Tim Blair

Perhaps Margo's verbal communication skills are on a par with her written skills, so she skips any potential fiskings.

What I found to be truly VICIOUS was the way Darryl Wakelin was constantly headbutting Lynch's fists! That's nasty! The worst piece of foul play since Nicky Windmar's infamous headbutt of Tony Lockett's elbow.

One very senior Herald figure said that “we wanted to get rid of Margo and the best way was to create a web presence for her and she would disappear, the woman is mad”.

Even the best laid plans go astray.

Great post Tim! Um... what sport are you talking about?

Really enjoyed the Sunday slot. Paddy doesn't hide his feelings. Mike Carlton must have been spoofing. The punditocracy surely doesn't believe that what would be a lie from Howard from Latham is just a red herring, or flexibility or another example of the several Lathams. Good try by you and Paddy to pin him down though. Sometimes though they are hilarious. Paul Kelly's Miracle in Play, sure is.A narcissist who has failed twice, not once, (shadow minister of ED) in a position of responsibility, because of his narcisissism, elected to PM would be a miracle. "Classic Latham, forget the policy and listen to me."
Identify Howard as a witch and burn him on a pyre and all of the plagues and pestilence will disappear is old hat for humanity however.

You'r a fair dinkum media pariah, cobber. Get in there and shout while you can. Have some fun. Only your sheep are listening anyway.

> It's likely to earn Lynch a posthumous suspension from the AFL Tribunal once it views video footage of a fight set to become a pre-grand final talking point for years to come.

Don't they at least get a chance to retire to stud or somesuch?

Actually Tim, I thought that you were very restrained and very dignified since you didn't leap across the table and punch the little f....r in the mouth. On the other hand, it's apparent that to really get through to Carlton one has to shout very loud indeed. In fact my better half was so incensed at Carlton's sneering and lack of manners she was moved to email with this:

"Quite by accident I saw your little bit on the Sunday Show this morning. You know, I'd heard that you were a bit of a wanker but since I didn't know you, never heard you, never read any of your stuff, your reputation didn't interest me much.
Now that I have been exposed, I feel bound to say that those many critics who describe you as an loud-mouthed, ignorant little prick have substantially understated the case."

Predictably, Mikey bit big and responded with a brief diatribe. Obviously can dish it out but can't take it. (Chuckle)

Tim, you should have purchased plastic nose and glasses from the toy shop to disguise yourself. Margo would have never guessed who it was.

MJ, it's Australian Rules Football, also known in some quarters as aerial ping-pong.

Oh, joy of joys! Miranda Divide is back.

What fun will be had.

Thank GOD Margo was not there. Cooties and all, you know. Ick.

I don't know who you are Miranda Divide, but obviously Quentin George does. Funny thing is, that it's not only the "sheep" listening, must also be the puppets because Tim's pulled your strings!

Can't think of any other reason you'd post here!

Only your sheep are listening anyway.

And you, to almost every word he says apparently.
Oh the power and sadness of the green eyed monster.

Tim, despite your best efforts on Sunday with the plastic turkey, a turkey journalist at the Adelaide Advertiser is reporting it today as a fact. Thoughts with Marty Smith?

Watched the Sunday Show interview quite deliberately, which caused my wife to comment ascerbically. Since Jana took over, it has declined markedly in quality, so I do not watch it now.

I thought you were quiet and dignified, and certainly came across as a more intelligent and thoughtful commentator than Carlton. Carlton was boorish and rude. His rude interjection to Paddy M "Here it comes!" when Paddy made a point about the insularity of the Canberra press gallery really marked him as what he is, a very small man incapable of any really worthwhile comment. But he is very good at bombast, and the shouting of dogmatic slogans. It really was a good session, and I was most impressed with your calm and rational commentary.

MarkL
Canberra

Paddy was good, too. Sure, his opinions were on display, but he was measured and logical.

"Jana Wendt was professional, friendly, and -- this you might not expect -- incredibly funny off-camera"

Angling for a regular gig Tim?

Tim, you did well on the Jana Wendt panel, and I loved Paddy's frequent mentions of Entebbe as an example of so-called 'pre-emptive strike', one which was clearly justified.

You were altogether too gentle on the David Marr wankfest on the radio on Sunday afternoon though.

Ever noticed how the ABC always labels non-lefties as 'conservative commentator' or 'right wing'? Well, after several complaints by me, and probably others, to the ABC, they have finally labelled a lefty! Yesterday on PM the journalist was referring to John Howard's education plans and introduced Peter Saunders from the 'free-market Centre for Indepependent Studies', a 'conservative thinktank'. No surprise with this labelling.

But next they actually referred to the 'left-leaning Australia Institute'.

About bloody time.....

Maybe our complaints can actually achieve something with Their ABC.

You mean the Ice Princess is actually funny? And here was I thinking she must have terminal leukaemia, she's so listless, ennervated and anaemic - a whiter shade of pale. Why doesn't she show any of her humour on TV?

