Top Ten Sports to Watch/Play #1

Okay I was planning on holding on to this until the finals with the hopeful news that the Kangaroos made it.

Considering 'we' were 2nd favourite to finish bottom of the ladder, to miss out on the finals by percentage was a pretty good effort for the 'Shinboners'. And probably a fair reflection of where they were.

Top Ten Sports to Watch #1

AFL - North Melbourne Kangaroos

I really started watching AFL in 1984 when my best mate in grade 2 E.J (not Witten) and he was a Kangas fan, so being new to the state I followed along. I'm not quite sure whether my old man cared that I didn't go for his Swans but after the first time I saw the magical Krakouer Brothers play I bled Royal Blue. I'm also proud of the fact that I choose a perennial cellar dweller and not the Hawks for example who were in almost every premiership in the 80's. Most of my students who like AFL in my class follow Geelong, the Saints or Collingwood. Lame!

My dad listened/watched any sport but my fondest memories are of sitting next to him on the coffee table while he rubbed his hands together barracking for Capper and the Red and White.

My faith in a struggling team was repaid when Wayne Carey was appointed captain and Dennis Pagan as Coach. Pagan surrounded a fantastic player with a rock solid core of players.

The Eagles, Crows and Kangaroos all won 2 premierships during the 90's but I feel very strongly that the Kangaroos were 'The Team of the 90's'. The Kangaroos played in another Grand Final and made the Preliminary Final 8 years in a row.

The 00's brought in a new era with Carey's fall from grace and a rebuilding time and 1 more Prelim final in 07.

All of the 'press' has been about the Demons and Tigers and their youth and potential but just this week there was an article exponing how the Kangas have a similarly experienced group yet finished well above them and beat Melbourne 2-0 (convincingly) and Richmond 1-0.

Barring injuries I have a feeling that the Kangaroos are about to enter an era seen as halcyon in years to come.

As for watching the sport itself, I am a fan of many sports but not one has come close to being such a spectacle and crowd pleaser. Every player on the field is a true athlete and it's a truly unique blend of raw energy and ball control.

Top Ten Sport to Play #1

AFL - Karingal Bulls

This is by no means to say that I am good at actually playing but I think I am best suited to this sport. I also enjoy it so much that I often spend my oval duty at school kicking a ball around.

I played junior footy and although I was a good kick and mark I was probably a little soft about the contact part of it.  I then had kidney issues at 10 and was not allowed play again.

When the family moved to Brisbane, after the flood, I played school footy and because most of the 'good athletes' at school played League and I was tall for my age I was Captain and centre half forward for the school team. We won the Grand Final that year and I kicked 4 goals so I was getting a taste for playing again. AFL didn't have much of a presence back in 1989 in QLD so I was asked to try out for the State team but alas we moved interstate and I never did try out. I am aware that if we were living in Melbourne I would NOT have had these experiences but man did I enjoy them!

When I was 15 back in Melbourne all my mates played footy so I went to join up, but being born in December meant I had to play under 18's instead of under 16's with my mates. I was apprehensive but wanted to play any way. I was definitely tall enough but coming up against 18 year olds meant I was well under size. In our first game I lined up at Full Forward ???? and my direct opponent had tattoos on his arm and told me the first time I go for the ball he was going to punch me in the back of the head. Remember I was a skinny non-fighter 15 year old. It's fair to say my jocks resembled the Hawks colours and not the red and white Swans colours.

At half time we were down by about 100 points and we had only scored 3 behinds. In the 3rd quarter I had the ball about 45 metres out and instead of passing I went for the torpedo and kicked the first goal for our team. I was dragged by the coach for not passing the ball and hardly played again that game. I lasted 4 more games but didn't really enjoy it and to be honest never went in hard and wasn't doing the team any good.

That was the last of my football career. I did coach the under 13's here in Charters Towers for a year and if Ben ever decides to play I'll become apart of that club.

I still love to have a kick and a run around but now it's more social and with a beer.

Until then hail to the torpedo!

Focus?

