Here is the introduction made by Laureus Academy Member Sebastian Coe, and Chairman of the London Olympic Games Organising Committee:

I only realised the impact that Oscar has made on Olympic and Paralympic sport when I witnessed him in Trafalgar Square during the course of the summer. We celebrated International Paralympic Day in London and when Oscar gave his demonstration on a 60 metre stretch of tartan in front of the National Gallery, there were kids of all ages lining up wanting his autograph, pressing their noses to the barriers to get a glimpse of him. I suddenly realised this is a guy that really has made a massive impact in international sport. I think what Oscar has done is to really make us challenge our own orthodoxies, our own views about disability.

After receiving the award from Spanish actress Elsa Pataky and skateboard legend Tony Hawk, Oscar, as humble as ever said:

This is just a great privilege to be nominated, it is really humbling to be here. To all the Laureus Academy Members, all you guys and icons who a lot of us still competing look up to, thank you very much.

Here is a list of all the other winners for the evening:

• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic
• Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Vivian Cheruiyot
• Laureus World Team of the Year: FC Barcelona
• Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Rory McIlroy
• Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Darren Clarke
• Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater

There were two additional Awards: The Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to England football legend Bobby Charlton, while Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira, the former Brazilian footballer, now social justice campaigner, won the Laureus Sport for Good Award.

Check out these images from the event:

[Source: Sport24]

Yesterday’s 46th Superbowl in the States, which saw the New York Giants eke out a last minute 21-17 win over the New England Patriots, also saw an unprecedented surge in activity on social messaging phenomenon, Twitter. To the tune of 10 000 tweets per minute, that is.

Two periods during yesterdays American football tour de force attracted particular Twitter frenzy, first during Madonna’s world peace-themed, acrobatic half time show, where an average of 8 000 tweets per minute were recorded by Twitter in San Francisco- mostly decrying a woman of her age doing so many cartwheels; and then in the final three minutes when a late surge led by Giants quarterback, Eli Manning, led to the touchdown that won the game for the New Yorkers. Twitter activity surged to an unprecedented 10 000 tweets per minute in those three minutes alone.

In contrast, the last time Americans got so excited on Twitter was last year when Beyonce announced her pregnancy at the MTV Video Music Awards. The much anticipated adverts that run throughout the event, which attracts upwards of 110 million viewers, also got some heat on Twitter. This marks the second time the Giants have won the title  since 2008.

[Source: TIMES Live, CNN]

The son of former Springbok player and SA rugby coach, Nick Mallett, managed to pull off an incredible kick from the halfway line. The ball had to hit the crossbar during a kicking competition on the final evening of the well-attended two-day tournament. It did.

For his efforts Doug was awarded the R365 000 vehicle by storage company, Stor-Age.

The UCT alumnus and former Ikeys rugby player’s celebration in this video is something to behold. And his comment on the fluke win? “Completely ridiculous!”

A total of 154 people from all over the world set off on the record attempt to ski a full nautical mile inside Australia’s Macquarie Harbour in Strahan, Tasmania.

Nine fell off, and probably got laughed at.

But despite this, the other 145 people who remained on their skis, were enough to beat the previous record of 114 set by the same team.

They used a 114 foot motor yacht, which normally takes tourists on tours of the area, but had it specially modified with different propellers and a 308 foot aluminium boom to prevent skiers’ ropes from becoming tangled.

The organisers said five miles of ski rope was used for the new record, which The Guinness Book of Records is expected to officially recognise within the next few months.

[Source:: DailyMail]

Bob will discuss the format of the tournament, who he has his money on, and how to take a scrum punch like a man.

Tune in from ANYWHERE in the world! Check out the details below.

Check out Cape Town Tens on Facebook.

Most people will know Clyde Rathbone as a towering ex-Wallaby centre and wing with over 30 caps under his belt. Before his retirement in 2009 from injury, he had also played for our own Sharks, before moving to Australia to play for the Brumbies. 2009 also marked another turning point, when his life-long battle with depression began to spiral out of control.

Now Rathbone has broken his silence about a condition that robbed him of his marriage, and almost of his life. He spoke to the Canberra Times recently, wanting to finally show the world that depression can be beaten. His full heart-wrenching statement after the jump.

Rathbone revealed pictures of the awe-inspiring physical change his fight against depression has had on him, since he took back control of his life.

I’m not really sure where to start, if this appears as unlettered and rambling as I fear please accept my apologies …

I first heard about you whilst listening to Robb Wolfs podcast, from there I found your blog, read every single post, downloaded & read “Flinch” which resonated with me in ways I’m not nearly well enough equipped to articulate so I’m forced to drag out the cliché that it changed my life, but fuck it it did!

I know my story is neither as boring or as interesting as I think it is, I hope you’ll bare with me and read it (there’s an idea at the end, and I know you like those) but if you decide not to I’m fine with that too.

I was born in South Africa 30 years ago I’m the oldest of 4 boys, I had a difficult childhood, I was abused emotionally by someone who should have been looking after me. And it had a huge effect on me. A number of things can happen when you’ve been emotionally abused. Every negative thing I heard about myself, things that were said repeatedly to me became my truth, I started to believe that negative voice until it became ingrained, it affected me in nearly everything that I did and every decision I made. Usually people who are exposed to this abuse have extremely low confidence and low self esteem, In my case that was certainly true but those that knew me in high school may well describe me as arrogant, my defence mechanism was to project an image of myself that most protected me.

I was lucky in a sense because the abuse I suffered was inconsistent and definitely not as bad as many others are exposed to. So I ended up a confused, conflicted & pretty angry child and I know what saved me was that I was always good at sports, I was good at just about any sport I tried and gradually over time I started to challenge some of these negative thoughts that I had by performing well in sport. Ironically I used those negative thoughts as a driving force, as if every time I achieved success it was a reaffirmation to myself that those negative thoughts weren’t true. Every time I trained hard or played well I felt I was winning the battle against those thoughts.

And I did this most of my childhood and adulthood, this unlikely process turned me into a world class athlete, I captained the South African National U21 team to victory in the 2002 Rugby World Cup. Shortly after that I was offered a contract to play for the Brumbies rugby team in Australia. And since I knew my family planned to immigrate to Australia soon I decided to take up the offer. It was not long before I was playing for the Australian National Team, travelling the world and basically living what I thought were my dreams. The thing is I was never happy, I felt guilty that I could not appreciate the life many others could only dream of. By this point I had convinced myself that what I had gone through as a child was not that bad and I basically tried to forget about it. The fact is those issues never left me completely, they would express themselves in many ways. I would be angry or irritable or feel tension and stress and not really know why but for the most part I would say I functioned as well as I could and anyone who met me would think I was completely “normal”. And I maintained that fictitious existence for years.

But this all began to gradually change about 5-6 years ago when I picked up some serious rugby injuries which ultimately forced me to retire @ 27. That was a catalyst for a flood of all those negative thoughts I had pushed to the background, many I had not had for years slowly began coming back and over time I slipped further and further into depression until I was chronically and severely depressed. Though my body was broken I agreed to play some minor level club rugby, I injured myself in a match and needed surgery to insert a titanium plate in my face. I was on a lot of painkillers and I would go days when I would hardly get out of bed. I felt despairingly low all day, I had no motivation or optimism, I began having suicidal thoughts. And I want to say this about depression, I always looked at it as something that happened to “other people”, until I become depressed it never even crossed my mind that it could happen to me. What I’ve learnt over time is that any of us can become depressed given the wrong mix of experiences.

In that state, in the deepest of my depression my marriage began failing, I become short tempered and verbally abusive to my wife, there was never physical abuse but there is no doubt she suffered hugely emotionally. I completely neglected her and her needs. I did not know how to climb out of the hole I felt I was in, I did not even know where to start. Finally in Late 2010 I told my wife what I had gone through as a child, 10 years after our relationship began and 5 years into our marriage she was learning this for the first time.

And while it felt initially better to finally tell someone what happened, in some ways it made things worse because I began to see how much of my life had been affected by what happened to me as a child and it brought a lot of anger and resentment to the surface.

By mid May of last year my wife had had enough, she came to the conclusion that she could not help me. She had tried everything she knew to try and nothing seemed to change. She packed a bag and left to stay with her friend. Going through depression is difficult enough, but since I’ve recovered I’ve begun to realise just how tough it must have been for my wife to observe the person you care about most struggling for as long as I did while nothing my wife tried seemed to work. I think often we forget about the toll that depression takes on the people who are caught trying to help those suffering from it. If there is a hero in this story it’s how my wife has managed to remain as strong as she did for as long as she did.

Carrie leaving devastated me, that’s is both the most difficult and most valuable thing I’ve been through, because it was the first time I felt as though I was going to lose the most important thing in my life. It focussed my mind for the first time in a long time. I was at a crossroads, either I do whatever I must to completely rid myself of depression or it was likely going to cost me my marriage and probably ultimately kill me.

So as Carrie had been bugging me to do for ages I went to see a psychologist, I went to 5 sessions and they were incredibly valuable in helping me focus on the things I have control over and challenging the way I was thinking about things. After I started getting some help the main thing I developed was consistency. I started working out again, dialling in my diet, working and reading like I was starving for knowledge and I began seeing old friends again.

For the last 6 months I’ve been completely free of any sort of depression, I experience the general ups and downs of life and every now and again you get a curve ball thrown your way but at no point have I ever felt as though I’m becoming depressed or that I’m slipping back into old habits. I think of my mind in the same way I think about a broken bone that heals stronger than it was before. I feel indestructible, I rarely flinch and when I do I make sure forge ahead anyway.

Today I will finally share this story with my brothers and parents, that will be both painful and cathartic. On the 10th Feb I’ll be sharing this with a few hundred people at a speaking engagement I’m doing through work (I own a corporate health business: www.healthfutures.com.au) I feel as though by talking about it at least some good can come from a bad experience, that maybe some of the people I talk too are struggling or know someone that is and perhaps hearing my story might help them to take come action.

All of this brings me to my wife. Carrie is far and away the best thing that ever happened to me, she’s the most kind, gentle, generous, smart, funny, beautiful soul. She sees the world differently to most of us. No matter how dark a situation seems her strength of character and spirit see her through. Her strength ultimately wore her down, when I was ill she told nobody, she took every single burden of my depression squarely on her shoulders and she did everything she could. By the time she left she was literally done, I had been emotionally shut down for years and I had worn her down to the point where she had to choose between becoming depressed herself or staying in an abusive situation. She did the right thing in leaving.

Since then I’ve made incredible progress, I don’t recognise myself. I’ll send you a picture taken in Jan 2011 and another taken a little while ago in November. Transforming my mind has allowed me to transform my body. I’ve never in my life felt as capable of anything I decide to do as I feel today. I seek out things that scare me and I attack them. I feel things deeper than I ever have and my mind is always searching for that next morsel that might just change the way I view the world. Julian, I feel lucky to have found your blog, to have learned who Robb Wolf is and to have been exposed to Mark Sisson’s work. I feel enormously enlightened and humbled by the works of Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. The internet is fucking amazing, I guess I just feel lucky.

And I need your help. I need this story broadcast, I need everyone I know and everyone I don’t to read this. I need that for me but mostly I just need to tell my wife that I love her and that I’m sorry, and that anything she chooses to do for her happiness is the right decision. I need her to know that she should never settle for happier than she’s been in 10 years when what she deserves is happier than she ever imagined you could be.

