text:
The Poms are back
August 20, 2008 | John Birmingham
Okay, all that stuff I said about just doing your best and being proud of even getting to the Olympics. Fuggedabouddit.
This is serious. The Poms are back.
I don't know what happened, where they've been, what's going on here, but every time I check the medal tally there they are, hanging around like a fart in a telephone booth.
I thought these guys gave up on sport back in the 1980s. Didn't Margaret Thatcher sell off all their school ovals to some Euro-Arab investment house to build gas processing plants and car parks or something? Aren't there more pools in Mt Isa than the whole of the United Kingdom? Come on, help me out here. Frankly I don't care where we sit on the tally as long as it's somewhere in front of those gappy toothed sock and sandal wearing bastards.
They've pinched our coaches, our training methods and now, apparently, our rather embarrassing national neediness psychosis where the whole country's sense of self worth is based almost entirely on the fortunes of a handful of athletes. Especially if they're beating us.
I know it must be galling to the rest of the world to have their global sports carnival reduced to the status of a post colonial grudge match between two of the lesser English speaking powers, but let's face it, that is what the Olympics are all about now.
Sorry China, you wasted those billions you just spent. America? Don't worry about your national decline. It's irrelevant.
Tunisia, Togo, Oingo Boingo, whatever. Nice work in whatever it was you won. But let's just remember you're all a support act.
This gig is now all about convicts and jailers settling some old scores in London in four years' time.
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- marky boy
- August 27, 2008
To you aussies, i have just received my electoral form today, and you know what IT SAYS I AM BRITISH. I did have the greatest of respect for aus as a sporting nation, but you have lost a lot of it in my eyes by your reaction to britains successes. I am english and proud of it and also british, you ask maj of scots welsh etc and they will say the same. Remember we fight our wars etc as BRITISH. Give us some credit for beating you this time, i am sure you will give us a hammering in ranges of sports in future and I will applaud you for this, but you need to be a bit more generous in your defeat this time. You have been trashing us for years on sports field and ramming it down our throats, NOW YOU NO HOW IT FEELS.
- Paul Kerton
- August 27, 2008
Sour grapes there Mr. Birmingham?
Never mind, you've got the Ashes to kick our arses with next year.
And it won't be long till the Rugby comes around again so we can beat you, again.
See you all in 4 years. We're working on the recipe for humble pie for you all to chew on when you get here!!
- Capt Bligh
- August 27, 2008
Come off it John Birmingham you're a full blown true bloody Pom.
You were born in 1964 in England of English parents. You can't get more English than that.
You're just igratiating yourself with the Aussies by stirring up their Pommie complex, and making a nice little earner for yourself at the same time.
If a dog goes to live in a stable with donkeys; it's still a dog.
- Tony Wilson
- August 27, 2008
I really don't understand this. For the first week of the Olympics I was never concerned how well team GB were doing against the Green and Gold. Then suddenly it became a prominent story on both sides of the world. Come the Ashes, it's great to have a bit of rivalry over the parochial game our two countries contest. That's a bit of fun with an undertone of serious competition, and as only a few countries in the world play the daft game the rivalry is in context of post-colonialism competition. I don't see how that rivalry is relevent to the modern Olympic ideal, a celebration of youthful spirit, peace, endeavour and achievement across a range of sports. Sports that can be contested by many nations. How the press turned this into an Aus v Pom battle is beyond me. The story of Australian Anna Meares touched my heart, coming back from an horrifc neck injury and to obtain a silver medal. Or Tim Brabants, the very first to congratulate the Australian gold medalist. These scenes mean more to me than the press generated rivlary between Australia and Britain. For many athletes this is their ultimate stage, so let's not ruin it with over inflated jingoism. As JB says, it seems Britain has stolen the rather embarrassing Australian neediness psychosis where the whole country's sense of self worth is based almost entirely on the fortunes of a handful of athletes. Criticism of both countries? Time for the Australian media to grow up when it comes to sport, time for the British media to stop biting. Well done all the athletes who qualified for Beijing, and thanks for 16 days of brilliance and lasting memories.
- 1/2 Pom & 1/2 Aussie
- August 27, 2008
The Aussies hate the British,
which is a real shame.
Cos' we sent them all down-under
with their balls is chains.
And when they see us pommies,
they, jump, shout and scream.
But when they got the chance to vote...
they voted for the queen?!!!!!
- Gloater
- August 26, 2008
Ha ha! You're all a bunch of wankers!
- Dapper
- August 26, 2008
It does make laugh how the Ozzies always end up talking about the weather....says a lot about a country when their only source of national pride is sun and sour grapes - as for the Olympics, the only reason why we even give a damb about beating you in the medal table is because you keep going on about it - our true rivals are the French - most people here don't even give a damb about Australia
- Hosh
- August 26, 2008
I'm assuming this has been said, but I don't want to go through 838 comments to see if it has, so I'll say it anyway.
I'd just like to point out that I didn't see ENG anywhere on the medal tally board, so I don't know why there are so many soap dodgers on here attempting to sound superior. I see a combination of 4 countries represented as GBR, but no ENG.
Needing 4 countries with a combined population of around 72 million to beat a nation of 21 million, by just 5 gold medals, is just plain embarrassing.
Maybe we should combine AUS, NZ & Japan call us Pacific Nations and then compare the tallies?
Anyway, keep up the gloating I suppose. You all know what happened in the cricket when you gloated after your Ashes fluke. You were completely flogged and became an absolute laughing stock... Which you should be pretty used to by now I suppose.
- Coach Trowzers
- August 26, 2008
Orright you lot,
Hold up a sec. It seems yer training for the Armchair 'Lympics has been pretty orrible. Let me show you the *proper* 'Lympic blogging stance - Form a line everyone!
Now, slightly raise one leg so it's got room to move if, for example, yer opponent tries to draw it towards themselves in a particular direction. Oi - Limey! Don't tuck yer arm in like a turkey wing - you gotta expose yer humerus or it's just not gonna work.
Now, protrude yer posterior slightly allowin' the application of yer opponnents walkin' appendage, 'cos you know it's just gonna happen at some point. There! You're doin' it!
Wait, wait - yer makin' the one mistake everyone makes at first. Move that nasal joint a bit, it's well out of whack.
Ha! That's better. Now keep practisin' that for the next four years, and yer just might be ready to pop on the big red bus for they next Armchair 'Lympics.
Just make sure yer stock up on the beer and nachos mate.
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 26, 2008
Only an idiot like Histroryman could find some thing to celebrate in the invasion of Iraq. The fervent criticism of a subjects as unrelated as Australias war history shows the desperate hatred of some unfortunate, bitter and twisted posters on this site. Do you think British Olympic athletes would endorse your spiteful comments. They would be ashamed of you as you should be.
- kim (in Korea)
- August 26, 2008
"Not on your own Pal , the Yanks starved them of supplies most of the Japanese were at deaths door and Macarrther was less than impressed with the Australian effort ."
_Macarthur_ may have been a brilliant military man, but he was a loony dickhead.
He abused our guys after they hauled - by hand - guns and cannons and whatever else that weighed a lot, up and down slippery, mud-covered hills and mountains to join the fight.
And all he did was tell us we ran like rabbits at the sight of the japs.
I hardly think they had the energy to run away.
And if the Aussies were so piss-weak in WWII - why does everyone keep asking us back to THEIR wars?
Go fight them yourselves, you cave-dwelling, chest-beating apes.
- kim (in Korea)
- August 26, 2008
"could that get anymore embarrising"
Yes. Yes it could, but not for us.
Strange how you're from the place that invented English, and yet you can't actually use it properly.
I bet you say "ve" instead of "the" and pronounce "r" as "w".
Try inheriting a full set of genes, next time...or at least a chin...
- August 26, 2008
Please, whoever started the whole 'war' argy-bargy - how dare you speak ill of those young men who sacrificed their lives for your country. You sir are truly are an ungrateful, misinformed wretch. Look on the web for Villers Brettoneux - a town in France where they've named their streets after Australian places, named their restaurants after Australian animals and where there schoolchildren celebrates ANZAC Day every year. The town bears a sign 'Never Forget Australia'. You shouldn't either.
To Richard S and the person who says you never think of Australia as we're nothing to you, then what the heck are you doing on this Aussie website if thoughts of Australia don't enter your (small) minds? Such nonsense. Seems some of you haven't yet gotten over the loss of Empire (greatness?). Your athletes have performed well this time and done you proud, so be proud and stop the gloating. To say you hate the way Autralians gloat (and yes, they sometimes do, much to my chagrin), then you gloat and sneer with such childish abandon! Gotta say I love whicky-whacky Boris though. And young Tom.
Team GB did well this time - with 5 more golds than Aus. You'd better hope that Scotland doesn't go it alone next time though ...
And please, not the honours thing again!
- Davieboy
- August 26, 2008
Both nations did very well so I think the maoning should end.
The British didnt steal Australian ideas they borrowed the same ideas that Australia borrowed from East Germany and the USSR.
I do think we need to move on from sport defining our nation, look at what China have done in this respect and you see the sterile event that we had.
Anyway I think the medals will continue to pour GB's way in London but lets enjoy the event where ever you are from!!!
- cathy
- August 26, 2008
Oh, please, stop with all the war talk. How dare anyone speak ill of the fallen, especially when their lives were valiantly given up in defence of another nation - England? The French have whole towns with streets named after Aussie towns, preschools featuring Aussie animals and signs saying 'Never forget Australia'. They venerate our brave boys and each year the school in Villers Brettonneux celebrates Anzac Day.
People, there are always heroes and villains, bravery and cowardice, from any and every country. Now behave!
Snipe, snipe, snipe. Facts are facts. Both our relatively small nations did amazingly well against the behemoths of the US and China. On a per capita basis, The Bahamas rule! (with Aus in 5th and GB in 25th)
- boar
- August 26, 2008
Billpom, absolutley spot on. Every Australian should know the sorry story Gordon Bennett. I used to think the expression was based on him. Now you see him now you dont!
Of course he was exonerated by the Australian authorities after the war despite breaking all the rules!
Australia is a great country. I have always had a fantastic time there but I am afraid the blind loyalty the locals display towards their fellow Australians is mind boggling. 'He has to be a good bloke because he is an aussie!' 'This could only happen in Australia' said a member of the public helping survivors of some dreadful train crash. He was referring to the fact normal people would only go and help crash victims after a disaster in Australia! 'He is such a good bloke he must/should be an Aussie' and of course ' He cant possible be guilty of anything/taking steroids because he is an Aussie.
Of course it would be funny if it was meant to be but it sadly isn't.
- Anonymous
- August 26, 2008
A British Sports Spokesman today commented on the deepening crisis within British Sport in particular with the countdown to the 2012 London Olympics . "The sad fact is that we are now faced with the very real possibility of running out of sports in which we can beat the Australians at! What with Rugby in the last three World Cups and now the Olympics. Who knows, next it may even be cricket!" he joked.
Meanwhile down under, response to the two new Australian publications: �101 Ways To Lose Badly�, (with whinging contributions by many Great Australians) and �Things You NEVER hear an Australian say� (eg. It�s only right and fair that we should beat those Kiwi�s at rugby as we have a far greater population) was taking second place. Sadly like so many of their sportsman recently have.
This came in response to the headline in yesterdays Sydney Morning Herald, which revealed the staggering fact that Australians lose at least $36 million a year to the online bank scams originating from Nigeria. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080822-nigerian-official-greedy-marks-as-guilty-as-419-scammers.html
An Australian spokesman was heard to comment � If only there were gold medals awarded for greed, naivety, gullibility and downright f**king stupidity we would have been right up there at the top of the medal table and would have beaten those bloody Poms!�
- Ruhavinalaugh
- August 26, 2008
I wonder how many of you Pom hating Ozzies attended the freebie concert in London yesterday? I bet Earls Court was empty.
- Scott Hayes
- August 26, 2008
It's your own fault for stuffing us in the Ashes. You'd better get used to us topping you in Olympic medals. Oh and we did win some events that don't involve sitting down!!!
Still no hard feelings, if you are ever in Birmingham (the city that is) give me a shout and I'll buy you a pint of warm Aussie pee-water (also known as Fosters or XXXX)
JB: You serve it warm? OMG. No wonder you lost your empire.
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 26, 2008
It's a bit rich, a pom lecturing Oz on the treatment of indigenous cultures. Australia has done much in recent years and yet still has a long way to go to reverse the treatment of Aborigines by English invaders who disposessed, slaughtered and oppressed them. Just as they did to other indigenous cultures through out the world.
And on the subject of cultural centres, where is the British centre, the British Museum? More international than British with cultural aretefacts pillaged from around the World. And the hide of the British refusing to return them to their rightful owners on the grounds that only the British are qualified to look after them. Where the Pantheon Marbles are known as the Elgin Marbles in hounour of the thief and vandal who stole them. A centre of British Culture that only a hypocrite like you could be proud of. Give yourself an uppercut.
- proudbrit
- August 26, 2008
well well well
us "poms" really did kick your butt
well it shows how a nation that is so much up their own arse thinking every brit is "gap toothed" and your sports minister kate something lost her bet and now she has to wear a british shirt in a major sports event
could that get anymore embarrising
going back to my point
why dont you get back to your barbies
and think of something better to do
and think of a good plan
2012 ;)
see ay there
- Lordprocrastinator
- August 26, 2008
Why don't we start a Yorkshire vs Lancashire blog and slag each other off!
and why are we talking about WW2 all of a sudden?
JB: we're preparing to Godwin the thread. Okay, here goes...
- ProudBrit
- August 25, 2008
Hello Aussies
Shame to see you all gnashing your teeth so, but you'd better get used to finishing behind us, cos its gonna happen again in four years time. Apart from a bit of home advantage (always useful), we've learnt one of your tricks - that a little bit of funding goes a long way and lets those talented athletes shine. If only we could get our footballers going!
Anyway I like Aussie wine (no h) but please don't make it with sour grapes. See you in London!
- Billpom
- August 25, 2008
"Australians on Kokoda Trail incurred the first defeat of Japanese forces"
The first Australian army victory was at Milne Bay also on PNG not Kokoda. A British Field Marshal incorrectly claimed this as the first allied victory over the Japanese to butter up Australia but he had omitted to mention the US forces had beaten them on Tulagi Island on 08/08/1942 weeks beforehand. Give credit where it is due and start reading fuller accounts of the events instead of just your own counties.
And as for the idiot who claimed the British surrendered to half a battalion of Japanese in HK its actually estimated they crossed from China in to the New Territories with 60,000 troops plus air and navy support.
- tadger88
- August 25, 2008
Well the Aussies won the competition for dishiest athlete at the Olympics - Mathew Mitcham! Apart from his stunning gold medal victory in the diving pool, he has proved to be an excellent ambassador for your country. Could you send a few more of these to London in 2012 please?
- djknocker
- August 25, 2008
I think the problem for Australia was that the sports they are good at are not in the Olympics. I mean when is AUssie Rules footy going to get in, ha ha!!! You are only good at sports no one else plays (and cricket! and lest be honest not many places play it anymore). Basically what has happened is that us brits have woken up. The sleeping giant has returned, and the worrying thing for the rest of the world is that for bejing we took alot of people for experience. Some of these won medals! We got beyond or expections. We will only get better. Our facilties are increasing and/ or improving.
