Macca

Not happy Demon ! The better team won in all honesty . I've heard that there's always at least 1 home team in week 2 of the playoffs that comes out a bit rusty . Green Bay just weren't on their game today . Not an excuse but their offensive coordinator Joe Philbin lost his 21yo son in a drowning accident a few days ago . That must have had some effect on the team . I really rate the Giants so was a fair bit concerned going into today . Rodgers throws were a bit off and we dropped at least 8 catchable catches . Turned the ball over as well too many times . A shocker in all reality . On the flip side Eli was very good again with a QB rating of 114.5 . Nicks and Bradshaw shone out for the Giants as well . But , congratulations to New York who are the real danger team in these playoffs . Houston were brave today I thought and just needed an ounce of luck to win it . As for next week , I need to recover first before I can give an honest appraisal !

Over rates do need to be looked at though . As a means to an end , a zero tolerance type of attitude may improve things . It's interesting that Shield teams are asked to bowl 100 overs in a day ( think that's still the rule , might be 96 overs ) I'm all for the ICC showing a bit of muscle at last . As long as it's shown in the best interests of the game . Here is another interesting little article involving the ICC and India . Surprised me . http://www.theage.co...0114-1q0qh.html

I may have inadvertently tipped this in post 3218 ! Dhoni out ! http://www.heraldsun...o-1226244905418

Hats off to Hilfo . 8 wickets for the match . Gee wizz , has this bloke turned things around . He's been quoted as saying that he's going back to bricklaying after cricket . What a top Aussie bloke . Whilst I didn't say anything on this thread I thought he was in a bit of trouble with regards to his career . Well done Ben ! Oh and Mitch Starc has a huge upside . How on earth are we going to fit all these quicks into the side ? Nice problem to have . India have been really poor . Good at home but atrocious away . Who could captain apart from Dhoni ?

I agree Wyl . A ruckman constantly winning tap outs automatically becomes a leader on the field . Rucking is often under-rated . A winning ruckman can and often does lift the whole team . A lot of good ruckmen over the years have been captain or vice-captain . I've often heard a ruckman referred to as an "On field General"

Yep , a great win by your blokes . Smith was fantastic in the clutch moments . Well coached are the 49ers with the emphasis on "Team" . Very impressive . If my Packers can get over the line it sets up a top notch Championship game .

Wow ! What a game and what a finish ! 49ers were terrrific . They beat a very good team today .

Tips - 49ers , Pats , Ravens ( though I would like the Texans to win ) and of course the Packers ( in a close one ) . San Francisco have been terrific all year and have a real hard nosed Head coach . This should be a great game . The Tebow show will end you'd think esp at New England . Brady to step up . Baltimore should be too strong but Houston were good last week and could surprise . And the New York Giants are very good away from home so I'll be happy with any sort of win . Denver provided the upset last week so who's it gonna be this week ? ( if at all ) Saints are favoured but I reckon that game should be even money Looking forward to all 4 games - bring it on !

And then there were 8 . Sehwag gone !

Macca 4.8

It's going to be virtually impossible to let the "$cully" thing go . We are going to be constantly reminded about him by the media , his huge profile at GW$ , when he plays against us , how he goes in the Brownlow , his knee , his form , his father , etc etc etc . He is getting paid 2 million bucks in his 1st year and the media are going to be all over it . I not sure commenting on him in a thread is bitterness at all . It's more letting off steam and wanting to know the real truth . None of us are absolutely sure what actually transpired in the deal so why not speculate ? When did he sign ? Were the AFL complicit ? Is his knee problem that bad ? There hasn't been a sense of closure yet . That probably won't happen for quite some time . As an example , we will have to wait and see how our compo picks turn out to see if we got a fair deal . I certainly don't feel bitter at all . I'm glad he is out of our Club . But it's not over with yet re the whole truth . "The truth is out there"

Ha ha ha ! Ya had me there Nasher . He's just a brutal batsman isn't he ? Substance over style will do me with this fellow . He could post a big number tomorrow . Fingers crossed .

A ton to Warner ! How good was that ! And brings it up in true style with a six ! Wow !

He's a beauty . I want this bloke to succeed like no other . He's a crowd pleaser and a crowd puller . Gilly had the same qualities but we had to wait for him to come into bat . With Warner opening up people can go to a day expecting to see him .

Warner looks like he wants to set up the win - tonight !

So we've got an opposition team on their knees and what does Brad Haddin do ? He decides to motivate them with his disparaging remarks . He is Vice Captain of the side and should know better . This is not a comment on Haddin's cricketing ability because I see that as a separate issue . If , as reported , the Perth wicket is a green top then batting on the first 2 days could be a nightmare . Especially against a fired up pace attack . ( Theirs ? Ours ? ) Pattinson not playing leaves a big hole I believe and brings India right into proceedings . So in an evenly matched game it can come down to who is the more motivated . So why give them any extra ammunition? Disrespecting the opposition is a big no-no at any level of sport . Of course the Indian media have run with the story more than our media so most Aussies will fob it off as no big deal , but , if India wins this Test Haddin's remarks will come to the surface again .

From Woody Allen "What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists ? In that case , I definately overpaid for my carpet." "I took a speed reading course and read War and Peace in 20 minutes . It involves Russia." "I believe there is something out there watching us . Unfortunately , it's the Government." "My only regret in life is that I am not someone else"

Macca 4.7

Couldn't help but notice that the 'Big Bash' is taking a break of 4 days during the Perth Test (from Friday) . Would have been an ideal time to play some Shield cricket or at least a 3 day scratch match for our 1st class cricketers . Ok , there's only the Adelaide Test to go but what if India strike back in Perth . Without big Patto the Aussies don't look as formidable .

This track is by the late Grover Washington Jr . His music lives on forever though . A fantastic saxophonist . The song is called "Tell Me About it Now" Macca 1.3

"I was such an ugly kid , when I played in the sandpit , the cat kept covering me up" "My wife was afraid of the dark , then she saw me naked and now she's afraid of the light" "When I was a kid my parents moved a lot , but I always found them" "I was so ugly my mother used to feed me with a sling shot" Rodney Dangerfield

Thanks for that WJ , read the article the other day . Amazing where life can take you sometimes . I'll have a look at the game later that day . Did they play a few months ago ? 9 - 6 scoreline to LSU ? As for this weeks games , all the favourites should win though there's nearly always an upset or 2 . Your team ( the 49ers ) and mine ( the Packers ) await . Good luck to Houston . There's a couple on this thread that support them .

Some from the wonderful Robin Williams "If it's the psychic network why do they need a phone number ?" "Do you think God gets stoned ? I think so ..........look at the platypus " "I'm sorry , if you were right , I'd agree with you" "My God , we've had cloning in the South for years . It's called Cousins "

Fair old game tonight ! 399 runs in 3 hours . Best game so far and young McDermott was very good in the last over . The Heat get a win at last though they probably can't make the finals .

I won't be ignored , Dan . ( Fatal Attraction )