Sport, without spin, from around the world. Matthew Hall considers the issues behind the headlines and tells the stories that others don't. http://www.sbs.com.au/rss/Blog/108166 If you want to be selected in the Socceroos World Cup squad you had better be playing overseas, writes Matthew Hall. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116351/Verbeek-s-message-Get-out http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116351/Verbeek-s-message-Get-out Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +1100 Is it right that Newcastle Jets, who finished 14 points behind "premiers" Sydney FC, can still be crowned A-League "champions"? http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116281/Rewarding-mediocrity-A-League-s-minor-problem http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116281/Rewarding-mediocrity-A-League-s-minor-problem Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +1100 It seems the goalposts have moved and not all bidders are invited to FIFA's 2018 party, writes Matthew Hall. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116202/Australia-s-World-Cup-bid-sugar-tea-amp-amp-the-truth http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116202/Australia-s-World-Cup-bid-sugar-tea-amp-amp-the-truth Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +1100 New Orleans' come from behind victory in Super Bowl XLIV is the kind of fairytale gridiron film that writes itself. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116146/The-Saints-make-it-easy-for-Hollywood http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116146/The-Saints-make-it-easy-for-Hollywood Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +1100 Super Bowl XLIV will be a typically emotional affair. Matthew Hall previews one of sport's marquee events. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116067/Hurricanes-gay-rights-and-hometown-pride http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116067/Hurricanes-gay-rights-and-hometown-pride Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1100 CAF's decision to ban Togo has been explained, but is it fair? http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116017/Togo-and-Australia-Government-interference-or-support http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/116017/Togo-and-Australia-Government-interference-or-support Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1100 It's time to celebrate our nation, but there are no Aussies left at the Australian Open, writes Matthew Hall. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115827/Australia-Day-s-green-amp-amp-gold-goggles http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115827/Australia-Day-s-green-amp-amp-gold-goggles Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:00:00 +1100 The highest-earning Australian sportsperson only plays part-time these days. Surely it can't be that difficult, can it? http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115772/Want-to-get-rich-Play-with-the-big-boys http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115772/Want-to-get-rich-Play-with-the-big-boys Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:30:00 +1100 Can Australia and Indonesia's respective football associations increase cooperation at politcial and social levels? http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115697/Football-opens-another-Asian-door http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115697/Football-opens-another-Asian-door Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +1100 They may look good on the pitch, but all is not well in the boardrooms at Old Trafford, writes Matthew Hall. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115612/Manchester-United-s-moneyball-meltdown http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115612/Manchester-United-s-moneyball-meltdown Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +1100 Is it fair to assume poor nations cannot host safe sporting events? Matthew Hall on an irrational fear. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115557/Make-poverty-history http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115557/Make-poverty-history Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +1100 Could Australia's stirring victory over Pakistan be the catalyst to bring back the killer instinct and champion team ethos? http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115452/Ricky-Ponting-Hands-up-in-the-air http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115452/Ricky-Ponting-Hands-up-in-the-air Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1100 They've gone from the heights of European football to the depths of England's third tier. But are The Whites finally on the up again? http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115392/Leeds-United-reawaken-the-dream http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115392/Leeds-United-reawaken-the-dream Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1100 The New Year brings a chance at redemption for footballers and other sporting 'knobs'. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115317/Footballers-are-knobs-discuss http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115317/Footballers-are-knobs-discuss Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +1100 Alcohol may be an issue, but society has a big part to play in the behaviour of fans at sporting events, writes Matthew Hall. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115292/Cricket-yobs-soccer-thugs-It-s-all-about-culture http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115292/Cricket-yobs-soccer-thugs-It-s-all-about-culture Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +1100 There have been several big sports stories over the past 12 months, but surely nothing can top Tiger Woods. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115257/Vampires-Tiger-Barca-and-Bolt-Best-amp-amp-Worst-of-2009 http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115257/Vampires-Tiger-Barca-and-Bolt-Best-amp-amp-Worst-of-2009 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +1100 It is the season to be jolly, and Australia's cricketers should take head, writes Matthew Hall. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115217/Aussie-cricket-s-fiery-spirit-dampens-festive-cheer http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115217/Aussie-cricket-s-fiery-spirit-dampens-festive-cheer Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +1100 Matthew Hall speaks with Simon Kuper, co-author of the book Soccernomics, who says Aussie Rules could be doomed. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115122/AFL-demise-is-boom-time-for-folklore-festivals http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115122/AFL-demise-is-boom-time-for-folklore-festivals Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +1100 For a sporting club with an unabashed international outlook, Arsenal is no celebrant of international football. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115037/How-Arsenal-may-forever-change-the-world-of-football http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/115037/How-Arsenal-may-forever-change-the-world-of-football Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +1100 If Australia's bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup does nothing else it has, at the very least, kick-started a debate about what this nation is today and what the nation may or may not want to be in the future. http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/114992/World-Cup-war-questions-Australia-s-national-identity http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/blog/single/114992/World-Cup-war-questions-Australia-s-national-identity Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:00:00 +1100