July 06, 2003

AUSTRALIANS RAMPANT

Australian Bradley McGee claimed the first yellow jersey of the 2003 Tour de France, Australian Mark Webber qualified in the top ten for the French Grand Prix, Australian Todd Woodbridge won his eighth Wimbledon doubles title, and tonight Australian Mark Philippousis will win the mens singles title. Old Europe trembles at our might.

Posted by Tim Blair at July 6, 2003 03:45 PM
Comments


It is quite ticklish to me that a sporting event -- the subject of enormous fascination in Belgium and France -- can at once be both completely ignored by Americans, while still being utterly dominated by one.

I'll certainly be pulling for your boy, assuming Armstrong falls back.

Posted by: Andrew at July 6, 2003 at 04:16 PM


It is quite ticklish to me that a sporting event -- the subject of enormous fascination in Belgium and France -- can at once be both completely ignored by Americans, while still being utterly dominated by one.

I'll certainly be pulling for your boy, assuming Armstrong falls back.

Posted by: Andrew at July 6, 2003 at 04:17 PM

Congratulations....but how many Aussie field goal kickers are there in the NFL?

Posted by: wallace at July 6, 2003 at 04:18 PM

Andrew, you've gotta root for our boy. We do the pulling.

Posted by: slatts at July 6, 2003 at 04:28 PM

Looks like there might be a couple of them, Wallace.

Posted by: tim at July 6, 2003 at 05:20 PM

I am so behind Phillipousis in today's final - to come back after the physical trauma he suffered makes him a champion regardless of the outcome of the final.

Posted by: Phil at July 6, 2003 at 08:13 PM

"Old Europe trembles at our might."

As well they should! Congrats, friends.

Posted by: Barbara Skolaut at July 7, 2003 at 12:09 AM

Webber just came sixth at the French Grand Prix.

This boy's got the goods.

Posted by: Damian P. at July 7, 2003 at 01:00 AM

Robbie McEwen should be good to win one of the sprint stages as well, IMO.

Posted by: Roger Bournival at July 7, 2003 at 01:29 AM

Robbie finished second behind Alessandro Petacchi for the Stage 1 finish...

Posted by: Roger Bournival at July 7, 2003 at 02:06 AM

...and the Scud came out second best in the Wimbledon final against the young Swiss.
Pretty convincing performance at that. Mark never looked like getting back.

Posted by: Clarke Kent at July 7, 2003 at 03:22 AM

Can McEwen climb? I thought he was a track guy? Good show though.

I hope to spend my 40th birthday (July 13,04) in France next year. A Gloriously Drunk Ugly American, rooting for Lance to break the win record. I need to work on the words to ''The Yellow Jersey of Texas''.

Posted by: Jim Harris at July 7, 2003 at 04:43 AM

Belief that sporting achievements are evidence of national superioity is conclusive proof of national inferiority.

Posted by: Mork at July 7, 2003 at 10:18 AM

Tim, how'd you miss Anthony West's 250cc GP win at Assen? The first win for an Aussie at that level for 250s in around 24 years. Also, Mat Mladin racing in the US AMA 'bikes is in a fighting position for the title. Go Aussies!

Posted by: Jake D at July 7, 2003 at 11:14 AM

Scud just got scuppered by a cheese-eater; and their cheese is full of holes as well!
Looks like the epithet "Scud" is pretty accurate- noisy, flashy and couldn't hit the side of a barn.

Posted by: paul bickford at July 7, 2003 at 11:34 AM

Belief that trite, throw-away mumblings offer insightful comment is proof of a wasted five minutes. How's Mindy these days?

Posted by: Jake D at July 7, 2003 at 12:06 PM

Too true, Jake D. And Mindy's fine.

Posted by: Mork at July 7, 2003 at 12:21 PM

Field goal kickers? Who cares? There are a few major league baseball players, though... I seem to remember an all-Aussie battery of (thinking) Graeme Lloyd and Dave Nilsson a few years back for the Milwaukee Brewers, even!

Heck, according to Flintoff and Dunn's Australian Major League Baseball website, there have been 90 players in Aussie pro ball who have made it to the Big Show... see http://www.users.bigpond.com/goreds/USMajors.htm for the list.

Posted by: Wonderduck (formerly just Eric) at July 7, 2003 at 03:01 PM

Mark Phillipoussis losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon Grand final, Webber coming sixth in a French Grand Final, and Robbie McEwen coming second in a stage one final in France.
Onya, Australia - proudly uphold the ancient and noble tradition of being the second best!

Posted by: TimT at July 7, 2003 at 04:21 PM

Anthony-Fucking-West people! Pay Attention! Don't make me repeat myself (I become even more fixated)!

Posted by: Jake D at July 7, 2003 at 05:15 PM

BTW, Tim, they're not field goal kickers, they're punters . . . . . . . no, too easy.

Posted by: Mork at July 7, 2003 at 05:37 PM

Graeme Lloyd, Geelong boy, now playing with the Mets.

Posted by: slatts at July 7, 2003 at 09:02 PM