ANZAC special: Best Australians
Sport Review #275
Non-sport honourable mentions - Rake, Hoodoo Gurus - Sport Review still recommends the Sydney scallywag lawyer / boozer / gambler Rake as an all-time Netflix must-watch, while the Gurus are the GOAT Aussie band and I am not taking feedback
Steven Bradbury - you make your own luck, and in this case turning up to the speed skating final looking like a Pearl Jam bass player is enough to win gold
Best Chappell: Trevor Little brother was forced to deliver the underarm, didn’t seem that happy about it at the time, and has had a self-deprecating sense of humour about it ever since. Greg is second for his stylish play and dour dedication, while Ian is a distant third for being a grumpy, petty dickhead, holding grudges years after their use-by
Pat Cash - one of Wimbledon’s great moments, beating Ivan Lendl to win the title then climbing into the stands to give his folks a hug, all in front of Lady Di. Magical stuff
Mary Fowler / Elle Carpenter - The Matilda’s run to the World Cup semis was the story of FIFA WWC 2023, with Fowler seeming to glide above the turf, and Carpenter’s endless running and expressions that matched the fans
John Eales - kind of hard to admit when factoring in all the trauma the big man inflicted on us through the 2000’s, but he could play, kick goals and seemed like a good bloke to top everything off
Richie Benaud - a snappy dresser who didn’t see the need to fill every moment of airtime with blather and wit dryer than peanut butter on Weetbix. Plus he hated the underarm too
Wally Lewis - throwback to the great days of State of Origin when Graham Lowe coached Queensland, the Maroons were the greatest, the Cockroaches were Cockroaches and the biff hadn’t gone anywhere
Shane Warne - lover, drinker, smoker, dancer. Relatable for not liking Steve Waugh either, but what a bowler. Did things with the ball you still can’t believe. Dismantled Daryl Cullinan like a surgeon. Just one of the most entertaining human beings ever, still can’t believe he’s gone.
Cathy Freeman - show me an athlete under more pressure and expectation to win on the biggest stage. And she absolutely smashed it.
Thanks for reading - Richard
This week's best NZ sport content
Guy Heveldt makes his (just in time) Sunday debut, profiling Olympics GOAT Dame Lisa Carrington.
An interesting but slightly bitter take - Auckland is blessed with two really good oval ball teams right now, both punching above their weight in marketing and social media but surely there is room for both? [NZ Herald]
How Team New Zealand’s new boat stacks up against the rest [Stuff]
TIL the Chiefs’ Dave Rennie helped sort out the Warriors, while Crowd Goes Wild breaks down their big transfer news [NZ Herald, Sky]
Video nasty
Absolute superstar.
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Long read
All about the Oakland A’s - my team’s - owner taking the money and running, moving the team to Las Vegas and the loud and effective protest movement that’s sprung up against it [Ringer]
Recommendation
Conan’s Hot Ones is amazing. Make sure you watch the last wing.