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Matt Cleary’s article “What’s In A Name?” (Aug, #223) reminded me of my all-time favourite sporting name: Chuck Long. Chuck was a quarterback for Iowa before being drafted number 12 by the Detroit Lions in 1986. On debut he lived up to his name and produced his career highlight by throwing a 37-yard touchdown pass. His career petered out in 1991 after spending time at the LA Rams, so ending the career of one of the best (or worst, depending on your perspective) named sportsmen of all time.
- Tim Glennen, Bundoora, Vic
Aaron Scott came up with some strange conclusions in his article on Darren Lockyer (“Doin’ It For Darren” (July, #223). “Johns had a combativeness that has eluded Lockyer.” By what criteria did he come up with that one?
The most glaring omission, though, was where Aaron did mention that Locky had won two Golden Boot Awards, this being the International Rugby League Player of the Year Award; and he also noted that Locky moved from fullback to five-eighth. But he didn’t put the two facts together: Locky has won the Golden Boot Award for those two different positions. No other league player has ever been able to achieve that, and I’d be surprised if anyone else ever does.
I don’t usually agree with Phil Gould, but his statement that “the world’s greatest fullback is now the world’s greatest five-eighth” is spot-on accurate. The fact Locky will own virtually every Kangaroo record – for games played as captain, games played in total and tries scored, plus similar outstanding records for Queensland and the Broncos - closes the book on any argument about his record. It’s a shame Aaron missed his opportunity to communicate that.
- Alan Ashton, Albany Creek, Qld
In your comparison of Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns, I think you may have left out a line or two: Johns was an illegal drug-taker, Lockyer was not. No one will ever know how and if Johns’ performances were the result of drug-taking.
Locky will always be the ultimate professional footballer to me and I’d much rather my kids look up to a player like him than the sad character named Andrew Johns. People forget that sometimes great leaders are those who lead others to greatness and bring out their best. Johns, to me, was a good footballer, but a poor leader – an opinion that he just keeps proving, even in retirement.
- Bradyn Murphy, Gold Coast, Qld
Thanks for writing. You may have a point, if it could be argued that Johns’ drug habits were even remotely performance-enhancing. They were more likely highly debilitating. Ed
Thank you for an article that was not only well-timed, but well-written. As a huge Brisbane Broncos fan, a diehard Queenslander and a proud Kangaroos supporter, nothing pleased me more than purchasing your July issue and finding Darren Lockyer grace your cover. Shane Webcke highlighted that the influence he has and the respect he is afforded is greater than any other present-day rugby league player. Like Webcke, Petero Civoniceva has the upmost respect for Darren. For Petero to say “he’s seeing things on the field that no one else would ever see unfolding” is the ultimate mark of respect in my book and brought a smile to my face.
That’s the thing about Darren Lockyer: he’s got that extra gear and just a little more ticker than his opponents. Take a handful of his greatest moments, rewind back a play or two, and you’ll see a genius at work. All greats of the game are thinking one or two plays ahead and taking a risk, and it’s proven a very successful way of thinking for Darren. So many memorable league moments have a hint of Darren Lockyer greatness punching another notch in his irreplaceable belt.
- Sammy D, Darwin, NT
Whatever it takes, we must get Jose Mourinho to coach the Socceroos. He’s a winner and the FFA should be doing everything it can to snare this coaching genius. He’s a master tactician, installs confidence in his players and leaves no stone unturned in his endeavour to breed a winning culture at every club he coaches. Most importantly, his players respect him and want to win for him. His results are outstanding and speak for themselves. It’s a shame that Pim Verbeek didn’t adopt that same “winning attitude”. Who knows how far Australia could’ve gone at the World Cup?
- Garry Jacobs, Arundel, Gold Coast, Qld
John Aloisi agrees with you on that last point. Check out his interview on page 30. – Ed
“Game, Nadal ... Nadal leads by four games to two and by three sets to love” is something you’ll never hear because it is, quite simply, pointless. It’s a bit like the third Origin match when one side has already won the series by winning the first two games, something that’s happened 15 times in the 29 years since 1982. Why do we bother? With Tests and other cricket series and in rugby competitions like the Bledisloe Cup, the situations are a little different: those competitions are stand-alone events. In the case of Origin, it’s a competition shoe-horned into the middle of the normal and long-running club comp, causing immense disruption.
Let’s eliminate dead rubber matches. Sure, there are issues with ground hire, TV programming and so on, but they’re not insurmountable.
- Tom Bradley, Brisbane, Qld
