Rob's Blog » Sport

Balding Agassi Wears Mullet Wig

Rob Wood — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:51:25 +0000

Is this the tennis story of the century? I think it is hilarious. In his recently release tell all book, Andre Agassi admits that when he was at the peak of his career, confidently playing in front a huge audiences as the number one ranked player in the world, he was also so self conscious about his receding hairline that he succumbed to wearing a wig. Not just any wig, but a ridiculous mullet wig, boofy at the front and long at the back – the complete antithesis of what was really underneath. And why didn’t anyone notice? I can usually spot a rug a mile off. It just shows that when you have enough money you can pay for a quality toupee.

Related Pages: About Tennis, Andre Agassi profile

Agassi Out

To Walk or Not to Walk

Rob Wood — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:12:27 +0000

Walking in cricket means that you walk off the field when you know you are out, whether the umpire gives you out or not. Adam Gilchirst is a recent modern day player that was well known for walking. It was easy for him as he more often than not played well and made a good score. It must be harder for other players who are struggling to keep their place in the team, who do not want to give away their wicket unless the umpire says so. The umpires make wrong decisions sometimes, giving players out when they are not, and not giving them out when they are. Over time you would expect that this would even out, and this is one argument of some players who chose not to walk. The players need an incentive to do the right thing and walk when they think they are out. How about an annual prize for the best ‘walker’, based on point every time a player walks before being given out by the umpire, and extra credits when they walk and are subsequently found to be not out by the replays!

Related Pages: About Cricket

Bad Sport Serena

Rob Wood — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:26:44 +0000

In the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, defending champion Serena Williams was fined $10,000 for her tirade directed at a line judge. She said: ‘If I could, I would … shove [this ball] down your throat’. There were a few expletives deleted from that quote. Can you get a bigger contrast between the champion of men’s tennis, Roger Federer and her? Thankfully such bad sportsmanship has not gone unnoticed, with the big fine and her losing the final match point based on that outburst. She was going to lose the semifinal to Kim Clijsters anyway, and the fine is only a smidgeon of what she earned playing the tournament. Let’s hope she gets punished in more ways, but somehow I think she will not be repentant.

Related Pages: US Open, About Tennis, Roger Federer profile

Do It Yourself Sporting Tours

Rob Wood — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:33:15 +0000

It is becoming popular for sporting fans to get together and fly around the world to support their team. Why pay so much when you can do it yourself for much cheaper? There is a big market for these tour groups and people pay way too much for the privilege. People pay thousands of dollars to join a cricket tour of India, where you can get by on as little as $10 a day. However, I admit that you do get plenty of extras from joining such a group, for example meeting some of the sports stars, getting priority entry, and good seats organised/guaranteed. You also don’t have to buy your own travel tickets and organise hotels. It is fun either way you go, but if you want to save money and make it an adventure, then do it yourself. I may even come along and do the self-guided tour with you! Careful, if you get too many of our mates together and it will become one of those tours you are trying to avoid!

Related Pages: About Cricket

Longest Golf Course Across Australian Outback

Rob Wood — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:29:29 +0000

The world’s longest golf course is currently being built in the middle of the Australia’s Outback. The course will stretch along 1365km. However, you will not have to hit a ball that far, as there are some big hikes between holes. The course, called ‘Nullarbor Links’, comprises 18 holes located between Ceduna in South Australia and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Each hole is composed of an artificial grass tee and green, separated by a rugged outback fairway. The unique course is predicted to be a hit with tourists from far and wide, with a chance to experience “the real Australia”.

Related Pages: golf

Cricket Referrals – the umpire is not always right

Rob Wood — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:03:43 +0000

Cricket has joined some other sports to now have at Test level an umpire referral system. It was first trialed in 2008 (in a Test series between Sri Lanka and India). Unlike in tennis where the challenge and referral decision is clear cut using hawke-eye technology, the cricket referral is adjudicated by another umpire, and is open to further errors. The actual way it works may change and develop, but when it was first brought in this is how it worked.

Players are allowed to challenge decisions made by the on-field umpires, and have them referred to the TV official. For each innings of the Test, each team can challenge any decisions, though they will be limited to three unsuccessful challenges per innings. Only the batsman on the receiving end of the umpire’s original decision or the captain of the fielding side can appeal by making a “T” sign with both forearms at shoulder height. The third umpire uses the technology of the hot spot and slow motion replays at different angles to gain information and make decisions.

