World's most famous Australian

[simon c]

Here's a bit of a question.

Who is the world's most famous Australian. I think the criteria is that they are famous in lots of countries (rather than being very famous in one) and being Australian is part of their fame.

I've had some thoughts, with reasons why they are or aren't:

Entertainment:
Errol Flynn - very famous, but not well known for being an Australian
Mel Gibson - was born in the US and now has US citizenship, but may have counted for a while
Kylie Minogue - one of the biggest starts in the UK
Paul Hogan - Very Australian and a big international star
Steve Irwin - Please don't let it be him
Peter Allen - Probably doesn't have the recognition across the board
Dame Edna - Huge in the UK, now has a name in the US
Rolf Harris - again, just limited to the UK

Sport:
Don Bradman - But cricket isn't a world sport
Mark Bosnich - was goalkeeper for the world's most famous soccer team
Many Tennis players - not sure how well known each individual tennis star is

Politics:
Nah - nobody ever knows who the Prime Minister of Australia is.

Anyone else?

I wonder what our colleagues from overseas think. Have they heard of any of these people.
As an ex-pom, Kylie is very famous and very famously Australian - but the UK is just one country.

Simon

[craigb]

Umm I can think of one you've missed:

Greg Norman

Mel Gibson is not an Australian BTW.

He calls himself an American, and he definitely is one.

Just because he lived here for a few years and went to drama school here.

Big Deal.

[Christopha]

Martin Bryant?? :eek:

[outback]

Doorstop!! :D

[Rocker]

Webster's Dictionary falsely claims that Errol Flynn was American :mad: :(

Rocker

[Fat Pat]

Famous Now, or Famous All-Time?

Peter Allen was a very proud Aussie, and I gather he let everyone know at his concerts. Seeing they were years ago, maybe people have forgotten?

Steve Irwin would have to be the current "Most Famous Person".

Mind you, if kate Blanchett wins an oscar?????

Maybe Nicole Kidman?

Depends upon the definition of Famous.

It's a bit like making Mark Taylor Australian of the Year. Great bloke and great at cricket, but more deserving than say Victor Chang or someother hard working soul?

[craigb]

Howard Florey probably should be the most famous Australian.

But hey he was only responsible for saving millions of lives worldwide plus he was a scientist so of course nobody's ever heard of him.

At the Olympics closing ceremony, they had Greg Norman, Elle McPherson and Kylie. I think that probably just about covered it then.

Mybe substitute Nicole Kidman for Elle and Irwin for Norman today.

[silentC]

Skippy the bush kangaroo!

[simon c]

Yes, I think Greg Norman is up there for those who are interested in golf, otherwise he isn't very high profile. Probably true of all sports.

Mel Gibson is often quoted as an American born Australian (as is Nicole Kidman), but I'm not sure if he is now or has always been an American.

Same with Errol FLynn, being born in Hobart doesn't necessarily mean you aren't American. He certainly didn't go about telling people he was from Tasmania.

Nationality is an odd thing. You'd always imagine that Anthony Hopkins is British, but he is American now.

Is nationality where you are born, where you grow up, what you choose to call yourself or what people choose to call you?

And as regard to fame, it certainly shouldn't be equated to worthiness or greatness. It is just a measure of how well known you are.

Please come up with somebody better than Steve Irwin!!

[gemi_babe]

Ummm Russell Crow... Australian, but born NZ... he calls himself an Aussie too.

Hugh Jackman...
Heath Ledger...

Toni Collette...

[Daddles]

Ned Kelly

[silentC]

Skippy was born in Australia, grew up in Australia and died in Australia. You can't get any more Australian than that!

Skippy for 'most famous Aussie'!! Even the Greeks know Skippy :D

[silentC]

Ned Kelly was Irish!

[simon c]

Russell Crow is a possible - he certainly is famous as an Australian, even if he is a Kiwi.

I don't think Hugh, Heath or Tonmi are famous enough.

While Ned kelly is famous in Australia, I don't think many peopl eknow of him internationally.

Skippy didn't have an Australian passport

[Termite]

In the Phillipines when you say you're from Australia most of the time they laugh and make a reference to the Tasmanian Devil, cartoon version that is.

