The only game in town
Just when the AFL was preparing to don the crown for world's most aggressively expansionist football code, FIFA has stepped up and shown that, when it comes to jackbooting the opposition, Mr Demetriou and co. are rank amateurs.

A successful Australian World Cup bid for 2018 or 2022 would depend on rival codes not only ceasing normal operation for the four weeks of the tournament itself, but also for four weeks prior to ensure "exclusive access", or what Australian lawyers like to call "a breach of the Trade Practices Act".  

Four plus four is eight, and even kids who did maths in society (like The Circus) know that eight weeks is a fair chunk out of the 20-odd round AFL and NRL seasons.

The condition has prompted such concern that Hawthorn boss and former premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett (himself no stranger to proclamations of the dictatorial variety) likened it to "cutting off your own arm" – presumably whilst waving a bloodied machete above his head for effect.

And it is ridiculous. Fancy someone trying to shut down another sport . . . or a school for that matter.  

Of course, there is the small matter of Australia actually winning the bid before any of this becomes a problem – something that is a mere formality so long as the country puts forward the best bid . . . right?

Swish goes the cash
Thanks to the hardworking masses in Chinese sweatshops, Nike shoes cost about a nanocent each to produce, which makes their retail cost (not to mention their production in general) something of a disgrace. But one pair of Nikes is set to cost an American University slightly more than the usual mark-up at the local Footlocker store.

Central Florida Uni has a US$3 million gig with non-Nike sports shoemaker Adidas. Good for it. Problem is, UCF student and freshman basketballer Marcus Jordan – son of Michael – wants to wear the shoes made famous by his dad: Nike's Air Jordan.

Adidas has taken the request with surprising equanimity. "The contract is currently under review", said a spokeswoman, displaying the kind of deadpan irony so synonymous with the giant corporate and its homeland of Germany.

In any event, The Circus thinks it is high time for Jordan the younger to step out of his dad's shadow and get himself his own shoe deal. How 'bout these? They're cool. Aren't they?

What's in a name?
Creteil Bebel, a French football team that recently refused to play rival team Paris Foot Gay on religious grounds, has been ejected from the competition for discrimination.

Seems the Crets (as The Circus assumes they are known), a team made up largely of practicing Muslims, didn't fancy playing the Gays, a team made up largely of practicing homosexuals.

So maybe Rush Limbaugh's dream of sporting team ownership isn't dead after all.

Numbers game
0 – number of points separating Australia and New Zealand as the teams played out a 20-20 draw in the opening round of the rugby league four nations tournament
4 – number of runs separating Australia and India in the opening game of the current ODI series, won by the Aussies
14.666 – number of seconds separating Australian Casey Stoner and second-placed Dani Pedrosa in the Malaysian Moto GP overnight
16,505 – number of kilometers separating Zurich, headquarters of FIFA, and Canberra, capital of Australia

Quote of the day
"We need the money"
– Horse trainer and octogenarian extraordinaire Bart Cummings when asked why he entered three-year-old stayer So You Think in last Saturday's Cox Plate. He got it. The horse won, paying punters around 12/1 and connections $1.8m.
 
Headline we'd like to read
FIFA-AFL agreement represents 'peace in our time': Demetriou


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