#National Sports Award 2023

[batshit-auspol]

When creating the new Australian National University in 1946, the Australian parliament can probably be forgiven for being far too polite to ever raise the suggestion that the acronym ANU may one day lead to problems.

And so it is in the year 2023, that Australia's highest ranked university has to regularly remind people not to add a possessive 's' to their name in headlines, lest the web address be shortened like so:

Likewise the unfortunately named ANU Sports has to go to great lengths to make sure that their name never appears as an acrostic, or on a single line without spaces:

But the award absolutely must go to the ANU Soccer Club magazine, cheekily named 'SCUM' by a student in the 90s much to the ongoing horror of design teams to this day

[extraliga-related]

With everything that's been going on lately, here's a short non-comprehensive accumulation of things that could be called progress regarding relations between men's hockey and being queer:

The 🇦🇺 AIHL's Melbourne Mustangs, advocating for trans rights in sports since 2017, and the same team in 2023, donning pride jerseys designed by former goalie (and twin sister of Ty) Tia Wishart who is part of the LGBTQ community.

Jase Polglase of the AIHL's Central Coast Rhinos who puts pride tape on his stick every single game.

Robert Dowd and Marc-Olivier Vallerand having a dance after a win with the Sheffield Steelers.

Starting off with individual efforts, the 🇬🇧 EIHL has since extended their pride event to the duration of a full weekend following a conjoint initiative by the teams' fanbases in 2019.

Zach Sullivan, one of the few out queer athletes in the sport, felt supported enough by his team to come out as bisexual ahead of the Manchester Storm's pride game in 2020.

Danish goalie Jon Lee-Olsen came out as gay a year prior and was reportedly supported by his teammates.

The 🇸🇪 SHL lead the way, awarding the cause a full week since 2019 with elaborate campaigns and getting refs as well as coaches involved. It's a colorful sight.

While Pride Games are at present not an official part of the schedule, several 🇩🇪 DEL teams are joining in. Augsburg and Köln do their part, Berlin has one of the dedicated queer fanclubs and visibly stands against homophobia since at least 2016.

As of 2022 the entire league, as well as a growing number of clubs in the tiers below, cooperate with Hockey is Diversity e.V.. So does the Para Ice Hockey National Team, including Jörg Wedde, who also keeps pride tape on his equipment.

🇫🇮 Liiga's TPS added these stunning jerseys to the mix.

While all the aforementioned teams already wear the jerseys for at least one full game, IF Kiruna of the Swedish 3rd league stepped it up several notches. In 2014 they've decided to wear rainbow jerseys for a full season in support of the LGBTQ community. Since then they've made the rainbow a permanent fixture in their logo and club identity.

___

Plenty of clubs out there hosting events where queer people are given a platform and shown support in a multitude of ways that aren't merely empty words.

And even if it's not part of general discussions within a league, you've got voices who are willing to speak up.

[meazalykov]

the stylist

aitana bonmati x actress!reader

summary: you're used to this, she isn't. she asks for you help in one of the biggest moments of her life.

it’s 2020, and you’re in barcelona for a collaboration between the football club and the spanish film industry—a whirlwind of press, promotion, and bridging two seemingly different worlds. 

you're used to the attention, the cameras, the lights, but something about stepping into the club’s facilities feels different, exciting.

the air is filled with energy as you watch barcelona’s women’s team train, the players effortlessly weaving around each other, laughter mixing with shouts of encouragement and reassurance. 

that's when you see her—aitana bonmatí. she’s different from everyone else on the pitch, even from the other players who are all exceptional in their own right. 

there’s something about the way she moves, a certain fluidity and elegance, every step calculated but not forced. her focus is razor-sharp, but when she laughs, it’s like watching the sun break through clouds. 

you’re captivated, and you don’t even realize you're staring until your assistant nudges you, bringing you back to the present moment.

the actual collaboration project is a chaotic blur of scripts, media appearances, and photo ops with the team. and then, you get the chance to talk to her. aitana is quieter than you imagined—thoughtful, a little reserved, but there's a spark in her eyes that you can't ignore. 

she teases you for not knowing much about football, and you tease back, pretending you don’t know who she is when, in reality, you’d already spent hours watching clips of her play. 

one conversation turns into two, then three. before you know it, you’re staying longer at the training grounds, just to catch a glimpse of her or to share a quick chat over coffee.

it doesn’t take long for something to blossom between you. it’s like everything clicks into place, like you were always meant to find her in this way. 

by early 2021, you’re together, stealing moments between your busy lives—you, jetting off to film sets and premieres; her, dedicating every ounce of herself to the sport she loves. despite the chaos, every time you’re together, it’s just... easy. simple.

you learn quickly that loving aitana means living in the moment. she teaches you to embrace the small things, to find joy in an early morning run along the beach, or in a lazy afternoon spent watching the waves lap against the sand. 

and you, in return, show her the magic of your world—the glitz, the glamor, and the art of bringing stories to life on screen. in the end, it's not about your worlds; it’s just about the two of you, finding pieces of yourselves in one another.

by 2023, things get even crazier. 

it’s the year of the women’s world cup, and aitana is on fire. as part of the spanish national team, she trains harder than ever, and you watch from the sidelines, cheering her on in stadiums from new zealand to australia, wearing her number and beaming with pride. 

every pass, every goal feels like a triumph, and when they finally win, you’re there in the stands, screaming and crying as they lift that trophy into the air. it’s a moment you’ll never forget: aitana, surrounded by her teammates, glowing with pride, holding the world cup above her head like a queen with her crown. 

you rush down after the match, and when she finds you in the sea of friends and family, she pulls you close, her sweat and tears mingling with yours as she kisses you deeply. 