Bye Bye sports australia, it was nice for you while it lasted, but move over the big boys are coming through!
- Ant
- August 25, 2008
How very, very sad that such a sporty nation as Australia should be so unsporting. You did well at the Olympics, so did GB. You had 435 atheletes in China, GB had 312 - both miles less than China and the US. Celebrate your successes, you don't need to put other countries down. Its mean spirited and pathetic.
- TopCat
- August 25, 2008
August 25, 200805:17 PM
so angry when ppl spell British wrong "Pom" grrr
- the_lucky_last
- August 25, 2008
Says it all.
- Finless
- August 25, 2008
Chortling happily in Bexhill, England.
What happened to all your swimmers? Didn't you get the new 'go faster suits' in time for the Olympics?
- JohnD
- August 25, 2008
Typical Aussie whingeing. Your reliance on sporting success as a measure of self-worth is an indicator of your deep insecurity and pathetically low self-esteem. Don't worry - we've put a bit of cash in and blew you convicts away but after London 2012 we probably won't bother any more and you can go back to your deluded belief that you are actually better than GB at sport!
- Hutch79
- August 25, 2008
It seems a typical ozzie reaction to success or failure, utter ungracious petulance. Writing bemoaning the fact that there shouldn't be a GB team, rather should be competing as Eng, Scot, Wal & NI is irrelevant. Trying to undermine Team GB's success, whilst attempting to hide your own anger/embarrassment/disappointment is childish. The Brits success has been achieve by following the ozzie Olympic model, throwing huge amounts of money and resources in to minority sports. How many African Olympic swimming, cycling, rowing, sailing teams competed in Beijing? The fact of the matter both the Australian and British successes in Beijing are sports in which are relativity uncompetitive and out of reach to the masses. On a level playing field both nations would now be licking their wounds and conducting a through post mortem.
- Phil
- August 25, 2008
Come on, lets be fair to all those Aussie athletes, it cant be easy having to perform with such big chips on their shoulders. And to say, 'well we won more medals than England' is pathetic and really clutching at straws.
- Richard S
- August 25, 2008
This has been a most entertaining discussion. Viewed from Yorkshire (pop 4 million, a country in our own right and with (I think) 5 or 6 gold medals of our own, all this Aussie anguish is a little hard to understand.
Not once in the past two weeks, in my local pub, among all the excited Olympic talk, has a single comment been passed about Australia - it just never enters anybody's thoughts. Ozzie schmozzie.
Get a life. Oh sorry - isn't that why we sent you guys there in the first place - life?
- Historyman
- August 25, 2008
" actually, it was the Australians on the Kokoda Trail in PNG who incurred the first land defeat on the Japanese."
Not on your own Pal , the Yanks starved them of supplies most of the Japanese were at deaths door and Macarrther was less than impressed with the Australian effort .
Next you'll tell us the Brits left you on your own at Gallipoli and the other 190,000 troops that landed with the ANZs were just day trippers.
Ok you did stay a few days in El Alamein but yet again did a runner and the Free Poles took your place .
Don't bother with Iraq the Aussies yet again shouted loud but did nothing of any worth.
Leave Wars to a country that ruled one third of the planet .
- Trisha
- August 25, 2008
Australia still the best country in the world... ps: did ya here, England cheated in the 2005 Ashes.. don't worry guys, it won't be too long when they discover GB cheated at the Olympics!
Oo soo irrating when ppl spell Aussie wrong "Ozzie" grrr
- London Based
- August 25, 2008
I'm not sure why there are references to WWII in this post Olympic summary blog - but in reference to the suggestion that it was the US Marines who caused the first defeat on the Japanese: actually, it was the Australians on the Kokoda Trail in PNG who incurred the first land defeat on the Japanese.
And PS - as an Aussie living in London, I think it is great that the UK did well at the Olympics, after all they have 60 milliom people who are, relatively speaking, healthy and wealthy, so they should be there. Us Aussies do OK from a country of some 20 million or so.
- Harry
- August 25, 2008
Nothing like some good old Pommy bashing. Great for national pride to have beaten both the Aussies, the Frogs and the Germans in the medals table! To stir things up a bit more if you take all the countries of which the Queen is still Head of State, including Oz, then Team GB would have 45 golds and a total of 140 medals.
PS Thanks for lending us your great coaches.
- Tim
- August 25, 2008
Two rather small countries did rather well. Can we leave it at that and not bring up the bloody war? But if you must, did anyone notice that we beat Germany and Japan? At the Olympics that is.
- xanadu
- August 25, 2008
Australia? Where is it, and who cares?
- liamo
- August 25, 2008
I thought that Australia had a rivalry with mainly England and not Scotland, Ireland and Wales when we play them. If you strip out all of the non-English medals from the British team and compare us to just what the English will be bringing home, then what is the score then? With Chris Hoy having netted 3 golds for Scotland, I wish we could have the broken down picture. Overall with 46 medals to their 47, I think that we have still done just as well if not better than them. I can not wait to see their pale faces when we win back all the cycling medals and they post the worst performance for a home nation, in what will no doubt be the most washed out cloudy Olympics in 2012. Let them enjoy this moment of revelry, if only to take their mind off the depressing summer that they are currently having.
- Big Bad bob
- August 25, 2008
Thanks Mike , it is true Thatthe good old mother country won more medals than we did, if that was not bad enough, every Pommy mate I have will lust not shut up about it .
So Every Pommy whi is mow an Aussie citizen , PLEASE back off,
Suggest that very english Man who is carrying own , suggest you have a look at tne real olympic Medal Tally in the crikey site it sets the record straight
- Captain Cook
- August 25, 2008
What many of you Aussies fail to realise is that you may whinge all you like about us Brits, but it is NEVER reciprocated. We're indifferent to you and regard your country as irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, whether that be politics, economics, industry or culture. Most of us didn't even notice or care that you were in the Olympics, so reading your comments on this blog has been enlightening and highly amusing. No doubt you will continue to whinge about us Brits for months to come, but we will forget all about you until the Ashes or whatever other sporting event we next cross swords in, because sport is the only thing you have where you get any attention.
So, go ahead, whinge all you want, we really don't care and probably won't notice anyway.
JB: and yet here you are, plonking on like a bit of a wanker.
- Dave
- August 25, 2008
I'll back any of our Aussie Mayor's(including the sheila's)to thrash Boris Johnson in any sporting contest he cares to nominate.He looks like a big toffy cream puff who couldn't go 3 rounds with a revolving door.
- Billpom
- August 25, 2008
Steve in HK.
You need to look at the facts re the Aussies in ww2. It was the US 1 st Marine Regt who were the first troops to beat the Japanese in battle (two weeks before the Aussies).
I would like to know the source for the HK comment.
As far as Singapore goes it is on record that the Aussie general Gordon Bennett abandoned his command without permission and left large numbers of your troops to their fate so he could flee back to Australia. He was never given an active command again.
The main reason Oz was left undefended was due to labour govt that ran down defence expenditure at a time when it was clear a major conflict was on the horizon.
Australia withdrew troops from the mid east as it was believed a Japanese invasion was imminent. No faulting them for that but the belief was wrong,
Australia made an invalauble contribution to allied victory but it is galling when you allow myths to cloud the facts. Myths that as usual blame the Brits if there is no other convenient target.
- Cathy
- August 25, 2008
Thanks Mike, you're a sweetie. Let's just all behave like adults - like our sportsmen and women. I've seen nothing but good-natured banter and sincere congratulations, one to the other. They'd all be ashamed of what's been said here. Australians and Brits alike should be proud of their achievements, sporting or otherwise. As an Aussie, I'm very proud that our little country regularly does so well at many things, particularly sports, boxing well above our weight. And you Brits have done a stirling job this time 'round. Hope you keep it up. Will be waiting to see young Thomas (Daley) on the podium next time 'round. Our (Aussie) commentators have been singing his praises (you Brits may be surprised at that, I know).
Cathy, Sydney
- Donna
- August 25, 2008
Obviously Jordi when u came here u forgot to pick up the sarcasm.. so when u going back?
- Dave
- August 25, 2008
Just wanted to interrupt the Aussie/Pom Perpetual Punch and Judy show for a second to introduce a note of reality.Check out the medals table,we're both acting like a couple of paupers fighting over the leftovers after a Chinese banquet.
Ok,Back to Punch and Judy.
London's "On the Buses" Olympics should be fun.Particularly if they can manage to keep a few of their ancient rock stars breathing until 2012.I shudder to think what Keith Richards will resemble by then.
- Jordi
- August 25, 2008
You poor sad people with no life. Get over it.
I have lived in Australia for 26 years and class myself as an Aussie. I was wearing the Green and Gold for Australia and hoped they would do really well at the Olympics but by the end of the games I was pleased GB topped Australia in the medal count due to the narrow minded, bitter and biased unsportsmanlike behaviour from Australians. How sad for these bitter people. They obviously didn't enjoy the games at all.
When the Australian guy won the gold in the Kayaking the British competitor was the first one over to him to congratulate him. That is what sport is all about. Not all of this rubbish that John Coates and the Aussies are going on with.
Why are Australians are so well balanced? Because they have a chip on both shoulders!
- Mike
- August 25, 2008
I'm British, aged 65, and will probably never visit Australia.
British youngsters whom I know, including one son, who've worked in Oz are full of praise for the country and the people.
What matters is how one person gets on with another, not national stereotypes.
All these bitter taunts over sport are daft.
I reckon it's mainly the fault of journalists and - here's a laugh - bloggers!
- robbie
- August 25, 2008
Yet again as Australians we demonstrate our immaturity and insecurities as a nation. It would be good to think we had reached a point where are comfortable with our identity and achievements
As a proud Australian living in London, it is interesting to note the pride that the Brits have with their recent Olympic successes.
What a perfect opportunity for them to really have a good laugh at beating the Australians, but it just isnt happening. Why? they dont need to - they are comfortable with their identity, proud of their success and starting to believe they could pull off a great 2012 games
We have a lot to be proud of as a nation but we have to grow up, especially in the media and about sport.
We are not the epicentre of the world, for those people that know anything about the country we are considered to be a nice country to visit with good weather, friendly people if not arrogant or racist at times, and we are not considered good sports
So lets be proud of what we are about as well as the success of others and get over this childish bitterness towards being beaten in sport
- JB (yes, that JB)
- August 25, 2008
Omigod I can't believe this is still going.
Don't you people have lives?
- Frazzell
- August 25, 2008
All this talk about Australia's sucess per capita compared to GB... if we evaluate success per capita then the Bahamas were the most successful at these Olympics. All hail the Bahamas!
- Ruhavinalaugh
- August 25, 2008
Comments that are offensive, defamatory, unsuitable or that breach any aspects of the terms and conditions will be deleted.
Surely the "Tunisia, Togo, Oingo Boingo, whatever" comment by John Birmingham is racist.
Moderators, where are you??
- Dr J Nebraska
- August 25, 2008
Well, hasn't this blog been a mud-slinging goldmine!?
I'll tell what will be great about London2012 - Boris bleedin' Johnson. He is the funniest bugger I've seen in politics in a long time - Australian or British!
Yes, you Brits will throw a great party! And maybe you'll get more gold or maybe we will - WHO CARES - BRING ON BORIS!!! He rules BRITANNIA - or at least, he should.
Maybe all the small minded Aussies and the ego-maniacal
Brits who've posted to this slanging match can now get back to their meaningless average lives. We should say well done to both our little nations. Look at the long queue behind us. And after all we were only fighting over the crumbs left by the sporting behemoths US and China.
Cease fire people. No, go on, back to work. Yes you Bluey from Upper Cumbukta: enough of your small minded drivel. And you too, Percy from Pendlebury back to trading bonds in the City! Have a valium and a lie down for the next four years. Then we can show the blogosphere what small minded twats we are all over again.
Go on all of you, home you go or I'll ring your mothers!
- Boris
- August 25, 2008
Just grow up!
- Toff Rule
- August 25, 2008
Another Gold the Ozzies could get is in spin.
Have you noticed when an Ozzy says something nasty its 'all just a bit of fun mate'. But when a Brit does its proof of their upper class snobbery! If only Britain were full of stuffed-shirt upper class toffs. If it were we might be better governed and better off.
Instead we are peopled by lay about scroungers with foul mouths and bad attitudes who think they can say what they like about others but then react violently to anyone who mildly criticises them. But then you Ozzies would not all about those types ...
Bring back the toffs I say, they knew how to do things!
- Yorkie
- August 25, 2008
The one thing I never understand is why the Ozzies have such a chip on their shoulder about the past. It wasn't my ancestors who settled and colonised Australia, it was yours! Mine stayed in Yorkshire to dig coal or something.
Seriously though, as a Brit I always thought of the Ozzies as friends until I started to mix with a few of them when travelling then I realsied that their so-called banter was actually quite nasty, quite racist (although it can't be really as we are all of the same stock) and very serious. Why, I could never understand. Australia is only Australia because of Britain, rejecting the Brits is really rejecting yourself. I just never got it.
Ozzies talk about the colonial days as if it was something done to them rather than something THEY did. It's not as if you lot were sat there and the Brits turned up and took your country off you. It was YOU, the Australians who arrived, as Brits at the time, and took the land of the natives.
I don't really care whether Britain comes 1st or last in the medal table and I couldn't give two hoots whether we beat Oz or not. I just wish that Australians were as grown up.
At the end of the day, Ozzie, Brit (although I prefer English myself), Kiwi or Canadian, we're all from the same family really. Even those of us whose families arrived from other countries much more recently, as one side of mine did, are all really still poart of the same family - culturally, linguistically, historically we all belong to the same family. Call it the British family, call it the english-speaking peoples, call it whatever you want, we are the same!
- August 25, 2008
Of course its a joke. But the underlying bitterness of Australians at the success of the Brits in Beijing,the complete lack of grace or generosity, the overt racism of some Australian journalists about the Brits, and the already visible efforts to disparage London as the 2012 venue are there for all to see.
Year after year after year Australia's friends abroad, of who I am one,persuade ourselves that Australia is at last emerging as a mature and self possessed country, confident of her place on the world stage. Yet year after year you manage to prove us wrong.
The painful revelation of such a fragile sense of identity, based entirely on success in sport is shocking.The Brits are not like this. They've been around longer,bounced back from more knocks,fought more wars, won more battles,and understand the reach of their language and culture. They know that their place in the world is secure and valued,and not based on the result of their last softball match.And if they cared about sport as much as the Aussies (which they don't) they would take comfort in the fact that in the all-time Olympic medal table they are 3rd and Australia is 11th.
As a friend I have been shocked at the adolescent insecurity and aggression 6th place in the medal table has revealed. I applaud Australian success as I do Brit and American success.But I do hope that Australians will be able develop the confidence to recognize and celebrate the success of others in sport, rather than see it as a continuing threat to their national identity.
- abanazer
- August 25, 2008
Like the Scots, The South Africans, Australians seem to be obsessed by England and Londoners in particular. It appears that you must think about us all the time.
This is a shock because we don't think about you at all...ever.
