Twenty-odd years ago in this space, I wrote: "Sports stadiums are the cathedrals of our time." My basic idea was that whereas cities around the world would measure their glory by the grandeur of their cathedrals, the real steeple people now are those who build sporting cathedrals. I was wrong.
What continues to stun me is the continued flagrant abuse of the concussion protocols in 2017.
Ange Postecoglou coached the Socceroos all the way to the World Cup, only to resign right when his side can at last see the summit! Sorry, what?
Bravo you Socceroos, and go you Wallabies! Yea, though for too long, both teams have walked through the shadows of the Valley of Death, yet did they fear no evil, for as Australians, they knew the Goodies would triumph in the end.
A good day for Australia, with the "yes" vote on marriage equality coming within four percentage points of doubling the "no" vote?
Dusting off the old rah-rah speeches and trying to apply them to the Socceroos is a tad presumptuous. But I can't resist.
Just this once, as the current sports editor isn't looking, can I return to the old days?
Good luck to the Socceroos for their coming two matches – home and away – against the Hondurans, as they try to hang on to their World Cup qualification like cats to a curtain.
Sometimes you meet people who make such an impression, it stays with you ever afterwards. Tony Madigan was one such man.
"Listen to me," I said. "The Wallabies could bloody well win this," I said.
Listen. If you cock your head to the wind, close your eyes and strain your ears, you can just hear it.
I refer of course to his starring role in the Allan Border Testimonial Match, played at the Gabba in December 1993.
It is simply the end of era – and one that lasted much longer than Fatty ever thought it would have.
Why, once again, does Australia have to rely on Tim Cahill, a bloke nudging 40 – he'll be 38 in December – to get the job done?
If all sport in 2017 was boiled down to a general political philosophy, would it, by nature, be progressive or conservative?
Anything that makes other teams turning up the World Cup genuinely competitive, has to be good for the "World Cup"!
What will we remember of 2017 when it comes to rugby league? I thought you'd never ask ...
Rugby league. It lives and breathes in country NSW!
There are many things I love about sport but the range of characters it produces, embraces, and celebrates is right up there.
If a boxer had been knocked cold like Corey Oates was, what chance he would be allowed in the ring just a week later?
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