“we did it,” she chants in catalan, and you know she means all of it—not just the world cup, but everything leading up to that moment.

it’s a whirlwind from there. aitana’s name is on everyone's lips. every headline praises her for being one of the best midfielders in the world, and talk of the ballon d’or starts almost immediately. 

the idea of winning such a prestigious award is exhilarating—and terrifying—for aitana. 

she’s humble to a fault, always quick to deflect praise, always wanting the spotlight to be on the team rather than herself. and while the world hypes her up, aitana becomes more nervous as the ceremony approaches. 

one night, she confesses to you that she feels overwhelmed by it all. 

“what if i don’t deserve this?” she asks, and you just shake your head, holding her close as she wraps her arms around you tightly. 

“are you serious? of course you deserve this. you deserve everything, aitana,” you tell her, and you mean it more than anything.

then there’s the matter of the ceremony itself. it’s in paris, and it will be one of the most glamorous nights of the year. 

aitana hires a stylist, wanting to make sure she looks her best, but every fitting seems to leave her feeling more out of place. the dresses are either too flashy, too revealing, or just... not her. 

you’re on set, filming for a movie during most of this, but every time she calls you, you can hear the frustration in her voice. she’s worried about standing out for the wrong reasons, about wearing something that doesn’t feel true to who she is.

when you finally wrap up filming, you decide to head back to barcelona early, just to be with her. you find her one evening, sitting on the floor of your shared apartment, surrounded by garment bags and fabric swatches, looking utterly defeated. 

“i just want to feel comfortable,” she admits, the vulnerability in her voice breaking your heart.

you smile, tilting her chin up so she looks at you. 

“you know you’re dating a professional, right?” you tease, and she laughs, but there's relief in her eyes. 

“i've done this a hundred times. let me help you.” 

together, you dive into the chaos of dresses, sketches, and fabric samples. you know aitana better than anyone, and you know exactly what would make her feel beautiful and confident. 

you pull out a stunning black dress, elegant and understated, with just the right amount of sparkle—a shimmer that catches the light without being overpowering. 

“try this,” you say, holding it up to her.

when she slips into it, it’s like everything clicks into place. the dress hugs her perfectly, shimmering around her frame like a sky full of stars, the black fabric cascading down like liquid silk. the muscles she has fit into the dress stunningly.

you watch as aitana turns in front of the mirror, a smile spreading across her face, the confidence you knew was there all along finally showing. 

“you look breathtaking,” you say, coming up behind her and resting your hands on her waist. in the mirror, you see her bite her lip, trying to hold back tears as she turns to face you.

“thank you,” she whispers, and you know she’s thanking you for more than just the dress. for supporting her, for believing in her, for always being her anchor through everything. 

“i’m so proud of you, aitana,” you tell her, pulling her into a hug, feeling her warmth, her strength. 

masterlist

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Ben Cohen

South African Jews reacted with outrage on Friday after the country’s governing body for the sport of cricket stripped the Jewish captain of the U-19 national team of his role, citing the “risk of conflict or even violence” as the reason.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced that David Teeger, who is Jewish, would no longer captain the side just one week before the opening of the U-19 Cricket World Cup, when teams from 16 nations will compete in South Africa for the sport’s top prize.

In a statement released on Friday, CSA said that its security team had advised “that protests related to the war in Gaza can be anticipated at the venues for the tournament.”

It added that such protests would likely focus on Teeger — an observant Jew and resident of Johannesburg who made his professional cricket debut in 2023, scoring an impressive 51 runs for the South Africa Emerging Players side against North Cape. Teeger was only appointed to the captaincy of the U-19 team last month.

The targeting of Teeger could result “in conflict or even violence between rival groups of protestors,” CSA said. Invoking its “duty to safeguard the interests and safety of all those involved in the World Cup,” it said that Teeger had been “relieved of the captaincy … in the best interests of the players, the U-19 team, and David himself.” Teeger would “remain an important and active member of the team and we wish him and the team every success in the tournament,” CSA concluded.

CSA’s decision — against the background of rising antisemitism in South Africa, widespread support for Hamas in the wake of its Oct. 7 pogrom in Israel, and the charge of “genocide” brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — provoked fury in South Africa’s Jewish community.

