F1 is back in Europe and a three week break has given the opportunity for the others to catch up with Mercedes. Unfortunately going on practice and qualifying form it appears that silver cars will head the field and the rest are playing for third.
And the best value betting for the race will be who gets that last podium spot.
Only unreliability or an intra team smash will derail more dominance.
Ricciardo looks best of the rest in third with vettel grabbing problems and luck usually only associated with red bull cars with number two on them. 15th will be hard to take but at least Maldonado is at the back after his meeting with a wall in qualifying. Vettel may just get through the first corner.
However Alonso on home soil and in any race can never be discounted nor can the Williams which look good in bottas’ hands.
With Mercedes likely to dominate and Hamilton to do so further we gave the usual array of exotics to keep you interested until midnight.
This includes our favourite street money bet – the winning race time to thousandth of a second. So we let our mother decide today and came up with 4.
I was recently given the opportunity to travel to Bali to play ‘sixes’ cricket. Sixes cricket contains six players per team, 5 overs per innings and is basically the archetype to t20 cricket.
We won the 2nd division trophy and I managed to crack a few runs and take a few wickets, sure, but the point of this article (well, that might be a bit strong as all articles on ‘Le Gurgler’ are pointless by design) is to tell you about the food in Bali.
Man oh man. Delightful.
Now, let’s start this by acknowledging that you can’t just kick about roaring down any little delicacy from a street vendor. I’m no expert on travelling (I rarely leave the house) or culture (something I think lives in yogurt), but I knew enough to avoid the dreaded ‘Bali Belly’ syndrome.
Here’s some tips on how and where to eat in Bali:
1.Stick to fully established restaurants that have plenty of locals and tourists frequenting the premise. If the locals like it, it must be good, if the tourists are hammering it, it must be suitable to ‘the weak and travelling’.
2.If it sounds, looks, smells or tastes dodgy then DON’T EAT IT. The food is so cheap that you can just order something else. Trust me, it’s not worth jamming down a dodgy looking chicken dish to save yourself $2.97
3.Avoid the delicious looking street vendor ‘satay huts’ like the plague. Some may be OK, some may not be, but the risk is enormous and the means to determine whether any particular vendor is reliable or not is basically are minimal.
4.If it is supposed to be hot, then make sure it is hot. If it is supposed to be cold, ensure it is cold.
Sure, it’s not earth-shattering or ground-breaking stuff, but it got me through alright.
On our ‘last meal’ there we hit a ribs joint in Batubelig called ‘Naughty Nuri’s Warung’. Most of us got the ‘special feast’ which comprised of
· A full rack of BBQ pork ribs
· The choice between hand cut potato wedges or hand cut sweet potato and beetroot chips
· The choice of one of passionfruit cheesecake, crème caramel or chocolate brownies with homemade ice cream
· A bottle of Bintang beer
I went for the sweet potato and beetroot chips (actually incredible) and the choc brownies with ice cream (the brownie was crumbly and crunchy on the outside and gooey in the middle, the ice-cream was delightful) for my ‘variables’.
And man – the ribs. Oh the ribs. They were just falling off the bone, there was loads of sticky, sweet and smoky home-made BBQ sauce (with a tremendously ‘kicking’ chilli sauce on standby if you wanted to mix it up, which I did) and the portion was fabulous.
So the rack of ribs, the hand cut vegetable chips, an ice-cold Bintang and brownies with home-made ice cream. How much do you think I paid for that?
Before I tell you, I can tell you that a full rack of BBQ pork ribs are $34.95 from Hog’s breath (admittedly with chips and a salad). A bowl of hand-cut fries sets you back around $8 at a restaurant. A bottle of beer costs $6 (minimum). A dessert costs roughly $9 (minimum). So, conservatively, this meal would cost around $58 in Australia.
In Bali, where they don’t dump a bunch of frozen, pre-cut fries in a fryer or scoop ice cream out of a pre-packed tub, they charge the equivalent of:
$14
That’s right. It was 150,000 Indonesian Rupiah, which (on the figures accessed today) is actually less than $14. A 4-hour massage cost $85. Here massages cost $55 an hour.