- Wayne
- August 25, 2008
Australia, you really need to mature as a nation and not judge your selves against other countries but what you can , nah didn't mean that at all ....
As long as the Kiwi's and the Brits stuff the convicts and the bastard children of Aus I couldn't care less.
A recent survey by the WHO showed the Australians to have the worst kept teeth in the developed world (sic)
- oorwullie
- August 25, 2008
I pee-ed myself at John Birmingham's article. I'm a Scot and well proud of what Team GB achieved. With a team of half the numbers of the US and China we punched well above our weight.
JB is right. There is only one rivalry that matters. Tough titty Oz. You better get your act together for 2012 or you're really going to get it in the neck from us!
- Lordprocrastinator
- August 25, 2008
TripleRLtd has made some good points! I bet JB loves us English really; especially as he has the perfect Anglo-Saxon name! Stop slagging yourself off JB it's embarrassing!
- Parmajack
- August 25, 2008
In the banter flying about (and also in some of the childish comments), many English and Australians are overlooking the fact that Great Britain is a different national entity and sporting concept to England. In the Olympics, what is called 'Team GB' really represents theUK (which is Great Britain and Northern Ireland). For some sports, e.g. Association Football, there is no concept of GB/the UK. 4 separate non-sovereign states compete (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales). In Rugby Union, 3 of the non-sovereign states England, Scotland and Wales compete and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (not part of the UK) compete as one team. In cricket, England and Wales (usually referred to as 'England') compete against Australia for the Ashes. In rugby union football there is no sense of 'British identity'. Indeed, in the 6 Nations Italy, being the underdog, is most people's second favourite team and it is quite normal for a Scot, say, to want them to win against Wales. Some English people (usually not rugby fans) do get offended if a Welsh person wants France to win against England, (because England are a British team, like Wales) failing to understand that it is exactly the same as an English football fan wanting France, for example to win against Italy in football since the concept of Britain does not exist in these sports. Given the above, journalists and commentators (both Australian and English) who see the UK's slightly superior performance in the Olympics as some sort of revenge for the Ashes or a extension of the rivalry between England and Australia in Rugby Union are missing the point. Since the Uk does not compete in the Rugby World Cup or in Cricket test matches, bragging rights are 'non-transferable'.
- Bobby
- August 25, 2008
What a sad bunch of losers you crims are. We are just better at sport than you are. Just except it, take it like men... learn and move on and maybe you will give us a game next year in the Ashes too? I doubt it though because you can't do it. You jst go around calling us 'Poms'. No-one in this country even knows, or cares, what this means, but you think it has an affect on us. How sad.
So, you came behind us in the medal table. Dry your eyes and get ready for a proper Olympics in 2012. Like your great one in Sydney, we will give the world a party. Unlike the poor controlled chinks, who didn't even know they could cheer and actually enjoy themselves, we will have a bit of fun.
- Bladerunner
- August 25, 2008
Geez Blade, feel better now. Take a deep breath, fella. You are at least 50 years out of date. Australia practically left the British Empire a long time ago. Australias attachement to GB is historical and irrelevant for more than half the population. Pommy bashing is more of a media beat up to get your attention. It happens with every Ashes Tour, B&IL and with any English touring party. You are just the latest in a long line of over wrought soap dodgers swallowing the bait, hook, line and sinker. Ironic you calling on Australia to grow up.
- Jailer
- August 25, 2008
The British really have no interest in australia whatsoever. The colonial days are long gone, get over it. When are you lot going to realise this. Go Team GB LONDON 2012
- bazzmcdyre
- August 25, 2008
Nobody cares about rugby
Nobody cares about Crick...
People care about the olimpics for 16 days thats it.
More people watch the world cup than the olimpics.
Austrailia You need to start playing football and stop clinging on to the old comonw.... sport cause nobody really cares...Nobody is watching check the viewing figs..
- Winston
- August 25, 2008
I love the condition statement for this blog.
"Comments that are offensive, defamatory, unsuitable or that breach any aspects of the terms and conditions will be deleted."
What then do you actually need to say to be refused publication?
- expat
- August 25, 2008
I understand that the latest whinge from Australia is that many of it's swimming coaches have gone to work abroad. More money and a better life, now where have I heard that before? lol
- Timo of Singapore
- August 25, 2008
For a Brit travelling in Australia, the endless ratty Pom-bashing gets really, really tedious. It's a national habit, a knee-jerk response. Stereotyping, semi-racist comments which would be unacceptable in any other context are acceptable in Australia - as long as it's the Brits being talked about! I can put up with it, but guys, boring is the only word, and it sure can take the edge of a visit to your otherwise very attractive country. And yes, I do have a sense of humour ... I think ...
- Anonymous
- August 25, 2008
As with every thing coming out of England, the 2012 games in London will be remembered as the Cheap and Nasty games.
- August 24, 2008
Whatever happened to the Sport-manship in Sport ? Why are the Ozzies so prickly and why have they taken on that whingeing mantle ? Oh, I forgot, it's their sense of "humour"......
- matty
- August 24, 2008
I'm a Brit, I have spent about 8 months in Australia on off over the last 6 years.. While on the face of it Australia and its people are a nice bunch, but dig a little deeper and the problems with the country become more visible.
As someone pointed out, if you tell them how great there country is then all is fine, as soon as you make any (minor) negative comment they become very angry, I for example don't like the weather (yep imagine that!)I also don't much like the countryside - its nice, but to spread out, unlike a smaller country where you can move about and see more. NZ would get top marks from me though....As for the people, nice when things go there way, but alot of them seem to have been breed with a built in hatred for the British. There idea of there own superiority has made them one of the most xenophobic country Iv ever been to. Ironically its reminds me of what England was like 100+ years ago.
Lets face it, Britain crap at alot of thing, but out of all those crap things the only thing that Australia is better at than us is sport. And if thats Australia only real claim then its not Britain with the problems its Australia.
OH.....and you know why lots of Brits move to Australia??? its because you speak English (you can thank us later), if Spain, Italy or Sothern France all spoke English, Australia wouldn't get a look in.
- sittingbourneowl
- August 24, 2008
Look mate, just for once, us Poms beat you, let us rejoice, you'll kill us at The Ashes next year. Bring on London 2012, don't underestimate the home factor, forget China v USA, the battle will be the Poms v the Aussies, bring it on!
- Ozzie
- August 24, 2008
There is a line in the Queen song We Are The Champions, and the line goes "No time for losers", so thats you Aussies out then because you lot are such bad losers. Fancy finishing only 6th in the medals table, that is so bad, you should be ashamed of yourselves ha ha ha!!!!
- Welsh un
- August 24, 2008
Do you have to p -off the Welsh, Irish, Scots, Cornish, Manx and others who contributed to the Medal tally. Great Britain for the unwashed is derived from the fact that Brittany(France) was known as Britain and the big island was Greater Britain shortened to Great B.
- Ivor
- August 24, 2008
I see you Aussies are celebrating your medal haul. Well, I am amazed. I did not notice that you had won any - in fact, I did not know you lot had entered (- a bit like your Rugby World Cup success...er...I mean ..failure.)Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. We can't stop laughing over here!
- Tyke
- August 24, 2008
I have no problems with JB's blog, which is obviously a good-natured wind-up. I think it is very unfair of the Telegraph to describe him as a lazy, opinionated, pigheaded and oafish scribe: I certainly would not label him a scribe.
This all started as a compliment to Australia: Great Britain aspired to improve and achieve more than Australia in the Beijing Olympics. Unfortunately, instead of taking the attitude that if GB can improve, so can Australia, certain people responded by insults and innuendo.
Now John Coates says he wants Australia to take fourth place in 2012. Good for him, that's the right attitude. I hope that Australia does improve in London, but I hope that Great Britain improves even more!
In 2012, may all Australian and British competitors get the medals that they deserve. Let's also have the banter, without the nastiness.
- andrian007
- August 24, 2008
Being a neutral person reading these responses (I'm Indonesian), I think we can safely say you guys (Aussies and Poms) are bitter over nothing. Get over it, man, and bring on 2012!
- British Forever
- August 24, 2008
Yes this article has reaffirmed my opinion of Australia - that the only thing wrong with it are the people!! I have never met such a nation of ignorant self inflated ego's in my life. Australia isn't even a 'whisker' on the face of it's mother nation - and your total ignorance as to your 'clout' and significance to the rest of the world is embarrassing - it's time for a reality check I think!
- xanadu
- August 24, 2008
I'm Canadian so have no axe to grind either way, but the Aussies really do need to do something about this enormous chip on their shoulder where the Brits are concerned.
In my experience Aussies are not very good at handling success and are even worse at handling failure. Your insecurity shines likes a full moon on a clear night.
The Brits caned your backside in these Olympics and the bleating from down under can be heard from here. Until you learn to smile at failure and deal with it smiling you will never be held in the same esteem internationally as the Brits, sorry "poms." Do us all a favour and grow up Australia.
- a pom
- August 24, 2008
Hi there Ozzies
Looking at the medals table on the homepage of this paper - its got 5 countries on it, but I can't see you. Why is that? Maybe you have to click through to the full table to find you? Not sure. Try that anyway
All the best
- Smirk
- August 24, 2008
Team Oz - sounds like a case of more green, less gold. Humble pie making you ill again?!
- lejuan
- August 24, 2008
'Twas all part of a devilshly cunning plan y'see. Get those cultured and learned British types to actually buy into the yarn perpetrated by this upstart colony that sports actually matters to anyone over a hundred yards away from shore - and have them direct millions of pounds away from their education, social and scientific endeavors in pursuit of a few yellow hunks of metal doled out to people who sink their life's energy into running faster, pedalling harder or synchronising better than anyone else on one given day every four years. It took some time, but the Brits are now convinced that we always admired Don Bradman more than William Shakespeare. Onwards to the Australian renaissance! We might not achieve it in London 2012, but we're aiming to one day reduce our medal tally to zero in the hope that we master self-deprecating humour, get a decent navy and grow a three-star Michelin chef. You poor, miserable pommy bastards, I can't believe you fell for it.
- weRsooooSoupeeryer
- August 24, 2008
I like the photo-intro for this guy. It tells us he's a failure before we even read anything. What a joke. Seriously, you Aussies are just not versatile enough in sport. If the IOC went back to basics you'd be right up near the top - but with things developing as they have these last fifty years, you should invest NOW in finding and training the world's best tiddleywinkers.
- big x
- August 24, 2008
Take a look at the really important medal table...the Nobel prizes for science and literature.Britain has more medals per capita than any other country.Australia almost zilch.
- Chris of Bristol UK
- August 24, 2008
Oh Mr Birmingham,must be awful knowing that you were born a SCALLY.Anyway remember a famous quote from years gone by "THEY THINK ITS ALL OVER,IT IS NOW"
Also its been published that your team australia have approached our cycling coach Dave Brailsford to come and work for them ready for London 2012..Yes, I've had offers while I've been here," Brailsford said on Sunday.
"But with the London Games in 2012, it would be crazy to go. This is the greatest job in the world."
So unlike you lot whinging about how the UK has your coaches blah blah,theres a difference,yours come here because we pay well and like any job in the world,you take the one with most money,so instead of being so tight,pay your coaches what they deserve then they wont leave you in droves.The argument of where people were born to is so childish,look at your great cricketer Andrew Symonds,fantastic bloke wouldnt you agree? Ironic how he was born in of all places BIRMINGHAM,,,Mr BIRMINGHAM
- Mike
- August 24, 2008
My God some people are serious...
Very funny...
This is from a former sock and sandle (it got ridiculed out of me) but still gappy toothed bastard.
- Sue_afc
- August 24, 2008
Gawd you Australians really need to wind your necks back in and get a life.
By the way I was thinking about coming over next year - do I need to get a criminal record first!!!!!!
- Pomm De Terre
- August 24, 2008
C,mon guys, roll yourself a big fat joint and chill. to the Brits, chill, to the Ozzies, let us have our minute in the sun!
- john M
- August 24, 2008
Thanks for the great blog, John.
This really was a lot of fun. Hope to see more of your stuff soon!
- Alex, Birmingham, UK
- August 24, 2008
What is this, an incitement to hatred against us Brits? There's banter and sledging but this is outright racism and I can't believe it was published. My Aussie girlfriend is cringing.
- Wayne in Paris
- August 24, 2008
John Birmingham isn't a journalist. He's a joke.
He and others like him are amongst the reasons I no longer live in Australia.
Wake up Birmingham. You're not funny. And you're giving the world the impression that all Australians are bigoted idiots.
If Australians think like Birmingham we're destined to remain a country with little influence in the world. Maybe Birmingham should spend some time outside his little backwater and see the real world. While he's doing that, he could learn how real journalists think and write.
Congratulations GB you deserve your success as athletes.
Congratulations Birmingham
you deserve your failure as a human being.
- Sad Aussie
- August 24, 2008
We have to face up to it, our powder is dry, we've run out of ammo, the well is dry, heres whats happened, we set our sights firstly at the Olympics to beat GB, our aim to humiliate them, we have never been taking part in a celebration of sport and bringing the worlds young people togther in peace, we have been at each games in recent years simply to try and beat our old foes, our imperial masters as we see it, or the New Zealanders, the Yanks, the useless Canadians, we have thrown millions at this, why, what for, we are a large land mass with a small population, we should only be winning 4 or 5 gold medals, we are buying the rest, now look whats happenend the Brits (please lets drop poms,they call us Aussies, another blogger was right our children will grow up and travel, calling italians wogs, Brits poms, the Irish Micks, please!) have realised what we have been doing for years, spending money, we are not a superier race of people, we dont have bigger muscles, taller, blonder or with bluer eyes, we just spent money sooner, now look out, GB can spend 10 times what we can, they are far richer, they will spend what we can afford in 4 years every 6 months, 2 billion dollars in the run up to 2012, and you know what its our fault, they looked at us and asked the question, how? Ahh money! Look out, we cant win the money race we started, in the world medal table of richest countries GB are 4th, not sure where we are, my guess is 20 or more places lower, well done us!!
- jimmymk
- August 24, 2008
I've worked it out!!
JB is an MI5 British spy. He has been sent from blighty on a secret mission to make the Australian press seem casually and routinely racist. He has been allowed to say things that would get him fired in any first world publication-insert black or jewish or aboriginal in his blog and you get my jist.
This is to help divert attention from the correct notion that British downmarket red tops are horrible, narrow, xenophobic and cynical.
As know you can never be thanked publicly so.....
John thank you. Your work is done.
- mke888
- August 24, 2008
Please, keep on whingeing Ozzies, it's what you really ARE good at, and it makes the absolute whopping you got soooooo much sweeter..
- Plumbob
- August 24, 2008
Written by Birdy
August 23, 2008 12:14 AM
I've just watched some Aussie called 'Hooker' (how appropriate) win the Gold. The commentator produced the
amazing stat that this is the first track and field Olympic gold won by an Aussie man for 40 years. FORTY years!. God knows how many Olympic golds British men have won in that time but it must be dozens.
Reported by BBC Sports
Monday, 11 August 2008
Adlington timed her late surge to perfection as she became Britain's first female Olympic swimming champion in 48 years.
Get a life Birdy...you mustn't be doing much of what has been suggested Poms do best sitting down...that is, THINKING!! Maybe you have been doing more of the other thing...Sh****ng.
