SSISA Workshops

The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and Sports Science Institute of South Africa [SSISA] workshop series themed 'Dream it - Do it', aims to help runners make their dreams become a reality as they prepare for the 2006 event.

The series, which kicked off in November last year at SSISA in Cape Town, is extremely popular and is perceived by many runners as an essential part of the build-up to the race. The fifth workshop is scheduled for Thursday 2 March at 18h00 at Coca-Cola Head Office, 9 Junction Avenue, Parktown.

Guest speakers include Professor Tim Noakes, Virtual Coach Dave Spence and Chet Sainsbury. Entry fee is R30 and all proceeds are donated to Habitat for Humanity, the official race charity. The workshop starts at 18h00 and includes Nando’s food tasting and a cash bar. It finishes at 21h00 with a lucky draw with some excellent prizes, including two pairs of Nike running shoes and prizes from SSISA, Old Mutual, Powerade, Nando's and Runner’s World.

Runners wanting to attend the workshops can contact John Mitchell on 011‑8492191 or 083‑650 0270 or email him at mitchjb@iafrica.com to book your seat. With limited seating available and the popularity of this workshop series, it is advisable to book early.

Nedbank put more money into Golf

The South African Disabled Golf Open, the fulcrum of the South African Disabled Golf Association season, will have a new title sponsor for 2006 in Nedbank, who today announced their support of the SADGA’s flagship event.

This follows the recent announcement that SA Disabled Golf Open will also have a new venue this year, the Graceland Casino and Resort, playing host when the tournament takes place from May 3 to 6, 2006.

Sponsorship of the Open follows Nedbank’s funding of a series of swing clinics for golfers with disabilities and a longstanding sponsorship of the South African Paralympic team.

The first SA Disabled Open featured 13 disabled golfers, predominantly amputees. From its humble beginnings the event has exploded and this year, the Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open will feature a 120-strong field featuring the cream of handicapped golfing talent from across the nation, including some 30 international participants.

To conform to international standards, the tournament will be played according to the standards of the EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association), of which South Africa became a full member in 2003.

Can contact sports cause clinical depression ?

There is an interesting American website I found that looks at statistics from all sorts of players. The article below is all about the NFL and how is causes big trouble. Maybe it is the same in Rugby?

It is a numeric life: Can contact sports cause clinical depression ?

Media and Sport

I have a major issue with sport people that think that they are too good to talk with the media. No one is important enough not to talk to the media. If it wasn't for us, these people wouldn't exist. The media put thier faces in the newspapers, voices on the radio and the whole package on television. When a sport person gets so important that they snub us, remember, there is always another person to fill the pages and airtime.

At the Nedbank Golf Challenge, for example, one of South Africa's top golfers walked right past the Outside Boradcast point, and we asked him if he would like to talk to the nation. He just kept on walking. Since then, this golfer is loosing out as a new breed of golfers from his very own trust, are making thier way up through the ranks. They are younger, better looking and more talented. WHo will remember the old golfer in five years time?

Another issue I have is sports people that have no idea how to talk to the media. I think that every sports person that makes it to the top levels of thier sport should be trained how to speak. So many times I have spoken someone and they just sound stupid. I realise that thay probably are. Let's face it, how much brains does it take to kick a soccer ball? My point is that I am sure that they don't want to sound stupid. Get someone to train them, not just on the field, but off it as well.

Oz Cricket

You know what I like about the Australian cricket side? I like the fact that they never make excuses for bad play. Unlike other teams that blame poor umpiring, agressive crowds, slow pitches and injuries, Adam Gilchrist, yesterday, said that they were simply outplayed by the South Africans. That again brings the point home that it is a matter of Boys vs Men in this series of ODI's in South Africa.

IOL have a great story on how Australia are injury packed, same as SA were a few weeks ago. It does raise issues about why players get injured on tour and not at home. Maybe someone can explain that to me a little bit.

Well done to Graeme Smith who seems to be on form again thanks to a little help from Jimmy Cook. Let's see if it can stay like that. The weather played a major role in yesterday's game, but will it save South Africa in the rest of the series? The good news for the SA side is that is looks as if Ricky Ponting might be out for another ODI.

My guess is that Australia will win the series, it will come down to the last gaem. Any other predictions???

Fitness

Did you see the news on the South African Super 14 matches? Every single one refers to how a last gasp effort by the other team denied the SA team a win. That, sport fan, is down to one thing. Fitness. Not being able to defend to the last minute means that the guys are tired, they are tired because they aren't fit. They aren't fit because they are lazy. Do they deserve their pay if they are lazy? My suggestion is, "No."

OK, some of them might be having an off day, we all do, but imagine if your bank teller is having an off day and you deposit money into your account just before closing. He/she is so tired that he/she miscounts the money by R5000. Should he/she keep her job? You decide....

Cycle Tour

It might not be the most amazing news for you, but I am going down to Cape Town to cover the Cape Argus, Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour on both the Saturday and the Sunday. I am trying my best to get down earlier so that i can cover the Giro del Capo as well, but budgets are tight here.

Finally, after 4 years of trying to cover the race, I will get my chance. Let's see what I can do.

