Augusta has seen plenty of changes in the professionals who take it on over time.

Seeing golfers of the ilk of Gary Player, and especially Jack Nicklaus play their last round there is enough to bring a tear to the eye, but so is a customary fourth round collapse as a slew of golfers begin to fight the battle that Amen Corner starts.

Holes 11, 12 and 13 are a defining part of the Sunday round and whether or not a golfer makes a charge or falters. They also lead into potential nightmares at 15 and 16.

11 (White Dogwood) is a monstrous 505 yard (461m) par four that swings to the left, featuring a green surrounded by water long and left and particularly dangerous with a back right or left pin.

12 (Golden Bell) provides the golfer with anything from a six to nine iron into a narrow green where the breeze is extremely fluky. This hole has broken many a Masters round including those of Tiger Woods and David Duval.

Then there is 13 (Azalea), presents a test of nerves and golf. My most vivid memory here is watching a tournament leading Ernie Else snap hook one off the tee into Rae’s Creek down the left and trying to recover off the rocks to eventually walk away with an eight and his Masters charge in tatters.

He’s not the only one though, the creek meanders down the left before coming into play significantly in front of a raised green that demands a perfect shot to catch and hold it.

Coming off the downslope of the back bunkers is far from ideal as is coming up short, which sees the ball roll back down into the creek.

The par five 15th and par three 16th present similar problems and the latter is where Jason Day’s Masters challenge fell apart last year.

That’s the thing about Augusta National, there is always drama. It’s sporting theatre at it’s finest.

I’m a self-confessed golf nut and would pay anything to get on the course at Augusta, but it’s also the home of some of my earliest sporting memories.

It’s the one event of the year I get up for, every year, how could I not?

Recently we have had Adam Scott breaking the Aussie hoodoo at Augusta and that was a tough one for me to watch, as earlier in the week I had backed Angel Cabrera at the crazy odds of $126. Knowing what a shaky putter Scott can be I was convinced he would not make that scything putt across the 18th green… he did.

It was a weird moment. I had stood to win $6,250, but in the clubhouse of The Lakes Golf Club, I still cheered.

Just one year earlier Bubba Watson produced one of the craziest shots in golf to rip a hooked gap wedge onto the green from the pine straw to deny South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen his second major, the scene on the 10th green was one of pure emotion.

Watson, who had lost his mentor and father broke down in tears a s a swag of tour pros flooded the green to embrace him.

Some earlier memories are not so great, there was of course Greg Norman’s epic 1996 choke. Going into the round he was six shots clear of Nick Faldo, but lost by five. The image of Norman slumping to his knees after an eagle chip on 15 lipped out is one etched in my memory and also sporting folklore.

The agony of watching that was a change from the ecstasy of just a year earlier, when one of my all-time favourites ‘Gentle’ Ben Crenshaw won his second green jacket at age 43, eleven years after he had first won the green jacket.

The fact he beat a guy I never enjoyed watching in Davis Love III made the result even better.

It’s those types of moments that the majors seem to throw up more than other tournaments, when old bears such as Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson make that last charge at greatness, it’s amazing to watch.

It seems increasingly unlikely that the stars of yesteryear will make a real tilt at the Green Jacket, but one I love to watch, especially at Augusta is Fred Couples.

A one-time winner ‘Boom Boom’ has a special affinity with Augusta and shot a perfectly respectable one under 71 on Day One. If his back holds out and he can keep it together for four days, nostalgia will run wild at Augusta National this weekend as an aging great searches for that last great moment on a course that has seen and by it’s very nature provides plenty of them.

After all, Augusta never really changes, yet it’s so hard to master and that’s what makes it special.

The post The Greatness of Augusta National appeared first on Something Clever.

I feel like I have written countless words about Harry Kewell over the years. Certainly it’s fair to say that as good as Kewell was, he wasn’t always loved and has been vexed by more than a few, but the truth, in my opinion – Kewell is our greatest contribution to world football.

Sure, Tim Cahill may be the one the kids adore, the one they all want to emulate, but that’s because many of the current generation simply don’t remember Kewell at his peak.

At his peak, he was a glorious footballing talent who played on the biggest stages. The fact he is an FA Cup and UEFA Champions League winner speaks volumes.

Now 18 years after he made his Socceroos debut he is hanging up the boots and Australian football will be poorer for it, but greater for his contribution.

The fitting farewell would have been a World Cup appearance in Brazil, but it hasn’t eventuated.

Sad, given the national jersey, despite what some would consider his aversion to it at times is where some of his greatest moments came, indeed it’s where Australia came to know a fresh-faced 17-year-old with a mop-top, as he made his debut against Chile and later on scored two of Australia’s three goals in a soul-destroying away goals loss to Iran as the Socceroos fell at the final hurdle before France 98.

Sadly that two-legged shock would be remembered more for the efforts of serial pest Peter Hoare for tearing down the net, but something else was apparent.

Harry Kewell had arrived.

It was years before we went and qualified for the World Cup and we would falter again at the final hurdle to Uruguay in Montevideo before redemption came four years later and Kewell took centre stage in the match before calmly slotting a crucial penalty in the winning shoot out as Australia celebrated.

