The Weekly A-Z

Posted on February 5, 2021February 5, 2021 | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – ATROCIOUS

Brisbane Bronco enforcer Payne Haas’ foul-mouthed tirade in January was revealed during a court hearing in Tweed Heads yesterday when he faced charges of intimidating and abusing police officers. To say the language was colourful is an understatement of some note. Haas is a talented player, but his behaviour away off the field doesn’t cut the mustard. Wonder if Broncos coach Kevin Walters or NRL supremo Peter V’Landys will show some stones and make an example of Haas. Failure to do so would be embarrassing.

B – BOOTS FILLED

In the world of professional sport, those that are successful have a ruthless edge. A willingness to show very little compassion towards the opposition if an opportunity to enforce your dominance presents. Manchester United did exactly that midweek when they annihilated a nine-man Southampton 9-0. The Saints were reduced to 10 men very early and after doing their best to hold on in the face of a wave of attacks, conceded five goals in the final 21 minutes.

C – COVID-19

We entered 2021 hoping that the worst of the pandemic was behind us. Or at least, the sporting and racing landscape wouldn’t be impacted as significantly as 2020. How quickly things change. The Sunday press conference by Premier Mark McGowan led to a lockdown inside six hours, while Victorians shuddered when it was revealed their own Premier, Daniel Andrews, called a Wednesday night press conference after a hotel worker tested positive to coronavirus.

D – DAT WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT

The stable of Chris and Michael Gangemi had endured a lean run in the lead-up to last Saturday’s Scenic Blast Stakes. It had been more than two months since they had celebrated a victory, but all was forgotten when one of the best looking horses in WA, Samizdat, stormed home to clinch the Listed feature. Samizdat is blessed with all the tools to be a top liner and it won’t be a shock to see him use the success as a springboard to realising his full potential now that he is injury free.

E – EXCITEMENT LEVELS

Fair to say they are very high. The announcement of the extended Boomers squad for the Tokyo Olympic Games this week had tongues wagging, especially given the buy-in from NBA stars Joe Ingles, Ben Simmons and Patty Mills. We all know the history of the Australian men’s side at Olympic Games and World Championships. If the Games do take place, there is no denying they have the talent to medal for the first time … and we’re not talking bronze or silver.

F – FOOT IN MOUTH

Proud. It is the last word Collingwood president Eddie McGuire should have used to describe Collingwood’s response to a damning report investigating long-term racism at the club. McGuire was savaged by critics, media and former player Heritier Lumumba and questioned by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan. He admitted he made a mistake the following day. The number of gaffes McGuire has made publicly during his tenure as Pies president is astounding.

G – GIRL’S BEST FRIEND

They say diamonds are exactly that. Well, hulking filly Enthaar is on track to be extremely satisfied if her effort in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield last weekend is any guide. She blitzed her rivals in a dominant display, one that led bookmakers to slash her price for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) in just over a fortnight.

H – HEART IN MOUTH

With everything seemingly on track after a herculean task from himself and his staff, not to mention a hard-and-fast approach to hotel quarantine, Australian Open boss Craig Tiley had every reason to be relatively relaxed midway through this week. That was until a hotel worker tested positive to coronavirus on Wednesday, causing matches scheduled for yesterday to be cancelled. Tiley is adamant the year’s opening grand slam, due to start on Monday, is not under any threat. Whether crowds can attend though is now an entirely different matter.

I – INEXPLICABLE

The decision by Brisbane Heat to sub out fast bowler Mark Steketee at the halfway mark against the Perth Scorchers last night was puzzling to put it mildly. Steketee looked flummoxed by the move and made his feelings known as he walked from the ground and was replaced by Morne Morkel. Given he had operated heavily in the power surge throughout the tournament, it was a peculiar choice by Chris Lynn and Darren Lehmann. It was oh so Brisbane Heat, a side that continually plays on instinct and appears bereft of any real planning. You reap what you sow, Brisbane Heat.

J – JUST NOT FAIR

Life isn’t fair. It never has been and never will. But you have to spare a thought for the Pinjarra Race Club ahead of tomorrow’s bumper Magic Millions meeting. It was anticipated a crowd of 6000 could file into the picturesque course before the week-long lockdown. We now know the logistics around the lockdown make it impossible to cater for crowds. It is looking increasingly likely that the meeting will take place, but before an empty grandstand and very little atmosphere.

K – KING KOHLI

Australians fans were denied the good fortune of witnessing Indian captain Virat Kohli plying his trade for an extended period during the recent Test series Down Under. The biggest name in Indian cricket flew home after the first-Test loss at Adelaide Oval for the birth of his first child, but is back in action today for the opening Test at home against England. Any time Kohli strides to the crease, he is must-watch TV.

L – LIAM’S LEAD

With Jason Roy unavailable because of an ankle injury for last night’s clash with the Brisbane Heat, it was imperative that fellow import Liam Livingstone stood tall. And stand tall he did. Livingstone blasted 77 off just 39 deliveries to underpin a mammoth 1-189 off 18.1 overs. It was the most important innings the Englishman had played in his two seasons with the Scorchers, who will look to take down the Sydney Sixers at the SCG tomorrow night and clinch a fourth T20 title.

M – MILLIONS OF REASONS

Just over a week now before the 2021 Magic Millions Yearling Sale launches at the Swan Valley. As we hear every time a yearling sale is being promoted, there most definitely is something for everyone, with the lure of Westspeed sure to make local buyers extremely happy. A shout out also to David Houston and so many others in the racing game for helping accommodate so many horses and livestock affected by the bushfires this week.

