You might recall the complete mess that was the singing of our national anthem during the Springbok’s game against France on Friday. Well you will be pleased to know that our embassy in France has responded..

Here it is – from the South African Government’s website, in the “International Relations & Cooperation” section.

Tsunami’s, Xenophobia, Hermaphrodites, Bird Flu,
Swine Flu, Global Warming…. and now THIS!

Statement of the South African Embassy, Paris, France, on the Debacle regarding the National Anthem

Paris - The South African Embassy in Paris, France, has taken note with concern of media reports over the weekend that it was the Embassy in Paris that recommended a singer to render the National Anthem at the rugby match between South Africa and France on Friday, 13 November 2009. The Embassy shares the disappointment of all South Africans on the performance of the singer in his rendition of the National Anthem. The South African Embassy, as the Government’s representative in France, will always take the necessary steps to protect and promote our country’s national symbols.

On 4 September 2009, the French Rugby Union in Paris approached the South African Embassy in Paris for names of singers residing in France who could be contacted to sing the national anthem. The South African Embassy does indeed keep a list of South Africans residing in France and regularly provides relevant information to French interlocutors as may be appropriate. In all cases, the Embassy merely provides information but is often not in a position to vouch for the bona fides, credentials or competency of any of the parties. In this case, the embassy had only one name of a South African singer in France and the Embassy provided the name of his agent in France to the French Rugby Union. This was not a recommendation from the embassy since the embassy had no previous exposure to his performances nor is he a renowned performer.

During a meeting of 8 September 2009 with officials from the Midi-Pyrenees Rugby Union in Toulouse a request was made to the Embassy to suggest a South African singer residing in France to render the National Anthem during the match. Since this was not an embassy event the embassy maintained that it was not in a position to provide, source or recommend any artists and that they discuss this matter with the South African Rugby Union. The Embassy further undertook to inform them of any South African singers who might be touring France during this period. There was unfortunately no South African artist touring France during this period.

The Embassy had no subsequent dealings with any of the parties and rejects all claims that the embassy chose or imposed the singer. This was entirely the responsibility of the hosts.

The Embassy also took note of another incident involving its national symbols at the rugby match. In this case the South African Flag was hung the wrong way. South African diplomats attending the game immediately brought this to the attention of the French authorities but unfortunately, the French authorities indicated that it was too late to correct this.

The Embassy affirms that it was not responsible for sourcing, providing or recommending a singer to render the national anthem at the rugby match, and similarly, at any non-government event(s) held in France.

For more information contact Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Saul Kgomotso Molobi on 082 940 1647.  

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private Bag x152
Pretoria, 0001
16 November 2009

CLICK HERE TO READ ORIGINAL

So, basically, you’re saying you had NOTHING to do with it and are not taking any blame whatsoever? You gave them a name a while ago, but it didn’t count? Then you left it up to some French people to choose someone to sing an Afrikaans/Xhosa/English mix anthem?

You could have out Pieter Dixon (The Hooker) and Butch James (in Bath, UK) in charge of this shit and it would have been handled better. If he wasn’t personally available, Dixie would have probably called ex-Stormers player (lock) Rob Linde for goodness sake! He’s in France and would have sung a FAR better version than the crap we were dealt on Friday night. Especially the Afrikaans part.

Christ, my dad is up the road in Provence – he would had cleaned it up.

Fools. A large bag of fools, we have on our hands here.

Be sure to catch Rasta Anthem Singer, Ras Dumisani’s interview from a while back HERE.

[thanks ryan]

So, Joost is releasing a book and everyone’s upset. I don’t get it? I also don’t get why SuperSport gave him the boot? Sure, he cocked up. (Pun intended.) Sure, he’s now capitalising on it. Sure, he’s climbing the SA fame-and-riches ladder and has probably just pipped Steve Hofmeyer from the 16th spot… But keep him on, I say. I find it mildly refreshing to see someone real up there that I can relate to. Well, sort of.

