A Sports-Mad Nation

One cannot underestimate the importance of sports in the minds of Australians. It's not an obsession as much as a tight weave in the fabric of their lives. Let's start with Aussie Rules Football, celebrating its 150th anniversary of bone crushing and brain numbing action. Melbourne and its immediate suburbs support no fewer than nine (9) professional teams! And all seen on national TV.

There are two different rugby sports. Rugby League is most like American Football and Rugby Union is for the Ivy League cum Rhodes scholar types. Basketball is a growing sport with imported American coaches.

And add a splash of cricket, played in wicked summer heat in "tests" that last for up to five days. The World is the league: India, South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. "Away" series usually last 3-4 weeks.

Sports isn't just a spectator sport. Club sports abound for the everyman.

What do you play? Soccer, cricket, lawn bowls, croquet....name it. Municipalities build club houses and pitches (fields) for organizations to use, rent and maintain. Even croquet.

Lawn bowls resembles bocci ball and there are clubs all over the place. Heavily identified with the pensioner set, this is actually a fun past time that has strategy, skill with wobbly balls and the requisite arguments over the nearness of the ball to the white Jack [easily resolved with a tape measure] and whether real grass or

artificial turf is best [let's not go there...Kev's club has real grass.] There is no debate that the cheapest drinks in town can be had in a lawn bowls clubhouse. The old-person image tends to keep potential converts (particularly the middle-aged in denial) away. That, and ever rising land values, are getting cities to rethink some of this benevolence. Perhaps sports clubs should start them young, like soccer in the U.S. Anyway, if you can get the movie, "Crackerjack" [2002. Mick Molloy stars] from the library or videostore, you will have the complete picture picture of the joys and foibles of lawn bowls in Oz.

I've given thought to actually joining a croquet club. One, it is closest to my home. Two, with only 14 members rumored to be registered, they might pay me to join. Three, I fancy it would immediately make me sound like "old money." Four, it would be a unique experience probably only found here! Five, it is a heck of a lot safer than rugby.