Archive for December, 2007
Sports Video
December 23, 2007 11:46 pmFrom TheGrandstand
Why not? From TheGrandstand’s YouTube Channel our own compilation of sports accidents and bloopers. Approaching 150,000 downloads and favourited 800+ times. To the music of TISM.
Enjoy 
Is Vaughan really a good captain?
December 19, 2007 2:26 amBy The Park
You would have to question whether Vaughan really thinks about the game when he comes up with ideas like this. Or if he does, what the motivations and aims of the English cricket team are.
An emotional Test match honouring life and loss might not be the time to discuss money, but the England and Wales Cricket Board are proposing to pay players performance-related bonuses for double hundreds and seven-wicket hauls.
The idea came from England’s captain, Michael Vaughan, but has yet to be rubber-stamped by the ECB’s new chairman, Giles Clarke. Anyone reaching either target would now be paid £5,000 into their own pocket rather than the players’ pool, the traditional home for bonuses and prize money.
It smells of so many flavours of bad it is hard to know where to begin.
- Players are well paid, will €5000 really focus their efforts? Are they giving up because they don’t have enough money and they are distracted from going on in an innings or dismissing more atsmen because they are worried about their mortgage or the wife’s credit card bill?
- Is placing the individual over the team the correct approach to building a winning culture? I can imagine if Vaughan wants to declare with a batsman on 180, it could cause some friction or take off a bowler who has six wickets when the tailenders are in.
- Is this just scheme to get KP back in form?
- Do you want a team relying so much on individual performances? Surely the tailender that sticks round for two hours while the batsman at the other end gets his double century has performed as well as the batsman for the team?
- Vaughan thought of this while watching the Adelaide Test when Collingwood got 200 and Hoggard seven wickets. England lost. Both are good team men and both would prefer some teammate support, I am sure, to a cash bonus. Is it consolation money for playing for England? “Your good work will probably be wasted but here is something for your efforts.”
Abolish the NAB Cup
December 15, 2007 4:45 pmBy Rik E Boy
Seriously the NAB’s gotta go. The pre-season competition is an anachronism in the current game. The clubs are still going to play an internal trial and an external trial anyway so let’s piss off this competition that provides such a lukewarm start to the football season. A lukewarm start to the year that takes place while the NRL has already started playing its real rounds. The AFL is giving the NRL this free kick every season.
We should extend the draw by an extra four rounds to assist with the equalisation of the draw and at the same time deservedly knock Rugby League on its arse every March. The money that is awarded as prizemoney should be pumped into grassroots football and extra bums on seats during real football rounds in March is the the reward for the highest level of the game.
Not exactly rocket surgery is it my friends?
regards,
REB
Sports Video Of The Week - Henry Goal
December 8, 2007 3:09 pmArgentina Need A Home
December 2, 2007 6:40 pmBy I-be-after-e
While watching the Pumas beat Northampton 40-17 at Franklins Gardens last night on TV the commentators spent some time discussing Argentina’s plight of being unable to play as much international rugby as they would like. I agree it was a shame that such as side had not yet been welcomed into either the Southern Hemisphere’s Tri-Nations or perhaps the North’s Six Nations equivalent.
Four or five years ago the Five Nations Championship was increased to Six to bring in an improving Italian side. Since then this team has improved year on year. They have some way to go but are a considerably better side for their inclusion.
Argentina, on the other hand have remained in the wilderness even though they are a much better all round team than Italy. Just like Italy they have no real competitive league structure in their home country so most of their players now play in Europe with their two top players, Pichot and Contepomi playing in Ireland. The location of their players therefore suggest being welcomed into a Seven Nations tournament would suit them best. Problem with this is that it would create a competition where teams are expected to play 6 international fixtures in 6 weeks. A bit much considering it would be within a very heavy domestic season.
Maybe the solution is for the Tri Nations to incorporate them. They are a Southern hemisphere team after all.
Wherever they go they need to go somewhere. Being forced to play club sides like Northampton Saints because no International opposition, of good standard is available is totally unfair on Argentina.
