http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/football/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-greatest-ending-to-a-football-season-ever/ I am still in a state of shock. Delicious, indescribable shock. For the first time in my life, my beloved Manchester City FC are champions of England. In the early hours of yesterday morning, the tiny window live streaming Foxtel on my iMac transported me 15,000km to Eastlands in Manchester to watch City’s biggest game since 1968, when we last clinched the league championship. In the space of 95 agonising minutes the title was lost, won, lost again, lost almost irretrievably and then finally, somehow, incredibly won in the dying seconds with the very last kick of the season. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-greatest-ending-to-a-football-season-ever/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-greatest-ending-to-a-football-season-ever/#item8500 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/confessions-of-a-soccer-diva/ Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/confessions-of-a-soccer-diva/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/confessions-of-a-soccer-diva/#item8313 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/icb-freedom-of-religion-vs.-freedom-from-religion/ Welcome to this week’s I Call Bullshit, a regular column on, well, bullshit. Today, dear readers, it’s a three-in-one unholy bonanza! Thanks to the Global Atheist Convention, The Punch was inundated this week by the godly and the ungodly, and once again we rehashed all the arguments about good and evil and science and evidence and faith and proof, and we were hoping today would be our day of rest. But we’re not at the seventh day yet, and there is much bullshit to wade through, so here goes. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/icb-freedom-of-religion-vs.-freedom-from-religion/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/icb-freedom-of-religion-vs.-freedom-from-religion/#item8292 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-wag-nation-show-simply-does-not-commute/ Hey, equality lovers! Unsure whether to get all ideologically outraged and bra burny over the new Australian reality TV show WAG Nation? The solution is a simple commutation test away! Oh, OK. Maybe commutation tests (which come from the arcane domain of semiotics) aren’t that simple. But they are useful when it comes to understanding why having a special word for the wives and girlfriends of elite sportsmen is so damn objectionable. Commutation tests are a thought experiment which involve swapping one part of a text for another and then dwelling philosophically (preferably positioned like Rodin’s thinker) on the significance of any resulting changes in meaning . penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-wag-nation-show-simply-does-not-commute/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-wag-nation-show-simply-does-not-commute/#item8275 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/footy-people-are-the-best-kind-of-people/ I go to the footy for three reasons. Firstly, I hope to be witness to the perfect moment, that rare blend of the poetic and balletic, when the players channel the ball with an energy and directness which can only be borne of fury’s marriage with grace. At Brisbane’s affectionately-named Gabba, on this particular night, Carlton managed several of these fizzing instances, mostly at the behest of one Christopher Judd, whilst the Lions’ players fell in their wake like flapping fish churned up by a fast-spinning propeller. Secondly, I want to be lulled back to my youth, when I too tumbled across the sodden turf in search of that ever-elusive kick to position, handball to advantage, mark to goal. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/footy-people-are-the-best-kind-of-people/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/footy-people-are-the-best-kind-of-people/#item8202 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/theres-nothing-common-about-state-funerals/ Jason Akermanis – former footballer and king of indelicate comments – caused an unseemly furore in the AFL world this week. He questioned the appropriateness of a state funeral for the universally adored Jim Stynes, who died after a long battle with cancer on Tuesday. It won’t surprise you to hear that Akermanis copped it from all quarters, with former Melbourne captain Brad Green summing it up best on Twitter: “Aker, you are a tosser!!! Show respect.” It might surprise you to hear, though, that I get where Akermanis is coming from. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/theres-nothing-common-about-state-funerals/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/theres-nothing-common-about-state-funerals/#item8083 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/twitter-for-racist-dummies/ When Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch during Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final, many people audibly gasped. Some spoke words of concern, while others simply held their breath. Liam Stacey - a 21-year-old Welsh biology student - saw it as the perfect opportunity to alienate the entire world by openly mocking the unconscious player and posting a string of racist and sexist comments in response to criticism from other Twitter users. Obviously, the lad isn’t the first to haphazardly press a bunch of keyboard keys in a decidedly racist order. But being the most most recent to do so probably makes him more idiotic, in many ways. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Lightweight http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/twitter-for-racist-dummies/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/twitter-for-racist-dummies/#item8055 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/football-race-row-really-not-that-black-and-white/ Hands up anyone who has never said something that could sound racist. A joke, an anecdote, an off-the-cuff comment. Something that, printed in black and white, would sound much worse than its intention. If your hand is up you’re probably lying. Or you think that because you prefaced it with “I’m not racist, but…” you magicked the racism right out of it. A man’s career is over because of a self-confessed silly, throwaway line about Aboriginal AFL recruits. But is that fair, and will it make AFL a less racist place? penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/football-race-row-really-not-that-black-and-white/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/football-race-row-really-not-that-black-and-white/#item8047 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-beautiful-game-for-riot-shame/ If badminton was the World Game there would probably be just as many riots as there are now with soccer. The graceful swoop of the goose-feathered shuttlecock would not calm the madding crowds. If only badminton had the power to invoke the passion, it could rival the semi-religious fervour that soccer induces. If only. Then we could blame badminton for all violence in sport and stop making soccer out to be evil. Soccer is, globally, inextricably linked to violence in people’s minds. But it’s not soccer’s fault. Soccer just happens to be the medium for the message. It is the excuse, the scapegoat. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-beautiful-game-for-riot-shame/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dont-blame-the-beautiful-game-for-riot-shame/#item7690 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-isnt-there-more-of-a-roar-about-this-super-streak/ Xenophobia. Pauline Hanson asked for a “please explain” over a decade ago. Here is its latest example: Australia’s indifference to the Brisbane Roar’s absurd mark of 36 consecutive matches in the A-League without defeat. Oh yes, the excuses have come thick and fast. The record includes 13 draws, the A-League is weak, penalties were needed to win the Grand Final. It’s as if the Roar - a team which is as majestic as it is consistent - should be embarrassed they now own such a precious jewel in our sporting history. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-isnt-there-more-of-a-roar-about-this-super-streak/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-isnt-there-more-of-a-roar-about-this-super-streak/#item7261 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Oh, I can dive. I can soar like an eagle through the air then somersault like an acrobat. In my head, it’s Cirque du Shepherd. That this manoeuvre appears to the naked eye to be more like a drunkard belly flopping and having muscle spasms is just a matter of perception. I know people reserve an extra special nugget of sneering hatred for soccer* players who dive. It’s unsportsmanlike, it’s cowardly and cheaty, it’s practically unorrrstrayan. Hence the rage at the game-winning penalty awarded to the Roar’s Besart Berisha on Sunday night. And yet, I must confess I dive occasionally.  Yegads, I can smell your disgust from here. My shoulders are tensed against the pounding waves of hostility, and my neck hairs are prickling. So now I will try to somewhat redeem myself.