Prof. Karen Milner, chair of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), told The Algemeiner that CSA’s decision was “an outrageous act of antisemitism.”

“There is no basis for this decision, other than the fact that Teeger is Jewish,” Milner said. “It is shameful that CSA is embarking on a path that is dangerously reminiscent of Nazi Germany, when Jews were actively discriminated against, including among sporting clubs.” She stressed that the SAJBD “would do everything in its power to fight against this vicious prejudice.”

In a separate statement, the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) said it would be calling on the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s global governing body, “to investigate the CSA’s blatant act of discrimination.”

“The ANC [ruling African National Congress] government’s political hostility to Israel and its friendship with Hamas has created a climate in which it is entirely acceptable to target a sportsman because he is proudly Jewish,” the SAZF stated.

Among those expressing sympathy for Teeger on social media was three-time MLB All-Star Kevin Youkilis. “Heart goes out to this young Jewish man,” Youkilis posted on X/Twitter. “The ‘security risk’ excuse is bullshit.”

Former Boston Red Sox star Youkilis also referred to a speech that Teeger made just weeks after the Hamas pogrom, delivered after he received the “Rising Star” Award at a Jewish community ceremony. Teeger paid tribute to the Israeli military, saying, “Yes, I’ve been [given] this award, and yes, I’m now the Rising Star, but the true rising stars are the young soldiers in Israel.” He went on to dedicate the award to “the State of Israel and every single soldier fighting so that we can live and thrive in the diaspora.”

Teeger was being “punished for showing gratitude to the State of Israel,” Youkilis commented.

[leveloneandup]

Christen Press, Angel City Football Club Forward & US Women’s National Team Star attends the 18th Annual LA Sports Awards Red Carpet Premiere Party at Nightingale Plaza on March 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photos by John Wolfsohn/Getty Images)

[kingofthering]

Carc Primer : come meet the Spanish boyfriends

Marc Marquez, MotoGP rider. Carlos Sainz, F1 driver. Two Spaniards of the same generation who were brought together by various circumstances and who are now very good friends, as demonstrated below.

NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDS 2015

Oldest photos of them I could find are from the 17th of November 2015 when they attended the National Sports Awards in Madrid.

HONDA / RED BULL

Marc has spent his whole carreer with Honda. Carlos was a RB junior driver and then drove for Toro Rosso up until 2017. I couldn't find more content than what you have right after (from pre-season 2016, you can see more pictures here).

ESTRELLA GALICIA

The Estrella Galicia 0,0 Youtube channel is a gift. They had Carlos and Marc in the same commercial but separately in July of 2015 (video) and June of 2016 (video).

We can see them on screen at the same time on this video from March of 2017.

In 2018, they shot this beautiful thing.

(gifs source by @rookie-ofthe-year)

In July of 2021, they shot a video for the Artesanos del paddock series of videos.

In November of 2021, they were both involved in some promo stuff for the 5th season of La Casa de Papel. Here you have some backstage thing.

In December of 2022, Estrella Galicia made them visit MEGA (the EG museum) and they looked very boyfriends while doing it (video).

(gifs source by @c2-eh)

They interviewed each other (video in English - video in Spanish). They talked about how Carlos should try a motoGP bike one day (the way Marc says "claro que te gustaria" lives rent free in my mind).

They filmed a "this or that" video that Carlos published for Marc's Birthday (video). It has Marc saying "you guard it [my beer] and I dance" and the two of them challenging each other to a race (we're still waiting).

EG also made them pour beers (video) and we had some intense heart eyes action from Marc.

(gifs source by @c2-eh)

You can find more pictures from that day here, the "then and now" insta reel here. They also did some VR stuff, with Marc inadvertedly grabbing Carlos' hand (pictures & video).

In January of 2023, EG released a commercial for their new 0,0 beer with them (insta reel) and you can see Marc handing the beers to Carlos saying "you're stronger" and after Carlos struggles to understand the mechanism, Marc has to take the beers from him (saying that the guys from motoGP are stronger).

MADRID

In early 2022, Marc (and his brother Alex) moved to Madrid. Carlos helped him, he said : "Since I found out he was coming to live in Madrid, I tried to help him adapt himself and feel as comfortable as possible in my hometown [...] I don't live in Madrid anymore, but I go back there every weekend and try to meet him. We met twice for dinner, I have shown him the gym where I train, he is also training there now, and we have a lot of contact." (article)

They indeed trained together earlier this year, with the following photos from January 2023 (insta post).

During the World Cup, on the 1st of December 2022, they watched the Spain - Japan game together with friends (and made a joint insta post for their selfies).

You can find a group picture of that night here. And now, very important things to witness : Carlos feeding Marc omelet from his fork and playing the plane game with him (video) and the two of them discussing while Marc is seating at Carlos' feet in a very babygirl fashion (video). The scenes are from All In (Marc's Prime Video documentary), you can see Carlos in episode 5.

(gifs source by me)

INSTAGRAM

You can find them in each other's comments (for example here or here). Here you have Carlos filming Marc while he was sleeping in early 2017.

