Archive for the ‘Australian Sports’ Category

October 14th, 2015 Australian Sports, Endurance Sports, Motor Sports, Sports controversies, Sportsmanship No Comments »

Tahan Lew-Fatt Defends Reynolds Over Misogyny Claims

Tahan Lew-Fatt image: Instagram

Gorgeous model Tahan Lew-Fatt is standing by her beleaguered boyfriend David Reynolds.

This week Reynolds was fined $25,000 for making ‘inappropriate’ remarks concerning fellow Bathurst 1000 entrants Renee Gracie and Simone de Silvestra.

Tahan Lew-Fatt is outraged at the suggestion her beau is sexist.

“Ok, so whoever has seen the news, re my gorgeous ‘apparently sexist’ boyfriend, David Reynolds, knows he made an off-handed comment, that wasn’t even mean!

Lew-Fatt took to Facebook to paint a very different picture of the man who has been the centre of V8 racing this week (for all the wrong reasons).

“My boyfriend is the furthest from sexist … He makes me breakfast every morning and cooks me dinner every night; and (I’m) pretty sure he is the only one who cleans.”

Lew-Fatt then went on to call for support to help her boyfriend pay the $25,000 fine.

“If anyone can donate towards the 25k fine that would be greatly appreciated; he has requested that the V8’s donate the money towards some sort of woman empowerment charity!”

Tahan Lew-Fatt image: Instagram

Tahan Lew-Fatt image: Instagram

Sledging has been a part of Australian sport since the First Fleet set up stumps.

In the past it was no-holds barred, but gradually norms of acceptability have crept in: Rules against attacking people’s race and family, character assassinations and bullying.

The fight against gender-based sledging is now part of the political correctness governing sport.

Who knows, the V8s may have to drive at the speed limit next year too?

Facebook post: Facebook

Facebook post: Facebook

 

This will be my last post for Outrageous Sports. It has been a privilege to write for this blog site.

Farewell.

October 13th, 2015 Australian Sports, Motor Sports, Sports controversies, Sportsmanship No Comments »

Sledging and the Changing Face of Sport

Renee Gracie image: twitter.com

Ford V8 Racing car driver David Reynolds has been fined $25,000 for remarks deemed offensive against fellow Bathurst 1000 competitor Renee Gracie.

Gracie is getting more attention from the remarks she received prior to the race than from her driving; especially after spectacularly crashing out in the early laps of the race.

V8 Supercars boss James Warburton was quick to announce the heavy fine, reiterating the comments were ‘offensive’.

One wonders if Reynolds had trash-talked Gracie’s or partner Simone Silvestro’s driving skills without alluding to their gender if the same disciplining would have taken place.

Reynolds took the high ground saying she had “accepted his apology, that’s all I need.

“We are professionals,” she preened, “it’s one of those things. The V8s (management) have handled it.”

Gracie is part of the same Ford Prodrive Racing team garage as Reynolds at Bathurst – which should make for some interesting conversations amongst the crews.

Earlier this week racing great Dick Johnson said the female pair were “a million to one” of finishing their first Bathurst 1000.

Gracie fired back that “Dick Johnson hasn’t finished heaps of races, so he can’t talk.”

Dick Johnson made no mention of gender, though Gracie apparently interpreted it that way.

After crashing the mechanics had 39 laps to get the car of Gracie and Silvestro back onto the track for the chequered flag. They got the car back on the track in time for the final lap.

October 12th, 2015 Australian Sports, Bodybuilding, Boxing, Coaching, Endurance Sports, Extreme Sports, MMA, Olympics, Strength, Wrestling No Comments »

Ronda Rousey Talks About Her Fighting Edge

Ronda Rousey Image: https://www.facebook.com/ronda.cips/photos/pcb.10153689082834382/10153689076994382/?type=1&theater

Ronda Rousey has opened up about what she things is her biggest asset in the Octagon.

You might think it’s her arm-bar – a submission no one has yet escaped from. You might think it’s her judo skills – a facet no other fighter in the UFC has or can match. Or you might think it is her being trained by her Olympic judo Mum virtually from the time she could walk.

But you’d be wrong.

Rousey puts her dominance, of the women’s bantamweight division, down to her fast and aggressive starts.

“When I did judo as a kid,” she said to Mike and Mike in the Morning, “ my mom told me the most common time to catch somebody is the first second of the match. So when I was a little kid from like 11 on, I would always try a throw right after the bell, so I had a lot of matches that were in the first 10 or 20 seconds, because that’s when the person is most unprepared.

Rousey’s record speaks for itself.

Most of her fights last less time than it takes to retrieve a beer from the fridge.

While most fighters take at least 30 seconds to settle into a fight – a thing Rousey has capitalised on.