N – NOT EVERYONE’S CUP OF TEA

Justin Langer has been exactly the head coach Cricket Australia was looking for in the wake of the events that unfolded in South Africa. But it seems his intense approach and ultra-professional demands, coupled with an extended stretch of living in a bubble, has caused some angst within the national set-up. Losing a Test series 2-1 to India on home soil hasn’t helped the mood either. Knowing how much Langer craves respect and acceptance from the broader cricket community, the leaking of some negativity by players under his control will gnaw away at him.

O – OVERS, OVERS, OVERS

If you are looking to have an investment on the NBA with TABtouch, it would be prudent to select the overs total points option in any game featuring the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. Both sides have designs on winning the title and could well meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. If that is to occur however, they are going to need to tighten up at the defensive end. Brooklyn are No.1 in offence with an average of 122.26 points per game, marginally ahead of the Bucks (120.95). They can shoot the lights out like few others in NBA history.

P – PUT A FORK IN IT

Cricket Australia upset their counterparts in South Africa this week with the late decision to postpone the three-Test tour. Granted, Cricket South Africa did all they could to ease the concerns of CA, including doubling down on COVID-19 requests around the tourists’ home away from home in the province of Gauteng. But the Tests in Pretoria and Johannesburg have been put on the backburner for now. As disappointing as it is, South Africa is one of the last places on earth you would want to be right now as it battles the pandemic and a frightening mutant strain of the coronavirus.

Q – QUEST FOR GREATNESS

The Super Bowl between defending champions Kansas City and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday morning will attract more than 100 million viewers worldwide. It provides the redoubtable Tom Brady with an opportunity to clinch a seventh Super Bowl ring, albeit in his maiden season with the Buccs. His hold on the crown as the GOAT is well deserved. But if Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs upstart who powers an electric offence, can don his Superman cape again and secure a second Super Bowl ring in 12 months, he will be well on his way to chasing down and surpassing Brady’s heroics.

R – R.I.P

The racing world let out a collective sigh yesterday when it was revealed Te Akau Shark had to be put down after going blind in both eyes following a battle with illness. The wonderfully named Kiwi star was a Group 1 winner on both sides of the Tasman and enhanced his standing in the sport with a brave third behind Lys Gracieux and Castelvecchio in the 2019 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

S – STACK AND RACK

Don’t be surprised if Daniel Stackhouse adopts positive tactis aboard three-year-old Crosshaven in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield tomorrow. Despite the presence of Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet, it isn’t the strongest edition of the Orr we have seen and Crosshaven has the capability to go to the top and dictate to his rivals, many of whom are starting out on their autumn campaigns.

T – THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG

As sure as night follows day, Nick Kyrgios will behave like an A-grade nong when the pressure comes on in a tennis tournament. Many had proclaimed we were about to see a brand new Kyrgios after an extended lay-off in 2020. Instead it was the same petulant, bad-tempered Canberran that is intent on wasting his talent rather than committing to the sport. He should play doubles with Tennys Sandgren!!!!

U – UNDERWHELMING

Carving out a 189-game career in the AFL is nothing to be sneezed at. But when the announcement of Tom Scully’s retirement filtered through this week, there was a sense of what could have been. The No.1 selection in the 2009 national draft, he played two seasons at Melbourne, defected to GWS on a huge deal before spending 2019 and 2020 at Hawthorn. Injuries didn’t help his cause, but Scully never won a club best and fairest (he was second at GWS in 2016) nor earn All-Australian selection.

V – VASILEAN ON LEGAL HELP

It seems multiple Group 1-winning trainer Tony Vasil is going to have to call on a lawyer of some repute to assist him in allegations of assaulting two women on the Gold Coast. Vision of the ugly incident surfaced this week and could well lead to serious charges. It certainly won’t endear Vasil, disqualified from training for his role in the Aquanita doping saga, to officialdom at Racing Victoria.

W – WHEELY SILLY

Corey Harawira-Naera and Corey Horsburgh have taken the definition of the festive season a tad too far. The Canberra Raiders pair have been charged for drink-driving on Christmas Eve and early last month respectively. Just like the Payne Haas situation, it will be fascinating to see how Peter V’landys handles their decision to get behind the wheel when under the influence. It hasn’t been the off-season the NRL would have liked.

X – XANADO’S AND DON’T

Xander Schauffele left nobody in any doubt about what he thought of fellow American golfer Patrick Reed’s decision to pick up an “embedded” ball before the arrival of a rules official at Torrey Pines last weekend. It wasn’t the first time Reed had flirted with the rules. Schauffele said the optics weren’t “great” and felt Reed was being “protected by the tour”. Reed took offence at the remarks and sought out Schauffele after claiming victory by five strokes.

Y – YOU MAKE YOUR BED …..:

Israel Folau’s views are well known. He has made it clear that hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”. He hasn’t ever repented, even though it cost him his contract with Rugby Australia. It seemed a possible NRL return was on the cards this week when the Dragons considered seeking league approval to register the 31-year-old. The fallout surrounding the Dragons’ interest was pronounced, leaving Folau in no-man’s land. So be it.

Z – ZERO

Normally it’s hard to get enthused about nothing. But that wasn’t the case this week as all West Australians, especially those in the metropolitan, Peel and South-West regions monitored the daily updates of Premier Mark McGowan in response to the lockdown that took effect on Sunday at 6pm. Racing, pacing and chasing, coupled with sports and society in general, is about to resemble what had become the norm in this State. Well done and thanks Western Australia.