Also, this is Carlos wishing Marc a Happy Birthday in 2021 (here) via EG. And Marc was watching the Bahrain GP (2023) and I'm making it count as Carlos support (photo here).

OTHER

I couldn't find out where this was from but have some leather jacket Carlos.

And then, something that might be EG related but I'm not sure so we're putting it here. An event at the Barcelona Grand Prix in 2019 with Marc's brother and Carlos' dad. More photos here.

In March of 2023, Ignacio Rivera, president of Estrella Galicia, talked about Marc & Carlos in an interview. It’s pretty interesting and I will just highlight one quote (translated to the best of my abilities) :

But it’s sure that the understanding between the two was building while they were participating to events and publicity campaigns together. There, you could see how they supported each other and competively provoked each other. It’s fantastic for us to do sponsor activities with the two because you can immediately perceive their affinity.

FANDOM CONTENT

This is where I do promo for myself and my friends. I've written a couple of fics for them, you can find them on my AO3 (one, two, short stories). @c2-eh also wrote a very beautiful and very hot fic for them and @backwardscapcarlos makes the best moodboards.

I also made a dedicated gifset for them, which you can find here.

We're all obviously looking forward to more content so please join us in the Carc madness.

[virtchandmoir]

Canada's Sports Hall of Fame: Best of luck to the Canadians competing at the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships this week!

Let’s take a look back to October 2023, when Tess Virtue and Scott Moir were awarded the Order of Sport and inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame!

At the height of their success between 2008 and 2019 they took home a record-setting five Olympic medals, three World Championships, eight Canadian National Championships and won the Four Continents Championship three times.

[stormoflina]

The Hungarian Men's National Team got awarded with the Best Team (in teams sports) 2023 award. Captain Domi received the award, then said a few words to thank everyone.

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in September 2023

02/09 The King and Queen, Princess Anne and Sir Tim attended the Braemar Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

03/09 (not counted) The King, Queen, Princess Anne, Sir Tim, PM Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murphy attended the Divine Service at Crathie Kirk Church. ⛪️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

06/09 (unofficial) Princess Anne, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales recorded a special episode of the Good, the Bad and the Rugby, with Mike Tindall, James Haskell and Alex Payne at Windsor Castle. 🏉

07/09 As President of the Riding for the Disabled Association, visited Digswell Place Group, Digswell Place Stables, Welwyn Garden City, to mark its 50th Anniversary. 🐎

As President of UK Fashion and Textile Association, visited MAES London Womenswear Manufacturer. 👗

Sir Tim represented Princess Anne at a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Matthew Farrer (former Solicitor to the Late Queen) at St Magnus-The-Martyr Church in London. ⛪️

As Patron of the South Georgia Heritage Trust Princess Anne and Sir Tim, attended the Return of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Quest Crow’s Nest Service at All Hallows by the Tower, followed by a Dinner at Trinity House. 🗺️🍽️

08/09 Participated in a Meeting via video link in her role of Chairman of the International Olympic Committee Members Election Commission. 🎥💻

11/09 At Gatcombe Park;

Presented The Princess Royal Award and Royal Dairy Innovation Award. 🏆

Held a Management Team Meeting for the Chaffinch Trust. 💼

Held a Management Team Meeting for Give Them a Sporting Chance. 🏏

12/09 As Patron of the Boston Stump Restoration and Development Appeal, visited completed restoration work at St Botolph's Church in Boston, Lincolnshire. ⛪️

As Patron of Magpas Air Ambulance Capital Campaign, opened a new Air Base at Alconbury Weald. 🚁

As Patron of Maritime UK, attended the London International Shipping Week Tenth Anniversary Reception at Mansion House. 🚢

13/09 In Northern Ireland Princess Anne;

Attended the Department for Business and Trade’s Northern Ireland Business Summit at the International Conference Centre Belfast. 💼

As Patron of the International Sheep Dog Society, lattended the World Sheep Dog Trials at Gill Hall Estate, Dromore. 🐑🐶

Unveiled a Royal British Legion Community Bench in Dromore Square, Dromore. 🌹

Attended the Department for Business and Trade’s Northern Ireland Business Summit Reception at Hillsborough Castle. 👔🇮🇪

14/09 Attended the British Equine Veterinary Association 2023 Congress at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. 🩺🐴

As Patron of the Butler Trust visited Stonnall Road Approved Premises in Walsall. 🏠

Opened the Firefly Woods at Dorothy House Hospice, Winsley House. She unveiled a firefly dedicated to her late parents. 💡

15/09 As Patron of the Restorative Justice Council, opened the Restorative Justice Council Inaugural Northern Ireland Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 🇮🇪⚖️

As Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, attended the North, West and Hebrides Annual Graduation Ceremony and Celebration of Success and Achievement at St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church, Thurso. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎓

18/09 The Princess Royal, As Guardian of Give Them A Sporting Chance, visited the Rivertime Boat Trust at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames. 🦽🚣‍♀️