During that period he had taken the English Premier League by storm, part of a young and to those new to the game now shockingly solvent Leeds United took on all comers.

His teammates Mark Viduka, Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith would all become household names but all bar Viduka would succumb to crippling injuries or off-field issues later in their careers.

Also Leeds teammates of Kewell’s were former England keeper Paul Robinson, Dutch star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and England defenders Jonathan Woodgate and a young Rio Ferdinand, but for the most part Kewell was the star and one of the goals he scored there still fills EPL highlight reels.

From there it was to Liverpool where he experienced the highest of highs (Champions League and FA Cup triumphs) and the lowest of lows, the constant and allegedly mismanaged injuries to his hamstring and groin.

The time at Anfield was hard, but he was picked up by Turkish giants Galatasaray in a move that saw scorn heaped upon him by Leeds fans who were irate he could sign with them, after two Leeds fans were killed in riots involving Galatasaray supporters while Kewell was a Leeds player.

Kewell would later state his wearing of the 19 jersey at Galatasaray (his original Leeds squad number) was his way of trying to start the healing process.

Back on the national front Kewell continued to be a regular and enjoyed a stellar World Cup in 2006 scoring the goal that put the Socceroos into the Round of 16, with a draw against Croatia. It was arguably his most memorable moment in the green and gold and a far better way to finish a World Cup than he did in 2010 when controversially sent off against Ghana for ‘handling’ the ball on the goal line.

For Kewell it was a career of immense highs and some miserable lows inflicted upon him by a deteriorating body and the poor decisions of others, including now former Socceroos manager Holger Osieck, whose double standard selection policy saw Lucas Neill play in his team but not Kewell.

It’s sad to see him finish a glittering career in a Melbourne Heart side who aren’t even destined to play A-League finals, but for those who can get there I urge you to, if not at least take a look at some of his finer moments ranked below.

As I once wrote about Kewell – “Form is temporary, class is permanent. And in that regard Harry has always been our greatest.”

5. The penalty v Uruguay: Kewell steps up and calmly slots his goal

4. Screamer for Leeds United: Watch the goal, it’s a cracker

3. Kewell v Iran: A teenage Harry lights up the world with his skills.

2. European Champion: Kewell lifts the Cup with Liverpool

1. Hello Rd of 16: Kewell sends Australia through to play Italy

The post Thank You Harry appeared first on Something Clever.

They say there’s an elusive “formula” for Oscar gold, and the 2014 Academy Awards only served to support this. Best Picture went to a socially relevant movie about American history. Best Actor went to Matthew McConaughey, because he lost weight and played an AIDS patient. Best Director went to Alfonso Cuarón, because his movie Gravity was technically revolutionary. I predicted all of these choices.

It’s critical to note at this point that I do not belittle all of the winners this year, but there’s a difference between the recipients that should win and those that will win. As I said, there’s a formula in place, so most recipients won out of sheer obligation due to reputation rather than being actually deserved.

For instance, anyone could smell 12 Years a Slave’s win a mile off. Not because it was the year’s best movie – it was not – but because it deals with slavery, is a true story, is a period piece, and has an esteemed reputation among critics. That’s ticking every Academy box imaginable. It’s the “safe” choice, because it winning the award won’t offend anyone. Sure, its content is graphic and conservatives won’t be able to deal with it, but it’s hard to deny the movie’s impact.

This is reflected in the fact that a story recently broke, explaining that a number of Academy voters went with 12 Years a Slave for Best Picture despite the fact they never watched it. They felt obligated to vote for it because of what it is. They were afraid to be more adventurous in fear of controversy. As I said, the Academy has grown soft and safe.

Let’s look at a few of the other Best Picture nominees, and theorise the consensus if these movies actually won the top prize:

Gravity – People would liken the movie to Avatar, saying there’s plenty of special effects and no substance, and there’d be instant online controversy. Gravity does not offer a great deal beyond the experience, sure, which is by design, but in the eyes of some, this means it would be an insult to call it 2013’s Best Film.

The Wolf of Wall Street – The year’s most polarising movie. It’s full of drugs, nudity, sex, non-stop profanity, and so on. Awarding the movie Best Picture would horrify the conservatives and offend those who found the movie offensive.

Captain Phillips – I personally wasn’t an overall fan of this outing, as it did whitewash several aspects of the historical record to fashion a pretty straight-ahead hostage drama. Many would decry “It’s a dumb American action movie!” if it won Best Picture.

Other nominees – like Her, Nebraska, Philomena and The Dallas Buyers Club – will simply be seen as too slight for the top prize. Most would scratch their head if any of them won, even if they did like these movies. The Oscars want to keep people happy, otherwise they wouldn’t tune in for the telecast year after year.

Admittedly, American Hustle is another “safe” choice and theoretically had just as much chance as 12 Years a Slave, but the latter movie had an advantage: it’s about Big Important Issues. Hustle was about a scam back in the ’70s, and would have won in any normal year, but 12 Years a Slave being about slavery and blacks automatically gives it the edge.