NOTE: It is imperative that I do declare one element that may not be as tantalising as the beautifully warm people, the ice-cold beers (that cost $1.70 or less in all nightspots that aren’t ‘westernised’ beyond redemption) and the cheap taxis. It’s the heat.
I spent a massive chunk of the early evening, every evening, in my air-conditioned room at the villa. I ran the A/C 24/7. The outside windows were actually frosted with condensation.
Playing cricket felt like I was doing so in a sauna. Walking more than 9 metres caused me to hail sweat. I’d hold an icy beer to my forehead and see steam actually floating off me.
But if you can get past that then you are set. You can live like a king (or queen), eat heartily and drink heavily and still come home with stacks of bills in your wallet.
Recently we have seen the demise of David Moyes as coach of Manchester United.With a win/loss percentage of 52%, a figure perhaps Sabri Lamouchi would be proud of, the fans and media of one of the world’s biggest franchises deemed this unsatisfactory. Comparatively we look in our own backyard to the sacking of Mickey Arthurs, former South African cricket coach brought out here to coach our national team.During his tenure the Australian Test team won 11 out of 21 tests, which, eerily enough gives a win/loss percentage of 52%.
We can look at this one of two ways…Either both men were completely out of their depth in taking over the head job of two popular, successful, and revered teams, or, the number 52 is ingrained into our psyche as a cut off point of what is acceptable, and what isn’t.
David Moyes showed great potential as a junior, captaining the U18 Scottish National football team, had varied success at Celtic before playing for a string of First Division teams, (which in football terms, is actually the second division) preferring to be a successful player in a B side, compared to being an ordinary player in an A side.Mickey Arthur grew up in Natal and went to Westville Boys’ High School, whose other alumni include ‘Dapper’ George Koumantarakis, and people’s favourite Errol Stewart (no relation). Arthur was an adequate batsmen who happened to have a good innings when selectors were in the crowd, and like Moyes, was elevated to a prominent position in a B side, that being South Africa A.Confused by all the A’s that are B’s and firsts that are seconds?I’m guessing the board members were too.
Some can argue second rate players make the best coaches, look at Wayne Bennett, legend of the NRL, or Robert Wright, current coach of the Australian Men’s Netball team.Looking at the stats, Bennett was a winger who managed only minimal representative duties and Wright, well, there are no stats available for Australian Men’s Netball.This reporter can only assume Wright played before he coached.As you would in Australian Men’s Netball.But one cannot place Moyes or Arthur in that category, failure has followed them from their playing career into their coaching attempts.
So what then of this cut off percentage of 52%? Much like Jim Carrey’s movie The Number 23, we can see the percentage 52% be attributed to many and varied things.Mostly negative.We see that Angry Birds sales have dropped 52% in the past year, 52% of women have been harassed in the work place in the last 12 months, tourism in Egypt has fallen 52% this year, but most worrying ticket sales are down 52% for this year’s Australian Artistic Skating Championships.Ron Jellse would be rolling in his grave if he knew that.Pardon the pun
Whatever the underlying reasons are, both coaching failures have been career destroying for both.Arthur is now head coach of the 1st XI at a Boy’s School in Perth, and you can catch Moyes with his own commentary of the upcoming World Cup, as he streams itfrom his Amstrad in his basement, whilst listening to the BBC5 coverage.I wish them luck in their future endeavours.HB
Be it in the Indian Premier League between Mitchell Starc and Keiron Pollard, which was a timely reminder that the IPL is actually on, and that throwing a bat is a good comeback to having ball bowled at you after pulling away from crease, if you don’t throw it like your arms are made of porridge.
Or maybe the U20’s origin, where the youngsters proved they are more than a match in battle of fists when maroon meets blue.
But the highlight stoush of the week came between two people old enough and rich enough to know better. We’re not going to throw stones in glasshouses at the horror of the biffo, it’s just nice that despite all the money in the world you can still look like a bogan brawling outside The Bungalow or Rum Jungle on a Friday night.
Lord knows with his overbearing arrogance towards sport broadcasting on Channel 9 including the complete ignorance of balanced coverage around origin time and the selling out of rugby league to be Nine’s lapdog, there are probably a lot more poorer people who wouldn’t be too unhappy to see a punch landed on his chin.