[Rocker]

You are probably not going to like this, but what about Rupert Murdoch?

He had to renounce his Aussie citizenship for business reasons, but I believe the Americans no longer require this of people taking up American citizenship.

Rocker

[gemi_babe]

Yahoo Serious?

lol

Phar Lap?

Henry Lawson?

[Fat Pat]

Simon,

just because you don't like Steve Irwan doesn't stop him from being considered famous. With the publicity he generates, he would have to be up there with the most recognisable Australians, surely. Sure he has his faults (we all do), but he is damn proud to be known as an Aussie. That has got to count for something.

I was just putting up an option.

[barnsey]

R. M. Williams
Nancy Wake
Sir Mark Oliphant
Sir Douglas Mawson
John Flynn
Caroline Chisholm :confused: :confused: :confused:

And no-one has even considered anyone of the indigenous people but I won't get on that soap box now.

[johnmc]

Greg, Jeff, Murray and Anthony from the Wiggles

Harry Kewel (sp ?)

[gemi_babe]

I agree, Steve Irwin would deserve the title or 'worlds most famous australian'

I watched an interview on him on the ABC with that UK fella? anyway, he asked him about the way he talks, and how some people think he is putting it on... He swears black and blue thats he isn't putting it on, and I believe him.

You speak because of how you were raised, he speaks because of how he was raised.

Where's the aussie spirit........give him a go!!

[johnmc]

cathy freeman (lighting the torch for the 2000 olympic games opening ceremony - lots of people watching, but is she remembered today ?)

[jackiew]

My understanding is that its only comparatively recently that the Australian govt has let Australian Citizens add another nationality without losing Australian Citizenship. Though they let non-australian citizens aquire dual nationality without losing their original nationality.

If this was indeed the case then it could be why some high profile Australians don't have Australian citizenship anymore.

[simon c]

My comment "Please come up with somebody better than Steve Irwin" was because he is currently top of the list and I think there could be somebody better. It has nothing to do with whether I like him and it is not up to me anyway, I just posed the question. I have no problem with Steve Irwin, I just think there is a lot more to Australia than crocodile hunters.

I think the choice at the moment is between Steve Irwin, Greg Norman, Kylie, Rupert Murdoch, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe - in roughly that order.

Barnesy, I said that the list was the most internationally famous. If there was to be a list of greatest Australian, I accept it woul dbe very different.

[outback]

Kenmill :eek:

[Peter R]

Here's a bit of a question.

Who is the world's most famous Australian. I think the criteria is that they are famous in lots of countries (rather than being very famous in one) and being Australian is part of their fame.

I've had some thoughts, with reasons why they are or aren't:

Entertainment:
Errol Flynn - very famous, but not well known for being an Australian
Mel Gibson - was born in the US and now has US citizenship, but may have counted for a while
Kylie Minogue - one of the biggest starts in the UK
Paul Hogan - Very Australian and a big international star
Steve Irwin - Please don't let it be him
Peter Allen - Probably doesn't have the recognition across the board
Dame Edna - Huge in the UK, now has a name in the US
Rolf Harris - again, just limited to the UK

Sport:
Don Bradman - But cricket isn't a world sport
Mark Bosnich - was goalkeeper for the world's most famous soccer team
Many Tennis players - not sure how well known each individual tennis star is

Politics:
Nah - nobody ever knows who the Prime Minister of Australia is.

Anyone else?

I wonder what our colleagues from overseas think. Have they heard of any of these people.
As an ex-pom, Kylie is very famous and very famously Australian - but the UK is just one country.

Simon
Aw! com'on fellas, You know I don't like to brag about it. Can't you talk about something else. I am sick of people pointing me out and whispering, "There he goes, the worlds most famous Australian", the words ring in my ears...

Errol Flynn wasn't an Aussie he came from Tasmania????

Somebody!!!

[Iain]

John Williams
Tommy Tiko
Stephanie Alexander
Iain McCalnan
Harry Butler
Blinky Bill (you all forgot him :D )
the late June Bronhill
Margaret Sutherland
Richard Bonnynge
Joh
Kev Hinze( :rolleyes: )
Don Burke
the list go's on...............
Ned Kelly was infamous, not famous.