BLADES OF GLORY INTERVIEWS COACH
EXCLUSIVE

If you suffer from insomnia and you’ve tried everything (legal) on the market, I have the cure! It’s quite simple, really. Switch to SuperSport at halftime during any rugby game, and I guarantee you a siesta within minutes. The plain truth is that our dearest coach is far more entertaining than the drivel we need to endure between halves these days. And as shameful as it may be to admit, I choose a sensationally bias Kearnsey over a ’95 nostalgic Joel every day of the week. It must be said. I don’t understand what it means to give 110 per cent in 80 minutes? And this varies from commentator to commentator. It isn’t uncommon for some of the panel of ex-player professionals to be demanding up to 250 per cent on occasions. That’s an inordinate amount of pressure to put on a Springbok. No wonder Div occasionally warrants a visit from the local dental podiatrist. My personal favourite is, ‘If we want to eye-gouge any Lions, we will go down to the bushveld, like we do, and eye-gouge them there.’ Or maybe, ‘If we are going on like this, why don’t we go to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going? There will be no eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing, and we will enjoy it.’ There’s your 250 per cent.

But I don’t want to sound like I’m whinging on what we hope is going to be a carnival of quality South African rugby today. The Springboks hope to win in France for the first time since 1997! In fact, the only man in the squad who was part of that 52-10 French flambé was Dick John Muir.

And with since it’s therefore an important occasion on the calendar, it would be wrong if we didn’t cross over to best in the business. Check out this exclusive interview between the Coach and the commentating institution, Hugh Bladen, ahead of tonight’s big clash. (http://overtohugh.co.za/stuff/).

What an example to aspiring commentators worldwide.

Of course, there are other greats that we hold in almost as high regard. The great Bill Mclarren is up there with lines such as ‘he’s like a demented ferret up a wee drainpipe’, and maybe even Kearnsey with ‘two sausages for you at tonight’s barbeque’, complimenting Sean Fitzpatrick after scoring a try. Would we say Warren Brosnian’s on his way to becoming a great? Only time will tell.

I look forward to visiting Div’s dental podiatrist after the weekend. Here’s to a victory, a cold one and some great commentary.

At da end of da day, this weekend holds plenty more international entertainment when Italy take on the Kiwis and England battle the Argentines.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR ‘BLADES OF GLORY’ INTERVIEW COACH

For all the times check out below.

FRIDAY

5:30 PM – 9:30 PM Cricket SS2, SS2A

Standard Bank Pro20 Int, South Africa v England 1st T20 Int`l

5:45 PM – 9:30 PM Cricket SS5A, SS5

Pakistan Cricket:, Pakistan v New Zealand 2nd T20

9:15 PM – 11:30 PM Rugby SS7, SS7A

Welsh Int Rugby, Wales v Samoa

9:15 PM – 12:00 AM Rugby SS1A, SS1

French Int Rugby, France v South Africa

SATURDAY

7:00 AM – 11:00 AM Golf SS6A, SS6

Euro PGA:, Ubs Hong Kong Open Day 3

3:45 PM – 6:00 PM Rugby SS5, SS5A

Italian Int Rugby, Italy v New Zealand

4:15 PM – 6:30 PM Rugby SS6A

Scotland Int Rugby, Scotland v Fiji

4:15 PM – 6:30 PM Rugby SS1A

England Int Rugby, England v Argentina

9:45 PM – 12:00 AM Soccer SS7A, SS7, SS10

Friendly Int, Italy v Netherlands

10:00 PM – 12:30 AM Soccer SSM2, SS3A, SS3, SS3N

FIFA W-Cup Qualifier:, Playoff: Portugal v Bosnia Herzegovina

SUNDAY

3:30 AM – 8:00 AM Boxing SS2A, SS2

Manny Pacquiao v Miguel Cotto

7:00 AM – 11:00 AM Golf SS6, SS6A

Euro PGA:, Ubs Hong Kong Open Day 4

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Cricket SS2A, SS2

Standard Bank Pro20 Int, South Africa v England 2nd T20 Int`l

4:00 PM – 9:00 PM Tennis CSN

1000 Series (ATP Masters):, BNP Paribas Masters Final

4:50 PM – 7:00 PM Rugby SS1A, SS1

Irish Int Rugby, Ireland v Australia

7:30 PM – 10:30 PM Soccer SS3, SS3N

FIFA U/17 W-Cup:, Final

CLICK HERE - BLADES OF GLORY INTERVIEWS COACH

The Annual Industry 5 A-Side soccer tournament is back – bigger and better!

