Podcast Episode 44

We are never backwards in saying we are Proudly Queensland

The Tinman & Shabs are back with the last episode for 2013. There is no mucking around as we get straight into the Ashes & we are pretty sure our segment lasted longer than the tail does for England. There is plenty to talk about & the channel 9 commentary team cops a blast.

Normally a longer spiel would be written highlighting what we talk about but you will have to tune in to see what we have to say. All that can be said is the Big Bash follows and rather than a mid cast song we continue straight on. We also like to talk about the mighty Liverpool FC & of course the dominant Brisbane Roar feature too.

We promote the sun safety message, so here is an example of what happens when you don't Slip,Slop, Slap.

We look back at 2013 before some well deserved awards are given for the Marto, Bryce & SSO Fail. In other words we didn't miss poor commentary, umpiring & general attempts at sport.

The Shabs has started up a new saying but just what does "Pussy on the Chain Wax" mean?  The Tinman was happy to join in but really stuffed it up at one point.

And our final song for 2013 is a message to all the English batsmen when they are given out by the umpire.

Podcast Episode 43

We always have fun doing a podcast but we don;t think we have ever enjoyed it this much.

We went into this episode as unsure of what was to come. But unlike the English cricketers we came out the other end with a positive result. Tired of having more episodes appear in the lost files category we have changed our recording style and we found it not only easier to record but we are also more mobile now. A big thanks to the guys at FFDU for the advice in the technology front and to Keno for allowing the Tinman to have the funds to buy the Ipad.

All that aside we had plenty to talk about in the world of cricket and just how good is it that the English have not only surrendered the Ashes but been humiliated in the process & have their own wanting to tear them a new one. The Big Bash also kicked off last night & you will pick up that we had that on in the background. We still have a problem with how they worked out the first round & it ended up being a rather ho hum game for the neutral.

Still on a high from the urn returning we take a moment to refresh as we listened to "What a Wonderful World" not the usual version though, we went for a slightly different version.

On the return the Tinman could not wait to talk about Liverpool FC and we can only imagine how much longer the segment would have gone if he had known Suarez was about to re-sign with the club. The Roar are top of the table & going well but unfortunately played poorly and went down last night, but if they are going to have a few poor games it is always better this time of year than later on in the season.

The ASADA scandal never goes away & we look at how it is panning out. One thing you can guarantee is that the Shabs & Tinman never quite agree about the issue but we are adamant that the issue needs to not only be resolved but the facts need to be laid out for everyone to see to make a fair judgement.

The awards are always a fun time and we changed things around starting with the fail this week before looking at the Bryce & Marto awards. This segment is always a good way to wrap things up.

The Team at Sporting Sport Opinions would like to wish all our readers & listeners a wonderful time over the holiday season and thank everyone for their support. We would also like to remind people that this is a time for family so don't do anything stupid to ensure that you are there for them in 2014.

Podcast Episode 42

Great to see Shabs having a great time afterwards with the Birthday girl. (Would you believe he sang ABBA?)

The Ashes are all but won by the Aussies & the English press are baying for blood. The Tinman & Shabadoo are back with another installment after failing to locate last weeks recording. We settled in at the Coral Cove Bar for what turned out to be a great night. You will notice we changed the intro music for this recording as we allowed the birthday girl (Caitlyn) on karaoke to bring us in. Let us know if you like a mix up of intros or keep it the same every week.

While competing with the Karaoke we had a couple of drop visitors drop in for a story about a dangerous palm tree on the golf course before we looked at the Ashes series so far. How good is Mitch Johnson going? Even though Australia have been very dominant there are still frailties in the top order & a couple of batsmen should be very worried about their place in the team. The biggest mistake Australia can make is to keep picking the same squad while they are winning & allowing out of form players to remain in the team.

It isn't just the Ashes that is going on & we never miss a chance to look at how Queensland is going. With the Big bash starting soon expect plenty more cricket talk.

The A-League is going great and it is even better if you are a Brisbane Roar supporter. Berisha is on fire & it must be really hurting the southerners that Brisbane are doing so well. Shabs doesn't miss a chance to switch the talk to Liverpool FC & all the talk is about how Suarez is the form striker in the World. Just not sure if the Tinman needed to quite describe it how he did. We like the enthusiasm though.

The mid cast song which allows us to top up the beer supply is something a little different with the Christmas season in full swing now. With Walking Dead being such a popular show we couldn't go past MXPX's Christmas Night of Zombies.

Tinman's wife won't let him do karaoke but you can't keep a Big Dogg down as he gave Ferris moral support.

After the break the topic is still football as we look at the World Cup. We felt like we covered this last week but the recording is still missing. If found please let us know & send it bank, thanks.

Rugby is next on the agenda as the Shabs is definitely a rugby fanatic & with a break until next year he deserved to give them the credit they deserved.

ASADA. Or as we like to say Assholada. It seems to just keep going and going with lots of talk & little actual action. The Tinman lets loose on a rant with the AFL & Essendon showing what little regard they have for actually being tough on those who are caught. If you are an AFL fan this is the last time you will ever hear us talk about the game. Essendon in their actions have sent a message to kids that it is ok to do drugs & cheat.

The awards always wrap it up & the Bryce went to very worthy recipients. The Shabs stuck by his vilification of a rugby referee & the Tinman couldn't go past the Ashes umpires & in particular the crooked umpire from NZ.

The Marto followed in the same vane but it looks like the Wide World of Sports commentary team are going to be a regular this summer.

The SSO Fail was a mixed bag with the WWOS doing a segment that still has people cringing & from left field there is a deaf interpreter that is a worthy recipient.

The closing song is another Christmas ditty by The A.K.A.'s - Christmas in Hollies.

Podcast Ep 41 - The 1st Birthday Edition

The Tinman & Shabbs were joined by a Big Dogg fan before the podcast.

