Fitz Files 27/12/08

Loyal to the bitter end

Every now and then in this game you come across quotes so illustrative of an entire attitude it near takes your breath away. Here is Willie Mason speaking to The Sun-Herald about loyalty in the NRL: "There is no loyalty. Good players are going to go if [the clubs] don't do the right things by you. It will be whatever suits the player. We're not really worried about fans or club loyalty because the clubs aren't loyal to the players if they aren't going that good. When the shoe is on the other foot, clubs are totally different. If you're playing shit, they throw you to the bush. It doesn't matter if you've been at the club for 10 years. Where's their loyalty to you? But if you're kicking arse, and are the grouse player in the comp and you want to go somewhere, they blow up. There's no loyalty. It's all crap. Players do what they want. They can choose to be loyal or they can go chase money and be happy."
Best exchange

During his first-round Wimbledon match, our Lleyton Hewitt was getting more than a little narky about being constantly called for foot faults. Finally, he could stand it no more. "Why does it only happen at one end?" he yelled to the umpire. "I don't know Lleyton," the chair umpire Fergus Murphy replied calmly, "they're your feet."
That's the spirit

These days, small incidents of sportsmanship can capture the public imagination much more than standard triumphs. A recent example came in May, during an important divisional softball game between Western Oregon University and Central Washington University. At the "bottom of the fifth" - gee, I love that kind of talk - WOU's Sara Tucholsky made like Babe Ruth and smacked her first career homer over the centre-field fence. Alas, while trotting around the bases, she tripped and so severely injured her knee she couldn't even walk, let alone run. Worse, the umpires ruled the home run would only count if she touched each base and was not assisted by her teammates. So Central Washington's Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace carried her around themselves, and were instantly the toast of the sporting nation.
Over to you, Jack

Where did Jack Gibson fit into the Australian psyche? In the week after his death, in May, TFF received wonderful reminiscences from readers on their favourite Jack moments. Though he made his name as a coach, his legend was burnished by his time in the commentary box. Fitzphile Peter Leonard remembered an Australia-New Zealand Test many years ago, with Darrell Eastlake calling and Jack supplying expert commentary. At one point, the Kiwis scored a spectacular try, starting from deep in their own territory and passing through at least 10 sets of hands. Darrell was in full cry, describing every pass in the passage of play, including a possible forward pass around the halfway mark. He then launched into a highly emotional tirade on the referee and linesman missing the obvious before turning to Jack and saying, "What do you reckon Jack? Shoulda been no try?" Gibson, deadpan: "It was worth four points. They done something with the football."
Footy at its purest

TFF attended the Anzac Day game between Collingwood and Essendon at the MCG and have rarely seen something so impressive in the world of sport. As they played the Last Post and the national anthem, the 100,000-strong crowd uttered not a peep, whispered not a murmur. The atmosphere was electric and the general mood in the air one of reverence for the diggers and anticipation of the game to come. Aficionados put that day higher than grand final day, as the G is filled with genuine fans, not just corporate heavies who can afford the price and have the clout to get the coveted tickets. Somewhere, someone has done a superb job organising that landmark day in Australian sport.

Gotta love this city

As the champagne continued to flow free at Rosehill's Golden Slipper meet in April, the inevitable happened. The line to the ladies' loo got longer as their patience got shorter. Well, bugger that for a joke. There was no queue at all to the men's, so the answer was obvious. That is why just after 3pm 20 rather startled men looked up from the urinals to see a posse of well-dressed and well-behaved but busting women storm the barricades and head for the cubicles. Not a man complained, made a comment or gesture. They understood. Ladies, be our guests … Gotta love this city!
What about that punch?

Speaking of Sydney Swans spearhead Barry Hall's punch in April … It was disgraceful. An abomination on the game. Yes, yes, yes, but did you ever see one like it? So effortless, so precise, so smooth and yet so devastating. The timing was positively Bradmanesque.
Appalling. What was he thinking? And what was with the whole arms raised, innocent, 'What unconscious body, officer?' thing? What was that all about? Of course, of course.
But, dinkum, did you ever see a sweeter hit, a more perfectly executed left cross? He could have killed him! A bare fist, from an experienced boxer, on the unprotected chin of a slighter man? It could have maimed him for life! Yes, yes, yes. Quite, quite, quite. Totally inexcusable.
Still … what about that PUNCH!?!
2008 WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR …

Stephanie Rice. Equalled the most gold at a single Games by an Australian. Went from nobody to Facebook star to superstar.
Steve Hooker, Matthew Mitcham and all our Olympic gold medallists.
Adelaide United. Made it to the final of the Asian Champions League, whatever that is.
Michael Phelps. The American swimmer won everything the Olympics could throw at him.
Rafael Nadal. Won his fourth straight French Open, first Wimbledon, Olympic gold and became the world's best player.
Usain Bolt. The Jamaican nailed two gold-medal winning performances that were simply breathtaking.
Lewis Hamilton. After the heartache of last year, the Brit bounced back to be the youngest F1 champion winning the championship on the final corner of the final lap of the final race.
Padraig Harrington. The likeable Irishman - and aren't they all? - flourished in Tiger Woods's absence to win two majors.
Greg Norman. Yes, he went through a divorce but he also gave the British Open a nudge and ended up coming third.
Danica Patrick. Won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first female to win an IndyCar race.
Manchester United. Wasn't pretty but they won the Champions League.
Philadelphia Phillies. The losingest team in professional sports won just its second World Series in 125 years of trying.
Manly Sea Eagles. They won the NRL grand final but when people start hating them again they'll really be happy.
Hawthorn. With Greg Norman on top of the leaderboard and Manly winning as well as the Hawks, it really felt like the 1980s.
Shane Warne. Took the unfancied Rajasthan Royals to the inaugural IPL title and seems to be even more revered now that he's retired.
Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup. Won the Bathurst 1000 - if that's what it is still called - for the third straight year.
Crusaders. Won their seventh Super title, an extraordinary achievement.
Simon Katich. Set a record for most runs in a Sheffield Shield season with 1506, and has been a mainstay of the Australian batting line-up.
Bart Cummings. The 80-year-old won his 12th Melbourne Cup.


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