This year’s venue is Hamilton’s Rugby Club, in the shadows of the 2010 WORLD CUP stadium, with all the excitement of past tournaments, and a huge afterparty at the venue thrown in for extra amounts of fun.

Look forward to a great vibe, bars, food stands, kids entertainment and more!

MC extraordinaire, Dan Nicholl (2oceansvibe Character “The Celebrity MC” will be hosting the day and Red Bull Street stylists will provide some mind blowing exhibition free-styling.

DJ JET, supported by Yaron, will be busting out the tunes during the day, with a surprise HEADLINE DJ rocking the afterparty.

TOURNAMENT sponsors HEINEKEN and technical suppliers MONTA will make sure this day is one to remember.

To enter a team, get in touch with Sox (2oceansvibe Character “The Personal Jukebox“) on 079 3954411 or djsox13@gmail.com

Or check out their Facefuck page here.

We’ve shown at least one pic of each new stadium which has been built for the 2010 Football World Cup. Then we went into detail when we showcased the Durban stadium for you (much to the delight of Fred Hatman) and we even reported on Cape Town’s own Green Point stadium turning on the lights for the first time.

And now we continue this trend as we go INSIDE the brand spanking new FNB stadium!

Click these thumbnails to check out the big version of each pic:

Nice, nice – I like what you’ve done.

As we say in France, “SUPER COOL!!!”

[thanks earl]

2oceansvibe Character, The Roofer , had a little surf at Dungeons yesterday. No stranger to big wave surfing, this should have been like any other wave – big speed, big “green room” etc.

Pic by Richard Johnson

Unfortunately not so this time..

From Zig Zag’s website:

Things can turn ugly very quickly at Dungeons Reef. Sammy Leith with the wipe out of the day, airdropping, connecting, then skipping backwards while looking at the lip bearing down on him.

Pretty “gnarly” as the surfers would say! Howz that last pic? Jesus, my boy!

CLICK HERE to check out more crazy pics by Richard Johnson from Dungeons yesterday, at Zig Zag’s website.

So, apparently cheating is still rife in the sporting world. Well that’s according to Victor Conte. He’s the guy who co-developed a fancy steroid and then fed it to pro baseballers in tight peddle-pushers and motorcycle helmets that only covered one ear.

It was quite ingenious really. You see, he would feed it to a baseballer who would then hit more home runs. Because he was hitting more home runs, there’d be more fat kids eating chilli dogs at the game, each dreaming of being pro-ballers some day. Because they were fat, they would start going to gym, but since YouTube and Myface are shortening children’s attention spans, they wouldn’t have the patience to go everyday meaning they would have to purchase some of Victor’s roids. Like I said, ingenious.

SeeBiscuit..

This meant serious green back for his efforts but, let’s face it, it makes for some pretty sensational viewing. According to Victor, the majority of the athletes that will make it into the 100-metre final at the London Olympic Games will have used performance-enhancing drugs. The majority!?

Follow link for more + Weekend TV Sports times..

Personally, I don’t see what all the fuss is about. As far as I’m concerned, the Tour de France would be a pretty droll affair if there wasn’t a little cheating here and there. I did a bit of research and, according to accounts of the first races, riders used everything from broken glass on the road to nails to itching powder in other riders’ shorts, to get the healthy edge. One time, an angry mob randomly attacked a rider. Now that’s quality entertainment.