[Daddles]

Hi Five
John Howard (after Iraq, he quite possibly is)
Patrick White
Neville Shute
doorstop (inside his lunchbox anyway)
ACDC
The BeeGees.
Kate Blanchette
Peter Carey
Bruce

[Iain]

Which Bruce?

[simon c]

Which Bruce?
you know him, married to Sheila

[johnmc]

olivia newton john

[PaulS]

Shane Warne
Well known on the Sub-continent & England...

[Daddles]

you know him, married to Sheila

Simon got the joke. :D

Richard

[journeyman Mick]

Saw a documentary a few weeks ago about Annette Kellerman, who during the silent movies era was absolutely world famous. They made a movie about her years later which made the lady acting her famous (can't remember her name, synchronised swimmer/actress). She live a very full life, basically invented synchronised swimming, starred in a few movies, wrote books, pranced around semi nude, started fitness classes for women etc etc etc. She was stricken with polio as a child and sent to swimming classes. She never looked back from there. Went to England and did a daily show (at Brighton I think) swimming in an aquarium with fish and then was picked up by Hollywood. She died alone and penniless on the Gold Coast in the 70s :(

Now I'm not saying she is the world's most famous Australian, but she certainly was . Fame, like life is fleeting. How many that are famous now will still be known in 50 years?

Mick

[Sturdee]

33 replies on the subject of the World's most famous Australians but all from down under.

We are still to see a post from someone overseas who might know a famous person who is also an Aussie. Notwithstanding what we think maybe we don't have any famous enough. :D :D :D


Peter.

[beejay1]

Not famous but should be. Thomas Keneally - Schindlers List.
The well known ones obviously, dame edna,hogan,g.norman. and one who was, in the 70s. old steady eddie charlton.
beejay1

http://community.webshots.com/user/eunos9

[Daddles]

We are still to see a post from someone overseas who might know a famous person who is also an Aussie. Notwithstanding what we think maybe we don't have any famous enough.

That's coz they can't think of any. :confused:

Richard

[craigb]

What a stupid pointless thread this is.

FWIW, I reckon silentC is right.

THE most famous Australian (whatever that means) is a bloody kangaroo.

And that's the rest of the world's verdict, not mine.

[Daddles]

What a stupid pointless thread this is.

FWIW, I reckon silentC is right.

THE most famous Australian (whatever that means) is a bloody kangaroo.

And that's the rest of the world's verdict, not mine.

Stoopid and pointless eh? Yet you still felt moved to add your vote. Hmmm. Stoopid and pointless must be a strong motivator. :D It worked for me.

Dame Edna for Queen ... or Prime Minister ... or President ... or Head Roo ... or something

Richard

[craigb]

Stoopid and pointless eh? Yet you still felt moved to add your vote.

I wasn't aware that it was a ballot.

If you care to page back, you'll see who I rate as a famous Aussie.

I still reckon silentC is right in regards to world "fame".

[Roving Woody]

Fred Hollows.

[craigb]

Fred Hollows.

Mate, apart from the fact that he was Kiwi, all he ever did was go round trying to make disadvantged peoples lives better.

Come on, not exactly Who Weekly material.

[Cliff Rogers]

Slim Dusty?

That's the music the Yanks played as they flew over Oz in a Space Shuttle.

[bitingmidge]

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Last time I was in Melbourne I heard a lot of people talking with the same accent, must be some sort of local thing.

:D :D :D
P

[vsquizz]

Joh for PM

Cheers

[Iain]

Prince Leonard of Hutt, if that is Australia, did he secede?

[beejay1]

Nah, he failed miserably.

beejay1
http://community.webshots.com/user/eunos9

[The Big O]

Gotta be Elle McPherson

[ssgt]

Sir Thomas Blamey, Weary Dunlop to add a couple

[vsquizz]

Undoubtedly its Waltzing Matilda...known wherever an Aussie went and got drunk.

Victor Chang

Fred Hollows

Breaker Morant

&

Smithy (CKS)...least he's got an airport named after him.

