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Nick Kyrgios overcame the embarrassment of forgetting his tennis shoes to battle through to the second round of the Cincinnati Open with a three-set victory over American qualifier Denis Kudla. The Australian 15th seed held up the start of play as he was seen searching his kit bag on court before admitting to officials he hadn’t packed his trainers. “Wait, what?” Kyrgios could be heard saying on camera as he went through the various compartments of his tennis bag before swearing when he clicked on to what had happened. After walking around the side of the court in his dark grey socks to find someone who could retrieve his shoes, the embarrassed world No.18 then told his bemused opponent: “I left my tennis shoes in the locker room, sorry man.” After a tournament aide came to the rescue by retrieving his required footwear, which meant he didn’t have to play in the basketball shoes he walked on to court in, last year’s tournament runner-up … [Read more...] about Nick Kyrgios forgets tennis shoes, wins anyway

The Six Million Dollar Man was one of the most popular television series on the box in the 1970s. The show was a sci-fi fantasy featuring an opening reel with footage of a plane crashing in the desert: “Flight com, I can’t hold her! She’s breaking up… she’s break–” from the voice of the pilot. Then the transmission goes dead. Cut to the operating table, and the body of our hero: “Steve Austin, astronaut, a man barely alive”, played by Hollywood actor Lee Majors. Cue the voiceover: “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world’s first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.” Steve Austin has his left eye, right arm and both legs replaced by bionic transplants so that he can see in infrared at much greater magnification, run a lot faster (at least 60 miles per hour) and hit with the power of a rhino. The … [Read more...] about Why Michael Hooper is the Six Million Dollar Man

With the 2018-19 NFL season right around the corner, I will preview the AFC East – a division that is almost certainly guaranteed to be won by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots each and every year. New England Patriots This current Patriots outfit has won everything there is to win in football, and as no surprise, they will again challenge for the AFC title in season 2018. Quarterback Tom Brady will be 41 years old when the season starts, but he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. They will again be tough to beat on the road to Super Bowl 53. Coach Bill Belichick has opted to bring in wide receiver Eric Decker from the Tennessee Titans, helping to bolster Brady’s target options alongside veteran Chris Hogan. The Patriots have never had problems scoring points, but their defence has lacked spark in recent years. Last season, they were ranked 31st against the run defence which was second last in the league for those playing at home. They have added some quality … [Read more...] about 2018-19 AFC East preview

A new Twenty20 league in the United Arab Emirates has proven it means business, signing the Big Bash League’s top target AB de Villiers as an ambassador. De Villiers won’t don the pads in UAE T20x, a new five-team tournament that will be in direct competition with Australia’s BBL this summer. But the South African superstar, who was actively pursued by a stack of BBL teams following his international retirement earlier this year, has been locked in to promote the T20 league that runs from December 19 until January 11. “UAE T20x is a really exciting addition to the cricketing calendar,” de Villiers said in a statement. “Its ambition to give more young, emerging cricketers, from around the world, the chance to play this format alongside some of the world’s best, is what really appealed to me.” Banned stars Steve Smith and David Warner are expected to be among the international stars courted by the T20 start-up. Cricket Australia (CA) is … [Read more...] about AB de Villiers delivers BBL black eye

In light of recent match review officer decisions, the call to send St Kilda’s Nathan Brown directly to the tribunal for his late hit on Essendon’s Adam Saad has been viewed by some as further proof that the bump is dead. Pundits were right to decry the decision to charge Saad’s teammate Aaron Francis for what appeared to be a perfectly legal hip and shoulder on Hawthorn’s Jaeger O’Meara. But it is important to view each in isolation, as these are very different incidents. Whether Brown’s bump would have been legal in a typical shephering scenario is not being debated here. A case can be made that the impact to Saad’s head was caused by shoulder-to-shoulder contact, which is considered acceptable based on the precedent of Ryan Burton’s hit on Shaun Higgins earlier this year. The main question that will be asked at the tribunal on Tuesday night is whether the action was appropriate under the circumstances. An oft-forgotten reportable … [Read more...] about Brown to go for late bump