So what I’m asking is that you post this on your blog, send it to anyone you can, comment on it or don’t. I just need it out there…

Thank you,

Clyde Rathbone

[Source: News24, Sydney Morning Herald]

It’s the 2012 Cape Town Tens tournament this weekend, and by all accounts it will be even more exciting than previous years. Especially since they’re packing it into two days, rather than three. That means we won’t have to witness broken (physically, emotionally) men hobbling along on the Sunday, barely able to determine in what direction they’re going!

They’re even giving away a Golf GTi. Check this out (competition below):

The popular Castle Cape Town Tens rugby event, brainchild of Bob Skinstad and Rob Fleck, is just around the corner! It takes place on Friday and Saturday, 3 and 4 February, and will be hosted at the Hamilton Rugby Club for the fourth consecutive year. This year’s Tens promises to be a highlight of the year with an exciting music line-up, appearances from local and international rugby legends, competitions and giveaways, and a new addition, an exciting rugby expo.

2012 boasts an incredible line-up of live entertainment including the popular group Goodluck, The Graeme Watkins Project, The Lightyears and Me and Mr Brown. With three rugby fields, beer and food tents, kiddies play areas, as well as a host of rugby legends and SA personalities, there is plenty to experience both on and off the rugby field for the whole family. Enjoy a drink with mates in the beer tent while watching the rugby action and the kids will be entertained at the same time in the play area.

Promising to be bigger and better than before, this year the number of teams has been increased from 56 to 72, with four divisions – a heavy and light Beer League, The Vets League and the more competitive Premier League. Rugby legends this year include international stars Leon Lloyd, Malcolm O’Kelly, Justin Marshall and David Rees, and local stars Jake Boer, Breyton Paulse, John Allen and Pieter Muller.

An amazing prize on offer this year is a brand-new Golf GTI to the value of R365 000, sponsored by Stor-Age. Contestants will test their rugby skills kicking for the post to determine the lucky winner.

This year’s Castle Cape Town Tens is proudly brought to you by Castle, Canterbury, Powerade and the City of Cape Town.

Tickets are on sale at R70 per person via Computicket HERE. Kids under 12 are free.

Follow the Castle Cape Town Tens on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CapeTownTens and on Twitter at @capetowntens.

Game Times HERE.

Please contact Andrea Smit on andrea@klprsa.com or (021) 671 4127 for any media enquiries and high res images.

To win a pair tickets to the event, it’s quite simple.

Leave a comment below and tell us why YOU deserve to win.

Competition closes 12h00 on Wednesday

Judges decision is final.

We are giving away 5 PAIRS of tickets.

GO GO GO!

South African long distance runner, Hendrick Ramaala, made history this morning by becoming the first South African to qualify for five consecutive Olympic Games. Hendrick, now 40, qualified for the upcoming London Olympics by coming in 19th in the Dubai Marathon this morning, clocking a IAAF Standard beating time of 2:12:12.

Hendrick first represented South Africa at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 when he was 24, and subsequently attended the Games in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008). Though he has never brought home a medal from his Olympic exploits, Hendrick is officially the second fastest South African in the Marathon, clocking a personal best of 2:06:55 in the London Marathon in 2006.

This morning’s result was his fastest in three years, setting him up to represent South Africa again in London for a record-breaking fifth time!

[Source: News 24]

One person who won’t be visiting TripAdvisor’s number one world destination this year is controversial Kiwi rugby ref, Bryce Lawrence, the man widely blamed by South African rugby fans for futzing up the Springboks chances of a Finals encounter at last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. A New Zealand rugby mag pointed out yesterday that Lawrence has not been given any South African games to referee.

Still, all that trouble was last year, right? And Lawrence admitted he made mistakes, and was even voted Referee of the Year in 2011. Slightly bloodied water under the bridge, right? Right?

Though SANZAR boss, Lyndon Bray, has not been reached for comment on this scheduling manoeuvre, Lawrence responded that though he had wanted to travel to South Africa and deal with any residual criticism, the SANZAR had likely left him off the schedule to avoid distractions during the upcoming tournament.

A wise move perhaps, because it’s unknown how warm and welcoming Springbok fans are likely to be to the ref who probably killed South Africa’s World Cup bid a mere three months since his controversial turn out during the RWC. In his own words,

From the quarterfinal through the first two weeks after that, it was pretty hectic. I was getting messages [from South Africa] via Facebook and on my e-mails like ‘watch your back when you get here because I’m going to take you out. I can’t wait for you get here so I can spit on you.

The Super 15 kicks off in around a month from now, on February 24th when the Blues take on the Crusaders at Eden Park, the Brumbies take on the Western Force in Canberra, and the Bulls meet the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

[Source: TIMES Live]

WINNER IS NOLUTHANDO – well done!

I’ve just drawn a diagram to explain something to you. You will see there is a circle with the words “Inner Circle” written inside it. That is a lot like a circle of trust. It’s where you want to be. But unfortunately, at the moment, you’re not. As you will see by the arrow showing where you are. You’re outside the Inner Circle. Not ideal. A lot of awesome people and things are inside the Inner Circle, including South Africa’s leading digital radio station, 2oceansvibe Radio.

Let me explain what this is about:

SA’s leading sunglasses retailer and curators of all things glamorous and cool, will be hosting the Inner Circle Luxury tent at the Kenilworth Racecourse infield on 28 January 2012.

The Sunglass Hut Inner Circle ticket will sell for R1500 – this not only gives you entertainment for the day, but also a R2000 Sunglass Hut gift card redeemable on the day to complement race day outfits. Think Ray-Ban, Dolce & Gabanna, Stella McCartney, Versace, it’s the perfect accompaniment to even the most flamboyant ensemble.

The J&B Met is one of the premier events and if you want to see and be seen, join Sunglass Hut for what promises to be the party of the year. Your exclusive ticket worth R1500 qualifies you for an unrivalled stylish event which includes:
Inner Circle ticket includes (R1500.00):

• J&B Met entry ticket
• VIP parking (1 space per couple)
• Bedouin style marquee
• Chic lounge environment
• VIP toilets, live feed of races & tote facilities
• Complimentary non-premium bar between 11h00 & 19h00
• (Premium brands will be available for sale)
• Buffet catering – lunch and light dinner
• Entertainment
• Live broadcast by 2Oceansvibe radio

PLUS: Sunglass Hut Gift Card to the value of R2000, redeemable on race day.

The Sunglass Hut Inner Circle event is set to become the J&B Met’s most sought after ticket. If you want to celebrate horseracing in premium style, purchase one of 200 limited tickets.

Email events@sunglasshut.co.za for more info.

Ok, so that’s pretty much a no-brainer. You buy the ticket and they give you a gift voucher worth more than the ticket. HAHA! Do you know how many shades you can buy for R2,000 or less? I’ll tell you – TONS! I have many many pairs of Sunglasses and I can tell you for an absolute fact that a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers are under two grand. Just by way of example.

This is basically a joke. If you’re smart you’ll get your ticket now before they change their minds!

IF YOU WANT TO LIVE ON THE EDGE
AND WIN 2 X TICKETS (ONE WINNER)
LEAVE A COMMENT AND TELL US WHY YOU THINK
YOU ARE PART OF THE INNER CIRCLE
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU’RE
IN THE CIRCLE OF TRUST?
BEST ANSWER BY WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK 12H00
WINS A PAIR OF TICKETS

JUDGES DECISION IS FINAL

Email events@sunglasshut.co.za to buy tickets

If you’re going to the 2012 J&B Met, there is certainly no other way to do it than in the Fire & Ice and Jet Lounge tents! SURELY you’re not going to mingle in and amongst the rabble? Heaven forbid!

Let me give you the breakdown, and you can decide which one of these two options works for you.

Fire Steam and Ice - An Experience for the Elite – A unique and exciting all-inclusive trackside Bedouin offering THE place for Cape Town’s creative’s, business mavericks and entrepreneurs to be entertained, pampered and delighted. Awaken your senses at a day of thundering horses, delectable treats and sumptuous entertainment, featuring Steamy Irit Noble, Fiery Pierre Estienne and Chilled Charles Large.

Includes:

J&B Met entry ticket, VIP parking (1 per 2) & shuttle facility
Chic & uniquely themed cocktail & lounge environment
housed in a Bedouin-style marquee
Spectacular culinary theatre stations and beverage innovations
included from 11h00 to 19h00
Flat-screens with live feed, race card & tote facilities
R1 900 p/p ex VAT

Please contact Gia for more information on 021 426 5775 or gia@worldsport.co.za

The J&B Met – 28 January 2012 Kenilworth Race Course.

________________________________

Jet Lounge - Join the Jet Set at lavish play. Catch all the excitement, fashion & finish straight action in the Jet Lounge. A festive & fun race-day experience for young, stylish individuals and groups, housed in a lounge and cocktail-styled Bedouin marquee – home of the Official J&B Met After Party.

Includes:

Entrance ticket, VIP parking, premium finish-straight position
Relaxed & chic lounge & cocktail-style infrastructure and décor package
Flat screens, live feeds & tote facilities
Live entertainment through-out the day
Food vending stations
Complimentary bar until 5pm cash bar there-after (excl. premium brands which are, however, available for purchase through-out the day)
Fully staffed & serviced, including security and VIP toilets
After-Party ticket
Price R999 P/P incl Vat

Please contact Gia for more information on 021 426 5775 or gia@worldsport.co.za

The J&B Met – 28 January 2012 Kenilworth Race Course.

The new Essex-based facility cost pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline a hefty sum of £20 million, and they have not surprisingly said that it would be their primary contribution to the games. For that amount of money one would expect some impressive stats and the lab delivers in abundance.

The facility is roughly the size of seven tennis courts and is set to operate 24 hours a day. Manned by over 1 000 people, including 150 anti-doping scientists, the lab hopes to run at least 6 250 tests on blood and urine samples with an average of 400 samples a day. Operations will be overseen by Professor David Cowan from the Drug Control Centre at King’s College London, and he’s aiming to have 24-hour turnarounds on certain samples.

“These laboratories are the most high-tech labs in the history of the Games, analysing more samples than ever before,” Professor Cowan said.

“We have developed, with GSK support, super-fast and super-sensitive technologies to be able to detect use of prohibited substances. Our role is to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the lab to deliver robust anti-doping testing for the Games.”

“The Anti-Doping process during the London 2012 Games will create a legacy of knowledge about operations and processes. In July 2011, GSK signed an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to share information about its medicines in development, while LOCOG will debrief on all processes.”

In total, 10 500 athletes are expected at the Olympics and the Paralympics later this year and organisers are confident that at least half of all contestants will be tested. Special focus will be paid to certain “high-risk” events, predominantly individual sports.

As Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, put it,

We are doing all we can to ensure that there is no place to hide for drug cheats at London 2012. Our message to any athlete thinking about doping is simple – we’ll catch you.

The unveiling of this lab also marked the first time that a pharmaceutical company has sponsored an anti-doping facility.

[Source: BBC, Telegraph, Daily Mail]

Meyer is expected to sign a two-year contract later this week after he had a meeting with Saru chief executive, Jurie Roux, in Pretoria on Saturday to finalise the terms of his contract as Bok coach.

Gert Smal, who was anticipated to take the position, said no to the Springbok coaching job at the weekend because of family commitments.

Smal was Saru’s “first choice”, and his decision to turn down the job has left the national body “very disappointed”, the source said.

Victor Matfield has described the 44-year-old Meyer as the best rugby coach he had played under, and it was widely thought Meyer would have taken over from Jake White after the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but instead the job landed in the hands of Peter de Villiers.