Yes again it's been a little longer than I intended but I'm back!!!!

I've been writing a little and working (my pesky day job) and hanging with my little dude of a son Benjamin!!!!

While trolling the net I came across a blog called 'Go Into The Story' and they are very prolific bloggers about writing and the industry. About 4-6 blogs a day. Well they have a GITSClub where wannabe writers submit their scripts to be torn down and hopefully receive some constructive useful criticism.

I placed my finished feature and 3 shorts and just sat back to see what would happen. I read about 20 reviews before I did this and I was expecting what I got got but still it left me wondering.

98% of reviews are hardcore focused on the layout of the script and NOT/NEVER EVER using verbs in the action/scene part.

I had one lovely reviewer who stated straight off the bat to read a few scripts for an education and bring my best attempt to the board!!!!!!  Here is a short excerpt of this response.

I'm not here to teach you how to write a script. I come here to help and to learn. What you presented is an unthinkable request for assistance and I don't think you'll find too many who will offer that much until you learn and present the basics of screenwriting.

There's much more to the response!

Now at first I was shocked/taken aback/ hurt and demoralised. I had a serious think about my writing future. After I had a day to digest this I started to wonder if I had missed the point or not.

I've had reviewer come across as angry that I used a verb or the VO (voice over) didn't have parenthesis.

Now in my humble opinion, I am way more concerned with the story than whether I have a characters name in bold. However these particular reviewers are concerned with spelling and layout. If the script gets read and the reader likes the story and the characters, isn't that the goal of a script?

Hey I may be wrong and call me on it!!!

Until then hail to the story!

Hello my meme!

This is a stolen meme from a talented dude from the comic industry! Thanks Rol

1. You’re building your dream house. What’s the one thing that this house absolutely, positively MUST HAVE? (other than the obvious basics of course)


Home Theatre, covered large outdoor entertainment area, Pool room with fully stocked bar and a maid!
In that order



2. What is your dream car?

Free and doesn't break down!!!  An Aston Martin form Entourage would be cool!



3. What is your favourite website that isn’t a blog?

http://www.kangaroos.com.au/ or http://www.giants.com/ depending on the season!



4. iPhone 4 or Droid, which do you want?

I'd take R2D2 any time!!!!


5. When you’re feeling down or lonely or just generally out of sorts, what do you do to cheer yourself up?

Drink!!!!! Unfortunately, then I lead off with movies like Good Will Hunting or Boyz in the Hood or Braveheart.  Real pick me up movies!!!!


6. Tell me about something or someone that you love that most people seem to hate.

Kevin Smith, Rodney Rude, American Football, Wayne Carey and horror movies are all hated by my wife but cherished by me!

7. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A real little boy! A successful screenwriter (read: produced feature)



8. Would you go on a reality show if given the chance?

Not a Japanese one!!!!
One that involves a mix of sporting prowess and brains that I can be in a team of 3 with my brothers would be awesome!!  (NOT chess boxing) It has to be non-injury inducing sports like hitting 3 pointers or home runs!!!!!!! Plus movie questions!!!! 

Man I want in on this game!!!!!

9. Who was your favourite teacher when you were growing up?

Mr Dyson grade 5, 1987, Frankston East PS
Mrs Tucker grade 6, 1988, Frankston East PS

10. You get one pass to do something illegal or immoral. What are you gonna do?

Go back in time find out lotto numbers and win the $50 million plus draw.

11. What were you doing 10 years ago?

Studying my 1st year of my Bachelor of Eduction - Primary degree in Brisbane. I'm in my 7th year teaching and love it!!!  Not my ultimate job, but I'm working on it!

12. By this time next year, I...

hope my wife will be pregnant and my 2nd short film script (Soap) will be produced and have a feature in the pipeline!

13. Do you think the United States will elect a female President in your lifetime? Do you think this would be a good thing?

Only if she's good enough for the job!!!!  Sick of minorities getting jobs for being a minority. That's how Derek Vineyard's dad died because minorities were given jobs as firefighters



14. Which fictional TV show character you would shag anytime?

Senor Ding Dong from the Simpson!!!!  We won't be needing jumper cables!