By the way Rebecca Adlington and Jo Jackson, the heartiest congratulations on your medal success in the pool. I likewise congratulate every GB medalist, because we Aussie sporting types can fully understand the enormous
sacrifice and years of hard work that each and every athlete goes through to achieve their goal. For goodness sake GB, don't take the article to heart. It was a bit of humour used to stir you up, and it surely has!! There will always be banter going back and forth between our two countries, surely we can carry it on in a more friendly and humorous manner than we are witnessing here. Oh, by the way, I can't thank the British Government enough for sending my forebears to the Great Southland!!
- GoldenDuck
- August 24, 2008
Funny isn't it. The Aussies are so worried about British performance Shocked by GB medal haul. To give the Australians more reason to worry. A few years back the structure and funding were changed in Sports such as the ones featured at the games. Obviously larger amounts off money were pumped into it. Training methods and organisation were changed but only in some sports. Notably Cycling. Reason being there was already a strong base to build upon. Also swimming. Not so much because there was a strong base. But because we had severely underperformed in the pool. Where we should atleast be battling with the aussies for Phelps leftovers. We have done better in the pool but still are way behind. As well as we infact have few pools. mainly due to the lack off space and what space we have is made for more important things like giving people a home. So i can't see us being as strong as Oz in the pool ever. Last population per Sqr km i read, was Britain having 124 people living per Sq km and Aus having 4 per sq km. They obviously have the space to have 2000+ pools. Think we have 12 Olympic sized pools? However the Cycling worked perfectly for GB. And won what was expected. The worrying thing for Austalia is. This is just the start. All other sports are receiving the same sort off attention. Anyone note the amount off young athletes we had at the games that didnt get far and why didn't they? Not cause they weren't capable. But because it was for experience. They are the new generation aimed at peaking for 2012+. Aussies! Your right to worry! Empire isnt just striking back. It's allout invasion! RUN AND HIDE!!!!!!!
- GoldenDuck
- August 24, 2008
After visiting Oz on a few times. I can't say a bad word about Aussies. Nicest people ive ever met. Was even more surprised to hear True Aussie men tell me how much they love the UK and can't wait to visit again. I love the British Union and believe would lose so much without it. And yes National sport would be a huge loss. Those Aussies also that believe your press when they say the Scots and English hate eachother. Glasgow Rangers didn't put on a bigscreen at the Footy World Cup attheir stadium which had large support during England games so they could support the opposition. The floor to ceiling Union Flags were obvious proof off that.
If Scotland was invaded by some unbeatable enemy. You would see England empty as every person capable would rush to Scotland to stand with the Scots in defence off THEIR land. Yes we hate the Scots. Bunch off weird talking, skirt wearing, hagis eating cavemen. I'm being polite. They would call us alot worse. Do we care? Not really. Would we risk death to help a Scotsman defend his home? Without question we would. Just the same as we would do the same for any Aussie. We don't hate Aussies. Not envious of you for anything except maybe the weather. Your press however should be aware if the odd Aussie believes the Bollox they print. Then poor guy repeats it to a Brit in your arrogant, ignorant and reckless manner. Don't be surprised if he loses a few teeth. We are a very tolerent people. But we do have limits. Nothing like smacking an ignorant Aussie to unwind after a tough day at work.
- Wylie
- August 24, 2008
People should take this thread seriously, its important for world peace to want to beat the Poms.
Nothing bonds people together more than a common enemy. It happens all too often when a colonial power leaves a country it all goes to pot. When there isn't a common enemy for the locals to moan about they turn on each other.
Its important for the stability of planet for the colonies to maintain their rage against the Poms. Dont let the dolphin huggers lull you into a false sense of security; they are trying to disrupt our countries so the Poms can win even more medals at the next Olympics.
- Sweet Jane Says
- August 24, 2008
Birmingham's smile has gaps through which a bus could navigate, but he refers to the Brits as "gappy toothed... bastards." This is his true calling:
- Kevpom
- August 24, 2008
As a Pom who lived in Melbourne for 3 years (and loved it),I found this very funny.People should lighten up and realise he's only taking the piss.As a massive sports fan I know deep in my heart,that victories over the Aussies matter more,because they don't happen often and are to be cherished.And as for using the B word,aussies swear more than us,and use it for punctuation.But then again that's because they dont know many words.Oh and thanks for the rotary washing line.
- boar
- August 24, 2008
I was talking about the 1980's! This is the way Australia treated its own citizens who are the sole reason for your so called thousands of years of culture that you were so proud of.
I always thought it incredibly hypocritical that your dear leader, the great beer boat racing, palm greasing ex union leader could bang on about South Africa while not do anything about apartheid on his own doorstep.
Be honest with yourself. Australia has handled its greatest cultural asset very poorly. Throw money at the problem - allow people with 1/32nd aboriginal blood to claim various benefits without dealing with the real issues.
Ben Nevis is not a centre of British Culture. Kakadu is one of the main centres of the culture which you are so proud of.
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 24, 2008
Surely this blog must be nearing its end. William"Aussie" Blake contribution best sums it up The overwrought response of Poms. When England, er Great Britain taste success it is followed by a bitter outpouring that their athletes do not deserve. Its tragic but predictable. The irony of poms swarming on this site to tell us how irrelevant Oz is and better still, what ungracious winners and losers we are. They should try reading the 717 posts on this blog. They are proof that England measures its success against Australia.
Something that might be lost on many posting on this blog is that Ozs 14 Gold medals in Beijing is 2 short of Sydney and 3 short of Athens. Not exactly the failure the poms make it out to be. Australias third best result and greater than GB achieved in the previous 84 years. If that is failure than GBs recent results could only be regarded as an abysmal disaster.
Congrats to Team GB. Welcome back.
- oldpom
- August 24, 2008
This is the 15th Olympics in my lifetime and the first time that GB has a decent medal haul. The best thing about it? It has at least kept the monotonous soccer out of the headlines. If one Pom now believes that there is more to life than overpaid underachieving soccer then the Olympics has a been a success. One of the reasons for the medal haul in Beijing is that the cycling and swimming have got themselves organised Aussie style.
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 24, 2008
Feeling better now Monty? Your unfortunate comments say more about you than Ozzies or me for that matter. If Oz is not to your liking then come on home fella. Drewsbury Moor is waiting for you. I can stictch you up a nice, recently vacated 2 up 2 down. The previous tennants were celebrities, only in the English sense. Then like millions here you can enjoy the cream of Oz culture Neighbours, Home and Away, Kylie, Rolph Harris, Germaine Greer .. Its endless.
The last time Oz did over England in the RWC was the 1991 final, in Englands backyard. The English team beaten by a single man, David Campesie. Oddly enough double the margin of Englands alleged thrashing of Oz in 2003. And you would be stupid enough to compare Englands RWC record to Ozs? How many more years before England catches up to Oz in that caper, 400 more years?
This forum has seen some stupid contibutions from both sides of the pale. Yours are chief amongst them. Team GB deserve accolades for their achievements, not idiots like you.
- Mr Dunc
- August 24, 2008
All this Pom bashing leaves me wondering about one thing, if Oz is such a great place to live why the hell do so many bloody Ausies come to live in Great Britain as soon as they reach puberty?
- Proud Pommie
- August 24, 2008
Suck it up guys, suck it up!!!
- Sweet Jane Says
- August 24, 2008
Birmingham has spaces between his teeth that he describes as "gappy toothed" in reference to the British. You should see pictures of the old guy smiling. It's spooky, especially since he promotes porn at his other sites. He's like someone's "wicked Uncle Earnie fiddling about."
- bazz
- August 24, 2008
Strewth Sheila!
Our athletes gotta stop drinking so many stubbies before the events - we're giving the Poms too much advantage.
- Colin Cornes
- August 24, 2008
Well done Steve Hooker
- winning emphatically with a splendid Olympic record
And he wasn't favourite
Winning an Olympic gold medal in athletics is not easy
As my dear old Dad found(you look him up)
Athletics is about as truly international as any sport can get
Which is why it is so close to the Olympic ideals
Take the field events in Beijing
The winners were
HJ - Russia men/Belgium women
LJ - Panama/Brazil
PV - Aussie Steve/Russia
TJ - Portugal/Cameroun
Shot - Poland/the splendid Kiwi Val
Discus - Estonia/USA
Hammer - Slovenia/Belarus
Javelin - Norway/Czech
Deca/Heptathlon - USA/Ukraine
We(otherwise proud)Poms were a bit disappointed as were the Croats and no doubt many others
A big welcome to London in 2012
PS Pom cannot and never did mean Prisoner of Mother England,Prisoner of Her Majesty etc
Don't they teach you anything in the private and public schools of Australia ?
Summer Heights High was superb by the way
- Brutus
- August 24, 2008
Prisoners Of Mother England
Read the table and weep
We are the army, the barmy barmy army
- Kerryman
- August 24, 2008
I've met a good few Australians down through the years in my work and travels in Ireland and abroad. Reading this blog just reminds me of what an arrogant and racist bunch of yahoos you can be. If you find this too much of a generalisation, you should be just as careful as who you allow to leave your country as who you admit. Hopefully, boorishness, uncouthness and racism will be introduced as Olympic events in 2012. That should make you happier as your gold medal tally will surpass the Brits. If you have any problems with the way the Brits are dishing it out, just suck it up, because this is what you've been doing to them and everybody else over the years. I witnessed this personally in the 2007 RWC in France where your hooligans gave us a load of unwarranted abuse over our poor performance. 'Kicking a man when he's down' would be another Olympic event where you'd excel. Then, just as now, I was delighted to see na Sasanaigh destroy the best of your Aussie manhood on the field of play.
- Kerryman
- August 23, 2008
I've met a good few Australians down through the years in my work and travels in Ireland and abroad. Reading this blog just reminds me of what an arrogant and racist bunch of yahoos you can be. If you find this too much of a generalisation, you should be just as careful as who you leave your country as who you admit. Hopefully, boorishness, uncouthness and racism will be introduced as Olympic events in 2012. That should make you happier as your gold medal tally will surpass the Brits. If you have any problems with the way the Brits are dishing it out, just suck it up, because this is what you've been doing to them and everybody else over the years. I witnessed this personally in the 2007 RWC in France where your hooligans gave us a load of unwarranted abuse over our poor performance. 'Kicking a man when he's down' would be another Olympic event where you'd excel. Then, just as now, I was delighted to see na Sasanaigh(the English)destroy the best of your Aussie manhood on the field of play.
- The Meat
- August 23, 2008
Blimey I just wish one day Australia would pull itself into the 21st Century and stop being so xenophobic. This is sport, nothing more, and it's important to keep it in perspective. Which country a person comes from doesn't matter - if they win gold, they are simply better than all the other people in the world.
To define a nation by how good they are at sport is so simplistic and base, and that's what embarrasses me to be Australian at the moment. The mindless racist drivel on this site is a disgrace, and would be banned elsewhere in the world. It is not only disgraceful, but inflames bad feeling against our country.
Luckily the Brits I know don't feel offended by the word POM (although it should be POME of course, but that doesn't sound as cutting), because they aren't prisoners of that great country of course, but have the whole of Europe open to them.
Grow up Australia, and learn how to be as graceful in defeat as we are at gloating at our success.
- Matt
- August 23, 2008
People are taking this too seriously. The British dont really care about beating Australia our main goal was to come top out of the EU countries.
Why are the British readers taking offence at this? I thought we could have a laugh at ourselves. Most of the comments are far too passionate, far too agressive and far too much like Americans. Boasting that we have more troops in Iraq and that we contibuted more to WWII is completely irrelevant, get a grip Britain.
- Kim (in Korea, like most Kims are!)
- August 23, 2008
"This is not true, the media and the T.V networks have been making deliberate points of where Aus were and how far behind them GB was (in the first week). It was Monday when GB over took them, and they then chose not to even notice an"
Soapbox Joe - can we judge you and the rest of GB on your media - your tabloids in particular? Because if we can, I'm surprised you can spell at all...
And on another point - some observant bugger around here on one of the other blogs pointed out that as embarrassing as John Coates' "washing" comment was (and I agree - we were _Squirming_ with embarrassment and blushing in our Hong Kong hostel room when we saw the footage), it's no worse than the British commentators who call Australians a load of stupid criminals whose gene pool so _obviously_ needs to be chlorinated. Yeah. Thanks for that. My first relative out here was an officer and I'm sure the Brits who came out here in DROVES in the 2nd half of the 20th century could rightly feel insulted by such comments, assuming most of them added to our gene pool...
Oh gawd - pandemonium here - South Korea just beat the Cubans to the baseball gold medal. :D
Happily, this means I don't have to see ANY baseball again for years... ;)
Tussle for 6th place continues... :D
- Kim (in Korea, like most Kims are!)
- August 23, 2008
Shaun August 22, 2008 08:03 PM
Pull your head in. Vast majority of politicians of any flavour or country are too, well, _yellow_ to say anything to the Chinese, and if you could read, you'd know that Evans' family have had friends in China for decades, whose letters to Aus were all visibly censored.
So GOOD ON HIM for speaking up.
Somebody has to have the guts to do it, even if 6.5 billion others refuse to...
- Kim (in Korea, like most Kims are!)
- August 23, 2008
grant August 23, 2008 07:57 AM
"as an Aussie living in London..."
Of COURSE! And good luck to 'em, I say.
The brits deserve their medals as much as anyone else does. Good on 'em.
Here in South Korea, we and our mates are having fun in our "tussle" between 6th and 7th spot on the ladder ;)
It's cool seeing how excited the Koreans are here (wish I'd been here during the world cup 2002), but I am so SICK of bloody baseball...half those guys should take up sumo wrestling...seriously... ;)
- doc
- August 23, 2008
Enough please! Let's look at the bigger picture for a minute. Despite all the assurances to the contrary, these games have been hosted and not surprisingly won by a totalitarian state that stifles or imprisons its opponents, muzzles the press and crushes dissent wherever it finds it; whilst readily accepting the craven, self-serving indulgence of the IOC. How's this for an idea? Two right-minded, sport-loving democratic nations (that's you and us BTW) dump our collective medals in a heap in the departure lounge at Beijing International, suggest what might be done with them as we wave bye-bye and start from scratch in 2012. We are both bigger than this frankly puerile debate but thank whatever God you barrack for that you have the choice to air it.
- Kim (in Korea, like most Kims are!)
- August 23, 2008
"Do you NOT realize what you have done???????????
You may as well be the Spanish team doing the "slant eye" thing!!!
Geesh folks.
You really need to get a grip of not only yourselves, but your government, and your media."
Why? WE've got the YANKS to do that for us, surely?
"And you wonder why all these Brits, be it Welsh, Irish, Scots, and/or English, came to this blog to tell you all off?
Well, I'll tell you what: I'm a YANK"
Yes, yes - we can tell. It's the complete lack of ANY knowledge of how (others') senses of humour work. And have you tried to find out? NO - you've just done the VERY Yank thing and invaded the fun and told us all off and told us all what to do.
For your information - we love slagging the Brits off because we LIKE them and feel connected with them and feel we know them and understand them and hope they feel the same about us. MILLIONS of us come from families who until relatively recently called Britain "home", even if they'd never left our big island in their entire lives.
