Camping - brilliant when it’s all beach and cold drinks and chips and dips. Shithouse when your gazebo blows out on the first weekend and you’re staying a couple of bays around from a literal tornado on the second. I’m sure this is all character building eventually.
Australian Open - our camping timing meant I caught a lot more of the first week than the second. That’s OK, because on the men’s side the tournament seemed to have its energy sucked out as electric players like Fonseca, Sonego and even Carlos went out, leaving the big guns.
The women’s side was much more fun, with Madison Keys completing one of the greatest runs, beating the world numbers one and two to win it. The final was an exciting slug fest between two of the biggest hitters around, and a great, heart warming win.
Novak has won in Melbourne 10 times (10 times!), but still gets the shits at the slightest provocation from the locals, who are all too happy to give it to him. It’s boring and unlikely to be resolved even if he gets back for another (final?) go. With one men’s finalist having an unsatisfactory drugs allegation hanging over him and the other having an unsatisfactory domestic violence situation hanging over him, it was all a bit joyless, with Sinner’s Djokovich tribute act being far too strong.
Anyway, here’s a long, nerdy review of all the tennis outfits and shoes from the Australian Open - Sport Review’s take is 99% of them are dire and / or shit, with (hate to say it) Novak’s Lacoste gear the only even halfway decent men’s lot. Bring back classic Adidas and green sunshine double Fed kit I say.
This guy got to go to Melbourne, but also had to spend a lot of time with brands.
Cricket - despite being blessed to stay so close to Blake Park that you can hear the crowd cheering a six before the TV catches up, I was a bad cricket fan and declined the chance to attend either bilateral T20. Blessings to the team and organisers, who drew really strong crowds despite my inconsequential grumblings about wanting a boxing day Test at the Mount.
Mount Maunganui - if you’re headed to this blessed township, I recommend you try Rita’s bar for their Detroit style pizza, and I also recommend you park your hire scooter considerately. Try Tay St Cafe if you want to enjoy your flat white like a BLACKCAP.
Spurs - this downward spiral is soul crushing. I spent far too much time alone on couches watching us try and fail to score, while inevitably letting plenty in at the other end. Our wonderful manager, who is passionate and has an exciting plan for how we’ll play, has been left to play two games a week with ten fit players, a number that’s rapidly decreasing. It is depressing and there is no end in sight. Sport hey? It’s uplifting stuff.
Anyway, I hope you had a safe and restful break. Thanks for reading and being part of Sport Review for another year, it looks like we’ll need some interesting distractions this year and I look forward to helping that happen in a small way.
Thanks for reading - Richard
Best sport content from over the break
The boys yarn to Sean Fitzpatrick and get all the rugby stories as well as the perplexing Laureus sports awards bizzo and related incredible WhatsApp group [Between Two Beers]
Dylan reviews the Sail GP before swerving into Auckland, its stadiums and the lack of respect for cricket fans here [The Bounce]
Anyone who’s even casually tuned into the ACC universe will have heard the origin stories a few times by now (the world cup Pepsi car, DJ A-Hole pointing the speaker at the caravan etc etc) - but this review of their Almanack from an ACC skeptic reckons that even if you’re a bit sceptical, there’s plenty in here to get stuck into, especially for cricket fans [Sportsfreak]
The great Aaron Timms takes down the enshittification of the fly on the wall sports documentary, that have been watered down beyond all credibility or indeed interest [Guardian]
This podcast series all about curling, broom innovation, broom business and broom-prompted skullduggery within the community is gripping and highly recommended, thanks to Anna @ The Spinoff for the tip [CBC]
Video nasty
Youtube art guy / handyman tries to drive and ride around the LA fires, it’s great footage but kind of reckless.
Long read
All about clutter and the folks who make a good living helping people get their shit together or indeed throw it out [New Yorker]
Recommendation
Fantastic run down of the great man David Lynch’s film-and-TV-ography. Wild at Heart is underrated for Nic Cage’s Elvis impersonation alone, but let’s be fair, there’s no topping Twin Peaks.