My New Favourite Soccer Team

http://www.swedenunited.com/ for more

The Cogs in Motion

By Michael O'Donnell

Would defeat have been easier for Australian fans to accept if their team had conceded the winning goal in the first minute, rather than the last?

The sight of Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo pointing to the spot to give Italy a penalty in the 93rd minute will no doubt send shivers down the spines of Socceroos fans for years to come, and as the ensuing penalty was put away with incredible ease - defying the enormous pressure of the situation - by Francesco Totti, so were Australia’s World Cup dreams.

The Australian team will rue the missed opportunity that was presented to them in the 50th minute, when Marco Materazzi was given a straight red card for a late challenge on Mark Bresciano just beyond the penalty box. Although the Australian’s were unable to convert, the match momentum swung Australia’s way with the extra man.

Lucas Neill, who most would agree was Australia's best performed player during the tournament, may also rue his decision to lay a slide tackle in the 93rd minute, however unjust the ensuing penalty may have been.

In truth, the Australians throughout the World Cup, especially against heavyweights such as Brazil and Italy, showed their inexperience at this level. While some may argue that the Australians were harshly done by in terms of refereeing decisions, the difference in reality was Australia’s inability to play for the foul, as the top few teams can do so well.

This is shown by the fact the eight seeded nations in this World Cup have received 110 more fouls against them compared to their opponents.

That said, however, this enormous disparity between the eight seeded nations and the 24 unseeded is too great, and it shows some imperfection in the way the game is officiated. Too much pressure is put on too few and something needs to be done.

Result aside, Australian football has taken an enormous step in the past six months under Guus Hiddink, and it is imperative that the Football Federation of Australia keeps this ball rolling.

The A-League is a vital cog in this. Mark Viduka has stated that after his career in England is finished, he intends to come back and play in the A-League, giving back to the people who have supported him. However romantic that may sound, the A-League must not make the mistake of becoming a league for retiring international players. Sure players like Viduka and current Sydney FC player Dwight Yorke will be drawing cards for the game, but the A –League needs to do more to develope the young Australian talent.

Luke Wilkshire is a prime example of the failings of the Australian Football system, playing for Bristol City in the third tier of the English league. It is vital that the FFA make the A-League more attractive to young Australian players than the low level international competitions. Australia needs to start supplying its own brand of footballer. Imagine if this were around in the time of Christian Vieri’s youth, growing up in Sydney. Perhaps one of Italy’s greatest ever strikers, whose idol is Australian cricket legend Allan Border, would have ended up in the Green and Gold.

The World Cup in 2006 has continued to prove itself as the greatest sporting event in the world. Germany has put on a great show for the world. However, the officiating has shown that soccer, one of the world’s most loved games, is hardly perfect. Already, with 12 more games to be played, the referee’s have broken the record for the amount of cards shown, with 23 red breaking the previous record of 22 at the 1998 World Cup in France.

And the bias refereeing towards the eight seeded teams has shown that FIFA needs to sit down with its officials and reassess where it wants to head in terms of world football. With countries like the United States and Australia really just starting the drum up the support it needs in terms of youth playing the game, FIFA needs to decide whether it wants to adopt them into the fold, or hold them at arms length.

One thing that is for certain is that questions need to be asked of a tournament where only a select few teams are able to win, not due to skill, but due to convention.

For Julio...

Adriana Lima

What Caused the Commotion?

This is the article which caused angry emails to be sent to me with the hint of a threat of legal action.
With the Extraordinary General Meeting having passed, and the vote being successful, I have no qualms in posting this:



One of Victoria’s oldest cricket clubs is attempting to walk away from its religious ties in a bid to attract new members.

The board of Melbourne’s Box Hill Church of Christ Cricket Club, established in 1921 in the Box Hill Reporter District Cricket Association*, has called an Extraordinary General Meeting for June 18th to put to vote a proposed name change which will see the club turn away from the Church which has been associated with the club by name for 85 years.

The vote, if successful, will see the club change its name to Elgar Park Cricket Club, where the club plays its home games.

Club President David Moran, believes a name change would be for the good of the club, especially in terms of the club finding new players.

“Any question of the church in the clubs name having any bearing on recruitment would be eradicated,” he said.