Today is Rugby D-Day

That's right folks, more than a year of court rulings, two seperate judges looking into the affairs of SA Rugby and months and months of rangling, the vote for the president of SA Rugby happens this morning in Cape Town. I seriously don't give two hoots who wins. The media are making such a thing out of it but does it really matter? We, the SA public, have absolutely no say over anything that happens in rugby. The presidents vote but who votes for the presidents? The people in the unions, but who are in the unions? You and I? Nope, so move on.

Rugby will always have race issues, rugby will always have financial mismanagement and rugby will always be badly run. Some very clever man once said, "Absolute power corupts absolutely".

The amount of money is rugby is obscene. If one person has control of all of that, the what do you think will happen? You would, I would, so will anyone else.

So who will win today? Oregan Hoskins will. But look what he has done to rugby in KZN. The Sharks are the laughing stock of SA Rugby. They got beaten by the Cheetahs of all teams!!! Good luck SA Rugby.

On another note, there is a worrying stroy from IOL again. The Border Rugby Union went to court to stop thier president from voting in today's election. I kid you not. The people that voted the man into power went to court to stop him from voting. Don't you just love democracy???

It has Begun

One would think that a respected media house like News 24 would not have sunk to the level that they have. After months of complaining about racism in Australia while the SA cricket team where on tour, is seems as if Reporter.co.za has gone the same way. What's more, you can even download the racist and embarrasing posters to hold up for the whole world to see just how stupid they are?

Not only are the paper calling all Australian's Racist, they are also saying that they are ugly, have small penises, are criminals and enjoy doing things to sheep that the average person doesn't even know about.

Don't get me wrong, I love a little sledging on the field, but focus on the cricket, boys and girls, focus on the cricket. Otherwise there is going to be big trouble!!!!

ENTRIES FOR OLD MUTUAL OM DIE DAM MARATHON NOW OPEN

Entries have opened for the country’s biggest inland ultra marathon, the Old Mutual Om die Dam 50 km and 21 km half marathon, which take place in the North West North Province on Saturday 18 March 2006.

The 50 km ultra event takes runners around the Hartbeespoort Dam in Madibeng, starting and finishing at the GHS Primary School. Walkers are welcome to take part and are also eligible for prize money but they must be able to complete the ultra event within the seven hour cut off. Walkers are also encouraged to enter the half marathon, where a cut off time of four hours applies. Those who do not finish the 21 km within the cut off time can finish at their leisure but will not receive an official finishing time.

Only pre-race entries will be accepted for the ultra marathon and half marathon. Participants will not need a chip for the event as the Chamberlain’s timekeeping system will be used to record the times for both the ultra and the half marathon. Although the ultra cut off time is seven hours, runners wanting to use this race as a Comrades qualifier, have to cross the finish line in six hours.

Race entries can be hand-delivered to Runaway Sports and Running Inn in Pretoria, to the Sweat Shop and The Edge in Witwatersrand, Sportsman’s Warehouse stores in Atterbury, Fourways, Southgate, East Rand and Centurion, and to the race office in Schoemansville. Entries will also be taken at all the major races in central and northern Gauteng. Race numbers will be posted to athletes up until February 25. Thereafter race numbers will be kept back for collection at GHS Primary School on Friday March 17 or on race day.

Runners can enter online at www.omdiedam.co.za and have until March 5 to enter for the ultra and the half marathon. Entries for the 5 km event will be taken on race day. The 50 km race starts at 06h00, the half marathon at 06h05 and the 5 km fun run at 06h20.

Our Wilting Proteas

I know that this is a very serious blog with important stories on sport and lifestyle as well as other issues, but this is LOL funny!!!

Q. What is the height of optimism?
A. A South African batsman putting on sunscreen.

Q. What is the main function of the South African coach?
A. To transport the team from the hotel to the ground.

Q. What's the South african version of a hat-trick?
A. Three runs in three balls.

Q. Why don't South African fielders need pre-tour travel injections?
A. Because they never catch anything.

Q. What's the South african version of LBW?
A. Lost, Beaten, Walloped.

Q. What do you call an South African with 100 runs against his name?
A. A bowler.

Q. What's the most proficient form of footwork displayed by Graeme Smith?
A. His walk back to the pavilion.

Q. Who has the easiest job in the South African touring party?
A. The guy who removes the ball marks from the bats.

Q. What does Graeme Smith and a drug addict have in common??
A. Both spend most of their time wondering where their next score will come from.

Q. Who spent the most time on the crease of anyone in the South African touring party?
A. The lady who ironed the cricket uniforms.

Q. Why is Graeme Smith cleverer than Houdini?
A. Because he can get out without even trying.

Wasssuuuuupppppp??

What is better than cracking a cold Castle while watching a cricket or soccer match? In 2010, you better get over that and open a Bud! That's right folks, because SAB/Miller were too damn lazy to meet with FIFA, Budweiser are now the official beer of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. mmmmmm.

Read the article from IOL and see how sad it is. The worst thing is that you have to buy 3 Buds to get even close to the glow you get from one Castle or Zamalek. On the positive side though, we will get those brilliant Bud ads as seen around the world.

I thik it's about time SAB got a little bit of competition in South Africa and Africa and maybe the price of forign beers will come down now....

