As promised, here is our view of the worst sporting moments of 2011. There were plenty of scandals, disgraceful acts, poor team and individual performances and even a failed TV attempt in 2011. We sifted through the wreckage and picked our top 10 worst sporting moments of 2011, enjoy!
10. Shane Warne’s Failed Attempt at his own Talk Show
Shane Warne is unanimously known as the greatest bowler Australia has ever seen, he has taken 708 test wickets and over 1,000 international wickets but his career also included plenty of scandal which detracted away from his performances on the pitch. The latest of Warnie’s failures was his attempt at a self titled talk show during the summer of Cricket.
- Courtesy of dailytelegraph.com.au
After many weeks of hype and countless advertisements of the show, the ratings nosedived and it only lasted 5 weeks before it was pulled from our screens never to be seen again. I think Warnie needs to stick to commentary and the occasional playing comeback!
9. Simon Katich Axed from the Australian Cricket Team
Simon Katich was unceremoniously dumped from the Australian Test Cricket side after a few poor performances, fair enough, but the fact that he was also not included in the list of 25 players contracted to Cricket Australia was an absolute disgrace. We’ve covered the interview he gave in June here http://sportsbanter.com.au/the-simon-katich-press-conference-brilliant/ and what a press conference that was.
- Courtesy of skysports.com
Katich rightfully had a go at the selectors in regards to their ridiculous decision and it was great entertainment, he should never have been dropped from the test squad let alone the 25 man list of contracted players. A disgraceful decision and Australia have been paying for it ever since!
8. Ricky Nixon and the St Kilda School Girl Scandal
It all started out seemingly like a schoolgirl who had been embarrassed by a bunch of footballers and wanted to get her own back by releasing pictures that she had of some of those said players, however it soon turned more scandalous. It was revealed that Ricky Nixon, a player agent, had had an affair with the schoolgirl and when this became public the media could not get enough of it.
- Courtesy of the Herald Sun
While the truth eventually came out, the girl admitted on National television that everything she had said was a lie, it didn’t take away any of the embarrassment that was left at the St Kilda Football Club or Ricky Nixon himself.
7. Quade Cooper’s Poor 2011 Rugby World Cup Performances
Quade Cooper was supposed to be the next big thing in Australian Sport, a fantastic Rugby player who was being coveted by a host of Rugby League clubs to switch codes with some staggeringly large offers rumoured to have been offered. After his shocking Rugby World Cup performances most of those offers were off the table and Quade was left with slim pickings in terms of clubs to choose from.
- Courtesy of foxsports.com.au
Things went from bad to worse for Quade as he ended up injuring his knee in the 3rd place play-off match against Wales. The injury is expected to keep him out of action for another few months and he may miss the start of the 2012 Super Rugby competition as a result.
6. Pakistan Cricketers Disgraceful Match Fixing – Bans and Subsequent Jailings
In February this year, the deliberate no-ball allegations against 3 of Pakistan’s star cricketers resulted in 5 year bans for all three players being dished out, soft if you ask me. Criminal proceedings were launched against all three players and in November this year all three players were found guilty and were sentenced to prison time. Salman Butt received 30 months, Mohammed Asif 12 months and youngster Mohammed Amir 6 months.
- Courtesy of the Daily Mail
The fact that the players only received 5 year bans is disgraceful in my book, especially in the case of Amir who would still only be 24 after his ban expires. All of these players should have been given life bans for bringing the game into disrepute!
5. Australia’s Capitulation at the Wanderers – All Out for 47!
Australian Cricket reached a new low in November when they were embarrassingly bowled out for 47 against South Africa in the First Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. At one point Australia were 9-21 and it was left up to tail-enders Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon to ensure that Australia were not bowled out for the lowest score in test cricket history, the 26 scored by New Zealand in 1955.
- Courtesy of abc.net.au
One thing that the embarrassing result highlighted was that Australia is indeed in a rebuilding phase at the moment, something that really should have been done prior to the exodus of 2006-2008 when we lost Warne, McGrath, Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist and a host of other experienced players all in a short period.
4. Qatar Being Handed the 2022 World Cup by FIFA
One of the most disgraceful decisions of 2011 was FIFA awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. The only reason Qatar was chosen was money, and there are still investigations underway in relation to potential bribery allegations against the Qatari administration. Some say this decision was a result of Sepp Blatter wanting to leave a legacy seeing as he won’t be FIFA President forever, but I can only see one reason for this decision….$$$.
- Courtesy of the Guardian
The fact that Qatar has no infrastructure, 50 Degree Celcius heat and is considered to be an unsafe place for players and fans alike, should have been enough for FIFA to overlook them, however obviously money overruled common sense on this occasion. It will be interesting to see what comes of the bribery allegations and whether Qatar is ultimately stripped of the hosting rights to the World Cup.
3. New South Wales Blues Losing Six Straight State of Origin Series
As promised, this one makes both lists. As a proud New South Welshman I was devastated when we lost the series earlier this year. It was inevitable with the imminent retirement of Darren Lockyer but that didn’t help soften the blow one bit. NSW have been going through somewhat of a rebuilding period and with Ricky Stuart back in the fold the passion returned and NSW really look to be heading in the right direction.
- Courtesy of the Daily Telgraph
Queenslanders have shown throughout the last 6 years that they are arrogant and have short memories. Just six years ago Mal Meninga was on the verge of being sacked and the State of Queensland was over Origin football. Turn the clock forward 6 years and Queenslanders have the nerve to accuse New South Welshman of being sore losers, the difference is that we haven’t given up on our team and will be there supporting them again in 2012!
2. Australia Fails to Win Back the Ashes on Home Soil
In January this year, Australia suffered their most embarrassing series defeat since I have followed Cricket, over 20 years, by losing to England in the Ashes on home soil. In the end Australia lost the series 3-1, that’s bad enough but what makes it even harder to take is that all 3 of those defeats were by an innings. We were absolutely carved up and none of our bowlers came away from that series with any credibility.
- Courtesy of totalsportsmadness.com
It was that defeat at the hands of England that got the ball rolling on the rebuilding of Australian Cricket. First the selectors were dumped, Ricky Ponting was replaced by Michael Clarke, a new generation of young stars were uncovered and hopefully by 2013 we will be ready to take back the Urn that rightfully belongs in Australia!
1. Manly Win the 2011 NRL Premiership…. Then Self Implode!
Is there anybody out there, apart from Manly fans, that actually wanted this mob to win this years NRL Premiership? I didn’t think so. The Manly Sea Eagles are the team that everybody loves to hate, and moreso when they are actually winning things. It all started back in the 80′s when there was no salary cap and the Silvertails bought there way to several premierships. People haven’t forgotten that, me included, and when they won this years Premiership I thought here we go again.
- Courtesy of the Daily Telegraph
Just as I was dreading another Sea Eagles dynasty, the board decides to self implode and the club falls to pieces. Out goes Premiership winning coach Des Hasler to the Bulldogs, and a host of players not happy with the decision considering their own futures. Only the Sea Eagles could manage to turn a Premiership win into post season controversy, couldn’t happen to a nicer club!
So there you have it, our take on the Worst Sporting Moments of 2011. Let us know if you agree or disagree with our selections in the comments section, and be sure to let us know what you think should be in the list.
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