Jul 21 2008
Choke-a-thon
It has been an absolute choke-a-thon in individual Australian sport over the weekend and I am concerned it may continue.
Greg Norman took the gas in the last round of the British Open. A most expected performance from me but it seems some people out there are surprised by this. The shark has not been put under competitive pressure for some time and it should have been fully expected that he would wilt. I love the shark and hope he can get himself under control for the Senior British Open.
Casey Stoner has been impressive in his performances against Valentino Rossi to date but he faltered at Laguna Seca this morning. With clearly the faster bike Stoner was unable to put a good enough pass on Rossi to secure any sort of gap. The Italian just kept sticking his front wheel straight up the inside of Stoners any time he tried a pass. Eventually young Casey secombed to the pressure and tipped it over in the gravel trap but to his credit he fought on and was able to secure second place in the race.
This brings me to rider Cadel ‘the answer’ Evans who overnight choked the chicken and lost his lead in the Tour de France. I knew from the moment this bloke was trotted around in front of us at the Melbourne cup last year that he was destined to choke and unfortunately it has come to pass. All I could think of at the time was “why are they treating this bloke like some sort of hero? He finished 2nd in the Tour de France, he didn’t win!!” sure it was a good effort but to the victor go the spoils.
Maybe that is what is causing the mental issue with Australian sports people, a public that is too supportive of them? They are too SOFT!!!! I propose a new type of public recognition, if you lose, you get no money whatsoever, no prize money, no government support, no sponsorship money NOTHING!! You are a loser and deserve nothing. This might limit the number of hard-luck stories that we are forced to endure throughout the year. Instead of “that poor bugger, he lost Wimbeldon in five sets” the public can be happy with the hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax windfall he won us for second place whoooo hoooooo!! And suggest to the athlete “bad luck champ, at least you will make sure of it next time loser”.
Thoughts?
Norman has been choking for years. Can we even place bets on him leading into the final day and finishing 2nd?? He also needs to take some advice from Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones) if you’re going to trade in your old and wrinkly wife for another….at least make the trade worthwhile. He’s had a shocker on two counts.
On a finer note – The Wobbly Wallabies managed to scrape a win together against a decent opponent
————-
Chris Evert is not too bad champ.
The Wallabies are of minimal interest to me. I have always supported NZ in the Union.
SJ
Can we please define what it means to choke? If the Shark had been in 2nd place going into the final round and then lost, would that still make it a choke? Starting the final round in 2nd is still a great position, but if you don’t win is it magically for a different reason than if you started the day leading? By the same token, does that mean the guy who was 3rd overnight and still lost also choked? Or the 4th guy? Where is the cut-off?
Lets be clear, the Shark threw away the 96 Masters on the final day when he had no right to lose, and it seems pretty clear that it was because he failed to cope with the pressure on the day – Ie. He choked. Witnesses have said he clearly seemed nervous and it showed in his swing from the start of the round. That is the one occasion that people continually throw in our faces, but no one ever seems to have much other evidence of him being a continual choker.
What people always forget is that he has also been beaten by freak shots a couple of times when other guys have chipped in from either off the green or even from a bunker to steal a major from him. Surely you aren’t going to claim the Shark’s ability to handle stress had anything to do with those balls finding the hole?
PS. Please don’t open your posts by talking about sport and then throw in examples of your bogan car or bike racing. I will not remind you again that the term motorsport is an oxymoron.
—————
Lets be clear, if you are in with a huge chance to win something, near the end of the event and you crumble apart like a ikea couch you are indeed a CHOKER!!!
I love motorsport. If you get a sweat up doing something then it is a sport
SJ
I agree with you again here. These sporting people get far to much support and money that could be clearly used in other areas. How about a little culture in our lives? spend some money on some decent art and museums. Sport gets too much as it is.
——————–
I am glad you agree though I don’t think I agree with you…
SJ
I pitty the athletes if notsamartman ever comes to power. it will be a ruff ride if that ocurrs.
NASM – Long time listener, first time caller
You may be a little premature in your branding of Cadel as a choker. There’s still a way to go in the race and he’s looking good.
But let’s be honest. Australians love chokers and love to take the p!ss out of them. I’m sure we’ll see a few more throughout the olympics.
[...] As the only person in the whole of Australia who correctly predicted that Cadel Evans would choke in the Tour de France I will now take your applause. Not because I am right about the result but because I can spot a choker at 30 paces. As per my predition on the 21st of July in Choke-a-thon [...]
How much did you bet on it happening?
I was a little disappointed to see Cadel finish 2nd – again! But is it considered a choke when on the last day of competition you move from 4th place to 2nd?
Good question Cervelo. I had a conversation with the owner of this site on this very topic recently. He advised me that it can only be a choke if you are leading at some point towards the end of the competition. He was very, very clear about this definition.
Fat Tassie one, that doesn’t surprise me at all that you know SJ.
Now now gentlemen, nobody knows the real SJ. He is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. But Cadel clearly choked. He was leading, everyone SAID he would win from there and he choked to finish second.
He did well to get back up to second after the choke bit he was unable to recover from the choke fully which in effect means he CHOKED!!!!!!! I will not be called on this again.
I’m not sure those straws you’re clutching at are going to hold your weight SJ. Cadel was 4th and had to make up a minute and a half to win. He only managed to make up 30 or 40 seconds so he finished 2nd. Under your own definition, this cannot be called a choke.