What would my pick be for Best Picture? The Wolf of Wall Street. It’s my favourite movie of the year, sure, but it’s also the best movie of the year for several reasons, and I would have liked to see it win big. This may lead many to call me out for being biased, or immature for liking the orgy of excess, but that would prove my point. See, movies are not meant to be inoffensive. A film which shocks, offends and makes a genuine stir in the cinematic marketplace is the very definition of a keeper. Movies should prompt us to feel things, and should prompt passionate responses, whether positive or negative. People will be discussing the movie for years to come, and it has its hardcore fan base, whereas 12 Years a Slave will remain more of a niche curiosity.

12 Years a Slave fading into obscurity might be mere speculation at this point, but let’s look at a movie like The Artist, which won Best Picture a couple of years ago due to it being a love letter to cinema. Now? Nobody remembers the fucking thing. I’m a very avid reader of entertainment news and forums, and I haven’t seen it mentioned or discussed for years. It did not make an impact. In fact, I have never even watched the fucking movie myself, because I didn’t care. A “pleasant” throwback to old timey cinema is not Best Picture material, period.

Ironically, bold choices might actually draw in more viewers. They might lose a few conservative viewers, but chatter about controversial choices would carry over into the next year, prompting others to tune in merely to see what the Academy does this time.

Oftentimes, people describe Oscar fodder as boring and turgid, and the Academy as a society of stuffy old folks who don’t know how to have fun. This year’s Oscar telecast reminds us exactly why this stereotype is in place. It’s been happening for years, and I see no merit in spending many hours of my evening watching the telecast when I can read the results the next day in a 10-second scan.

For the record, I was not too enthusiastic about McConaughey’s win, but there’s no point going too far into that. Terminally ill character + weight loss = Oscar. It’s very cut and dried, and very annoying.

The post Why The Oscars Are No Longer Worth a Damn appeared first on Something Clever.

When I first heard the MLB would be coming here I was very excited, until I saw the ticket prices for decent seats and decided I wouldn’t be attending. I only went on short notice due to being given last minute free tickets in some of the best seats in the house and I am now really glad I did.

The job the MLB and SCG did to turn the stadium into a baseball field was amazing. It looked like it had been a baseball stadium forever and it looked great both on TV and in person. It will be interesting to now see it converted into a rugby league field for the NRL match there next week.

Overall I would say the experiment of bringing the MLB season opener to Sydney was a major success. This was a risky move for the MLB as the other countries they have gone to are all countries where baseball is much bigger than it is here. Places like Japan and Taiwan, where it is one of the biggest sports they have.

The crowd numbers, public interest and merchandise sales would have made the MLB very excited about the prospects of the Australian market, both in terms of following the MLB as a whole, returning to Australia for future events and the development of the Australia Baseball League, which the MLB half own.

Baseball is a sport with growth potential in Australia and this event may have helped give it a shot in the arm to get people taking an interest in the ABL. Whilst I don’t think it will ever grow to be one of the major sports in Australia and doesn’t have quite the potential the A-League has, I definitely think it can grow its fan base, with more and more people watching American sports on TV and online and learning about games that traditionally have not been played here.

Australian interest in baseball could have possible positive and negative effects for cricket in Australia. From a positive standpoint, there is the potential to share information and training techniques and skills across the two sports. American fielding coaches have already been used in cricket for years, but there are all sorts of advancements and resources available in baseball in the US that cricket may be able to harness.

Baseball has also been used to develop the skills of cricket players and many of our great cricketers used to play baseball in the off season, such as Ian Chappell, who was used in the commentary team for the Diamondbacks vs Dodgers matches.

From a negative standpoint, could it be possible that some fans get swayed from interest in cricket to an interest is baseball? People can and will be fans of both sports, but it’s entirely conceivable that some fans might find themselves spending their ticket money on going to an ABL game as opposed to say a Big Bash Twenty20. That is of course if the ABL is able to use this spark to ignite a flame of interest in the public,

The other potential issue for cricket is that baseball can offer salaries, even at the lower end, that blow cricket out of the water. The natural talent to succeed in each sport are obviously quite similar and if baseball grows in Australia, some of the talented kids who historically would play cricket may find themselves leaning towards trying to make a go of it in baseball. You have the ability to get a free education in an American college as well as the potential to earn amazing money if you are good enough to make the majors.

Many sports already compete for talented youngsters. The two rugby codes are the most obvious example, but even sports like AFL and basketball often compete for taller athletes and baseball has upside that cricket simply can’t offer.

However, before we get to that point, it is now on the ABL (and the MLB to an extent) to grow the league and interest in the game. The NBL in the 90s had the chance to grow and cement itself as a major sport on the Australian scene, but were unable to get past the ‘fad’ stage and fell back into being a niche sport.

With the ease of access to watching the games in America, it can be hard for a lesser league to attract people to attend simply based on geography. Marketing is crucial now, especially at a grass roots level. Baseball needs to get into schools and get kids interested in playing and watching the sport or else the Dodgers and Diamondbacks will simply be a memory of a cool event that we had once.

The other thing the ABL needs to do is quite simply get better. I’m not saying it’s a terrible league or anything, but they need to find a way to convince fans, especially educated ones who follow the MLB, that the ABL is worthy of their interest.

In my opinion they need to develop relationships with MLB teams, where perhaps a few players from the minor league system are sent here to develop. Now we may not get the best prospects who are expected to make the major league roster that season and of course each team already has a very strong farm system, but with the MLB owning half the league and the possibility for brand development in Australia, clubs may take an interest in partnering up with an ABL team.