Meyer’s reign as Bulls coach saw them win four Currie Cup titles, between 2002 and 2006, as well as the Super Rugby competition in 2007.

After leaving the Bulls job after failing to win the Bok appointment, he was appointed head coach at Leicester in 2008.

Meyer then returned to South Africa in 2009 for personal reasons, rejoining the Blue Bulls in an executive coaching position.

Meyer’s management team will hopefully be finalised this week too, with Saru hoping to include Rassie Erasmus as a technical adviser.

We play our first test against England on June 9 in Durban.

[Source: CapeTimes]

Dutch officials tried to block her trip; they said she was too young to risk her life. School authorities have even complained she should be in a classroom.

But, that didn’t stop people cheering as Laura Dekker fist-pumped the air in celebration while she sailed past a drawbridge raised for her arrival in the port from which she sailed almost a year ago.

The teenager says she was born aboard a boat and first sailed solo at age six. At 10, she said, she began dreaming about circling the globe.

“Her story is just amazing,” said one of Dekker’s fans, 10-year-old Jody Bell of Connecticut, “I can’t imagine someone her age going out on sea all by herself.”

Bell was in St Maarten on a work trip with her mother, Deena Merlen, an attorney in Manhattan, who wanted to see Dekker complete her journey.

The two wore t-shirts that read: “Guppy rocks my world.”

“My daughter and I have been following Laura’s story, and we think it’s amazing and inspiring,” Merlen said.

Dekker completed the last leg of her journey after navigating through high seas and heavy winds after leaving Cape Town.

She hugged her family and wept before addressing the crowd, and claiming one of the most amazing feats humanly possible.

[Source: SMH]

Back when I was three, I sometimes got so angry over not getting my way that I’d literally throw my toys to the ground. I can therefore totally relate to Marcos Baghdatis breaking four of his tennis racquets at the Australian Open yesterday. This happened just after he lost the second set of their match against Stanislas Wawrinka.

His tennis racquets sponsor will no doubt be overjoyed to see the millions they are paying him to represent their brand being so well spent.

Baghdatis eventually won the third set, 7-5. He then however only won one game in the fourth set, and Stanislas Wawrinka won 7-6, 6-4, 5-7, and 6-1.

[Source: Yahoo]

Extreme sports enthusuaists will know that world famous BASE jumper, Jeb Corliss, is in Cape Town.

Last week he made headlines by succesfully completing a controlled descent wingsuit flight off of Table Mountain, at insane speeds. Check out the gallery, HERE.

Today, Jeb jumped from Table Mountain again, but did not complete his flight, or BASE jump successfully. Reports on his current condition are unclear. Click through for details.

IOL has confirmed that Corliss was airlifted to hospital less than an hour ago with a broken leg.

The Californian’s friend, Joby Ogwyn, had already jumped when Corliss made his attempt.

A shaken Ogwyn said he could not explain what had caused the accident.

“It could have been a strange gust of wind; it could be that he got too close to the mountain,” Ogwyn said.

“I’m not sure what happened. I heard a sound – it sounded like Jeb hit a ledge, it sounded like he hit it twice, pretty hard.

“Apparently he’s speaking,” he said.

Metro EMS said Corliss had jumped from the Africa Face ledge and crashed at India Venster.

He had injured his lower leg and knee.

Almost exactly a year ago, prominent Cape Town businessman and avid skydiver, Rob Taylor, committed suicide by jumping off Table Mountain, after donating his Audi R8 to local car guards.
[Source : IOL]

In 2010, a new rule for the next NCAA football season, dubbed “The Tebow Rule” by media because it would have affected him, banned messages on eye paint. During his college football career, Tebow frequently wore references to biblical verses on his eye black. In the 2009 BCS Championship Game, he wore John 3:16 on his eye black; the verse was the highest-ranked Google search term over the next 24 hours, generating over 90 million searches. Additionally, later, when Tebow switched to another verse, there were 3.43 million searches of “Tim Tebow” and “Proverbs 3:5-6″ together. Tebow stated of the searches “It just goes to show you the influence and the platform that you have as a student-athlete and as a quarterback at Florida” [more here]

You get the picture.

It is for reasons like this, that top US talk show host, Jimmy Fallon, dressed up as a David Bowie / Tim Tebow hybrid and sang a re-hashed version of “Major Tom.”

It’s a quality performance, whether you know anything about Tim Tebow or not.

Follow the link below to check it out.

[thanks g-man]

The victim, who has not yet been named, was swimming with friends around 15h40 when the attack occurred. Cebo Mafuna was bodysurfing in nearby waves when he witnessed the attack,

I was five metres away when I saw the fin,” he said. “It was about a foot high but it didn’t look like a big shark.

“When it came up out of the water, I saw it open its mouth and saw its teeth. It turned the guy on his side and went for him. He tried to fight it off with his arm but it kept attacking.”

According to other witnesses on the scene, initially lifeguards were reluctant to enter the water but one did wade out with a surfboard to assist the victim.

The water was red all around him,” he (Mafuna) said. “They (the lifeguards) pulled him onto the board then used it as a stretcher to bring him to shore but you could tell he wasn’t going to make it. The shark had bitten his shoulder and chest down his arm to his elbow.

According to local police officer, Captain Mduduzi Godwana the victim died instantly after the shark “bit off his arm and tore out his stomach.”

Zambezi sharks, also known as bull sharks have been responsible for the majority of the attacks. The sharks are known as “the pitbulls of the ocean” due to their habit of biting and viciously shaking, causing horrific injuries.

The attack comes exactly a year after Zama Ndamase fell victim to a similar attack on the same shores.

[Source: The Telegraph]

This, from the DailyMail:

Cantona has written to French mayors outlining his credentials and asking for their support.

‘This engagement obliged me to speak, more earnestly than usual, but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country faces difficult choices which will be decisive for its future,’ said the letter.

In his letter, printed in the Liberation newspaper, Cantona expressed his strong feelings towards the social injustices experienced by the French nation, and by young people in general.

Election candidates will compete in a first round in late April, with the two biggest vote-winners going through to a decisive second round in early May.

Socialist candidate Francois Hollande is currently leading President Nicolas Sarkozy in the polls.

[more here]

Local radio man Rich Hardiman tweeted this: “Can see the campaign slogan now – “Cross it for OHH AHH Cantona!”

Gimmethegreenlight takes it!

Whether your frolicking was done in the VIP Stud Club or the Caprice tent, there was no shortage of eye-candy, as both boys and girls went to town with the blue and white theme. Vintage dresses were paraded side-by-side with tight little blue and white numbers. It was something of an A-list celebrity scrum, as everyone from Miss South Africa to Pro surfer Jordy Smith shared the limelight. That main picture above is of Miss SA, Melinda Bam, Lady Kitty Spencer and Jo-Ann Strauss. They were spotted later that night, partying to Tumi & the Volume, The Kongos, Spoek Mathambo and finally Cape town’s #1 disc-spinner, DJ Sox!

Click ‘continue reading’ below to check out the rest of the pics, including the likes of Roxy Louw, Janez Vermeiren, Tracy Mcgregor, Jen Su, Minki Van Der Westhuizen and more!

CLICK HERE for POPYACOLLAR’s full gallery of pics..

22-year-old Erin Langworthy bungee jumped head-first from the Victoria Falls Bridge into the Zambezi River on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia on New Year’s Eve. The cord snapped in two and she fell into the crocodile-infested waters.

Erin Langworthy

Langworthy recalls the experience:

It went black straight away and I felt like I’d been slapped all over. My bungee cord was still attached to my feet and had gotten caught on debris. I actually had to swim down and yank the bungee cord out of whatever it was caught into.

She then swam to Zimbabwe’s side of the Zambezi, where she met rescuers. She spent a week in a South African hospital with a broken collar bone and bruising, but escaped without any life-threatening injuries.

Here is a video of the incident:

[Source: Telegraph]

[Thanks, Rob!]

[Source :The Telegraph]

The T20 Big Bash League team, the Brisbane Heat, has suspended Roelof van der Merwe, no stranger to a good time, after he was found guilty of a charge of detrimental conduct under the Queensland Cricket code of behaviour.

The 27-year-old all-rounder, who is a Twenty20 specialist, and nicknamed “The Bulldog”, managed to escape with a one-match ban, but might not be so lucky when he faces court later this month.

Glen Williams, Queensland Cricket conduct commissioner, also “imposed a significant fine” on the player.

The Bulldog had failed a roadside breath test on New Year’s Day, and having just joined the Brisbane Heat as a stand-in replacement for four of its KFC T20 Big Bash League games after Christmas, hasn’t set the tone for attempting to cement himself a place in the team in the future.

He began his career for the South African Under-19 team in the 2004 World Youth Cup as a wicket keeper, but made his switch to playing as a batting and bowling all-rounder in his T20 International debut in 2008-09 against Australia at Supersport Park in Centurion.

[Source: FoxSports]

He stated:

“As long as Gary [Kirsten] and the team want me in the job, I’ll do the job.

For as long as I’m wanted as captain, I’ll get in and do the job to the best of my ability.

Unfortunately, when you lose in the manner that we did today, there are disappointing stories out there but I think that one was a bit too much.”

The Proteas will face Sri Lanka in the third and final test at Newlands, starting on 3 January.

[Source: City Press]

Part of Shane Warne’s agreement to play for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League was underpinned by a deal with television rights holders, Fox Sports. Warne would wear a microphone throughout every match and commentate as he played.

And in the words of Cricinfo scribe, Alex Malcolm:

This was a competitive match, the most competitive and intense of the Big Bash so far. And what Warne delivered was truly spectacular.

Art lovers have pondered what it would be like to listen to Michelangelo talk as he painted the Sistine Chapel. What tennis would give to have Roger Federer talk them through a service game against Rafael Nadal? Cricket fans got their equivalent tonight as Warne describe how he was going to bowl, and why he was bowling to that plan, before executing it in real time, in a competitive environment.

Click through for the video!

Read the rest of the Cricinfo story, here. It’s as good a read as the video is a spectacle.

[Thanks, Henk!]

An unmanned, electric golf cart ploughed into a crowd at a football game, consisting of the winning head coach and six other people. The incident happened during celebrations at the end of a high school championship football game in Texas over the weekend.

Spring Dekaney beat Cibolo Steele at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Spring Dekaney head coach Willie Amendola was in the middle of an interview when the cart knocked him and several bystanders to the ground.

Here is a video of the incident:

Emergency services said that one man was taken to hospital with a leg injury. Several others were hit by the cart but released by medical staff after being checked out at the stadium.

[Source: Daily Mail]

I took these pics of the 81 year-old playing car guard for his 32 year-old girlfriend, Fabiana Flosi.

Follow the link to check out the series of photos, as well as a brand new interview with the Guardian, in which Bernie talks about his daughter’s new reality show, and her R700 million home he bought her:

Click thumbnails below to check out the photo gallery.

Click here for the Guardian’s new interview with Bernie Ecclestone, published this weekend.

When looked at alongside the top Twitter stories for the year, there’s evidently more of a focus on world news and celebrity deaths on Facebook, whereas Twitter seems to respond more to live-tweeting award shows, sport, and breaking news.

Facebook does have more data on what its members are doing than Twitter, however. Looking at user behaviour on artist pages, for instance, they’ve determined that the most listened-to song of the year was Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” followed by Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.’)” and LMFAO’s “Sexy And I Know It” at third.

