- 12:32 PM
- 07/05/25
Ah, summer.
Which means cricket and five day Tests. Bliss.
posted by owlhouse at 05:12 PM on December 28, 2024
Don't worry, Liverpool fans - Stevie G is dusting off his resume...
:-)
posted by owlhouse at 08:31 PM on January 31, 2024
And we lost O Profesor Mario Zagallo just a few days ago.
I wonder if Didier Deschamps has booked himself in for a thorough medical?
posted by owlhouse at 11:11 PM on January 08, 2024
I don't think that I'll ever see another Australian innings like Maxwell's, ever.
Although Jason Gillespie's 200 against Bangladesh in Chittagong and Dean Jones' 210 against India in the tied test in Madras (Chennai) come close, albeit for different reasons.
Why do these great innings only happen on the subcontinent?
posted by owlhouse at 10:36 PM on November 22, 2023
How to silence a massive home crowd.
posted by owlhouse at 10:18 PM on November 19, 2023
If you look up "solipsism" in an online dictionary, it links to this article.
posted by owlhouse at 09:39 PM on August 20, 2023
I think they toss a coin at World Cups to see who gets to be the "home" team.
In terms of popularity, last night in the pub in Sydney about half the adults in attendance were wearing the alternate kit. Both home and away (see what I did there?) kits have had massive sales here, around 15 times the number of men's shirts sold for Qatar 22.
Meanwhile I'm sure that I'm not alone here in saying Anyone But England tonight.
Let's see if they try and kick Bonmati and Redondo off the park in the first 20 minutes. That seems to be their MO this tournament. While also claiming the other teams are the ones responsible for this type of shithousery. They haven't made too many friends down under.
posted by owlhouse at 09:01 PM on August 19, 2023
It was indeed a wonderful ride.
posted by owlhouse at 09:05 PM on August 16, 2023
Trust in Saint Ange.
posted by owlhouse at 02:01 AM on August 14, 2023
Let's hope we win and get rid of Chuck the Third as well.
I was at the match on Saturday in Brisbane, high up behind the goal where the penalties were taken. I'm still recovering.
Here's someone else who gets it.
posted by owlhouse at 01:59 AM on August 14, 2023
The US team looked incoherent on the field and without a Plan A or Plan B. Blame for which should be laid at the feet of Andonovski, who has plenty of talent at his disposal, despite missing some players injured. But then other countries have also suffered in that regard.
My immediate observation was that the front three played too far apart. Smith and either of Rodman or Williams played very wide and relied primarily on their speed. However good defenders can adapt and cover each other when the full backs get beaten. Horan (who was the best US player by far) had no support when going forward and, along with Morgan, could be cut off by the central defenders working with their screening midfielders.
As a result, everyone ended up isolated in attack. This approach, and not changing formation when it wasn't working made it far too easy for opposing defences.
posted by owlhouse at 02:42 AM on August 09, 2023
Fair questions.
The east coast of Australia is only a two hour flight from Auckland, so not really a big travel burden for Netherlands and Sweden. Dunedin would be harder to get to. If anyone could be bothered going there and judging by the crowds, not many did. Meanwhile the Australian stadiums are all sold out.
Stadium allocations were worked out months ago, so Australia playing a QF in Brisbane only happened because we topped the group and won the R16. If we'd come second the path would have been different. I went to the Denmark game on Monday and have tickets for Saturday in Brisbane, so happy that I gambled and won when I bought them months ago!
posted by owlhouse at 02:31 AM on August 09, 2023
Nobody wants to talk about this? I'll go and have a cup of tea then.
posted by owlhouse at 11:35 PM on August 06, 2023
Portugal's left hand upright has just been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
posted by owlhouse at 07:23 PM on August 01, 2023
I was at the game. France were good, and a bit unlucky. Jamaica didn't have much beyond "launch it to Bunny", but then again, that was fairly effective.
After watching Brasil last night (Did you see the third goal? Wow.), I'm really looking forward to taking my daughter to France v Brasil on Saturday in Brisbane.
posted by owlhouse at 06:03 PM on July 24, 2023
What about the team travel? I haven't looked carefully at the schedule. This is a far flung tournament with host sites spread over considerable distances. I hope no team has to play one match in Perth and the next in Wellington or Dunedin
For the group matches, and the Round of 16, no international travel is required. A, C, E and G are in NZ and B, D, F and H are in Oz. That changes once the QFs begin.
Having said that, the main cities of NZ are closer to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane than Perth, where five matches are scheduled in the group stages.
posted by owlhouse at 11:37 PM on July 12, 2023
The British Royal family have been grifting their own country and the nations of the former Empire/Commonwealth for nearly a thousand years.