Richard:
What I found to be truly VICIOUS was the way Darryl Wakelin was constantly headbutting Lynch's fists! That's nasty! The worst piece of foul play since Nicky Windmar's infamous headbutt of Tony Lockett's elbow.

It wasn't Winmar, it was Peter Caven who get his nose smashed by big plugger.

Also know as Peter Cave-in ;)

Great to have you back, Tim.

You refer to Finals Week as 'all consuming'. Consuming all the lager, I'd wager.

I wish we, your American readers, could see you on television here. Unfortunately, the Right here is usually represented on TV by rude goof balls like Bill O'Reilly or somnolent erudites like George Will. Oh, well.

And that Jana Wendt is even prettier than George Stephanopolus here but what's up with her feet in that photo? Is she a Hobbit?

Give poor Margo a break. She's also been very busy, investigating the
Vast Zionist Conspiracy.

hey tim, what was with carlton butting in while you were talking? next time could you please do a 'ron casey' and punch him in the head really hard? thanks. rascoe

I think Paddy is a national treasure.I worry though that he won't survive to many more discussion panels.I was waiting for him to have a heart attack on the set, being so florid and all.He has stated that he has no intention of carking it because of the joy he gets from baiting people like Carlton.Great T.V. I hope to see more stuff like it.Bring back the biff.

Tim, without criticising the content of your Margot bashings (rather the frequency), I think she might have opted out because she knew she doesn't have a chance of communicating with you. Admit it, you do have something of a vendetta when it comes to Margot. Anyone would think it was her running for PM. Ride that scapegoat, baby.

I am a bit upset with Margo.While Tim was swanning around Melbourne I posted on Margo's web diary.Just because I didn't agree with her view and tried to make a point that some people I know believe that the Jews rule the world,I got banned.Before my banning I got my name emboldened.It felt like big brothers identification mark then to be shot off into the blogosphere,never to return.Not happy.

Maybe the Margoyle would be more interested in confronting Tim if he converted to Judaism before the next scheduled debate...

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Now I know I am barred.
Needless to say no offending comment was in my post.
She is a tin pot dictator in Margoland .

Arrrggg, clicked on the Margo link, then when the page opened I compounded my error by reading one of her deranged ramblings. I couldn’t help myself, it was like picking a scab you know you would be better off leaving alone. I feel noticeably dumber after reading only 3 paragraphs on God knows what she is going on about.

In future if you must provide links to this sort of rubbish please provide a warning.

.

In response to a question from Margo asking me when she didn't post my comments I responded by noting the following topics ;

Now we know he lied.
Family first
Closing down dissent(2nd post).

Then I received the following notification;

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What's offensive in that?
I have seen some really bad threads here that go for ever before a warning is issued then a ban.Unfair Margo.

Sorry for the double post.

Dear Tim,

Your comments about Lynch:

"It’s probably wrong to judge a 306-game veteran on a single bad match, but Lynch should be made to eat his own weight in sarin-laced dog meat."

are a gratuitous load of garbage. Damm right it is wrong! It would be just as wrong for me to say that you are an ill-informed, psuedo-journalistic hack for this gratuitous attack on one of the best players of his generation. Where do you get off on saying he should eat "sarin-laced dog meat"? Didn't Port win by enough to satisfy your glee? Talk about a disproportionate response.

Regards,

Baci1999.

On an unrelated topic.

Anybody know what's happened to steynonline? Either I'm being blocked by Big Brother or it's down.

Dear international readers, please don't believe Tim.
I'm a naturalised Australian, from Europe; I have a true-blue Aussie wife, happily eat Vegemite, came to like cricket, all-in-all, I love this great nation.
But the sports they play here are abominable; the highlights (lovingly shown on TV) are, when troglodyte types punch the sh*t out of each other; the game itself, I mean the part when they play the ball, is utter boredom; tricks, which could be picked up by a baboon in 5 minutes, repeated over and over and over.
Sorry... I feel better now.

I don't know who you are Miranda Divide, but obviously Quentin George does. Funny thing is, that it's not only the "sheep" listening, must also be the puppets because Tim's pulled your strings!

Can't think of any other reason you'd post here!

Miranda Divide is one of our less able trolls. She's kept here out of a sense of pity - that's the "compassionate conservative" in all of us.

New Chum: so do you think soccer is more interesting?

As an aside, the tribunal should send Lynch to boxing lessons as a part of his punishment. Not one punch landed!

New Chum

I could; not, disagree: more;

Tim, I hope you'll be as generous to the NRL Grand Final this Sunday as to the AFL. Half the Australian population know little and care less about AFL, but are passionate about RL. Let's see some balance here.

Go the Dogs!

As an ex-NewSouthWelsh person, it pains me very slightly to admit that Aussie Rules players are not only prettier than Rugby players but they are also true athletes with beautiful, lithe bodies that display very well in those short shorts and sleeveless tops. When fighting, however, they look as ugly and ridiculous as anyone else doing the same.