As Patron of the National Transport Trust, attended the Annual Awards Ceremony at Fawley Hill Transport Museum, Henley-on-Thames. 🚂🥇

19/09 Visited the Our Cow Molly icecream parlour and dairy farm at Cliffe House Farm, Dungworth, Sheffield. 🍦🐮

Launched the Ethel Trust Community Barge PEARL at Victoria Quays and attended a Reception at the Quays Hotel Sheffield. 🚤

As Patron of the Royal College of Midwives, visited Doncaster Royal Infirmary Women’s and Children’s Hospital. 👶🤰

20/09 As Patron of Police Treatment Centres, visited the St Andrews Centre in Harrogate. 👮‍♀️

Visited Claro Enterprises Community Workshop, Harrogate, to mark its 30th anniversary. 🎂

Visited Woods of Harrogate Limited Fine Linens Company in Harrogate. 🧖‍♀️

Visited Hollybank Trust Care Centre, in Mirfield, to mark its 70th Anniversary. 🩺

21/09 Visited Jaguar Land Rover Halewood Vehicle Plant to mark the 60th anniversary of its opening in Liverpool. 🚙

As President of the British Olympic Association, attended an Executive Board Meeting in London W1. 💼

22/09 With Sir Tim opened the Aberdeen South Harbour Expansion Project at the Port of Aberdeen. ⛴️

26/09 Held an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

Opened the renovated Old War Office Building, Whitehall in London. 🏢

Attended the Royal Warrant Holders Association’s President’s Reception at Westminster Abbey. 📑🍾

As Patron of Mercy Ships International, attended a 45th Anniversary Dinner onboard The Elizabethan, sailing on the River Thames. 🛥️🍽️

27/09 Held two Investiture ceremonies at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

As President of World Horse Welfare, attended a Reception at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, London. 🐎

As Patron of Opportunity International UK, attended a Dinner at Evercore in London. 🌍

28/09 As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, attended the Sustainability in UK Textiles Conference at Drapers’ Hall, London. 👗

As Founders’ Patron and President, of the Benenden School & Society, attended the Centenary Global Conference “Inspiring Future Female Leaders”, opened the Seniors’ Courtyard, launched “Benenden 100” Centenary Book and attended the Benenden Society Reception at Benenden School in Kent. 🏫

29/09 Attended the Rededication Service of Southport War Memorial. 🫡

Total official engagements for Anne in July: 47

2023 total so far: 353

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in July: 5

2023 total so far: 75

[panimoonchild]

Life goes on for the world, but for Ukrainians, it never will be the same

Soldier Daniil Kondel, call sign Viking, died on April 2, 2023, near the village of Khromove near Bakhmut, Donetsk region. While performing a combat mission at an observation post, restraining the advance of enemy units of the Wagner PMC, a group of Ukrainian soldiers came under enemy artillery fire, as a result of which Viking was fatally wounded. On May 25, he would have turned 22 years old.

Daniel was born and lived in Kyiv. He graduated from the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine with a degree in sports management. He has received many awards and honors in sports (sambo, judo, combat sambo), participated in competitions for the honor of the district and city from the Triumph club, and was a candidate for master of sports in sambo.

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he did not hesitate to defend Ukraine. He fought against the invaders in the ranks of the Honor Company of the 1st Battalion of the Da Vinci's Wolves 67th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was an operator of weapons for Special Forces units. He performed combat missions in the Kharkiv and Donetsk directions and took part in the liberation of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in the Kharkiv region. Since mid-February 2023, Danylo's unit has been defending the Bakhmut-Chasiv Yar road, which was an important area for Ukrainian soldiers.

"Daniil is an extremely kind, strong, and courageous person. A man for whom honor and justice have always come first. He was an example for his colleagues. His colleagues remember him as a true leader with iron discipline. A true fighter and hero. Danylo was an example of what a real man, a real warrior, a real Ukrainian should be. And he proved it at the highest cost - the cost of his own life!" - this is how friends described the fallen soldier.

Danylo was buried at the Forest Cemetery in Kyiv.

His father Oleksiy and his mother Hanna were waiting for him at home.

Don't be indifferent. Make Russia pay. Please hear our cry out to the world, keep spreading our voices, and donate to our army and combat medics (savelife.in.ua, prytulafoundation.org, Serhii Sternenko, hospitallers.life, ptahy.vidchui.org, and u24.gov.ua).

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

Chortle headlines.