We were excited to reach the 1st birthday of the podcast and now expect many more to come. Who thought when we first started that we would not only last this long but be enjoying it more and more every week. We kicked off at the Coral Cove Bar where the podcast was first recorded & is our regular home.

There is never a dull moment in sport & even when we are struggling to watch much, we still find plenty to talk about. Once we got the formalities out of the road it was time to delve into the latest in sport.

The Ashes are finally under way, all the talk now means little & it is what happens on the field that counts. After day 1 we were ready to rip shreds from the Aussies but after day 2 we have cut a little slack. Are all the players deserving of their spots though?

Our mid song is a great little birthday song we stumbled across by some bloke called Hendrix. 

The Rugby League World Cup only has a few more games to go. The semis are reviewed and we are expecting the Kangaroos to kick on easily and hoping the Kiwis & Poms beat each other up and leave no petrol in the tank for the final.

The Wallabies are playing well but the officials are still copping the same flack they deserve. The IRB has a serious problem that it fails to address & it is not good for the game.

The A-League season is well under way & just after we recorded we settled in to watch the top of the table battle between the West Sydney Wanderers (pretty sure another name was used though) & the Brisbane Roar. With the Roar defeating the Wanderers rather convincingly it is going to be a good episode next week as we look back on the game. We also took time to look at the Socceroos & EPL in this segment as well. As you know we cannot keep the Tinman from talking about Liverpool FC if he gets the chance.

The Awards always wrap it up & there probably are no surprises this week. We sign off our birthday edition with a great goodbye song. Hope you enjoy this episode & we always look forward to feedback & input for future recordings. Don't forget that if you are ever in the Bundaberg area & would like to join in on the podcast, drop us a line & let us know.

Podcast Episode 40

We are getting closer to the first birthday of the Podcast & we go back down memory lane this week. The Shabs is back from Ningi & it won't be long until he looks like Grizzly Adams at this rate.

We get straight into the Rugby League 2013 World Cup and look at the second weeks worth of games. Which team will Australia go for in the Quarters against the impressive USA team which have been the highlight of the tournament so far. It also seems that the officials still maintain a poor standard this year.

It is a slightly longer episode this week as we look back on the memorable night when we had special guests Peter Bosustow, Mark "Jacko" Jackson & Warrick Capper. Even if you are not an AFL fan these segments are worth listening too. Apologies for the audio during the Jacko segment but we are pretty sure the weather played a part. (It was bucketing down as it was only a couple of days before the big floods).

The Rugby spring tour is on & Australia still can't take a trick. Whilst they did get very dubious decisions, they still should not have lost this game.

Cricket is well and truly under way this season & the first Test match is not far away. Expect plenty of cricket in future episodes.

The finals for Beach 365 were held last weekend & the Bundy Big Doggs played well but unfortunately fell short of the Grand Final. We would like to thank Big Dogg Australia for all their support.

The awards wrap it up and then we sign off with Warwick Capper.

 

Podcast Episode 39

Let's hope Shabbs took this advice.

The Tinman & Shabadoo are back in action and decided to head back to the location of where we started, Coral Cove Bar & Restaurant. This month we celebrate 1 year of recording the podcast and we kicked off the months celebrations in fine style during the happy hour.

There has been plenty of sport to cover & the first item was the Rugby League World Cup. With the Shabbs being stuck in Ningi for the last week he has been able to watch very little of the tournament but did catch the England vs Australia game.

The Wallabies are heading on their European spring tour and the signs are promising after the last game vs NZ but there is still a lot of work to be done. We look at a few changes that need to happen.

The Tinman was more than happy to talk about Liverpool FC and certainly couldn't wait to give the news about the Queensland Liverpool Supports Club.  You can be sure next week will have coverage of the game vs Arsenal.

Queensland have yet again won another title after the Bulls added the Ryobi One Day Cup to the trophy cabinet. With the Aussies unable to defend any size total will there be some changes to the side by the first test? Either way there is going to be a lot of cricket coverage over the next few months.

Also this summer we will be talking a lot of A-League & this week was no exception.

The Bundy Big Doggs are playing in the finals this weekend at Beach 365 & we will bring you details of how they go next week.

The awards always wrap it up & it seems that the Rugby League World Cup has brought a few nominations.

The midpoint & closing song are ones from the archives & are Australian rock classics.

After finishing recording the Tinman & Shabbs couldn't wait to show off their raffle wins. For the records the tickets were rubbed on the Tinman for good luck. Aways works.

Podcast Episode 38

The Tinman & Shabdoo bring you another episode from the mancave that is the Tinman's poolroom. There is a change in sporting seasons under way and lots going on.

We start with an NRL wrap up and give the Grand Final about as much attention as it deserved. SBW is always in the headlines but he is no favourite on this show. The Rugby League World Cup is close so there will still be a bit of league coverage in the next few weeks.

The Rugby season is coming to a close but are the Wallabies on the right track for the future?

Cricket Season is well under way but is the Ryobi Cup working? Should Sydney be hosting all the games with no spectators turning out?  Queensland got off to a flyer & the womens side, Qld Fire are also blitzing their opposition.  We promise a lengthy coverage of cricket over the summer.

The midsong break is dedicated to Sonny (Money) Bill Williams. A little ACDC is always good.

After the break we cover the glorious round ball game but it was not that great for the Socceroos who were belted 6-0 again, this time by France. With Holger finally being sacked we take a closer look at the situation.  The A-League is also under way and with ADP starring in the first game it is going to be a cracker of a season to cover.

The awards always wrap things up but we finish with a special mention to Flynn, who had his first foray into Milo In2Cricket. We are always proud supporters of grassroots sport & his story was an example of why we love it.

The closing song was a suggestion by FFDU and we were happy to give a message to all the Socceroos supporters out there.

Podcast Episode 37

It's Rugby League Grand Final Weekend and the Tinman & Shabadoo changed things up and recorded a Sunday morning episode. With a night final we stayed off the drink and bring to you a sober episode.