Technology in Sport

I had an interesting chat with the inventor of Hawkeye last night. In case you don't know, Hawkeye is the device that cricet is using to show where the ball would have travelled had it not hit a pad or bat in cricket. Commentators and players are asking for Hawkeye to be used for LBW desisions as, they feel, umpires are making too many mistakes.

Obvioulsy, the inventor of Hawkeye thinks that technology should be used in the game wherever it can. The TV people love technology as it adds value to thier broadcasting. In fact, to be a TV commentator these days, asll you have to do is comment on Hawkeye and how bad the umpires are performing. Wait, you also need cool comments like, "crack", "take that" and "what a shot."

But I digress.

I seem to be one of the few people left that think technology has no space in any game unless it is a new one. For example, Pro 20 cricket. The game is only a few years old and there Hawkeye and other technology is a great idea. As for test cricket, forget it. Part of the game is the umpire. They were there when the rules were written down and they must stay. Keep technology out of the game. That includes graphite bat, Ricky Ponting...

Baseball is based in one of the world's most technologically advanced countries and they still use umpires to make the final calls. They might have a fight or two when the manager of the side doesn't like the call, but that's the game. Even NFL only use TV replays in an extreme case and then only when called upon by the coach and then the coach only has a few times he is allowed to do it.

My pont is that if a bowler bowls wides all day because he is having an off day, he gets dropped. It was his fault that his team lost. Same thing for umpires. Keep not doing well, get droppped or fired.

Use Hawkeye and other toys to make the bland TV coverage better, but it should not dictate the game in any way.

Prices

For the 1st time, I have seen the prices of the ODI Series between South Africa and Australia. At least, the prices of the ODI at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday. How can it be allowed to charge these prices???

R220.00: Unity Stand Ground Level, Centenary Pavilion & Memorial Stand Upper.
R175.00: Taverners Pavilion
R100.00: Open East Stand.
CHILDREN UNDER 5 are admitted free to grandstands ONLY IF SITTING ON PARENT'S LAP. Any children occupying seats pay FULL PRICE.
All other stands and Grass embankment tickets are NOT available through COMPUTICKET. They can only be obtained directly from Wanderers.

You have GOT to be kidding!!!!!

Skiing

On Thursday, due to the Winter Olympics, I am going to learn how to ski. How hard can it be? You point them downhill and hold on for dear life. I have to admit that I have no idea how to stop but if someone from South Africa can be taking part, why can't I? In fact, it's because there is only one person from South Africa taking part in the Olympics that I want to learn.

My theory is that the best way to be a great sportsperson is to do a sport that no one else does. If I can kind of ski then I will go to SASCOC and get funding to join the winter olympics to represent South Africa. Why not?

I think that we should start a curling team. We have some great Bowls players, surely it's not a big jump to curling? That Bobsled thing doesn't seem so hard. What do the 2nd and 3rd guys do anyway? We have enough rinks to start up short track speed skating. Let's do it! Let's start a proper South African Winter Olympic movement....

Back to learnig to ski. I will bring you photos of the fun as well as a story of what happened on Friday.

Boys vs Men

That should be the name of the upcoming cricket series between South Africa and Australia. Today, Mark Boucher was reported that he wants South African cricket fans to give the Aussies a hard time while they are touring our land. At the same time, Ricky Ponting, the captain of the touring side, has called for a sporting spirit from his team while they are here.

There, fellow sports fans, is the difference between our little team and the mighty Aussies. Don't get me wrong, I would love for the Sheep Shaggers to be given a hiding while here, but why do we have get so petty?

Mark, Mr. Vice Captain, sir, if you play good cricket, there will be no need for us to give verbal abuse to the Australians. Verbal abuse is the one thing that you guys kept complaining about while you were on tour. Why should we stoop to the level of a few silly and idiotic Australians? Come to think of it, the Aussies are expecting the crowd to be abusive towards them. In fact, I bet, right now, Ponting is telling the new guys in the squad just how stupid the cricket fans in South Africa are. How we boo players like Brian Lara, the best batsman of the modern time, when he comes to the crease to face our mediocre attack. How we throw naartjies at players at 3rd man.

Sit back and think for a while. The Aussies will be shocked if we treat them like real world class cricket players. Welcome them here and thank them for coming to teach us a thing or two in the game of cricket. Mickey Arthur admitted that they learnt alot while on the last tour. Maybe, we as fans, should learn a thing or two.

PS. Does Mark Boucher still right about drinking spots i GQ magazine? Maybe he should right about catching cricket balls instead....

Super 14, ho hum

So the 2nd week of Super 14 rugbyt has come to an end. Who would be silly enough to predict a winner, ket alone the four semi finalists at this early stage? Naas, one of the two jockeys that keep coming on my TV screen to tell me what I saw on the box yesterday? Never. That insane individual would be me!

After only 2 weeks, a pattern has already emerged. The Sharks suck, the Cheetahs are a surprise package, the Bulls are the best team in South Africa and the Cats don't have a hope in hell. The Western Force might as well be renamed to the Western Wooden Spoon Holders and as for the the Blues and Reds, just as well they don't have a silly adjective.

