Sport
Sportsview with Murray Leeder
will go down in sporting annals as the year that proved anything can happen and probably will !
2017 Teams who had not tasted success for decades suddenly burst on the scene and gave sporting bookmakers their best results imaginable – and not just in Oz ! It was a similar story in individual sports and the average sports fan could be forgiven for scratching the head and asking , “ who ” as the results were splashed on the media . It was a phenomenon which occurred worldwide and not just in sporting contests . It happened constantly in politics ! There is no doubt that 2016 will be known for confirming the analogy that : Records are made to be broken !
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My first lecture in tertiary mathematics at UWA was on statistics . Our Professor made no bones about just how misleading statistics can be .
“ Statistics lie ” and “ Liars use statistics ,” were statements attributed to him which have remained indelibly scrawled in my sub conscious ever since . So when the corporate bookmakers offered 660 / 1 odds on a Pakistani victory in the first Test in Brisbane last December , it seemed that they were chasing a few bucks for Christmas from hopelessly addicted punters dreaming of an unlikely turn up . Pakistan looked down and out when they commenced their second innings a mammoth 490 runs in arrears of an extremely confident Australia . To win they would be required to somehow construct the highest fourth innings score in Test cricket history . For an over or two on day five the cricket world held its breath as Pakistan closed to within 40 of the Aussies target with two wickets still standing before the wheels fell off ! The Pakistanis lost no admirers for their pluck and skill when they finally faltered and fell short . Now we can look forward to the second and third Tests in Sydney and Melbourne . Cricket Australia is no doubt thrilled with the visitors taking the first Test to the wire . It will surely translate into big gates during the festive season .
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It never ceases to amaze me to hear how many people predicted the Trump win in the US Presidential election . Forgive me if I exhibit a healthy dollop of cynicism . After all , Donald Trump defied logic and the polls to win the presidency . In a two horse race it was possible to get odds as generous as 9 / 1 about the businessman upsetting Hillary Clinton . I know of just one person in WA who was convinced Trump could win and he put his money where his mouth was . Neville , a well-known professional punter in WA , won $ 35 000 for having the courage of his convictions . Nev is a close pal of mine and we are in continual contact on the internet . While I was in Vung Tau he constantly urged me to take advantage of the ridiculous odds on offer . “ You ’ ll never see odds like this on a two horse race again ,” he urged . Of course I took no notice . However , down at the local watering holes it is amazing how many people nod their heads knowingly whenever US politics raises its ugly head . “ I knew he would win ,” they say proudly . My response to their fanciful claim is to ask : “ So how much did you win and what were the odds ?”
14 The MAG Vung Tau
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