what do Crikey Sports readers think? A refreshing change in thinking from the relentless and costly pursuit of Olympic gold, or is international sporting success a vital part of our national identity? Leave your thoughts below.

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The youngest black-belt in the world

November 15, 2009 – 11:59 am, by Ruth Brown

Back when my journalistic beat was martial arts and combat sports, I used to have a Google News keyword alert set for “martial arts”. Occasionally it would bare fruit with an interesting news item I’d missed, but more often than not, each day I’d receive an email crammed full of articles from small-town papers about a 6-year-old local karate/taekwondo/kung fu whiz kid, featuring a picture like this:

Or this:

Or:

I was reminded of this in an article in yesterday’s SMAge Good Weekend supplement, which had a throw-away line that one interview subject (a chef? I really can’t remember) had been “the youngest black-belt in the world”.

Yeah, him and about ten thousand others.

“Youngest black-belt in the world/Australia/America/Britain” articles made regular appearances in my inbox every week. Invariably, it was some four, five, or six-year-old kid from Sensei Billy’s Karate Academy in bum-fuck nowhere — usually the US, and usually named something like Cody or Tyson. Usually, they were also the kid of the head instructor.

Recently, I also noticed the promoters of a video game called Mini Ninjas pulled off a huge PR coup by parading a little five-year-old Indian girl with a karate black-belt around the UK media circus:

It’s not hard to see why the story gained so much traction — “Young girl is good at martial arts” stories also feature regularly in local rags — and her instructor is also, surprise surprise, her dad.

Without getting into the whole debate around the point of giving kids black-belts — or the point of belts in martial arts at all — suffice to say: it’s all a bit silly.

And although community newspapers aren’t typically known for deep investigative journalism, I’m always a little surprised that the writers don’t at least do a simple Google search to establish whether these “youngest black-belt” claims hold any water.

If you want your toddler to be an overnight media sensation, basic black-belts retail for about $8 at your local martial arts store.

Disclaimer: Scandal! I too was a child black-belt — but at the ripe old age of 12, was well and truly over-the-hill by martial arts standards.

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A 2020 view of Australian sport

November 12, 2009 – 9:49 pm, by Matt Gagger

By Bobas at Green and Gold Rugby

Australia has a relatively low population for the number of popular male ‘national’ sports: the various football codes and cricket. This inevitably causes a high level of competition among them for fans and finance. Other countries recognise that possible changes in these sports may be seen first in Australia. “Because the sporting marketplace in this country is so competitive, any trends – good or bad – in the global game manifest themselves here first.” This article will look (in depth) at the health of Australia’s main male team sporting codes, suggest the turning points the codes will have to negotiate on the way and then predict where they will be in ten years time.

Australia has four “football” codes and cricket. For argument’s sake, none of these sports will be referred to as just football, but for the record Soccer has more claim to the name than any other sport. Read More »

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And the winner is – Melbourne!

November 12, 2009 – 9:23 am, by Matt Gagger
Who's gonna play full-forward?

Who's gonna play full-forward?

By Juan Cote at Green and Gold Rugby

The wait is finally over with Melbourne being named as the new Super 15 franchise that will enter the Super rugby competition in 2011. Just how the announcement will be greeted in Melbourne remains to be seen after the city was left standing at the alter some years ago when the fourth franchise went West.

There has been more than enough written in recent months about the lack of interest shown in sports capital of Australia at the promise of a Super rugby team, so it appears as though the ARU Thought Police will have their work cut out trying to indoctrinate the locals. Read More »

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Wallabies vs Poms preview

November 7, 2009 – 5:13 am, by Matt Gagger
Bringing the BBQ to pommyland

Bringing the BBQ to pommyland

Matt is the editor of GreenandGoldRugby.com

The Wallaby team to take on England this weekend was named today, and what flutter of excitement it’s caused. There might only be one new starter and a few positional swaps in it, but what a change it signals.

From the makeshift security of The Earl (AAC) and Ryan Cross being part of another predictable loss last weekend, we now have the excitement machine; a centre pairing of Mr BBQ footy – Quade Cooper at 12, and the hardest runner in the Super 14 of 2009 – Digby Ioane at 13.

Just when you start to think Robbies selection are made by a robot, he does this. Can anyone remember a more instinctive combination in the Wallabies? Read More »

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Tasmanians unite to free Jason Krejza

November 6, 2009 – 3:32 pm, by Leigh Josey

Here at Crikey we get a truckload of press releases. So so many.

