(sportsweek)
THE SUNDAY AGE
Saturday May 4, 1996
Thumbs up.
Mark Philippoussis.
Scud's vapor trail in the past year or so has looked more like a corkscrew than the soaring white line Australian tennis fans had desired. Decisions to miss Wimbledon last year and to make himself unavailable for Davis Cup selection in February exposed signs of a navigational system gone askew. Now, with coach Nick Bollettieri out of the picture, Philippoussis's sights have been adjusted, and he now says he will be available for Davis Cup and Olympic selection. And to think he's even sacrificing money-winning opportunities in Kitzbuhl, Amsterdam, Los Angeles to represent his country. What a guy.
Thumbs up.
Melbourne Puma.
Far be it from us to get all parochial about such things but the fact is that, until last year, once-proud Victoria had been in the netball doghouse. National representation was minimal, national league trophies shared between Sydney and Adelaide, and national championship glory an ever-dimming memory. But, last year, the unheralded young Melbourne Pumas upset all the predictions by reaching the national league grand final. Then, the Puma-dominated Vics stunned New South Wales by ending its eight-year national title-winning run.
And, last weekend the cake was iced by a stunning 20-goal win in the Mobil League. The team is young and talented. Long may it reign.
Thumbs down.
THE CLOCK.
As the Essendon-Sydney match built to a dramatic climax, the crowd had the sweet uncertainty of not knowing when the siren would ring. Not so television viewers. They knew the game would end in a draw 15 seconds before it did. ``They'll throw it up and the siren will go," said commentator Robbo. Not exactly a dramatic end to what had been, until then, a wonderful finale. We've said it before. We'll say it again. Seven should get rid of the countdown clock and put the excitement back into the closing moments.
Thumbs down.
Magic Johnson.
Basketball's popularity rests partly on its clean image, which was besmirched by Magic Johnson spitting the dummy after his LA Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs, prompting him to say he wanted to play with a team that wins, not one that loses. This followed his equally petulant act of menacing an umpire, which resulted in a suspension. Mothers don't want their boys behaving like that.
© 1996 THE SUNDAY AGE