15. What is your favourite Quentin Tarantino movie?

Kill Bill Vol 1  (Man that was tougher than I thought!)   Still not 100% on that!!!  Dogs and Pulp are classics!

16. Who was your favourite Doctor?

I'm assuming this is a Dr Who reference but I'm going with Dr. Martin Van Nostrand

17. What's your favourite slow song?

Twilight Time by The Platters

18. Do you have a nickname? What is it?

Bearded Extra, Psycho, Lindsay, Linz, Jimmy, Jimbo, Dadda or that writer from The Pessimist! I heard someone say that behind me at the movie premiere!

19. What are you dreading at the moment?


Not much to be honest!!! I've been racking my brain but life is bloody good!!!! 


20. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers?

Unlike my brother at Stinkbrown and Our Walking Heart I don't have m/any readers so no judging happenin here!!


21. In two words, explain what ended your last relationship.

No love (It didn't hurt that I met my future wife very shortly after that!)


22. What were you doing this morning at 8am?


Sitting at my desk at school checking my blogs, sports pages and movie pages!



23. Do you have any famous relatives?

Charles Kingsford Smith is apparently a 2nd cousin or something to my old man. My younger brother has Kingsford as his middle name and is also most likely to be famous out of the rest of us shmucks!!!!



24. How many different beverages have you drank today?


One cup of green tea and lots of water and a glass of O.J. I also swallowed some toothpaste does that count?

25. What is something you are excited about?

North Melbourne Kangaroos results, New York Giants Result and my 9 month old son Benjamin!



26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group?

Most Monday's I speak in front of the staff (15ish) but I have presented at Educational Conferences to crowds of 80 and 120 last year.



27. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

I actually avoid looking in the mirror at any time. I believe it's better to feel good than to look in a mirror and be proven wrong!

28. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Discussing with my wife whether we should use Bonjela or Baby panadol to soothe my little boy!



29. What’s a word you say a lot?

Awesome



30. Who is your worst enemy?

Plaque and my bank account balance!

The best way to predict your future is to create it.

I need to vent about footy and it's a week when my team has had the best win of their year!!!!

I've been listening with patience all year about how good the Demons are going to be and how their young brigade of players will hold them in good stead in the years to come.

Well I'm going to drop some statistical knowledge on you and you be the judge.

The Demons are playing so well!?!?!? or so it seems!!!!  They are currently 4 wins and a draw from 12 games. The 4 wins have been Adelaide and Richmond (Bottom 2), Brisbane and Port Adelaide (Bottom 8). Nuff said!!

The Kangaroos are 6 wins from 12 games and touted as having a shocking year. Sure I'll admit we have had a couple of blow out losses but that is to be expected with the youngest list in the comp.

As Janet and Luthur put it 'check this out!'

I was lurking through the dark murky sewers or the 'net' and stumbled across http://www.livewire.com/ and found a fantastic resource for AFL stats!!!!

I noticed Ryan Bastinac our star recruit at pick #21 in the 09 draft is the #1 Rising Star in the AFL for disposals. I thought this was a good endorsement that he was travelling well so I sluthed further and found this:

Rising Star Total Disposals

#1     Ryan Bastinac  236

#5     Jack Ziebell     194

#26   Sam Wright     121  (11 Games played out of 12)

#31   Ben Cunnington 99  (8 Games played)

Rising Star Total Kicks

#1     Ryan Bastinac   121

#2     Jack Ziebell      117

#19   Sam Wright       73

#27   Ben Warren      60 (8 Games played out of 12)

Rising Star Total Goals

#8    Ben Warren     10

#11  Sam Wright      8  (Both not even Forwards!)

Rising Star Tackles (Probably the most impressive stats for rookies!)

#2     Jack Ziebell      58

#7     Ben Cunnington  47 (#1 avg per game at over 5!!!!)