Opinion is divided over who won, so we’ll run a poll below to garner the views of the Gurgler faithful.
[poll id=”11″]
Great Expectations – some headlines this week that were hard to believe and less likely to happen were the Scots wishing to become a test playing nation, Lucas Neill playing at the World Cup, and the Wallabies believing they win the Bledisloe. With Lucas Neill about to be confirmed as a most experienced coach potato for Rio, it’s out of Scotland v Wallabies for glory. Neither the more likely, but The Gurgler will go with Scotland.
Mark Marquez – some kind of rider – gives the Spanish GP fans what they want and 100% start to the year.
UK Football League Last Day – nothing tops last minute goals to save your team from relegation or scrape into the playoffs. The big loser Bristol Rovers who ended their stay in the Football League (Top 4 divisions of UK Football) after 90 odd years. Not good when a new stadium is soon to start building. The conference is a hard place to get out of too.
New Dolphin Oval – Please let it happen, and they’ll even keeps some of the trees and hills to ensure old school charm joins modern stadium. One can only hope it leads to another NRL team for Brisbane. Crushers Mk II it won’t be. At this point I’d like to mention former Crusher players Garrick Morgan and St John Ellis.
Gold Coast Suns + Melbourne Demons – a case of surprise win and surprise margin of win. But good for AFL.
The Curse of Michael Jackson – some questioned the sense or sanity of erecting a statue of Michael Jackson outside Fulham’s home ground Craven cottage. Some are now questioning why the King Of Pop tribute was removed to the Football museum in Manchester. 3 managers and bugger all wins since have given Fulham a free pass to the second division Championship next year. There will be clubs up and down the country wondering which musician they can put up outside their ground to stave off relegation next year.
The Gurgler can see West Bromwich Albion putting up a Richard Marx statue, Swansea unveiling Plastic Bertrand and Sunderland bringing a bronze Bros to the party. Talk of Snow being a guardian at Crystal Palace are wide off the mark though.
AFL MULTI – $33
HAWTHORN to beat Sydney
FREMANTLE to beat Port Adelaide
ESSENDON -29.5 start v Brisbane
MELBOURNE to beat Western Bulldogs
GWS +49.5 start v West Coast
GOLF – USPGA – PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Henrik Stenson – $26.
Are you bored of regular holidays to the beach, big cities or your long lost relatives? Well, experience the difference with non-stop laughs and good times with Police Academy Holidays.
Let GW Bailey (aka Captain Harris) and Bobcat Goldthwait (the loveable Zed) take you on a 14 day adventure inspired the hilarious and ever popular Police Academy movie series and to a lesser extent the TV series and cartoon spin offs.
We take you to all the exotic locations visited by the gang – Miami Beach, Moscow, Zed’s cave from the second movie and whichever city it was pretending to be – where you can have the full Police Academy experience.
We’ll re-enact ever single ending chase scene from Monster Trucks in the City to a random Hot Air Balloon Race in the country to a water filled adventure on the everglades.
There’ll be stunt car displays, a shooting range session with Tackleberry, dating tips from Mahoney and Callaghan, and your very own mimicking session with Larvelle Jones.
There’s even a tour of the Police Academy itself hosted by either Lieutenant Mowser or Hightower. Plus a chance to join the Citizens on Patrol scheme.
A progressive dinner every night will no doubt end with everyone unbeknown to them falling into the Blue Oyster Bar for late night dancing and nightcaps. Stereotypical Leather dresswear optional but welcome.
A random cast member will join every three days for a Q and A session after series of pranks on guests used as a guessing game to the identity of the former cast member.
Upgrade to our Gold package and we’ll ensure that you receive one free Proctor as a companion on your entire journey.
The value of this package can’t be put in dollar terms, but our price sure can be.
Just USD14,999 excluding flights is buying an experience that will reward you seven times over.
