July 2008 - Sports Bar

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Sports Bar - July 2008

Wellcome to Hell

July 14th 2008 06:12

The Tour de France heats up tonight with the first real mountain stage. What these cyclists are about to put their bodies through is beyond all rational thought. No normal person would want to ride the best part of 166km all up hill... Perhaps hill is the wrong word... because these guys are going to scale the Pyrenees mountains...

Stage 10 - Tour De France

The highest climb of the day a mind boggling summit that peaks at 2,110 metres! The climb starts after about 70km of riding and the riders won't reach the top until 20kms later... the pain these that is going to be rushing through these bodies is beyond description. Sheer determination will drag these men up the peak.

For the climbers and the real contenders it is the day to shine. This is where the Tour is won and lost. is is where the Mountain men come out to play and where everybody else just strives to survive.

For Cadel Evans, this is the moment of destiny, while there are more mountain stages to come, this could be the ultimate day of the Tour... This is judgment day.

And while Evans was masterful in last years tour pulling on reserves of energy he probably didn't know he had to chase down Contador, he will be the man getting attacked this year. And the fall yesterday will not have helped him at all (obviously)...

The climb is tough enough without having an injured shoulder and only his close training camp must know the extent of the injury. He will have a bullseye on his back all the way up the mountain. Any sign of weakness will be tested...

This could be Cadel's finest hour. If he survives today it will go a long way to deciding the Tour.

Hell awaits the tour, every second counts, every last drop of energy counts and for the main riders, it is now or never.

Stay tuned, things are heating up!

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The ICC is a Joke!

July 8th 2008 06:30

Ian Chappell may not be the most popular man on the planet, or even in Australia… but at least we can agree on something…

The ICC has become a joke and is seriously lacking credibility.

The Controversy

Fox Sports reports:

“FORMER Australia skipper Ian Chappell has blasted an "outlandish" International Cricket Council for tolerating basket case Zimbabwe and rewriting history to appease Pakistan… The ICC altered the official result of the Oval Test between England and Pakistan in 2006 from an England victory to a draw. The controversial decision prompted legendary former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding to resign from the ICC cricket committee.

"Throughout the 129 years of Test cricket prior to the Oval, many teams have been wronged," Chappell said. "In the end common sense always prevailed - until all sanity flew out of the Pakistan dressing room window at The Oval and they refused to play on.

"A forfeit was the only conclusion to be drawn from Pakistan's actions and only the ICC could come to any other decision."

I wrote about it at the time and am totally bemused by this latest ruling.

In a nutshell: In a test match between Pakistan and England the umpires looked at the ball and decided that Pakistan had tampered with it, so in the laws of the game, they confiscated it. In the laws of politics, Pakistan refused to return to the field after the tea-break in protest and when the umpires and England returned to the field , the umpires ruled that Pakistan had forfeited the game…

Basically, Pakistan didn’t like a decision, so they stubbornly refused to play cricket. But this was all lost in racism accusations at controversial umpire Daryl Hair… Pakistan flexed their muscle and I don’t think he has umpired since.

What was lost in all this? Who was in the wrong? PAKISTAN!!! They acted like children and got their big bully parents to muscle into the ICC. It was disgraceful!

And now it has hit rock bottom…

The ICC has actually changed the result to a draw. A DRAW!!???

The ICC is not independent… it is influenced by the money and power of the subcontinent and not wanting to lose the investment, bows to every whim and beckon call. It is beyond a joke, it is out of control and there may be no turning back.

Can someone please explain what has happened to the game I love?

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BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

July 2nd 2008 02:51

He is one of the most prolific defenders in the NRL, but on Friday night Nathan Friend will tackle a different issue head-on – breast cancer awareness.

Friend will don pink headgear in the Titans clash with the top of the table Sea Eagles at Skilled Park to raise much needed funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Nathan Friend supports National Breast Cancer Foundation

Nathan Friend dons Pink headgear

At 170cm and 85kg, Friend is one of the smallest players in the NRL, but that hasn’t stopped him racking up the second most tackles in the competition – an awe-inspiring 586.

He is just three tackles short of leader Michael Luck and they are both amazingly 65 clear of the next best – Panthers Nathan Smith.

“It comes naturally, I have always been up there in the tackle count,” he said.

“Being the littlest guy out there on the field, you always have back-rowers and front rowers finding the little man, I dare say they follow me around.

“I like to get in there and mix it with the big guys, it is part and parcel of the game, I really enjoy it.

“Why wouldn’t you, it’s the NRL!”

But his most important tackle on Friday night will not be registered on any list or statistic page.

The Titans hooker has seen the effects of cancer first hand and is willing to do everything he can to promote the message and tackle the prominent issue.

“I have been affected by cancer, my aunty passed away at 29, 14 years ago,” Friend said.

“She had ovarian cancer, I still have vivid memories of that, it is one of the worse illnesses out there, it is pretty debilitating.

“Hopefully they can find a cure sooner rather than later, if I can help that in anyway, I will for sure.”

Adam Cuthbertson will also wear pink

Friend is not the only Rugby League player wearing pink this week in support of the cause, Sea Eagles Adam Cuthbertson will also wear pink head gear on Friday night, while the Bulldogs will wear pink socks on Monday night against the Rabbitohs.

“Hopefully we can raise some money after the game,” Friend said.

“The headgear will go up for auction and hopefully we can raise the Foundation a lot of funds.

“Of all the charities it is the one that hits home for me.”

Friend prides himself on putting his body on the line and likewise, isn’t concerned if he receives the odd bit of stick for wearing pink.

“A few of the boys have given me a bit of cheek,” Friend said.

“But it is all in good fun, it is for a great charity and I’m sure I will get a great reception on Friday.

“Certainly with all the players getting behind it, it will help us and the Foundation a lot.

“Hopefully people can dig deep and give towards the auction, for a great charity and a great cause.”

The headgear will be signed and put up for auction after the game.

Over the past four years, Rugby League has raised more than $400,000 for NBCF and breast cancer research and helped increase awareness and public support.

Rugby League Community Relations Manager, Trish Crews, said it was great to see the players actively involved in raising awareness for the charity.

“The National Breast Cancer Foundation is a One Community charity and we are thrilled to see NRL players and clubs working together and helping us to support this important cause,” Crews said.

For more information on One Community Charities Click Here

The Bulldogs “Women in a League of Their Own” Dinner will be held at ANZ Stadium on Monday 7th July during the Bulldogs v South Sydney match, with all the proceeds going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

For more information click here

For more information on the National Breast Cancer Foundation please contact
Megan Walker on (02) 9299 4090

For all the latest news go to nrl.com

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September 2008

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August 2008

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