The Hangover

Home ref advantage
For a Sydney-born sports fan, and therefore a NSW supporter by default, it was a relief to see the Waratahs get their second win of the Super 14 season with a tense 25-21 victory over the Sharks.

However, even the most one-eyed Tahs fans would have to admit the home side got all the favours from the home ref.

Since the inception of the referee merit pool in 2009, Super 14 referees are not necessarily neutral, which was the case at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night when Australian whistleblower Paul Marks officiated.

Super 14 referees are appointed on a merit basis, not by nationality, which leaves officials open to allegations of "bias" and "favouritism".

Marks made some dubious decisions on Saturday that may have cost the Sharks the match. Had a neutral New Zealand referee made those calls, they would still be classed as contentious, but without the nationalistic controversy.

Should the best available referee be placed in charge, or the best available neutral referee?

Ironic horse name
The machinations of the 2010 Golden Slipper continue, with the Clarry Conners-trained Decision Time winning the Black Opal Stakes over 1200m at Canberra on Sunday.

The two-year-old has won four from four, and it's now decision time for owners as the gelding is not nominated for the $3.5 million Slipper, to be run on Easter Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.

However the only horse to have ever completed the Black Opal-Golden Slipper double is Catbird in 1999, and the late entry fee to get Decision Time a start in the race is $150,000, a fair amount more than the 'on time' entry fees of $31,850.

The final field for the Slipper will comprise of 16 horses, with prize money distributed as follows: $2 million for the winner, $620,000 for second, $310,000 for third, $190,000 for fourth, $130,000 for fifth, and $50,000 each for the 6th to 10th placed horses.

Decision Time's sire is Foreplay, and it seems a bit of foresight by owners may have gone a long way to saving some cash for an entry into the richest race for two year olds in the world. It's decision time indeed.

Celebrate good times
Football players do some strange things when caught up in the euphoria of scoring a goal. Here are three notable goal celebrations from over the weekend:

Melbourne Victory's Robbie Kruse kicks things off by silencing the home fans after opening the scoring with a cracking goal against Sydney FC. Kruse employs the intelligent tactic of running over to "The Cove", Sydney's posse of die-hard fans, and putting his finger to his mouth basically saying "Shut the hell up". Instead, Sydney fans have their own single-finger gesture for Kruse.



Mikel Arteta celebrated his opening goal for Everton against Hull with the 'rock the cradle' gesture in honour of his wife and eight-month-old son the crowd. Arteta had not scored a goal at Goodison Park for over a year, and his son Gabriel was born with an eye condition that has required ongoing medical attention.

It was a touching tribute from Arteta, but was outdone for weirdness by Jack Rodwell and Landon Donovan who celebrated Everton's final two goals in their 5-1 romp with the former lifting the latter up and cradling him in his arms. Not sure if was in reference to any children in the crowd though.



Finally, national team wrecker John Terry reminds everyone that he is still the captain of Chelsea, even though he is no longer the captain of England, after scoring against Stoke in the FA Cup. Thanks John, but an arm band doesn't maketh a man.



:: More from The Hangover