They’ve also tabulated the fastest-growing pages of 2011, globally:

Fastest Growing Pages

• Actors or TV Personality – Megan Fox

• Movie – Harry Potter

• TV Show – House

• Musician – Rihanna

• Athlete – Leo Messi

• Sports Team – FC Barcelona

Unfortunately, South Africa-specific data was not part of this year’s Memology – but there’s a pretty interesting spread between the 10 countries that were profiled individually:

Top Status Trends

• United States – lms (like my status)
• Canada – lms (like my status)

• UK – The Royal Wedding

• India – The Jan Lokpal anti-corruption bill

• France – Sexual assault charges against the International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn

• Italy – The required 40% voter turnout for June referendum votes to be valid

• Germany – The death of Amy Winehouse

• Brazil – Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts league

• Russia – Steve Jobs

• Spain – Indiginados economic and political representation movement

• Australia – Planking

I mean, I don’t know why Germany was so affected by the death of Amy Winehouse, but it’s good to know that they care.

There’s a fair amount of other stuff available over at Memology – take a look.

[Source: Facebook Memology 2011]

This from Washington Post:

After an annual football game they call Bedlam, thousands of Oklahoma State fans jumped, ran and pushed their way onto the field in joy. The Cowboys had just taken apart the Oklahoma Sooners, their bitter and often more successful rivals. The Cowboys’ first national championship suddenly seemed within reach.

But fans were pressing toward the field, which is separated from the stands by an eight-foot stone wall. Some students jumped down, others were pushed. The crowd pulled down the goal posts, and in the 45 minutes or more it took police to restore order Saturday night, some fans were trampled as the crowd struggled to reach the exits.

[more here]

FOLLOW LINK BELOW TO SEE THE VIDEO
CLICK PLAY

A brawl broke out on field, as tends to happen during rugby matches, and perhaps fearing that his garganutuan son was in danger, the Imanol’s daddy-kins flew into the fray, at which point he was promptly wrestled to the ground and owned by Bayonne’s flyhalf.

Normally people save this kind of family embarrassment for Christmas lunch.

Watch it all, HERE.

[Source : SMH]

Currently being built in Norway, the dreamboat was designed in conjunction with Rolls Royce and boat makers Palmer Johnson, and absolutely no expense has been spared. Built to be the last word in water-bound mega-mansions, the ice-class superyacht will take care of all your needs in the utmost style.

Although having a submarine or a helicopter on a yacht is not a new idea, the way the PJ World Yacht does it is what sets it apart. Unlike other yachts in its class, its submarine can be accessed via an internal docking station so that passengers to not have to disembark from the yacht before entering the underwater vessel. As for its helicopter, it perches on a hydraulic lift which is protected by large hatches on the deck, which in turn protect it from the elements. The helicopter’s hangar is also a fully equipped re-fuelling station, meaning you’ll really have to take things to limit before you have to return to land.

In terms of safety, one can never be too careful and that’s why the superyacht is decked with water cannons and thermal imaging. Making sneaking up on this luxury vessel a particularly trying, if not nigh on impossible, task.

Gizmos and gadgets aside, the owner’s quarters consume three decks, and there’s a fourth for guests. And, to make sure you forget that you’re on a yacht, it also has a public area which boasts a piano salon, a cinema, a beauty salon, a fitness centre and a private swimming pool, because there are sure to be loads of people in the middle of the ocean just when you want to take a dip.

Despite its luxury and exuberance, the PJ World Yacht still manages to keep it green, and the latest technology has been used to ensure minimal environmental impact. Even the anchoring system employs a dynamic positioning system so that environmentally sensitive areas are not disturbed.

[Source: CNN]

Remember, if you LIKE yachts like that and you want to own one, it is FAR easier to get one if you win the Euromillions lottery. They OFTEN have jackpots over R1 billion. CLICK HERE to play the overseas lotteries safely and securely online.

We play – every week…

PUMA enters new yacht into 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race

Cape Town, South Africa, November 2011 – PUMA Sailing fans can catch all the action of the PUMA Ocean Racing team with the arrival of PUMA’s racing yacht, Mar Mostro (Monster of the Sea), at the V&A Waterfront in November/December.

Mar Mostro is PUMA’s second entry into the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race having placed second in the 2008/9 Volvo Ocean Race.

Cape Town is the first stop-over in this “Mount Everest of sailing,” a 39,000 nautical mile, round-the-world ocean race, stopping in ten ports over the course of nine months.

A PUMA pop-up store and entertainment zone called the PUMA Quad will be located opposite the V&A Amphitheatre, to provide the public with limited edition PUMA product for the two-week stopover.

PUMA will host daily activities at the PUMA Quad. Sailing prowess will be tested with grinding competitions taking place between 3pm and 6pm on the 26 November, 1, 3, 8 December as well as between 2pm and 4pm on 10 and 11 December.

The contestant with the best grinding results on competition days will win a R1000 PUMA voucher. Two grand prizes of R10 000 in PUMA vouchers will be awarded to the contestants with the top grinding scores on 10 and 11 December.

Daily sundowner Spinnaker Sessions will start on 25 November and will see the likes of local DJs Dino Moran and Craig De Sousa spinning cool tunes at the PUMA Quad from 6.15pm to 9pm and between 7.15pm to 9pm on 10 and 11 December.

In 2010 PUMA hosted a series of parties around the globe to celebrate the after-hours athlete – a person who loves to compete in the lesser known sports (pool, foosball etc) within the social environment. PUMA will continue to celebrate these after-hours sports heroes, this time with a sailing twist, through the PUMA Social Club presents All Hands on Deck party on 9 December from 4pm to 1am at Quay 4, V&A Waterfront.

This is the official Volvo Ocean Race party with live performances by Jack Parow, Craig de Sousa, Holiday Murray, Anthea Scholtz, Them Tornados and The Wedding DJs. Ping pong, darts and bowling are a few of the games that can be played with a drink in your hand on the night. Tickets are limited and will be sold at the door for R50 per person.

The PUMA Ocean Racing team is led by Skipper Ken Read, who has amassed 10 of the most elite off-shore sailors from across the globe, including South African born Jono Swain, to compete in this epic race.

The Volvo Ocean Race begins 5 November 2011 in Alicante, Spain and ends in Galway, Ireland in July 2012. The eight stopovers in between include: Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya (China), Auckland, Itajaí (Brazil), Miami, Lisbon and Lorient (France).

Let’s do this thing!

Blatter was addressing the media after opening the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

The opening question at the media conference was naturally about last week’s delirious racism saga the 75-year-old Swiss had to cope with. His answer was stunted:

I can only say this item for me is closed. I have made my apologies, I cannot say more.

But then he couldn’t help himself and insisted he wasn’t surprised by the British media’s strong criticism of him – including the calls for him to stand down as head of football’s world governing body:

I was very much hurt by these comments because it touched me in my conscience and my determination to go against racism.

However, he still didn’t acknowledge that racism actually does exist in football:

If somebody is still thinking I am a racist, sorry to say that I am working now practically 37 years in FIFA … there is no racism, nothing at all, and this matter for me is over and over. We go forward. There is no discrimination in my feelings, there is no racism, nothing at all.

Growing increasingly irritated, the FIFA boss even half-heatedly snapped at FIFA’s Vice President, Prince Ali, when he offered to help Blatter answer a question about the use of the hijab, the Islamic head scarf, in football:

I can just answer, I was asked, I answer. You can add but I answer.

Blatter continued to struggle through the rest of the presser and gave rambling answers about topics like the strength of Asian economies.

[Source: Reuters]

Are they going to be singing Eye of the Tiger now?

Stallone says that the musical adaptation of a film about dudes punching each other stupid would focus on Rocky’s romantic side:

At the end of the day, Rocky is a love story and he could never have reached the final bell without Adrian.
To see this story coming to life on a musical stage makes me proud. And it would make Rocky proud.

Rocky: The Musical will have its world debut, in German, in Hamburg November 2012. Because this is the sort of thing that only makes sense if it’s also in German.

[Source: Filmdrunk]

Kallis is also part of a group of elite sports men and women endorsing the Buchulife brand. World Number 2 surfer and 2oceansViber extraordinaire, Jordy Smith, is also a Buchulife ambassador.

[Source : Telegraph]

It looks like the investigation into the death of Peter Roebuck is far from over. The Australian sports journalist committed suicide at the Newlands Southern Sun hotel last weekend. He jumped six floors to his death from his hotel room window.

Police will now talk to 16 young men – aged 18 to 26 – whose education was being paid for by the sportsman and who lived at his eight-bedroom house in Pietermaritzburg. The men are mostly Zimbabwean, and many came from a home for abandoned boys in the country’s capital of Harare.

Roebuck had been accused of sexually assaulting one of them before his suicide. The alleged victim, Ital Gondo laid a charge of indecent assault against the former Somerset captain after claiming he had been “groomed” through Facebook.

This is not the first time Roebuck was involved with something like this. He was at the centre of controversy in 2001 when he received a suspended jail sentence for common assault after beating three teenage cricketers “across their bare buttocks with a cane”. The South African boys had been invited to stay at his former home in Taunton, Somerset, for coaching in the late 1990s.

[Source: Daily Mail]

Here is evidence confiscated at the scene of the crime:

[Thanks, Mike!]

The hard-hitting Bok number 10 is South Africa’s most-capped Test flyhalf, and was a key member of the 2007 World Cup-winning squad in France.

After that tournament, he joined Bath in England where he was a crucial member of their Premiership and Heineken Cup squads before returning home to join the Lions in South Africa earlier this year.

Of course, it hasn’t been all moonshine and roses for James throughout his career. Serious injuries and controversy have followed him. But it all, no doubt, helped make him into the player and man that he is today.

Tune in to The Bench tomorrow to hear from James about his career to date (the highlights and the lowlights), what inspired him to bring out a book, and what lies ahead for the 42-cap test veteran, who first became a Bok in 2001 and has scored 159 points at the highest level.

Follow The Bench on Twitter, or join the Facebook group.

Controversial New Zealand referee, Bryce Lawrence, earned the fury of thousands of South Africans for his apparent bungling of decisions during the Springboks’ crucial Rugby World Cup quarter-final match against the Wallabies in October, which the Boks lost 9-11. Apologies for ripping the scab off such a fresh wound, but let’s get through this.

Following criticism of his performance from several quarters, including the bok camp, fans and even neutral onlookers, Lawrence has spoken out at last in response to allegations of his incompetence.

Says Bryce:

I was disappointed with some aspects in my own performance that day after refereeing four really pretty strong games in pool play. I’m not blaming anyone for the quarter-final refereeing display apart from myself. I didn’t referee as well as I could.

Ouch. There you have it. His admission is unlikely to earn reprieve from South African rugby fans who feel his poor performance, and refusal to penalise several clear breaches in play during the fitful quarter-final, cost the Springboks their passage to the Semis. For his own part, Lawrence commented further on the repercussions of his poor refereeing that day.

There have been some pretty clear consequences from my quarter final display. I’m not going to be refereeing the Six Nations next year.

I suspect the English, French, Welsh, Irish, Scottish and Italian teams are going to be more relieved by that development than the legions of rugby fans Lawrence mortally offended. Well, Springbok fans, has Bryce earned South Africa’s forgiveness with his confession?

[Source: News 24]

I was actually trying to think of something sarcastic to insert here, but I’m weeping too hard for humanity at the moment.

Here is Sepp’s brilliant reasoning in a CNN interview:

Maybe one of the players has a word, a gesture, towards the other which is not the correct one. But the one who is affected by that, he should say, it’s a game, we are in a game, and at the end of the game we should shake hands. On the field of play, sometimes you say something which is not very correct. At the end of the game, it is over and you have the next game where you can behave better.