“It’s just been drilled into my brain,” she contineuerd, “since I was a little kid to not have that feeling-out period. To be good at what other people are bad at.”

And it’s not like her opponents aren’t prepared for these fast starts. The problem comes when they have to construct a defence to it. Remember, most fighters only settle into the bout after 30 seconds, so they have to change their normal style of fighting to accommodate Rousey’s style.

And that places them at an immediate disadvantage.

Image: https://twitter.com/RondaRousey?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Image: https://twitter.com/RondaRousey?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

The second problem occurs when they try to come up with a plan. Because Rousey’s fights finish fast there’s not a whole lot of video footage for coaches to work with; and therefore not a whole lot they can use with which to come up with a counter-strategy.

And this is why Holly Holm could prove a good rival for Rousey.

Hom has an unparalleled boxing pedigree. Boxing relies on creating and keeping distance from an opponent until you are ready to strike. These skills may make the difference in getting through that crucial first minute against Rousey.

Should Holm manage to do so she may then stage the fight on her terms (not Rousey’s). What happens then is anyone’s guess.

October 11th, 2015 Australian Sports, Ball Sports, Drugs in Sport, Endurance Sports, Money in sport, Rugby League, School Sport, Sports controversies, Wrestling No Comments »

Titans’ Bird, Harrison, Loa Have Charges Dropped

Worst diver in the game, Greg Bird. Image: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin-2015-trevor-gillmeister-fears-fakers-might-decide-match/story-fndv2twz-1227369174577

Gold Coast Titans Players Greg Bird, Beau Falloon, Ashley Harrison, and Kalifa Faifai Loa have had their charges for cocaine possession dismissed in a Southport Magistrates court this week.

The charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.

Magistrate Callaghan said the prosecution had presented no evidence to substantiate intercepted phone conversations between the players and Joseph Touma pertained to cocaine. The prosecution had said the defendants had used a code-word when referring to the substance. McCallum argued that the word used could refer to anything.

But trio Dave Taylor, Joe Vickery, and Jamie Dowling are yet to stand trial for drug charges. Their defence lawyer, Chris McCallum conceded there was a prima facie case against them.

The scandal emerged in March this year, engulfing former and present NRL players.

Bird has a long and tarnished record both on and off the field. But now says he would be ‘honoured’ to captain the Gold Coast Titans (again).

Bird was the co-captain with Manly-bound Nate Myles in 2013-14; but was stripped of his position when he was caught urinating in public, in December of last year.

The dropped charges come as a huge relief to the struggling Gold Coast club. They narrowly avoided the wooden spoon this year and are desperate to organise a successful strategy for the 2016 season.

Whether Bird will play any part in that strategy remains to be seen.

October 7th, 2015 Australian Sports, Extreme Sports, New Sports, Sports controversies, Uncategorized No Comments »

Skydivers Dodge Near Miss

Image: au.news.yahoo.com

Four skydivers practicing for the Australian Masters Games have narrowly avoided crashing aboard the Cessna 182 H.

On Friday the four skydivers and their pilot, John, had taken off from East Parklands. One of the skydivers, David Boulter, 57, looked out the window to see the roof of the Queen Victoria apartments on Fullarton Road, “mere feet away.”

“I looked to the right and saw trees … We’d have been creeping over it (the canopy).

“We were in the safety zone. If we were two feet to the right it (the canopy) would shred the wings … there would have been five fatalities.”

Their Cessna had taken off from Parafield Airport, but had been forced to circle over the drop zone for an hour because of the busy airspace.

It was when they returned to the drop zone (over Victoria Park) that the trouble began.

An engine stopped, the aeroplane began gliding, losing altitude. It fell from 3500 feet to ground level in three minutes.

John, the pilot, was preparing an emergency landing on the Clipsal 500 track, but diverted to Victoria Park when he spotted a council truck on the roadway.

Mr Boulter didn’t think the plane ran out of fuel.

Fellow skydiver John Friswell, 63, said, “We heard the engine splutter … and we’re preparing to jump.

“But the pilot said, ‘No, no, stay in the plane’”.

All the skydivers praised the pilot’s efforts. Mr Boulter suffered a fractured foot, the fourth skydiver a broken pelvis, everyone else minor injuries.

They all agreed, it could have been a lot worse.

October 6th, 2015 Australian Sports, Ball Sports, Money in sport, Rugby League, Sports controversies, Wrestling No Comments »

Channel Nine Suspend Andrew Johns

Image: twitter

Didn’t hear the voice of Andrew Johns during the NRL Grand Final? That’s because he wasn’t there.

Fairfax reported that Channel Nine stood Johns down after he was accused of making explicit comments to a mother of three and then passing out in the Toowoomba Wellcomap Airport.

Johns had been in Toowoomba speaking at a lunch at The Spotted Cow, in front of 120 guests.