Some of these are interesting. I don't know if it bodes well if Paddy Young is the absolute best rookie comedians in all of Britain, but he definitely had a good show last year (that got streamed on NextUp from Edinburgh). I have trouble believing anyone wrote a show that's better than both Paul Foot's Dissolve and Ahir Shah's Ends, but to be fair, I haven't seen John Kearns' show and he is very fucking good at these things, makes me hope even more that he'll be doing something in Edinburgh while I'm there. Alex Horne got an award for Taskmaster being an outstanding achievement, not quite sure what that means but I think it's accurate. I think if you look up the definition of "breakthrough act" you'll just find a note that says "see Sam Campbell's career throughout 2023", so that couldn't really have gone any other way. I've heard Kiri Pritchard-McLean compere a bunch on NextUp things, she is in fact very good at clubs. I haven't seen any of the other nominees but I'm still sure that James Acaster deserved to win that best tour one. I couldn't stomach the amount of Celebrity Glamour in Joe Lycett's new show but he is a great comedian and he is definitely made to be a TV comedian, which in some ways could be an insult but I really mean it as a compliment, he's great at that, good for him. Munya Chawawa posts highly amusing song parodies on YouTube. Fern Brady's is one of the best comedian books I've read. Three Bean Salad I was unable to get into, but maybe I'll give it another shot sometimes, after I finish with the winners of that radio award, John and Elis - well done to them for getting over ten years and not completely falling apart. I usually find it hard to get into sketch comedy (or anything that isn't straight stand-up) but Lorna Rose Treen made me laugh with character things last summer, so she probably deserves that one.

Those are my unsolicited opinions on that. The existence of Taskmaster is definitely an outstanding achievement for all involved.

This a special feature that happens every once in a while, called "Chortle publishes the contents of Daniel Kitson's mailing list". I find it gets funnier the less it sounds like Steve Bennett knows about the news items beyond the contents of the mailing list email, and in this case, that is clearly fuck all. But anyway, it's a great show and exciting announcement, anyone who has the opportunity should go see this tour. He said in the email that he might try to get something going in NYC later this year, which would be incredibly logistically difficult for me to get to (8.5-hour drive each way if I can borrow a car from someone, which would be tough, 14 hours on the bus otherwise, I've been told I can't take any more vacation days in 2024 because I used them on the London/Edinburgh trip), but still, I have found myself wondering how I might be able to make that work if he actually announces it.

Fucking hell. I can't believe this. My local comedian Facebook group is going pretty wild in response to this news. That's fucking huge, a massive amount of stuff is centred around this. To be honest I'm still not clear on the scope of this news so I won't go into it too much, I'll just say, fucking hell. Truly shocking. That's like a sport just canceling its national championships halfway through the season.

Excellent. Everyone should read this. His 2023 show (which I think he's still touring) is one of my favourite comedy shows ever. And the one before that, which inspired this book, is also very fucking funny, though not as good as his latest one.

Also, I am up for a trend of one comedian per year writing a book about their relatively recent autism diagnosis. Who do we think it'll be in 2025? I have approximately four to five suggestions.

[aus-wnt]

marieclaireau | Our 2023 Champion Of The Year is… The Matildas! The support for The Matildas at this years’ FIFA World Cup highlighted the unique power of the game to bring together a nation and brought a renewed focus on the gender pay gap for women’s sport. While Australia ultimately finished a very respectable fourth (the best result by any Australian football team in a World Cup) their impact on the nation was epic. Not only did they smash attendance records and TV audience figures, they also shifted the dial on outdated attitudes about women’s sport. Representing The Matildas for marie claire’s Women Of The Year Awards, Mary Fowler reflects on what her team achieved: “It’s hard to put into words the legacy we’ve left behind. I think it’s really special that we can get recognised as a team for the work we did and the journey we’ve had together.”

[strictlyfavorites]

Donovan Edwards #7 above

HOUSTON — It's now how you start, the classic sports trope says. It's how you finish.

Turns out, the answer is both.

Behind a powerful running game, Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines put together stellar first and fourth quarters in a 34-13 triumph over the Washington Huskies to win the 2023 national championship.

On the opening possession at NRG Stadium, Kalel Mullings slipped out of a tackle to pick up 14 yards before Donovan Edwards rushed for a 41-yard touchdown. Edwards ripped off a 46-yard scoring scamper on the next drive, and Blake Corum soon followed with a 59-yard sprint.

Nine carries, 174 yards, two touchdowns.

And that was merely the opening frame.

Michigan's initial surge on the ground sparked the final victory of the team's 15-0 campaign—one that secured the program's first national title since a shared 1997 crown.

Monday brought a familiar blueprint for Michigan, which focused on the run while the defense owned the game.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. zipped his picturesque spiral throughout the night. However, the Maize and Blue prevented an offense that entered bowl season leading the country in passes of 30-plus yards from completing such a throw for nearly 53 minutes.

In total, the Dawgs mustered 301 yards with Penix averaging a meager 5.0 yards per attempt on 51 throws. He tossed two interceptions and dealt with constant pressure from Michigan's disruptive front.

That defensive effort proved vital for the Wolverines, who struggled to move the ball in the middle quarters.

They managed a field goal after Will Johnson snatched an interception on the first play of the second half. Otherwise, the offense had a stretch of five punts and a turnover on downs. The lull allowed Washington to hang around until the midpoint of the fourth quarter.

Clinging to a 20-13 lead, Michigan found some breathing room.