Unlike your lot, who like to re-write (and murder) other people's movies and comedies, WE get British comedies and movies just as nature intended them, and we LOVE them. ALways have. THeir humour, like ours, often involves people harmlessly, and affectionately, slagging each other off.
", and I see where this is going. AND, it's NOT a good place. And yet some of you wonder why there have been over 500 posts so far?????
You have no clued, do you?"
Yanks - World Experts in Clue(d)lessness...
- Tom
- August 23, 2008
@ Jack August 23, 2008 03:15 PM
Don't know where you get Australias education as "Top 3" This from "your ABC "Australia's new education minister Julia Guillard says the OECD rankings are worrying, especially when Australia is seen in relation to other countries. She blames the drop on the previous government of John Howard."
Suggest you check your facts Google it ... Australian education values Sport and nothing but nothing else... disgraceful
- kim (in Korea)
- August 23, 2008
""Actually Australia has one of the strongest Education systems in the world (top 3)and is ranked higher than the UK."
That must explain why their diction and vocabulary are so good! lol"
A few years ago, Australian friends of ours travelled all around Europe, and the only language they have is English. No problems - they never had any problems, even if all they were able to use was a bit of sign-language.
After Europe, they went to England...and were almost immediately stumped by a check-out chick at the first supermarket they went to. Her accent was so completely impenetrable, they asked her to get someone else to talk to because they could not understand a single word she said.
Now, this possibly means that this girl is unemployable outside her own accent group. Diction? She'd be lucky...
Vocabulary? Who could tell...?
- kim (in Korea)
- August 23, 2008
"I was in Afghanistan recently."
So? Practically more Brits die in London than Afghanistan...
Have you made use of yourself in either of these places, or do you just stand around pontificating and telling others what you think they're doing wrong?
Why aren't you in Afghanistan now? Did they send you home early 'cos the troops thought you were a good excuse for friendly fire?
"How many troops have you got there? Good blokes - both of them. Iraq? Elsewhere?""
That's ok - when we've got 3 or 15 times the population, we'll send 3 or 15 times the people.
When we're not sending people to small islands in our region to try and undo the unbelievable stupidity and evil of other governments, we'll send more people along to help you bomb wedding parties, ok?
And by the way - all those Brits out there trying to tell Aussies we are feeble, insecure twats with no self esteem...ask yourselves why you feel it neccessary to be telling us it in the first place?
(I'd go home and trying painting your pot some other colour - black's not as fashionable as it used to be...)
- kim (in Korea)
- August 23, 2008
"What is the matter with you Australians? You say it is a joke but your bitterness about British Olympic success shows all that is wring with you and your country."
Nothing is wrong. Most of us commented here for fun. When we're being serious it's because one of your lot said somethng stupid.
"You are always looking for are a bunch of latter day Douglas Jardines just to reinforce your ever-fragile self-identity and promote the plucky Aussie myth. The bottom line is this; we Brits do not base our whole identity on sport."
Um - and we do? DO you know ALL of us? i don't play sport, i almost never watch them. I study music and languages and work in a English language school. I am at the end of an 11 month trip around the world visiting friends in countries as diverse as Colombia, Switzerland and Mongolia.
Do I SOUND like someone who is addicted to, and bases my entire being upon, sport?
"No, we live in the real world where we are immeasurably more powerful and influential than you are."
Suits me. Influential and powerful countries are usually the interfering, arrogant ones. (Hence, they are often dangerous - targetted, shall we say - and generally bordering upon soulessness...)
"Face up to it; you are not in our league where it matters."
Fine - don't ask us to your wars next time...
- kim (in Korea)
- August 23, 2008
"Thanks for nothing in both World Wars not forgeting you did a runner in the 2 one and hid behind Amercia .
Lets no forget Iraq the wanabes sent 150 ground troops to our 50,000 thanks great effort.
Time for this country to grow up and stand up in more than micky mouse sports."
Um. Ignoring the fact that we've only _been_to 2 world cups in total and obviously won neither of them...
Are you serious, on drugs or taking the piss?
Hid behind AMerica? We needed them to defend Australia while we were in the middle east winning bit the bits the Brits kept losing. HId behind America? Yeah - that'd be why some French people like naming their streets after Australian places and generally honouring OUR soldiers each year.
Our guys _wanted_ to come back to defend their own country, but it was too dangerous to travel - those that did were often captured and/or killed by the Japanese.
"Historyman"? You don't know sh*t. I'll bet someone else even typed your post for you, you're so ignorant.
150? Try 2,000 or so. And we probably couldn't spare too many more, since our tiny military is spread across various bits of the world doing PEACE KEEPING work and REBUILDING places with our engineers and infrastructure, not ILLEGALLY INVADING other countries who don't deserve it. (Except for the 2,000 guys we actually sent to Iraq, but that's because our old government not only hid behind the good ol' US of Arseholes, they enjoyed kissing those same Arseholes...)
- Andy
- August 23, 2008
I been to Mt Isa and are you sure there's enough water there to fill 1 medium sized swimming pool?
And I knew Aussies were behind but even thought the news would have got to you that Thatcher resigned as Prime Ministter 18 years ago!
And it's not a great surprise GB is doing well with the amount of money put in. Hence why independent research from Italy and the US predicted us finishing 4th which is where we are. So it is not a one off fluke.
- Bruce Pintpuller
- August 23, 2008
What a depressing read, from both sides of the fence, this makes - I've logged back on after a few days when JB acknowledged the reason for starting this thread was to generate a bit of web traffic. Unfortunately it has degenerated beyond a joke.
To Historyman - you truly pathetic individual - go and inform yourself about Australia's contributon in WWs, particuarly at the Somme, before making these utterances. I appreciate for you its all a windup and "just good fun" but please do not bring the sacrifices of many men - both British and Australian - far braver and more noble than you and I, into this.
To the rest of you small minded drongoes and berks have a look at the cameradie and mutal respect between the Australian and British winning canoeists in the last two days and contrast this with your own facile drivel.
And no before some moron asks I'm not a barman. I am an Australian who lived for 8 years in England, and who now lives and works in Brisbane and actually employs Poms.
- Bemused
- August 23, 2008
It's all just a joke; yet, seems it doesn't matter what he writes though, there'll be some who insist on taking it too seriously.
- Buzby
- August 23, 2008
Hello - I am an unwahed Pom who thought the blog was really funny. Really most people in the UK haven't any interest in Australia except Neighbors or Home and Away - our rivalry is really European.
Isn't "birmingham " an English name anyway? He must be a Pom. The picture of him is funny - he looks like a 1970s plain clothes detective with a gay leather fetish.
- Stinga
- August 23, 2008
cry me a river the lot of you (aussie and poms) its only a game, surely there are more important things to worry about.
besides we can do it all again in 4 ears time.
- Gatting
- August 23, 2008
@historyman says......
"Actually Australia has one of the strongest Education systems in the world (top 3)and is ranked higher than the UK."
That must explain why their diction and vocabulary are so good! lol
- Historyman
- August 23, 2008
Australia has only one Uni in the Worlds top 100 and it comes in at 67th as for the schools here as they have no standards to reach they are rubbish.
Australia win the Football World Cup give it a rest getting there twice in 60 years and wining one game against Japan is less than poor.
Thanks for nothing in both World Wars not forgeting you did a runner in the 2 one and hid behind Amercia .
Lets no forget Iraq the wanabes sent 150 ground troops to our 50,000 thanks great effort.
Time for this country to grow up and stand up in more than micky mouse sports.
- Blade
- August 23, 2008
What is the matter with you Australians? You say it is a joke but your bitterness about British Olympic success shows all that is wring with you and your country. You are always looking for are a bunch of latter day Douglas Jardines just to reinforce your ever-fragile self-identity and promote the plucky Aussie myth. The bottom line is this; we Brits do not base our whole identity on sport. No, we live in the real world where we are immeasurably more powerful and influential than you are. Face up to it; you are not in our league where it matters. I was in Afghanistan recently. How many troops have you got there? Good blokes - both of them. Iraq? Elsewhere?
We even beat you when it matters in most sports that matter to most of us.
Put simply, you will never really make it in this world whilst so much of your identity is built on attacking this mythical pom you endlessly bang on about. You will only make it when your identity is built on all that is good about being Australian. There are a couple of things.
Remember this; you need us more than we need you in this world. Insulting us is not in your interests. The joke is wearing thin.
Grow up, Australia!
- Steve
- August 23, 2008
If whinging and moaning was an Olympic sport, I can safely say that Australia would take gold, silver and bronze at a canter....
Also, "gap toothed bastards"?
If John Birmingham's (whoever the hell he is) article replaced "poms" with "blacks" or "jews" he'd probably be banned from writing for the paper. Still, it seems that being xemophobic towards the British is still something that is tolerated and accepted by the vast majority of Aussies.
Such a shame that Oz clearly has come nowhere as a country then. Sporting success does nothing to change the worlds view of you as moaning xenophobes.
- Billpom
- August 23, 2008
Well done to the Aussie pole vaulter last night, kept GB in 3rd place.
Incidentally I have noticed a few British posters who are miffed about the use of the word "bastard" in JBs blog. The thing is this word isnt generally considered that offensive in Oz and is even used as a term of affection between friends. I think it stems from the shortage of female members of the colony in the developing years.
The same is true of certain rascist words Aussies routinely use that are considered inappropriate in the UK. This can lead to very embarrassing situations when they travel overseas.
- Jack
- August 23, 2008
Actually Australia has one of the strongest Education systems in the world (top 3) and is ranked higher than the UK.
- TripleRLtd
- August 23, 2008
This is ALL pathetic.
It's like the worldwide version of the American "Hatfields v McCoy's".
Yeah...look it up all you idiots...
Are you all listening to yourselves?
Do you think this is funny?
Do you think this is "progressive"?
Do you think this is enlightening?
Actually, this is quite enlightening. And, thanks to the Ozzie press (and government), who actually APPROVED the use of the condescending and racist term "POMS", we now have an all out "family" feud, where the rest of the world laughs at all of us.
Imagine, if you will, the London Times, headlining articles with words such as "The Micks are back"
"The Wankers are back"
"The Krauts are back"
The Waps are back".
...yeah, imagine that.
And, btw, we (I) could have gotten even uglier. But, I think you'll get my drift. But somehow, the Aussies got to name calling, and, not only that, they did that name calling in headline news in a world wide web of information.
Do you NOT realize what you have done???????????
You may as well be the Spanish team doing the "slant eye" thing!!!
Geesh folks.
You really need to get a grip of not only yourselves, but your government, and your media.
And you wonder why all these Brits, be it Welsh, Irish, Scots, and/or English, came to this blog to tell you all off?
Well, I'll tell you what: I'm a YANK, and I see where this is going. AND, it's NOT a good place. And yet some of you wonder why there have been over 500 posts so far?????
You have no clued, do you?
That my friends is truly sad....
- Sydeny Dudue
- August 23, 2008
To Historyman:The English beat us once every 30 years or so then trumpet that AUSTRALIA is is a BUNCH of Losers!..dream on England you will fall back to your rightful place very soon.many English Even resent the fact we aided you in WW1 & WWII, why?
I also bet you Australia wins the Football world cup and the Tour De France before you win it again!
A list of Australian invention:http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=inventors&cdn=money&tm=32&gps=79_454_1020_610&f=00&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.convictcreations.com/culture/inventions.htm
- Historyman
- August 23, 2008
I know the education system in Australia is one of the worst in the Western World but your History facts are way off and your comments about Great Britain are child like.
Given 99.90% 0f the people living in Australia have family trees that do not cover even 200 years the 40,000 quoted is a joke.
Everything this country is was formed by the Brits not the primative people living here before we took this Island.
Australia the country of wanabes that never will be .
If UK companies pulled out of Australia it would sink back 40,000 years.
Just what has Australia ever invented on a par to the UK ?
- William"Aussie" Blake
- August 23, 2008
The overwrought response of Poms on this blog is understandable,they're simply the excited outpourings of a nation that has lost the ability to deal with success in a mature way.
Over the past century the U.K has suffered the national equivalent of what was once its most popular spectator sport:Drawing and Quartering.
Not only has it been reduced to the sadly shrivelled rump of a once mighty empire,but this tiny remnant has been further dismembered and gutted by internal balkanisation.So be generous my fellow Australians and allow them a fleeting taste of past glory before the natural order is restored again.
And was Jerusalem builded there?I don't think so,and if it was it has long since voted to go back to the middle east.
- August 23, 2008
Ha, all you lot boasting here of your respective nation's puny exploits. My Olympic team has 30 gold, 27 silver, 27 bronze, 84 total, mixing it right up there with USA and China, and I've never had such great Olympic viewing -- our guy winning the pole vault last night, and another winning the men's K1 canoe/kayak yesterday . . .
If you're not a dual citizen, you're a loser.
- Genegenie
- August 23, 2008
There's a quote from a Scottish soccer player when they took the lead in the 1970 World Cup against Brazil.
Aaaarrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhh! Theres no such thing as a Scottish (or for that matter English Welsh or Irish) soccer player. Its FOOTBALL. Always has been, always will be....except to those idiots in the press who like to import 'Americanisms'.
As for the Olympics..I'm glad my country did well,and I really couldnt give a toss who is above or below us in the table. I havent heard a peep from anyone here, gloating or otherwise about beating the Australians. Personally I think you're all victims of the Medias favourite past-time of sh1t stirring!!!
- grant
- August 23, 2008
as an Aussie living in London (right next to the new olympic park), it doesn't surprise me the poms have done so much better than normal. Despite the generally not very good facilities in the UK, they have in the last 10 years invested a lot of lottery funding in their sports. Cycling and Rowing in particular seem to have benefited. Being an Island they will always be good at sailing. So well done to them i guess. What it has done has raised interest in 2012 and i am sure they will put on a good show. As for us, well we do pretty well for a country with a relatively small population and punch well above out weight. Still nothing like friendly rivalry.
- Sam Palmer
- August 23, 2008
Most Brits with brains do relies that you aussies are a great nation of sport freaks, with a small population we have to take our hats off to u.But the problem is you are bad winners and bad losers. A simple well done wouldnt go amiss!
You should try reading world news instead of aussie news and you may just understand that there is life outside your propaganda press, and you are not the best at everthing.
- Drinks
- August 23, 2008
I can't speak for those publishing "adjusted" medal tallies but I have a sneaking suspicion it's done with tongue firmly in cheek. Doesn't it put NZ on top anyway?
And has anyone divvied GB's medals up across England, Wales, Scotland and that bit of Ireland at the top?
Anyway, well done GB and Australia...mountains of medals for both. Superb.
- NowhereBob
- August 23, 2008
Captain Cook August 21, 2008 01:34 AM
PS. Can aborigines run?
Wow,rewriting history hits a new level. Kathy Freeman never existed.
I forget who @ whatever time it was "Green & pleasant land." Ahh thats better- irony, what? your serious? mmmm South Londonistan anyone?
I'm with the Boss, as long as we beat the Kiwi & Pom Menace the Space Lizards & Zombies will take care of themselves.