Already, the traditional teams are tops with the Crusaders, 'Canes, Waratahs (silly little flowers that they are) and the Brumbies showing early form. Will it change over the next 3 months of rugby. I doubt it. Oh yes, the jockeys will hype it up, they will tell us how close the Bulls are from a semi. They will tell us that it's a long season and players will get injured. They will get Kobus Wieser for some free coffee to come in and rave about some great forward play, but can anyone beat the top 4 in Super 14 rugby at the moment?

My prediction today, Sunday 19 February 2005 is a simple, NO!

2nd part....who will be relegated to make way for next year's Wooden Spoon Holders? The Cats, or maybe the Cheetahs. The Cheetahs aren't the best choice though, as they do have a couple of past Sharks in the side, so I am going with the Cats.

Comments? Feel free. Put your money where your mouth is big boy.

The sad thing about all of this is that we still have to wait until the end of May to see a result. Why do we put ourselves through it?

Golf is Lonely

I believe golf to be one of the loneliest sports in the world. OK, every now and again, the average Joe gets to play with a caddie and the pros have thousands of people walking behind the ropes with them in support of a good shot, but when it comes down to the crunch, that 0.0005 seconds that Craig Ray referred to in Compleat Golfer of March 2005 comes down to just one person, you. No one really cares how you hit your shot. Your opponents are more worried about their own tee shot, where it is going to go and where it went. The crowd would actually rather see you in the rough, so they are hoping that you duff it and your caddie doesn’t really care as he will carry someone else’s bag again tomorrow who can probably play better than you do. Even the best in the world, with all of the trainers, private jets, homes on 5 different courses, when it comes down to it, they are all alone. You, the ball and a club I your hand.

I got to play in a tournament for the 1^st time at the Telkom PGA Pro-Am and it was a major wake up for me. We played the Modified Stableford scoring method with the best 2 of 4 shots counting. Suddenly golf wasn’t so lonely. What you did on the course affected your team mates. If you put your ball in the drink the pressure fell onto the other three to finish off the hole well. If I put my ball a couple of inches from the hole, my putt would count and the yips had to be ignored as I was going to score the points.

My partners support carried me through the 18 holes of the Woodmead course at Country Club Johannesburg, as setup for the Championship, my 24 handicap helping the team every now and again. When I shanked one into the water, it was always, “hard luck” or “better luck next time”. Tough rules of golf were explained to me instead of being criticized for slow play, I was encouraged to take my time, work through the shot and learn from the better players.

Every now and again, I would send one off to the other fairway and golf would get lonely again but a great recovery shot would bring back to the team and all is well again. No wonder the best women golfers come out to South Africa for the World Cup. They become a team not lonely individuals fighting for a prize. If you ask them, I am sure that they will answer that the prize it nice, but being in a team and representing their country is more important to them.

Thanks to the Pro-Am, I am not so lonely anymore.

Telkom PGA Champs

I have just walked off the Woodmead Golf Course at the Johannesburg Country Club and all I can say is that I hope the weather cools down. I was in a fourball with Terry Paine MBE and Bruce Vaugn from the USA. Bruce was the Pro in our little Pro-Am.

Terry Paine MBE scores a hole in one, so he is raving around the club house. Come to think of it, he still owes me a beer.

The Telkom PGA takes place from tomorrow with free entrance to the Country Club as well as free entrance to The World of Golf, which is my local hangout. If you ever get a chance, go and see it for yourself. You wan't get a better chance than this weekend.

Back to the golf. I played average, which wasn't too bad. My driver is working so there is just a little work to do on the middle game and the putts.

As the tournament has gone, it seems as if Woodmead is playing easier. My caddie, on Wednesday, was amazed at just how wide the fairways were and I was surprised at how short the rough was. I have walked the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City and that rough is rough. Woodmead as sort of average and certanly not tough for a seasoned pro as these guys are. In fact, I played some great shots out of the rough.

The scores are showing it though and the fact that there are some unkowns at the top of the leaderboard also shows it.

I have an invite to play Woodmead again some time soon and I will let you kow what the difference is between tournament weekend and normal weekends.

Paddle the Drak, Support a good cause.

One of the year’s most popular canoeing races has created a unique opportunity for eager paddlers to support a local charity, and in the process enjoy the benefits of starting at the front of the field.

The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge, to be held on the Umzimkulu river that runs through Underberg on 25 and 26 February, has set aside its third batch for paddlers to secure a preferential early start by making a R200 donation to the Sani SPCA, the race’s chosen charity for the year.

This will be limited to the first forty paddlers, who will join the handful of paddlers that have completed ten or more Drak Challenges, in what has become known as the Drak Batch, starting shortly after the seeded paddlers on the first day.

“The race is strongly rooted in the local community of Underberg and Himeville, and we felt we were in a good position to give something back”, said race organiser Richard Jardine.

“We are a very small branch that has to service the entire kwaSani municipality, an area of about 1200 square kilometres, with population 14 000 people, with one 1400 bakkie, one field worker/kennel manager. “, said John Gardiner, chairperson of the Sani SPCA.

“This opportunity is a godsend to us, as we are permanently battling to make ends meet. We run a thrift shop with volunteers and on sponsored rent, which helps with income, together with income from collection tins and a monthly book sale, to offset the loss that we make every month.”

