There’s one in every crowd. The killjoy hell bent on dampening everyone’s enthusiasm. So as Australia celebrated its gold medal win in the women’s rugby sevens, former hockey player and coach Ric Charlesworth was there with the bucket of cold water. “I think the women’s rugby sevens is a soft event,” he said. “I don’t…
He’s baa-aaa-aack
As Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett will tell you, comebacks are hard. So it’s a big deal Michael Phelps is at the Rio Olympics at all. No other bloke has swum at five Games. And no one of his vintage has a right to be doing this. The legendary turn tho https://t.co/UNt5zWt7DL by @ScottPorter via…
Stop the Games, we’re winning!
One of the best things about the Olympics is the blubbing. Especially when the sooky la-la is a villain getting their comeuppance. I’m talking about Chinese swimmer Sun Yang. Done for doping two years ago, Sun’s also been known to drive unlicensed, run his Porsche into the back of a bus, provoke his competitors and…
Let the Games begin. Please…
The Olympics opening ceremony. An opportunity for the host city to showcase those things that set it apart. So Rio’s extravaganza will feature Gisele Bundchen getting mugged. At least that’s the story that emerged from people who saw a dress rehearsal and were asked to keep quiet about it and didn’t. In that version of…
Don’t mess with Mr Bigglesworth
Rio’s Olympic organisers thought they’d seen the worst that circumstances could throw at them. Then they came face to face with Kitty Chiller. Australia’s chef de mission bears a passing resemblance to Mr Bigglesworth, Dr Evil’s cryogenically frozen cat of Austin Powers fame. And can be just as scary if suitably provoked. Which she was…
You’re not in the same league, Eddie
The big question for me this week has been: is there a bigger plonker on the planet than Eddie McGuire? Turns out there is. Meet ESPN sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, a bloke who makes Eddie, with his let’s-drown-a-female-journo-like-it’s-Salem-in-the-1600s, look like a feminist. When NFL star Ray Rice knocked out his partner in an Atlanta…
A new Low in scratch ‘n’ sniff
We’d barely recovered from the sight of former Aussie prime minister Kevin Rudd eating his ear wax on a lazy day in Parliament. Then Germany’s soccer coach did this. Joachim Low has apologised for the tug and sniff manoeuvre he pulled off during his team’s Euro 2016 win over Ukraine. “It was adrenaline and concentration….
Long jumper freezes out the Zika threat
You’re an Olympic champion keen to defend your title. But you’re worried the Zika virus might harm your future procreation plans. What do you do? You freeze your sperm, of course. While Zika has prompted a number of athletes to pull the pin on Rio altogether, 2012 Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford has discovered…
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