The recent addition of the 20/20 cricket was essential because, around the world, old men with beards were getting bored of watching Andrew Hudson block for four days. Instead of bringing India to a grinding halt with a whole new tournament, they should have simply allowed Herschelle Gibbs to line Hudders’ box with itching powder. Problem solved.

What about horseracing? Without betting, drinking, smoking and Leeanne Liebenberg, I think the sport would be more boring than British politics. One of the most memorable moments in the sport was when Sylvester Carmouche cheated back in 1990. He took advantage of a foggy afternoon and won at Delta Downs in Louisianna. He waited for the race to begin and then stopped, waited for the pack to come around again, sped up and won by 24 lengths. Brilliant.

In a test that hopefully won’t need any cheating, the Leicester Tigers take on the Springboks tonight in what will be a serious test of South African rugby depth, and will most probably set the tone for the upcoming overseas tour. There’s been much debate about how much depth the Boks have to offer, so tonight will see the fledglings being put to the test. The first game after a squad selection always makes for good entertainment. Let’s just say that Chilliboy and the team have some Mauger pressure on them tonight. (That was terrible. Apologies. Going to leave it in, though.)

Chelsea have Manchester United to deal with on Sunday in the first sport where cheating is almost socially acceptable. The looks of pain and anguish, the rolling around on the pitch to a point where you feel this could be the end of a career, to miraculous recoveries. It’s all in there and it’ll be a sellout! I can’t wait.

I think everybody should take a collective decision to relax all anti-cheating laws in sport. I think the men with beards would start coming back to watch Hudders block for four days. Everyone would be eating chilli-dogs and be much happier.

Check out the times below…

12:45 PM – 9:00 PM Cricket SS1A, SS1

Pakistan Cricket: Pakistan v New Zealand 2nd ODI

4:15 PM – 11:00 PM Cricket SS2A, CSN, SS2

MTN40:, Highveld Lions v Titans

9:00 PM – 11:30 PM Rugby SS1, SS1A, MNET

Leicester Rugby, Leicester Tigers v South Africa

SATURDAY

5:00 AM – 10:00 AM Golf SS6, SS6A

WGC:, HSBC Champions Day 3

11:40 AM – 5:30 PM Tennis SS2A, SS2

Fed Cup:, Italy v USA Day 1

4:45 PM – 7:00 PM Soccer B SS3

Premier League:, Man City v Burnley

4:55 PM – 6:55 PM Soccer SS5

Premier League:, Tottenham v Sunderland

9:30 PM – 11:45 PM Soccer B SS3

Italian Serie A:, Atalanta v Juventus

5:00 AM – 10:00 AM Golf SS6, SS6A

WGC:, HSBC Champions Day 3

SUNDAY

4:50 AM – 1:30 PM Cricket SS5A, SS5

Indian Cricket:, India v Australia 6th ODI

5:00 AM – 10:00 AM Golf SS6A, SS6

WGC:, Hsbc Champions Day 4

9:30 AM – 6:30 PM Cricket SS2, SS2A

SA Cricket:, South Africa v Zimbabwe 1st ODI

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Soccer SS4

Super Diski: PSL:, Mp Black Aces v Ajax Cape Town

3:00 PM – 5:30 PM Soccer B SS3

Premier League:, Hull City v Stoke City (Hd)

2:45 PM – 4:30 PM Motorsport SS1A, SS1, CSN, SSM

Motogp:, Valenciana Main Race

4:55 PM – 7:00 PM Soccer SS7A, SS7

Premier League:, West Ham v Everton

5:30 PM – 7:55 PM Soccer SSA, SS3, SS3A, CSN

Premier League:, Chelsea v Manchester Utd (Hd)

7:55 PM – 9:55 PM Soccer SS7

Spanish La Liga:, Valencia v Zaragoza

Pretoria – The Blue Bulls won the Currie Cup at Loftus when they beat the Free State Cheetahs 36-24 in a lively and high-scoring final in which they controlled matters from the outset and were never behind.

