PASS THE SUGAR
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday August 1, 2009
DOUBLE defector: Karmichael Hunt quits league for union and AFL ... Berrick Barnes commits similar treason ... Merv Hughes tells Phil Hughes: "Do more stretching exercises" ... When in Rome, wear a fine Italian suit €“ in the pool ... Greg Norman leads after third round, loses ... The only man relieved to see K-Hunt leave? Ray Warren.RevelationsWe saved this space for the Sven-Goran Eriksson last week but the only person capable of topping Eriksson in football's weird stakes is Diego Maradona. After a torrid time in charge of Argentina, Maradona could be set for a change of luck €“ a posting to Portsmouth under their cashed-up new owner, Sulaiman Al Fahim. Maradona's lawyer, Angel Oscar Moyano, admits he "does not know if Maradona is a good coach" but is steadfast that "he should be president of a club and have the right to buy and choose players". And the basis for this? "Al Fahim wants to build a strong team for which he offers his mediation for signing top-level players. With the support of Diego Maradona, they will be ready to come to Portsmouth." Wonder if Diego knows why they get called the Skates, then? Look it up. Actually, better not ...PremonitionsThe ink had barely dried on Karmichael Hunt's contract with the new Gold Coast franchise when AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou dropped this rather interesting piece of information. "I guess after AFL he'll probably take on something else because he's just got such a desire to succeed in many codes." So not only is Hunt already plotting his leave pass from the Gold Coast in 2013 €“ at which point he'll have conquered league, union and AFL €“ but apparently he spent a few lunchtimes at Churchie (Brisbane's Anglican Church Grammar School) juggling a round ball at his feet. Football Federation Australia has already been notified, and the word is that a Socceroos jersey will be his for the taking at the 2014 World Cup.Brother, can you spare a sledge?Just because it's true doesn't mean you can say it €“ even if you're Matthew Hayden and your swashbuckling style made you one of cricket's greatest ever opening batsmen. Britain's Daily Mail reports Hayden touched a raw nerve with Geoff Boycott, claiming the Yorkshireman's dour batting "emptied cricket grounds". The comment was allegedly made during the rain delay on day one of the third Ashes Test where the two were sharing commentary duties for BBC. "I don't need comments like that at my stage," Boycott said later. "I felt it was totally inappropriate." The pair quickly made up.Professional's tip for the weekendHow do you win the British Open at the age of 59? Tom Watson can't tell you that. But he can tell you how he figured out the missing link in everyone's swing one afternoon at some posh country club in South Carolina in 1992. Strike "Tom Watson's Secret to the Golf Swing" into YouTube to get the lowdown on how to save your swipe (just ignore any references he might make to putting under pressure).Get me my cab moneyZucc has picked speedy type Zen Chi Rose (box one). She has won her past two runs at Richmond, and despite making her debut in town, is drawn to suit and gets her chance in the final event at Wentworth Park tonight.It's not porn but you'll like itNever has there been a better interviewer than Michael Parkinson (unless, of course, Martin Bashir's or Louis Theroux's ways turn you on) and Muhammad Ali €“ whom Parky describes as "the most remarkable man I ever met" €“ makes for a fascinating subject over four memorable interviews. Punch "Ali-Parkinson's Greatest Entertainers" into YouTube to see them go head-to-head.Get off the couchIf your office block is lucky enough to have an eagle-eye view over Darling Harbour €“ or you just like driving across the Western Distributor €“ you'd have noticed the glut of flashy white fibreglass occupying Cockle Bay Wharf during the past week. Of course, how they cram so many boats in to such a small area without damage mystifies Sugar annually, but that's what the Sydney International Boat Show is all about. Tickets start from $10.If you're not watching sport, you should be listening to ...Stands for Decibels by the dB's. A critically acclaimed, but commercially unsuccessful, 1981 album. An album that influenced numerous bands, including REM (in fact dB's Peter Holsapple became an unofficial member of the Athens quartet during the late '80s and early '90s). Fantastic guitar jangle including a lay-down misere classic, Black and White €“ pop genius. €“ Ears McEvoyUseless triviaThe median average house in Sydney cost $18,700 in 1970. That figure rose to $68,800 a decade later and nearly trebled to $194,000 in 1990. By the 2000 Olympics, you could pick up the average property for $287,000. It's virtually double that now.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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