Aussie Rules #3 The American Pie And The Son Of The Macedonian Marvel

On this day two years ago I satirically declared Melbourne, Australia’s sporting capitol, dead. I did that because stupid lockdowns deprived Melbourne of the Australian Rules Grand Final in the birthplace of the game. The ridiculous banning and incarceration of Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open tennis tournament last year strengthened that assertion.

But the sheer love of sport in the hearts of the Australian people, especially Melburnians, might offer some consolations.

Aussie Rules football is, in Melbourne, undoubtedly the best game in the world. (We think so.) It is, for many of us, our religion. (For me personally, it is a part of the way God manifests divinity through us, both men and women, as beings made in God’s image.)

I write this post a couple of hours before the count in the Brownlow Medal, the most prestigious individual award in Australian football. In this award, the umpires cast the votes for the fairest and best player. Favourite to win tonight is twenty year old Collingwood player, Nick Daicos, seen below and above celebrating last Friday’s preliminary final victory with the “American Pie”, Mason Cox. (Collingwood are known as the Magpies or the ‘Pies. Cox was recruited in 2014-15 from the United States. In America, Cox was part of a state championship soccer team at high school and played 57 minutes of university basketball for the Oklahoma Cowboys, scoring 7 points.)

Both these men are crucial to Collingwood’s chances this week in Saturday’s upcoming Grand Final.

Daicos is the son of the Macedonian Marvel, Peter Daicos, who revolutionised the way small forwards kicked goals. Nick, at this stage of his career , appears to have achieved more than his legendary dad at the same age.

Mason Cox, at his best, has a fierce determination to win the ball. We call this “attack on the footy”. This manly sporting spirit does his home state of Texas proud. The chant of “U-S-A !!!!! U-S-A !!!!!” often greets his wonderful spirit.

Go Pies !!!!!!!

Geoff Fox, September 25, 2023, Down Under

Aussie Rules #2 Heart And Soul Bobby Hill

Michael Warren gets off the shot. In 1968 he was an All-American basketball player in an outstanding Bruins team. Then for me he became the moral heart soul the series Hill Street Blues with his almost constant decency and tolerance playing Officer Bobby Hill.

Now, in Australia, another black man named Bobby Hill, of Collingwood. Football Club, is thrilling sports loving people with dash and class.

Tonight, in Melbourne, Australia, Bobby Hill’s goal kicking has been a crucial factor in a postseason finals triumph for his team.

An equal personal best. 3 big goals. Including the first two of the game in which winning margin for Hills team Collingwood was just over one goal.

And also watch this brilliant curving goal from earlier in the season:

For me, despite the horrible authoritarianism of modern Australian governments, Aussie Rules footy is still one.of the greatest forms of freedom.in my world.

God Bless Bobby Hill Now And Then

Geoff Fox, 7th September, 2023, Down Under.

My Melting Pot #6 Madonna born Elvis and Babe Ruth died

Pop diva Madonna was born in Bay City Michigan on the 16th august, 1958. On the same date, in 1948 and 1977 , Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley died.

A Sultan Of Swat, A King Of Rock and Roll and, arguably, a queen of pop.

The Bambino thoroughly deserved his GOAT (greatest of all time) title. To my knowledge, only Bradman in cricket could compare with him in that respect.

Until the Beatles came along and reinvented rock as Mersey beat pop music then, on Sergeant Peppers, as a dazzling kaleidescope, Elvis was King, transcending in some but not all both Sinatra and Hank.

His voice. His unashamedly masculine personality. And his mainstream popularisation of Rhythm And Blues were all great.

And the guy could really communicate with the people in their language:

“If you let your head get too big, it’ll break your neck.”

 “Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t going away.”

“When your intelligence don’t tell you something ain’t right, your conscience gives you a tap you on the shoulder and says ‘hold on’. If it don’t, you’re a snake.”

“Rock and roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can’t help but move to it. That’s what happens to me. I can’t help it.”

“Madonna felt the spirit of Elvis Presley pass through her when he died, according to her brother-in-law, singer songwriter Joe Henry.”

Possession is 9 tenths of the law.

Geoff Fox, 16th August, American time, 2023

Australia To the World #1 Footscray To The World #1 Roy Park

Roy Park, a.k.a. The Little Doc, played football and cricket at the highest levels. He played 85 games of Australian Rules football in the Victorian Football League and one test match for Australia against England.

At school, Park’s batting so entranced his schoolmate future Prime Minister and cricket tragic future Robert Menzies, that Wikipedia reports that Menzies: “……. recalled reading Shakespeare behind the school practice nets, “so that he could partake of the bard whilst watching Park bat.” “

Roy Park could have played more cricket for Australia but circumstances forced him to put wartime service first.

Those Were The Days.

Geoff Fox, 22nd July, 2023, Down Under

My Melting Pot #3 Babe Ruth and Horace Greeley And George Steinbrenner

Does the picture above of Babe Ruth show the Mona Lisa of slides? (The Babe-A Lisa?)

On this date, July 13, in 2010, George Steinbrenner died, and, much earlier, in 1865, publisher and Whig politician, Horace Greeley, is said to have advised his readers:

“Washington [D.C.] is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable. Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country.” (Has anything changed?)