Not many stand out. Maybe Steve Fielding’s (he’s a funny man) but that’s about it. So I couldn’t help but laugh when I received the following presser this afternoon:

Concerned Tasmanians for Jason Krejza

On the first anniversary of Jason Krejza’s 12-wicket haul on his test cricket debut, a new community group has been formed to lobby for his inclusion in the test side.

Concerned Tasmanians for Jason Krejza (CT4K) has two key goals:

(a) To get Jason Krejza into the Australian test, one-day and 20/20 cricket sides, and
(b) To promote World Jason Krejza Day (6-10 November) on each anniversary of the Nagpur test where Krejza took world record figures of 12/358 on debut.

CT4JK Spokesperson Hugh Miller said that since Krejza’s demotion, Australian cricket has been in a state of disaster.

“Since Krejza was dropped, Australia lost a home test series to South Africa and the Ashes. We couldn’t even beat New Zealand at home in the one-dayers. Coincidence?” Mr Miller said.

“All this time we’ve endured the biggest non-turner in the history of Australian cricket, Nathan Hauritz, as a front-line spinner. It’s like a nightmare you can’t wake up from.”

“The Australian selectors are having a massive laugh at the fans’ expense.”

CT4JK’s website – www.krejza4australia.com – has been inundated with messages of support since its launch this week for World Jason Krejza Day (6-10 November 2009).

“World Jason Krejza Day’s theme this is year is Celebrate the figures. 12/358 on debut is a world record and we’re keen to get that message of hope into the community,” Mr Miller said.

“CT4JK will be running community events and spreading the word of Krejza.

“We’ll be sending a message that Andrew Hilditch and his band of so-called selectors cannot ignore. That message is “Pick Jason ‘Tassie’ Krejza.”

Brilliant.

Uni students surely, I thought. David Boon? … nah. Could it be Bob Brown? Or his staff? He was born in NSW and played first class cricket for his home state. This doesn’t make sense.

Committed to finding out, I sent the following email:

Leigh Josey from Crikey here.

That’s the funniest media release I have seen for a while.

A few questions.

1) Is this in fact the work of Jason Krejza himself?

2) If not, does Jason Krejza know of/or endorse your organisation?

3) What are your thoughts of Nathan Hauritz?

4) Do you have a sister organistaion in NSW?

I received a prompt response from “Ben”. My god, they have people actually working on this?

Ben (it couldn’t be fellow Taswegian Ben Hilfenhaus could it???) replied:

Concerned Tasmanians for Jason Krejza is not a joke, if there is a joke in all of this it is the Australian selectors. There is a very serious point in all this, that is that Jason Krejza is the only legitimate post-Warne spinning option for the Australian cricket side. You’ll find an examination of the facts at www.krejza4australia.com.

To answer your questions:

1 and 2) No, CT4JK doesn’t know Jason Krejza but we believe in his turning ability.

3) Nathan Hauritz is a blight on the game and threatens the team’s performance, morale and marketing potential. He only has one delivery — the nudie — i.e. the ball that doesn’t turn.

Krejza has dozens of options in his kitbag and isn’t afraid to use them. (If you’d like evidence of this please refer to his 12 wickets on debut)

4) No sister organisation in NSW, but like Jason himself, we will happily consider anyone who gets on board with the campaign as a Tasmanian.

My god. This may just work.

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Andre Agassi: No more heroes any more?

November 1, 2009 – 8:29 pm, by Neil Walker

Is Andre Agassi’s name even Andre Agassi?

It’s worth asking considering other revelations contained in Agassi’s autobiography titled Open published next week. Thanks to sensational serialised extracts from the book, media outlets all over the world have been happy to give Agassi’s book fantastic free publicity. The five-times Grand Slam champ’s confessions that he used crystal meth, took speed before matches and lied to tennis authorities about it when caught was always likely to get a lot of attention. Agassi’s admission that he wore a mullet wig for much of the 1990s has also helped get the American tennis legend back in the spotlight. This, Wayne Carey, is how you promote a forthcoming autobiography.

It all leaves a bitter taste though. It’s not like Agassi is confessing his sins (and that mullet was a sin) due to a newfound sense of honesty. He’s doing it for money. Surely he doesn’t need any more cash? Unless he’s also about to admit to a degenerate gambling problem too. Perhaps that’s chapter 7 or 13.

No matter which way it’s spun, Agassi’s actions and – more importantly – his lies to avoid punishment when caught were disgraceful. He won’t be remembered so fondly by many tennis and sports fans now.

It’s Andrés Gómez you have to feel sorry for. He must be gutted that his sole Grand Slam title has been tarnished by claims his opponent’s wig worries on the day was a major factor in his win.