What were you expecting?
posted by owlhouse at 09:02 PM on June 21, 2023
Inaccurate headline from an English newspaper, but here's a match report.
And yes, NoMich, England found several ways to "Go All Spursy" - as one commenter noted.
posted by owlhouse at 01:56 AM on June 21, 2023
Will your sport put up more of a fight than golf?
posted by owlhouse at 07:42 PM on June 13, 2023
I was curious about how this might affect the LPGA
Well, it was only very recently that women in Saudi Arabia were permitted to drive...
/I'll see myself out
posted by owlhouse at 12:04 AM on June 08, 2023
I believe he gets about EUR 150 million a year from Saudi Arabia as their "tourism ambassador", so he's not as clean as you may think.
posted by owlhouse at 11:43 PM on June 07, 2023
Details of the merger are now being released.
Apparently the PGA will still control holes 1 - 8 and 12 - 18, while Saudi Arabia will be responsible for 9 - 11.
/Too soon?
posted by owlhouse at 11:34 PM on June 06, 2023
The costs of promotion. Luton Town will need to spend quite a bit of money on their stadium to meet Premier League standards.
NB: the story dates from just before they won the play off final.
posted by owlhouse at 09:22 PM on May 31, 2023
That goalkeeper won't be waiting for a big European club to come knocking, that's for sure.
posted by owlhouse at 02:00 AM on May 29, 2023
Barney Ronay's analysis of a club sleepwalking to relegation.
posted by owlhouse at 09:02 PM on May 28, 2023
Bring me sunshine.
posted by owlhouse at 09:01 PM on May 28, 2023
Eric Morecambe.
That is all.
posted by owlhouse at 06:44 PM on May 26, 2023
This will be T20 cricket which is only about 1.5 to 2 hours long
Closer to 3 hours, NoMich. But certainly not like a five day Test match*!
*Which, given the chance and with no outside "interference**" from Mrs Owl, I would still watch every ball.
**"Why are you wasting your time watching that?"
posted by owlhouse at 09:36 PM on April 18, 2023
Didn't Tottenham also rebuild a big part of its ground without closing?
They played all their home games of 2017/18 and most of them in 2018/19 at Wembley.
posted by owlhouse at 09:30 PM on April 18, 2023
Yes! I was at the Paddo Town Hall one - apparently we found out after the fact that it was their farewell before heading off overseas. There was a bit of drunken aggro at the back of the venue at one stage, and us youngsters (I was a 16 y.o. with some school mates) ended up being sprayed with a lot of beer foam.
The gig itself was good, if nothing special, but the time and place, and the (then unknown) future of the band appeared to give it legendary status, very much in retrospect.
posted by owlhouse at 07:55 PM on March 21, 2023
"Never bet on anything that can talk".
- Damon Runyon (anecdotally)
posted by owlhouse at 09:03 PM on March 13, 2023
I'm not a fan of the three-team groups. Too many opportunities for a Gijon 1982-like "fix".
By contrast, the groups stages in Qatar were extraordinarily exciting.
posted by owlhouse at 09:24 PM on February 20, 2023
Is MLS a Major League? It depends where you are, and who you ask, apparently.
posted by owlhouse at 06:47 PM on February 20, 2023
Hi Team. Bit of The Saints' Brisbane DNA in that one. Did you know that the Brisbane City Council have not only named a park after Ed Kuepper, but a bridge after the Go-Betweens?
But the best Brisbane band ever is Powderfinger.
posted by owlhouse at 11:07 PM on January 11, 2023
World Cup Final 1958. Still only 17 years old.
posted by owlhouse at 04:46 PM on December 29, 2022
Well, that was a game and a half.
Literally.
posted by owlhouse at 07:21 PM on December 18, 2022
Hi there NoMich. The Go-Betweens were quite well known around the indie/alternative circuit, playing lots of live gigs, but never really made it on commercial FM radio. They were a bit too poppy for the hardcore alternative audience, and a bit too "Brisbane" for the larger cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
In recent years, and following Grant McLennan's death, they seem to have captured a bit of the nostalgia market for 80s music for people of my age. Lindy Morrison is currently advertising aged pensioners insurance, which makes me feel old.
To be honest, I'm not a big fan. I once called them the most over-rated under-rated band in Australia.
If that makes sense.
posted by owlhouse at 07:12 PM on December 06, 2022
Fortunately, down here we have full, live and uninterrupted coverage on SBS, one of our national public broadcasters. And the classy Martin Tyler commentating on at least half the matches.
My only two issues are with the panel - Craig Foster's lack of socks and Mark Bosnich opening his mouth. Still, Fozzie and Bozzie sound far better than what you're getting.