Steinbrenner was born in Ohio and died in Florida, but is most famous for owning the New York Yankees for 37 colorful years. His brash leadership is said to have been a role model for Donald Trump.

Here are some of Steinbrenner’s thoughts:

“Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.”

“I think about the next season right away.”

“Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa.”

Controversy followed Steinbrenner:

“I don’t think that anybody should be suspended for life for anything, other than murder. How is it helping someone to say, ‘You’re done forever, your life’s over’? “

“……. why shouldn’t I speak out? Don’t you speak out in this country?”

That is American.

Geoff Fox, July 13, 2023,

Women For Freedom #36 Dorothy Levitt

British journalist and racing driver Dorothy Levitt died 101 years ago on May 17 1922, with a unique catalogue of achievements summarised like this on wikipedia:

“She was the first British woman racing driver, holder of the world’s first water speed record, the women’s world land speed record holder, and an author. She was a pioneer of female independence and female motoring, and taught Queen Alexandra and the Royal Princesses how to drive. In 1905 she established the record for the longest drive achieved by a lady driver by driving a De Dion-Bouton from London to Liverpool and back over two days, receiving the soubriquets in the press of the Fastest Girl on Earth, and the Champion Lady Motorist of the World.”

She advised women drivers: Don’t be afraid of your car. Dress well. Don’t forget your gun. You can fix your own car.

Geoff Fox, 17th May, 2023, Down Under

AUSSIE RULES #1 Brody “Maradona” Mihocek – THE FOOT OF GOD

Star Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek yesterday kicked one of the most amazing goals in the history of the game of Australian Rules football.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/watch-collingwood-big-man-brody-mihocek-pulls-off-miracle-soccer-style-scissor-kick-to-seal-win-c-10574774#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16834811735611&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2F7news.com.au%2Fsport%2Fafl%2Fwatch-collingwood-big-man-brody-mihocek-pulls-off-miracle-soccer-style-scissor-kick-to-seal-win-c-10574774

Geoff Fox, 8th May, 2023, Down Under

G.O.A.T. – Novak – A Triumph Of Clean Culture

Novak Djokovic was falsely imprisoned in a cheap hotel in Melbourne last year and excluded from the Australian Open because he refused to compromise on his right to bodily autonomy.

This year he returned in triumph and won. To me this is clearly because he is culturally clean.

Owing to the generosity of a Serbian community leader, I was able to watch this glorious achievement among beautiful Serbian people who idolise their hero.

They live clean in loving families who have fun together.

What a lesson.

Geoff Fox, 29th January, 2023, Down Under

ARMA VIRUMQUE CANO #2 NICK KYRGIOS

These two artworks are published under a creative commons licence …… the original photo was taken by Dominic Thiem ……. the words are added independently by Geoff Fox.

Nick Kyrgios is today approaching the highlight of his tennis career so far: a Wimbledon singles final.

He is a volatile creative and brilliantly talented man.

Simultaneously in Australia, the modern feminist police state mentality, which is crippling The West and Western men, has this champion facing jail for the “crime” of grabbing a woman.

As far as we know, she was not injured.

But what will be the effect on Nick?

Geoff Fox, 10th July, 2022, Terra Nullius

Aussie Freedom Fighters #5 Jordan De Goey

Jordan De Goey, I salute you as a freedom fighter.

In your stand against relentless public persecution of athletes by the media you are practising freedom of speech. When you talk about unfair media reporting, you are right to warn that “This will end in tragedy if no one speaks up.” (Nine people die of suicide every day in Australia and 75% of them are male. It is an issue that does need to be addressed. Public bullying like what is happening to you might not be a danger to your life because you have a good support group, but not everyone is as well supported as you are.)

You have shown great courage in speaking up when many people are criticizing you for being a young adult human being.

I met you at a Christian charity dinner earlier this month. I told you how I had succeeded in making former Collingwood defender Jack Frost a symbol of freedom in Indonesia, through a photo of mine of Frosty wearing his number 45. In Indonesia this number is strongly associated with 1945, the year when fascist freedom was defeated by Australia and Australia’s allies and when Indonesia proclaimed national independence after centuries of colonialism. I urged Jack to hang on to that number and when Jack went to play for Brisbane he still wore number 45.

I told you at the dinner that, if I got the chance, I would like to help you become a great symbol of both freedom and discipline. As I recall you really liked that idea.

This previous weekend’s events in Bali, Indonesia, and the strength you have shown in speaking up against persecution convince me that I was right. The pile-on of people criticising you for being publicly exposed as a human being is a gutless mob. You are the one showing honesty and courage.

May I take photos of you in footy action in your footy gear to make that dream of mine of making you a symbol of discipline and freedom come true?

The Christian group at that dinner have tried to shut down my attempts to talk with Collingwood people like you. They might not care about the importance of free speech like I do.

If that’s the case, so be it.

I’m with you, Jordy.

Geoff Fox, 11 a.m., 20th June, 2022, Melbourne, Down Under

PS Remy Jackson (pictured below) who was in the controversial footage of De Goey has rejected the over-reaction.