Don’t buy Andre Agassi’s book. If you must read it, steal it. And if you’re caught, deny everything. Agassi will understand.

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Lock stocks: the new Achillies Heel?

October 26, 2009 – 9:22 am, by Matt Gagger
Lock/flanker action

Lock/flanker action

Matt is editor of GreenandGoldRugby.com

Robbie Deans must feel like the boy with his finger in the dyke – just as you get one hole plugged, another crack opens wide. Or at least, I hope he sees it that way, because I believe there’s a good chance that the Wallabies are going to get blindsided on this Grand Slam European tour, from probably the most underrated position on the modern rugby field – the second row.

While we’ve all been fixated on the scrummaging of the Wallabies Props or the throwing of Polota-Nau, a slow but certain rot has been setting into the strength of Australia’s lock stocks. Only as recently as the 2007 World Cup did Australia have a jumping pair to rival any in the world, in the form of Dan Vickerman (204cm) and Nathan Sharpe (200cm).

Since then, with Vickerman up north and Sharpe either deemed surplus to requirements or injured, Australia’s locking stocks have done a Lehman Brothers. Read More »

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Jim Stynes tweets cancer

October 23, 2009 – 4:48 pm, by Crikey Intern

Crikey intern Aaron Flanagan writes:

Jim Stynes’ journey from the green fields of Gaelic football to the heart and soul of the Melbourne football club was never as tough as the challenge he faces now.

The Dublin born ruckman and Demons legend has been fighting cancer since July. His first battle was against a cancerous lump on his back, only for it to reappear as three tumours on his brain after he had the lump cut out.

Stynes’ public confrontation with cancer has engendered the genial Irish-Australian with a massive groundswell of support both here and in the land of his birth, partly because he’s been sharing his experiences on twitter.

Through Stynes’ tweets, the world has been privy to the intimate hardships he and his family have encountered on the road to clean health.

The world was informed of the news given to him by his doctors in a post-operative examination via this tweet:

@jimstynes Small bump on recovery, little tumor on brain, will know soon

@jimstynes Good news PET scan all clean on rest body. Great support everyone xox

A subsequent message read:

@jimstynes 3 tumours on brain. Fight cont. Treatm looks pos+. Specialist 2morrow. Big 24hrs! Thx2all

Stynes appeared recently at the best and fairest awards night for the Melbourne FC to soul stirring applause, his head bald after a dose of radiation treatment. In his strong, distinctive Dublin – Australian mongrel brogue he spelled out exactly how he was progressing in his fight.

Imploring the crowd to stop clapping so he could keep his emotions in check, Stynes stood impassively on the open stage and, as he has done since he was first diagnosed with the disease, refused to hide from the fact as he openly addressed the audience.

“Obviously, it’s hard not to notice the nude nut,” Stynes said.

“I was actually hoping to come with a number two (haircut) but it sort of got ahead of me yesterday. It started to fall out.”

Stynes explained that his ‘nude nut’ was a result of undergoing two weeks of radiation therapy and that he would be taking four weeks recuperation to gather his strength before embarking on a final two weeks of therapy in November. Stynes, a religious man, prayed out loud that this would “please God, finish it off “.

In the weeks leading up to the award ceremony, he had tweeted

@jimstynes Nex step begins tues, 2weeks radiation,hair will have to go,Jimeoin is happy 2shave 2,get on board lets help some kids,brighten a few smiles

Then came:

@jimstynes Side effects not much fun,hate not being myself.Family have been awesome,great day at beach.Serious week of radiation ahead,learning heaps.

then this on October 21:

@jimstynes just had the head shaved, feels great, never had the guts when i played but wish i had now, my boy loves it.

Stynes won the Brownlow medal in 1991, becoming the only recipient of the award not born in Australia. He played 264 games for Melbourne, 244 of them in a row, an AFL record.

He is a two time all Australian and four time winner of Melbourne’s best and fairest award.

During his career, the 199cm ruckman distinguished himself for his impregnability and fitness. He pioneered the versatile ruckman role, using his sublime conditioning to effortlessly drop back or forwards when required. He broke the mould of the lumbering one dimensional tap-man, and was reputed to be the best runner at the club during his career.

Stynes’ pride and devotion to the club where he played out his entire career, came full circle at the end of last year when he took over as president, a role he relinquished in July when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Despite this, he continued to maintain a high presence at the club,

@jimstynes MFC B+F winner Aaron Davey, the talented brothers+1nude nut. What a great nite, just awesome,” he tweeted after the presentation of the award.

The coming weeks will test the Dubliner’s famed toughness.

Happy tweeting Jim.

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