Field Theory: Sport and Politics
27 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 2 Newer→ Last
-
Helen Clark is a pretty reasonable cross-country skier.
British Prime Minister Edward Heath captained his yacht Morning Cloud to win the Admiral's Cup in 1971. I think this might make him the only recent world leader to win a top class sporting event while in office. (The Admiral's Cup was pretty much the premier world sailing event at the time).
A range of politicians are competent at golf, but that isn't a sport.
-
I remember a veeeery long time ago a joke in Mad Magazine that went something like:
Ronald Reagan can't have played College Basketball like he claimed because basketball wasn't invented until 1891.
-
A range of politicians are competent at golf, but that isn't a sport.
The Guardian blog lists a number of presidents who played golf and also a few who cheat (Clinton and Nixon).
Nixon was also a bowler.
-
So you’re not counting John Morrison as a top-line politician then?
-
Is fishing a sport?
Jimmy Carter liked to combine it with rabbit hunting.
-
Paul, that's hilarious! (as is the xkcd comic about it)
And let us not forget Don Brash at the speedway (which is a hell of a thing to find a picture of!)
-
Love xkcd, have wasted a lot of time there.
What is it about Americans electing dufuses?
-
Hadyn, I realise you're speaking tongue-in-cheek regarding politicians' sporting abilities, but in all seriousness if a politician can convince some people to take up sport, even to a limited extent, that's a good thing.
Govts around the world are spending a lot of money in their health systems combatting obesity and related issues, so if it can improve someone's health, then good on them.
Sorry for sounding so earnest... -
Speaking of rugby jerseys, I think it was Racing Club de France in Paris who had the powder-blue jerseys with the fold-over collar and the little bow-tie at the throat - now they were classy with a capital C
-
Classy Boris Yeltsin started a tennis revolution in Russia - here's why.
There was a clip of Boris playing Tennis drunk off 60 minutes or the like, couldn't find it though.
-
Hadyn, I realise you're speaking tongue-in-cheek regarding politicians' sporting abilities, but in all seriousness if a politician can convince some people to take up sport, even to a limited extent, that's a good thing.
No apology necessary Grant, you're right. Politicians encouraging healthy activities is a good thing.
I remember seeing Trevor Mallard batting about on a penny-farthing some years back for some sports thing or other. Hell of a sight as he was not entirely in control.
-
Speaking of rugby jerseys, I think it was Racing Club de France in Paris who had the powder-blue jerseys with the fold-over collar and the little bow-tie at the throat - now they were classy with a capital C
It absolutely was Racing, and the bow tie is now the symbol of Eden Park Clothing (a brand that thoroughly confused me when I first visited France).
I suppose, any post about Stade Francais needs to have a follow up on Racing Metro 92.
-
I was very close to writing a separate post about this (and I still might on the Dropkicks where I'm allowed more four-letter words): the South African rugby team is going to replace the Springbok logo with a Protea.
To use the langue de l'Internet : WTF!
-
the South African rugby team is going to replace the Springbok logo with a Protea.
To use the langue de l'Internet : WTF!
The main WTF here is that it took so long.
The Springbok is a symbol with some pretty offensive connotations to 80% or so of the population.
-
They could call their team The Lions. After all:
1. Everyone else does.
2. They actually have some in South Africa. -
I'm with LB, I'm amazed it's taken this long - it's been in the air for ages, and the cricketers did it years ago.
-
PR,
Pretty sure the cricketers did it upon readmission.
But then cricket, in South Africa as everywhere, has always been a little more enlightened.
-
the South African rugby team is going to replace the Springbok logo with a Protea.
I was totally against it, then...
The Springbok is a symbol with some pretty offensive connotations to 80% or so of the population.
Then I was for it, then...
actually there was no quote
...I was against it again.
They should retake the symbol and make it something different. Like the Nazis did with the swastika...but the other way around.
-
Trevor Mallard batting about on a penny-farthing
Leaving aside the surrealism of that image for the moment: I've always wanted to try riding one of those. They're such an incomprehensibly Victorian mode of transport. Like, do you need a leg-up? Or is there a mounting stand for a penny-farthing? Do you have to sort of leap upon one as it's going along? Is it unicycle-esque, or does the balance thing work a lot like your ordinary two-wheeled bicycle?
Wikipedia tells me that the big wheel actually serves a purpose - increased speed and distance. That's a complete lightbulb moment. I thought it was just wackily decorative. (I'm not very mechanically minded, obviously.)
-
Like, do you need a leg-up? Or is there a mounting stand for a penny-farthing?
from memory you have to get a running start. They aren't the most agile of vehicles though. Trevor looked terrified when he got near where we were sitting and had to do a u-turn. It's quite a long way to fall.
the big wheel actually serves a purpose - increased speed and distance.
Remember the during Olympics how the cycling commentator who would always be saying "Now he's riding a X inch wheel which means that for every turn of the pedals...blah blah blah" :)
-
At the fake-newspaper Framley Examiner site (http://www.framleyexaminer.com/) there's a "Girl's Mountain Penny-Farthing" for sale in the classifieds, along with a "Crack Pipe with Colourful Logo - World's Greatest Mum"'.
If you really fancy a penny-farthing there's a guy in Chch. who'll build you one. I believe the wheel size depends on the length of your legs. -
The mighty Magpies have done the mooloos! Made hard work of it in the end, but 28-0 at half time was a happy time.
Sorry Haydn, you'll have to remind me, am I C'mon the Bay, or Go the Bay?
(Condolences on BoP BTW)
-
Sorry Haydn, you'll have to remind me, am I C'mon the Bay, or Go the Bay?
(Condolences on BoP BTW)
You can be either now :)
Southland just made "the list"
-
Remember the during Olympics how the cycling commentator who would always be saying "Now he's riding a X inch wheel which means that for every turn of the pedals...blah blah blah" :)
Yeah. But now they use these new-fangled things called gears. Young folk these days.
-
I remember seeing Trevor Mallard zooming around the Beehive on a penny farthing too. And many times since in a recurring dream...
Post your response…
This topic is closed.