January 22, 2021: Kevin Neil audio grab
The former Canberra Raiders CEO discusses preparing for the 1996 season not knowing if there would be one competition or two.
“GEOFF Carr … we walked into Kogarah Oval together”.
Yesterday I interviewed former Canberra CEO Kevin Neil for the book. As per usual, the bulk of the conversation was about 1997.
But also as per usual, I asked him a question at the end about the period in which we now find ourselves for this installation - the beginning of 1996. His recollections of preparing for a season in which there might be one comp, and there might be two, are provided for our loyal subscribers.
If you’re new, please consider hitting the button below and signing up. It’s not just the content which will run until December 19, 2022. You also get two physical books, including one straight away.
PS: By sheer co-incidence, Matt Hoy - father of Newcastle’s Tex, gets his second mention here in the clipping below.
48 HOURS
Sydney Morning Herald, January 22 1996
Edited by STEVE MASCORD
Not him again
RUMOURS are sweeping British boxing circles that "Aussie Joe" Bugner is about to make another return to the local circuit. And despite his English origins, the locals aren't that thrilled. "I don't know what the outcome would be, but I don't want to see Joe Bugner box here," British Boxing Board of Control secretary John Morris said on radio at the weekend. "He's had one fight against an Australian novice with no real experience and I wonder whether the board will think that qualifies him for a title fight. I don't want to see anyone who has been out of the ring as long as Joe Bugner has boxing again." Meanwhile, Muhammad Ali made a brief comeback to the ring when he staged a mock bout in Cuba with an old friend, former Olympic heavyweight champion Teofilo Stevenson. Ali, who has Parkinson's disease, is on a humanitarian mission in the Caribbean.
Cold bore
AH, POLITICS. International relations don't come much frostier than those between North and South Korea. North Korea have told soccer world governing body FIFA they are willing to co-host the 2002 World Cup with South Korea. FIFA replied: "Have you consulted them about this?". North Korea: "Well, um, no. Things don't work like that around here". FIFA: "Well, don't bother us until they do." In the meantime, South Korea have told FIFA they are willing to co-host the Cup if North Korea make an official application to do so. FIFA says to South Korea: "So you've come to an arrangement with North Korea." South Korea: "W'ell, um, no. We haven't said a word about it to them." A South Korean official, who asked not to be identified, said: "We are trying to find out the true motive behind the North Korean proposal, as the North could use it as political propaganda externally."
King hit
STILL on politics, and the staging of next Sunday's Super Bowl in Arizona is conclusive proof that if you're not PC, then when it comes to sport, you're RS. It's a little-known fact that Tempe, Arizona, was actually awarded the 1993 Super Bowl. At the time, Arizona was one of the few American States not to observe Martin Luther King Day, giving it a reputation as a redneck haven. The NFL team owners made their feelings on this clear: if the holiday isn't introduced, we won't go there. When a referendum to introduce the holiday was defeated, the NFL took the Super Bowl away from Arizona. Finally, the holiday was approved and next Monday (Sydney time), the Cowboys and the Steelers will meet there. "This State's voters first disrespected Dr King, and the NFL said we won't come to a State that doesn't respect him. All this shows that Martin Luther King's influence was so significant to freedom that a Super Bowl could not come here until the day was recognised," said Phoenix's Reverend Warren Stewart.
Snared
FOUR African drummers were reprimanded in Auckland on Saturday when officials objected to their noisy support for Zimbabwe during the second Test match against New Zealand. The Sunday Star Times reported the Auckland residents, who hailed from Zaire, Mali and Sierra Leone, created a stir among television viewers who complained they were drowning out the commentators. Security guards ordered the drummers to stop. A compromise was later reached and the drummers were allowed to bash out a short burst of support at the end of each over. There are parts of the world where drowning out cricket commentators is considered a virtue.
Hard yakka
GEEZ, these tennis stars have it tough. Sure they make a squillion dollars but sometimes they have to work incredibly long hours. On Saturday, for example, Mark Woodforde arrived at the National Tennis Centre in Melbourne at the ungodly hour of 9.30 am and because of rain delays wasn't holding his media conference until 8.30 pm. "I was here at 9.30 am and here I am now finally talking about it. It makes for a hell of a long day." An 11-hour working day for a measly few thousand dollars - what a Trojan.
Eight-day week
TV IN sport, part one million. The organising committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City wants to extend the games by one day to boost weekend television ratings. The extra day, an option in the $A753 million United States broadcast-rights contract signed in August, means the Olympics would run from February 8 to 24. The organising committee's share of the TV receipts is about $A443 million, about $A120 million more than projected. For a few million more, we hear they're willing to run the games over three months, in Manhattan, exclusively between the hours of 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm (with breaks for commercials, of course).
Knees a-hoy
ITS NOT just footballers who battle painful knee injuries to be fit to compete. Australia's highest-ranked surfer, Matt Hoy, has torn ligaments (he doesn't stipulate whether it's medial or cruciate) and has been out of the water for a month. But Coke Classic organisers happily announced yesterday he would be competing in the contest, which starts next Monday at North Narrabeen. Barton Lynch also has a knee injury but has declared himself a certain starter.
RESOURCES
St George v Canberra, Kogarah Oval, 1996