In case you think the CNN journalist misheard him somehow, no, you’d be mistaken. He made similar comments during an Al Jazeera interview, adding:

Racism is not a major problem in the game. Racism is if there are spectators, or there are movements of discrimination off the field of play, but on the field, I deny there is racism. You may say something to somebody who does not exactly look like you….but at the end of the match it’s forgotten.

After he made the comments, Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, took to his Twitter account:

I feel stupid for thinking that football was taking a leading role against racism.

Don’t worry Rio, we fell the same.

[Source: EWN]

The Jakarta Globe tells it as it is:

Thousands of Indonesian students have been pulled from their school classes to do the unthinkable — cheer for bitter rivals Malaysia and other nations during the Southeast Asian Games.

After initially being plagued by building delays and an uneasy build-up to the competition, Indonesia is keen to show the region that they can host a successful event.

Some students recruited to cheerlead at the games have even been given flags and t-shirts to help show their support for the opposition.

Junior high school teacher, Samsidar, said: “We have to be a good host, therefore we must also support the guest teams.”

A student, Ayu Napsadew, continued:

Our job is to support Malaysia, therefore we shout ‘Malaysia, Malaysia!’ at each of their games.

Guest supporters have been furnished with cash, meals and transportation to and from the sport venues for the games that run until November 22 and see 11 nations competing for the numerous gold medals on offer.

Receiving little publicity outside the Asiatic region, the event remains a great source of national pride between the competing nations, and it remains unclear whether Indonesians supporting Malaysians are doing so cynically or not.

[Source: JakartaGlobe]

So it’s not clear whether or not Hammond is just trying to calm American security fears, or if he legitimately thinks that what the London Olympics really needs to go off without a hitch is a suite of ground-to-air missiles.

Liam Fox, Hammond’s predecessor, asked whether or not there would be a  “full range of multilayered defence and deterrents” for the Olympics, ostensibly London’s biggest security operation in decades; Hammond responded,

I can assure him that all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of the London Olympic Games will be taken including – if the advice of the military is that it is required – appropriate ground-to-air defences.

The UK’s Home Office presently considers the risk of attack from international terrorists to be “substantial,” which is apparently the third-highest level.

[Source: Independent.]

Indian government officials close to the case have told the Deccan Chronicle that an investigation into the match-fixing saga involving former late South African skipper, Wessel Johannes “Hansie” Cronje, would resume.

The paper has said that certain Indian and overseas cricketers and cricket administrators have already been questioned in respect of the matter, and that they feel nothing to start the investigation right from the beginning again, minus Hansie of course.

After being forced to step down as South African captain in 1999, Hansie’s life ended in a plane crash in the Outeniqua Mountains in bad weather.

The Chronicle reports:

British authorities recently responded to a 2007 letter rogatory sent by Delhi Police seeking details about another key suspect, London-based bookie Sanjiv Chawla.

The British authorities have given some details Delhi Police feels could be crucial in a further probe. Delhi Police crime branch had intercepted cell phone conversations of Cronje.

It has now emerged that the cell phone actually belonged to Delhi bookie Rajesh Kalra. Cronje used the phone to talk to several people in Mumbai and New Delhi, most of who were subsequently tracked by the crime branch.

He was heard talking team composition and other key aspects related to a match.

It’s no big secret that Delhi police have never been fully satisfied with the outcome from the initial investigations into the matter, so it’s little surprise that they’re looking at things in a different light now, post a few prosecutions.

[Source: DeccanChronicle]

Tyibulika was described as a trailblazer within the black rugby fraternity by SARU president, Oregan Hoskins.

The loose forward played in eight Tests for South Africa, and continued at Super Rugby level with the Sharks and Lions until 2008. He then returned to his native Eastern Cape, where he represented Border until last year, and was included in the Southern Kings side which faced the British and Irish Lions during their 2009 tour.

[Source: MG]

So anyway, check it out – this is the epic poster for the Surf Contest my buddies are organising – in conjunction with the world famous Kommetjie Surf Shop. The contest is not about performance surfing or ability. It is all about fun with prizes for the best dressed (while riding a wave), most original craft ridden and most entertaining wave rider. What’s more, it’s open to everyone. Bring you families and your dogs (they can enter too).

There is a custom made surfboard and a wetsuit up for grabs and loads of other great goodies to give away

There is a festival on the day in Kommetjie. For more info take a look at the website www.kommetjie.org

Some other events on the day include a fun run/crayfish derby/braai/potjie contest, Miss Kommetjie competition (that’ll be good) / paintball/craft market and loads of bands playing at all the restaurants.

It’s on the 19th of November from 10h00 to 13h00.

Pull in!!!

For the Surfing Competition – Registration: R50 at the Kommetjie Surf Shop before the event and R70 on the day.

Follow the link below for in-depth info about the Kommetjie Festival, including when and where things are happening…

By now you should have seen some press coverage in our local papers regarding the Kommetjie Festival taking place on Saturday, 19 November.

Tell your friends, encourage them to come. There is more information on the www.kommetjie.org website, and you can invite your Facebook friends here:http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=289669827714168

Fun-Run

Starts at 08h00, 10km scenic run starting at Kommetjie Primary, through Kommetjie and Soetwater Resort. There’s also a 4km family run/walk through Kommetjie, which starts at 08h30 from Kommetjie Primary, and ends at the Kom.

There are over 100 incredible prizes to be given away! Sponsored by: Aroundaboutcars, Coast to Coast, Spur, Villiera, Oh so Boho, Healing Arts, Tudor Hotel, Jewel Africa

Pre-entry: R60 per adult, R30 per child, Clubs R50 per adult, R80 for entry on the day. Limited entry! Book now calling Kommetjie Primary School on 021 783 2973 or going to http://kommetjieprimary.co.za/index.php/run.

Crayfish Derby

Entry to the Derby will be available at the Kommetjie Slipway on the day, at a cost of R30 per boat. The competition will commence at 8:00 am and close at 11:00 am. There will be a number of valuable prizes on offer, including for the biggest Crayfish and heaviest Crayfish. For more Information or to assist on the day call or email Gary ongary@outdoorcooking.co.za or call 079 6151 707

Stand-up Surf-Paddle Academy

The academy will run from 10:00am at the Kom and has been designed to allow participants to gain hands-on experience and tuition from an experienced team of Surf-Paddlers. For more information or to book a lesson please contact Gary on mobile: 079 615 1707 email: gary@outdoorcooking.co.za

Village Market Stalls

Stalls – on the grassed area next to the Kom all the way up Dreyer Road into the Church Carpark on Lighthouse Road – will be available at a cost of R80 per stall. Stallholders will be required to bring their own table, chairs etc.

With Christmas around the corner, this is an ideal place to support the locals and buy your gifts. For more information or to book a stall please contact Rita mobile: 082 788 7632 email: kelsworth@telkomsa.net

Braai & Potjie Competition

The competition will be held at the Kom, and fires will be lit early for the Potjie competitors and slightly later for the Braaimasters. Judging will take place at 2:00pm.

Categories include Potjie, Boerewors, Sosaties, Pap & gravy. Entrance fee is R80 + R20 per category (includes site, wood & fire-tongs). There will be prizes for each category including a 316 stainless steel Keg Braai for the best overall taste on the day. The competition is sponsored by OutdoorCooking – for more information or to book please contact Gary mobile: 079 615 1707 email: gary@outdoorcooking.co.za

Paintball

The 2nd Fish Hoek Scouts will be hosting a paintball area at the Kom. For more information please contact Kirk on 082 924 1156 or email kelsworth@telkomsa.net

Surfing Competition

Not just another surf Contest! A retro -style dress up event from another era where single fins were the norm and twin fins revolutionary. A day of fun in the sun. Prizes to the best dressed, the most entertaining wave ridden and the most outrages craft ridden.

For More details visit www.kommetjiesurfshop.co.za or contact Roddy on Tel: – 021 783 4804 or email: - roddytorr@gmail.co.za

Dog Show & Competition

Taryn Blyth (Animal Behaviorist & Dog Trainer) will be staging a Dog command and control exhibition/show at the Kom from 11:40 to 12:00

Miss Kommetjie Competition

Calling all girls aged 16 to 25 years, for Miss Kommetjie at The Kommetjie Festival on 19 November – call Claudia on 083 622 8216 for details and an entry form (entries close 10 November 10). Great prizes up for grabs. Download the entry form by clicking here, e-mail the entry to misskommetjie@gmail.com

Exhibits:

Mnanzi Carnival Precession, NSRI , Environmental (Sharks, National Parks), and The Harley Owners Group (HOG) of Cape Town will be supporting the Festival with a drive by the Kom around mid-day. They will park up at the Helmsman to allow spectators the opportunity to view and discuss their Beautiful Bikes.

Food & Drinks

There will be a variety of food and drinks on offer including tickets to sample the Braai & Potjie competition food being judged. For more information, or to apply for a food concession, please contact Gary mobile: 079 615 1707 email: gary@outdoorcooking.co.za

Entertainment

An incredible line-up of Deep South musical talent is set to entertain the crowds at the Kommetjie Festival, taking place on Saturday 19th November. Live music will be hosted by Fishermans Restaurant and the Helmsman Pub (both in Kommetjie Road), from 14:30 to 22:30, followed by some foot stomping with local DJ’s. Tickets cost R50 for entrance into both venues.

FISHERMANS RESTAURANT
3.00pm – 4.00pm – Rivertones (Reggae Band)
4.20pm – 5.20pm – Sidewinder (Rock Cover Band featuring Dave Gomesall).
5.40pm – 6.40pm – The Hellfire Blues Club (Blues/Rock band)
7.00pm – 8.00pm – Stamp (Rock and Pop Cover Band)
8.20pm – 9.20pm – Black Night (Classic Rock Cover Band)
9.40pm – 10.30pm – Lancaster Band (ska)
11.00pm – Late – D.J. “B” and D.J. Ali Star

HELMSMAN PUB
2.30pm – 3.30pm – Kai Connor (Acoustic Covers and Orignal)
3.50pm – 4.50pm – Dutchess (Smooth Acoustic Jazz and Blues)
5.10pm – 6.10pm – Steve Van (Acoustic Folk Rock)
6.30pm – 7.30pm – Nate Maingard (Acoustic Original Music)
7.50pm – 9.00pm – Dave Gomersall (Rock and Pop Covers)
9.20pm – 10.30pm – Paul Q (original acoustic)

Special thanks to Paul Bothner Music, Stone Studios, Whiteline Functions, and of course our awesome artists for supporting this community event. For more information please contact Steve on 083 225 5077 or email bar.freight@absamail.co.za

Kids Zone

Kommetjie Pre-Primary will be offering a kid’s drop-off zone where parents can leave their children in the care of responsible carers while they enjoy the festival. The zone will have a Bouncy Castle and Face Painting will be available also. Pricing will be in the region of R35 an hour

Accommodation

Most B&B’s, Guest Houses will be offering Festival discounted rates. Please make sure you ask for these specials when booking

MC of the Day

Local Star Dene Botha will be managing the festival activities on the day and also judging some of the Festival Competitions including Miss Kommetjie 2011.

News broke of acclaimed cricket journalist, Peter Roebuck’s death this weekend. Up until now, motives for his apparent suicide have remained a mystery, with hotel staff and police remaining tight-lipped on the matter. Roebuck committed suicide by jumping six floors to his death at the Newlands Southern Sun hotel. Apart from his journalism career, Roebuck was also involved with the cricket coaching of teenage boys. The incident happened immediately after two policemen came see him about a case of sexual assault.