The win for Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, replaced as Lions coach three years ago after a string of disappointing results, was special and gives him the double after winning the Currie Cup and the Super 14 in a single year – and the franchise Bulls and the Blue Bulls of the union made this a day to remember in Pretoria.

Habana Slamma

The Blue Bulls were simply better than the visitors from the first minutes when they took a 7-0 lead to the end, with a few lapses in concentration letting in a game and at times competitive Free State Cheetahs side for three tries which kept them in the hunt.

The Blue Bulls held the Free State in the scrums and didn’t allow them the advantage in this facet and did more than their share at the breakdowns where the Bulls’ teamwork nullified the work of Heinrich Brussow on the ground.

They also had the better of the lineouts and, all in all, showed their experience with a more professional performance.

Man of the match Fourie du Preez had a major hand in all three tries and must now be arguably the best scrumhalf in South Africa’s history.

It was only three minutes before Du Preez put a corner kick to the right into the hands of right wing Francois Hougaard after it looked like a warranted penalty try following the ruck after Derick Kuun was tackled by Lionel Mapoe on the line.

The Blue Bulls seemed on a cruise to the biggest Currie Cup final score yet when they were ahead 24-0 after 25 minutes with three tries on the board.

But the Cheetahs, renowned for their fightback in the second half this season, came back with two excellent tries to creep to 24-14 after 35 minutes – and the game was on. A drop goal by Morne Steyn on the stroke of half-time saw the Blue Bulls go into the tunnel 27-14 ahead.

CLICK HERE to read more, including scorers for each side

CLICK HERE to see the new Spingbok Squad, featuring NINE NEW CAPS

[source : sport24.co.za]

Never before was there a better excuse to grow a moustache and get away with it. It’s the month of Movember and ll you guys should be aware that you have a right, nay a duty to grow your moustache. And no-one can stand in your way either – not your boss and not even your angel (nor your gay lover). Because you have the best excuse ever – it’s to raise awareness for Men’s health issues, like testicular cancer. That’s right! So who are they to stop you doing it?

The month ends with a bowling tournament at the Fresnaye Bowling Club.

As can be expected, Team 2oceansvibe won last year. Yup, turns out it’s not just motor racing and love making that Seth is awesome at.

Team 2oceansvibe – reigning champs..

Check it out:

During Mo–vember (the month formerly known as November) men all over the world are growing moustaches in order to raise awareness for Men’s Health Issues. We’re celebrating the end of this moustache growing month by hosting a lawn bowls competition with a difference.

In its second year, Bowling for Movember, will be hosted at the Fresnaye Bowls Club on the 29 November. Last year’s event was a great success and we raised over R15000 for CANSA…..check out our youtube video. Bowling for Movember is an opportunity for all those who have grown their moustache in support of Men’s Health Issues to show off their mo’s and bowling prowess in style. Full bar, DJs, café and sponsor stands which include a Dermalogica Skin Bar and WellSpa Massage Zone. There’ll also be a nurse and CANSA representative there on the day, who will have all the info you need on Prostate and Testicular Cancer.

It is estimated that 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Prostate Cancer is the leading cancer in males and more than 4000 men are diagnosed yearly with prostate cancer in South Africa. Males over the age of 50 should have yearly screening.Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy of males aged 15 – 35 years. The incidence of testicular cancer is on the increase. In both Prostate and Testicular Cancer, early detection and treatment significantly improves the outcome.

All the money raised by Bowling for Movember is used to grow awareness of men’s health issues by the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). CANSA uses funds raised for research, to increase awareness of the importance of early detection and to improve the support networks for those affected with prostate or testicular cancer.

Here are some suggestions:

The event is on Sunday 29 November 2009 at the Fresnaye Bowls Club 10am – 5pm

Great Prizes for the winning teams, best mo-bro, best mo-sista, best dressed mo-team! Our delightful and hilarious mc’s Corne and Twakkie will be on hand to keep the good times rolling. They will also be conducting the charity auction for some awesome prizes.

Enter your team of 4. Team entries cost R500. All proceeds go to CANSA.

