Sporting shorts - No. 8

Feels like yesterday when I last wrote a sport post. That's probably because it was.. Anyway, so back to the on field action.

AFL 

• So the Swans won. Mostly off the back of a sensational last quarter. Kennedy, Sinclair, and Jones were huge. Hard to believe, but Geelong have lost three of their last 21 games in Geelong  - all to Sydney.  
• Not a fan of the Goal Review - feel like it made another blue, gifting Sydney a goal. 
• West Coast continue to impress, though there real test will be winning in Melbourne and particularly at the MCG. 

NRL

• Really surprised by the Cowboys this year. Had them in my top four. Feel its hard to expect Thurston to just go straight back to his best, but the other players haven't really stood up. 
• Melbourne's performance against the Warriors showed why they are probably the team to beat. 
• Thanks to the Eels - the Warriors stay in the top four. 

Super Rugby

• The Hurricanes had a good win over the Sunwolves in Wellington.  
• Special mention to the Jaguares and Reds who had upset wins over the Blues and Lions respectively. It means the Reds possibly could sneak into the playoffs if the Rebels and Waratahs drop a few more games. 

Other

• I watched a little bit of the A-League Semi Finals - the Victory deserved their 3-2 win against Sydney. Was lovely to see Terry Antonis score the winner after he was responsible for an own goal in the 95 minute which leveled the game. I will be cheering for Newcastle next weekend, hosting the Grand Final for the first time.
• Brings me to my next point, I love that the A-League have decided that the highest ranked winner in the Grand Final hosts the Final. It means regional teams can get to host the most important match of the season. The two approaches to a Grand Final that I like the most, are an NFL like model were cities host it in turn, determined at the beginning of the season. Which means the game will move around the country. Alternatively I like the model of the highest ranked winner hosting the game (at their home ground). 
• For the A-League, if a suitable stadium is built that doesn't host Union, AFL or League, maybe they could get permanent rights to the game. Though I don't see that happening.  
• Anyone know when, and why, Australia moved to a Finals Series as opposed to the first placed team winning the competition? 

Sporting shorts - No. 7

A little late this week, mostly owing to family holidays, but it has also been an odd week. The AFL Round lasted almost a week with games, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday (ANZAC Day), and the League started their eight round on ANZAC Day.

AFL

• Off the field, I'm glad the AFL went with a daytime final, but its a matter of time before that changes. I'm also keen on the idea of seeing different games on ANZAC Day, or even seeing a second game in the evening. 
• I prefer the NRL approach of starting the round with the ANZAC Day game. I know its hard given ANZAC Day fell on a Wednesday this year. 
• Onto the on field action.  I don't mind a draw. Every game doesn't need a result. But again if you decide that every game needs a result, then there should be points awarded on the full time score, and a point for the final winner. 
• Didn't see the Swan's game, but what I read it sounded like we let Adelaide get away, and almost chased them down. 
• Impressed with North Melbourne this year. They and West Coast are the surprised packets so far. 

NRL

• Have to admit, I've lost track of where things sit. I know the Warriors had a good win against St George, then got smashed on Wednesday by a red hot Melbourne.  Melbourne led by a solid 38 at half time. 
• The Tigers are still impressing me, and the Panthers are living up to their potential.  It's not the eight I predicted at the moment, but I really don't mind. 

Super Rugby

• Not much has changed since last week. The Waratahs were held scoreless for the first time in Super Rugby (by the Lions). 

'When all the darkness is swarming' - Two years down the road

Sometimes the air is so anxious
All my thoughts are so reckless
And all of my innocence has died

Sometimes I wake at four in the morning
When all the darkness is swarming
And it covers me in fear

Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes
Sometimes I'm full of anger and grieving
So far away from believing
That any song will reappear

The Little Things that Give you Away - U2 (Songs of Experience, 2017)

I recently rediscovered a writing prompt about 'darkness' that I'd copied from somewhere. It asked about darkness; those that have chosen you or the ones that you chose. So I'm writing about the dark place that I did not chose. This time two years ago I was in ICU after having a cancerous tumour removed from my bowel. During the surgery, which was more intensive and longer than they had imagined I was given a stoma (which was a surprise and something I needed to adjust to).

After a initial round of chemo, new tumours were discovered in my lungs. Almost 18 months has past since that initial consultation, and I have been on fortnightly chemotherapy since then. The chemo often knocks me about, but I've been learning (or trying to learn) a new way of doing life, dealing with a chronic illness.

In these years there certainly has been darkness, where I grieve for the future, grieve what I have lost, and grieve that I am not always the person I want to be.