“This is a rural community, and it needs ongoing education on animal care. The consequence of our education is that it creates more demand for our services, especially for spaying, which is a priority for the SPCA”, he added.

“Our kennels and our only vehicle came from bequests, for which we are really grateful”, he added. “The majority of the community that we serve can’t afford food for themselves, let alone treatment for their animals.”

“We even had to look after twenty donkeys that were stranded on Sani Pass recently, in the middle of a pouring rainstorm. We did the best we could with the kennels, and looked after these donkeys for three weeks!”, said Gardiner.

Entries are already pouring into the race office, suggesting that a bumper entry is on the cards, thanks to the news that the good summer rains have left the Umzimkulu full, and in ideal condition for the two day race from Castleburn to Early Mist farm, close to Coleford.

Paddlers interested in making a donation, and securing a place in the Drak batch, can visit the race website for more information.

Entries for the race close on Sunday 19 February at 6pm. More information on the race can be found at www.canoesa.org.za/DrakChallenge

The Drak is on

Weeks of countrywide rainfall have left the Umzimkulu river flowing full and fast, setting the scene for the Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge canoe marathon in Underberg on February 25 and 26.

The race focuses on K1 craft for championship purposes, but has in recent years been very popular with K2 paddlers. As the race starts on the first paddleable stretch of the Umzimkulu river as it emerges from the Southern Drakensberg mountains at Castleburn, it is heavily reliant on summer rainfall to provide river conditions conducive to the race.

The race has enjoyed excellent full conditions for the last four years running, and the good rains have left the river, and its tributaries flowing well. More importantly, the soaking rain has ensured that the ground water table is very high, and most of the rainfall that is likely to fall in the ten days before the race, will flow into the river.

The race was first held as a two-day marathon from Castleburn to Early Mists Farm near the Coleford resort in 1994, when heavy rain triggered a flood that decimated the big field that gathered for the inaugural race.

I told you so!!!

It was 4 days ago that I predicted that Australia would trounce Sri Lanka in the 2 remaining finals of the VB Series.

Whou would have thought, oh, wait, me!!!

Cape Epic is back

The CAPE EPIC is the largest mountain bike stage race in the world. The CAPE EPIC, presented by adidas, will kick off for the third time on 22 April 2006 in Knysna and lead over 1000 mountain bikers from 37 nations through the magnificent scenery of the Western Cape. Riders will tackle more than 920 gruelling kilometres and climb some 16600 vertical metres during the eight stage race that finishes at Spier Wine Estate on 29 April 2006.

Participants ride in 2 person teams and include some of the best mountain bike athletes in the world including Olympic medallists, world champions and overall world cup winners.

The route changes each year, and the 2006 race will visit George, Mossel Bay, Riversdale, Swellendam, Greyton, Hermanus and Franschhoek (Boschendal).

Please see www.cape-epic.com for more information or contact the Cape Epic Race Office at info@cape-epic.com and (021) 426 4373

Brian van Rooyen

Yesterday, I got to speak with Brian van Rooyen for half an hour. Brian is the President of SA Rugby, in case you have no idea. The point of the conversation was to find out more about the charges of financial mismanagement and poor corporate governance at SA Rugby.

Brian all but admited that he was in the wrong in a number of the desisions that he has made in his tenure at SA Rugby. In fact, he went on to say that he admits to having broken the law BUT, he says that he would do it again.

This cuts to the quick of the matter at hand. Brian broke the law, he made disicions that he should not have. He didn't steal money but he made promises to a Springbok team that he was not entitled to. But rugb is in the best state it has been for a very long time. In his reign, the amount of awards the Springbok team have won from the IRB are more than ever before. There are more black players on the field now that there have ever been. The Super series of rugby has been expanded to such a point that we have an extra team waiting in the wings. Brian admitted that school and club rugby isn't as far along as he would have hoped, but, let's faxe it, when you are forvever in court cases and fighting for your position, who has the time?

Does all of this let us forgive Brian for his mistakes? That decision will be left not to you and me, the sport fan, but to the presidents of the rugby unions around the country. Which way will they go? Probably staying with van Rooyen. The thing that you and I don't see is the work that Brian does behind the scenes in his fight to stay in power. Unlike the DA vs ANC fight we see on the street posts, Brian said that he prefers to not fight in the press. His opposition fight in the press. All we see is one side.

But does the end justify the means? My answer is, "Sometimes."

Super 14 has begun

On Friday night, I was watching part of the Cheetahs/Bulls game being played in Bloemfontein with a mate of mine. That jockey, Joel Stransky, was doing the commentary and the one things he said actually went into my ear. Admit it, does anyone care what he says since he told us why he did that one drop kick from that circle that is painted on Ellis Park's grass?

Mr Stransky was raving about how the Bulls managed to stop the Cheetahs from scoring a bonus point by winning by more than seven points. The final score was 18-30, in case you don't know. He said that it was a great disiplined performance from a proffesional outfit. Well done Joel, you drop kick genius. You and Kepler Wessels should team up for that book....

My point is that come Boots and All on Supersport in a month or so from now, our World Cup Winning boot will be talking about why the Cheetahs didn't score enough bonus points to make it into the top 10 of the Super 14. He will say that they didn't play well enough to deserve not being relegated. He will say that they played really badly while on tour to Oz and New Zealand. The one thing he won't talk about is why the Bulls didn't let them win a bonus point.

