This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Springbok emblem: Does Butana Komphela have a point?
Sport
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle, Media, News/Politics, Sport
How little has changed. How much has changed
Now that my loved ones are safely in another country, I feel free to return to record the facts, fables, foibles and fantasies of surviving in South Africa. I put blogging on TL on the back-burner eight months ago after threats on my life and my children from supporters of Jacob Zuma. My landlord has […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
‘The Springbok emblem must go!’
South Africans in general, black and white, appear to have an allergic reaction to change. While we all recognise and acknowledge the need to transform public institutions in whatever form to be reflective of the society they represent, we are quick to oppose attempts to move towards that particular ideal. The ushering of democracy necessitated […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
On divisive symbols in the new South Africa
It seems that every other week we are confronted with the reality of an ever changing nation. Summer rolls around, housing developments go up, presidents change, ministers and premiers shuffle around. “We live in exciting times” is a refrain I’ve heard often over the course of the past two months. And every so often, in […]
Posted inSport
Luke Watson, international man of dysentery
If we ever held a contest to choose South Africa’s “foot-in-mouth sufferer of the year”, then Luke Watson would be unbeatable. The only time this genius seems to open his mouth is to change feet. What can be said about this national disgrace that hasn’t already been said about diarrhoea? The following was sent to […]
Posted inSport
Saru must come clean on De Villers ‘blackmail’ episode
When it comes to the new South Africa, Saru generally do the right thing. On issues of transformation, racism and policy, they can be relied upon for transparency and integrity while following clearly defined strategies. However when it comes to the issue of Peter de Villiers and the purported blackmail saga, they are not doing […]
Posted inLifestyle, Sport
A glimpse of the ‘good old days’
It’s Friday, it’s near the end of the day, it’s slowly nearing the end of the year, and if you’re like everyone I know, you probably need a break. My suggestion? Give yourself a few minutes for a good laugh and Yearbook yourself. What exactly does that mean? Well, there’s this website (www.yearbookyourself.com) that’s spreading […]
Posted inSport
What to do with racist rugby fans?
This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: What to do with racist rugby fans?
Posted inSport
Corne and the ‘Blitz’ Krige saga
SuperSport’s unashamed bias in rugby commentary is typified by the bland and bombastic commentator Hugh Bladen, who acts as a sort of glorified cheerleader as he yells out encouragement from behind the microphone. All that he’s missing is a skimpy skirt and a pair of generous boobs, although his banal comments act as boo-boobs quite […]
Posted inSport
Sporting success won’t fill existential void
The impending World Cup fever brings to mind some of my former triumphs on the soccer field. It was November 2004 and we were in the last minute of a hard-fought match. I received a pass and started a wide, outflanking run, neatly bypassing the cover defence before whipping the ball, left-footed, into the back […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
They call it trash talking, but it is plain old arrogance, bravado and a (customary) lack of humility
The Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva yesterday got the Olympic gold and a world record and Jenn Stuczynski of the United States got the silver and a lesson in humility … “I hope we do some damage,” she [US athlete said], “and, you know, kick some Russian butt.” Big mistake. Isinbayeva is Russian but understands […]
Posted inSport
Beauty doesn’t win rugby games
It’s not all bad, or all black, after the exceptionally disappointing 19-0 defeat against New Zealand on Saturday. Our team still managed to put together a number of very good-looking plays that saw us on the verge of a try many times throughout the game. The problem is that we never had the discipline to […]