#9    Ryan Bastinac     38

#22  Sam Wright        28

#24  Cruize Garlett     24 (4 Games Played)

#40  Ben Warren        14

I started off comparing 'our' young group with Melbourne's but have gone with a focus on The Roos group to point out the brightness of our future and where we are (hopefully) heading as a club on the field.

Nth Melb are 6-6 sitting in 9th position equal to Hawthorn who are 6-6 in 8th. A must win game this Sunday against The Power could find the Roos in the 8 at the end of the week??

Potential is a finicky game but I honestly believe that if the Roos miss the finals this year, they should make it next!!

One final look at the guns at our club who have played less than 100 games

89 Hamish McIntosh

74 Andrew Swallow

66 Lindsay Thomas

62 Scott McMahon

53 Matt Campbell

47 Aaron Edwards

41 Lachie Hansen

40 Scott Thompson

37 Gavin Urquhart

36 Ed Lower

28 Todd Goldstein

24 Nathan Grima

22 Jack Ziebell

18 Levi Greenwood

17 Liam Anthony

17 Ben Warren

15 Leigh Adams

15 Sam Wright

14 Ben Ross

12 Ryan Bastinac

9  Cruize Garlett

9  Josh Smith

8  Ben Cunnington

5  Alan Obst

2  Nathan O'Keefe

0  Majak Daw

0  Robbie Tarrant

Plus many other unplayed rookies!!!

Until then hail to the Rising Star!

Top Ten Sports to Watch/Play #2

Top Ten Sport to Watch #2

American Football (Gridiron) - New York Football Giants

I started watching NFL in 1991 and have been addicted ever since. So much so I paid for pay TV just so I could get up at 3am ad watch the early game. Oh and Sports Centre. I'm not particular either I'll watch any team and now that I have access to channel ONE I'll see more this coming summer. Back in the day I used to watch the local Frankston team and in 1999 I flew to Sydney to watch The Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers play an exhibition game. One of my bucket list goals is to see a game in New York and the Superbowl (I can dream!) Watching a game featuring the New York Giants is an absolute thrill for me and seeing them win SuperBowl XLII (42 if you're not Roman!) with my mate Rowie (sic) was top 3 sporting events ever.

I am a big fan of stats and NFL has it in spades and I'm also a huge fan of the tactical part of the sport!

Top Ten Sport to Play #2

American Football (Gridiron) - I'm looking for a throw, I'm looking to a long throw!

As I've stated earlier, my enjoyment for a sport grows exponentially with my ability to actually play it. My 3 best friends in high school were all very talented sportsmen but I would like to think that this is the one sport where I could hold my own. I have pretty good hands but lack the pace unfortunately. But throwing the ball for some reason suited me. I'm by no means muscular so I guess from a bio mechanical point my throwing style suited that skill. I'm generally pretty accurate and could definitely throw it further so my enjoyment was lifted. I would have loved to play high school football but maybe that would shown me I wasn't quite as good as I thought so it's for the best!

Until then hail to the Mary!

Top Ten Sports to Watch/Play #3

Top Sport to Watch #3

Basketball - Clyde the Glide

During the early 90's I introduced gridiron to my family and my younger Bro brought basketball to the mix. We followed separate NBL and NBA teams but that only makes it more interesting. We even went to a NBL All-Star game which was awesome including the dunk comp! NBA was Jordan mad so we watched plenty of Sat morning NBA time. High School finished and like alot of my friends we lost contact. Well I now have the HD channels and like an old friend it was fun to catch up and out of no where I fell for the Celtics, and over the last 5 months we have been reacquainted and we(the Celtics) are 1 game away from the finals.

It's also a fast paced (minus the timeouts) exciting, skillful game.

Top Sports to Play #3

Basketball - Trojans Vs Reeconiks

I was unfortunate to have my 3 best friends in high school being very good at sport. Any Sport! So when we were 17 and formed a basketball team I was the weak link and looking back at it I really took it to heart. I'm also only about 5" 10' and was usually the tallest or 2nd tallest in the team so was grossly out of position. That is not an excuse for my bad shooting or turnovers but basketball is number #3 on my list so I obviously enjoy the game.