The other option is to bring over players who don’t get an MLB contract that year. The types of player who ends up going to Japan to either revive their career, make some money before they retire or maybe even create a whole new career and life in a new country.

This option is much more in line with the A-League marquee player system and definitely something that would improve the quality of the ABL and get fans interested.

The time for baseball to establish itself in Australia is right now and if they don’t do it now, it likely will be an opportunity gone.

The post Take Me Out to the Ball Game appeared first on Something Clever.

Losing her in body was the last stage of her passing after our family had already accepted she was lost mentally many years ago, however the fact remains I have now officially lost all four of my grandparents.

At nearly 30 years old this is not a surprising thing. Some people never knew any of their grandparents and I was lucky enough to have known all four of mine and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Our grandparents’ generation is often known as “The Greatest Generation” because they went through the Great Depression, World War 2, and in general the World has probably changed more in their lifetime than in any before them. The nickname is deserved but my grandparents were part of an even smaller group who went through even more than most their age.

All four of my grandparents were Holocaust survivors. They all had very different experiences to each other, especially as Hungary and Poland had very different involvements in the war, but the fact that all four were able to survive, move to Australia and create the life they did, which eventually led to my existence is a miracle in itself.

I am not a particularly religious person. I had a traditional Jewish upbringing and did attend Jewish school (for the most part) as well as keeping the major holidays, but I don’t keep kosher at all and I rarely go to Synagogue – I would be the Jewish equivalent of a Christmas/Easter Christian.

Despite the fact I’m not that religious, it still remains an integral part of my identity. Compared to past eras, Jews have assimilated more and more into modern society, which is obviously a good thing, but only two generations removed from what my grandparents went through, it is critical to hold on to that identity they survived to maintain.

We are getting very close to a time when there will be no Holocaust survivors alive and it is the duty of the next generations to continue to pass on the traditions as well as an appreciation for what our grandparents went through and came out the other side.

Like most people I never had the opportunity to meet my great grandfather, however the reasons in my case are obviously different as he was gassed very early in the war. Despite the fact that I have seen the one photo we have of him many times throughout my life, I only recently realised just how much I have come to look like him. I have showed the photo to several friends and they have all been amazed at how uncanny the resemblance is, especially considering most people think I look more like the other side of my family.

Realising this connection has once again reinforced in me how important it is to me to honour those who came before me and whilst I don’t envisage myself ever being particularly religious, I definitely plan on continuing the traditions I was raised with.

I don’t plan on ever getting a tattoo, but I do know that if I were to ever get one, I would want to get the Holocaust number tattoo of my paternal grandfather, which was imprinted on him in Auschwitz and stayed there for the rest of his life as a constant reminder of what he went through.

Some may say the idea of getting that tattoo is wrong, but the reason it appeals to me is the idea of him living on through me and as a reminder to myself to never forget what occurred for me to exist at all.

Alas, I wouldn’t get it anyway, but we actually don’t have a record or a memory of the number he had and it’s probably for the best. But I think about being a kid, sitting on his lap and staring at that tattoo to this day.

Anti-Semitism has been on the rise again in recent years across a lot of the globe. It is unfortunate but not all that surprising, but as long as we continue to learn from our own past, we will never let something like that happen again. The key will be making sure these future generations, those who never had the chance to meet the survivors will still know and appreciate what came before them.

A lot of younger people take so much we have in life for granted, both Jews and non-Jews alike. The world has changed dramatically since our grandparents were our age and there is so much we can’t relate to or even begin to properly fathom, but it is crucial we take the time to think about it and appreciate what we have and more importantly, what we don’t have to deal with too.

We have what we have because they went through what they went through. We are their legacy and the beneficiaries of their struggle and we should never, ever forget that.

It was an honour and privilege to have known all of my grandparents. They were all very different people who coped very differently with what they went through, but one thing they all had in common was they were survivors.

Whilst I hope and pray I never have to endure what they did, all I can do is try my best to honour them and make them proud. I hope you all try to do the same for yours.

The post A Tribute to my Grandparents appeared first on Something Clever.

But nobody went to fucking see it, and Dredd died a brisk death at the global box office. It was a financial disaster, leading to a massive loss for the investors.

Although screenwriter Alex Garland had pre-emptively mapped out a cinematic Dredd trilogy, such plans were squashed in the wake of the first film’s failure. But word of mouth about Dredd eventually spread, and it became a massive cult hit on home video. So large the fanbase is, that the online community even staged a “Day of Action,” during which fans were encouraged to order the Blu-ray from Amazon. As a result of such labours on Amazon US and UK, the movie cracked the Top 5 best-selling Blu-rays for the day in both nations. How often does that sort of dedication come around?

The fans have spoken, and Dredd 2 needs to happen. But the desire is understandably overshadow by the fact that it would be a massive gamble. Is the market big enough to guarantee proper box office success for this go-round? Or will it become another money-losing flop?