We, and The BOOT, are all for supporting South African teams. In fact, I have once, and only once, supported the Bulls in Super 12 as they were the only South African side with a hope of winning it, but why can't the SA teams play a tactical game to make the sides finish closer? I realise it seems a little like match fixing, see other article written below, but why not? If the Bulls are going to win, so be it, but let the Cheetahs get close so that they earn a bonus point and stay in the competition. By all means, whip the foriegn teams, but let's stick together here in dear old SA. As for the Boot, isn't it time he and his voice moved on?

Government and sport

Here is an article from IOL today and there are a number of worrying issues that I will raise. Take a couple of minutes to read through it...

Sport Minister Makhenkesi Stofile is expected to meet the South African Football Association (Safa) on Sunday to be briefed on the reasons for Bafana Bafana's dismal performance at the African Cup of Nations.

The national team crashed out in the first round, losing three matches and scoring no goals.

Stofile said the government was concerned about the team's decline and wanted answers.

"We're probably more concerned than the public because we know that... not only (does this) demoralise... the country, but... (it) also undermines the integrity of South Africa as the host country of the World Cup."

Stofile said he would meet Safa's leadership in an attempt to "correct" the team's recent losses.

"We have to give Safa an opportunity to get a report from their technical staff and then... give us a comprehensive report of what they think went wrong and what they think should be done."

But Stofile said he was confident that for the 2010 World Cup Bafana Bafana would be a strong team that would "surprise everybody".

So the government is "more concerned than the public." What does that mean? Are we totally uncaring? I also find it really sad that while people are having to poo in buckets and lose thier lives because of poor town planning and floods, out good government is making sure that the soccer team perform well so that our morale will be high. Thanks guys!!

Stofile will ask the team that went to Egypt what went wrong and how that same team "think should be done." WHAT?????? Have you ever heard of the blind leading the blind? If those people knew how to fix it, THEY WOULD HAVE!!!!!

As for why the team performing badly has anything to do with South Africa not being able to host a succesful 2010 world cup? What rubbish. In what way do our crime, transport, hotel, financial and racial problems have anything at all with the soccer team?

I hate the government getting involved in sport. Maybe that should be the biggest worry for hosting the 2010 world cup.

I have a Theory

I have a not very popular theory. I am sure I am not the only one with this theory but I think that I am the only one who is willing to say it. Serious sports reporters tend to not wat to talk about it as it makes thier job worthless. The theory has been bubbling around since the world cup here in South Africa and it is time to come out and be announced.

Betting and match fixing is still very much in the picture in sport!

Shocking, you say. Let's have a look at the VB Series, look at the results. One team wins, then it looses. One team looses, then they win. That is an easy way of fixing the odds for the next game. What were the odds of Sri Lanka making the finals of the VB Series. What are the odds of Sri Lanka winning the 1st final of the VB Series? So they win the 1st one, suddenly the odds of Australia taking the series gets wider. You put more money on the Aussies and they will obviously go on and win the series and you make more money.

You know that Australia will do well in the opening games when they come to South Africa later this year and I can gaurentee that South Africa will fight back but Australia will win in the end. Fix the matches, make it look as if cricket is unpredictable, make people sit on the edge of thier seats. It's all made up!

National Sick Note Day

According to Supersport, today is National Sick Note Day. They are warning people that there will be a major influx of sick notes because of all the sport on TV today. I have to admit that it is a special day as far as sport. If it wasn't for those "lazy and fat" Proteas it would be even better. As it is, Sri Lanka are playing Australia as I write this, on the 1st of a best of 3 final of the VB Series. The Super 14 gets underway in half an hour and the final of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations kicks off later tonight.

The A1gp is in Indonesia this weekend and today will be 1st practice, in fact, they have probably finished already. Nope, 1st practice will start later. Golf from Perth in Australia in the Johnny Walker Classic. (I love Johnny Walker.) Not to forget the 1st semi final of the Standard Bank Pro 20 cricket.

OK, so it's a busy sporting day but does Supersport, like Wonderbra, have to create a National Day? Let's face it, what percentage of people in South Africa even know of Supersport let alone be able to see any of those pictures that they are raving about? The SABC will have some of the A1 tomorrow and might show a couple of minutes of golf in the news if you are lucky. The soccer will be on the SABC though and that is maybe why it is so popular.

What about the Cinderella sports? Is there hockey on? I know that there is swimming in Brazil, why isn't Supersport talking about that? I will tell you why, MONEY. Easy hey?

Women playing Rugby, for real

The top 12 rugby-playing nations in the women's game will come together at the Women's Rugby World Cup 2006 in Edmonton Alberta Canada from 31 August to 17 September this year. The full match schedule, announced today, begins with defending champions New Zealand taking on hosts Canada at Ellerslie Rugby Park. Tickets for this and the rest of the games are now on sale.

Pool matches, which will be contested at Ellerslie Rugby Park and St. Albert Rugby Football Club, will determine the rankings that will position teams for the knockout rounds. The final will be played at Commonwealth Stadium on 17 September. Matches at these three great venues will provide the public with a tremendous opportunity to view world class women's rugby at a very reasonable price.