It all sounds great for the players and viewers at home, but the pressure is on the umpires. In reality, the process takes too long and can distract from the game. When there are challenges left near the end of an innings, players tend to make frivolous challenges on the off chance of getting a decision overturned. So there are still problems that need to be ironed out, but a great step forward for cricket.

Related Pages: About Cricket, Technology in Sports

Should Soccer use a video referee?

Rob Wood — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:04:22 +0000

One sport that has so far resisted the use of high-tech assistance is soccer (football). Replays could be used to adjudicate on off-side decisions, whether a ball passes over the goal line, and clarify penalty decisions, with an off-field referee communicating with the umpires on the field using wireless technology. What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live

Rob Wood — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:48:29 +0000

A new book by Robert Tuchman, who works in Sports promotion and management, is called, The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live: An Insider’s Guide to Creating the Sports Experience of a Lifetime. He has used live appeal as the main criteria for his selection. There is a US bias, which is not surprising considering that many Americans think that they are the centre of the sporting universe (which in true in some sports). I don’t doubt his top four, but am not sure that the UNC vs. Duke Basketball Game at Cameron Indoor Stadium deserves top 10 status. I have not seen such as game, so maybe I am not qualified to comment. I have ticked off two of the ten, quite a way to go. Check out the complete list of 100.

Here are the top 10 events you must see, according to Robert Tuchman. What you think?

1. The Golf Masters
2. FIFA World Cup
3. Super Bowl
4. Summer Olympics
5. Army vs. Navy Football Game
6. New York City Marathon
7. World Series Baseball
8. Winter Olympics
9. Red Sox vs. Yankees at Yankee Stadium
10. UNC vs. Duke Basketball Game at Cameron Indoor Stadium

Unfair Advantage for Swimmers

Rob Wood — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:13:56 +0000

The controversial high tech swimming suits have been in the sporting news since the Beijing Olympic Games, and have undoubtedly aided swimmers to achived 108 world records since the Speedo LZR Racer was introduced in February 2008. Athletes have always looked for any advantage they can get over their competition, usually within the rules. The current rules enable athletes to wear these suits, which basically make them more streamlined, reducing resistance in the water. Although it is within the rules to wear these suits, is it really any different to doping, which also artifically assisting the performance of athletes?

If not all athletes can afford to have a suit, those that can’t are disadvantaged. But so are those athletes that cannot afford to have their own coach or access to quality pool facilities or gym training equipmemt. By making maoney one of the prerequesties for success in swimming, it beomces an elite sport that is only available for the elite, and I am sure that world swimming body would not be happy with that. The suits are currently banned, at least in Australia, for all junior competition. FINA is currently meeting to decide that to do about it, and le’t’s hope that they ban it completely. When athletes compete against each other, we want to know who is the best swimmer, not who can afford to be.

UPDATE:

FINA decided on these regulations to be in place from the World Championships in 2009: (1) Suit no more than 1 mm thick (2) suits not to extend past the shoulders or ankles (3) no tailored suits (4) no more than one suit at a time

Related Pages: Science of Swimming

Fast Dollars for Fast Food

Rob Wood — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:28:16 +0000

Nathan Deeks, an Australian Champion race walker, appeared in a full page color advertisement for the fast food restaurant McDonalds, saying that he eats ‘Maccas’ after his events, including at the Olympic Games. I know that he was probably only trying to earn a few sponsorship bucks in return from all the effort he puts into his training, but as a sporting role model it was such a disgusting thing to promote eating undoubtedly unhealthy food. I don’t mind that he had the occasional fast food snack, but it is not right for an athlete representing Australia to say it so publicly. It does not say much about the dietitians at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) if one of their athletes comes out of there with this attitude that this is OK to do. A few days later, a very similar looking ad was published (obviously on purpose), with an ex- Australian Olympian and NBA star Luc Longley, promoting healthy eating, saying that he never considered eating junk food before or after competing. The ad was a welcome response to the McDonalds one, which needed to be done, but I don’t think enough ho-ha was made of it. The government spends millions of dollars trying to address the problem of childhood obesity, including trying to get more people active and into sports, and also millions are spent on the AIS getting athletes including Nathan Deeks properly prepared for the Olympic Games. I don’t think he has done his long time supporter (AIS) any good and hopefully he got into trouble, all for a small financial reward.

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