Karl Urban is keeping hope alive for a sequel, recently stating that “conversations” are taking place between writer Alex Garland and the studio about the possibility of a sequel. Although it’s nice to know that there’s some kind of dialogue, there is still a long road to a Dredd 2 because of two factors:

1) The budget

2) The rating

No doubt, if a sequel was to occur, the studio would push for a PG-13 rating in an attempt to broaden profits, but nobody wants that. So it comes down to how much money can be thrown at Dredd 2 to retain an R-rating, and if a sequel would even be worth it if it was made for peanuts.

Here’s the thing: Dredd 2 does not need to be a lavish affair. The first film cost a maximum of $50 million, but a sequel can logistically slash these costs without compromising the finished product. Dredd was shot in 3D, which inflated the budget by a considerable margin – as much as $15 million was spent to facilitate 3D cameras, and rendering CGI in 3D. Get rid of the 3D, and we’re already saving money. 3D was pushed on the first movie in the wake of Avatar, but now we live in a world disillusioned with 3D, and some people reportedly avoided seeing Dredd in the cinema directly because of a lack of 2D showings. So, no 3D needed for Dredd 2! This already brings down the budget to as low as $35 million, a respectable price tag for an R-rated gamble. Riddick was made for $38 million, and look at the wonders that were done with such meagre funding!

Added to this, Dredd 2 would be a passion project for everyone involved, so the crew could take pay-cuts, or even just agree to a percentage of the profits. It’d be a gamble and everyone involved would need money flowing in to support themselves, sure, but actors like Urban are surely financially secure enough to do one movie for a reduced rate. Vin Diesel mortgaged his house to help funding for Riddick, and waived his actor’s fee!

Other cost-cutting measures can easily be implemented. For the scenes of Mega-City One, why not shoot in Detroit? The place is a shithole, it would cost peanuts to film in the city, and not much set dressing would be required. Dredd 2 would need to expand its scope and give us a tour of Mega-City One and the Cursed Earth, yet this doesn’t need to drive up its budget too much. It would be easy to imagine a respectable sequel being produced for $40 million, a price-tag that the first film has covered with its global home video sales alone.

It’s worth noting that some have posited the idea of a Kickstarter campaign for a Dredd 2, but it would never work. Even the most popular campaigns have never run over $5 million in donations, funding that wouldn’t put a dent in the costs needed for a proper sequel. Of course, a Kickstarter campaign could work as a starter – the studio could set it up to gauge interest, and if it reached, say, $2 million, then the rest of the bill would be footed by the studio. Not a bad idea.

The world needs more Dredd. At least a Dredd 2, but ideally a Dredd trilogy, or even a fully-fledged franchise. That’s obviously reaching for the stars right now, but I just really want a Dredd 2. It needs to happen, and could happen.

The post Dredd 2: Why It Must Happen, And Can appeared first on Something Clever.

And now Corby’s ordeal has come to an end, and the media is all over her once more.

Frankly, I see no reason why Corby deserves our sympathy. I see no reason why we should be interested in watching the recently-aired TV movie about her, and I see no reason to be interested in the wave of interviews she’s about to be featured in.

Whether Australian or not, Corby is a convicted drug smuggler. People are assuming she’s innocent, but there’s a very good chance that she’s guilty – the evidence has been damning ever since 4kg of marijuana was found in her luggage back in 2004. Why the hell are we to care about a convicted drug smuggler who got rightfully punished for doing a stupid thing? She made a bad decision and paid the penalty. People might decry that she at least deserves to be imprisoned back in her home country of Australia, but that would have just led to a reduced sentence and added leniency, especially with the media all over the case and people wanting her to walk free.

Indonesian courts were declared corrupt, with newspapers claiming they have “little sympathy for foreigners.” Reportedly, radio hosts even insisted that then Prime Minister John Howard should force Indonesia’s president to overturn the court’s decision. Added to this, Indonesian diplomats on Australian soil were sent death threats, white powder in the mail and two bullets with a warning note which read “Go home you animals.” The Salvation Army also promised not to send Indonesia any donations, while actor Russell Crowe told Indonesia to remember about the money we donated to tsunami victims, which apparently means a drug smuggler should walk free.

For crying out loud, Labor leader Bill Shorten has said he doesn’t “know all the ins and outs of what she has done” but that he wants Corby back in Australia as soon as possible, because “that’s what matters to me.” Seriously?

For crying out loud, at least two of her brothers are confirmed drug smugglers, and I don’t buy her bullshit excuses. Although convicted family members is not exactly evidence that Corby is rotten as well, it’s certainly food for thought.

Corby and her family have so far made hundreds of thousands of dollars from books and media deals. They are making a profit from a criminal. And now Corby has signed a media deal guaranteeing her at least $2 million for a interview. How fucking ridiculous. Here’s a convicted criminal being turned into a fucking millionaire just because she’s agreeing to talk to the TV. She did something illegal, paid the price, and now she’s a millionaire because of it? Hell, if illegal activities and 8.5 years in an Indonesian prison will get me $2 million, then sign me up! I guess crime pays!

This is sending all the wrong messages, and I’m disgusted.

You know what Corby needs? A series of interviews akin to the David Frost/Richard Nixon interviews from the 1970s. Corby needs to be given a proper trial on-camera, being presented with evidence to the point where she admits her guilt.

Corby is a bogan criminal, and we’re acting like she’s some sort of national darling. There are Australian soldiers risking their lives in the defence force every day, but one Australian woman was arrested for drug smuggling and suddenly she’s a famous millionaire. Give me a break.