Before getting into the NRL we give a quick plug to one of our great supporters, Beach 365, where a recovery session is held on the first Sunday every month. Check out their site for more details - Beach 365.

It is the Grand Final that has the team which Channel 9 & the NRL invested all their money into, in hopes they would win. Manly were just there to make up the numbers and our prediction may have been for a Manly win but we hold by our statements that the coverage and officials will be very much bias towards the Roosters. Just how many other predictions did we get right.

The mid podcast song is a little gem from the Ramones that really sums up our thoughts on who wins the Grand Final.

The Wallabies had a win and with the recording taking place not long after the game finished our thoughts will be rather fresh and reliable. We hope so anyway.  Question is, will Marto ever give a fair commentary to the country he is actually from. We are tired of his constant bagging of Australia & only ever showing support once it is known they will win. He is one commentator that really needs to look at himself and decide if he is really up for the job.

The cricket season is warming up, the Champions League is almost over, The Ryobi Cup has started and Australia is about to take on India in a 7 game series.Australia have a good chance to get the number 1 ranking and may just have the squad to do it.

The Awards wrap up the session and we leave you with another dedication to so many people like Greg (Marto) Martin. A little ditty by Ugly Kid Joe.

Podcast Episode 36

A cracking Grand Final day for the Qld Cup and we recorded our 36th episode. With the Tinman suited up in his Easts Tigers gear & Shabadoo not quite sure where his loyalties lay, we recorded another great episode while watching Easts win 2 grand finals and come up short in the big one.

The NRL could do a favour to itself & listen to this episode as we give it a few home truths about why people are turning away from the game both at the venues and on TV. Seems the NRL Commission has done more damage rather than improve the game. Maybe it really needs to start talking to people outside of Sydney rather than live in a delusional self infatuated system.

The mid podcast song was a no brainer with the Tinman insisting on Eye of the Tiger by Survivor.

After the break we get straight into the rugby which sees a Wallabies team still struggling an referees still thinking that if you are from South Africa or NZ your acts are not worth the penalties of any other side.

Cricket is back on the radar although the Heat struggled to perform in the Champions League. Expect plenty more cricket coverage as the summer gets closer & the Ryobi cups gains momentum.

The awards always wrap it up & the NRL gets plenty on coverage yet again.

The final song is one that was heard this week and is a great version of Rage Against The Machine's - Killing In The Name of by Carl Wockner.

Pubcast Episode 35

It has been a 2 week hiatus but the Shabadoo & Tinman are back to talk about the week in sport.

The Tinman is fresh back from the Australian Indoor Beach Volleyball Championships and was ready to fire after a few controversial games in the NRL. We are thankful we didn't record last week as a few expletives may have been covered up. This still didn't stop us from saying it how it is and giving Karma the man-of-the-match effort when the Sharks were bundled out for 2013. The NRL has a lot of problems to address & this podcast is one that they should listen too. Beside the NRL we also cover the Intrust Super Cup which will see Tinman's beloved Easts Tigers take on either Mackay or Northern Pride in the Final.

Australia Cricket finally has seen success and waht a delight it was. But to take a Test of Perth, the venue that should host the first test every summer has ruffled a few feathers.

Rugby is still in the sights and with Australia doping so poorly on the field still & James O'Connor still being a tool, it is going to be a long recovery for a team that has a failing administration.

We might be the only podcast that has any talk of the Australian Indoor Beach Volleyball Championships & we give lots of credit to Shane & Cyndi from Beach 365 in Bundaberg for all the work they did.

The awards wrap it up as always.

The mid podcast song & finishing podcast songs are both called "Suck It Up" and are both dedicated to the Cronulla Sharks & Paul Gallen.

NRL or Still the NSWRL

This season has highlighted a problem in the game of NRL that can have a long lasting negative effect if it is allowed to continue. The problem is not drugs though. Even though clubs, players and fans will say the media this has attracted has cost the game sponsors and turnstile dollars, it is a problem that is being addressed and the game can easily recover from.

Over the course of the season is is very apparent the NRL has an agenda for the season and many more to come. Watch any game this season and ask fans from the losing side if they feel the referee controlled the game in a fair & even light. Whilst many sides play poorly and deserve to be at the bottom of the ladder, there are also many games where it is too obvious that one side is being favoured by the referee. The NRL is going back to the historic days and thinks it is the NSWRL.

Too many games are playing out like they have been scripted for the referee and when things do not go to plan you then see some of the strangest and softest penalties or a video referee decision that has everyone wondering if he was actually watching the game. And most games this would be acceptable if it was the same for both sides but unfortunately it is not. Consistency has been lacking all season.

It is not just consistency on the field that has been lacking in the NRL, but also in the match review & judiciary system of the game too. The consistency both on the field and off the field can either be put down incompetence or intentional. With such a strong push in the marketing & media to have a grand final featuring  Rabbitohs vs Roosters or Inglis vs SBW, it appears it is intentional.

What the NRL needs to be aware of though is that such blatant bias towards certain Sydney & NSW clubs can have a detrimental affect to the game. The game may have recently signed a very lucrative TV rights deal but that will come to nothing if sponsors learn that people are no longer watching games on TV or going to the stadiums.

Who wants to pay $100+ to take their family to watch a game, spend another $50-100 on food not to mention travel costs for those in regional areas, to watch a game that you can be certain will be decided by poor decisions by officials. Stadiums sell out when fans know their team has a chance to win. Stadiums will start running empty as fans stopped wasting money watching games that are pre-determined.

The NRL may be getting what they want this year with a all Sydney final but it will come at a greater cost. Admittedly the Broncos, Cowboys & Titans have not had great seasons, but there are many games this year where the referee was beyond questionable and changed the course of the game. It is like the NRL is happy to have the Queensland clubs in the game for the cash cows that they are but as long as they don't feature at the pointy end of the season. What the NRL needs to be aware of though is the cash cow will run dry as sponsors and marketing companies realise that the market outreach is turning away from the game.

Pubcast Episode 34

Shabadoo & the Tinman

The Tinman & Shabadoo we back in the mancave to record another podcast in what is being coined as a poolroomcast. The surrounding sporting memorabilia provided great inspiration as another tumultuous sporting week unravelled requiring our unique take.

The NRL was centre of the headlines and dominated the conversation from the start. Is Earl Sandor the tip of the iceberg and how many players out there are having sleepless nights. We also look at how the NRL is taking the use of drugs seriously, compared to the the lacklustre, slap them on the wrist, approach the AFL takes. Yet another league player is in the headlines for a selfie that would even make Kevin Rudd blush.

Rugby gets the Shabs fired up after the Wallabies were never given a chance by a referee so far in the back pocket of the All blacks side that they needed to extract him out of Richie Mccaw backside. Given poor officiating though the Wallabies were terrible and will never win a game until they learn that holding onto the ball and finding some passion for the game is required at the top level.

The half time break was provided by Wednesday 13 - Bad Things, a little song to fire up the F.U.N.Z. chant in everyone. For reference to the chant, check out this article,  The F.U.N.Z. Chant

Back from the break we get straight into the cricket and with the Ashes over and liquid urinated over the test pitch, it is no time to look at the Twenty/20 games & one dayers coming up. The Brisbane Heat are the champions in Australia but there was a void of players from the team in the Australian squad. So it was a little bit of a surprise that Australia won. Shane Warne may have gotten another serve in this sec? tion.

Before getting into the awards we give the weekly update on the Big Dogg team at Beach 365. Beside talking about how great Thursday nights are at Beach 365 we find time to talk up how well the team went this week. Maybe we need to get the members names on their singlets, Tinman, Shabadoo, F1 Adonis, Cheech, Sasquatch? Might need to find some more sponsorship dollars first though.

To close things out we finish with a Guns 'n' Roses classis - Mr Brownstone.

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Pubcast Episode 33

The Shabdoo was rather proud of his new cammo hat. It ain't too shabby.

After a slight delay we got the recording under way in the Tinman's man cave. The mighty pool room. The Shabadoo was on hand to cover the weeks events in sport and help deliver a few serves.

The NRL is getting toward the crunchy end of the season and after Fridays game it is starting to be apparent the the NRL has an agenda to ensure the final eight is made up of certain teams and preferably no Broncos. Regardless of how poorly the Broncos played in parts, some of the decisions by officials can not be seen as mistakes but purely as reason to think the organisation is either corrupt or has a hidden agenda. Rant aside though we do cover a bit more in the game.

Rugby is not great to watch if you are a Wallaby supporter but even if they were playing well, it is doubted the the officials would let them get close anyway. The All-Blacks are a great side but maybe the easy run they get from the tools with whistles has a large part to play in that.

Heading into the cricket we pause for a break and dedicate a song to Stuart Broad - Awolnation "Guilty, Filthy, Soul."

In the cricket, the Ashes has become a boring spectacle thanks to the negative slow approach England take to the game. Seems that they have forgotten that 2 runs an over and deliberately slowing play to a standstill is not great to watch. The Tinman lays in to Shane Warne &  Michael Clarke and both seem to think they are greater than the team.

The Tinman gives a wrap up of how the Big Dogg team went at Beach 365 during the week and seems to be a little peeved at some poor sportsmanship that surfaces in the game.

The awards wrap it up and one of the Big Dogg team members gets a fail nomination which was how we finished up with the closing song, The Doors "I'm Horny, I'm Stoned"

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Pubcast Ep: 32

Back again at The Cove, which will become a regular spot again. So if you are ever in Bundaberg, you are sure to catch The Tinman & the Shabadoo at Coral Cove Bar & Bistro on a Friday evening.

This week we are straight into NRL but not quite the same way that Sam Burgess was into Will Chambers. Obviously Sam gets a bit of a mention as it seems that the Burgess boys like a bit of controversy. We do find time to talk other topics in the NRL too.

ASADA is still in the headlines and even after 6 months of accusations, media hype and not much else we are still waiting to find out what ASADA actually have.

The cricket has been a debacle and the Australian batsmen a shambles. We unleash on the team and highlight what Queenslanders need to do to get into an Australian side that is chosen by selectors that have forgotten that Queensland is still part of Australia.

We pause for a mid-pubcast song that we dedicated to the likes of Burgess, Monolithic by Monster Magnet

Returning from the break it is all Rugby and with the Wallabies going into the Bledisloe with an Australian coach again the optimism is there. The Kiwis copped a few jokes but all comments were in jest and should be taken with a grain of salt.

The awards always wrap it up and Greg Martin is tipped to get the Marto again this week but you will have to listen to find out who gets the Bryce award for poor officiating and the SSO Fail award.

The closing song is a little different this week but I am sure it will put a smile on your face.

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Pubcast Ep: 31

The Tinman & the Shabadoo are back after a slight break and are joined by Filthy Phil for the latest installment. Recorded at the friendly surrounds of the Coral Cove bar & Bistro where the Tinman always shows his knack to win a raffle.

There is a lot going on in sport and the first topic is the one that just goes on and on and seems to be going nowhere. Will ASADA ever lay charges or tell the public what is going on?

The NRL is getting to the pointy end of the season and the Queensland teams are still in with a chance to sneak into the eight.

The farce that is DRS dominates the Ashes talk that should be focusing more on the inept effort by Australia's batsmen. 

The mid break song is staying and this weeks song is one that is fitting for what we think of a few English players.

Phil gives us the update on what is happening in the world of rugby and will the Wallabies be a show of force now with a decent coach & squad?

The Tinman let's loose on the Suarez debate at LFC and it seems he has little time for the player at the moment.

The awards always wrap it up and unfortunately the Big Dogg Beach Volleyball team received one due to a fairly poor outing during the week.

A song always finishes things up and although the lyrical content does not quite match the name of the song seems to be the directive the ICC is taking with DRS - Anything Goes.

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My LFC Experience: Day 4 "The Hangover"

I tried to sleep in but still rose at the normal time. It wasn't due to a hangover though, it is because I need more than a week to reset the body clock. Unlike the movie I can vividly remember every great moment of the night before and will talk about it for years to come.

Today was a day to explore Melbourne a bit and due to poor information from people withing the public transport system in Melbourne we got to explore a little more than we expected. Why is it that people in Melbourne are so grumpy? After a few days in a climate where the sun tries to battle through the clouds bit decides it would rather stay out of the cold and it starts to become clearer. I would be grumpy too if it was cold & miserable looking every day.

If you don't think that weather can make you grumpy then take a trip to Melbourne Zoo like we did today. Many animals just couldn't be bothered to come out of their warm little hiding spots or if they had no where to hide looked more miserable than me with a really bad hangover. It must be said though that we had a great time at the zoo and all credit must be given to the people who work there.

From there we went to a different zoo and one that can cost a lot of money. The Crown Casino. We were not here to lay down the preparation for a hangover but I did certainly sample a few beers. After some good wins early on the pokies it was time to indulge and treat my beautiful wife to a meal at a fine restaurant. We had reservations for Rockpool Bar & Grill, a Neil Perry restaurant, and it did not disappoint. From the moment we were taken to our table the service was first class. The food was devine but we made the mistake of ordering a starter, thinking the main would be a minimalist meal like you see served in so many top class restaurant. 

After the starter we knew we were in trouble as it was quite filling in it's own. When the mains turned up we were staring at dishes that had half a chicken and half a duck on them as well as a bowl of the best potatoes I have ever eaten. I would happily duplicate them but I would need to get hold of waigyu fat. The torturous part was watching my wife want to eat but not be able to and then even worse say no to dessert. 

After dinner were were so stuffed that we couldn't even think of walking back to the hotel so it was time to hit the tables. Seems the Tinman's luck shone through and even after spending over $200 on dinner we still came pretty much with what we started. Looks like tomorrow will not start with a hangover either.

My LFC Experience: Day 3 "You'll Never Walk Alone"

We set the alarm for 8am to ensure that we did not miss breakfast but there was no need. Even though the game was not for 12 hours we were up and ready before 8.

Before we set off for the game though we had some time to spend exploring parts of Melbourne. But where could we go that would be as memorable as watching Liverpool play? We went to Ramsay St. That's right. I watch neighbours. With my lovely wife we went on the neighbours tour and saw the sets & street that feature in the iconic show. You may laugh but if we did not go I may had been walking home to Bundaberg alone.

After the tour, and before a nice lunch we took in the hollywood costumes exhibition. Unfortunately they did not allow photos but it was a great experience to be able to see some of the costumes from many iconic movies. After a bit of nerve wracking jewellery shop visists it was time to kit up and head out to the MCG.

As a Queenslander I can only say one thing about the walk to the MCG and the wait outside the Don Bradman Entrance at gate 5. It was bloody cold. Is the weather ever sunny and pleasant in Melbourne? Maybe this is why I see so many cars getting angry with other people. I would be angry too if I never felt the warmth of the sun. But that is enough complaining about the cold.

We entered the stadium and found our seats before the pre-game function started. As you can tell by the photo we had pretty good seats. Before the game started the pre-game function allowed us the privilege of listening to and meeting a few well known name in footballing circles.

Craig Foster & Myself

Darren Burgess & Myself

Enough of the pre-amble though as like myself the only thing I am sure you are interested in is the game itself. From the moment it was announced the team was entering the field the crowd awoke and then the moment I had been waiting for occurred and it was greater than I had ever imagined. To stand up and sing with 95000 others "You'll Never Walk Alone" is one of the greatest moments in sport I have been part of or witnessed. I have been at Origins games and partaken in Queenslander chants but even the atmosphere of an Origin falls short on this moment. Never have I seen a crowd of such a size where so many are proudly & passionately supporting the same team. To those in the media who question why a game that is only a pre-season game can get such a turnourt obviously do not understand what passion is.

In the 31st minute the crowd got what they wanted. Crowd favourite Stevie Gerrard slotted in the first goal and the eruption from the crowd showed how popular Gerrard is with the faithful. With the score staying at 1-0 at half-time everyone was expecting Suarez to come on in the 2nd half. With this not happening, continuous chants for Suarez to be brought on were ignored until about the 70th minute mark. Suarez may have sparked up the crowd with the odd touch and setting up the final goal but most of the time he just didn't look like he wanted to be there. If he keeps playing with the same attitude I can see him walking on to another club sooner rather than later.

At the end of the night walking back to the hotel hand in hand with my wife in the large procession of 95000 people out of the stadium is was a slow but reflective moment. There may have been many police both on foot and mounted but the need was not there. This was a group all with the same passion and pride in Liverpool FC and a sign that as a Liverpool supporter you will never walk alone.

My LFC Experience : Day 2 "Are We There Yet?"

The first sighting of the Tinman in Melbourne

After waking up in the morning full of excitement, knowing that later that day I would be in Melbourne, it soon wore out. Yes I am still excited about seeing Liverpool play tomorrow but the journey to Melbourne was a frustrating journey.

Restless all morning we ended up being at the airport more than an hour early. But this is where the frustration with flying down began. Our travel agent had informed us we could take our bags onboard as we were allowed 2 each. What he failed to mention is that we had to keep our bags under 7 kilos. Not an easy task when you are packing clothes for a cold climate that a person from Bundaberg is just not used to. $80 dollars later and our bags were now being checked in.

We were about 5 minutes late heading out of Bundaberg but things were still on track. We knew we had 50 minutes between connecting flights so no panic had set in with this slight delay. When we noticed the plane was doing a u-turn at the Sunshine coast though, we knew something wasn't right. At this point the pilot indicated that Brisbane Airport was holding the flight up as it was not quite ready. A small delay but we would still have time to get out connecting flight to Melbourne.