He also believes such a name change would make the club seem more committed to the alliance it recently entered into with Box Hill North Football Club, which also plays its home games at Elgar Park, in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

However Club Secretary, Warren Earl, who has been associated with the club for 26 years believes such a name change would be to the detriment of the club, and too much history would be lost.

“The name of the club is the club’s identity,” he said. “This equates to the club’s reputation and identity in the local community. A reputation and awareness has been built up that would be lost.”

In terms of backlash from the members of the club, the board has yet to receive any complaints about the proposed change. However Moran believes there may be a few former players who disagree with the proposed change.

“There may be a few ex players who would oppose such a change, however, as current financial members are the quorum to vote, they constitutionally have no say,” he said.

Earl however, who also has a role as the Club Historian, stated should the name change go through at the meeting, he would seriously consider leaving the club.
[Editors' Note: The Club historian has corrected a factual error in the article. The club first played in the Eastern Suburban Churches Cricket Association until the season of 1929/1930 & then crossed to the Box Hill Reporter Districit Cricket Association from 1930/31]

A New Record?

After just 2 days of being open to the public, this new ODDeS and Associates site has already become the subject of legal threats after an article was published on Sunday which displeased one reader in particular.
This reader, who provided information willingly for the article, is upset over the way some of his statements were portrayed, or, in fact, upset over the comments he made in the first place.
Legal action is ridiculous, as I have all documents proving this person both provided the information to me, and also knew it was for an article, regardless of where it was being published.
We'll keep you updated.

Following a request from the President of Box Hill CofC Cricket Club, the article regarding the club's proposed name change has been removed until the EGM has occured.

For Anto...

This is Jennie Finch, of the US Softball Team.
Post any requests in the Comments section.

President Coombs?

Prominent and influencial Carlton supporter Nick Coombs has been touted as the next President of the Carlton Football Club, after current President Graham Smorgon refused to commit to the role long term.

Both Coombs and the Football Club refused to comment, but it seems Coombs is the most likely candidate for the cash strapped club, which this week told the media that it will be pleading to the AFL for financial help.

Coombs has been attracting media attention after comments earlier this week when he stated that Carlton would beat St. Kilda in their round 8 clash. A ridiculous and unsubstanciated comment.

Mr. Smorgon is expected to hold a press conference early this week.

An RMIT building is undergoing extensive radiation testing after a seventh staff member has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Two of the tumours suffered by the seven staff members, all of whom worked in the top two
levels of Building 108 of RMIT’s business school since 1996, are malignant.

The roof of the building is home to two phone towers, which has sparked fears that the tumours may have been caused by radiation emission.

Radiofrequency radiation, such as that emitted by mobile phone towers, has been associated with a range of health problems, including brain tumours and lymphomas, according to the Electro-Magnetic

Radiation Association of Australia, with studies finding that even low levels of the radiation can have adverse health effects.

The Cancer Council of Australia, however, has suggested that the most likely explanation for the high proportion of brain tumours is simply chance, claiming that there has been no definitive link between the radiation released by the phone towers, and the development of cancers or tumours.

Tests of the building in 2001, including radiofrequency monitoring, as well as air and water quality testing showed no signs of unacceptable levels of radiation emission, however RMIT Student Union Environment Officer, Oliver Whitla, believes that the extent of the testing was not adequate.
“Has research around mobile phone tower radio-wave emissions taken into account long time periods and distance exposure?” He asked.

Although unable to give an official Union stance, Whitla also questioned RMIT’s willingness to be open with the staff and students after the news was revealed to students by the media, and not the University.

He also queried the impartiality of the investigation, with RMIT gaining funding from Mobile Phone Carriers Forum, which represents the major phone companies in Australia, for having the towers on its buildings.

“Will the current investigation at RMIT be impartial and transparent from beginning to end?” he questioned.

RMIT student Patrick Stafford feels that although there is something ‘dubious’ about the towers, he does not lay the blame on RMIT.

“I don’t believe RMIT are responsible”.

Students and staff have been removed from the building while testing is being complete

For The Record...

I'll be using this new blog of mine to present to you any of my many and varied opinions on many topics, as a way of establishing my techniques for my journalism course. All prior reports from any of Melbourne High School Waterpolo B andFirst and Second XVIII Football teams, as well as Box Hill Church of Christ Cricket Club reports can be found HERE.
With the end of school in 2005, this blog should prove that I've broadened my horizons and can can see beyond the Castle on the Hill.
Enjoy.