Of course, there’s a chance Corby might be innocent, but I’m asking you to stop presuming her innocence is a fact, and accept the possibility that she’s most likely guilty. This is ridiculous.

The post Sympathy for the Wicked? appeared first on Something Clever.

I have been pleasantly surprised with the vast diversity that the region has to offer and in the neighbouring Whitsundays.

Having spent 29 of my 31 years living in country NSW (aka The Bush) I guess I appreciate more the fact that I can be at one of many amazing beaches within a matter of minutes.

It’s not uncommon for me to grab my fishing rod and head to the sand, take the footy for a kick, go for a run or even just chill out.

Heading inland for a short hike in the rainforest to swim at the waterfall at Finch Hatton Gorge is another natural delight along with the drive north to marvel at the tropical wonderlands of the Whitsundays.

All terrains naturally glorified to resemble postcards and advertise to the world what amazing geographical wonders “The Lucky Country” has to offer (…when it’s not Cyclone Season).

During a recent drive north along the Bruce Highway to Airlie Beach for a fishing trip with my housemate Aaron, we got talking about a small town just outside of Mackay called Leap, or “The Leap” as some locals may call it.

There isn’t much there really, just a few houses and a pub. Outside the pub is a large statue of a dark woman holding a baby rugged up in a blanket.

Initially I had no idea what the woman was holding and Aaron informed me of the small child and of the story behind the whole thing.

The woman was from 1 of the 6 Aboriginal tribes in the area known as the first settlers and the story went way back to the late 1800′s.

Those who know me are aware of the love I have for history and having a mother with an Aboriginal father further fuelled my curiosity and desire to research the true story behind Leap.

Most historical documents I discovered online were a little hazy on the events that shaped this small community but the outcome was all the same. I take it political verses local stories were somewhat mixed and altered or even confused over the last 140 plus years.

The following information was produced by mackayhistory.org – it is the history of Leap – “The First Residents”.

—–

Before White Settlement in the Mackay District there were at least 6 main Aboriginal tribal groupings in region.

George Bridgman who established the first Aboriginal Reserve on land between Bakers Creek and Sandy Creek in 1871 was the first to describe the tribal groups around the Mackay Area.

The Yuipera’s territory was in the town area, the Kungulburra were established between Port Mackay and Broadsound; Toolginburra were located west of the coastal strip in land over the Connors Range and the Googaburra were the tribe that inhabited the Islands off the coast.

An early group of Mackay Tribal Aborigines late 1800s. (Mackay Historical Society Archive No. 85-327)

Later research namely by the late Norman Tindale in the middle part of the 1900’s,  described the groups as the following Juipera, Wiri, Biria, Jangga, Barna and Barada; which are the names they are commonly recognised by today.

The boundaries tended to follow natural features such as rivers and mountain ranges, things that were easy to recognise, as it was to invite swift and fatal retribution for crossing the boundaries.

The Juipera people were the most dominant in the area around Mackay City on the coast from St. Helens to Cape Palmerston and inland to the Connor’s Range.

It was estimated that in 1860 each of the tribes would have numbered about 500 persons made up of several families.

After 40,000 years, the precise number that a tribal area could support had been established and was strictly observed.

It is not known how the boundaries were established, however early researchers point out that only enough country was claimed to support the tribe.

In rich areas such as rainforest or coastal lowlands, the tribal areas were smaller than in the open country of the inland. Social mixing of the tribes was not common.

After white settlement, most Europeans failed to recognise tribal boundaries and hunting rights. Dispossession of the land resulted in physical hardship and spiritual confusion.

Faced with the grim prospect of starvation or warfare, many tribes turned to the white man’s herds to replenish food supplies.

Resulting conflict and disease decimated the population Mount Mandurana now known more commonly as “The Leap” located about 20km’s north of Mackay was the scene of a sad tale of the conflict between the early white settlers and the Aboriginals.

There have been many conflicting stories of what happened but the story goes somewhat like this:-

Early in 1867, John Greenwood Barnes was speared in the arm after an aboriginal attack.  Barnes resided at Cremorne, which was a ceremonial ground for the Juipera, and it appears he was harassed on many occasions, not surprisingly for trespassing on sacred ground.

Due to the attack on Barnes, a contingent on Native Mounted Police (NMP) were active in the ‘dispersal’ of many Aborigines on the North Side of the Pioneer River.

According to folklore a local aboriginal woman with her baby in her arms leapt from the western escarpment of Mt. Mandurana to her death, trying to escape the pursuing NMP, however the baby survived.

There are conflicting versions of the story in that the woman was thrown over the cliff by the NMP, or she committed suicide as the child was a half-caste child and she was a victim of domestic violence.

We may however never know the real story.

The child was adopted by the family of James Ready, an early settler of the area and was baptised ‘Johanna’ on 22 July 1867. Johanna married an Englishman George Howes and had three children.

It is unknown exactly what happened to Johanna but it appears she died on 25 December 1897 and was buried in the Mackay Cemetery.

The post The First Residents appeared first on Something Clever.

