Monthly Archives: June 2015

Trees of life (and laughter)

Posted on by

FullSizeRender

From little seeds grow mighty trees.

I got thinking about this adage as I sat lazying in my garden, watching my two youngest children explore our biggest garden tree on Youth Day.

Daniella, just six, created her own magic tree, stirring up dreamy recipes and casual fun; a piece of bark here, a slip of cloth there. Her thoughts, her world.

“Come watch, dad,” she squealed.

I looked on in wonder and not a little awe. Something so simple made her feel so good.

Of course, little Alexei wanted in on the action too. He tackled the play ladder with gusto, exploring the lower reaches of the tree with a sense of bemusement and quiet terror. “Dada! Dada!” he wailed after a while, curiosity giving way to the fear I’m secretly pleased he still has. He will have all the time he needs to climb trees (and probably fall out of a few).

It was a morning that brought a rush of emotions, not least the satisfaction that such simple joys can bring to a young child’s life.

It was a reminder, too, to slow down and reflect.

Yes, it’s true – our kids are sometimes smarter.

Poaching the coaches – all change for SA rugby

Posted on by

images

These are good times to be a rugby coach. Or not.

Those on the outside looking in suddenly have a range of possibilities – four of South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises are looking for head coaches – but some, like Frans Ludeke and Naka Drotske, find themselves in the wilderness.

Such is the life of a sports coach where putting roots down is never a smart idea.

At the Sharks, Gary Gold has been kicked upstairs, leaving a vacancy for the Super Rugby job. Brad McLeod-Henderson won’t get it, though – he’s just quit as assistant.

The Bulls are also searching for a new main man after Ludeke suddenly found his time was up. Nollis Marais has been handed the Currie Cup job, but the more senior post remains vacant. Victor Matfield is the name on everyone’s lips, but caution best be the watchword. Martin Johnson’s haunted experience with England offers a valid frame of reference.

Backline coach Pieter Rossouw may also soon up sticks, although nothing has been confirmed.

Back in Super Rugby from next season, the Kings are after more than just top players. They are also pursuing a director of rugby and a coach. Given how the top men all get snapped up, each day that passes ratchets up the pressure. This is not good, particularly as the Kings need to fast prove themselves.

Even Griquas are after a coach after Maties swooped for Hawies Fourie, one of the shrewdest operators around.

The Cheetahs, too, are shopping. Promising Franco Smith has taken up residence in Drotske’s seat, but he needs a backline coach (Fourie did the job at Super Rugby level).

The Stormers also have more than just a big game on their mind this week. With coach Allister Coetzee on his way to Japan, there’s a major opening at Newlands. Discussions have taken place with a couple of interesting candidates, but money, more specifically not enough of it, is proving critical.

The scrambling behind the scenes is furious. It’s all change in South African rugby.

Hold on tight.

Sharks’ hard men will be missed

Posted on by

Du Plessis

 

Bethlehem is a town in the Eastern Free State named after the Hebrew term for “house of bread”.

It has more churches than you can throw a stick at and also the popular Wooden Spoon Restaurant. It is a wheat-growing region and where Free State Stars, the football side, are based.

Other than that, the town is unremarkable but for the fact that two magnificent rugby players were born there to Francois and Jo-Helene just over 30 years ago.

Afrikaner people, the Du Plessis are a family who has farmed for generations. Bismarck and Jannie grew up as typical boys of the veld, forearms thick and shoulders sturdy thanks to the demands of the land. It is probably why the pair has stood out for so long; the farms no longer produce the hard men who used to graduate so seamlessly to the Springboks.

You can reel their names off: Mannetjies Roux, Henry Honiball, Os du Randt, Hempies du Toit, Piet “Spiere” du Toit (grandfather of Pieter-Steph), Tiaan Strauss, Tommie Loubscher and so many more

Bismarck and Jannie were packed off to boarding school in Bloemfontein where they soon made a name for themselves at Grey College, South Africa’s prolific rugby nursery.

With Free State for so long a pipeline to Durban rugby, it was no surprise that Bismarck found himself in Durban 11 seasons ago. Jannie would follow in 2008 and together the pair would form one of the most lethal pairings in Super Rugby.

Jannie was that rarest of beasts, a tighthead who could not only hold up his end but impose himself. Strong and square, he set about establishing himself as South Africa’s most formidable number three.

If Jannie was cut from the traditional cloth that makes up a prop forward, Bismarck was positively freakish for a hooker. Broad across the chest and thick in the legs, he was more destructive than any hooker in Springbok history. South Africa has always taken pride in its physical prowess, but Bismarck elevated himself beyond the norm. He intimidated with his power and gave both the Sharks and the Boks a fiercely menacing edge.