Edmonton, a city accustomed to holding events of this calibre, will welcome two-time defending champions New Zealand Black Ferns along with England (runners-up - 2002 WRWC), France (third - 2002 WRWC), Canada (fourth 2002 WRWC), Scotland, USA, Australia, Spain, Kazakhstan, Ireland, South Africa, and Samoa.

Individual Sports

If you are one of those that don't understand why sports journos and people in the know keep asking for the administration of sport to change, here is a good example.

Why is it that when it comes to individual sports, South Africa perform so well. For a little contry on the south of Africa, we have 2 golfers in the top 10. We have 4 of the fastest swimmers in the world. We even have someone who will get into the top 10 in the Skeleton at the Winter Olympics in Turin next week.

OK, our cricket team is ranked 3rd in ODI's but how many countries take part? It's all relative. As for rugby and soccer, how sad.

Administrators are like your bosses. The people you work for. If you feel as if they don't know what they are doing, how do you feel? If you see them going on lavish trips, driving cool cars and living large while you take home R2000 a month, how would you feel? If the admin staff are forever going to court cases to hold on to power, how would you perform at work?

You see it at Manchester United, you see it at Kaizer Chiefs and you see it at SAFA. Maybe we should enter 11 individuals into the next world cup in 2010???

Cricket vs Cricket

While the South African cricket team, the Wilting Proteas, sulked into Johannesburg yestersay, the BBC are reporting on what the English side will be doing today.

England's Ashes heroes are to visit Buckingham Palace on Thursday for a special reception in their honour.

Michael Vaughan's men will collect New Year Honours from the Queen.

The entire team is receiving awards after their first series victory over Australia since 1987, with an OBE for Vaughan and MBEs for the other players.

I find it really sad that no one went to the airport to meet the Proteas. Reports say that the lack of a crowd at the airport is an insult. If you really want to insult a team, go down to JHB International, soon to be OR Thambo and hold up a big sign with LOSER written on it. That would be an insult and you would make the 7pm news.

Take Drugs, make money

I will leave this up to you to make up your own mind. Her ex said she took drugs, other people said she took drugs. C'mon, we know she took drugs!!!!

Sprinter Marion Jones has reached a settlement in her multi-million-dollar defamation suit against Victor Conte, convicted in connection with a sports doping ring. Jones had sued Conte, the founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative in California, for 25 million dollars after he claimed in 2002 television interviews to have supplied her with performance-enhancing drugs. District court records in San Francisco say a settlement has been struck between Conte and the three-time Olympic champion.

Lose at Soccer, Blaim the Ref

Why is it that a loosing team always blames the referee or umpire? "Accept the loss" is what I say. Imagine if I blamed a bad show on the listeners. Today, SAPA are reporting that both of the teams that lost in the semi-finals of AFCON blame thier respective referees for thier poor performance. I might agree with Senegal, who shold have been given a penalty, but that is the game.

While I am on this little wave, I think that technology should be kept out of sport. I understand that careers could be made or broken with a bad desition, but that is the nature of sport. Same as a player makes a bad stroke, sometimes an umpire does the same thing. To many of tem and they get dropped. Umpires and refs should be checked all the time and if they are bad, they get demoted, same as a player.

I hear Mike Haysman say to use technology where you can. That's not cricket, it's TV playing cricket. Cricket is between 22 men with 2 officials. Deal with it.

In the Super 14 coming up, how many times will we see the "TMO" (isn't that a cute name) with all of the related sponsorship popping up on our screen? If the ref is too lazy to keep up with the players and the touch line official is also to fat ad lazy, they should not be doing thier jobs!

Simple, isn't it?

GEOFF MEEK STEPS DOWN

World champion SA yachtsman Geoff Meek, who has been plagued by knee and shoulder injuries since yacht Shosholoza hit a whale in Table Bay early last year, has stepped down as skipper of Team Shosholoza.

Team strategist, Mark Sadler, 30, a winning South African dinghy and big boat racing skipper who grew up in Benoni, Gauteng, is the new skipper . Team Shosholoza is South Africa - and Africa's - first ever America's Cup challenger in the 154 year history of the prestigious event.

Team Shosholoza has also announced the appointment of ace Californian yachtsman Dee Smith who joins the team as Team Manager, coach and tactictian. Smith, who is considered one of the world's top ranked grand prix skipper/tacticians brings over 40 years of yacht racing experience and a wealth of knowledge in a variety of classes including the America's Cup.

Smith's appointment follows a short but successful contract with Team Shosholoza for the final two Louis Vuitton Acts of the America's Cup class racing season in Trapani, Sicily, last year when he was instrumental in bringing the team three match race wins and a startling (for a first timer to the America's Cup) fifth place overall in the fleet racing.

Team Shosholoza paid tribute to Meek with a standing ovation following the announcement in Cape Town yesterday.

Kepler, you Genius you

It's amazing just how clever sports people are.

Check out this wonderful quote from our ex cricket captian, Kepler Wessels....

Graeme Smith's future as South Africa captain could hinge on the outcome of the home series against Australia.