It is understood the event exceeded its allotted time; but Johns was good enough to stay, sign autographs, and pose for photographs with the crowd.

Johns left the engagement and arrived at the airport at 6:30 pm to catch a 7 pm flight back to Sydney.

While he waited to board the flight he hit the bar.

Helen Wright, 42, posted a message on the Today Show’s Facebook page lashing out at Johns for being ‘severely intoxicated’ and asking to kiss her.

Image: Facebook

Image: Facebook

The post was removed from the Facebook page shortly after it appeared.

“I am a 42 year-old woman that he asked to kiss him.

“When I refused to kiss him and replied I was happily married and had three sons his question to me was ‘why did you have a cesarean birth?’

“Then he proceeded to pass out on the airport floor.”

An airport security officer (who asked not to be named) said, “He (Johns) was full, no doubt about that.”

Mrs Wright was outraged, not only at Johns’ behaviour, but that it was witnessed by families at the airport.

“This is not an example that should be presented to children that were present!” she wrote.

“Many of the children had taken photos of him passed out.”

The photos and comments have gone viral on social media.

Johns has since contacted Mrs Wright and apologised

“I’ve obviously said the wrong thing, which has offended her. I rang her and apologised for that; and she accepted my apology,” said Johns.

But Johns has denied he passed out.

“I was up there for a function and had been up since 5 am. My flight home was delayed three hours last night, so I took myself away into a quiet corner and laid down and had a sleep. No way did I pass out.”

October 4th, 2015 Australian Sports, Ball Sports, School Sport, Sports controversies, Winter Sports No Comments »

Coca-Cola and McDonalds Call for Blatter to Step Down

Image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1uW3lwNZas

Coco-Cola has issued a statement calling upon Sepp Blatter to stand down as the FIFA president.

The shock statement was soon echoed by fast food giant McDonalds.

Sepp Blatter has been under criminal investigation by Swiss authorities for a week now. Coca-Cola and McDonalds are concerned their brands may be tarnished by association.

Coca-Cola released the statement “calling for FIFA President Joseph Blatter to step down immediately so that a credible and sustainable reform process can begin in earnest.

“Every day that passes the image and reputation of FIFA continues to tarnish. FIFA needs comprehensive and urgent reform, and that can only be accomplished through a truly independent approach.”

McDonalds chimed in shortly after releasing its own mdeaia statement:
The events of recent weeks have continued to diminish the reputation of FIFA and public confidence in its leadership.

“We (McDonalds) believe it would be in the best interest of the game for FIFA president sepp Blatter to step down immediately so that the reform process can proceed with the credibility that is needed.”

Talking lawyers is one thing Sepp Blatter has been able to control for some time now. But when huge amounts of sponsorship dollars are calling for your head it’s an entirely different game.

But the FIFA president gave his typical response through his lawyers:

“While Coca-Cola is a valued sponsor of FIFA, Mr Blatter respectfully disagrees with tis position and believes firmly that his leaving office now would not be in the best interest of FIFA, nor would it advance the process of reform and therefore, he will not resign,” said Blatter’s New York attorney Richard Cullen in a statement.

October 3rd, 2015 Australian Sports, Endurance Sports, Extreme Sports, Sports controversies, Strength No Comments »

Nepalese Government to Crack Down on Inexperienced Everest Climbers

Everest image: en.wikipedia.org

Nepalese authorities have mandated a limit to the amount and experience required by climbers if they wish to attempt a summit of Mount Everest.

“We cannot let everyone go on Everest and die,” said the Nepalese Minister for Tourism in a statement.

“If they are not physically and mentally fit it will be like a legal suicide.

“The disabled or visually impaired people usually need someone to carry them, which is not an adventure. Only those who can go on their own will be given permission.”

Recently 17 Sherpas were killed by an avalanche triggered by a falling column of ice above the khumbu Icefall – a dangerous crevasse-riddled glacier.

The bans have found unlikely support from many climbers. Rex Pemberton summited Everest at the age of 21 in 204.

“To be honest,” he said to news.com.au, “there are people on Everest that should not be there.”

He points to the fact that everyone is at risk with an inexperienced climber in the group.

“You’re trying to pass them, or move around them, but they don’t have the necessary experience to manage the ropes in a dangerous environment. That can put others at risk.”

Everest is a byword for achievement. Because of this many overlook the very real risks incumbent upon those attempting to climb it.

“You’ve got to have experience going on that mountain,” Pemberton continues. “If you have brilliant weather and climbing conditions and a lot of support, you can get to the top with relatively little experience depending on your fitness level and mental strength. But if something does go wrong, it can go wrong quickly and that’s when experience is important.”