Welcome back to the all-new weekly sport ramble. Not that anything is that new, just a few little pretty things here and there to cover up for the facts that the actual content isn’t much different than before let alone better. But all-new doesn’t necessary advertise as better. Think of all the TV shows given “All New Time” as a way of letting it down softly that it is more of a Young Lions or Bob Morrison show not a Law & Order or an All Together Now.
It’s also been a couple of weeks since the last weekly roundup. That should give us twice as much to talk about in theory. It hasn’t, but like the all new, the weekly part is more of a serving suggestion than a promise.
Without any further rambling or time wasting watching Flying High, here’s the guff.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Peter Stuyvesant Real Estate
AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TEAM
My, how things have changed. What was looking like the busted arse of world cricket is now the number one Test and One Day nation. Consecutive series over England and South Africa was enough to nudge us to the apex of the ICC. Let the good times roll with John Inverarity set to stand down too after proof that Ryan Harris on one leg is a far better option than rotating the best players out of the team.
ALEX LEAPAI
So what if the Logan based slugger only landed a handful of punches on the mammoth that is Wladimir Klitschko to get there was feat enough, given the size of the monster, lasting 5 rounds was plenty. Remember Peter McNeeley v Mike Tyson.
There is also the silver lining of a mouth watering battle with the American Shannon Briggs who gatecrashed the party, baring his thorax, and calling the Australian a bum at the press conference. Leapai has wisely considering lining up a chance to kick him right in the arse in the ring.
For your viewing pleasure we have the clip of the press conference, plus a Top 10 of The Gurglers favourite sporting pleasures – a fight at boxing press conferences.
He also has won a few fans, especially after last race where after being confronted by a competitor and receiving the manly shove in the back as he walked off, he punched the guy in the face. They do things differently in NASCAR with the authorities looking into the incident but unlikely to act. Certainly beats the rigid punishments of other sporting bodies. Nothing like a punch up after the race to settle differences.
We have the clip to judge for yourself. Not a great moment in boxing, but certainly better than a European football skirmish that ends with a player rolling over 17 times only to miraculously get better with a spray of miracle water and free kick. We also included our favourite motor racing stoush of all time.
WORLD CUP TICKETS
Australians have bought over 50,000 tickets for the World Cup in Brazil in a little over a month’s time. This is impressive as we are in the Top 5 for tickets bought per head of population – 0.23%. Equally impressive is either the steadfast loyalty of a Melbourne Demons or Rabbitohs fan given the horror draw and form leading into the tournament or the blind ignorance to the formbook and experts. The Gurgler hopes either is the case and we have a chance to get into the next round where anything can happen. Especially an England defeat on penalties.
Although with tickets to the final heading toward $50,000 the percentage of Australians will surely dip. More a chance than Brazilians whose chance is even less with the cost of the final around 20 times the annual wage.
SUPER RUGBY EXPANSION PLAN
It was originally Super 10, then 12, then 14, then 15, then, well actually I’m really not sure how many there are, but plans are to expand again.
Here’s a poll of the proposed locations of a new franchise.
[poll id=”10″]
AFL MULTI – $28
CARLTON +24.5 start v Collingwood
MELBOURNE +43.5 start v Adelaide
SYDNEY -27.5 start v Brisbane
GOLD COAST +26.5 start v North Melb
GEELONG -34.5 start v Richmond
KENTUCKY DERBY
Wildcat Red – $15
A LEAGUE FINAL
Either Brisbane ($11) or West Sydney ($13) to win after penalty shootout.
A Penalty is awarded – $4.35
WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPS Neil Robertson
6 rounds in – hands up who said the Gold Coast would be 5 – 1 and leading the comp? If you’re not the most optimistic Titans fan put your hand down you big fat liar. Add to that 2 of the worst teams from last year are 3rd and 5th, with the now Stuart-less Eels beating the premiers last weekend no less. Stranger still is that the team leading the comp have a negative for and against. It’s a crazy comp so far.
Right on schedule thus far is the New Zealand Warriors unpredictability and the disappointing start for the Cowboys. Let’s hope for the comp’s sake that they turn it around soon, just as teams like Manly and Souths seem to be doing.