I'm learning to be kinder to myself. I'm trying to be kinder to my wife and kids. I know I have not always been a great husband and dad - part of that is the drugs, but part of it is also understanding where I am and communicating it to those around me.

The hardest thing is wanting to do all the things, but not having the energy to do them. Or doing all the things, because you don't want to miss out, and then feeling shattered. Sometimes you pull through, sometimes you pull out, and sometimes you just pull it together.

Not always knowing what you are going to feel like is hard. Feeling like you are letting someone down is hard.

And yes I need to be kind to myself.

I don't like the talk of Cancer as a battle or fight, that I'll win or lose.  Sure I'd love to be around for longer than I'm likely to, but that doesn't mean I've lost. In making memories, and sharing in your story I've won. Each and every day I have is a victory, and I know the death is not the end. I want you to remember more of me than the cancer. I want you remember the times we've had, the experiences we've shared.

So, I began by thinking about darkness. The frightening thing is knowing the capacity you have to hurt those around you by your words and deeds, so it's hard when because I can't manage things I snap at my wife and kids. Yes, when you see me, I look like I have it all together, my posts to varying degrees portray that I have it all together. I don't. While I'm okay most days; I'm certainly struggling on others.

So, I know I'm a stage four cancer patient, and I know one day my body will fail. In the meantime, I take comfort from the fact that I know more people than I know pray for me, I take comfort from the fact the Christ walked in darkness, and knows what it means to truly suffer. I take comfort from each of you, fighting your own battles in silence or in public. I take comfort from all the little things, and all the big things. I know God has numbered my days and set the boundary of my life. I want to honour him in all the big and little things (whatever He gives me the opportunity to do).

Sporting Shorts #6,2018

NRL

• St George are the real deal. If the keep all there players fit they are a good chance to be there Grand Final Day. 
• Disappointing performance from the Warriors this weekend. Hoping they are switched on for their next assignment  against the undefeated Dragons.  They certainly need to be more switched on than this weekend. 
• The Tigers had another good win against Manly.  I have to admit, I'm not really a fan of  booing my own team as the Manly fans did this weekend. I get its frustrating paying to go to the game, paying for food, and it seems the players haven't turned up. I am just not sure you'll make the players feel any worse about their performance.  
• I have to admit I find it strange we are preparing for a test between New Zealand and England in Denver in June. It's an odd location and odd timing.

AFL

• I think things are starting to take shape for this season - aside from West Coast, who are probably the surprise packet this season the top four are more or less who you expected to see there - Giants, Richmond and Hawthorn.  The eight is rounded out by the Swans, Port Adelaide, North Melbourne and Geelong. 
• The top six are all now 3-1 with Port Adelaide's loss to Essendon.
• North Melbourne and Geelong are the two I'd say most likely to drop out. Not going to through a prediction there about who will replace them. 

Rugby

• The Hurricanes had a really important win against the Chief's and still sit on top of the NZ conference.  The Rebels still qualify for the playoffs now - we'll see how this takes shape over the next few weeks. 

Other

• I've been super impressed by the Commonwealth Games, or the little I've watched.  Another highlight was the inclusion of the para-athletes events in the main program
• Apparently six countries won their first ever medal at these games British Virgin Islands, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Dominica, Vanuatu, and  St Lucia 
• The other highlight for me was Malawi, who finished seventh in the Netball Competition, but beat New Zealand along the way.  The standard of the competition was stronger than in previous years, and was won by England in an upset too. 
• I still think this article nails it - sport is about sooo much more than just winning. Though winning is important, its certainly not the only thing

Sporting shorts #5, 2018

AFL

• Hard to believe, but this year is the first time in ten years only one team (Port Adelaide) has started 3-0. 
• The Swans had a good win against the Giants. Always important to win the Derby. Franklin has had a best start to a season for a while with 15 goals in the first three weeks. 
• Been impressed with Melbourne this year, but they've got a real test in Hawthorn this week. 

NRL

• Okay, okay, maybe I've jumped the boat on the Warriors - who are now 4-0 and second to St George. The other real impressive team are the Wests Tigers - who beat Melbourne for the second time in a month to sit fourth, behind the Dragons, Warriors and Panthers. With the Tigers, I think its really a group effort and everyone appears to be playing well.  
• Apparently, this is the first time since 2010 that none of Broncos, Storm or Cowboys are in the top eight. It won't last, but it is worth noting.  (Thanks Stu). 

Rugby

• The Conferences seem a little more even this year - the Rebels and Waratahs on 20 and 19 points respectively, the Lions still lead the South African conference, and top the table on 25 points, the Crusaders and Hurricanes are 24 and 23 respectively. 