In India once I was trying to converse with a taxi driver which was proving difficult to say the least; probably on account of he not seeming to be able to speak any english and myself not being able to converse fluently in Indian:confused: . ....I digress, anyway.. we had been travelling around a bloody great building which looked somewhat like the coliseum in drag, only a lot bigger.

I was eventually able to convey my interest in the building to which the taxi driver's face lit up like a paying poker machine and he expressed his two words of English with great knowing and admiration "DAVID BOON". came his reply. So there ya go, the worlds most famous Aussie was obviously a Taswegian with a big moustache and a penchant for a coldie:D .

Ya had to be there...

I think I might change my name to Opera (House);)

Cheers

[Groggy]

Nicole Kidman
The Wiggles
Olivia Newton-John

John Newcomb
Shirley Strickland
Dawn Fraser

Mary Donaldson (Crown Princess of Denmark)

John Howard - is a lot more popular overseas than in Australia. Personally I don't like him, but he is larger on the world stage than any other PM we've had.

[Bob Willson]

Australia doesn't have a lot of heroes, but my own hero is Dick Smith. He should be well known for his exploits as well but he probably isn't.
Having said that, I probably have to agree that Elle is our best known export and one of the few who continue to publicly recognise their country of origin.

[doublejay]

I probably have to agree that Elle is our best known export and one of the few who continue to publicly recognise their country of origin.
As opposed to all those famous Aussies who were actually born elsewhere.

e.g.,
Nicole Kidman - Hawaii
Mel Gibson - New York
Russell Crowe - New Zealand
and all those ocker athletes with the unpronounceable Eastern European names :rolleyes:

[aussiecolector]

Ned Kelly was Irish!
He was born of Irish parents but in Australia (I think).

[silentC]

True. :o

[Daddles]

Look, out of all the really famous people feared by people who count, it's hard to choose between Zed, Bitingmidge or Christopha.

Richard

[Zed]

Modesty prevents me from nominating myself........ :)

words of wisdom :

lets face it fame is like a pimple on an @rse, stands out for a while, is bloody uncomfortable, explodes a lot of spume all over the place (or recedes out of sight without a whimper) and at the end of the day not worth a brass razoo.

give me money any day so I can use it to hide in the country and not pay taxes.

the worst thing we do is idolise spastics who stand out for making a few good movies, made some money or killed lots of people (dont laugh look at Hitler & stalin everyone knows who they were).

My real vote goes to the guy who invented the hills hoist or the victa lawn mower or the chick who nationalised nursing etc.... f*ck the rest of them - who gives a rats about who tom or nicole are shagging ? let alone inbred charlie and those others who rule countries based upon who cleared the aenemic chute first!

[PAH1]

I'm with Zed a bit on this one.

Frank Fenner- Immunology Nobel Laureate
Graeme Cox- Mitochondrial function- should have been a laureate
Graham Farqhuar- Photosynthesis- probably will be
Dr Best -Pennicillin
Sunshine harvestor company-first in the world to invent the combine harvestor
The ..... braothers who invented the first combined cane harvestor
Victor Chang heart surgeon
Peter Waterhouse- Discoverer of RNA interference (the hottest topic in biology at the moment)
The guy who invented the stump jump plough

All of these are australian or at least living in australia when they made their discoveries/inventions.

[MikeL]

Like him or not, Greg Norman would have to be worth a vote. What he did for Golf in this country wouldn't or couldn't have been acheived by 20 others.. just my opinion... :)

[Daddles]

Cripes, a bloke tries to get all serious with this thread and nominate some real stars and you blokes go all silly and nominate deserving bods.

Richard

[Iain]

I think it should go to that unknown stalwart of art, the creator of the Freddo Frog, known to all :p

[Sturdee]

Like him or not, Greg Norman would have to be worth a vote. What he did for Golf in this country wouldn't or couldn't have been acheived by 20 others.. just my opinion... :)

Yes in his heyday he was great for golf club memberships. When he was winning tournaments, every time he won a major it garanteed a 100 new members.

Great for golf clubs but still only a golfer and not in the class of people that Pah1 nominated.


Peter.

[Daddles]

Yes in his heyday he was great for golf club memberships. When he was winning tournaments, every time he won a major it garanteed a 100 new members.

