Mason Cox’s brother is a national champion and a Buddhist monk plays full forward. Welcome to the USAFL Nationals. Check out CODE’s Best of Sport for today’s sporting news.
Here is CODE Sports’ Best of Sport line-up for October 27, 2022.
Why Aussie Rules clubs now exist all over USA
The Austin Crows, featuring Mason Cox’s brother, reign supreme. A goalkicking Buddhist minister stars in the women’s ranks. SHANNON GILL explores footy’s amazing community in America.
They come from all parts of America.
The Atlanta Kookaburras, the Sacramento Suns, the Portland Steelheads and the Nashville Kangaroos, just to name a few.
Like minds in a foreign land all coming together to worship the Sherrin. There’s even a goalkicking, sake-making, Buddhist minister.
It’s the USAFL’s showcase: the Nationals.
In 1997, the first USAFL Nationals were played and in 2022, the 25th anniversary edition was as strong as ever.
Once upon a time, it was Australian expats who made the event happen. Now, it’s locals.
Why NRL must prepare for Pride Jersey storm
The NRL and its clubs can ill afford to think the pride jersey controversy will remain confined only to Manly, writes PAMELA WHALEY.
There’s a storm coming and it has nothing to do with La Nina.
A rainbow stripe on a jersey not only ruined Manly’s season, it turned the NRL upside down. When seven players boycotted an important game over a few lines of colour on their playing strip, it shone a light on the issue of true inclusion in men’s rugby league – and why it’s more of a theory and less of a practice.
The lack of embrace for the LGBTQIA+ community is one of the few black spots on an otherwise fairly clean record for the NRL when it comes to inclusivity and cultural diversity within the game.
Before the Manly drama, it was assumed by many to be a given.
But the actions of the seven players shattered those naive beliefs.
Jackson Irvine’s journey from fan to game-changer
Socceroo Jackson Irvine has expanded his social consciousness at German club St. Pauli, and it‘s informing his attitude about playing in Qatar for the World Cup, writes ADAM PEACOCK.
At the centre of Jackson Irvine’s universe is kicking a little sphere around a grassy rectangle, yet there is much more to him.
Got a guitar? Irvine can pick it up and belt out a Led Zeppelin classic. Got a camera? Irvine is happy to pose in whatever clothes are lying around. Got an opinion about human rights? Irvine is happy to listen, then throw his opinion right back.
And the team in Hamburg, Germany he plays for is as much a cause as it is a club.
St. Pauli. Pro-inclusion. Anti-fascist, anti-racist. Left-wing ideals are as important as talented players on either flank.
While results are important, who you are, and what you stand for counts for more.
“It’s a community, it’s bigger than football,” Irvine tells CODE Sports.
Isa Guha: T20 World Cup’s top batters and bowlers
Isa Guha has travelled the world playing and commentating on cricket. LACHLAN MCKIRDY caught up with her to discuss Guha‘s top five batters and bowlers at the T20 World Cup.
TOP FIVE BATTERS
Honourable mention: It’s a hard one because there are so many amazing batters here. I can’t look past Babar Azam because he is sheer quality and when he gets going he is a sight to behold. A few names in there, but unfortunately, no Aussies.
5. FINN ALLEN (New Zealand)
If you’re looking at someone not many people have seen too much of, probably someone like Finn Allen who took down Australia in the opening game at the SCG. He’s just fearless so it’s always fun to see fearless players in a World Cup like this.
4. HARRY BROOK (England)
He’s a really promising talent and you can already see how exciting he is in the short career he has had so far for England. He’s got an unbelievable strike rate, he can play pace or spin, and probably prefers pace at the moment but that’s perfect on these wickets. If he gets an opportunity, expect him to put on an amazing display.
‘I thought I was going to die’: Billy Dib’s second chance
Billy Dib had the biggest scare of his life when he needed surgery to remove a cancerous tumour, but still says he’s thankful, writes BRENDAN BRADFORD.
Billy Dib says he has been given a second chance at life after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in his colon last Sunday.
The former two-time world champion was in agony for weeks before finally having surgery, and remains recovering in hospital.
“The cancer’s been taken out, and I’ve been given a second chance and the chance to recover,” Dib told CODE Sports on Wednesday. “It’s obviously a long road back, but I’m grateful for another chance at life. I need to be here for my son and my wife. They need me.
“God only tests those who he loves. I’m constantly getting tested, so I’m glad God loves me.”
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Tim Elbra is the deputy editor of CODE. He started out as a reporter at The Daily Telegraph in 2003 and has also worked for mX, NRL.com, Fox Sports, AthletesVoice and Nine’s Wide World of Sports. Tim was one of those kids who played every sport he possibly could while growing up and you’ll find him writing about a broad range of sports on this site. He’s never met a sport he doesn’t like and outside of footy, cricket and tennis, has a passion for snowboarding, bodyboarding, scuba diving and hiking. He’s still waiting, impatiently, for the Parramatta Eels to win another premiership.