- nick
- August 23, 2008
C'Mon Brits! Stop taking yourselves so seriously. We have every right to be a bit bitter that you've pinched our spot on the medal tally! And you think we're the only nation on earth asking 'who the bloody hell is Team GB?' Lets not forget you havent rated a mention on the board for the past 4 or so decades, so it shouldnt come as any surprise that the globes a bit shocked. All this talk about you being a G8 nation etc etc only makes you look more foolish for regularly featuring below New Zealand on the Olympic medal board. SO enjoy your amazing return to glory and let us happily be crapped off with you!
- monty
- August 23, 2008
Fellow Brits, give Australia a break! They have nothing but sport to feel good about, so let them enjoy it. I've lived here for 15 years and am therefore used to their desperate, adolescent need to be told they good at something...anything. The national character is best summed up in the phrase F.I.G.J.A.M. I can't explain what it means here, ask any Australian you meet. They can usually be found serving drinks or food anywhere in the UK. Politically, economically, artistically, culturally, they have little to nothing to offer the world...except it's largest gay pride festival which is actually a pretty good party! Gold Gold Gold you are a sad little man, how long has it been since you beat England in World Cup Rugby little man? Who beat you in 2003 & 2007? Who just sent home your 'future champions' from the Junior Rugby World Cup in Wales? 'When the going gets tough'.. you can sit and watch us from the Grandstand. 4 more years Gold, Gold, Goldy locks 4 more years.
- Mike
- August 23, 2008
Most of the posters to this blog frankly, should be ashamed of themselves. What a load of codswallop.
None of you actually got up off your arses and actually WON any medals for either country; yet you seem to believe that someone else with the same passport as yourself winning a medal is a reason to rub dirt in someone else eye.
Tell me that Olympics athletes these days do it primarily for their country! Bollocks.
This blog illustrates the worst in human nature. Mean spirited and petty.
- JasonUK
- August 23, 2008
Well, Isnt It amusing.
You're so bitter.
We'll whip you In 2012 too.
- Ricky GB
- August 23, 2008
Ahh beating the mighty Aussies at none other than...SPORT!
Can life get any sweeter?
- Gooners
- August 23, 2008
John Birmingham? Never heard of him. I've forgotten about him before I've heard of him, whoever he was.
Gooners, a Pom.
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 23, 2008
Like England has been guardian of human rights over the centuries. You should bear in mind who was the biggest player in the Slave trade, colonialism, genocide, exploitation of Asia and every where else until you were shown the door. You guys are all about respecting culture, arent you. Talk about putting your foot in it.
Kakadu isnt exactly up the motorway for most Aussies. Its between 1,000 2,000 miles away for 90% of the population. Australia is a big country in case you didnt notice. Meet many Queenslanders who hadnt been to the Great Barrier Reef? How many poms have not been to Ben Nevis, arguably one of the more scenic spots in Little Britain. I am struggling to think of anywhere in England in the same league.
This blog confirms the fact that England, er Great Britain cant help measuring its sporting success against Australias. When Oz was cleaning up at the last two Olympics did you hear us comparing ourselves to the poms? Outside of Cricket and Rugby its Great who.
- Matt
- August 23, 2008
I wonder if Australian sports fans will take finishing behind Britain in the medals table a bit better than the embarassingly-ungracious John Howard did when abruptly handing out the English medals after we relieved you of the Rugby World Cup on your own turf back in 2003? Must have really got to him when we knocked you out the same competition again last year as well! Australia is a great sporting nation, but a lot of you need to learn to lose with some dignity.
You also need to learn how to support your national teams well too- through thick and thin. As from all accounts was the case on the last Lions tour- I personally recall during the 98/99 Ashes, England fans totally out-sung you and sometimes even out-numbered you in your own cities. And that was when we wern't even very good!
Reading this article just reminds me of how obnoxious, and frankly, rascist Australian sports writers so often are. I don't think the word understatement is one they've ever heard of. Some things never change.
- Bobrox
- August 23, 2008
How interesting to see how miserable and frustrated the Australians can be when they are kicked,trashed, smacked and having their heads stucked in mud like this. Ha Ha! Shame on them. They always think they are better than the Brits(Who think nothing good of their country no matter what one does). Australians accept the FACT: THE POMS HAVE BEATEN YOU TO IT. Australians always think their country is better than most western countries with their Australiacentric, anti-british,were- better-than-everyone media. God you guys(Australians) are bloody Hypocrites! As for the Brits, I hope they can learn to think good of their country.Up GB!
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 23, 2008
Hillarious indeed! We are talking Olympics here. Australia has always fervently supported their Olympic Team. Are you telling me GB has historically done the same? Where were you when they were getting their @rses handed to them on a plate at Atlanta, Sydney and Athens?
Team GBs support at these Olympics has not been seen before and is only there because of the medal tally. The GB Olympic supporter is a 1 in a hundred year event. Convince me Team GB supporters are not fickle and pathetic!
Regards BL and Ashes, agree. But shouldn't you be more concerned with what's happening in the middle than the in the stands. Australians are. We're there for the sport, not a sing along.
- bob
- August 23, 2008
I dont understand why Australia are such bad losers. The whole "we're not used it" crap doesnt really fly. Youve had years to recover from wilkinson raping you in your own back yard !
and look at the table now....where are you...sixth ! lol
- Captain Cook
- August 23, 2008
As a "Pom" and proud of it. I must admit that I'd gladly swap all our gold medals for Australia's immigration policy.
PS. If only we had a similar chance to vote for a British Republic. But then we have the burden of The Commonwealth!
- Max_Normal
- August 23, 2008
Aaaw let the poor aussie b*stards have their tantrum. They ain't that smart (criminal gene pool - yup Brits are better at that other thing best done sitting down - thinking) they don't invent or innovate anything like us brits have always done for the rest of the world, culturally they are almost non existent and they have to shout all the time as they have nothing to say worth listening to, and they have the most dissatisfied women in the world ("you awake sheila? Gngnnngnnn! zzzzzz") All they have ever had on us was superior sporting ability, and now they have lost even that. I can see why they are upset.
- Les
- August 23, 2008
In response to GReen and Gold
"Any way, not the point. the point is, england has finally found a voice that doesnt contain , coincidentally when they finally found some sporting talent. :) .."
UK has ALWAYS had sporting talent in abundance. What we haven't had is facilities to train, investment and support for our athletes. Now some sports are getting this investment and it is showing in medals. AND now the UK is ,finally, waking up to the idea that we do actually need to invest in sport- you might just want to watch this space- because there is so much sporting talent in UK.
Our athletes who have won gold in the past are incredible- cos they've done it alone pal- no help from anywhere.
- Commonwealth Cousin
- August 23, 2008
Jaysus! Listen to yourselves!
I was out at the England v Czech Republic game the other night and under the stands came across an Aussie. I took the piss about the Olympics, we both had a laugh, I bought him a pint, we had a chat and then we both went on our way. A true reflection of how the majority in both our countries feel about each other - all this chip on the shoulder/green crayon crap on here is embarrassing! The Olympics arent about us v you - and if you think they are then get a life!
- Realist
- August 23, 2008
The very fact that there are 628+ comments about how many medals GB has won compared to Australia; and how much better Australia really is (at everything else) proves one thing.
There are a lot of opportunities for therapists specialising in insecurity issues in Australia.
It's only a few games - it's not THAT important. Get over it.
- Birdy
- August 23, 2008
I've just watched some Aussie called 'Hooker' (how appropriate) win the Gold. The commentator produced the amazing stat that this is the first track and field Olympic gold won by an Aussie man for 40 years. FORTY years!. God knows how many Olympic golds British men have won in that time but it must be dozens. Given that stat the self-image of the 'athletic' Aussie male must be the biggest self-delusion in history.
I don't know why I'm surprised. I've spent most of the day watching British (actually all English) men in medal fights in Boxing and Taekwondo. One was 17 years old. Strangely enough there wasn't an Aussie to be seen. You'd all been beaten up by guys from small islands no-one has heard of in the preliminary rounds. Again, no surprise. The 'toughness' of the Aussie male is now epitomised by the limp-wristed teletubbies that constitute the Wallaby front row in Rugby Union.
The iconic film which illustrates Aussie manhood is no longer 'Crocodile Dundee' (if it ever was) but 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert'.
- TripleRLtd
- August 23, 2008
I just read that article in the "Australian" and I must say that it is pure rubbish. In fact I made a comment there:
"As a Yank, I find this provocation to be utter rubbish. It's one thing to "take the piss", but this went beyond that."
Of course, they don't have an open post/comment system. Not surprising, that.
I will say this though. JB is and was not the provocative one in all of this. I'm a yank in Florida, and I found out about Pom's and the "Old enemy" shtick in an article in The Times of London. It mentioned how the Aussies weren't taking losing to team GB all that well. So, I did a google search and found out about Pom's and the like. And I had to look that one up. That said, JB also was noticing all the whining and he posted his previous blog: "Come on, we're kicking butt" in response. This one followed as an obvious taking the piss type moment. Before you know it, everything is linked up all over the world and now you have this. ALL the freaking crazies coming out the woodwork, including Scottish nationalists.
What a cock up this is, and, quite depressing as a cousin of all of you.
I thought "Gold, Gold, Gold" was a Scot nationalist earlier. Now he's morphed into an Aussie? Geesh, the internet brings out the "best" in all of us...
- Peregrine Socks
- August 22, 2008
The Aussie record in sport is admittedly phenomenal, and most Brits quite like it; it's like seeing your kids doing well. What is less attractive is the similarly juvenile trait that you have of going into an adolescent sulk when the "old man" gets one over on you. The lengths that some of you have gone to to prove that we haven't really whipped you good and proper this time round is quite honestly pathetic. Use this experience to learn some humility, and grow up!
- Andy
- August 22, 2008
Sock and sandal wearing bastards? I never worn sandals in my life let alone with socks lol.
What about you long socks and shorts wearing bastards? Lol
- TheEmpireStrikesBack
- August 22, 2008
Strewth! Oz won a track 'n field gold. Hold an enquiry and quick.
- kingjohn
- August 22, 2008
The long history of the Olympics clearly shows that the rightful position in the medal table for Great Britain is in 3rd place. Therefore, I totally agree that the brits are back and you aussies are in your correct position right down the table. What makes this even better is that if you think we've given you a beating this time just wait till London2012.
- kim (in Seoul)
- August 22, 2008
Ha! Who'd have thought?! We did it! _3_ track and field medals to the Aussies in 1 olympics! :)
- George
- August 22, 2008
Your surprise at the Poms racking up the medals, is only surpassed by ours, as we sit, staring at the TV in the p*ssing down rain of an English summer staring in disbelief at athletes we don't even know the names of standing on the podium.
Thank god for good news stories after all the crap we've been fed about terrorism and economic recession over the last few years. Bad news hasn't had a look in since the games started. Long may it continue - though I strongly suspect it'll be back to normal on Monday. Right , where did I put my noose?
- nashers
- August 22, 2008
There's been a lot of chat about the "real" medal table on here - number of golds, per capita, total medals. Historically, it has always been number of golds i.e. how many champions can you produce. There is obviously a need to reflect the size of different countries; china has pumped more money into these olympics than anyone and is reflected in the greatest number of athletes it has sent. I personally think golds is the best way and you just have to live with it if you're a small country. It's just sad that when you want to celebrate your team's success, the per capita, 4 country, he has an Aussie father arguments come out. Can't we all just celebrate our individual nations' success without belittleing other countries' medal hauls ?
- norm
- August 22, 2008
One assumes the Australians carping on about GB being perennial losers at the Olympics have visited the SMH site. Indeed if they haven't, how did they get here?
Perhaps they haven't noticed, but when you click on the medal table, it gives not only the Beijing tally, but also the all time tally.
The team in first place is USA, followed by USSR, followed by.........GB.
I suppose if you limit it to 1984-2004, Australia would come out quite high, but that seems to me an exercise in making statistics fir your theory, rather than the other way around
- Kat
- August 22, 2008
Am I the only one who reads some of these messages with a degree of embarrassment and frustration? I am utterly proud of the achievements of the British athletes, but cannot comprehend the almost relentless need of some of the contributors to be so vile and contemptful. I delighted in the achievement of the Australian lady who attained a medal in the cycling after having had a career, if not life threatening injury. I have observed sportmanship across all nations that has at times, almost restored my faith in human nature. However, to read on this site that all persons born British are regarded as "gap toothed bastards" fills me with sad disgust. Good natured rivalry is harmless, but this kind of view and sentiment should be rejected by all those who may view themselves on the one hand, as proud nationalists, but on the other hand and more importantly as decent human beings. Congratulations to all those who have participated and achieved at the Olympics, regardless of nationality.
- Ricky
- August 22, 2008
How sweet
Beating none other than the might Australians at.....SPORT!
Ahh, does life get any better?!!!
- Aussie lover
- August 22, 2008
In the 80's the old East Germans had no culture, no place in the world and little to offer other than an over hyped, & self appointed sporting prowess. The Australians assumed this mantle without quite achieving the sporting prowess. The shame of it all is that no one in this country cares two hoots about Australia - apart from the rugby world cup - for amusement sake
- Pom dude
- August 22, 2008
I dont care of you Aussies are useless at sport I'd still rather live in Australia than here...
- Lanky Sheerman
- August 22, 2008
Mr Birmingham has taken the lazy way out by just dribbling out the usual nationalistic nonsense. Surely Aussie journalists can do better.Time to give someone else a chance ?
I've got friends, family and business contacts in Oz and we can come up with much better than this between us.
Rivalry is healthy otherwise we would all spend our time saying 'after you mate' and that is not healthy.
Send Birmingham to Coventry or at least stop paying him.
- Settle down people
- August 22, 2008
One day, everyone will wake up and realise it is sport, not war. Some people on here need to see someone as there are a lot of inferiority issues prevalent.
Well done GB, you have prepared well and achieved great things. Yes, there will always be a rivalry, but how you handle it is key. I would hate to meet a lot of people on this blog, the pent up rage is scary.
Enjoy the Closing ceremony!
- Loftgroov
- August 22, 2008
All this talk about "populations"....
Well, I don't suppose the grannies and children get to actually compete though do they. I'm not surpsied Oz did so well in the 2000 Sydney Games - I remember watching the opening ceremony and it looked like half the overall athletes were Aussies!!!
Australia sent 434 athletes to Beijing.
Britain sent 311 athletes to Beijing.
Australia should therefore do much better. They haven't. End of.
- Shaun
- August 22, 2008
Oh no....it just gets worse and worse for the Aussies...
Now Cadel Evans is whinging about Tibet. Just what it is with this guy? When he isn't busy LOSING the Tour de France, and slapping photographers, he's busy insulting a country that has cordially invited him to participate in the road race (which...yes, you guessed it... he lost).
Honestly. You'd think Aussies would be trying to improve their image around the world, but Evans is just adding to the world's perception of them as xenophobic moaners with no class.
- Abe F
- August 22, 2008
I hope they are paying you in Pounds Sterling per comment, JB.
- AndyEnglish
- August 22, 2008
I don't know how many times I've heard us "poms" referred to as whingers but it looks like there is one medal the Aussies could win gold in now, if actually was an olympic event.
Come on guys, next time around we will probably be as crap as usual, get over it or just get better.
