Thema drucken
19.06.2019 10:02
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October 28 Welcome to the world of modern travel, where everything goes via the Middle East. Even the route from Cape Town to Perth. On a map, it seems the best way to get from one to the other is along a straight line through the southern hemisphere. On an airline schedule, thats not possible. Instead, I will spend nine and a half hours going up to Dubai and then ten and a half hours going down. Add the changeover in Dubai and it means a full 24 hours of travel, and with the time differences, I will arrive two days after I left. Say what?October 29 I think today is Saturday but Im not really sure. I feel trapped in a time warp I dont understand.October 30 Touch down in Perth around 2am. Decide to normalise by sleeping and then force myself to get to the series launch around midday. Its a public event, at Elizabeth Quay, which is also set-up for Diwali festivities. A decent-sized group of people has come to see the Australian and South African teams, and the players are introduced individually. Most get a cheer - David Warner and Dale Steyn louder than the others - but when Dane Vilas walks out, there is complete silence. Poor guy.October 31 Welcome to the world of modern sports media, where the press conference is the most common method of communication. We have no fewer than nine interviews here. Australia put up six players in an open media session, South Africa three. Our heads are swimming with quotes. The most interesting things to come out of the day are Usman Khawajas views on diversity and the Australian fascination with Temba Bavuma. At 1.61 metres, Bavuma is among the shorter sportsmen around and has to field several questions about how he has adapted his technique to his height. Bavuma seems a bit bewildered by the attention but answers the questions as carefully as he can.November 1 The race that stops Australia will be run today, and though Im not in Melbourne, its still a big deal. Im familiar with showstoppers like this - we in South Africa have the Met in January and the Durban July (you know when) - but the Melbourne Cup is a little different. Across Australia, people dress up as though they are at the venue itself, and at 3pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, time stands still. I havent quite got used to the time zone yet, and around noon Im heading to the WACA, wondering why the streets are deserted. When I realise the gun is about to go, I get a move on and get there just in time to pop my head into the guards hut and see the end of the race.November 2 The day before a big Test series is a usually a frenzy of last-minute previews. We wind down with a traditional barbeque at a local journalists home. Our hosts daughter is doing a project on the Democratic Republic of Congo and I offer to help. How often do you go back to Africa? she asks me. I live there, I tell her, as her eyes widen in disbelief.November 3 South Africa stumble through the first day on a pitch with better bounce and carry than I have seen in months. Later we all stumble around on a walking tour, organised by Tourism Western Australia. The idea is to roam the laneways to discover how Perth is Melbournising, and stop at bars along the way. Our guide has the remarkable ability to talk to us while walking backwards. She doesnt lose her step once, not even on St Georges Terrace, said to be the windiest street in the southern hemisphere. At our second and last stop, our holiday-making UK colleague Andrew McGlashan joins us.November 4 Theres an awful feeling when Steyn goes down, clutching his shoulder, with a look on his face worse than when he left the field against India and England last summer. I suspect its serious but first need to turn attention to the remarkable comeback the rest of South Africas attack are staging. At the end of the day we discover Steyn will be out of action for at least six months.November 5 It is due to be 37 degrees today, so I choose a simple T-shirt-style dress to wear. When I arrive at the WACA, at the gate the media use (which is also the members gate), security staff stop me. My dress is too short. The members dress code dictates that dresses must sit no more than 5cm above the knee. Im quite sure mine is not shorter than that, but they disagree. After a protracted discussion - during which one woman is told she isnt allowed in because the straps on her top are too thin - I am admitted but told not to leave the press box through the day. Inevitably I have to and am warned a second time. Another journalist tweets about it and a social-media storm erupts.That evening I see Steyn waiting for an Uber in the city centre. He has just got off a train from visiting his uncle in a suburb about 40 minutes away. He admits his shoulder is very sore and says he is resigned to a lengthy period on the sidelines and that he is not going to try and rush back. He will leave Perth tomorrow night, so wont see the result, which looks headed South Africas way.November 6 I pick a dress that extends to my ankles today, but my colleague Melinda Farrell doesnt. She also bares her shoulders. She is reprimanded at the gate, and now that the rest of the press pack know about the issue, another social-media storm erupts. To the WACAs credit, their stadium manager visits us and apologises profusely. He assures us we both look fine.November 7 I wear pants today but am stopped at the gate yet again. No thongs allowed, says the staff member. I present the media argument again. I am let in. This time, both Melinda and I receive an email apology from the WACA CEO. She says the members code will be reviewed and the ground wants to bring about change. We didnt enjoy the attention over our choice of clothing but were pleased weve achieved something. South Africa have too - the series lead. Given how far they had fallen last summer, their dominance is unexpected.November 8 Hobart is the only destination on this tour that Ive not been to before, so I am particularly looking forward to being there. Its Australias second oldest city and one with an extensive convict history. Ive just finished reading Alex Haleys Roots, and I want to find something similar but Australian. Ive been recommended For the Term of his Natural Life by Marcus Clarke and I make it my mission to track