Not far away also is the State of Origin. In this period pre Origin you will have to get used to terms like dynasty, origin bolter, eligibility and Boyd. Sure to feature is a range of attempted puns to showcase Qld’s attempt at 9 in a row. Cloud Nine is the front runner if they win, however you could go a little more George Harrison and throw up I Got my Nine Set On You for before the series. If Qld do manage to triumph, you can imagine in the minds of Paul Gallen, Greg Bird et al that the number 9 will be repeating over and over again like Revolution No.9 from the The Beatles – White Album.
Kudos to the Storm for their victory. Like most of the people following the score or casually glancing at Fox Sports the presumption was St George were home and proverbially hosed. To much surprise to most including the players and the time keeper, Melbourne stormed (pun – please pardon) home to win. Quality sides just know how to win.
Please accept below our tips for the weekend ahead and our stats.
THIS WEEK’S TIPS
SOUTHS +2.5 start v Bulldogs
BRISBANE +4.5 start v Newcastle
MANLY -5.5 start v North Qld
DRAGONS -1.5 start v NZ
SHARKS +14.5 start v Roosters
CANBERRA +6.5 start v Melbourne
PARRAMATTA -3.5 start v Wests Tigers
PENRITH -5.5 start v Gold Coast
Sometimes sport can get things right, take for instance the tributes to the Hillsborough disaster from the weekend across all the top divisions in England. Minutes silences were observed and tributes flowed.
A minute silence could probably also be used for Anthony Mundine’s boxing career and there will probably be no flowing of tributes. Finally one of the no-name-who-its actually turned out to be good.
Talking about a minute, hopefully the NRL referees won’t be in charge of the minutes silence, who knows how long it could take.
The STABILO BOSS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK – brought to you by the Toyota Soarer.
– Jack Miller made it 2/2 in the Moto3 (ex 125CC) class in the motorbikes. A future Mick Doohan or Gary Brabham.
– US Masters – best golf tournament there is.
– Melbourne Demons beating Carlton for a rare win.
– Liverpool v Manchester City – normally big showdowns in Football turn out to be the biggest dud fixture – looking at you World Cup finals. This one was certainly not the case with goals, red cards, and controversy a-plenty. Liverpool have the advantage to beat the moneybags Man City and Chelsea to the title.
– Finish to the Melbourne v Dragons game – if you are a Melbourne fan or neutral.
THE “ABOVE THE TOP SHELF” PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
Could have been any of the above or any more of the ones we missed – however it has to be The Mechanic aka Miguel Angel Jiminez. Sure he didn’t win it, but 4th gave a good show on the final day and the whole weekend. If the TV would ever show him. The British Open awaits.
GRAB THE PLUNGER – brought to you by TAB Cola.
ANTHONY MUNDINE – When you saw the fight advertised you would normally think that The Man has lined up so no name no good or has been to fight. Unfortunately he turned out to be good enough to put the Man on his arse a few times. Shame, he could have been one of the best footballers and boxers the country has produced except for his overbearing arrogance and sense of victimisation against everyone in the world. Who knows how he will be remembered, or if anyone could be bothered.
Close second – CARLTON – after one of the easiest draws to begin with, a big fat zero is a poor return for Mick Malthouse’s men.
INTERMISSION LINK – This Week’s Youtube Clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g79vcg6BIvU
COMEBACK OF THE WEEKMICHAEL PHELPS.
Your life must be boring if swimming lap after lap at too-f***ing-early O’clock staring at a blue line is a better alternative to retirement. Will he get to toke the celebratory spliff in Rio. Let’s see if the comeback will get as far as that, or if it is successful, most aren’t.
UPCOMING TREATS – brought to you by Vice Versas
NRL GREAT FRIDAY – 3 x games to celebrate the holy day. Get your beer Thursday – be warned.
BELLS BEACH Surfing
CHINESE GP
GEELONG v HAWTHORN Easter Monday
STAWELL GIFT – favourite part is the punters who race onto track to hug the winner.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Semi Finals
BEST BETS OF THE WEEKEND
1/3 in the QLD Cup last weekend, Cyclone Ita saving us from another loss and 3/5 in the AFL. We intend to make up for it this week. However of all our tips the Mechanic produced the goods at odds. Enough to give us a couple of shinies to spend this weekend.