As for the author of the leading article, as we are warned, any offensive comments will be deleted, then so should his.
- geordie nige
- August 22, 2008
I really do not know what the problem with you Aussies and why you feel the need to try and Pommie bash every minute. Stop worrying about us and concentrate on your inadequacies. After all we are not that much different - history tells us that the only difference between you and us is that your relatives got caught and ours didnt!
- SoapboxJoe
- August 22, 2008
I lived in the UK 40 years, and have now spent 3 years in Australia. This is my first down under Olympics. Previously the only coverage Australian atheletes and Australia have had during the Olympics is references to how well they have done (in recent years), in other words unless there is something nice to report on Australia, in the U.K nothing is mentioned. I believe this Olympics has been the exception because Australia has tried to make a big thing of it. Well you wanted a competition and you got one. The UK is now fully aware that medal table finishing positions matters so much to Australia because you told us so, and actively wagered on finishing positions.
Earlier peregrine stated 'most Aussies aren't the slightest bit bothered by the medals tally compared to GB.'. This is not true, the media and the T.V networks have been making deliberate points of where Aus were and how far behind them GB was (in the first week). It was Monday when GB over took them, and they then chose not to even notice and made no on-air references. Come Tuesday it was conceeded, but Aus still had more medals in total if not Gold. Then come Thursday, it was per-capita.
Sorry Australia you set the bench mark and have failed it .. No excuses, if the only way you can reassure your national identity is with sport and comparisons with other nations, then you have nothing left when you are beaten. Perhaps you should concentrate your efforts on other measurable persuits, such as art, music, or literature where comparisons are more subjective, and egos less easy to bruise.
- August 22, 2008
GB vs Oz = Can of Whoopass...get over it.
- StGeorge
- August 22, 2008
I think most Brits would congratulate the Australian Olympic team on continuing to punch above their weight, given the relatively modest population of the country.
I think, also that we are pretty bemused to read how the Aussie press and public are beating themselves up about the team's alleged failure. Perhaps it's time you chaps focused a little less on superficial sporting achievement and gave some consideration to the many other things Australia does so well, such as...erm...you know...err...
Actually I see your point.
- August 22, 2008
Aussies throw the toys out of the pram whenever GB or England happen to outdo them at something, very amusing! As for the Ashes, England won them in England, Australia won them in Australia - that makes it even! All things being equal (ie England bowlers not being injured and England not picking useless Australian wicket keepers) England should win them back again next year.
- Brummie Tone
- August 22, 2008
How dare Birmingham carry the name of my City - an English City. Perhaps you should change your name to 'cry-baby-ozzie-no_hoper'. Currently thrashing the trashy oz olympic team and they just can't believe it - all the hype from media barons and journo's like Birmingham have lulled Aussies into a false sense of sporting security.
I can't stop laughing at the aussie losers. ha ha ha
- herbie
- August 22, 2008
Why don't you Aussies grow up and get over it. Nobody really cares how many medals you get. Yes Britain is doing well so what. Keep your racist jingoistic playground level comments to yourselves. Come to London and enjoy 2012 - we'll be happy to welcome you. Or are you really so insecure as a nation that you think your sporting achievements actually define you? By the way the use of the word Pom and the derogatory association such as your Olympic chairman's pathetic comments relating to personal hygiene are nothing short of racism. Not surprising really for a country with a history of vicious discrimination against its own indigenous minorities and - more recently - disgraceful treatment of asylum seekers.
- Anti-Prisoner Of Loser Australia
- August 22, 2008
I find the whole 'Pom' thing totally hilarious. I kept being called it whilst in travelling Australia, even by country bumpkins with questionable parentage (when they found out I was actually English, as my negional accent...you heard one of those...?...meant I was deemed Scottish or Irish). Perhaps funnier those who escape over to the UK and do all they can to stay for as long as possible. And whether here or there it is no generalisation to say that you are all terrible losers who can't take a shred of criticism against Little America. Before you only had sport and weather over us. You're down to one, POLAs
- Skippy
- August 22, 2008
As so many Aussies claim that most (if not all) of Team GBs medals come from Scotland or Wales i just thought you might be interested in this link:
- johnno
- August 22, 2008
It is amazing that a country like GB has done so well. ive lived in the UK for years and ive never seen a pool, running track, community sport centre.. anything.. in fact for sporting facilities for kids its worst then the 3rd world. and dont get me started on their eating habbits and standard of food.
Anyway not long until the commonwealth games, so that will be a true reflexion as its pretty much head to head with australia and england.
bring it on...
- Dixon Bainbridge
- August 22, 2008
Hey JB cobber, what were those awards for that you extravagantly claim to have been awarded? Maybe we could ask the IOC for them to be made a Olympic event? It may boost the flagging Aussie medal hopes for London 2012? I'm sure you'd be a contender in the drinking crap lager and spouting ill informed small minded antipodean crap. But would you make the Aussie team, I mean there's 20 million other contenders for the squad. By the way I exclude Stephanie Rice from my previous disparaging comments about Aussie women looking like men, boy I was so wrong.
- Lord Pepperpot of Queens Park
- August 22, 2008
Ok Chaps,look the mother land has now decided to keep the colonials in check.
We cant have you subjects calling the shots.
But really this rivalry is benign.Australia is the country we most want to beat.Because we don't really hate them. I loved living in OZ and would come again.At least we can all have a (warm)beer afterwards.At least its your turn to buy...
- jackycon
- August 22, 2008
What the hell is everyone complaining about? I always thought you combined the Aussie and GB medal count, I mean youre pretty much the same country right? Same flag. Same Queen. Same knob head gene pool. Whats the big deal... You ought to be celebrating, by my reckoning youve 80 medals... and thats before you factor in the Kiwis.
- The Marquis of Yackandandah
- August 22, 2008
As a Pom, I am gutted by this Olympics. I have absolutely nothing to moan about - no dodgy refereeing decisions, can't blame the pollution for Paula Radcliffe choking again, can't launch a tirade against the selectors whilst drinking a nice warm beer amid the August floods..... Roll on London 2012. There is no way we'll keep this standard up. Look at us after RWC 2003. I'm sure that industrial action will mean that half the venues will still resemble the Parthenon and we'll probably employ the same jokers who did the Millennium fireworks and combine that with a two hour demo of Morris Dancing. So stop crying into your beer - sport succes is cyclical (or is that just cycling success?).
Unless you get a grip, I can see the events of the last fortnight being the tipping point for the long-term decline of all things Aussie. You've got to think of it as a one off (like waking up next to your sister-in-law) and move on. You've still got the Ashes and you haven't lost at AFL to another country for ages. Get rid of your Kiwi coach in rugby or you'll never get the bragging rights when you beat the blokes from across the ditch. When you meet a Pom in the street or in the pub, congratulate us - it will only make our decline the sweeter for you and the bitterer for us.
- cockernee
- August 22, 2008
Pinched your coaches and sports people? I think you'll find we've just taken back what was ours in the first place!
- Pat from Scotland via Dubai.
- August 22, 2008
Dear John,
really enjoyed your comments this morning vis a vis Aussies / Poms / Olympic Golds. I guess some of the other respondents did not read the lines, let alone between the lines, before whingeing about it. As long as you can laugh about being stuffed by us Poms every now and then you should be okay. I was in Sydney with the Lions mob in 2001 and had a great time despite losing the decider. All the best.
- Adam
- August 22, 2008
As an Australian living in London, the usual jibes are coming in from workmates, friends, et al. They have done very well at the Games and so have we. I love the rivalry between our nations, but sometimes I think we take sport in our country too seriously. We punch above our weight in most sports but we can't win everything. To certain Australians over here who continually divide our medals by population yada yada, just just for once pipe down and let them enjoy it, its so boring listening to this scientific breakdown of why we are still amazing at sport. We have done well lets leave it at that and let GB have their party.
Looking forward to the 2009 Ashes.
- pomwitharash
- August 22, 2008
We win another gold, yay its getting dull now, i am not use to us winning things other than the 13th or 14th place play off. Can we please get back to the normal losing we are so good at, we do it with skill and style, i dont like so see us Brits not knowing what to say after we win, but when we lose we say the opponant was just better or it was not my day, so please less of the gold rush and more ending up 9th.
But i have to admit that all the bar staff at my local are sobbing into there fosters as over the last 2 weeks we have wiped the floor with you AND we are the world champs at BBQ's (we won that last weekend) pluse were getting better at this gloating thing that you Ausies do so so well, not seen you do much of that in Beijing i wonder why? ttfn
- kim (in Seoul)
- August 22, 2008
"PS, the only time I've ever been the victim of crime was in aus. Nuff said. Come to London in 2012 and live life as it should be lived - with a bit of class..."
Yeah - 'cos London is SO safe and nice.
Wanna get stabbed to death? Holiday in London anyone? Comes with a free coffin...
- Sir Les Patterson
- August 22, 2008
Born in Liverpool eh? I guess that's your compatriots call a 10 pound pom is it? Must be nice.
I guess 300 years ago it seemed safe to have gene pool dumping ground all the way down there. Bit of a lesson for nuclear waste I guess.
- kim (in Seoul)
- August 22, 2008
ericnave - my boyfriend and I were checking theage.com.au from her in Seoul earlier today and saw the article that we had won a _2nd_ track and field medal this olympics.
WOW! A **SECOND** medal!
First time we've managed the feat since _1972_!
We laughed and thought how cute it is that Australia is SO not generally shit-hot in the track and field events. :)
Someone around here earlier commented that the Chinese team and the Western teams are practically at parallel Olympics because the Chinese team excels at the sports that many of our countries aren't so involved with, or aren't so good at.
Well I would suggest a similar situation for black and white athletes. While there aren't many black swimmers, the black athletes generally kick our lily-white arses in many of the track events.
Where are Kathy Freeman and Nova Perris-Kneebone when the Aussie team needs them? Maybe one day we could win _3_ T&F medals at one Olympics! ;)
- kota kinabalu
- August 22, 2008
I just read: (our hockey team are)" rescuing Australian pride by beating Great Britain 2-0 in the play-off for fifth". Congratulations Oz. Have another bar of soap.
- tl
- August 22, 2008
Jeez, the smh is one sad paper. Monday we rejoiced in 3 Aussie medals - but where were the Brits! Since then absolutely nothing as GB has been knocking off gold medals for fun (alright, slight exaggeration).
Sure, celebrate any Australian medal. But, acknowledge the facts that team GB has put in a magnificent performance.
smh.com.au - have a good look at yourself. Your readers are not dumb, they just want the facts and can deal with a bit of bad news. The cricket starts soon doesn't it...
- Tom E
- August 22, 2008
Hahaha, the best thing about the performance of "Team GB" is the regular tales of woe on here about you lot being beaten by the poms. Please keep them up - they cheer me up every day. Well done on your silvers and bronzes today by the way...
- smith
- August 22, 2008
excuse me HappyBogan, "great coffee" is listed under Australia's cultural achievements. I don't think Shakespeare's going to lose much sleep over that one is he? You prat.
- Ting Tong
- August 22, 2008
"Get over it!"
David Walliams
- William Wallace McRobert Bruce
- August 22, 2008
To all ignorant Aussies and English:-
GB is, for the avoidance of doubt, "the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". For further clarification, and as everyone knows, a Scot won the most gold medals than any whinging Sassenach or Convict....ergo, making Scotland the best of the bunch.
PS Note to the English athletes - you represent GB, so please ensure that we finish above Oz in the tables.
Note to the Ozzies - England is fair game when not representing GB, so please ensure that you gub 'em hereinafter.
- R.T.Fishall
- August 22, 2008
For God's sake don't anyone mention Gallipoli or this thread will go on forever!
- smith
- August 22, 2008
Another Gold for Great Britain this morning. That makes it 18. Australia are 5th or is it 6th behind South Korea or someone? Doesnt matter. What matters is that the Australians are now having to face up to the horrible reality that without their immature brand of bragging when they do well at sport, they have little else. And I mean very little else to be proud of. I cannot immagine the bitterness and envy I would feel if I had to swallow the terrible truth that my country was founded as a penal colony for all the scum, petty criminals and rapists that another country (Great Britain) wanted to get rid of. It hardly compares to the 1000 years of Britains glorious history, with all the great men of genius and achievement does it? Australians, learn some self dignity and lose the chip on your shoulder.
- Winston Churchill
- August 22, 2008
To Bob
Oh,it's Europe now is it? lol
- The Empire Strikes Back
- August 22, 2008
Greetings Bread Thieves
Nice to see one of the Major Olympic headlines in the SMH today....
"The Hockeyroos help rescue Australian pride by beating Great Britain 2-0 in the play-off for fifth."
Clutching at straws anyone.
- ItsAllAboutThirdPlace
- August 22, 2008
I saw a headline in the SMH championing the Aussie win in the 5th place play off for ladies hockey! What ever happened to that Aussie "show me second place and I will show you the first loser" mentality? Are we sensing a little wounded pride at the shrinking sporting dynasty? Pressure on those cricketers I suppose.
- rblock777
- August 22, 2008
Australia is an anagram of losers
- Billpom
- August 22, 2008
Another gold for GB in the 1000m kayak and a bronze for the Aussies.
Most of the Aussie medallists seem to have Anglo or Celtic surnames, McClellan, Jones, Parkinson, Rice, Wallace, Bainbridge, Trickett, Sullivan etc. Like "chips" off the old block. Oooops theres that word again.
- cwxtra
- August 22, 2008
g'day Bruces and Shelia's.. you what us poms don't give a 4X for Aussie pride, sounds a bit like gay pride that. lets face it you got you're upside down asses whipped... loosers.. Rule Brittania..
- ericnave
- August 22, 2008
A quick history lesson for all you young lads out there. When I was a wee lad back in the 80's,Australians never ever boasted about being "the best sporting nation in the world" or any other such claims. Why? Because across the board in most sports including cricket, we were basically pretty rubbish. More gold medals than Britain??? Ha! Try less gold medals than the Kiwis.
As for the Brits, we quite respected athletes such as Seb Coe, Steve Ovett,
Daley Thompson & Steve Cramm. So we never made over the top claims that
they were rubbish at sport either.
So for lads growing up in the late 90's or whenever, it is time to learn a
lesson. Sporting success is cyclical. We are not genetically superior to
the Brits or anyone else. Get over it. Stop making excuses and appreciate
the likes of Chrs Hoy, Bradley Wiggins & Rebecca Adlington. Our time will
come again.
- moko
- August 22, 2008
Team GB?.....sounds just as gay as Team USA.....
Suits 'em.
- just a thought
- August 22, 2008
anyone else noticed how looking down at london on google earth is like looking at algae through a microscope? just an observation
- Brigade Rosse
- August 22, 2008
I do feel sorry for you Aussies. If you hate us that much then why did the majority of your country decide to vote in favour of keeping the country as part of the commonwealth.
You guys are basically controlled by Britain, you still have OUR Queen on your money and most importantly the most dominant part of your flag is the Union Jack! How crap would your flag look with only 6 stars on it. Boo Hoo
no wonder you guys are bitter you havn't got an identity and hence try to ram the fact that you are good at sport down everyone's throat. You are good at sport but you are not sportsman like in your defeat. The rest of the world does notice you, so stop crying, unfortunately they will only remember you as soar losers after these games so keep digging your grave as it's really funny.