CLICK HERE for the Bowling For Movember website and sign up your team!

Whilst I was hoping to see footage of the fastest man in the world, Puma’s Usain Bolt running six runs for a normal persons two, I don’t necessarily mind this latest intelligence we have received. Namely, his bowling West Indies cricket captain Chris Gayle for 22.

Blind!

Check it out.

The Jamaica Observer (as you do) reports:

DISCOVERY BAY, St Ann – Triple Olympic gold medallists and world record holder Usain Bolt created quite a stir at the Kaiser Sports Club here Sunday when he bowled West Indies cricket captain Chris Gayle for a measly 22 runs.

Bolt, using his childhood experience as a young cricketer, at medium pace, bowled Gayle shortly after the West Indies captain hit him for six to send spectators scampering for cover.

“It feels good, I love cricket from I was a child and I thoroughly enjoyed myself . I told him (Gayle), he wasn’t going to last,” Bolt said after his Trelawny All Stars XI was beaten by Gayle’s Kingston and St Andrew All Star XI for a place in the final.

Action was in the Chris Gayle-led CJ Sporting Goods Company Limited Charity 15/15 Pro cricket competition where a throng of past and present West Indies and Jamaican cricketers engaged each other.

“It was a good game . I am really happy for the turnout and I must thank everybody, all the players, past and present, all the sponsors . this charity game it was really good,” Gayle said adding that at least 10 schools from Kingston, St Ann, Trelawny and St Mary will benefit.

[read more here]

Nice vibe.

My cricket career was fairly glittering, if I don’t say so myself. Highlights include smacking AJ Pelser for a six during house matches. A lot of the first team players weren’t aware how much “turn” there was on my home wicket, the mighty Lutgensvale B field.

Lest we forget the time Paul “St. John” Hodges smacked a ball into my ear whilst I was watching cars as I fielded. It blew the eardrum. I could blow bubbles out my ear underwater. No spice – ask Sister Francis at the sanatorium. I used to go and bath there, rather than showering (with a hole in my eardrum) at the boarding house. I remember spoiling the old duck and purposefully letting her catch glimpses of my main-chap.

Good times.

Oh, by the way….Floreat Founders!

[thanks brett]

You can tell I was caught off guard as Bicycling Magazine editor, Mike Finch (Fincheeeey! – bloody good rep!) took me from behind in the Claremont Vida e.

Check it out:

We’re getting there, guys.

Slowly but surely..

[thanks mike]

And just like that, someone flicked the switch! For the first time seen by the public, the Green Point World Cup Stadium turned on the lights.

And boy was it beautiful!

Green Point Stadium switches on the lights..

She’s a beauty..

But then I got word @fromjoanne that there were even more pics out there – including hi-res.

Check it out below.

Click images for hi-res versions:

Green Point Stadium turns the lights on
Click image to enlarge
[source]

Green Point Stadium turns the lights on
Click image to enlarge
[source]

Very very cool.

Click here for more photos detailing the progress of the stadium.

[thanks cade, fromjoanne ]

Some people call him a freak of nature, some people call him a running God – I call him “hedgy – the surf rat.” That’s who Ryan Sandes was just a few years ago. He was part of this group of kids younger than us, who used to punk around Llandudno beach. That was, quite literally, ALL they did. They surfed and chilled.

And caused kak

They were and are a great bunch of guys who used to sit in their little fort they built at the top of Llandudno beach and they’d hose themselves every time another tourist made the mistake of falling into their hidden ditches they would make in the sand – cleverly covered up with branches and palm leaves. They’d film it too! It was pretty damn funny, I must admit.

“Hedgy,” a nickname which must have been the result of his wild spiky hair didn’t have TOO much direction. But, at the same time, they were young – who gives a fuck?

Three years ago he decided to do the Knysna Marathon – mainly because he wanted to get up to Knysna and get smashed with his mates. There were no entries left for the half marathon so he entered the full marathon. He finished that fairly easily and realised that he quite enjoyed it. Mabe a bit too much?