800 people attempt to climb Everest each year each of them has three support staff. It mightn’t sound much, but considering the climbing season is very brief and the climbs incredibly narrow the dangers multiply fast.

Guiding companies have been charging up to $100,000 per person to be ‘ushered’ to the summit. Most are serious climbers, but not all. For this kind of payday many less scrupulous businesses have been willing to take unacceptable risks.

To put the risks of climbing Everest in perspective: The most recent tragedy, where 16 Sherpas died – THEY WERE SHERPAS, people who did this for a living!

October 1st, 2015 Australian Sports, Ball Sports, Coaching, Endurance Sports, Referreeing, Rugby League, Sports controversies, Sportsmanship No Comments »

Hodges to Play in Grand Final

Hodges image: commons.wikimedia.org

Despite an obvious attack, on the part of Geoff Bellew, Justin Hodges has beaten a grade one dangerous throw charge and will be taking the field this weekend in the NRL Premiership grand finale.

Despite Aiden Guerra admitting to the judiciary that he jumped into the dangerous position to earn his side a penalty, Bellew did all he could to blame Hodges.

“He (Guerra) came here and spoke to the truth,” said Hodges.

“I didn’t ask him to come here and lie. He came here and told the truth.

“I said (to Guerra) after the charge that this is the way I felt about the tackle and if you feel the same you can come (and testify in my defence).”

Guerra did feel the same way. And he did testify in Hodges defence, claiming he milked the penalty by launching himself past the legal position for a tackle.

Asked how he hoped to win the penalty, Guerra answered, “by going above the horizontal – probably not the smartest decision.

“I thought there was a chance to gain a penalty, nothing was going our way. My aim was clear.”

Guerra admitted he “wasn’t thinking about the repercussions, more about the momentum of the game. I was in control of my actions.”

When he was challenged about the dangerousness of the action Guerra replied: “I am still able-bodied.”

Hodges stuck to his story, denying any role in Guerra’s head going into the ground.

But NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew was like a dog with a bone and interjected several times.

“I grabbed the leg to stop his momentum,” said Hodges.

“He jumped out of my hands. I felt him jump. I knew he was going down, so I let go. I turned to the ref and said ‘he jumped.’”

Bellew went fishing: “Did you apply any force to Guerra’s landing?”

Hodges: “No.”

Guerra, “Was Guerra placed in a dangerous position?”

Hodges: “Not by me.”

Bellew became frustrated at this answer. Despite it being true, it wasn’t the answer he sought. Hodges admitted Guerra did go past the horizontal, but stuck to his story that he had no part in doing it.

Eventually the judiciary panel of Bronson Harrison, Chris McKenna, and Royce Ayliffe took 10 minutes to acquit Hodges.

Upon release of the news the Broncos went from $2 outsiders to $1.85 favourites.

Though anybody who knows the two sides will tell you the game is on a knife-edge.

September 29th, 2015 Australian Sports, Ball Sports, Coaching, Endurance Sports, Money in sport, Referreeing, Rugby League, Sports controversies, Sportsmanship, Wrestling No Comments »

“I Played for the Penalty,” says Guerra

Hodges image: commons.wikimedia.org

The NRL judiciary looks set to determine another Grand Final.

Brisbane Broncos captain Justin Hodges will have his fate decided on Tuesday night, as he and the club look set to defend a grade one dangerous throw for his tackle on Roosters backrower Aidan Guerra.

But it doesn’t look good.

Not because of the tackle – Guerra himself admitts he was off-balance and contributed to the fall that saw him topple past the horizontal – but because Brisbane have only a seven per cent success rate with the blatantly partisan NRL judiciary.

Queenslanders have long known and seen the Sydney judiciary protecting their own – consistently rubbing out players from teams north of the border, while expressing leniency for NSW clubs. It is an outrage that has existed for such a long time it has all but been accepted.

In fact, the last time the Brisbane club had a player exonerated by the NRL judiciary was Karmichael Hunt back in the year 2000 (Hunt has swapped codes three times since then).

The Brisbane club have virtually given up contesting charges, realising the futility of expecting fairness from the judiciary. The last time they fought a charge was in 2013. Just once in 14 attempts has a Bronco’s player been acquitted by the board.

Aidan Guerra has offered to support Hodges at the hearing. In an interview with Fox Sports he was asked if he jumped off the ground as Hodges had suggested? Guerra said: “Yep, it’s a bit like that.

“To be honest, I played for the penalty.

“If I tried my hardest (to resist Hodges and fellow Broncos defender Ben Hunt) I wouldn’t have got spear-tackled, but I got the penalty and I really hope it’s left where it is.”

Jonathon Thurston, Cowboys Captain said, “You want to play the best teams at full strength and he needs to be in that team for it to be at full strength. It would be a sad way to end his career (suspended from the grand final).”

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