In the same week some UK ‘news’ sites wrongly labelled One Direction star Liam Payne as being anti-gay because he tweeted his support of hit television show Duck Dynasty and the family values eschewed behind the business.

Both caused Twitter to go into a meltdown, both saw journalists targeted. Payne got the hashtag #lazyjournos trending worldwide, Hannan received death threats for his piece, which in and of itself was a tour de force of a story that saw twists and turns so schizophrenic it made for compelling reading.

I’ve been an editor of major sports sites, though none of the ilk of Grantland, but if I had of been Bill Simmons or his team of editors my reaction would have been to run the story.

If I was editorial head of one of those UK sites who ran the Liam Payne piece, I would have said no to running it, but then again, in my view publications like those have no business calling themselves the home of journalists or journalism.

The Payne piece was a grab for clicks via the headline and pretty much defamed the character of the 20-year-old singer.

It simply wasn’t and isn’t on. Caleb Hannan’s piece was entirely different.

The key questions coming out of that piece being did Hannan’s proposed article contribute to the subject of his investigation taking their own life? And did it overstep the mark of what is ethical? And if it did who was at fault?

If it did, and I stress if, it is the fault of the editors of Grantland and their Editor in Chief; arguably the most revered sports writer and analyst in the USA; Bill Simmons.

Simmons in the wake of a negative response published an open letter on Monday, USA time, stating he took full responsibility for the article being published and that he felt he had let Hannan down more than anything else, asking for the vitriol be directed at him for “failing” his journalist rather than at the man who wrote the piece.

Simmons also apologised for the piece stating that his team probably should have had ‘someone from the transgender community’ read it before it went live.

However in the defence of Grantland, “13-15 editors” read the piece and none saw the fault in it.

The fault as it seems to have been stated is that not only was a transgender person not asked for their input (one ESPN staffer is transgender) but also that the death of Dr. V was glossed over and the article originally about a ‘magical’ putter that was at the forefront of technology became about a person’s sexual orientation and outing her… but was it?

Yes, that was at the forefront of the piece and Hannan and his editors erred greatly by not really investigating why Dr. V took her own life, but also in running a line that perhaps showed a lack of tolerance from Hannan.

The author writing of the moment he realised Dr. V was transsexual “a chill actually ran up my spine.” And in the world of 2014 anything that can be perceived as an intolerance of a minority group is a dangerous stance to take and write indeed, let alone publish on the best long-form sports and pop culture journalism site in the business.

Hannan’s personal views will likely never really be known, and he certainly won’t out himself as a bigot, nor should he, add to that there is a big chance despite his present predicament that he is not one.

What he discovered along the course of his journey was that while the putter was indeed ahead of its time, changed the way the making of golf clubs was thought about and franked by some big golf names including David McCord, Aaron Baddeley and David Frost, was that at almost every other turn Essay Anne Vanderbilt was, it seems a fraud and chameleon.

Unless of course her past as she claimed was classified; she lied about her education, training, skills and just about everything else including past legal troubles and bankruptcies to cover her deficiencies when entering the cut-throat world of golf club manufacture and also to cover up the fact she was transgender, the last being a right she had.

But ultimately that cover up was one in a huge series of them; each seemingly more incredible than the last.

Hannan was about to expose her and she took her life. Truly it is a tragedy, but it wasn’t the first time she tried to end her life.

Hannan documented a past attempt where her partner found her unconscious in her car, in her garage, having tried to take her life that way; as such Hannan can’t and shouldn’t shoulder the blame, after all he did not make her take her life and there was a history of suicidal behaviour.

Did the pressure of the column weigh on her? It’s certainly possible, but Caleb Hannan did not kill her.

I can only say what I know of the piece and how I may have written it and I in that respect shared the initial view of the Grantland team, I would have said yes to running it; the hiding her orientation being part of a pattern.

In hindsight it likely wasn’t necessary, but the piece ran after she passed and can you posthumously out someone? I guess. Does it have the same effect? I don’t know.

What I do know, but can’t even pretend to understand is that the transgender community in America has a higher suicide rate than any other group. I think Grantland will remember that moving forward – I think they know in that respect there were mistakes made, but the journalist here isn’t the one accountable.

Caleb Hannan told a powerful and well-researched story he dove deep into, he’s jokingly admitted nothing he ever writes again will garner such a response. He wrote the piece amidst threats and a difficult subject, and I challenge you to read it and not find it bizarrely gripping and fascinating.

I think he had a right to tell this story. I don’t think the transgender issue needed to be so central to the piece and he proved himself to appear a little scared and probably naïve, I doubt he meant that or even realised at the time.

But at least his piece was real journalism, telling a story that had an impact. For a brief time Dr. V’s putter was considered to be a brilliant development, some still use it I’m sure.

And in comparison to stories about Liam Payne’s alleged anti-gay stance, well I’ll let you figure out which one tells the true story and is actually to be considered a thought-provoking and excellent if somewhat flawed news piece.

At least Hannan didn’t simply make up a false headline on baseless assumptions. No, Caleb Hannan did some real investigative journalism, he simply forgot to dig further when it came to suicide rates or read his article from a different angle, something his editors should have pointed out.

The post Ethical or Simply Untouchable? What’s Right, Wrong and Grey in Journalism appeared first on Something Clever.