[Image by Nick Muzik Photography]

It wasn’t long after that he realised that he had a very rare gift/gene – which allows him to run further and faster than virtually anyone in the world. And I’m not talking about the odd marathon here and there, I’m talking about hard-core 250km footraces across deserts. It’s self-sustained running and you have to carry your food and drink with you as you run. It’s up to you how much weight you want to carry. You know the cross-country races you used to do at school? Ja, it’s nothing like that.

So he went and won the Gobi Desert Race in 2008. Then he cleaned The Sahara Desert Race. That’s when he got the nickname, “Desert King.”

Okes weren’t quite sure. Where did this guy come from? Out of the blue? What do you mean “Llandudno?” Do they train robots at “Llandudno?”

Ryan rested for a little bit, ate another bowl of Pro Nutro and came second in the Namibia 2009. A seven-day, six-stage, 250-kilometer footrace across southern Namibia. Then he won the Hansa Hout Bay Trail Challenge.

Not that we need to dwell on that, Ryan has just (in the last week) won one of the most RADICAL races in the world, “The Jungle Marathon.” It’s a 200km race through the Amazon Jungle. Sometimes you’re avoiding snakes and Jaguars, and at other times you’re chest deep in mud – pretty gnarly!

In other words, you and I would die on the first day – FACT.

Ryan Sandes is “The King of The Jungle”
You can call him Tarzan from now on.
Seriously, he doesn’t mind..

Enjoy the daily blow-by-blow account of what he endured on his blog. Did I tell you that Hedgy is particularly amusing? Quietly enjoy this from his last bog entry before winning :

“We started off with another water crossing of 200m and then straight into the jungle for 46km. The jungle is an awesome place but I am sick of running through it now and wanted to get the Faaak out of there. Two twisted ankles and black and blue toes from kicking roots – that is enough for me… oh and some hornet bites. I got bitten by one in the back of the head today…it felt like I had been blow darted by some man eating pigmy tribe.”

Ryan – quietly cruising through the Amazon..
[source: trailrunning.co.za]

Ryan Sandes wins the Amazon Jungle Marathon
on Saturday in 26 hours and 33 minutes,
taking the course record for the fastest time.
[source:runners world]

Quality. Pure quality.

Well done, Hedgy – you make us proud, bru – keep it up!

Check out Ryan’s website here and go to bed with the knowledge that the world’s greatest hard-core endurance runner comes from Cape Town.
[thanks alistair]

Wow, we managed to get hold of a pantload of pics, inside and out, of the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Including changing rooms, bathrooms and other facilities!

The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban

But you need to see all the pics. They’ve been very clever with this stadium. They’ve alternated the colour of each seat so that it looks like the stadium is always full. I like that. It looks like they may have hired someone clever this time.

What a novelty – hiring someone clever, that is.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE PICS
OF DURBAN’S MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM
(INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR)

[thanks michael]

2oceansvibe sponsor and South Africa’s largest online sportsbook, Great Odds, have set up a “CHARITY CHALLENGE .” It’s a pretty cool vibe.

www.greatodds.com

They’ve given a bunch of us R1,000 to be used for online sports betting. Any money made from that R1,000 will go to charity.

I like that vibe. We need to get involved!

But first, I should mention that I now come in cartoon form!

Check it out!

CLICK HERE FOR GREAT ODDS . COM

Amazing little motley crew I find myself a part of there! My God! I just can’t make out what is in my right hand. Is that a G-string?! I guess Seth = Puma shoes, a glass of bubbly and a G-string..

Fair enough..

So anyway, check this out, because I need your support. Any money I make will go to my choice of charity, which is the MyLife Foundation.

This is how it works:

So I need need your help in two ways:

FIRSTLY, I need you to give me good sports betting tips for any weekend sports (click here, you’ll see the odds for all games and all sports) so that I can win as much as possible for my charity. Add your tips to the comments section under this article.