Commonwealth Games

• I'll say it again, but the moment of the games at the moment for me is Malawi's first ever win over New Zealand in Netball. It is great for the sport.

What I'm in to - March 2018

So, Easter has come and gone, and its now April and time to reflect back on March.

Reading
I've actually done a little bit more reading this month. I've finished Tracey Spicer's book The Good Girl Stripped Bare, and started Clementine Ford's book Fight Like a Girl. Both are challenging reads in the sense that they open my eyes a bit more to what its like to be a woman in today's world, and for that reason, I'd encourage you to read them both. 

TV
Really haven't watched much TV this month.  I'm waiting for The Voice to start again. I was disappointed with last season and hoping this year will be an improvement. I finally got tired of My Kitchen Rules, finally became tired of the manufactured villains, especially seeing as they are almost always creating conflict between two women, and seem to ask people to play roles. The other detraction is I never get to eat the food they cook.  I'll still watch Masterchef when it starts, because at least it is just about cooking food. Yes, I know I still can't eat the food they cook.

Music
I've listened to a lot of new music over March - Andrew Peterson's Resurrection Letters, December's Sisters and Brothers, Isobel Knight's The Nest, Katie Herzig's Moment of Bliss.

The Resurrection Letters - Prologue is a wonderful and moving reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus.

December's Sisters and Brothers is filled with beautifully written songs, and it also includes a cover of U2's 'The First Time'. I really love 'The Battle for Your Sacred Heart' and '1963'.

Speaking of beautifully written songs - One Day by Christa Wells has really been nourishing my heart. The lyrics speak to the season I'm walking in almost perfectly.

It’s hard to sing when you’re crying
Hard to leave when you’re tied down
It’s hard to sleep when you’re fighting
For your life like you are right now
There’s only so much more you can stomach
Though it’s more than you thought
And you only keep moving
By the grace of God

You’re doing one day
One breath
One prayer
One thing at a time
One word
One step
One hope
In a coming light
Don’t try to swallow the ocean
Keep doing one day
Til one day you’re free

You could escape in a daydream
But you’d wind up right back here
Up to your waist in the maybes
No use hiding on the back stairs
Hear the peculiar voice in the forest
Calling open the doors
It’ll take a few battles 
To win this war

Oh, I see you laughing on the other side
Where the walls have tumbled and the flowers grow wild
Oh, I see you laughing on the other side
With your broken heart under open sky

==

The song is available through i-tunes, and the EP it's on will be released later this month.  Having already listened to the EP - I can tell you to rush out and buy it.  Christa's songs are beautifully moving.

Sporting shorts, No 4, 2018

NRL

• Seems the place to start is the crackdown on the 10 metres and the number of penalties over the weekend. I have no problem with it, perhaps it will teach players to stay within the rules.  Here's a great piece on it here. 
• It seems St George may be the real deal this year - yes I know its only April, but the way there playing at the moment, and barring any major injuries, its hard to see them not in the important games at the end of the year
• I'm impressed with the Tigers too, glad to see them start the season well. 
• The next month sees the Warriors play a few tough games - Brisbane, North Queensland, Melbourne and St George - win a few of those, and maybe I'll start to believe. 
• Glad to see the Titans get one over the Broncos, but sad to see the Raiders and Eels winless. 

AFL

• Disappointment of the week is the news that the AFL wants to keep tinkering with the Women's game. I hope they're involved in the process. Will be sad to see them play a modified game. 
• Back to the Men's game - Hawthorn and Geelong played another cracker, this time the Hawks winning by a point. 
• It won't make up for the Grand Final last year - but I enjoyed seeing the Crows beat the Tigers. 
• The Swans played a good half of footy, but lost to a better team.  Have a lot of time for Port Adelaide. 
• Hoping the Suns continue their run of good form, and string a few more wins together. 

Rugby

• Glad to see David Pocock back on the field. He's a real star of the game, and hope he can have an injury free season. 
• Ben Lam looks like a real star of the future, scoring four times in the Hurricanes' win over the Rebels. 

Other

• The Baseball season started over the weekend.  Here's hoping the BlueJays have a better season this year..
• On to the Cricket - really impressive performances from Paine and Cummins in this test match. Given South Africa may not have a fit bowler, Australia are a chance to draw this test. 
• The England - New Zealand test is finely poised, NZ need a touch over 300 on the final day so they're not likely to win.  Depending on the weather, I think an England win is a touch more likely than a draw but we'll see. 
• Apparently the Commonwealth Games start this week...  its hard to get excited about it. I just miss the non-commonwealth nations too much.