Great for golf clubs but still only a golfer and not in the class of people that Pah1 nominated.


Peter.
Dunno Peter. I'm no golfer or golf fan (it's a good walk ruined), but I believe Greg Norman has done a lot promoting the game, working with youngsters and charity work outside of golf. He's more than just paid swinger. But yeah, he can't compete with the creator of the Freddo Frog (my little daughter's vote).

Richard

[reeves]

and the tastiest ---!

SKIPPY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jackiew]

I think it should go to that unknown stalwart of art, the creator of the Freddo Frog, known to all :p

do they have freddo frogs outside australia? or are they another product like tim-tams and lamingtons which are region specific? anyway freddo frogs are just an expensive way of buying chocolate :( so they are only a boon to their manufacturer and sweet shops.

[Daddles]

do they have freddo frogs outside australia? or are they another product like tim-tams and lamingtons which are region specific? anyway freddo frogs are just an expensive way of buying chocolate :( so they are only a boon to their manufacturer and sweet shops.
Hah. Jackie, it would appear that you have never offered a child a choice between
'chocolate' and a Freddo Frog. The Freddo gets it everytime. I have to drag my little princess past them in the supermarket. In a service station, she will go straight to the Freddos. She can sense them hidden in the bowels of delis as we drive past.
And then there are the giant Freddo's. Well. Just how chocolaty can a three year old get? Give her 200gms of Freddo frog and 500 gms will be smeared on her face, with a similar amount inside. Obviously some child magic that I have lost in my dotage. But yes, mere chocolate does not compare with a Freddo Frog.

Cheers
Richard

[Sturdee]

Dunno Peter. I'm no golfer or golf fan (it's a good walk ruined), but I believe Greg Norman has done a lot promoting the game, working with youngsters and charity work outside of golf. He's more than just paid swinger.

Richard,

I'm not a golfer either, but I worked for a Golf Club for 11 years and my opinion of the game and its adherents is even lower than most non golfers. Everyday the same story from them about how they missed a put by so little. :eek: The whingers they were. :eek: Best days were when it poured rain and was too wet for them to play. :D :D :D And it was originated in Scotland where it never stops raining. :D

I can't comment on the Great White Sharks charity work away from golf but all his time in promoting the game was paid for by his sponsors. DAMHIK. :mad: IMHO He was just paid swinger.

BTW I think your daughter is right.


Peter.

[Daddles]

It's hard to argue with you Peter. I've known some dedicated golfers who hated the Shark, but there always seemed to be an undertone of sour grapes. Who knows? I may indeed be wrong, but he's such a big name I hope I'm not.
There seem to be a lot of prats in golf - those who are there to be seen by those who matter ... to them. I've even known blokes who hated the game but played it to suck up to the bosses (who were govt managers for god's sake, not even real aristocracy). On the other hand, there are those who truly love the game and approach it as a sport. I worked with a bloke who was only a stroke or two per round off being able to make a living (? - his description) as a pro. Like everything, many prats spoil it for everyone else.
Yes, I have played it. Played two seasons at the Leura Golf Club. For those who know the course, if you slice the ball, it usually disappears over a cliff. My crowning glory was the day I broke 100 strokes ... on the first nine holes. I believe the techinal term is 'hacker'.
Nowadays, I believe golf to be best enjoyed on the television - I can turn it off there.

Cheers
Richard

[Zed]

you nasty anti golf weenies! :D Daddles - you deserve a reddie but your safe! damn! :D

[Daddles]

you nasty anti golf weenies! :D Daddles - you deserve a reddie but your safe! damn! :D
Ah thank you Zed. If I remember rightly, I only struck two good drives in the two seasons - the first time I ever swung at a ball and eighteen months later when I was sick of using the right club for a par three hole and chose a longer one ... only to hear that magic 'click' and see the ruddy thing soar over the trees the other side of the green.