Jannie became a permanent fixture, but Bismarck’s run through the years clashed with a prime John Smit. It was a tricky dynamic for management to juggle, but somehow they made it work, Smit even taking his protégé under his wing.

Remarkably, Bismarck still accumulated a record 130 Super Rugby caps and earned a reputation as one of the tournament’s hard men. Occasionally he veered into violence, as we saw earlier this season, but when you play as close to the edge as he does, you’re bound to slip up at some stage.

The pair became firm fixtures in the Sharks set-up, the ultimate tag-team, never far from one another in thought and deed.

They could also be cranky. It’s an open secret that they could be challenging to work with, as Jake White and others discovered. Ironically, they signed off for the Sharks yesterday and their next port of call is Montpellier where the man in charge is White.

This wasn’t by choice, mind. When they signed, White was still unemployed. No-one could have guessed there would be a reunion. It’s unlikely to be a warm one.

Bismarck would be the first to admit that he could be overly emotional, but is that really such a bad thing in a player? Emotion is often what drove him to such staggering heights as a hooker.

Were you to put together a Springbok XV made up of the best players post-1992, chances are good that the brothers Du Plessis would make the cut.

They already have a place in the record books as the most capped set of Bok brothers – 42 Tests together – and both have appeared in two World Cups. But for injury, they are likely to extend both counts in the months to follow.

They brought steel and strength to the Sharks and deserve immense credit for always being ruthlessly professional and loyal. Not all players are.

Together at the Sharks they never gave less than their best, always in the vanguard, always driven by the sweet smell of success.

Au revoir, legends. – © Sunday Tribune

 

 

 

 

 

Not wild about Deontay

Posted on by

Wilder

These are desperate days for heavyweight boxing.

Hours ago, Deontay Wilder defended his WBC crown by producing the sort of performance that would have inspired, rather than terrified, his rivals. He stopped Eric Molina, a rugged, earnest fighter, but hopelessly out of his depth, in nine rounds in Alabama.

Molina was hand-picked for Wilder to put on a show in his back yard, but it was a show pock-marked by hesitancy and poor form. Wilder has a monster right hand, but he seemed strangely disinterested in pulling the trigger against a man who was there to be hit.

Wilder rose through the ranks on a ticket of being flash and formidable, but for a man with claims to being the best in the division, he has many weaknesses. In the third he was heavily clocked and in some trouble – questions have long existed about his chin – and his inability to nail a B-grade heavyweight would have encouraged his rivals.

Chief among these is the Russian Alexander Povetkin, the mandatory contender whom Wilder must now face. The 35-year-old has lost just once, to WBA, WBO and IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko, and would give Wilder all the trouble he could handle.

A slew of other worthy challengers, chiefly Bryant Jennings and even Anthony Joshua, will sleep easily at the thought of fighting Wilder.

The American at least doesn’t pretend to be the finished article, but the concern is that the supposed standard bearer has so many weaknesses. We’ve had heavyweight champions like him before, but the division yearns for someone to excite in the manner of an Evander Holyfield (who was ringside) or Mike Tyson. The Klitschkos, for all their excellence, never did so.

I’m really hoping Wilder can take the big step up. Not only does he look the part, but he has an appealing shtick about him and the sort of backstory that will resonate with fans.

Wilder will be fun to have around for a year or two, but little about him, not even his remarkable 34-0 (33 KOs) record, indicates that he is the great redeemer.

I’m betting on Joshua being that man, in about two years, with bit-parts for Tyson Fury, Jennings and perhaps even David Haye, if he ever decides to fight again.

Banging it at Bounce

Posted on by

There’s a new game in town and it’s great fun.

Thursday night marked the official opening of Bounce, a rad new concept in sport, exercise, fitness and fun.

Housed in 3000m of space at the Waterfall Lifestyle Centre (near Midrand), it’s a neon-bright venue high on energy, noise and the sight of crazies bouncing off the walls and floors.

Styled as a massive indoor trampolining universe, it’s a concept aimed at kids and families who don’t mind a bit of wild action with their entertainment.

It’s a natural draw for adrenalin junkies, who can choose from plain trampolining to aerial manoeuvres, slam dunking, wall running (checkout the YouTube clip) and dodgeball warfare.

Bounce was started by a madcap Aussie in Melbourne three years ago and has since spread throughout the world with adrenalin junkies drawn to its off-the-wall appeal.

IMG_6890

A beaming Antony Morell, founder of the Bounce concept. He’s Aussie – but a good one.

You can walk in and bounce or book online (bounceinc.co.za).