I saw this article on The Grauniad and thought my American mates would get a kick out of it. So to speak.
posted by owlhouse at 07:59 PM on December 05, 2022
The only question I have is whether it will work on a cold Tuesday night in Hobart.
People forget that this happened earlier in 2022.
posted by owlhouse at 07:15 PM on December 05, 2022
Yeah, because I'm always at work between 2 am and 5 am.
Isn't the heat keeping you at home anyways? :-)
posted by owlhouse at 01:51 AM on July 01, 2021
Home team plays overly defensive, not away team
And minimise your home advantage? I really don't think this happens.
The away goals rule has led to some of the most exciting and scintillating finishes to two-legged ties that I've ever seen, and (I believe) actually reduces the prospects of extra time and penalties.
But without detailed statistical evidence, we're just guessing in any case.
posted by owlhouse at 10:30 PM on June 26, 2021
extra time > away goals > penalties
Not necessarily in this context. Playing the first leg away is already an advantage to one team over the other. Then having an extra thirty minutes at home in the event of a drawn two-legged tie is a further advantage.
I also disagree that away goals makes the away team on the first leg more defensive. In fact, looking for a quick away goal is usually part of the game plan.
posted by owlhouse at 06:34 PM on June 26, 2021
Away goals>Penalties.
That is all.
posted by owlhouse at 10:09 PM on June 25, 2021
Media interviews are dangerous. Another leading player withdraws due to issues with a press conference.
posted by owlhouse at 01:02 AM on June 02, 2021
How to create a fake sports tournament.
posted by owlhouse at 12:46 AM on May 13, 2021
Man United v Liverpool postponed as fans protest.
"A pessimist might observe that it's probably a stretch to expect a few guys with songs and banners to change the world for the better. An optimist would counter that it's possibly the only thing that ever has."
posted by owlhouse at 09:50 PM on May 02, 2021
Does he know how to play American football?
Asking for a friend in Tampa Bay.
I'm sure he'd like the opportunity to chew that idea over.
posted by owlhouse at 10:04 PM on February 14, 2021
And Happy Jan. 2 to owlhouse
Thanks. And to what do I owe the pleasure?
/Straya Day is 26 Jan.
posted by owlhouse at 08:32 PM on January 03, 2021
Face melting tenor solo.
posted by owlhouse at 05:10 PM on December 03, 2020
Putting the journey into journeyman.
posted by owlhouse at 05:09 PM on December 03, 2020
The ever-eloquent Jorge Valdano on his World Cup-winning teammate.
posted by owlhouse at 10:04 PM on November 26, 2020
The best individual player, for sure. The best player? I think Pele might have just shaded him.
posted by owlhouse at 10:02 PM on November 25, 2020
a half year behind its normal time and in a different country
In 2009, the Indian Premier League was played entirely in South Africa following the terrorist attack on the touring Sri Lankan team in March of that year.
posted by owlhouse at 12:29 AM on September 16, 2020
I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
Neymar is a twat.
posted by owlhouse at 10:45 PM on September 14, 2020
I have only ever seen one MLB game. And the highlight was Big Bart Colon hitting a double.
posted by owlhouse at 12:03 AM on September 08, 2020
I nominate the Edmonton Ones That Got Away.
As anyone who followed my CFL tipping career in the Locker Room can confirm.
posted by owlhouse at 12:44 AM on July 22, 2020
Didn't something that happened around 1776 mean that you septics got rid of all your Royals?
Or is it just because of Wallis Simpson and Meghan Markle?
/I actually don't need to know.
posted by owlhouse at 02:18 AM on July 17, 2020
It's probably the hardest of the Nordic languages. It doesn't seem to have the semi-connectivity that Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian do.
Finnish is in an entirely different language group to the other Nordic/Germanic and even Indo-European languages. It sits in it's own family, Uralic, along with Estonian, Hungarian, the Sami languages and some indigenous languages of Siberia. And yes, it is hard!
posted by owlhouse at 01:33 AM on July 11, 2020
Launceston is in Tasmania (the South Island). Looks like it will indeed host some group games.
But if you want to drive there from here in Sydney, it's about 9 hours to Melbourne, then an overnight ferry crossing of Bass Strait in the middle of winter, then a short drive from Devonport. Or you could fly direct in about 90 minutes.
The matches will also be held in the middle of AFL season, so you could catch some games of that, too.
posted by owlhouse at 11:11 PM on June 28, 2020
Up, Up, Up the Town!
I'm hoping we get to play them next season - the Rams have one game left to ensure we stay in the Championship. Lots of fascinating permutations on the last weekend. Too many, in fact.