AFL Multi $79
NORTH MELB to beat Collingwood 1-39
SYDNEY to beat Fremantle 1-39
ST KILDA +46.5 start v Essendon
ADELAIDE -34.5 start v GWS
GOLD COAST to beat Melbourne 40+
QRL Multi $16
REDCLIFFE to beat Mackay
BURLEIGH to beat Easts
PNG – 24.5 start v Sunshine Coast
IPSWICH to beat Northern Pride
Help yourself to any of the betting options for the naming of the 2nd Sydney Airport – plenty of value.
So New Zealand have kicked off the sacking season, or did he quit, who knows. He probably won’t be the last this year, but the NRL will be well shy of the doyens of sacking – English Football.
Hard to think the Gold Coast would be leading the ladder at this stage of the year. Tipping a winner has been almost harder than getting a rerun of Hey Dad on Australian TV ever again. Well, tipping’s not quite that impossible. Good though that ACA had a celebratory forum for after the verdict, importantly, Nudge was included. The whole would be without merit if Nudge wasn’t included.
As this article is nudging (pardon the pun) the time when the US Masters kicks off – it’s time to shut up and provide the tips that don’t win and the stats that sort of matter. They are both mildly interesting.
THIS WEEK’S TIPS
SOUTHS – 7.5 start v Penrith
BRISBANE -3.5 start v Gold Coast
CANBERRA -3.5 start v Newcastle
PARRAMATTA +6.5 start v Roosters
WESTS TIGERS -3.5 start v North Qld
MANLY -3.5 start v Sharks
NZ -5.5 start v Bulldogs
MELBOURNE -11.5 start v Dragons
THIS WEEK’S STATS
HOME & AWAY RECORD 2014
HOME GAMES
%
AWAY GAMES
%
PENRITH
3
100%
GOLD COAST
3
100%
PARRAMATTA
2
100%
BRISBANE
2
100%
WESTS TIGERS
2
100%
ST GEORGE
2
100%
BULLDOGS
3
67%
CANBERRA
4
50%
MANLY
3
67%
BULLDOGS
2
50%
MELBOURNE
3
67%
MANLY
2
50%
NORTH QLD
3
67%
MELBOURNE
2
50%
GOLD COAST
2
50%
ROOSTERS
2
50%
NEWCASTLE
2
50%
NZ
3
33%
NZ
2
50%
PARRAMATTA
3
33%
SOUTHS
2
50%
SOUTHS
3
33%
BRISBANE
3
33%
WESTS TIGERS
3
33%
ROOSTERS
3
33%
NEWCASTLE
3
0%
SHARKS
3
33%
NORTH QLD
2
0%
ST GEORGE
3
33%
PENRITH
2
0%
CANBERRA
1
0%
SHARKS
2
0%
RECORD AGAINST TOP 8 & BOTTOM 8
GAMES V TOP 8 SIDES
%
GAMES V BOTTOM 8 SIDES
%
WESTS TIGERS
3
100%
ST GEORGE
4
75%
PARRAMATTA
2
100%
CANBERRA
3
67%
BRISBANE
4
75%
GOLD COAST
3
67%
BULLDOGS
3
67%
NORTH QLD
3
67%
MANLY
3
67%
BULLDOGS
2
50%
MELBOURNE
3
67%
MANLY
2
50%
PENRITH
3
67%
MELBOURNE
2
50%
SOUTHS
3
67%
PENRITH
2
50%
NZ
2
50%
NEWCASTLE
3
33%
ROOSTERS
5
40%
NZ
3
33%
CANBERRA
2
0%
PARRAMATTA
3
33%
GOLD COAST
2
0%
SHARKS
4
25%
NEWCASTLE
2
0%
SOUTHS
2
0%
NORTH QLD
2
0%
WESTS TIGERS
2
0%
SHARKS
1
0%
BRISBANE
1
0%
ST GEORGE
1
0%
ROOSTERS
0
0%
* Round 1 taken from Top/Bottom 8 from 2013 ladder.
So it’s come to this, all the sports in the world at full flight and weekends reclaimed by lounges everywhere.