For parents not willing to take their chances, there’s good coffee on tap and free wi-fi, so you can happily chill while the rug rats go crazy.

Just mind the bounce!

Rugby’s greatest poem

Posted on by

football_at_rugby

(I can’t be sure who penned this ditty, sent to me by an old mate last week. It’s magnificent, especially for those, like me, with rose-tinted specs and a yearning for history and tradition).

The rugby balls in my day, lad, were made of bloody leather,
A bladder stitched, with laces in, to hold the bastard together.
The ones today have adverts on, in supersonic plastic;
They’ll reach the sticks from miles away, toe-poked by any spastic.

The boots we wore were leather, too – wi’ toecaps like a brick.
We dubbin’d ‘em to last for years, the leather was that thick.
But now they buy ‘em twice a year, at sixty quid a throw,
like ballet-shoes, all soft and pink, wi’ fuck-all on the toe.

And we invented tie-ups. Our socks were made of wool.
Hung around your ankles, they’d hold a gallon each, half-full.
So we tied ‘em up. Or taped ‘em up. Either way, no fuss.
Bryan Habana in woolly socks? He couldn’t catch a bus.

We didn’t have post-protectors, like cushions in a pram.
What rugby-post can do you harm? An advertising scam.
And kicking tees. Kicking tees! With some so high, at that,
you could HEAD the pill between the posts, that’s any fucking twat.

And if the ref should send you off, he didn’t need a card.
We didn’t remonstrate at all – we’d make him drink a yard.
But now you get your yellow card – Ooh! naughty boy! smacked wrist!
Ten minutes off? Within the game? I’d come back on half-pissed!

And nowadays, if you should burst a pimple on your head,
you can have a blood-replacement – your mate comes on instead!
And half-a-Guinness later, or a few more, if your shout –
Your mate comes off; you go on; what the fuck’s that all about?

Gum-shields. Body armour. Like that American Football farce.
And passive scrums. Passive scrums? You can shove ‘em up your arse.
What we want is what we played – that’s eighty-minutes’ worth
of rugby -Rugby Union – the greatest game on Earth.

At that, my son, I’ll take “Time out” (another innovation!)
And summon up my aches and pains to find some inspiration.
We weren’t allowed a substitute: we turned out fifteen men!
A fucked-up shoulder: a broken nose: blood everywhere, we went back on again!

And every time the cold wind blows, and crippled with arthritis,
We curse the wounds of long ago that come back now to bite us.
We made a try: we saved a try: we played on, through the pain –
And crippled, cursing, bleeding – we loved the fucking game.

New shrine for petrolheads

Posted on by

 

IMG_6838

Even if you’re not a petrolhead – I’m not – it’s hard not to be seduced by shiny motoring machinery.

On Tuesday night, the covers came off the new Yamaha YZF-R1M at a suitably apt occasion, the opening of the swanky new F1 shop in Sandton City.

At R329 000 it’s probably not a buy for most of us, but happily there’s enough other motorsport paraphernalia to suit all budgets.

IMG_6847

You’ve normally got to trek to Grands Prix themselves for some of this swag, so it’s a great initiative in a city where motorsport is so popular.

Apart from the gear on sale, there’s plenty to see, not least Michael Schumacher’s Formula One-winning Ferrari from the 2002 race season and a replica of superstar Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP bike.

Given how motorsport, chiefly Formula One, has its fans in thrall, I’m betting the new spot does a roaring trade.

 

5th Street Gym gets back its groove

Posted on by
Ali

Through the years at 5th Street Gym. Pic courtesy Tom Tastas.

The new 5th Street Gym is carrying on the rich boxing history established there in 1950 by the famed Dundee brothers, Chris and Angelo.

Known throughout boxing as the world’s most famous gym, 5th Street Gym became a major attraction for boxers, international celebrities and tourists alike, originally due to presence of a rising star training there, Cassius Clay, who, of course, went on to become The Greatest, Muhammad Ali.

Hall of Famers and future inductees have trained at 5th Street Gym over the years, including Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Carmen Basilio, Archie Moore, Willie Pep, Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr and so many other ring greats.

thers who have been part of the experience are actor Matt Damon and comedian Dave Chappelle, in addition to elite athletes such as Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Lebron James, Green Bay Packers future Hall-of-Famer Julius Peppers and former UFC great George St. Pierre. 5th Street Gym’s history also includes legendary celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Sean Connery, Jackie Gleason.

The gym fell on hard times at one point but a revitalisation started in 2009, thanks to new owners Tom Tsatas and Dino Spencer, who re-opened the gym at its original location on 5th and Washington in Miami Beach.