Cheers
Richard

[silentC]

On the other hand, there are those who truly love the game and approach it as a sport.
SWMBO's handicap is 5.3. Do you reckon she's in it for the sport ;)

[Bob Willson]

I don't think of golf as a sport. It is just a glorified game. How athletic or even fit do these people need to be? I mean, Bob Hope was still playing it when he was a frail old fart. No, the word 'sport' is much misused nowadays to include any old pasttime when people compete against one another. Pretty soon we will have things such as a doughnut eating contest or a sand castle building contest in the Olympics.

[silentC]

Fortunately, the compilers of the Macquarie dictionary don't agree with you there, Bob:

sport
// (say spawt) noun 1. an activity pursued for exercise or pleasure, usually requiring some degree of physical prowess, as hunting, fishing, racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, etc. 2. a particular form of pastime. 3. (plural) a meeting for athletic competition. 4. the pastime of hunting, shooting, or fishing with reference to the pleasure achieved: we had good sport today. 5. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime. 6. playful trifling, jesting, or mirth: to do or say a thing in sport. 7. derisive jesting; ridicule. 8. an object of derision; a laughing-stock. 9. something sported with or tossed about like a plaything: to be the sport of circumstances. 10. Colloquial (a term of address, usually between males): g'day, sport. 11. Colloquial one who is interested in pursuits involving betting or gambling. 12. Biology an animal or a plant, or a part of a plant, that shows an unusual or singular deviation from the normal or parent type; a mutation. 13. Obsolete amorous dalliance.

[Termite]

I Pretty soon we will have things such as a doughnut eating contest or a sand castle building contest in the Olympics.
Why not? They rank right up there with synchronised swimming.

[jackiew]

Why not? They rank right up there with synchronised swimming.

synchronised swimming is harder than it looks. You might as well add some of the ice skating and the gymnastics into the same bucket of non-sports because half the time the reasons for one person/team "winning" and another "losing" are completely non obvious to the majority of the spectators.

[Termite]

because half the time the reasons for one person/team "winning" and another "losing" are completely non obvious to the majority of the spectators.
My point exactly. :D

[craigb]

Yes. Get rid of all events that depend on subjective judging.

Olympics would be done and dusted in a week :) :D

[silentC]

half the time the reasons for one person/team "winning" and another "losing" are completely non obvious to the majority of the spectators
Hmm, better add boxing, most equestrian sports, diving....

In fact I find myself frequently mystified as to why many tries, goals, and wickets are awarded or disallowed. So who wants to have a go at a definition that encompasses 'real sports' and excludes all of these pretenders?

Is Seppo-baiting a sport?

[craigb]

Is Seppo-baiting a sport?

More of a National pastime I think

[Termite]

Is Seppo-baiting a sport?
No, because they make it so easy, there's no challenge. But it is darn good fun. :D

[MikeL]

Is Seppo-baiting a sport?
Put that in the Olympics, we'd win a gold every time...

[Bob Willson]

Fortunately, the compilers of the Macquarie dictionary don't agree with you there, Bob:

sport
// (say spawt) noun 1. an activity pursued for exercise or pleasure, usually requiring some degree of physical prowess, as hunting, fishing, racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, etc. 2. a particular form of pastime. 3. (plural) a meeting for athletic competition. 4. the pastime of hunting, shooting, or fishing with reference to the pleasure achieved: we had good sport today. 5. diversion; recreation; pleasant pastime. 6. playful trifling, jesting, or mirth: to do or say a thing in sport. 7. derisive jesting; ridicule. 8. an object of derision; a laughing-stock. 9. something sported with or tossed about like a plaything: to be the sport of circumstances. 10. Colloquial (a term of address, usually between males): g'day, sport. 11. Colloquial one who is interested in pursuits involving betting or gambling. 12. Biology an animal or a plant, or a part of a plant, that shows an unusual or singular deviation from the normal or parent type; a mutation. 13. Obsolete amorous dalliance.


Well, they do kind of agree with me, they just give the word in ALL its various meanings and shades of same; but to say that sport is "a pleasant pastime" means that we could subsume just about anything we like under this heading. The great nose picking competition, sexual depradations, whittling a woody, whatever we want. :)

[bitingmidge]

Is Seppo-baiting a sport?

Well it's not an intellectual exercise!