When the plane did another u-turn again at the same point at the Sunshine coast we knew things we not going to schedule. At this point we were advised that we would be put onto a later flight to Melbourne as we would not be there in time for the scheduled flight. Seems all the negative things I have been hearing about Brisbane Airport and flight delays are spot on the mark. I was getting close to saying, "Are we there yet?"

We eventually got on the flight to Melbourne which was scattered with quite a few Liverpool supporters who were flying out of Brisbane. Economy is a seat I never want to fly in again as they are seats clearly designed for people who are no taller than 5'4 tall. Surely it is inhumane to make tall people sit in seats with such cramped leg room?  Although I must admit that the airline did get some credit when they did not charge for the beer. Maybe things were starting to look up for the day.

We eventually arrived into Melbourne, a little tired and a lot hungry. First thing though was to get checked into the hotel before finding a nice little restaurant to have an intimate dinner with my wife.  Walking the streets around the hotel looking for a suitable restaurant was a journey that really highlighted how many people are in Melbourne for the big game. There were people everywhere with shirts & scarves proudly displaying their passion towards Liverpool.

We eventually found a nice little restaurant and going by the number of people inside with Liverpool shirts on, it couldn't be too bad. Indeed it was a nice little intimate restaurant. We are now resting up ready for a big day tomorrow. I promise that on the way to the MCG I will not say, "are we there yet?"

My LFC Experience : Day 1 "Just Look for the Guy in the Liverpool FC Shirt"

Liverpool Football Club are in Australia for the first time to play an exhibition match against the Melbourne Victory at the MCG and I am restless and excited in Bundaberg wishing I booked flights for today rather than tomorrow. I have waited a long time to be able to see Liverpool play and now I know that I am, the moment can not come quick enough.

On the 10th May 1986 I stayed up late to watch my first FA Cup Final live on TV. Little did I know at the time the impact this moment would have on my life. I was 12 but I can still remember the night and the excitement of the game. Up until this point all I had seen was a 1 hour highlights package every weekend. I knew enough before the kick off that I was going to support Liverpool, plus they had an Aussie in the side.

Fast forward 27 years & am I still supporting Liverpool and always will. As soon as I heard that they were coming to Australia I knew I had to go. After all I may never get the chance again. I booked the best tickets I could afford, organised the parents to look after the kids (they live in another city), booked the accommodation and ensured the most important thing was done. Get my wife excited to go to the game. That wasn't hard, once we decided to stay in Melbourne for 4 nights without kids and have our longest holiday without kids in 14 years of marriage.

Since I bought the tickets I have been mentioning the game to everyone and those who tune into the pubcast will now how much I have been looking forward to the day. Almost every picture taking during a recording will show that I am wearing the red of Liverpool. When we promote the pubcast at one of the 2 venues it is recorded it will always be advertised as "Just look for the guy in the Liverpool FC shirt."

So today we will pack ready to fly into Melbourne tomorrow. Jamming in all the clothes required for a colder climate will be tricky. In fact we had to go out and buy clothes for the trip as it doesn't get cold enough in Bundaberg to warrant such clothing. After all it is always beautiful in Queensland and perfect the next. Except when the town is in record flooding.

The clothes are packed, the LFC shirts are packed, the LFC scarves & beanies are packed and most importantly the tickets are packed. Tomorrow will be a restless day once once we are in the air it will be the start of a trip of a lifetime. I will be keeping a diary every day of the trip and the experiences from a viewpoint that I expect no other person to bring.

As far as I know I am the only sports writer/blogger that has facial agnosia and if there are others out there I doubt they are also Liverpool supporters. I am also the only writer/blogger going to the game from Bundaberg. I will be at one of the Cocktail Fuction in the Lindsay Hassett Room which will give me the opportunity to meet many people but if any of them are well known I will not be able to recognise them. I will be relying solely on either someone else introducing me or my wife pointing them out. Considering she does not watch sport I am not very reliant on that front. So if I relay any stories of people I meet, players past & present , celebrities and interesting people it will rely on a lot of luck.

As you can imagine having facial agnosia also makes large gatherings makes me very anxious. If anyone wants to try and catch up with me during the trip the one thing I ask is do not say "Just look for the person wearing the Liverpool FC shirt".

Pubcast Episode 30

The 30th episode featured the Tinman, Shabadoo, F1 Adonis and virgin pubcaster Phil. It was great to have Phil on board and as a former rugby player of reputable background his insight was well worth it. Hopefully we will be hearing more of Phil in future episodes.

We start with coverage of gallant loss by the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championship Netball final.

From there it is in to a lengthy coverage of the Origin and the domin8ing effort by Queensland.

The Ashes is on the radar but are the Aussies really worth talking about?

After a break we come back and let Phil loose as we talk about the rugby & in particular the Reds.

The world game is covered as the Tinman talks about the upcoming LFC game at the MCG.

The awards wrap it up as usual and it is no surprise that we finish of with You'll Never Walk Alone.

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The Aussie Sandflies

We started the season to have fun. We ended up making the finals due to a forfeit. The Aussie Sandflies tried their best but came up short of making the Grand Final. 

We arrived at Beach 365 knowing we needed to win 2 of 3 round robin games to make the final. After losing the first game it was always going to be though. We fought back hard in the 2nd to walk off the court with a win. Going into the 3rd game though it was against the odds as we squared off against the top side. Once the Tinman went down with an injury in the first half it was always going to be a tough ask and the Tinman himself will tell that this was the reason that a win was not achieved. It may be quite the opposite but history is written by those with blogs and this will remain as the founding truth to the story. 

Here is a great short film put together by the Shabadoo on the night to showcase the talent on the team. Talent might be a stretch but it is a sign of how we try and have fun when we play.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/I-D1K2nuT2o" width="480"></iframe>

Thanks for a great season everyone

We start again next season but will be know as FTW. This may change if we can get a certain sponsor on board.

