Just an Aussie rant...
Just an Aussie rant...
Author
Discussion

hsvgtscoupe

Original Poster:

2,535 posts

252 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
Wot is it with the UK??? (well Oxford anyway!)
I just don't get it....
Your national cricket team & current holders of the Ashes are playing in the big 1st test & not a single pub within 30 miles of my place is open & showing it! The few "late licence" joints around are too busy filling students & chavs with half price shots to have a bar with Sky Sports for any punters interested. That however seems to be the bigger problem - supply & demand - no poms seem interested in watchin the game in a pub with other punters; otherwise I assume the pubs would be showin it.

Is this the problem with sport here & why "generally" england are crap at consitently winning anything? (Unless it's a bunch of overpaid, diving hairdressers who score about as often as the pope, there seems no passion from Joe public, let alone a positive "winners" atitude? Regardless of current form, you guys should be givin it to us big time as current Ashes champs - I just dont get it - nobody cares.

If the world underwater basket weaving championships were on in the UK (cos lets face it, that's where they'd be held! )& there was an Aussie side involved, regardless of how good or bad we were, there would be punters watching it in a sports bar or pub in most Aus towns during the wee hours.

Passion = interest = success. All three seem absent from sport in this country & you seem destined to always remain the kings of "one in a row"!

Funniest thing is that phoning around a few pubs last night, a few commented they'd had a few calls asking "where can we see the ashes?" but mainly from Aussies!

OK.. if you've read this far, thanks! rant over.. let the bullets fly!
J

stigcv8

22,454 posts

232 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
no the problem is we have industry and jobs and exports and goods to manufacture so we have to put sport as either a past time or let some school drop out give it a go.

Now dont get upset, I do realise that Aus does export some shite tv that my missus endures for hours on end each week and she would be lost without that great invention the rotary washing line. It has made her tumble dryer redundant!

caspy

1,791 posts

258 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
One in a row!!!! Tempting fate me thinks!!!

PS

I know that statement will come back and haunt me!!!

Alex

9,978 posts

306 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
The Ashes urn is really tiny, you know. You don't realise how small it is until you see it next to the Rugby World Cup.

hsvgtscoupe

Original Poster:

2,535 posts

252 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
.. but all colonial & pommy bashing aside; my question still remains...
why can't you find a pub that shows the ashes on a weeknight?
Despite us losing the cricket last year, I'm sure all Aussies & Poms alike will agree that the last ashes series was possibly the most exciting test series ever - being a newcomer to the UK then & knowing what a frustrating record you had in the past, I thought it seemed great for the sport in this country the real groundswell that the series created, bringing cricket passion & success to the masses once more - it seemed that it was the best thing that could of happenned to english cricket but 18 months later & it's all vanished - kinda sad really. As I said, I just don't get it - no real passion - sad but true.

stigcv8

22,454 posts

232 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
because it is oxford, there is no decent pubs there any more. We used to go over the the railway in wheatly for any sport but thats a hell of a treck in a taxi

huffy

352 posts

242 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
hsvgtscoupe said:
cricket.......exciting


Personally speaking, not two words I would use in the same sentence however in answer to why pubs don't show sport, having made enquiries in the past I have been told that sky for a pub is priced diferently to home user stuff and basically they have to pay to broadcast events - bottom line, they can't be bothered to waste the money - one pub manager suggested the cost ran to 4 figures - don't know how accurate that is but I have asked in more than one place and the response has always been the same

Raggyman

2,317 posts

265 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
Well, I have my boxing Kangaroo flag up here at work. Within the team, everything is sweet, but waiting for other to remove the flag. (think it is going to be the same problem as you Julian with your unit).

Anyhow, the thing here is that they wouldn't show it because 1) it ain't soccer. 2) most people couldn't be bothered, but they will speak up if they win, even though they know nothing obout the sport. Supprisingly still hearing about the bloody world cup win. Anyhow, no mention of the 8 wins of the ashes we had before we lost last years!

I think the difference is, is that we are indifferent if we win or loose, as long as a good game was played, and we did the best we could.

I am not supprised that you can't find a pub that is playing it, cause they wouldn't stay open unless they made money out of it.

stigcv8

22,454 posts

232 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
yeah plus its cheaper for them to air question time...

Raggyman

2,317 posts

265 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
They pay for a monthly subscription regardless of what they show. Atleast that is what it is like at the Walkabout anyhow.

I know my mate Dave and the manager have the couc out on the dancefloor watching the ashes on the big screen. Oh, to only be there to watch the ashes and drinking beer!! Almost as good as being at home.

Think if you find a walkabout you should be right.

Actually... there is a program called www.tvunetworks.com, you might be lucky and find a channel that has the ashes on it. Channel 10 Australia was on there a few days ago, so you might find atleast one of the channels has the cricket on.

Paul.H.

510 posts

238 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
hsvgtscoupe said:
.. but all colonial & pommy bashing aside; my question still remains...
why can't you find a pub that shows the ashes on a weeknight?


...that's 'cos it's on at 01.00 each morning & apart from weekends, you'll have a hard time finding ANYWHERE open at that time! Plus we don't want to upset the minority of people who usually complain at anything just because it's English...ooop's - enough said!!! We can't fly the St Georges or Union flags 'cos it'll upset....'certain' sect's!

yorkkie

544 posts

251 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
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how can a game that lasts 5 days still end in a draw. The grass growing is more interesting

Paul.H.

510 posts

238 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
yorkkie said:
how can a game that lasts 5 days still end in a draw. The grass growing is more interesting


To a degree, I agree - but you've obviously not played the game! You could say that about 11 people kicking a bag of wind around a pitch for 90mins, or 15 men chasing an odd shaped 'ball' around the same pitch for 80 mins & it STILL ending up in a draw when they haven't got out of the centre circle!!

yorkkie

544 posts

251 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
who said i havnt played! At least you can see the passion in a game of rugby. I agree about football mainly acting in shorts nice for the girls i spose

BigNige

2,584 posts

246 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
Cricket is the only sport I know that has meal breaks!

hsvgtscoupe

Original Poster:

2,535 posts

252 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
quotequote all
Test cricket is a game of depth, one you can watch & leave & come back again - it's a story that gradually unfolds; is a team sport with clear reliability on all team members as individuals. It's not short, sharp, smash & grab entertainment although it contains excitement, tension, action & drama. Name another sport that has all that? Limited over cricket is of course another story - that's all the above crammed into half a day.

You can sledge cricket all you like now guys but lets face it; all & sundry hopped on the bandwagon when you won the ashes! Like it or lump it, cricket is a British institution, but it's a sad fact that just about the only places it seems you can watch it live are "Aussie" pubs! Proof of my point that in general in the UK, there is a lack of positive passion for your potential sporting heroes - until that changes & the apathy that accompanies losing goes as well, I'm afraid England will pretty much remain the kings of one in a row!

BigNige

2,584 posts

246 months

Thursday 23rd November 2006
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You don't half rant don't you?

hsvgtscoupe

Original Poster:

2,535 posts

252 months

Friday 24th November 2006
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BigNige said:
You don't half rant don't you?

as the title says...

Raggyman

2,317 posts

265 months

Friday 24th November 2006
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All quiet around here at the moment.... I have no idea why....

But that is ok, just keeping them up to date with the scores as we go.. Aussie flag is still flying high! Going to print off an English flag, cause no one seems to own one here..

The Jackel

351 posts

255 months

Friday 24th November 2006
quotequote all
Yep but the Toon won last night so stuff the cricket!!!!!