From last Wednesday to Friday, Roebuck had been covering the historic events of the first Test at Newlands won by South Africa. He had been questioned at his hotel at about 21h00 on Saturday night by a uniformed police officer and a detective over an “alleged sexual assault.”

Roebuck, who was agitated, asked a fellow cricket journalist for help. ”Can you come down to my room quickly? I’ve got a problem,” he said. He asked for help to find a lawyer and for contact to be made with the students he helped to house in Pietermaritzburg, near Durban.

Minutes later Roebuck fell to his death from a window. It is believed only the uniformed officer was in the room. Paramedics rushed to the hotel but Roebuck was pronounced dead. Police established a crime scene and took personal items from the room, including a laptop.

In 2001, Roebuck was given a suspended jail sentence after he admitted caning three young cricketers he had offered to coach.

[Source: Sydney Morning Herald]

The Hawaiian big wave rider caught the huge monster in Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal, during the ZON North Canyon Project 2011. He was towed in by jet ski, caught this monster, let go, and surfed the wave until completion. What a vibe!

The wave caught by McNamara is estimated to be about 90 feet (30 meters), and is a new world record. To put that into perspective, 30 meters is about the height of an 8 storey building. This oke must have balls of steel.

[Source: YouTube, Hat tip to Steyn]

As you know, Tiger Woods’ former caddie, Steve Williams was recently asked why he had celebrated Adam Scott’s Bridgestone Invitational win in August so enthusiastically. When he replied that it was because his aim was to shove it up Tiger’s “black arsehole”, he was apparently not being racist. Woods himself forgave Williams by saying it was “just a comment he shouldn’t have made.”

Here’s Tiger’s full response to the matter:

We talked about it this morning, we met face-to-face, we talked it through and we have agreed it was the wrong thing to say. He did apologise, it was hurtful but we move forward. Steve is not a racist. It was just a comment he shouldn’t have made.

[Source: EWN]

Lunge feeding is when the whales herd anchovies to the water’s surface, then shoot out of the water with their mouths open to catch as many of the fish as possible. Roettger and her friends were in the way.

Happily, they came away from the experience unscathed, and with some once-in-a-lifetime footage – although Roettger does say that she, “will now only spectate from the decidedly safer dry land.”

I couldn’t find room for a “having a whale of a time” pun. Sorry for letting the team down.

[Source: DPF]

Judge Jeremy Cooke told the foursome at London’s Southwark Crown Court in no uncertain terms:

These offences, regardless of pleas, are so serious that only a sentence of imprisonment will suffice.

A jury of 12 returned their verdict a short while ago after nearly four days - 17 hours in total - of deliberation.

The cricketing trio had already received substantial suspensions from an International Cricket Council anti-corruption tribunal in Doha, Qatar, for fixing.

Butt had been banned for 10 years, five of which are suspended, Amir was banned for five years, and Asif seven – with two suspended.

During this trial, the prosecution claimed that Butt, 27, and Asif, 28, colluded with British agent Mazher Majeed to ensure the deliberate bowling of no-balls in the fourth Test against England in August last year at Lord’s.

Butt and Asif had pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy; however, jurors were unanimous in their decision that both players were guilty of conspiracy to cheat.

The jurors took another three hours to conclude that fast bowler Amir, 19, who had already pleaded guilty to charges of match fixing, was guilty of accepting money to fix parts of the match.

Betting agent, Majeed, was secretly filmed accepting $242 000 in cash from an undercover reporter saying that the three Pakistan players had accepted money to fix betting markets. He got the largest of the sentences – 32 months.

Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s World Cup captain, was rightly ashamed by it all:

Everybody knows that we have faced a great amount of shame for Pakistan and the team as well. I think this is a lesson for us to move in the right direction – especially for newcomers.

I really feel sorry for the family members of those players Salman Butt and Asif… This kind of blame becomes your identity for your whole life.

To add to his woes, apparently Butt’s wife had given birth to a son minutes before the player’s guilty verdict was read.

[Source: AlJazeera]

While on an otherwise ordinary paragliding trip, a Russian paraglider, identified only as “Paravoffka”, crossed paths with a high-flying vulture. The bird became entangled in his apparatus mid-flight causing a bit of a mess. Thankfully the experienced flier managed to land safely after deploying his reserve parachute.

Amazingly, the entire ordeal was captured on video, including the paraglider’s rather humourous, and not-so-kind, thoughts of the winged creature.

[Source: Off The Bench]

Check out this video of a surfer in California hitting up some night surf accompanied by the soft tumbling glow of bio-luminescent algae in the waves. Certainly one way to make a prosaically beautiful sport even more breathtaking. This phenomenon is not limited to American beaches, by the way; if the water is warm enough and the night dark enough, you can often catch the soft glimmer of these algae churning in the waves off our own pristine shores. Beautiful.

The songs accompanying the visuals are listed at the end of the video. The name of the surfer is unfortunately not.

The Golden Lions, who won the domestic competition for the first time in 12 years on Saturday, have demonstrated impressive team cohesion this year. UCT’s Ikey Tigers are also very much in the running, having taken both their first Varsity Cup winners’ title and their first Western Province Super A league title since 1974 during the 2011 season.

Currie Cup first division winners Boland Cavaliers, who won the final 43-12 against EP Kings, and the Springbok Sevens team, which claimed titles in Las Vegas, London and Edinburgh this year are also in the mix. The Stormers, who notched up a Super Rugby semi-final in 2011, round out the nominees.

The ceremony at Gold Reef City will be broadcast live tomorrow night on Supersport from 7:30pm.

[Source: SA info]

On the other hand, his fiancee, Irina Shayk, could probably turn a gay man straight. According to him, she hasn’t yet reacted to the situation. I’m not surprised, seeing that she is about to marry the most popular football star on earth. She’s probably used to women throwing more than just photos at him. Oh, and she just posed for a new coffee table book, called “Culo.”

The book, a collaboration between P Diddy, Interscope chairman, Jimmy Iovine and fashion photographer, Raphael Mazzucco, features a collection of 248 photographs to celebrate women’s arses. Fantastic.

The £250,000-a-week former Manchester United star has been with Irina, 25, since April last year. The pair are due to marry in July on an island near his native Madeira after he plays for Portugal at Euro 2012.

According to a source, he’s rather “red faced” about the incident. Ja, I bet he was, it’s hard to navigate a mouse when your right hand is busy and you’re not ambidextrous.

I’m sure his phone has been ringing off the hook, with people calling to see if he’s okay since the incident.

How do you say, “bullshit” in Portuguese?

[Source: timeslive; mailonline]

With a Katie Perry pop song blaring in the background, the video was posted on the age-protected blog of Alex Torres, a porn star who also moonlighted on weekends as an instructor at Skydive Taft. He put the video together in an attempt to get the attention of Howard Stern.

Lieutenant Ed Whiting of the Taft Police Department also said they aren’t pressing charges. The reason? He says “everyone in the video was of age.” And since no one complained about witnessing the dive, he says there are no public nudity charges to be had either.

The video can be viewed here. However, please be warned, it is rather NSFW.

[Source: NBC San Diego]

The deal was finally signed yesterday, after long negotiations between New York and New Jersey politicians. The race will be held there from 2013 for a period of ten years.

The route of the Grand Prix of America is expected to start at JFK Boulevard East in Weehawken, just across from Midtown. Cars capable of doing more than 200mph would head north, then turn right in West New York, across from Central Park, and head back south on River Road to the finish line in Weehawken. The route looks like this:

America hasn’t hosted a Grand Prix since Indianapolis in 2007, and hopes this this will help to revive the image of the sport as well as bring in tourists to the region. A deal has also been struck to run a race at a brand new $250 million track in Austin Texas.

Now all we need is a Cape Town Grand Prix. How awesome would that be? Through the streets of Cape Town, under the shadow of Table Mountain and around Cape Town Stadium. That would be epic.

[Source: NY Post]

Pirates chairman, Irvin Khoza, however, says it’s time for introspection on the players’ part(y).

They chose football as a career and if they don’t have the intelligence to take care of themselves, then it’s their problem. It’s sad. They will want to come back to us, beg and blame us when they are beggars on the streets. You have to know the rules and the rule is to respect your profession.

A so-called insider has said that coach Julio Leal is too soft on the players, and cannot maintain order in the team. Meanwhile, Pirates have dropped to eighth place on the Absa Premiership log.

[Source: Sowetan]

The Wales head coach has revealed he, and other members of his coaching staff, actually briefly considered cheating after Sam Warburton, the Welsh captain, was sent off in Saturday’s tense semi-final Rugby World Cup match.

The Welsh narrowly lost the game after being reduced to 14 men, 18 minutes into the game. Warburton got a red card from the Irish referee, Alain Rolland, for what was deemed a dangerous tip tackle on the French winger, Vincent Clerc.

He was served a three-match ban as a result, and will not play in Friday’s third and fourth place playoff.

Wales had already lost starting prop, Adam Jones, when Gatland and his coaching team thought out of the box for a moment:

I know a lot has been spoken about the red card. In retrospect, I can understand in any game under the letter of the law there are a number of decisions referees can make.

I just thought on that occasion, given the significance of a World Cup semi-final, to give a yellow card would have been an appropriate decision. That is why they are appointed as the top referees in the world, because they make the right decisions. I will give you an example with what happened after that.

We’d already lost Adam Jones, and we discussed in the [coaches] box whether we would fake an injury to one of our props and go to uncontested scrums.

But morally, I made the decision it wasn’t the right thing to do. We could easily have done that in the first 25-30 minutes, but in the spirit of the game, in the spirit of a World Cup semi-final, I didn’t think that was the fairest or the right thing.

That is why I honestly believe Alain Rolland made the wrong decision. Under the rules and regulations he was perfectly entitled to give a red card. But every game is different. You have to take the circumstances of the situation and the intent, and in that situation, given his experience and the role he was given, a yellow card was the right decision to make.

Gatland has since discussed the controversial sending off of Warburton with the IRB’s referees’ manager, Paddy O’Brien, but wouldn’t disclose what they spoke about.

Good ways to cheat probably didn’t come up in that conversation.

[Source: Guardian]

A 100-year-old British runner has become the oldest person to complete a marathon – earning him a spot in the latest Guinness World Book of Records. He finished the 42km Toronto Waterfront Marathon in Canada on Sunday. My favourite part of the story, however, is the fact that he didn’t even finish last!

Fauja Singh finished the race ahead of five other runners in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds. He was a torchbearer at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and now hopes to participate in the 2012 London Games torch relay.

Here’s the video of him finishing the race:

He attributes his extraordinary stamina to ginger curry, cups of tea and being happy, adding: ‘The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free. Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from  people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running.”

[Source: Daily Mail]

The Control Room is part of IBM’s Smarter Cities initiative, which it’s been promoting since 2007.

Initially put together in the wake of the torrential downpours in April 2010 that saw 250 dead and 10 000 homeless to handle civil response to flooding, the scope of the Control Room has expanded considerably, monitoring the city’s transportation, water, weather and energy constantly, with a tricked out Google Maps display indicating the location of schools, hospitals, car accidents and real-time traffic updates.

Says Ops Center Chief Technology Officer Alexandre Cardeman;

Nowhere else do you have the guy in charge of the train system working with everyone else in the same room. So when there’s a car accident, we can zoom in and read the license plate, we can already see where the closest Municipal Guard is, start to divert traffic and alert the nearest ambulance by GPS, because we’re all integrated.