Brilliant Kepler, who else but you would have thought such a thing might happen? Boy, I am so glad that we sport fans that know nothing have you around to state the totally obvious. Why don't you write a book with Terry Paine about how the way to win a soccer match is to score goals? Why not team up with Clive Rice and tell us how badly the boys played in Australia?

It's also rich coming from you who would take forever to score runs in ODI's and then get out putting massive pressure on the lower order to perform. Thank you Jonnty Rhodes and Lance Klusner.

Wessels pinpointed the pugnacious Smith's habit of becoming involved in "verbal warfare" with the Australians as another reason South Africa struggled so badly.

Once again, thanks Kepps. I am glad that it took yout fantastic cricketing brain to tell us stupid cricket followers that Graeme Smith is still a little boy who must learn many things, like bad mouthing the Ozzies on thier own turf is not such a good idea. Man, am I glad you around.

Let's hope we see you on TV soon.

Read the full article on Kepler's fantastic advice and insight for us here....

Soccer Coaches and tings

How aragant can one man be? After failing dismally with his own PSL side and performing really poorly at the last soccer world cup help in Korea and Japan, Jomo Sono now thinks that SAFA should call him up to save South African Soccer. This is from IOL today....

After preferring to reserve his comments on Bafana before their departure to the ill-fated African Cup of Nations, he has emerged from his shell and, not for the first time, declared: "People know my history and my capabilities as a coach and if the country wants me, then I can't say no.

"But I will certainly not apply for the job," the Jomo Cosmos owner/coach stated. Moreover, he made it clear he would be prompted to bring in his own technical team to work with.

I can understand wanting to change the whole technical team, let's face it, they have less of a clue than the idiot trying to break out of prison on TV. Jomo Sono is a very powerful man in soccer but does that make him a good coach? Last season, Cosmos were lucky to not be relegated to the Golden League. In fact, the power he has forced SAFA to re-think the whole relegation rule by creating a playoff situation and that is the only thing that saved thier skin from lower league football.

Why is it, too, that he thinks he is so good that he won't apply but that SAFA should call him? If you want the job, apply, if not, shut up and try and make your own side perform before you take on the national side.

Stuart Baxter did well with his own side and then had the Sowetan on his back for 2 years. Jomo might have the Sowetan on his side. Actually, now that I think about it, as long as that tabloid likes you, then you are made as a soccer coach.

Hockey Coming to Durban

The teams taking part in next week’s SPAR Cup Women’s Four Nations hockey tournament will converge on Durban over the next few days to prepare for the tournament, which takes place from Monday February 13 to Saturday February 18.

The South African team arrive in Durban on Thursday February 9 with Scotland, Ireland and Azerbaijan arriving on Friday February 10.

Tickets for the tournament will cost R10.00 for adults and R5.00 for scholars, but learners wearing school uniform will be admitted free of charge. Tickets are obtainable from the KwaZulu Natal Hockey Association’s office at Queensmead Hockey Stadium or at the gate on match days.

SA Cricket R.I.P.

So Graeme Smith finally scores a couple of runs and goes out with a silly shot. That isn't so bad but what kind of an example does he create by swearing like a sailor as he makes his way off the field today? Smithy is the captain of the South African cricket side. A position that is worshiped (until a couple of weeks ago) by school boys around the country. Is this the way that you are supposed to walk off the field? If Graeme does it, why can't they? I was taught to put my bat under my arm, take your medicine and walk off with repect. Don't be the little baby that Graeme Smith is and vent your anger for world wide audiences to see.

Yesterday, the Pakistani Captain, Insimam Al Hack was sent off for obstructing the fielding side. While making his way back to the crease, a fielder threw the ball at the wicket and, trying to stop himself from being hit, big Insi put his bat up to hit the ball. The Indians appealed and the umpires gave him out. After asking for what reason he was given out, Al Hack walked off and waitied until after the game to quiery the disision. Respect is the name of the game.

While I am on the cricket story, The South African cricket team has suffered a further setback. The International Cricket Council has informed Cricket South Africa that the bowling action of off-spinner Johan Botha has been found to be illegal. Botha's action was bio-mechanically examined at the University of Western Australia in Perth last week after his action had been reported by match officials during the third Test between Australia and South Africa in January this year. The amount of elbow extension in Botha's bowling action for both his off-spin and `doosra' deliveries exceeds the 15 percent level of tolerance permitted. Botha has been suspended from bowling in international cricket until such time as he has submitted to a fresh independent analysis.

World Cup Venues

What a way to start a blog, by breaking the news of the 2010 World Cup Venues....

The Sports Ministry has announced the 10 venues to host the 2010 Soccer Wold Cup. The venues comprise of 5 existing stadia wichich will be refurbished and upgraded and 5 that will be newly built or re built.
There are 3 stadiums for Gauteng, Soccer City, Ellis Park and Loftus got the nod. The Royal Bafokeng in the North West and Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein will also be upgraded.
The new or rebuilt stadiums are the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Kings Park Soccer stadium in Durban and the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. New stadia will be built in Mbombela in Mpumalanga and in theNelson Mandela Metropole. Green Point will be turned into a multi sport venue with a roof that can open and close.
The announcement also went on to explain that there was a move to correct the imbalance between rugby and soccer fields.