Pubcast Episode 29

Another Grand Edition of the pubcast was recorded at the Grand Hotel Bundaberg with The Tinman & The Shabadoo. The F1 Adonis was present but was not quite ready to see if the Pirelli tyres would hold up.

As the preview indicates we covered State of Origin game 3, the NRL.  Just who will fill in for Paul Gallen everytime NSW need to cry to the ref? How bad did the Queensland sides play alst weekend. The Wallabies & the final Lions Test match, just who was worse? The Wallabies, James O'Connor or the French ref?. And of course the Ashes is a hot topic with at least one Aussie doing well. The same cannot be said for the umpires or DRS though. The Queensland Firebirds are in the Final on the weekend as we cover a few topics there.

The Aussie Sandflies have also made the finals at Beach 365 and hopefully next week we will be announcing a victory.

The Awards are no surprises this week with commentators in Rugby and cricket getting Marto nominations, the French ref from the Lions Test was a unanimous decision and a certain player from Manly gets the Fail.

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Pubcast Episode 28

Settling in at the Coral Cove Bar & Bistro this week saw the Tinman & Johnnyjojoshabdoo cover the issues in sport this week.

A short look at Origin 3 was on the agenda before looking at the off-field issues that are troubling the NRL. What is it with Manly & NSW players at the moment? A few refs look like they need re-training as well.

With the Wallabies getting up over the Lions with positive attacking rugby it shows that even when the referee is doing everything possible to help the tourists that the right result can still happen.

We paused for a moment (to listen to a song) before giving an update on the state of the Australian Cricket side and the positive effect hiring Darren Lehmann has had with the optimism of Australia winning the Ashes.

Our sponsored local netball representative, Calista, dropped in to say hi, which is maybe what the driver of the bus for the Australian team in the Tour de France was doing when he got the bus stuck on the finish line.

Always time for an update on how the Aussie Sandlies are going at Beach 365.

The awards always wrap it up and beside the normal, Bryce, Marto & SSO Fail nomination we have added a Harden Up Award.

And what did we have to say about this picture from an AFL game?

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Pubcast Episode 27

Episode 27 is another great episode recorded at the Grand Hotel, Bundaberg with The Tinman, Johnnyjojoshabadoo & The Cheech dropping in to discuss the week in sport.

With Queensland running rampant at Lang Park for game 2 in the State of Origin it is no surprise that we spend some time looking at certain points in the game. What was surprising though were the comments throughout the Pubcast from a person rumoured to be Paul Gallen but cannot be substantiated at this point.

With good decisions finally being made by Cricket Australia with the appointment of Darren Lehmann as the national coach there are now some positive signs for the game in Australia.

The Lions can only thank the poor kicking from Australia and a dubious decision from the TMO for winning game three but will Australia be able to bounce back in game 2 with a few key injuries.

ASADA is back on the radar and it ahs been decreed that there should be an extra S in there somewhere. Why is it that self proclaimed drug takers in NRL & AFL are not given the same treatment as those in other sports and instead are put on pedestals?

The Awards wrap it up and as usual we always finish with a great song. You will notice we chagned the format a little this show so please let us know your thoughts.

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Pubcast Episode 26

With all mic's switched on and a thorough testing of the equipment done, The Tinman & Johnnyjojoshabadoo settled in at Coral Cove Bar & Bistro to record the 26th installment of Sporting Sport Opinions Pubcast.

A slight change in format tonight sees the insertion of a song mid recording but as NRL & Origin kicked off the conversation it seemed only fitting to have a song that we dedicate to Paul Gallen. We cover the changes in the teams and a few other issues in the game.

With the Wallabies about to take on the Lions, we have a dig at the selectors who seem to think that NSW are the best team in Australia and therefor should make up the majority of the starting team.

The Socceroos are off to the World Cup and we take time to give them the credit they deserve. After that it is all negative though as we take another dig at Cricket Australia and the very ordinary performances of the Australian side.

The awards as always wrap it up and we sign of with the Australian song of the moment. A little gem from Peter Allen that we will all be sick of by the time the World Cup kicks off.

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Pubcast Episode 25

Episode 25 is brought to you by The Tinman, Johnnyjojoshabadoo & The F1 Adonis. Straight away we get into the State of Origin review and focus on the moment were Paul Gallen turned on the waterworks and complained like a nagging ex to the referee to justify his actions. What will Queensland need to change for game 2.

What is wrong with the Broncos & Cowboys? Is a coach being sacked soon or will players be the first axed.

With another biting incident in world sport the game of Rugby is focused on as well as the Reds and Quade Cooper's chances of making the Wallabies.

The F1 Adonis gives us the wrap on Formula 1 with Mercedes & Pirelli under investigation for illegal mid season testing. 

Why was the Adonis chanting MVP? We had a good night at Beach 365 during the week so that might have something to do with it. 

Johnnyjojo gives a massive shoutout to Netball & the ANZ Championship.

With the Ashes almost upon us and some interesting political decisions being made do the Aussies have any real chance of winning over the next couple of months?

The awards wrap it up as usual and it is no surprise that Ray Warren & the Wide World of Sports Commentary team at Channel 9 win the Marto nomination easily. The Bryce is a no brainer after the poor efforts by Ashley Klein & co in the Origin. And the SSO fail was down to Cricket Australia for giving Channel 9 another 5 years to annoy us with cricket commentary but Paul Gallen was a deserved nomination for his "poor me" performance.  It was only fitting that we finished the episode with a song as apt as "Why's Everybody Always Pickin' On Me - Bloodhound Gang"

Pubcast Episode 24

The full panel is back this week for the recording at the Grand Hotel Bundaberg for the State of Origin wrap before game 1. With the Tinman, Johnnyjojoshabadoo, The F1 Adonis & Cheech, most of the talk is about Queensland and we hold no apologies for the bias towards our state.

You will have to listen to hear our thoughts about game 1 and the squads. With the Queensland side visiting Bundaberg during the week you can be assured that the day is mentioned.

