AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL

GAY OLD TIME FOR KOBE WE can only hope Kobe Bryant de- The good ol’ days clines this one graciously, rather than with the choice words that saw him become the centre of an NBA storm over the past few days. Amer- ica’s gay and lesbian basketball com- Modern petition, the Lambda League, has extended an invitation to the LA Lakers player veteran to attend its game lacks next game in Los Angeles after Bryant yelled an anti-gay slur at a referee. Bryant apologised in the passion of wake of his outburst and sub- sequent $US100,000 fine, but the Lambda League wants more, offer- yesteryear ing the 13-time All Star a free ticket.

I RECEIVED a blunt reminder last MESSI EYES 50 GOALS week that times quickly move for- LIONEL Messi (pictured) is looking to ward in sport. add to his already impressive list of K The words back in my day blurt- achievements for Barcelona by mak- Y ed out during a conversation with a

ing a run at a Spanish record 50 M friend about the condemnation of goals in a single season. The footballers with extrovert personal- 23-year-old Argentina international C ities these days. There, I just did it again — these days. Despite a momentary pause while I said goodbye to my apparent youth, I felt it necessary to carry on COLOR: the conversation due to the over-

riding angst towards the absurd re- 71 sponse to some rather colourful ac- tions from AFL players recently. Andrew Krakouer’s ‘‘no deal’’ (oops, I meant ‘‘jailhouse’’) salute PAGE: he made after kicking his second goal against Carlton under lights at the MCG last week was followed by reports of an uproar at its inappro- priate place on the AFL’s biggest stage. Fans wanted the signal to be banned. Others wanted Krakouer to scored his 48th goal in his 46th apologise for offending assault vic- game in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at tims’ support groups. Shakhtar Donetsk to help Barcelona 17-APR-2011 They got neither. secure a place in the semi-finals of But the same cannot be said for the Champions League. The goal poor old Jack Riewoldt. was a record for Barcelona, and

The Richmond goal-kicking Messi has at least 10 matches — 11 if DATE: superstar was forced to apologise Barcelona reaches the Champions for giving the finger to the Haw- League final — to become the first thorn bench and showing bad body Spanish league player to reach the language towards his teammates. half century mark. The whole saga drew compari- sons to the legendary Richmond for- KING JAMES’S MUM FINED

ward Matthew Richardson, who A MIAMI parking lot attendant is NT NEWS was no stranger to an expressive seeking more than $US15,000 in rant. But through all of it, he was financial damages from NBA super- worshiped by the Tiger faithful. star LeBron James’s mother, ac- PUB: His antics kept them coming back cusing her of assault and verbal during their darkest days at the bot- abuse in a lawsuit filed in Florida. tom of the AFL ladder, despite all The civil lawsuit stems from an in- the criticism about him. cident at a Miami Beach hotel in Before my time, names like Mark which valet driver Rock Feller Sorel ‘‘Jacko’’ Jackson, Robbie ‘‘Mad says he suffered emotional distress, Dog’’ Muir, Dermott ‘‘The Kid’’ humiliation and mental anguish. Brereton and Carl ‘‘Big Carl’’ Dit- HAVE YOUR SAY Collingwood coach ern Bulldogs banned Jason Aker- terich are just a few who, regardless hit the nail on the head recently. manis’s handstand. HE SAID IT of all hostilities, drew people Which player in VFL or AFL history There is nothing about Riewoldt’s Suddenly grabbing a cup of tea through the gates. you feel went completely over the game, nor the odd OTT (over and watching a DVD of the good ol’ on Jack Sure, there are limits. top when it came to theatrics? the top) goal celebrations that days isn’t such a bad idea. Riewoldt’s one-fingered The times of ‘‘Mad Dog’s’’ efforts should change. I would have no doubt the passion salute to the Hawthorn JOIN OUR FORUM bench last week of getting suspended at will are www.ntnews.com.au If there are never any moments in Jack Riewoldt has showed in the long gone. sport that makes us feel surprised, past couple of weeks would draw a But let’s get real. angry, elated and have us reach for few extra supporters, and even op- I see worse things on There were so many reporters at the AFL is a heartbeat away from the rewind button on the remote, position fans, to ponder. Video Hits when the kids Riewoldt’s press conference you slapping a PG rating on any kind of then what do we have? Maybe I should watch their would have thought he’d broken behaviour ranging from celebrat- I fear a game with as much drama matches more often. are watching, to be the record. ions to confrontations. as synchronised swimming. Call me old fashioned, but isn’t honest It’s becoming so ridiculous that As much as it pains me to say, For goodness sake, even the West- that the name of the game?

OVER ON PAR FOUR ON THE BOUNCE OFF THE BAT American Kevin Na shot a That’s how many wins in a Shane Watson’s un- 12 16 on a par four hole in the 24 row Geelong has achieved 185 beaten ODI innings Texas Open — the worst- at Skilled Stadium — two against Bangladesh OF THE ever score on a par four on OF THE short of Brisbane’s feat at OF THE BEST — it included a world BEST the US PGA Tour BEST the Gabba from 2001-03 record 15 sixes www.sundayterritorian.com.au Sunday Territorian, Sunday, April 17, 2011 — 71