It actually looks like it’s working pretty well, given that the Control Room has helped co-ordinate the Paul McCartney show earlier this year (which had about 45 000 attendees) without a serious hitch, and the world’s biggest music festival, Rock in Rio (which had about 700 000 attendees) earlier this month.

So, you know, yay for Big Brother-hosted sporting events.

[Source: TDB]

It’s no secret that South African rugby carries around a massive stigma with regards to sexuality and gender issues, much like many South African sports.

There is no Gareth Thomas (out Welsh rugby player) here, nor any Steve Davies (out English cricketer), nor an Anton Hysen (the world’s only out professional footballer, from Sweden) to be seen in South African sport.

That may be about to change. Enter Nick Fenton-Wells, the captain of the Ikey Tigers at the University of Cape Town. He may not be gay, but he’s urging gay players not to be afraid to get involved in sports at UCT, laying the foundations for open and equal participation in our favourite national sports and games one day. Most impressive! Get that man a Bells!

Here’s the video:

FYI: It Gets Better is a viral video campaign begun in the States in response to a horrific string of teenage suicides last year. The kids that took their own lives all suffered bullying and abuse from their peers due to perceptions regarding their sexuality.

There are hundreds of “It Gets Better” videos online now, containing messages from a massive range of celebrities, star athletes, politicians, activists and even corporations. Google even released their 30 second It Gets Better ad on prime time American television earlier this year.

(h/t Mark Dean Brown at UCT for the link)

It’s COMPLETELY off the charts! The guy’s lucky he was wearing a helmet.

Click ‘Continue Reading’ below to see the video.
[thanks james]

This morning we told you that Peter Davies has become the second Supersport Rugby World Cup anchor in as many months to be taken off air. The only feedback given was due to the pending of the conclusion of “a criminal case”. According to several news sites, Davies allegedly exposed his genitals and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old boy.

Here’s the lowdown:

Peter Davies was charged with compelling children to witness self-masturbation and exposing his genitals to a minor. This follows an incident at a Virgin Active gym in Randburg on July 13. The complainant, a local high school pupil, apparently entered a sauna at the gym, where he found Davies and another man conversing. The boy told the police that the latter left the room. It is alleged that the Davies then opened his legs and exposed his genitals to the minor. The accused, according to information in possession of the investigators, later followed the complainant to the shower. The presenter allegedly ran his penis against the shower glass in a bid to grab the boy’s attention. He allegedly also knocked on the shower door, before masturbating in his full view.

[Source: IOL]

FourFourTwo is a venerable British football mag, and each year their website runs a survey detailing the bottom line of England’s most popular sport. And when I say bottom line, I’m being euphemistic – we’re talking millions upon millions of Pounds in an industry that draws the attentions of billions around the world each year.

So what were some of the highlights:

• Liverpool FC spent almost £7,5 million per Premiership point they picked up last year (since being bought), £2 million more per point more than Manchester FC. LFC owner, John Henry is also the highest-ranked new owner on the list.

• Manchester FC is the world’s richest club by way of the fact that owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the richest person in English football, worth £20 billion, according to the list.

• Fabio Capello is the richest manager, with more than £38 million in his personal fortune (Sir Alex Ferguson only comes in with a paltry £27 million).

• David Beckham remains the richest English player, with an estimated fortune of £135 million.

You can check the full survey results at fourfourtwo.com

[Source: fourfourtwo.com]

And Jordy is right there next to him – calmly staring down the barrel at World Number 1 status.

Jordy Smith at the Quiksilver Pro

I was chatting to a big-wave surfer buddy of mine, Sammy Leith, and he agreed that because the pro surfers are cruising around the world and by nature pack lightly, they’re pretty up-to-date when it comes to tech and gadgets. And the organisers seem no different, as they seem to always ensure that these Pro tournaments are available live-streaming on the net. In HD if you want..

And that is why we’re all here today.

Surfing is a tricky sport when it comes to live viewership, because the swell is in the laps of the Gods. They plan the event well in advance, but when it comes to the day, you very often have to wait. So for us to let you know when to watch Jordy surfing live – is quite a short notice thing. That’s why we’ve got young Jordy letting us know when it’s time. Because he wants to know that all you maniacs out there are watching him when he turns it on.

Jordy sent me an SMS a short while ago saying he would be out there in about 50 minutes time. That was at 10h40. Which means you should be hitting it sweetly at 11h30 today.

UPDATE: KELLY SLATER AND JORDY SMITH BOTH WON THEIR HEATS. WE COULD HAVE AN EPIC BATTLE COMING UP. WE WILL TWEET WHEN HE GOES ON. FOLLOW @2oceansvibe

CLICK LINK BELOW to watch Jordy Smith surfing the Quiksilver Pro in France on LIVE online TV

Click BELOW TO TUNE IN LIVE

If there is nothing on, keep refreshing..

Will go live AROUND 11h30..

As laughable as that may sound, the New Zealand rugby community is not at all amused, with a flurry of high profile responses ensuing. All Black assistant coach, Wayne Smith made the point, “You’ve just got to see what rugby means in this country to think of it as inconceivable”. All Black winger, Richard Kahui echoed the sentiment, saying a World Cup without any of the top rugby nations would not be legit.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has threatened to boycott the RWC in England in 2015, following reports of expected revenue losses of around NZ$13,2 million ($10 million) this year due to the IRB’s commercial model for the tournament. And it seems that the IRB isn’t terribly bothered.

[Source: Sydney Morning Herald / Image: RugbyFix]

We present, Bob Skinstad, coaching school children.

Aaaaaw!

[Images : Courtesy MasterCard]

[Thanks, Mike!]

[Thanks, Riaan]

[thanks andy]

Just in case you forgot, she was the girl that said she’d strip if the Indian cricket team won the Cricket World Cup earlier this year, and never kept her promise.

Jonty joked about it saying, “Let’s hope I get to see Poonam Pandey, but by all accounts she is still in hiding from the Indian cricket team.”

He reportedly also said, “If Mr Tyson (I think that’s what I will call him if I have to share space with him – much safer) and Shakira are in the house, it will be interesting to get their impressions of India, as I don’t think either of them has spent nearly as much time as me in this amazing country.”

He also mentioned that he is keen to see former cricketer, Navjot Singh Siddhu’s, who will be joining him on the show. Rhodes is hopeful his time on the show will help him with his Hindi, or as he refers to it, “that stuff”.

He is still in discussions as to how long he will be on the show, which is to start on airing on the 2nd of October, on a channel by the name of Colours.

Whatever that is.

[Source: news24]

Vata Ngobeni, a South African rugby journalist, was detained by police in a New Zealand pub last night. According to the officer who took him into custody, he “fitted the profile of a drug dealer.” Ngobeni happened to be the only black person in the venue at the time. He was also the only one that was asked to take a trip downtown. Awkward.

He was taken to a police station and searched. He had to remove items of clothing.

I have never been so embarrassed in my life. I have never experienced this kind of treatment in all my travels around the world, so to be singled out as a common criminal in front of so many people is something I will never forget.

New Zealand’s High Commission in South Africa said it was “sorry” to hear about the incident. ”The New Zealand High Commission is very sorry to learn about the inconvenience suffered by rugby journalist Mr Vata Ngobeni in Taupo,” it said in a short statement.

[Source: Sport24]

After the various matadors killed the bulls they were assigned to, spectators swarmed the grounds, many grabbing fistfuls of sand as souvenirs.

While the Catalonian regional Parliament largely based the banning of bullfights on reasons of animal rights, the industry as a whole has suffered of late; says the NYT;

the woes of the bullfighting business have also been acutely felt in the countryside, where bull breeders are enduring the same boom-and-bust situation that has unfolded in Spain’s property sector.

The move is seen to as a further attempt to differentiate Catalan regional politics from the remainder of Spain. The Catalan ban has, however, spurred greater animal rights activism in the rest of the country, where various methods of killing bulls are still celebrated.

[Source: NYT]

The “child-like humanoid robot” was nominated by Aberystywth University’s Dr. James Law, a computer scientist – who argued that

A robot torch-bearer would be a fitting tribute to Alan Turing, and an inspiration to future generations of scientists and engineers.

Because the only thing more terrifying than a humanoid robot being given the secret of fire is a child-like humanoid robot being given the gift of fire.

Tech-wise, it’s actually pretty feasible, mind – there’s a 50cm Japanese robot doing the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii, after all.

[Source: Aberystwyth University]

The cathedral dean, Frank Nelson, was all for it, commenting that it made sense, seeing as rugby was often referred to as New Zealand’s religion. He also added that:

Central to Christian belief is that God became a human being in this world. What I want people to think about, is that if it were to happen today, why should he not be an All Black?

According to him some people were offended, but most thought it was a “great idea”.

After only a few days of it’s display, the painting was sold to an Australian collector, for an undisclosed amount, with NZ$1,000 ($795) of the proceeds being donated to charity.

Nelson then went on to divulge his love for the Springboks and say that his “world cup loyalties were divided, and that he’s “sitting on the fence on this one”.

Whatever priest, you better start leaning because you know who’s going to win.

Go Bokke.

[Source: news24]

Panasonic will be using three variants of their tiny robot, Evolta, and a set of three rechargeable AA-batteries to complete a triathlon.

Panasonic haven’t claimed that Evolta will beat any of its human competitors, what with an projected race time of one week, or 168 hours, achieved by recharging the set of batteries shared by the three robots as many times as necessary during the race.

The specifics of the race are as such: a four kilometre swim, a 180 kilometre bike ride and a 42 kilometre marathon, totalling some 225 kilometres.

The little guys competing in the cycling and running aspects of the triathlon are 23 and 25 centimetres high, while the swimming robot is 51 centimetres long.

So far, different variations of Evolta have done some pretty incredible things. They’ve scaled the Grand Canyon, tricycled in the Le Mans 24 hour race, and walked 500 kilometres from Tokyo to the ancient city of Kyoto, in western Japan.

Our very best, little guys.

[Source: AFP via Yahoo]

He claims that the popularization of the haka will “diminish it’s significance” and that “People are becoming so used to it, it is not a novelty any more and they don’t respect it.”

One of the flash haka performances actually attracted one million viewers on YouTube recently. According to Maori rugby historian, Malcolm Mulholland, the public displays are a wonderful way to display New Zealand’s indigenous culture to the world. He explains that they are “organised by Maori, exhibit Maori culture, are being done in a modern way and get crowds to stop what they’re doing and appreciate an aspect of Maori culture.”

On the other hand, online commentators said that it was an “interesting little dance”, but was “total overkill”.

This isn’t the first time the haka has come under scrutiny. In 1997, British pop group, The Spice Girls were labelled culturally insensitive when they did an impromptu version during a concert in Bali. Also, a New Zealand bakery chain was reprimanded when they featured an ad with gingerbread men doing a squeaky voiced haka.

The Spice girls? Really? Maybe De Villers is right.

[Source: news24]

CCTV footage of Mike “Boobs” Tindall’s conduct at the Altitude bar in Queenstown has since surfaced. Published by YouTube user pinksnz, who describes himself as a local bouncer, the grainy video shows Tindall engaging in overly friendly conduct with an unknown blonde woman. (Hint: She’s not his wife, Zara Phillips.)

While the overly friendly conversation did graduate to hand-holding, forehead kissing, and drunken team-walking, it’s difficult to make out whether Tindall did or did not bury his face in her breasts, as per accusations levelled at Tindall by the Kiwi media.