NRL gets some coverage with a handful of games to distract everyone until Wednesday and the Tinman explains why he is wearing a new LFC shirt and a few transfers that will occur this season.

We did start to talk about the AFL but decided to edit it out as like the game it was a FAIL.

Another great beach volleyball wrap is done on how the Aussie Sandflies are going at Beach 365.

The F1 Adonis is back to give a wrap on all things formula one and with tyre controversy over the last week it is an interesting section.

Awards always wrap it up as we give out the Bryce, Marto & SSO Fail and it appears a few pre-emptives are handed out with Origin only a few days away.

A new fundraiser is announced to help raise funds for a young netball star in Bundaberg who has made a rep team and we are going to help with covering costs of the travel. Over the next few weeks we will be raffling off a great prize at the Grand Hotel Bundaberg, a signed Baby Animals poster, a Baby Animals shirt & possibly a few more items including a signed CD.

We wrap it up with a song from the newly released Baby Animals album This Is Not The End - Got it Bad.

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Episode 23 - Sporting Sport Opinions at the Cove

This weeks episode was recorded in front of a live crowd at the Coral Cove Bar & Bistro and although the F1 Adonis was missing due to troubles with his pit crew, it did not stop Johnnyjojoshabadoo or the Tinman from bringing you this weeks edition.

It may be the middle of the footy season but cricket started off proceedings. A chance could not be missed to have a dig at the English cricketers who are going a bit slow against the Kiwis. The main talking point is the latest betting scandal to hit cricket and no surprises that it involves Indian cricketers & the IPL. 

The NRL is getting plenty of headlines of late due to poor perfomances by the officials. If this is the standard that we see every week is the Tinman right in saying that it will start affected sponsors and followers of the sport? Why do Channel 9 & Foxtel insist in only showing certain replays? Is there an agenda? We start the Origin talk this week as well.

Rugby and the Reds cannot be missed. The Reds notched up another win last week but for some reason they will still be snubbed by the selectors when the Wallabies are announced. Seems Quade Coooper is no longer rated or wanted by the higher order. Do not be surprised if he leaves the country or the game within 2 years and goes we he is wanted. 

More updates on the ongoing ASADA saga. Again the Tinman explains why you cannot spell FAIL without A, F & L. The AFL certainly has a drug problem.

In wrapping up the nominations are no surprise with commentators from 9 & Fox getting the Marto nod for last weeks coverage of the NRL and the blatant bias they show towards certain teams and themselves. The Bryce was a no-brainer with Ashley Klein giving another headless chook performance, although a game between the u21's from Liverpool and Man United saw a nomination too.  The SSO Fail ws again handed out to the Aussies Sandlflies (our beach volleyball team) & Channel 9 for their delaying of a game due to a commentator running late.

Hope you enjoy this episode and the closing song which comes from Tinman's favourite Aussie band.

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Pubcast Episode 22

This weeks edition was recorded at "The Cove" (Coral Cove Bar & Bistro) with the regular panel of The Tinman, Johnnyjojoshabadoo & The F1 Adonis.

Before talking the week in sport a few shout outs were required and the main one was for NITV's Barefoot Sports show. Do yourself a favour and check out this great program that covers the indigenous sports stars of Australia.

The NRL always takes centre stage this time of year and with Josh Dugan signing with the Dragons we start the talk there. A few tactics are talked about to counter NSW in the Origin and Madmartymackay gets some late mail in.

Rugby is always in the headlines and with the Reds running rampant are they the answer for Kurtley Beale? Also talk about the prospect of the proposed Lions vs Anzacs game in the future.

The F1 Adonis updates us on the world of Formula 1 and with racing this weekend in Spain the Adonis is getting excited about the European schedule.

The beach volley debrief is required to update Johnnyjojo on how we faired this week at Beach 365. It wasn't pretty.

Awards always wrap it up but you will need to listen to find out who got he Marto, Bryce & SSO Fail but the following clips might give you an insight for the SSO Fail.



Closing song is a bit of Diesel - Tip of My Tongue. Remember that you can put in your suggestions for closing song and or any sporting topics.

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Pubcast Episode 21

This week sees a Sunday session reefcast due to a few technical hitches for our usual Friday night recording. With such a beautiful view it will come across that Sundays are a very relaxed day for us here in Coral Cove.

We start things off with the announcement that the Bundaberg Sports Flood Appeal has wrapped up and it is now time for cheques to be handed out. A total sum of $5000 was raised for Bundaberg Hockey, Bundaberg Cricket, Bundaberg Netball, Bundaberg Rowing & North Bundaberg FC who will all be receiving a cheque for $1000.

NRL is the first sporting segment and we look at a few issues from the week, with focus on the Manly approach to spear tackles on Greg Inglis. In general the NRL judiciary was always in for a poor outlook from us. We are able to change things up and also look at a few games from Friday & Saturday. With the same few teams getting Friday & Sunday games we also take a look at how it can be done and with correspondence from Madmartymacky this is an issue that will certainly get raised throughout the season.

Rugby is in the headlines with the news that Digby Ioane is off to France to play rugby but will more follow him off to Europe for the money? The Reds drew with the Force last night and Johnnyjojoshabadoo certainly has a few thoughts as to what the result should have been. Why do the Reds keep getting ripped by the refs?

Cricket is in our sights again as the naming of the Australian side for the Champions League tournament contained no players from Queensland. Did the Tinman say he actually hopes that Australia get flogged?

The Grey Fox was unavailable this week and with reports he is trying to help with the Waterhouse vs Singleton case, we thought it was best to leave him be. We didn't miss a chance to talk about this scandal tough.

The Awards always wrap it up and there are no real surprises in this weeks Marto, Bryce & SSO Fail nominations.

Wade Graham earnt a SSO Fail Nomination for this effort

In memory of Chrissie Amphlett we finish up with the Divinyls song - Boys in Town.

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