So without further ado, here’s my wrap-up for the year!

Top 5 Best Movies of 2013:

1. Rush

Rush is the product of a collaboration between Ron Howard and Peter Morgan, which should be an indicator of the quality of the picture. This is an extraordinary movie, with its amazing racing sequences and compelling drama making it a shoe-in for the Academy Awards.

2. Gravity

A third act deus ex machina aside, Alfonso Cuarón’s latest picture is a staggering work of cinematic art. Its art design and special effects are simply breathtaking, and it’s easy to get lost in the experience, especially if you’re watching it in 3D. Even BBC One’s vocal 3D hater Mark Kermode said it’s worth seeing in 3D.

3. Frozen

I would’ve been happy if Frozen was simply a good movie, but it’s legitimately great, showing more maturity and sophistication than anything Pixar has done since Toy Story 3. It’s the best Disney animation since the ‘90s (not including Pixar).

4. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Although it features a rubbish love triangle, Peter Jackson’s second Hobbit venture is a home run. Its action sequences are as thrilling as anything in Lord of the Rings, and Smaug is a CGI miracle. It’s a wonderfully enjoyable fantasy action-adventure that I plan to watch over and over again.

5. Iron Man 3

Yeah, I said it. Come and get me. Iron Man 3 is one of Marvel’s best to date, and it’s also a great Shane Black movie. Stripping Tony Stark of his suit and forcing him to rely on his intellect makes the picture incredibly interesting, and it’s bolstered by dialogue that literally sparkles. Not to mention, The Twist is one of the boldest and most interesting things in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. Weren’t people criticising Iron Man 2 for being safe? Calm down, people, this is a great movie.

Honourable mentions: The World’s End, Prisoners, Man of Steel, Bad Grandpa, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Bottom 5 Worst Movies of 2013:

1. Scary Movie 5

About 80% of the movie was shot two months ahead of its release. It took them two months to shoot and edit this. Think about that.

2. Movie 43

Every cast member refused to promote this film. Even Dennis Quaid, who’d probably prostitute himself if you gave him a few bucks.

3. A Haunted House

This movie is more traumatic than any real-life haunting could ever be.

4. Sharknado

The poster simply reads “Enough Said.” How apt.

5. Grown Ups 2

Rob Schneider couldn’t clear his schedule for this movie. Rob fucking Schneider thought he had better things to do than this.

Dishonourable mentions: The Purge, After Earth, You’re Next, Planes, Pain & Gain.

Most Fun: Escape Plan

We’ve been yearning for a proper team-up of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone for almost thirty years now. Although the pair have appeared together in both Expendables pictures, Arnie’s roles are always severely restricted; we have always wanted a proper movie with the pair as the main characters. And now we have it, and it’s spectacular. Escape Plan is not just a fun movie, it’s a great movie, with a smart screenplay and some exceptional performances from everybody. It’s a great story, and it’s peppered with some great one-liners. But the climax is something else. The action scenes which close the picture are staggering, the type of stand-up-and-cheer stuff that we wanted from a team-up of these two titans. It’s a bloody good time.

Most Underrated: Gangster Squad

I watched the movie on opening night and drew my judgements before I saw any reviews. Gangster Squad is some of the most fun I had in the cinema last year, and it’s also a well-made movie with kick-ass action scenes and engaging storytelling. The haters can hate. I loved it, and I’d be lying to myself if I said that I didn’t.

Also: Spring Breakers, V/H/S 2, Only God Forgives, Bullet to the Head.

Most Overrated: American Hustle

Give me Gangster Squad over this movie any day of the week. I mean that with utmost sincerity. American Hustle is in dire need of coherent plotting and an emotional attachment to the characters. I walked away completely cold and unmoved. I doubt I’ll ever watch it again.

Also: Captain Phillips, The Kings of Summer, The Heat.

Most Disappointing: Thor: The Dark World

Isolated set-pieces of the movie really shine, but it lacks the proper in-between stuff. I felt no attachment to the characters and I found it hard to get invested in the movie properly. Iron Man 3 is head over heels superior to this.

Biggest Surprise: World War Z

I’m not putting World War Z here because it was some kind of masterpiece. I’m putting it here because it didn’t suck, and considering that Paramount and Plan B pumped about $400 million into the film, delayed it extensively, had to rewrite the entire final third, and did about a month of reshoots…the fact it’s actually pretty enjoyable is a big deal.

Deserved to Flop: The Lone Ranger

There is absolutely no reason for Disney to have spent $250 million on this piece of crap. It’s a pure paycheque effort for everyone involved – another excuse for Johnny Depp to be “quirky” and walk away with a $50 million payday, and another blatant attempt for Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski to try to recreate the success of Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s not surprising that the movie landed with a resounding thud. It deserves all the scorn that it gets.

Deserved Better Box Office: Kick-Ass 2

The fact that Kick-Ass 2 flopped is heartbreaking. It was a real gem of a sequel, and it’s a miracle the thing even got made. It’s one of the most entertaining action films of the year, and it’s worthy of its predecessor. And now the fate of the third movie hangs in the balance, and it’s doubtful we’ll ever get the trilogy capper we want and deserve.

The post Cal’s 2013 Movie Wrap Up appeared first on Something Clever.