Pumas To Join Tri Nations
An agreement in principle has been reached for Argentina to join Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri Nations by 2012.
The Pumas, who finished third in the 2007 World Cup, are to receive funding from the International Rugby Board to ease their introduction into the tournament, with IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset saying they will provide a one-off financial contribution of around US $2 million (R14.9 million).
“It is done,” Lapasset told www.thesportbriefing.com at the Global Sports Forum in Barcelona. “The principle is to support the cost of the introduction of Argentina into the Tri Nations.
“It will be a one-off payment of around US Dollars 2 million. The principle is agreed, and we just need the IRB Council to confirm at the next meeting (scheduled for May 12).
“It will be done so Argentina can enter in 2012.
“We have an agreement with South Africa, New Zealand and Australia for the financial programme that is now in place, and the three existing nations are supportive.”
Have your say: Do you think the inclusion of Argentina into the Tri Nations is good or bad for the competition?
With thanks to SkySports.co.uk
Hamilton Reveals He Nearly Quit Racing
Lewis Hamilton has spoken of the moment when he considered walking away from Formula One in the aftermath of the Lie-Gate scandal.
The 2008 world champion had been talked into the mistake of lying to the stewards about an overtaking move at the Australian grand prix last year which led to a public apology and headlines about being a cheat.
“It was a feeling of, ‘Shoot, maybe I shouldn’t be in the sport,’ rather than not in my team,” said the McLaren driver. “It was not a desire to leave the team, just stopping racing. For a split second it was, ‘This is too much to take, how do I recover from this?’
“But there was support from my family, team, fans, amazing letters and I thought, ‘You know what? I made a mistake but I am being given a second chance by all these people and their support’.
“Sometimes it is hard to face the music, hard to face people when you know that as soon as you turn your back they are talking about you.
“For a long period of time, for months, I would walk into a room – and I am sure there are some people who walked into the room and they feel cool – but for me I just didn’t feel positive, it was negative energy and I don’t like that.
“Slowly I began to realise that it was not all negative energy and I had a lot of support and respect from people. It made me stronger, a real strong experience.”
With thanks to the Guardian.co.uk
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VIDEO: Crazy Cricket Shot
Brendon McCullum on his back after his crazy flick six.
The start of the IPL Twenty20 competition is less than 10 days away, so have a look and see what some of the game’s stars have been working on…
The very first match of the inaugural IPL produced an individual batting display that signalled that the tournament had arrived – with a big bang! Brendon McCullum, in the gold helmet and pads of the Kolkata Knightriders, smashed 158 runs off just 73 balls to post a record that hasn’t been matched since. The closest contender was Andrew Symonds’ 117 not out for the Deccan Chargers in 2008.
Now Brendan McCullum has been at it again. In Sunday’s T20 International between New Zealand and Australia, the tattoed Kiwi smashed 116 runs off 56 balls, narrowly missing out on bettering Chris Gayle’s world record for internationals of 117 (off 57 balls), established during the T20 World Cup in SA in 2007.
But the best part of McCullum’s innings were the unorthodox shots, including this crazy flick over his head for six. Watch and see for yourself…
Tiger Woods’ Antics Worry Golf Wives
Michael and Julie Campbell
Michael Campbell has revealed Tiger Woods‘ cheating has hit the private lives of pro golfers worldwide.
Kiwi ace Cambo says golf Wags (Wives and Girlfriends) everywhere were fearful there may have been a “what happens on tour, stays on tour” mindset among their men after news of Tiger’s off-course antics broke.
This has strained the marriages and private lives of some of the best players and their families.
“He hasn’t done golf any favours. It’s put doubt in the other wives and girlfriends‘ minds, [about] that ‘what happens on tour, stays on tour’ kind of attitude,” 2005 US Open-winner Campbell told Sunday News.
“I know Tiger pretty well and I’m very surprised by his actions, his wrong-doings. Obviously he had that underlying urge to do what he did, but I think if you speak to most guys on tour, they’re surprised by his outside activities.
“I admire him as a golfer and also as a bloke. He’s a good guy to hang out with, but I feel sorry for Elin [Woods' wife] and the kids, so it’s very much a Catch 22 for me.
“I don’t know when he’ll come back to golf or what I’ll say to Tiger when I see him. It all depends on how I feel at the time. I think right now he needs support from his peers.
“When we’re there with him on the course he’s a golfer to us, not so much a married man with two kids, he’s a golfer. But being a married man myself with two kids, as I say, I just feel sorry for Elin. Those sorts of things should never happen.
“But we can’t pass judgement because we just don’t know what’s happened in his life.”
Campbell, wed to blonde Australian beauty Julie, did pass judgement on Tiger’s recent public apology however, questioning how genuine it really was.
“I didn’t feel his speech was heartfelt. It was too scripted. For me, if he’d spoken off the cuff, the apology would have come across a lot better.”
“He spoke of coming back though we don’t know when that will be. The crowd might even come along and boo him. That’s why I think Augusta [US Masters in April] would be a good time for him. It’s very patrolled and policed there.”
With thanks to Stuff.co.nz
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Commentators In Trouble After Homophobic Comments
Homophobic comments made by two commentators on an Australian TV network’s Winter Olympics coverage will be investigated by the New South Wales state’s Anti-Discrimination Board.
Hosts Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy’s mocked male ice skaters during the Nine Network’s coverage of the Games last week. Gary Burns, a Sydney gay rights activist who has taken legal action against other radio and television commentators over gay slurs, made the complaint to the anti-discrimination board.
Burns said people in powerful positions should be aware that they have responsibilities as presenters.
“They should publicly apologize for their unlawful rant to the homosexual community of Australia,” he said in a statement.
McGuire and Molloy “were not down at the pub drinking flat beer with their mates, they were on national television being viewed by millions of Australians,” he added.
Burns has previously brought legal action against the Nine Network over a controversial skit on a rugby league show.
He has also brought legal action against a high-profile Sydney radio host and a former state premier, both for making anti-homosexual slurs.
The legal action by Burns follows calls by the Quebec Gay and Lesbian Council demanding a public apology from Canada’s French language RDS after one commentator said American skater Johnny Weir hurts figure skating’s image and another said Weir should be made to take a gender test.
The remarks were “outrageous” and “homophobic,” CQGL said in a statement on its Web site.
Weir responded on Wednesday by telling a news conference in Vancouver that the broadcasters needed to consider the impact their words will have on others, particularly impressionable youngsters.
“I want them to think before they speak. I want them to think about not only the person they’re talking about, but also other people like that person,” he said. “What people as a majority need to do is think, and think about who they’re affecting. … I don’t want, 50 years from now, more boys and girls to go through this same thing.”
Although Weir said he found the comments “offensive,” he supports free speech and doesn’t think the Canadian broadcasters should be punished.
Weir is one of figure skating’s most colorful and oversized personalities, and he enjoys challenging convention.
He was targeted by animal-rights activists after adding white fox fur to his free skate costume for last month’s US championships, and he once posed for a photo shoot in a skirt and stilettos.
But he has repeatedly avoided questions about his sexual orientation, and did so again on Wednesday.
People shouldn’t be defined by labels, Weir said.
With thanks to timeslive.co.za
Feb 26, 2010 | Categories: Slider, The Others | Tags: australia, Figure Skating, Homophobic Comments, Johnny Weir, Mick Molloy, New South Wales, Nine Network, sport, Winter Olympic Games | 1 Comment »