Colston Loveland's 41-yard reception led to Corum's decisive 12-yard touchdown run with 7:09 left in regulation.

Washington drove inside the 30-yard line on the ensuing possession, but U-M's star nickelback Mike Sainristil picked off a 4th-and-13 prayer, returned it 81 yards and set up Corum's second touchdown.

Michigan closed the victory with 303 yards and four trips to the end zone on the ground. Corum collected a team-high 134 yards and two scores, while Edwards added 104 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries. Plus, quarterback J.J. McCarthy chipped in 31 yards.

And the celebration was on.

Nine adventurous years into his tenure—one which may be ending in the immediate future if rumblings of his potential return to the NFL are true—Jim Harbaugh is a national champion.

The prodigal son, officially, has brought his alma mater back to the top of the sport's proverbial mountain.

If that was Harbaugh's final game, what a fitting way to finish.

HC Jim Harbaugh

During the last three seasons, the Wolverines have boasted one of the sport's best offensive lines. Michigan earned the Joe Moore Award—which is given annually to the country's top offensive line—in both 2021 and 2022 before Washington landed the honor in 2023.

Earlier in the week, U-M left tackle LaDarius Henderson told On3's Andy Staples that "it definitely stings" the blocking unit missed out on a three-peat.

Winning a national title in that fashion is a decent consolation prize.

The future of the program will rapidly become the greatest focus in Ann Arbor; Harbaugh understandably side-stepped questions about the NFL at multiple media availabilities throughout the week.

On this night in Houston, however, the nation's No. 1 team won in the same manner it had all year: Run the ball and shut 'em down defensively.

Michigan started the season that way, never wavered and rode the philosophy to a third consecutive Big Ten title and third straight trip to the College Football Playoff.

It's how you start. It's how you finish.

And the Wolverines have ended as national champions.

[opiatemasses]

Exposing the Exploitation of College Athletes

Imagine coming to work every day, risking significant bodily harm, generating hundreds of millions of dollars every year, but not receiving any kind of pay, would you stay in the job? This, in many cases, is the life of a college athlete. Modern slavery is defined as “when an individual is exploited by others, for personal or commercial gain”. So, I ask you, is this any different?

Student athletes are demanded so much of them and are the heart and soul of a billion-dollar market, but unlike anyone else working within college sports, they’re the only ones who don’t receive a slice of the pie. The question is, do they deserve to?

This blog will analyse the various aspects of this controversial topic and look at the long fight college athletes have had for proper compensation.

What is the NCAA?

The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) is the governing body for college sports and athletes in the USA and Canada. The member-led organisation is responsible for the competition and eligibility rules for intercollegiate athletics. It was formed in 1906, and consist of 1,100 member schools, representing more than 500,000 athletes. The NCAA states it is “dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes”, but how dedicated are they really?

A Brief History of the NCAA

How Popular is College Sports?

In 2022, the NCAA made $870 million in TV revenue alone. 14.3 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2023 March Madness Basketball Championship game, which is more than the number who tuned in for the final round of the 2023 Masters Golf Championship. In 2020/21, the NCAA awarded over 152,000 athletic scholarships.

In the USA, college sports are often just as popular as their professional counterparts. For example, the largest stadium In College American Football is the University of Michigan’s 107,601-seater stadium. This is 25,101 more seats than the largest stadium in the NFL: the New York Jets and New York Giants shared home, MetLife Stadium. College fans are also among some of the most dedicated in the world. In 2022, fans of Indiana University were seen to be waiting outside their stadium 24 hours before their big basketball game versus the University of North Carolina to secure tickets.

As you can see, college sports is a huge industry. The athletes are the centre of this popularity and are the reason so much revenue is able to be generated. Therefore, it seems only logical that the athletes should be compensated, especially when you see the sacrifices they make.

Leaving it all on the field, for what?

All college athletes make tremendous physical sacrifice on their journey through college. In the NCAA there are 20,718 American football injuries a year, with 841 of them being spinal injuries. For some, these injuries can be life-changing…

In 1955, Ray Dennison suffered a head injury, and later died, while playing in an American football game for Fort Lewis A&M. When his widow applied for workmen’s compensation benefits, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against Dennison’s widow, and said they weren’t eligible for benefits because the college was “not in the football business”. This isn’t just an issue of the past, more recently, when Rutgers player Eric LeGrand suffered a paralysing spinal cord injury in 2010, and there have been so many more examples of players suffering life-changing injuries throughout the history of college athletics, showing how this is a ever-present issue, and a constant risk.

Incidents and court cases like these coined the term ‘student athlete.’ This term was deliberately ambiguous. They weren’t just ‘students’, to not understate their athletic obligations, but they also aren’t just ‘athletes’, which might imply they are professionals. This means universities can forgive athletes for not meeting academic standards, but also are not required to provide compensation for any more than the cost of their studies. This meant the exploitation could continue. Colleges could keep using these young people for their financial gain and could continue not providing them with the compensation they deserve.

It is too easy for the NCAA to exploit these athletes. They demand total commitment and complete allegiance to the sport. But if they’re hurt during this commitment, the organisation can claim you’re just a student, toss you aside, with insufficient support and no help, to bring in the next man.

Ed O’Bannon vs NCAA

In 2009, a cornerstone was turned in the fight against the NCAA. Ed O’Bannon, UCLA Basketball star, was visiting a friend when his friend’s son shouted “Ed, you’re in my video game!” O’Bannon was furious. No one had asked his permission, and he was certainly not paid for his likeness being used.

O’Bannon lawyered up and sued the NCAA, alleging antitrust law violations, by preventing college athletes from earning money from licensing opportunities. This lawsuit generated enormous publicity and discussion and was the first major blow to the NCAA’s amateurism regime, and the first step in a long walk for justice.

The Breakthrough

In 2021, college football was changed forever. College sports has been strictly amateur since 1869. But for the first time, players can now legally put some money in their pockets.

NCAA athletes can now earn money through business ventures, without jeopardising their eligibility, thanks to the changes in the NIL rules. The NIL rule changes allow players the right to sell their name, image and likeness, and profit off themselves. They are also now able to endorse, promote and advertise businesses. Although, this relies on the athlete’s ability to monetise themselves, and is definitely not the same as them receiving a salary.

This meant that players can financially benefit from their fame, giving them some security. Should they suffer a life-changing injury, they could have financial support, which they have not had until now. But is it enough? Do they not deserve their share of the revenue? Do they not deserve to be treated as athletes?

Where is the fight going?

To play devil’s advocate, some may say the awarding of athletic scholarships to athletes is sufficient payment for their services. However, this is not unique to sports. Universities offer academic scholarships for a variety of different disciplines, with a lot of these being much more secure than athletic scholarships. If a player gets injured, they risk losing their funding, and will be cast away, with no financial support from the university that at one point hailed them as heroes.

There has been a long line of people who have contributed to college athlete’s fight for compensation, and the fight is still ongoing. In December 2023, three college athletes, from American football and basketball, have once again sued the NCAA over lack of pay. Martyrs have risked their bodies, their livelihoods and even their lives. You will watch these athletes compete, fight and risk everything on the television for your entertainment, and they deserve to be compensated, and they deserve to be supported, even beyond their collegiate lives, for the sacrifice that they make, and the value their sacrifice brings.

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If this topic has interested you, and you would like to read more, here are some articles I recommend reading:

https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA322563607&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=15439518&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E5a33b62b&aty=open-web-entry

https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/tndl65&div=16&g_sent=1&casa_token=pYsfzste_PYAAAAA:4DooaR9EWLHJKn6bUyGPN4Tcw8OYrJxh5Qt2i9YWNibuedrnfYMnoWN3wfcUs5S-V3r9tXPQ&collection=journals

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolekraft/2023/08/21/why-the-public-strongly-supports-paying-college-athletes/

[leveloneandup]

“Our Fight Is Not Over” – Christen Press With a Powerful Speech as USWNT Succeeds Caitlyn Jenner, Muhammad Ali, and Bill Russell to Win Big at 2023 ESPYs

After receiving the award on behalf of the WNT of the U.S., Christen Press gave an inspiring and powerful speech. The Angel City star had already prepared a dynamic monologue. Starting off with her speech, she said, “This is a tremendously exciting time for our team and for women’s sports at large. As everyone who’s been there for us throughout this long journey toward equality knows, our fight is not over.”

“When you play for the United States Women’s National team, you are handed a torch. You’re given the responsibility to carry that torch as far and as high as possible for the sake of women’s equality.” The Angel City star said with the help of support and encouragement, they have been more than proud to carry it forward.

Press also insisted on building thousands and millions of torches, as she emphasized the equality the team spread throughout the world. She urged advocating several other human rights, like equality in general and more importantly, an anti-racist world. The player also encouraged everyone to find ways to “support our transgender siblings.”

She also pleads to continue fighting with the team and bring a radical change in the world. While hearing Press’ speech, everyone couldn’t stop their hands from making a huge round of applause for the forward. Before concluding the speech, she also had a message for her USWNT teammates.

After firing some empowering words, Christian Press also had a message for her teammates who are going to the World Cup. “We are proud to accept this award on behalf of every person, who won’t give up fighting for a better world. We see you, we hear you, and we believe in you. And to my teammates, who are about to kick off the 2023 World Cup, LFG.” The forward sent her best wishes to her teammates in style. Unfortunately, Press couldn’t join her teammates for this year’s World Cup campaign after she suffered a tear in her ACL.

Nevertheless, it’s good to see her represent the team on such a big stage. The whole audience was thrilled to hear the enlightening words of Press. Indeed, it is a great achievement for the USWNT to win the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Notably, the award was named in honor of the American tennis player Arthur Ashe. Earlier, this award was won by Caitlyn Jenner, Muhammad Ali, and Bill Russell. Now the USWNT has been awarded for its immaculate efforts in achieving equal pay.