Main interest is the US Masters which unfortunately falls one week shy of the Easter break meaning work will get in the way of the final round. Them’s the breaks I guess for living the high life.
Could be worse, you could be an Indian cricketer whose car or house was burnt down after losing T20 final. Now there’s some critical fans.
Plenty of other stuff going on too, and who better to highlight it than the Gurgler. Well, there’s probably many better, but since you’ve already stooped this low you may as well let us tell you.
To improve your experience, please imagine John Deeks providing the voiceover for our article.
The STABILO BOSS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK – brought to you by Silvio’s not Dominos Pizza.
– Matt Jones’ monster putt to make it 4 Aussie winners on the tour this year and book a ticket to Augusta.
– Daniel Ricciardo being “faster than Vettel” and finishing 4th from 13th on grid. Webber who?
– Bahrain GP in general was a vast improvement on previous editions.
– Sri Lanka beating India in T20 and we tipped it correct for a change.
– Russell Ingall’s quality spray at the stewards of V8 Supercars
– Stephanie Rice retiring from swimming. Now just needs to retire from TV. And Twitter. And Facebook.
– Oxford beating Cambridge by 11 lengths in Boat Race.
THE “ABOVE THE TOP SHELF” PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
Australian Womens T20 Winning Side.
A standing ovation to the Southern Stars who not only did something Australian men couldn’t do and win the T20 World Cup, but at the same time give English Cricket one last kick with the saltiest of shoe.
Some of the very best.
GRAB THE PLUNGER – brought to you by SUPERMARKET SWEEP
Mundine Fights – the result is not yet known, nor does it matter. When he decides to take on someone serious and win, and stop whingeing about how no one likes him, then we may start caring.
Close behind is F1 Pastor Maldonaldo. At least the Lotus is too far back for him to run into the important front runners this year.
INTERMISSION – This Week’s Golf Flavoured Features
THE MIGUEL ANGEL JIMINEZ SHOW aka THEUS MASTERS
– US MASTERS – if you can only stand to watch one golf tournament of the year, and let’s face it that’s most people, then the US Masters is probably the one. Or the British Open. Or any Skins tournament. Most of the mainstream focus will quite rightly be on the Australian charge to win the tournament for a second year, and with good cause for hope. Previous winner Adam Scott looks good, and we have 4 PGA Tour winners in the field, and with the drought finally broken what price a run of victories for the Aussies.
But we at The Gurgler aren’t interested in main stream, which is why we hope The Mechanic aka Miguel Angel Jiminez is in the top 10 all weekend. Due to the heavily biased TV coverage which usually shows only Tiger Woods, Phil Michelson and some of the top 10, the only way we’ll get to see the infamous cigar smoking sporting giant is with some quality golf from the man. No matter the odds, it won’t stop the token bet.
Here’s the rest of our tips for the Augusta tee off – brought to you by every person who shouts “you the man” after every tee shot.
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMINEZ – Win $151 / Top 10 $12 /Top 25 $3.75
JASON DAY Win $13
RYAN MOORE Win $81 / Top 10 $5.50
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN Win $51 / Top 10 $4.50
ERNIE ELS – Lead 1st round $81
V. DUBUISSON – Lead 1st Round $81
UPCOMING WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS – presented by Joe Scuderi Menswear – the all rounder in fashion.
– Football in all forms
– US Masters above
– FA Cup semis – can final Arsenal beat Wigan to make the final against Hull of Sheffield Utd and win a trophy. We’ll see.
THE BEST BETS OF THE WEEKEND
Last week – AWFUL and GOOD – AFL/QRL 1/5 a piece – Winterbottom won a race at Winton at good odds not the first though – but Sri Lanka won T20 @ $3.50
AFL Multi $40
MELBOURNE +37.5 start v Carlton
BRISBANE +19.5 start to half time v Port Adelaide
WEST COAST + 22.5 start v Geelong
NORTH MELB to beat Sydney
FREO – 9.5 start v Essendon
QLD Cup Multi $16
REDCLIFFE to beat Souths Logan
NORTH. PRIDE to beat Easts
CENTRAL to beat Norths
MACKAY to beat Burleigh