It was an exhilarating final round at the 100th PGA Championship where Brooks Koepka managed to keep his cool clinching victory, despite charges up the leaderboard by the world’s best including Tiger Woods. Breathtaking shots and birdies by the world’s best made this one of the finest final rounds in recent majors. So let’s now take a look back at the week that was on tour: Birdies Koepka, now second in the world, has won three of the last seven major championships and became only the fifth player to win the US Open and PGA in the same year joining the illustrious group of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods: The Tiger roars on Sunday reminded us all of Tiger’s heyday as he took the spotlight with a charge up the leaderboard in a final round 64. Despite not hitting a fairway on the front nine he shot -3 in the most impressive nine holes seen this year on Tour. Tiger struggled throughout the day off the tee but using sheer will … [Read more...] about Koepka holds off charging Tiger to clinch PGA Championship

The PGA Championship marks the end of the major season and now the excitement builds as the eyes of the golfing world shift to the Ryder Cup. The completion of the PGA led to the first eight Americans securing their spots via the rankings system to represent their nation at Le Golf National in Paris between the 28th and 30th of September. It will only be the second time the event is held in continental Europe and it looks to be a stern but exciting test for the best players in the world. The Americans currently stand as the slightest of favourites over the Europeans despite not having won in Europe since 1993. However with a strong home support the Europeans will refuse to bend over to the Americans and it looks to once again to be an intriguing clash displaying the greatest rivalry in golf. So let’s look at the top eight that have already secured their spots and can now book their flights to Paris, with the remaining four to be determined by Captain’s Picks over the … [Read more...] about Ryder Cup: The American first eight

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper’s fitness and leadership have got a big tick from two of his predecessors, as he prepares to return from an eight-week layoff. Openside flanker Hooper, who last week signed a new five-year deal with Rugby Australia, hasn’t played since June, when he injured a hamstring in the final Test against Ireland. He has passed a fitness test and is set to lead the side in their opening Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship game against New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday. Halfback Will Genia, who has played just 35 minutes of a trial since breaking his arm in the second Test, is no stranger to going into a big match after a long injury layoff. He didn’t anticipate Hooper would have any problems with being pitched straight into a high intensity Bledisloe clash. “He’ll come back hungry and he’s certainly done the work,” Genia said. “He looks in good shape, we’re looking forward to having him out there as our … [Read more...] about Hooper the leader the Wallabies need

Living legend Barry ‘Crackling’ Pork and legendary larrikin Wayne ‘Spanks’ Spankle sit down at the bar to chew all the fat one week of sport can fit in. SPANKS: What do you make of the situation down at Penrith, Crack? CRACKLING: It makes me sad, Spanks. It makes me think of how different things were when I was at Penrith. SPANKS: I didn’t know you played for the Panthers. CRACKLING: No, I didn’t, I just visited Penrith Plaza to pick up some fresh bread rolls. And let me tell you, back then Gus Gould wasn’t telling me which rolls to buy. But these days… SPANKS: These days no baked good is safe. Just ask Anthony Griffin. CRACKLING: Griffin’s only got himself to blame. Nobody put a gun to his head and forced him to not father a brilliant halfback. Anthony Griffin has been sacked by the Panthers. (Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images) SPANKS: That’s true. The option was always open to him, but that’s Anthony for you: always … [Read more...] about Crackling and Spanks’ Monday wrap: Cleary, Demons and the Pan Pacs

At this time of year, when the six-month grind and rigour of Super Rugby has ended and the Rugby Championship is yet to kick off, Friday and Saturday nights are used to re-introduce yourself to family too often ignored during the season. It’s also the time of the season to let the mind wander, and imagine what Super Rugby might – or even could – look like in its next guise. Timely then, was the Western Force popping back into my TV guide last Friday night, resuming their World Series Rugby campaign after a three-week break, to play Hong Kong ahead of their anticipated match-up with former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans’ Panasonic Wild Nights this coming Friday night. It was a healthy reminder of the incredible work that has been done in the west to ensure rugby fans are still able to get their fix of quality rugby, and Geoff Parkes’ experience at nib Stadium last Friday night confirmed a conversation I’ve had a few times since WSR kicked off earlier … [Read more...] about Super Rugby’s future: Same, same or World Series Rugby different?