P :D

[silentC]

Well, they do kind of agree with me, they just give the word in ALL its various meanings and shades of same; but to say that sport is "a pleasant pastime" means that we could subsume just about anything we like under this heading. The great nose picking competition, sexual depradations, whittling a woody, whatever we want. :)
Very true and this is in fact my point. If you take the word sport back to basics, there's nothing in the definition that rules out anything commonly referred to as a sport, nor does it rule out plenty of activities not commonly referred to as sport but pleasant just the same.

In fact it doesn't even say that sport has to be pleasant, which is getting more into my understanding of the word. Is there anything pleasant about playing a good game of rugby? Not if you are any good at it, I'd have thought. I spend a fair amount of my time cycling and I can assure you that whilst I consider it excercise and, in it's competitive form, it is certainly a sport, there is nothing pleasant about it. Not if you take it seriously.

[Termite]

I spend a fair amount of my time cycling and I can assure you that whilst I consider it excercise and, in it's competitive form, it is certainly a sport, there is nothing pleasant about it. Not if you take it seriously.
And will the closet masochist please stand up. :D

[silentC]

Well, there is that, and the Lycra shorts :o

[Termite]

Well, there is that, and the Lycra shorts :o
I won't go shopping for new high heels with you if you wear Lycra shorts. :D

[silentC]

What even if I shave my legs? Hang on, we're starting to get into Al's territory here. What were we talking about? Oh yeah, sport. So how 'bout them Yankees, huh?

[Bob Willson]

So, is that the next sport then? Yankin'? It is certainly pleasurable enough. Maybe too pleasurable and we should try to inject an element of pain into the procedings. Bang heads on wall maybe. No, hold on, I do that anyway.:D

[Sturdee]

you nasty anti golf weenies!

I seem to have stirred up a hornet’s nest with my remarks on golf.

Firstly may I clarify that I think Greg Norman is a great Australian. He has indeed done much for golf in this country but IMO as a sportsman he is not in the same league as some of the other worthwhile nominees. In any case how well is he known overseas?

My remarks about golfers are those I met day in day out for 11 years at the club I worked. It did not matter who they were, change the faces and names, but their whinging and moaning about what went wrong and why they played badly was always the same. :eek: Sure some members were okay, usually those with a handicap of 10 or less, however most club golfers are IMO a breed apart and should be confused with real sports people. :D

I could fill pages upon pages about golfers but the classic was a group of four, all needing a handicap of 155 instead of the maximum 27, who after taking 5 ½ hours to do the course (which should only have taken 3 hours) came and complained about slow play. Need I say more. :mad:

Richard, the term hacker is appropriate. :D :D :D

Zed, I am sorry to hear that you are a golfer. I am also sorry that my post upset you enough to give me a Reddy. Unlike another Peter I don’t give one in return like tit for tat. However if you read my post correctly for you to be upset you must be a club golfer and a whinger. This I never suspected so my apologies to you for being a golfer/whinger. :D :D :D :D

Finally, if the definition of sport is that of usually requiring some degree of physical prowess what do call it if they ride a buggy around the course and only get of to hit the ball 10 yards and after trying to put 10 times on the same green they give up and move on without scoring. :eek: Surely not sport.


Peter.

[jackiew]

Is it sport I wonder if you go onto the field knowing that your team is going to get hammered by a far superior team the only thing in doubt being by how many goals?

[Cliff Rogers]

... only to hear that magic 'click' ....
But isn't it just that 'what' keeps you coming back???? :rolleyes:


synchronised swimming is harder than it looks......
So is F'n golf, so is F'n golf..... I reckon it is 'the' hardest 'sport'(?) (talent or whatever) & rates up there with landing a man on the moon & pleasing a woman. ;)

[silentC]

Ironically, the easiest way to please my wife is to say 'yes' when she asks if she can play golf on Saturday ;)

[Iain]

Someone once quoted to me that 'sport' involved the hunting of animals/fish/game etc, the rest are games.
As for equestrian, I for one love watching polo, a very full on game and fast, unfortunately I cannot afford the twelve horses for one player (generally there are about 120 to 150 horses for one game, no wonder it is the sport of kings).
There, I've just contradicted myself in a single sentence :confused: