Sport

The Fitz Files

Illustration: John Shakespeare

My locker room confession

I call bullshit. I refer to Donald Trump's defence, after his unwitting confession to committing sexual assault aired. You know the confession I mean.

Sport, a wondrous lover, cruel mistress

Muhammad Ali . Illustration: John Shakespeare

Yes, yes, yes ... we all know that sport can be a wondrous lover, keeping you warm on cold nights, thrilling you to the very cockles of your soul, and romancing you on lazy summer days.

McKinnon has every right to sue

Kurt Gidley helps Alex McKinnon onto the field

The news broke Monday morning. The former Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon, who has been left in a wheelchair for life because of an illegal tackle on him in 2014 – in a match against the Storm – has reportedly launched legal proceedings against the NRL and the player, Jordan McLean, who was tackler.

Here's to more sporting fairytales in 2017

Not a good look: Nick Kyrgios agreed to a "plan of care" after his bizarre performance in Shanghai.

This was the year of thunder and wonder, the year of the fairytale for all those teams more associated with chunder and blunder. Which leaves us hoping for what in 2017?

Rah rah! Union has league on the run

Israel Folau and his Australia teammates will be seeking revenge against England on Sunday morning.

Told yers! I refer to the comments by the famous rugby league coach Chris Anderson this week: "Our biggest danger is rugby union ... It's a big world sport. It's taken over Europe. Rugby league has died in Europe. All good players now go to union; in England, in France. So it's a big game. It's growing in America. That's our danger. If we don't get our house in order, our danger is we'll be playing rugby union in 10 years."

Could the Poo be the answer for Kyrgios?

Mark Philippoussis did not squander his ability but nor did he maximise what he had.

TFF has long maintained that in terms of wasted tennis talent, the only one who approaches Kyrgios was Mark Philippoussis who had the complete game, but, after bursting onto the tour in the mid-1990s, never quite got there, because his work ethic never matched his colossal talent.

What are the world's leader thinking? Just ask Sharkie

Pretty pleased with himself: Greg Norman has been having regular chats with President-elect Donald Trump.

No. And again I say NO. Wild tickles couldn't make Greg Norman tell of just how instrumental he was in putting Malcolm Turnbull in touch with Donald Trump after the latter's election victory – and it is not even fair to ask my client that question.

Why the Wallabies aren't on TV

Retiring: Ken Sutcliffe, here with Graham Kennedy in 1988, is ready to start playing a bit of sport rather than watching it.

"The TV business," Hunter S Thompson once famously wrote, "is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs ..."