Do they still play rugby league? I thought it died out a few years ago. Then again, when 12000 people at a game is considered a good crowd, that is hardly a surprise.

Attila: 80,000 at the Grand Final. And don't forget, in such a boring place as Melbourne, there's nothing else to do. Which of course is why so many Mexicans are swimming the Rio Grande to get to Sydney(with all due respect, Tim).

Let's see some balance here.

Balance? The NRL final is between two of the most hated teams in the comp, the rotten Rorters and the Rapists!

I can't even cheer for the game itself to win.

NRL- and the winner is kerry packer/the waterhouses and sundry other game fixers...

Re: Jana Wendt

I predict a long and lucrative television career for this attractive newcomer.

What I really want to know is whether Tim is being facetious. I remember Jana Wendt from her "60 Minutes" days way back from, oh, maybe 10 years or more ago.

Come on, baci - one of the key problems Brisbane have always had is that Lynch (when he plays) ISN'T one of the great players of his generation. They are stronger across the field than other comparably dominant teams from the recent past (Hawthorn in the late 80's, Essendon in the late 90's), but both of them had a truly great full forward (Dunstall & Lloyd), one who regularly notches up 100+ a season.

Lynch did what Matthews wanted - used enough muscle to dominate a couple of backs, kicked a couple himself, and regularly delivered to the ground for the crumbers & opportunists. Worthwhile job, but if offered Lloyd, do you think he would have said, "Nah, I'll stick with big Al"???

Better than competant & a diamond geezer? Absolutely. An all time great in his position? Not on your life.

All that being said - what a great game. And Wanganeen? Unbelievable.

The crazy cartoonist at the Oz...Bile Leak deserves a belting for his latest efforts.The "condemned mans plea used as biles political twist? Tim....Give that man a flogging.

Perhaps Alastair Lynch remembered when Wakelin punched him in the guts in the 2002 Grand Final. As usual, Wakelin got away with it.

I am also still wondering why Burns was not reported in the 2003 Grand Final for his hit on Jonathan Brown especially when Guerra was reported for a similar hit in the Grand Final of the 2004 pre-season comp. I guess we'll all die wondering about that one.

An appropriate send off for Chemical Ali. The very definition of poetic justice.

Still, the Bears had a good run. $200,000 per flag is an absolute bargain.

PHS

Anybody know what's happened to steynonline? Either I'm being blocked by Big Brother or it's down.

Someody is sabotaging Steynonline. On the w/e the site was down for half a day. Now it's another day. We it came back on Sunday, Mark said he had no explanation for the prolem.

Jana been around for "10 years", Janice?

Well I never.

I thought she was just another fame whore from Big Brother.

Sabotage may be as adequate an explanation for Steynonline as anything else. Hugh Hewitt has had the same problem. He has been down any number of times,technical reasons and otherwise. A child porn site once replaced his site. Steyn and Hewitt are effective and salient counterpoints to both the hard left like MoveOn and the lack of coverage by the MSM. Rather would be safely home without the Internet. The eye for an eye season may be upon us. Or not, who knows.

Janice

Have just seen your post:

Aussie Rules players are prettier than RL players in the same way that girls are prettier than men.

Aussie Rules players are prettier than RL players in the same way that girls are prettier than men.

I don't know what dyke bar you hang out in Freddy Boy, but I haven't met any women who have the build of AFL footballers.

Could just be sunspots, but I cannot raise Currency Lad's website today. Is it part of the vast left wing conspiracy?

The rain it diddnt STOP STOP STOP
till they had all pissed off off, off choco I hope you brought your brelly

Does anyone else think Peter Burgoyne should have won the Norm Smith medal? He seemd to be everywhere it mattered when Port wanted to press forward.

“Lynch (when he plays) ISN'T one of the great players of his generation.”

I just looked up his goal stats on the AFL site. He’s ranked as the sixth highest goal kicker between 1993-2004. Don’t know much about the game, but surely this would imply he’s no slouch? For the record, Lynch had 528 and Dunstall 467 (but perhaps Dunstall had a lot more pre ’96?).

Wasn’t Lynch also the oldest player in the AFL at 37? Give him a break. In any book, that’s a pretty fine effort and I’d challenge anyone to try and play top-level sport beyond their early 30’s. Don’t spray the bloke because he tried to clock a defender who does nothing but niggle and shove relentlessly. If half these blokes with their niggling tactics played a rugby code they’d have their blocks smacked within seconds, which is what they all need.

At least it’s better than soccer.

Dunstall - 1254 goals, 100 in a season six times, premierships in 86, 88, 89 and 91, All Australian 88, 89, 92 and 94.

And as a St Kilda supporter, I could go on about Plugger as well....

Lynch is definitely "no slouch" - he's just not one of the all time greats in his position.

Give me the equine strength 'roids that Lynch managed to get sanctioned for his illness, and I'll be playing till I'm 57...

He's an overcelebrated hack, who got away with borderline tactics for most of his Bears career, and it finally came back to haunt him in his final game.