SECONDLY, I need you to VOTE FOR ME. You see, even if I blow the R1,000 they gave me, the person above with the MOST votes gets to donate R10,000 (ten grand, my love) to the charity of their choice, irrespective of their betting success.

So let’s just nip that in the bud, gang!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR ME!

You’ll recall with tears in your eyes the 2nd Neighbourhood Rock/Paper/Scissors Grand National which took place a couple months ago at Neighbourhood bar on Long Street. Ja, well it looks like the organisers have finally surfaced from the tequila haze and have produced a highlights video from the event.

They’re taking it national (properly) soon and want to get a South African champ to send to the World Series next year. No, I’m not joking. You don’t know about the RPS World Series? Seriously – they often show it on ESPN.

Non-Fiction.

Back to the video. I just first want to say that I am completely and utterly blown away by the amount of hot angels in this video. WTF? So many! All hot! Some of them even flash their chest at the camera – it’s seriously wild. I strongly advise you go next time!

Check it out:

Hey?

Best night of your life – FACT!

Don’t be shy to read up on the sport on their Wikipedia page (here), including history, variations, strategy and more!

[thanks toby]

These guys who call themselves Vuva and the Zelas have made a song called “Funny Yellow Trumpet” which documents a group of white guys taking a taxi to a local football game, ultimately falling in love with soccer and the vuvuzela.

It’s pretty damn funny – check it out (wait for play box to load below):

[*Slower connections should pause and let media load before playing.]

I love it – AWESOME little anthem – would be great in a Nando’s ad or similar!

Well donem, Vuvu and the Zelas!!

From bowling to boning! It looks like there are more things to think about before a big game, besides fielding practice and the bowling machine.

Gary Kirsten believes a good session before heading on to the sports field is all India’s cricketers need to bring home the trophies.

Judging by the action the boys get, the document has also been distributed amongst the Proteas and suggests that picking up chicks at 2am does not qualify, but rather if you do have someone at home, to give it a bash.

Gary Kirsten (right)
Encouraging sex.

Sport24 tells us:

New Delhi – India’s cricketers at the Champions Trophy in South Africa are being encouraged by their coach to have sex to boost their on-field performance, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The benefits of sex feature prominently in a secret document circulated among players by coach Gary Kirsten and mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton, the Hindustan Times said in a front-page report.

It came as India take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their first Champions Trophy match in Centurion on Saturday.

The large-selling broadsheet, which claimed to have a copy of the document, said the relevant chapter was headlined “Does sex increase performance?”.

“Yes it does, so go ahead and indulge,” the document said, before detailing the benefits of a good sex life and even suggesting “going solo” if no partners were available.

“From a physiological perspective, having sex increases testosterone levels, which cause an increase in strength, energy, aggression and competitiveness,” the document said.

“Conversely, not having sex for a period of a few months causes a significant drop in testosterone levels in both males and females, with the corresponding passiveness and decrease in aggression.”

The document quotes Tim Noakes, a professor and sports scientist at the University of Cape Town, Kirsten’s home town, as saying that “sex was not a problem, but being up till 02:00, probably having a few drinks at a bar while trying to pick someone up, on the eve of a game, almost always was.”

The document helpfully suggests a solution.

“If you want sex but do not have someone to share it with, one option is to go solo whilst imagining you have a partner, or a few partners, who are as beautiful as you wish to imagine,” the document said.

“No pillow talk and no hugging required. Just roll over and go to sleep.”

Enforced celibacy may also affect performance, the advice said.

“You may experience that your mind spends more time focusing on the fire in your groin than on good sport practice, preparation and sleep,” the document said.

The document also stresses the importance of being aggressive on the field from the start, self-improvement and healthy eating.

Didn’t you LOVE the part about singletons? Saying that they should not be shy of masturbation? Wow, thank God you told them! But then going as far as suggesting some wanking techniques, “whilst imagining you have a partner, or a few partners, who are as beautiful as you wish to imagine”

Group sex wanking scenarious – clearly the way forward.

[thanks clinton]