I was listening to my mandatory 24 hour sport talkback radio station when something really interesting caught my ear…and I want to know what people think of this stat. Hold your hat ‘cos this is likely to blow it clean off!
Sport in Australia is followed, and reported on by over triple the number of journalists that cover politics, the economy and business all combined! Are you kidding?
Suffice to say I was a tad shocked by this revelation and whether or not it’s 100% accurate doesn’t bother me in the least. Because as I started to think about it after almost spilling my travel coffee all over me on Eastlink (and for those who take Eastlink I beg you to not look at the speed limit as the FASTEST you can go!!!), I thought…it might actually be right. So where does that put sport in the Australian way of life. Let’s look at it…
The obvious one is Melbourne Cup. Yep, the ‘Race that Stops the Nation’ is still one of, if not the only sporting events on the globe that demands it’s own Public Holiday. And do we love it?? Yes indeed. I still believe that we need the Wednesday as well but that might just be me. There are more instances of Australians’ passion for sport being above and beyond that shown anywhere else in the world.
Guess which weekend is least popular for weddings this year? If you guessed the first weekend of October…you got it! Blokes, but by no means is this exclusive to men, have an unwritten code that no wedding, birth, holiday or work event shall occur in the last week of September or the first week of October. Does that mean that the action between the sheets is at it’s least in March? I’ll let you guys tell me about that as I’d hate to make such serious allegations on that sensitive topic…
Legendary quote Hawkey
Cast your mind back to 1983. Who will forget old mate Bob Hawke and his infamous quote ‘Any boss who sacks a worker for not turning up today is a bum’ after Australia II won the Americas Cup. Bob happened to be in the 1st year of a record tenure for an ALP Prime Minister. Coincidence? I think not!
When you think back to the biggest sporting achievements by Australians, everything else pales into insignificance.
Who remembers what year Space Shuttle Columbia embarked on it’s first mission? Nobody…Australia II winning the Americas Cup? Everyone. 1983. Who remembers what year the Simpsons first graced our TV’s? Anyone? Nope. Who remembers what year Pat Cash won Wimbledon? Everyone. 1987. Just a couple of examples of where sport sits in our heads. Have you got any more? And is it any surprise then that we Aussies travel near and far to watch our ‘heroes’ (and they are aren’t they?) take on the world in ANY sport?
So yes. I believe that the media covering sport in Australia is indeed triple the size of those other 3 areas combined. And based on what sport can do to this nation, I’m totally in favour! Where we hope that our pollies do a half decent job, we DEMAND that our athletes and national teams excel. When our economy is in the toilet, we find solace at the pub watching our teams represent.
Careful Gallop!!
As far as I’m concerned, there are few more influential aspects of Australian life. Ergo, to all you athletes, coaches, teams and staff of clubs – remember what you represent, the people who’ve come before you and never forget that it’s bigger than you, it’s bigger than politics, it’s the biggest thing we Aussies know.
That’s my take. What’s yours?
YOUR say about OUR say!