I am a huge stats man so my trusty younger bro would tag along and keep my stats which couldn't have too hard as I averaged about 4 points a game. However one particular game stands out as we had alot of players who couldn't play so my older brother Marc stepped in and my 13 year old brother played as well. Take into account we were playing 'C' grade mens it is pretty impressive. Unfortunately Ryan's 3 point buzzer beater at the end of the 1st half over shadowed my best scoring game of 15 points.

Until then hail to the tre!

Top Ten Sports to Watch/Play #4

Top Sport to Watch #4

Cricket - Before the men started taking their wives on tour

As any red blooded Aussie male I've seen my fair share of Aussie cricket. Not interested in Sheffield Shield it has to be Australia and preferably ODI or TESTS. Haven't really taken to 20TWENTY but will watch it if no other sport on!!!!  I grew up playing in the backyard and I was Dean Jones and my younger bro Mark Waugh and I listened to The 12th Man. I've been a huge fan of Pontings throughout his whole career! A bit late for DK Lillie and Co but still the Aussie team has been in a state of constant halcyon years since I've been alive! Love beating the KIWI's and particularly the POMS in the Ashes.

Top Sport to Play #4

Soccer - Liverpool kiss! Chelsea smile!

The only reason I have this above 5-8 is because of the round ball and it's easier therefore I'm better at it! Yes I get more enjoyment if I can actually participate!!!! Fancy myself as a bit of a striker but never played professionally! I'm sure I'll get out in the playground come World Cup!!


Can I also give a shout out to my esteemed little bro. He is a published writer of some note and has his thick cheerio fingers in many pies and as of today has launched a new blog/website thoughtballoon where 9 writers including him pick a comic character each week to write a one page comic script each. They've started with Tony Stark and as of now they have 2 very different yet interesting takes on the Tin Man.

Until then hail to the Stark!

Top Ten Sports to Watch/Play #6 and #5

Well here are my #6

Sports to Watch

Tennis - Grand Slams only!!!!

To be honest patriotism comes into it more than watching good players!!!  Federer is an awesome player and seemingly a nice guy but I've never rooted for him. I will be interested in a grand slam if an Aussie is playing otherwise not really at all.  Having said that if an Aussie is in a final I will stay up all night and really enjoy the spectacle.


Sports to Play


Cricket - 2 wickets for 4 runs off 4 overs.

I never played as a kid and this year I partook in the famous Charters Towers Ashes and played 3 games. If I was any good at cricket I'd have it in my top 3 or 4. But I am dodgier than a prawn left in the sun. In 3 games I made 3, 1 and an 8. Not good at all. Admittedly after each ball I grabbed my stubbie from behind the wickets and had a good old swig. Gloves weren't a problem as I didn't wear any. I did however enjoy my 8 by hitting a cracking cut shot for 4 but then the rain started and by the ball that took my wicket hit the pitch about 2 metres in front of me and rolled into my stumps. Yes I know excuses but I reckon I had a few more runs in me. As for bowling, I was a little better but that wasn't hard. Game 1 -  I took 2 for 4 and ran someone out from just inside the boundary.  Game 2 - 2 for 6 and another long run out. and Game 3 - 1 for lots in the rain.  Yes Ryan my 3 days I was more concerned with stats and beers!



Well here are my #5


Sports to Watch


Baseball - RedSox baby!!!!!


I have very fond memories of staying up late with my younger bro with a real strong coffee and watching 3 innings before falling asleep on the dirty mocha chicken couch!!!!  I'm now a relatively big Boston RedSox fan any game on ONE is enjoyed!



Sports to Play


Baseball - Karingal SC regional champs

I have a ball and glove and in high school enjoyed having a hit. I was on the school team that won the regional champs as an outfielder and back up pitcher. Sure I was probably the weakest link on the team but I enjoyed it and would have to say I'm better at this than cricket and yes the enjoyment factor goes up if I'm better for it!



Until then hail to the hit and giggle!