You can watch the full video here if you have the energy, and decide for yourself.

[Source : Stuff]

So whoever you are, I would like to direct you to these two links, here and here, outlining road traffic law, stating that cyclists may NOT ride through red traffic lights, nor may they ride next to each other on the road. It’s single-file, buddy. Not that we want to ruin your fun, as you chat to your buddies. But if you insist on maintaining such delusional arrogance to believe that you are actually above the law, then maybe we should be treating you like a child?

Can you believe it? He said he had been cycling for eight years and he should therefore have a better understanding of what the law states.

Turns out you’re wrong. And you’re arrogant. And you’re delusional. And you’re breaking the law. And your balls are showing. But more importantly, you’re setting a bad example for young children who watch you going through reds and cannot wait to get their first bicycle, so they can do the same. It’s a pity, because you’re ruining it for the other cyclists out there who are obeying the law.

So to answer our persistent question: YES, cyclists actually DO believe they’re above the law.

Times are SA times…

Sat 10 Sept 10:30am Argentina vs England

Sun 11 Sept 10:30am South Africa vs Wales

Sat 17 Sept 8am South Africa vs Fiji

Sat 17 Sept 10:30am Australia vs Ireland

Thurs 22 Sept 10am South Africa vs Namibia

Sat 24 Sept 10:30am New Zealand vs France

Sun 25 Sept 8:30am Argentina vs Scoland

Fri 30 Sept 9:30am South Africa vs Samoa (TBC – clashes with other shows)

Sun 1 Oct 9:30am England vs Scotland

Sun 2 Oct 9:30am Ireland vs Italy

We’ll also cover all four Quarter Finals on Sat 8 & Sun 9 Oct as well as both Semi Finals on Sat 15 & Sun 16 Oct and the big one – Rugby World Cup Final 2011 on Sun 23 Oct.

Feel free to interact with us on Twitter (@2ovfm), send us your thoughts, comments, concerns and highlights – we’ll discuss the best on air.

Led by champion paraglider Pierre Carter, and world-class climber Schwan-khart and Joined by an American and a Namibian paraglider, this will be the 3^rd peak in their ‘Seven Summits, Seven Flights’ mission.

Having already flown off Mount Elbrus, in Russia, and off Aconcagua, in Argentina, the groups mission is to ascend the highest peaks on every continent and paraglide off them.

When asked what is so special about Kilimanjaro, Carter said:

“Paragliding off Kilimanjaro will be different to the other flights because we will have 11 paragliders in the air simultaneously – it will be fantastic. This is a once-off.”

They will also be donating some equipment, such as a portable desk that stores water, to local kids near the ascent route.

Legends.

[Source: timeslive]

This, from Timeslive:

Popular Jacaranda 94.2 breakfast show host Darren Scott has resigned from the radio station amid allegations that he had made a racist remark towards a female colleague at the weekend.

In an initial statement released on the station’s website, station general manager Kevin Fine said allegations against Scott were being investigated. He did not elaborate or disclose the exact nature of the allegations.

A little later in the day, a follow-up statement revealed that Scott, a former East Coast Radio presenter, had resigned with immediate effect.

The statement said: “Darren was involved in an incident at the weekend that the station cannot condone. An allegation that he used a racial slur was taken very seriously indeed. Jacaranda 94.2 and its shareholders are committed to upholding the rights of the individuals who work for and with the station.”

[more here]

Eyewitness News Reporter, Mandy Wiener, tweeted a quote from Darren Scott, that read  ”I’ve never considered myself to be a racist. I accepted responsibility for making a racial slur.” Scott also confirm that he had only resigned from Jacaranda and was taking an “indefinite leave of absence” from SuperSport.

It was said on John Robbie’s 702 morning show that Darren Scott had been “drinking at the time and was provoked.”

News24 report:

The colleague, Africa Tshoaedi, was at the receiving end of Scott’s sharp tongue after Tshoaedi had failed numerous times to pay back monies that Scott had lent to him on several occasions.

The tongue-lashing began at a bar at the Mabula Lodge near Bela-Bela (Warmbad) where Jacaranda 94.2 had its annual team building.

According to an independent witness, Scott shouted loudly at Tshoaedi – calling him the k-word over and over while bystanders tried to silence him.

[more here]

Darren Scott’s PR media release can be seen here.

As the penny dropped for many devoted listeners this morning, it was clear that Scott will be missed by some. Whilst others have nothing but disdain for the incident.

You’re wrong, Divster87 – Not everyone uses it. I know it exists, but don’t use it and I have never had the urge to use it either.

Luckily for Jamie3769, another legend of SA radio, Ian F, is live on air from Johannesburg every morning on SA’s #1 online radio station, 2oceansvibe Radio.

Click here to listen on your computer or click here to listen on your phone or in your car.

[Image: Pixel Pro Photography]

Such a pity Bernard Swart from Paarl Gimnasium isn’t old enough to replace one of them yet. Check out his amazing 65 meter penalty kick below. He kicked the ball from behind his own 10m line to win it for Paarl Gym recently. The final score was Outeniqua Primary’s 14 to Paarl Gym’s 15 points.

[Source: IOL]

Take a look here, here, and here for some fundamental reasons why we don’t jinx ourselves.

It’s funny to laugh at those situations because those are examples of times when silly countries do silly things.

We’re not silly, Gautrain. Don’t ever do this again.

[Thanks, Dean Oelsch]

It’s called the  “The Hövding”, because the designers are Swedish. It works like a waterproof collar that expands into an airbag helmet when you’re struck by a hefty force. Which is a great party trick that I can see going places.

The helmet’s won a couple of other awards, but the Index is worth  €100,000 (about a cool million ZAR), so that seemed worth noticing.

[Source: Asylum]

[Thanks, BarnDog!]

Treat yourself to this very impressive “haka flash mob”, recently done at Sylvia Park in Auckland:

Also check out this rugby remake of Living Next Door To Alice, called 24 Years, here. These are some of the lyrics:

“Oh I don’t know how we got it, it should have been Japan, I guess they’ve got their reasons but I just don’t give a damn, Cos for 24 years we’ve been trying to get our hands on Webb Ellis (Ellis, where the f***’s Webb Ellis)

24 years waiting for the chance, We’re thrashing everybody then we go and lose to France, Now he’s coming back home, we’ll surely get our hands on Webb Ellis.”

[Thanks David!]

Sharapova just managed to grunt her way to a first round win yesterday over the 19-year-old British sensation, Heather Watson.

Some critics are saying that Sharapova intentionally grunts to scare her opponents, because, as Patrick McEnroe, US Davis Cup coach, notes, Sharapova doesn’t scream like that in practice.

Here’s a video of the last game in which Sharapova went on to win the tough three-setter against Watson:

That is some noise, Maria. Awful, actually.

We have all had this discussion before. It’s nothing new. The problem is that it’s getting so decidedly bad that people don’t even want to watch anymore.

At this year’s Wimbledon, also the tournaments 125th anniversary, the chief executive of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, Ian Ritchie, admitted tournament officials were becoming increasingly pissed off with this nonsense.

He said players suffered from an “education problem,” and that it’s mainly the younger players that are responsible.

The problem is that nobody has ever done anything about it so the players can’t really be blamed.

Cleverly, the BBC even setup a webplayer that allows viewers to use their grunt control device that basically allows you turn up the commentary, and turn down the screams.

The BBC Radio Player has a mixing desk and allows fans to fade up and down noises to get the perfect listening experience.

Tennis has long since been known as a classy sport dominated by classy players that understand what the word etiquette means.

I’m not saying Maria doesn’t have etiquette, but I am saying that her on-court vocal tract doesn’t.

She is also responsible for the loudest known grunt, blasting gaffers’ eardrums at 105 decibels back in 2009.

[Sources: BusinessInsider, DailyMail, Telegraph]

Anderson, who comes from a town called Wollongong (which is exactly as fun to say as it looks) hopes the installation will, “generate fresh conversations about the sustainability of high performance surfboards; including their carbon emissions, non-renewable resource consumption and disposal into landfill.”

The boards are in the process of being set up at Garie Beach, which sits in the Royal National Park between southern Sydney and Wollongong.

The installation is being funded by an Australian-themed Kickstarter program called Pozible.

[Source: Anderson's Blog]

Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala has agreed to pay a $39-million transfer fee to secure Eto’o, as part of a deal that will see the 30-year-old forward earning a net salary of $29-million per season.

Currently the only other sports star who rivals that income is Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso, whose contract with team Ferrari reportedly rakes in over $40-million per year.

Prolific goal scorer Eto’o has won more soccer accolades than any other African player. And he’ll now be earning more than the GDP of some small African countries.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Shame, we really do spoil you here, don’t we?

Note – this is for iCal (ie. Mac). If You are looking for the Rugby World Cup calendar for ALL OTHER DEVICES, click here.

If you don’t have a Mac yet, you can get one from Digicape and your life will instantly improve.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ICAL CALENDAR

Here’s something you might (or might not) want to try at home. Danny Macaskill is a Scottish stunt rider who’s won international acclaim, and even some awards for his skills on a bike. Think parkour on two wheels.

His latest video, Industrial Revolutions, was recently shown on British TV and features Danny and his trusty steed going to town on a railway siding. It needs to be seen to be believed. It looks so effortless. I’m prepared to bet it’s not.

Catch the video below, and more information on Danny [here].

[Source: dannymacaskill.co.uk]

[Image: Red Bull]

The next LFL season starts tomorrow. I can’t find a single thing wrong with this.

It all comes from passion, the passion that the fans show for their team.

You don’t feel that passionate about rugby? That’s cool. You can leave, I’ll keep chatting to these other dudes about the R100 000 they stand to win.

Right. Now that we’re alone, you should know that you have a very good chance to win R100 000.

Simply show the lengths that you would go to for your Currie Cup team via a photograph or video, and you could win R100 000.

Check out some the entries that have been sent in so far.

Contest details

Contest details

Surely there isn’t anyone as passionate as you, right?

Of course! So visit THIS WEBSITE, and:

Go go go!

Economy passengers can now lie flat, or curl up as a couple, although it has been pointed out by critics that only couples with fairly short legs – or parents with very small children – could feasibly curl up in the new beds.

Transport blog Autopia pointed out, “It probably works best if you’re not very tall or you’re traveling with kids… and that, of course assumes your traveling companion is actually someone you want to sleep next to.”

Mile high activities won’t be tolerated, apparently.

[Source: ioL]

Does he get bonus points if the kick is especially difficult? And by whose judgment? Are we talking Dan Carter difficult, or JP Pietersen difficult? Does he get extra statistical percentage points if slots a kick while blindfolded, under the influence of prescription pain medication, or with a backheel?

Help us work this out…

[Thanks, Simon!]

Vilnius is the capitol city of Lithuania – a place where they feel very strongly about cars parked in specifically allocated bicycle lanes. In this clip, the city’s mayor, Arturas Zuokas, can be seen literally crushing an “illegally parked” luxurious blue Mercedes – with an armored vehicle!

The stunt was set up by frustrated members of the mayor’s office after they received hundreds of complaints, especially from cyclists, saying that parked cars have been blocking their bike lanes. I love how the mayor acts all nonchalant and cool whilst crushing all that glass and steel beneath him – only to get on a bicycle and cycle off into the distance afterwards.

I wonder if such a campaign could be organised locally with regards to douche bags who park their shiny cars in handicapped zones? Either Helen Zille or Patricia de Lille would look BOSS on the back of one of these tanks!

[Source: Metro]