o sung wo I have a Christmas/sporting tale to tell.
I have said before I am from a VERY large family, we once sat 37 down for the hot Christmas dinner.
I have not yet had my wish, sea food and salad, I as eldest inherit the need for the traditional.
Only one wing of the tribe here this year mate who is also my brother and his.
We will feast for two days and its not the food I look forward to.
Not the few too many beers.
Its to sit with him and his teenaged kids and watch both the start of the Hobart race and the Boxing day test.
The phone will run hot as family, strangely having the Christmas fare I beg for ring.
Sport will invade even that, we follow different football teams and that makes for insults in the Aussie way harmless fun.
Not a lonely old man old but content, wives of some of the family, maybe rightfully so, have kept us not so close.
But even in OUG s Christ Mass joy we unbelievers will have a wonderful time may each and every one of us do just that go the Aussies too.
We should never forget the part sport plays in Australian life and the great mateship it brings us.

Thinking about the thread & it's title, I think the best sport, so the best one to excel at, is equestrian sport.

It, & perhaps shooting, is the only major sport where men & women compete on a totally equal footing, with equal chance of winning.

As an old instructor once told a class at an Eventing school, "it is not just knowing how to ask your horse to do what you want it to do that wins in Eventing, it is knowing how to convince your horse that that is what he wants to do".

Here ladies have a considerable head start. In my experience, they have been practicing that skill, from the moment they first net a boy.

Besides, have you ever noticed what great figures horse riding ladies have?

I have noticed Hasbeen but while every one has every right to the choice in sports I could not watch such events.
Once at a country camp draft found picking who was far too drunk to ride any thing was the only interesting thing.
Ambo saw my mind and told me he could not wait for some one to break a leg so he could leave!
Bloke opening the gate to let the cattle out, after about 20 beers set the ambo free after being kicked on falling under one.

yes belly..those opening the gate..to allow the rider..to ride
for 8 seconds..[get little recognition..

anyhow../the rodeo clowns are the real heroes]

tell..me is it true..they make em buck..
by tying string around their nutt..?

Picasso..really..comprehended the bull
http://www.google.com.au/images?q=piccasos+bulls&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&client=firefox-a&gfe_rd=cr&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=Pw-1UrP1HYuSkgXt24D4CQ&ved=0CCgQsAQ

but bull 'fighting'..is just slaughter
the bull-jumpers..now they got..style

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bull-leaping.jpg

bull running is for fools

Hi there FOXY...

I totally agree with your remarks concerning the humanity and kindness that emanates from our friend, ONE UNDER GOD. One could do a lot worse than have this gentleman in your corner, such is his empathy and compassion.

G'day there BELLY...I fully concur with all that you say about the benefits of sport !

I too recall Christmas with family, and with those of our family who didn't wish to enjoy it with us ? Going on duty, when everyone else was settling in for the cricket on Boxing Day. Our collective tummies full to the brim, post a magnificent Christmas Day luncheon, while I had to remain 'dry' before starting work on a 3.00 to 11.00 shift ?

Though, while I had to work, I did enjoy a warm family get together as part of Christmas. But driving around Redfern, seeing these poor lonely buggers, friendless, staggering around Eveleigh and Caroline Streets, drunk as lords on cheap plonk, yelling abuse at us...makes you realize BELLY how lucky we are to spend Christmas, even part of Christmas, with loved ones, and with someone who loves and cares for us.

Life can be bloody cruel I reckon. When we're deprived of the usual things we take for granted eh ? You're correct when you say;
'...we should never forget the part sport plays in Australian life, and the great mateship it brings us...' BELLY, you are soooooo RIGHT my friend.