it down - if I can ever feel my fingers again; its cold in Hobart. November 9 I was warned to expect less than summery conditions in Hobart but I didnt anticipate a wind so icy it threatens to freeze the blood in my veins. Not to make this all about my wardrobe but I need more clothes. Cricket Tasmanias digital-media manager, Michelle Cooling, offers to lend me some. Among them is a Hobart Hurricanes hoodie. Shes got a fan for life.November 10 Still havent managed to get to a bookshop but I am enjoying learning about the local food. Melinda takes me to Mures, a seafood establishment on the harbour, where we splash out on all the regions delicacies. Oysters done four ways, scallops, white fish, even a dessert of chocolate tarts. Its definitely among the best meals Ive ever eaten.November 11 A cannon being towed by a Ute rolls past on my morning run, headed to the Anzac Parade. Its Remembrance Day. The colonial history is more marked here than anywhere else in Australia Ive seen, especially in the architecture. The Queen Victoria Clock Tower, now home to the General Post Office, was built by public subscription and has become one of my favourite landmarks.November 12 Theres no rain yet but Australia are drowned anyway. Vernon Philander rolls back the years and takes 5 for 21. Its an even better performance than on his debut. After suffering torn ankle ligaments last season, he seems to have regained confidence and become even better than what we thought was his best. As I leave the ground, I see the Australian team bus, driven by Nathan Lyon, pull up next to Philander, who is walking to the South African bus. Lyon rolls down the window and congratulates Philander. Sportsmanship is still alive.November 13 The expected rain is finally here, and as the day progresses, it only gets heavier. When we arrive at the ground, the teams have not even turned up. We know its only a matter of time before play is called off. It happens at 2pm. 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ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The fall for the Oakland Raiders was rapid: AFC West champions in 2002 to a four-win season the following year.The rebuild has taken far longer, with 13 straight years without a playoff berth or winning record.But after more than a decade of poor drafts, questionable personnel moves and a revolving door of coaches, the Raiders (7-2) are once again legitimate contenders. Thanks the plans of general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio, and a young core led by Derek Carr, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper.Fresh off a victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, Oakland went into the bye week alone in first place in the AFC West.Were not close to where we want to be and where we need to be, Carr said. Are we doing really good things? Absolutely. We are doing really good things, but theres so much more out there for us. I dont ever want us to get complacent. As long as Im throwing the ball here, Im not going to let guys get complacent.But its amazing how far they have come since starting the 2014 season with 10 straight losses. Oakland won seven games a year ago in the first year under Del Rio before taking another big step so far this season, led by Carrs strong play.Despite being passed over until the second round in the 2014 draft, Carr has emerged as one of the NFLs top young quarterbacks. He has thrown for 2,505 yards this season with 17 touchdowns, only three interceptions and a 99.1 passer rating to put all those losses from 2014 in the rear-view mirror.Theres a lot of character that goes into where were at today, Carr said. Not just myself, but Im saying the whole team. It was tough to come in 0-10. It was tough to come in 0-8, 0-9 and keep doing it. We kept our heads down, and we knew that there was an end goal in mind. Obviously, were not there yet, so we have a long way to go.The decline began after that Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay following the 2002 season. Late owner Al Davis spent the final years of his life trying to make big splashes in trades and free agency in hopes of making one more Super Bowl run. He also picked busts in the draft such as JaMarcus Ruussell, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Rolando McClain.ddddddddddddMcKenzie took over following Davis death in 2011 and spent his first two seasons tearing down a team overwhelmed by salary cap woes and a lack of talent. The rebuild truly started in 2014 when he drafted Mack and Carr with his first two picks and signed Donald Penn to anchor the offensive line.Two more productive offseasons that included the hiring of Del Rio and addition of big-play receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, offensive linemen Kelechi Osemele and Rodney Hudson and key defenders Bruce Irvin, David Amerson Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson set the stage for this seasons success.We talk about winning ballgames because that is what it is, Mack said. That is how you change the culture, by winning. Doing all the things it takes to win, and that is the preparation.The Raiders faced some doubters early this season despite their fast start because most of the wins came against lesser opponents, and the defense struggled to stop anyone. They needed late comebacks to beat New Orleans, Baltimore and Tampa Bay, and held off late rallies from San Diego and Tennessee.But the defense has improved in recent weeks, the offensive line has dominated the trenches, and the thorough win over the Broncos on a prime-time stage helped Oakland gained much more respect.The final seven games will feature more tough tests, starting with a Monday night game in Mexico City against Houston on Nov. 21. Oakland still must go on the road to face all three division rivals over the final four weeks, and then could have even more important games come January.Things are coming together, Penn said. I cant wait to see where it will go. Im excited about the future even though I dont want to jump to the future. Were building something very special right now. We still have a lot of work ahead of us. Once all that work starts jelling together, thats what Im excited to see.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' ' |
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