Better Blokes or Bitter Boys

OK, so there has been a fair amount of discussion about the first state of origin match. I was talking with some NSW people the other day, who still felt agrieved about a contentious refereeing decision that occured in the opening minutes of the match.

Naturally, i did point out that the final margin was large enough for this decision to be inconsequential to the end result. Or was it? Sometimes when things go badly, heads go down - or in sporting language, the momentum changes. This is when players find out what they're made of, and the NSW coach found that his team "needed to respond better".


At the risk of being parochial, i believe this is why Queensland performs so well in State of Origin. Numerous times, Queensland teams have mounted last-minute comebacks when all seemed lost. Regardless of the score, the time remaining, or the reputation of the opposition, there is a attitude of playing at 100% until the final whistle.

Whether it's in life or in rugby league, adversity will come our way. What matters is how we respond. We can take the Jarryd Hayne option, and whinge and whine about our misfortune. Or we can respond like the Queenslanders (who lost a star player to injury during the first half) and resolve to be even better than before.

Qld v NSW (in Victoria)

It's State of Origin time again - with game one of the series played in Melbourne. It's a situation that can confuse the occasional sports viewer. Why would a competition between Queensland and New South Wales be held in the state of Victoria?

Whilst Melbourne has a team in the national league, the game still hasn't entirely taken off in south-eastern state. What better way of showcasing rugby league to Victoria, than to show them the pinnacle of the sport?

Similar controversies happened even back in Jesus's day. People asked him similar sorts of questions, as he associated with outsiders - people who weren't considered part of the in-crowd.

This is probably the only time i'll be comparing rugby league administrators with Jesus, but perhaps they have also decided to "go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people".

Number 34

If you've seen the Los Angeles Angels this season, you may have wondered about the black-and-white "34" patch they are wearing on their team shirts.


It's a tribute to Nick Adenhart, a young Angels pitcher who tragically passed away earlier this season. Hours after pitching, he was in a car when another driver ran a red light and collided with Adenhart's car - ending the lives of Adenhart and his two passengers.

So many emotions come out of this, and two of the biggest are sadness and shock. Who would have thought as he pitched 6 scoreless innings (described by his catcher as the "best I've ever seen him throw") that within hours his life would be over - at just 22 years of age?

And i wonder this... we sometimes hear the phrase "live like each day is your last". If Nick had known this was to be his last day, what would he have done? His family, in their statement to the public said "He lived his dream and was blessed to be part of an organization comprised of such warm, caring, and compassionate people. The Angels were his extended family."

I can't help but think that he still would have taken the mound for one last night of pitching in the Major League.

It's a rare thing that someone can find something they're passionate about - and skilled at - and can bring joy to so many. Even though Nick Adenhart was unfortunate to leave so early, he was one of the blessed few that managed to live the dream.

What's that saying? It's not the amount of years in the life, but the amount of life in the years. Well, Nick Adenhart - he had plenty.

[more about Nick Adenhart]

Getting The Point

One of the joys of digital tv is the sports channel "one", and its variety of sports - including american baseball.

The batter really latched onto one, and sent it into left-field - except it went too far left and into foul territory. Left outfielder, Jason Bay, gets across and (leaning about a metre over the fence) takes the catch.

50 metres away, pitcher Brad Penny (who now has one less batter to get out, thanks to this neat piece of fielding) points to Bay and nods - in a way that says "thanks for helping me out there, buddy".

Of course, the fielder already knows he's done great work, but it never hurts to have that acknowledged by someone else. There's a saying that 'Gratitude not expressed is like a present that is never unwrapped'.

Teaming Up

Was watching Australia play New Zealand in Rugby league. Game summary is available elsewhere, but i wanna talk about the halftime.

The commentary team were disecting two of the tries scored by Australia. Both plays involved an Australian player beating an opponent one-on-one, then going on to score points. The analysis was made (of New Zealand):

They need to work together as a team.
One-on-one they're going to get beaten.

I think the same is true off-the-field. Teaming up with God and teaming up with others gives a better result than going it alone.

Aaron Baddeley

When i wrote about Justin Langer, i mentioned the book Bright Lights, Dark Nights. I've just read the chapter on Australian golfer Aaron Baddeley. Even though he really loves playing golf..

In the end it's not going to matter how many tournaments I won and stuff like that ... I want to know that I lived my life seeking his (Jesus') plans and what he wants me to be.

When talking about focus and priorities, he says

Yet if I can keep God as number one, then I'm OK. He has to be number one - if that doesn't happen we are in real trouble.

A Win Against The Odds

There are great moments in sport. When all seems lost - but through inspiration, hard work, and passion - an amazing result is achieved. It's a big part of why we love sport.

Cricket's next World Cup occurs in 2011, and i am currently following the qualifying tournament - where the likes of Uganda, Bermuda, Scotland and Kenya play-off for the last remaining world cup places.

I have soft spot for Canada and Denmark, having friends from each country. But now I'm adding Afghanistan, after reading the story of Raees Ahmadzai.

Having grown up in a refugee camp in Northern Pakistan, this guy is now representing his country. The same goes for many of his team-mates. Whether or not these guys qualify for the world cup - they've already had a win against the odds.