In 2013, 5th Street Gym moved from its original location of 63 years, off and on, when CVS took over the property and forced the gym to move to its present location at nearby 1434 Alton Road.

“We’re slowly getting back” Spencer explained. “We’ve only been reopened since 2010 and in our new location since 2013. We have new people – trainers, manager and fighters – and offer unique opportunities for up-and-coming professional boxers. You can’t catch passes from Tom Brady but boxers can train here every day with champions and contenders. There are also ultra-successful people here who can teach boxers about how to be successful outside the ring. We’re creating an environment at 5th Street Gym to give young boxers every opportunity to succeed.

Logo

“Wildcard Gym (Los Angeles) is the number one spot today, but, on this side of the country, fighters from all over the world are coming here to train. Brian Jennings trained here for his fight with (Wladimir) Klitschko, Manual Charr trained here for his last fight, Anthony and Andre Dirrell have trained here, (Sergey) Kovalev, too. They get elite sparring here for their training camps. Some come here with their coach, others have me train them.

“A lot of boxing managers are here every day like John Seip and Charr’s manager was hanging out here, too. In fact, he’s interested in signing a fighter he saw at our gym. People from Warriors Gym are here a lot looking for young talent. These people can make a difference in a young fighter’s life.   Fighters are getting exposure here before they ever get to fight on TV. We also have great weather and all the amenities of South Beach. It’s only a matter of time before we’re back on top at number one.”

Times have changed and today the heart and soul of 5th Street Gym beats strong once again with world-class boxers training alongside supermodels Adriana Lima, Alessandra and Nina Adgal, as well as Grammy winner Cedric Gervais, just to name a few of the more notable non-boxer members working out there on a regular basis.

Once again, 5th Street Gym is the training mecca for world champions, top contenders and promising prospects. In fact, Seip discovered gifted Italian boxer Daniele Marco Scardina at 5th Street Gym and signed him to a professional contract.

Newly-crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion James DeGale trained at 5th Street Gym for his recent title-winning performance against Andre Dirrell, who has also trained here in the past, in Boston. DeGale sparred with the gym’s top amateur southpaw, Niko Valdes, to prepare for Dirrell. DeGale won a unanimous 12-round decision over Dirrell to become the first Olympic gold medalist from Great Britain to capture a major world title as a professional boxer.

“Four years ago,” Seip explained, “I moved my managerial company to Miami from New York City. It had become very difficult to find solid sparring in New York City, where boxing gyms were closing due to the demand for high rents. The 5th Street Gym has grown back into a big time professional boxing gym. I house all my fighters in Miami and they all train exclusively at 5th Street Gym for boxing and conditioning. There are pros who fly in from other countries to prepare there for fights. The atmosphere is incredible and professional boxers, heavyweights to featherweights, spar there three or four days a week. Let’s face it, sparring is like a classroom and it’s pivotal for pros to prepare and learn. The teachers at 5th Street Gym — Dino Spencer, Guy Laieta and Louis Perez – are all top rated. It’s also a fun place to hang my hat. You cannot beat Miami weather for training, either.”

 

 

The curse of the cliché

Posted on by

cliche (1)

There’s an insidious disease spreading through South Africa’s corporate world.

In meeting rooms and around water coolers, it pummels every conversation, slowly sucking the life from its victims.

We’re all guilty of it to some degree, but it has reached ridiculous proportions. I’m talking about the common cliché, which is just as entrenched in South African life as corruption and bad driving. Everyone does it.

We love uttering clichés. It’s the lazy way of talking. It’s also an illness that has spread to radio where breathless announcers happily butcher the language by chipping in with their beauts.

Herewith the hit parade of clichés adored by South Africans:

Going forward – As opposed to, what, going backwards? Unless you’re a tank driver, this has no place in the English lexicon. May its use die. Quickly.

At this time – Why use one word when you can use three? No, no, no. Just say “now”.

On the ground – Unless you’re a parachutist or a pilot, this is utterly superfluous. Where else would things be happening – in the air?

Out-the-box thinking – This is just nasty. Don’t.

Break down silos – Like all clichés, the first person who used this line sounded smart. After hearing it a million times, not so much. It’s lame and pretentious.

Take it offline – Proof that there is an alternative to English. It’s called dreck.

Paradigm shift – Awful. A crime against language.

At the end of the day – Save me.

Blue sky thinking – Sweet. But kak.

It’s gone viral – Er, because someone sent a tweet?

Personally – Because you usually talk on someone else’s behalf?

To be honest with you – As opposed to being, what, dishonest?

Win-win situation – Marketing-speak on steroids.