Posted by timivins on 28th June 2010
Ask not what the AFL can do for you...
With the AFL conquering new territories like the Romans of yore, changes are afoot to the shape of our season. However in an outstanding example of stakeholder management, we the fans are being given the chance to put forward our opinions as to how we would like to see the season shaped.
http://www.afl.com.au/AFLHQ/MyAFLSeason/tabid/16355/Default.aspx lists the AFL’s proposals for all facets of the season – pre-season, regular season and finals (if only we could make suggestions on the price of grand final tickets and the order of the draft) and invites comment. In short, the options are: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: AFL admin, fixture
Posted in General Footy Writing | 14 Comments »
Posted by timivins on 17th May 2010
It’s a beautiful day in Melbourne and, in a particular quirk that seems to only occur here, the crowd is turning out in force to watch Hawthorn and Richmond — 14th play 16th on the ladder. As I take advantage of the free wireless afforded to me at the ground, I ponder all the other Almanackers around Australia sitting at home. I can picture the scene. They have a pen in hand. Party pies and a drink are sitting on the table as they watch the TV or listen to the radio. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in General Footy Writing | 44 Comments »
Posted by timivins on 5th April 2010
by Tim Ivins
10am Monday morning, Eastern Standard Time, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will step out, not onto the turf of the SCG as was suggested by the Daily Telegraph to the shock and chagrin of American baseball fans everywhere but rather the history steeped Fenway Park. Over the coming 6 months, 2430 regular season games will be played, around 5000 hits will be Home Runs, there will be brawls, injuries, rookies will become stars (Paging S. Strasburg, Mr Stephen Strasburg) and over 100 million people worldwide will question why on earth the Minnesota Twins were allowed to build a stadium without a roof when snow frequently falls in April and October. Despite these variables, this is how I think it will play out. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Baseball | No Comments »
Posted by timivins on 9th March 2010
by Tim Ivins
With spring training underway it is time to turn our minds to the upcoming MLB season. Over the coming weeks I will preview each division for the coming season. We start with the division the National League West.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment »
Posted by timivins on 30th January 2010
By Tim Ivins
With the Winter Olympics just around the corner and with me experiencing a white winter for the first time, I decided to take advantage of the conditions and experience something that would be impossible in Australia. The four man bobsled.
For those of you who aren’t quite sure what that entails, cast your mind back to the days of perms, Baywatch, pink tank tops and David Hasslehoff Number Ones (but only in Germany) and you will remember a Disney movie about the Jamaican bobsled team. That was what I was about to do. I was going to be the anchor in a four-man bobsled. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Winter Olympics
Posted in Winter Olympics | 10 Comments »
Posted by timivins on 20th December 2009
After an extra half an hour on Day 4 stumps were called with the West Indies 51 runs short of a potentially transformational victory. Australia on the other hand were a solitary wicket away from a flattering victory. Day 5 was set up. The potential of a grand stand finish was just as strong as a first ball flop and it got me thinking, we’ve been here before and it didn’t end so well.
Flash back to Edgbaston 2005, late on Day 4 Michael Kasprowicz strides to the crease as the final wicket to join Brett Lee with Australia 64 runs down chasing 282 to win. Kasper a late addition due to Glenn McGrath rolling his ankle in the warm up survives ball after ball from Harmison, Flintoff and Giles as the target is continually narrowed. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: cricket
Posted in Cricket writing, Third Test - Perth | 2 Comments »
Posted by timivins on 7th December 2009
by Tim Ivins
Guus Hiddink would have cast a lonely figure in the bowels of Petrol Arena late on November 18. His Russian team, chock full of talent and Euro 2008 runners up had been eliminated by lowly Slovenia on away goals. In the first leg, a goal from Nejc Pecnik in the 88th minute gave the Slovenes a valuable away goal and in the return leg, 2 red cards and a goal from Zlatko Dedic had been enough to dispose of Russia, World Cup darkhorses in the eyes of many prior to elimination. It must have seemed to Hiddink as he sat in the change rooms that Russia had been invited to the dance only to find everyone’s dance card full upon arrival. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in General Sportswriting, Soccer, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Posted by timivins on 5th December 2009
By Tim Ivins
“The punishment an Almanacker and Socceroos tragic will put himself through,” I thought to myself as I turned off the alarm at 3.30am.
The kettle goes on and so does the TV as beautiful Cape Town streams in. It’s an exciting time, the World Cup Draw, and probably the closest I will ever come to winning lotto. That is of course if Australia get a favourable draw for the World Cup next year. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Soccer | 3 Comments »
Posted by timivins on 26th November 2009
By Tim Ivins
That there is excitement leading up to the first test has been a testament to the Cricket Australia’s spin doctors. Articles of Hauritz developing a ball that will actually spin and the future of test cricket have created interest in the media. The bagmen clearly think the West Indies loss to Bangladesh was not an aberration offering odds of 18/1 for a West Indian win. Odds not seen since Matthew Hayden carved a peerless 380 against a severely weakened Zimbabwe team. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: cricket
Posted in First Test - Brisbane | 3 Comments »
Posted by timivins on 18th November 2009
by Tim Ivins
World Cup Football provides me with some of the strongest emotions I’ve experienced as a sports fan. It’s almost like the golden path in the Wizard of Oz, countries play-off for the right to play in the greatest show of all. The show which causes me to shift my body clock to local time. In 2006, I was waking when the locals were, eating when the locals were and sleeping when the locals were. 64 games and I was somehow able to watch 56. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: fans
Posted in General Sportswriting, Soccer | 5 Comments »