- Ian
- August 22, 2008
Gold, Gold, Gold, thats hilarious. If there is one nationality that goes utterly silent when things aren't going well its the fickle Aussies. Look at all the club footy sides whose attendances collapse during a bad year. Even on TV a win is the first item on the news while a loss is barely mentioned. In the office the conversation buzzes if Australia is going well but a "don't mention the war" attitude prevails when things are not so sweet. If you want to see support look at the England football team. Years of struggle but still the loudest and biggest support at many tournaments. Win or lose, we will be there.
During the last lions tour the Aussies handed out free scarves etc to all their fans to try and make up for the grounds being a sea of red due to the massive an vocifirous Lions support - how pathetic is that. We support our teams because we love them and what they stand for, not because we are desperate for some sort of national identity.
- Roger Irrelevant
- August 22, 2008
I knew it wouldn't be long before they started talking cricket. Desperate times, desperate measures!
- peregrine
- August 22, 2008
First of all...huge congratulations to Gb...won't call them "TeamGB" sounds like a copy of "Team US" Glad to see Britain doing so well. econdly...apart froma few Bigmouths..most Aussies aren't the slightest bit bothered by the medals tally compared to GB. Aus had a target of finishing in the top 5..we may or may not achieve this, but GB was never mentioned. We have been so proud of our athletes, and the silver won by our cyclist who was in a wheelchair and who was destined never to walk again...was better than any gold to us. this probably was never mentioned in the British Press. So, you Brits really do not understand Australians' attitude to sport..we do not bag the athletes when they are down,..we just appreciate their efforts.Cheers and good luck for 2012
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 22, 2008
Growelly Powelly
Never mind our response in the unlikely event England wins the ashes again. Whats your narrow minded excuse for the 5 zip thrashing when you exchanged the Ashes for your @rses on a plate? Or had you fallen off the band wagon by that stage? Thats the difference between Ozzies and Poms. When the going gets tough the Ozzies are still around to face the music.
Sir Henry of Clamthorpe
England doesnt take Rugby seriously? I know it often looks that way but why do they keep handing out the Knighthoods when ever they win anything? Maybe they know its a one off.
Let me echo JBs comments. Nice to see you enjoying Team GBs success graciously. Youre one in a million, actually one in 60 million.
- Prince Harry
- August 22, 2008
marty you are actually 4 behind overall as we have 3 guaranteed medals in the boxing. Keep up mate!
- Graham
- August 22, 2008
marty, you know as well as I do that only GOLD medals get you up the table. In that dept we are killing you and but for a few very close shaves in the last couple of days would be much further ahead. Good day sir! Back to the per capita spreadsheets....
- Joey Deacon
- August 22, 2008
Some idiot just walked 50km for a silver medal. Why would you bother when you could do it in 30 secs on a BMX?
- marty
- August 22, 2008
Graham, which ever way we twist the medal tally, TeamGB is still only one medal ahead of us (in total), so I think your boys and girls can calm down a little. you're carrying on like beating the aussies is the most brilliant thing thats happened to you guys in decades. sorry, it probably is.
- Ian, Samara, Russia
- August 22, 2008
I'm surprised any of you Aussies are going down the 'more medals per capita' route, when your other nemesis, the 3 million Kiwis, have 3 gold medals :-)
In the case of the UK it does show what money can do, even if it does come from the Lottery. Shame it took us so long to realize that sport is good for the individual, and also good for society. Australia's attitude to sport has always recognized this.
- BigBroph
- August 22, 2008
I'm a proud Aussie of Irish descent but don't get me wrong - I think it's great the poms are finally putting up a fight - it's gets rather boring kicking your arses all the time.
Like when you finally managed to win the ashes for once and everybody's interested in cricket again.
Ticket Tape Parade LOL!!!!!!
I must admit that for quite a while the Aussie cricket team came off as a bunch of cocky wankers with double standards regarding sledging etc.
Even the aussie's wanted them to lose - kind of like the kiwi's and and the all blacks at the moment.
BTW the english play the most boring rugby ever - hope new ELV's change that.
- Graham
- August 22, 2008
Apparently Actuaires are suddenly in heavy demand in Australia as they desperately try all sorts of per capita type calclulations to make things look better. One they miss is that their team had around 100 people more than the GB team did - interesting and reflective of the moch more long standing sports funding that makes all their per capita arguments meaningless.
I kid you not that one paper has printed today two alternative medal tables in a desperate bid for consolation - they are worse than the yanks! Even in those Australia is still well down the list though. Jamaica whose sporting budget I'm sure is miniscule comapared to Australia is flying high. Well done the Reggae Boys!
This is great stuff and highly enjoyable as the Aussies squirm - nearly 4 days without a gold now. Go GB!
- the grater
- August 22, 2008
If u think we're bad, you brits should hear what the chinese, germans and russians are saying behind your back.
- Stu
- August 22, 2008
Lets crack the thousand and JB buys everyone a beer!
- Sir Les Patterson
- August 22, 2008
The Golds are waiting, there's extra chlorine in the pools, extra fly spray in the village, Ellis & Coates have talked you up.....
So common on
PS Nice photo MR B. It says "I'm not gay but my boyfriend is"
- August 22, 2008
Its also quite obvious that along with some advancement in motor control functions for sport, you SOOKS have taken WINGING POM to new levels as well
- Gene
- August 22, 2008
They will be a flash in the pan like their cricket & rugby teams, they will all be knighted and off to the pub to gloat.
See if they are still around at the next Olympics, that will show whether the chronic underperformers are any good.
- happybogan
- August 22, 2008
what's this culture you keep speaking of? Aside from a long history and a royal family, what culture actually exists NOW in middle england? Chav culture? Ladette culture? Pub culture? Football culture? Where's the culture? We have museums, art, bars, clubs, restaurants and even a dose of musical theatre down here too u know. Oh, and glorious beaches, rainforests, world class wine, arid landscapes, ski fields, coral reefs, great coffee, sunshine, industry,
- August 22, 2008
Guess what... the POMS never went away :-)
- Scotty
- August 22, 2008
Oh dear! must I do this,
Look at the end of the day Aussie's are better at sport than Brits. They just are. Cricket, rugby swimming whatever. The reason for this is that it means so much to them.
When you sit at the bottom of the earth, have a short and rather dubious history and are ignored by the rest of the world you need to cling onto whatever you're good at. Most Americans seem to think you're all English (with funny accents- must sting slightly)
So go team Australia win some medals, prove to everyone you can swim and run and jump (can't cycle- too complex). Then remind us all who the hell you are again at the next Olympics.
- boar
- August 22, 2008
I think the posters bragging about 40,000 years of culture should bear in mind that Australia had apartheid in both the Northern Territory and Queensland as recently as the mid eighties. I found it staggering that aboriginals were only allowed into one section of a pub.
Not a way to respect their culture. I have visited Australia numerous times and also lived there for 5 years and met very few Australians who have taken the time to visit places such as Kakadu one the centres of Aboriginal culture.
The Australian media is virulenty anti English. When Alan Bond financed Australia's America Cup triumph he was regarded as a great Aussie hero - when he was carted off to jail he became British born Alan Bond.
- Little Dunts
- August 22, 2008
I have to say I would like to congratulate the world class achievements of the Welsh and Scots in the Great Britian Team.. Most of England have forgotten (again) that these countries help make up a good bulk of the medals in the GB team. It is great to have the GB team back in the top end of the medal tally which much praise must go to the athletes in at the olympics plus those that just missed out, the coaches and support staff that have, it would seem been bought in from around the world as the best of the best....
Now i have that off my chest lets get back to the straight out competitions between the Poms and the Aussies.. Roll on the cricket and the rugby!
- Jordi
- August 22, 2008
Well done GB. It is great to see you back. I am a Pom sitting here at work today with a socceroos scarf and and Australian Rugby League top on to support Australia however, I am pleased the old country is back on track. I have to agree with Dan's comments. Healthy rivalry is great and the banter is great between the two nations but there is nothing better at the end of the day than getting together to enjoy a bbq and a beer together. Let's face it, having the old rival back on track has to be better than the US of A winning everything!
- Billpom
- August 22, 2008
40-50,000 years of history and culture? You must be referring to that group of people who were only granted citizenship by the Oz government in 1967. By people who had lived in the same country as them for under 200 years.
- Sore Loosers
- August 22, 2008
You lot are such sore loosers. Sure, might be ok at sports, but wow as sports people, you are terrible. You were so smug sitting there thinking you were gonna win LOL. Oh well, whats your come back? Only sitting down(we have actually won some golds in non sitting down sports)... still more medals than you ;) And it hurts you lot inside, I can tell ;) Loosers :P
- Sure in
- August 22, 2008
For a nation of 20 million, out of the WORLD population of 3 billion, that is 0.00....005%, we won 11 gold, 38 medals in total, 8-10% of the total haul: We are a nation of high achievers. Some more statistics to suit our purpose (remember, "There are lies, damned lies, and there is Statistics"): this means China would have to win 770 gold (= 70 x 11, the 70 being the multiple of China's population of 1.4 billion over ours of 20 million) to begin to match us Aussies, so, there is no way for them to win over us.
Our most significant win to-date does not rest in Stephanie (Rice), or whoever, but in Melissa Woo (or is it Wu: in Chinese, this is the SAME word):
She has got Chinese (our overlords) blood - if you can't beat them, why NOT marry into them to get their superior genes/genius - yet she is every bit our well-nurtured happy Aussie girl:
After her Silver , asked about her PLANS, she said, without having to ponder, "We'll (with mum & dad) have a holiday in Thailand first and then get back (to school)".
If you ask the gold medallist about HER PLANS, most likely, equally moving answer: "I'll collect the win money, give it to Mum & Dad (this is a Confucius value the Western world can only look on with envy), and go back to more training (this is my lot)."
Here lies the crux: Melissa doesnt HAVE TO WIN the gold, or for that matter, any medals to take a holiday, to have the FREEDOM to to plan because she is born into the Lucky country.
But, our Lucky country has a National SUCKER *** mentality: This IS the worrying bit, ... more
- tina
- August 22, 2008
Tom, Australia ranks in the top 17 economies in the world. Not bad for a country of 20 million, and hardly third world. The only child thats screaming desperately for attention here is the one who has pumped millions into redeeming itself with its sports teams, and the one that is crying to be noticed once again (in a world that doesnt really care about it anymore) with the 2012 Olympics.
- green and GOLD
- August 22, 2008
In response to Nix29:
Hey man, youd think being an Aussie I would know what a Pom is!!! :P
Anyway, I find it quite hilarious that all off a sudden, englishmen world round, have started calling us aussies whingers. I wonder if you have realised that we have been saying the same thing about you lot since oh i dont know, since DON BRADMAN.
Any way, not the point. the point is, england has finally found a voice that doesnt contain , coincidentally when they finally found some sporting talent. :) ..
I think thats just wonderful. Because if there is one thing better then beating a pom, its beating a pom after hes bragged about how great he is.
- andy
- August 22, 2008
Bit rich coming from a country that packs ladettes and chavs onto one pound Ryannair flights so they can get off their chops in Ibiza, Majorca and Teneriffe without nanna knowing.
I wonder how Team BG would actually feel about all these chavs and ladettes blogging on their behalf? Probably cringing, as I am.
- Ren
- August 22, 2008
Okay... Most of the medals Britain are winning are from sitting down (cycling, rowing)and they're good at that... But, let's not put too fine a point on it... What the hell has happened to Aussie cycling?? Charlie Walsh we miss you....
- Tom
- August 22, 2008
Australia a first world country with a third world economy, spend some cash on the poor of your country, there are many, stop spending money you dont have on so much on glory hunting in sport, a country is judged on how it looks after its population, it race relations and heathcare, your economy is tiny compared to the G8 countries, I mean tiny, Australia cant compete on any level on the world econmic stage, or any stage, your population is to small, more people live in greater London or New York State, you behave like a child trying to be noticed, once every 4 years you want the rest of the world to sit like parents watching thier kids doing a play in the garden on a Sunday afternoon, a play you spent all week trying to perfect, spending a great deal of your pocket money in the process, we watch for a while, say well done you clever things then carry on doing the important things....
- Dan
- August 22, 2008
Well done to the poms, that hurts to say but you cant deny it. This rivalry we have between Australia and Great Britain stems far beyond the Olympics. Although seeing as how much time we spend in each others respective continents if we cant share a beer together at the end of the day no matter who wins then theres no point in playing the sport.
- Graham
- August 22, 2008
Yes bob Aussie backpackers are so sophisitcated getting blind drunk at the Walkabout every week, before getting blind drunk and the Munich beer festival and getting blind drunk at Pamplona etc. What next, off to Gallipoli to get blind drunk, sleep on war graves and dance to the Bee Gees! Sooooo sophisticated!
- bob
- August 22, 2008
to Winston Churchill:
I think you'll find that most aussie bar staff in London are there because they can use England as a legal base from which they can visit more sophisticated, beautiful and interesting countries, like Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium. Should I continue??
- gettin it str8
- August 22, 2008
I think you'll find that a clear majority of comments on this blog are form Brits harping on about Aussies being bad losers and being loathed by the world. If you actually sift through all this rubbish, there aren't a lot of 'whinging' Aussie comments at all. We may be sore losers (don't deny it) but geez u guys are sorry winners. why aren't you off celebrating your fabulous victories with a good drink the way we would? Instead your blogging like bitter maniacs insisting WE have some kind of problem. Something to prove perhaps?
- Big Zu
- August 22, 2008
If there aren't enough bathrooms & soap in England their lead can only be because they're going like stink.
Obviously we'll need to learn to insult the Poms in another way before we'll get ahead of them in the emdals count.
Very serious stuff!
- RichB
- August 22, 2008
It's funny how SMH have taken the medal tally off the main page header since yesterday. Go Team GB!
- irbarry
- August 22, 2008
Concentration camps were first used in the Spanish American war in 1898 by the Spanish a and Americans to intern civilians, so the British didn't invent them, though they first used the term and they did use them in the Boer war.
- Tony
- August 22, 2008
I found the blog 'cos I read the Age when I'm in Oz and keep up with the local news and views when I'm back in the UK. I love it when you are getting beat by us and at the moment it feels especially good. Let's see what happens over the next four years in all sports to see whether this was a 'once-in-a-lifetime' aberration from your point of view. You needed a good kicking for your all your cockiness (or is it arrogance?). It'll add an edge to future contests - bring them on! What it means is that we have actually woken up to the need to take sport professionally - sorry if that's going to spoil your party! See you at the MCG Xmas 2009!
- wendick
- August 22, 2008
To Jonny from Dublin,
One from such a place as the english should be very wary when quoting his history.....??
Who invented the spectre of the Concentration camps, read the history of Hongkong, and dwell thoughtfully over the war of independence of the US of A.
A more "vengeful"history I have yet to read of.
There is only one thing wrong with a pom ....He won't stay at home!!!
- sanz30
- August 22, 2008
Who really cares how the Poms are doing? Talk about 'chip-on-the-shoulder' mentality, it's making us look tragically insecure and, frankly, embarrassing. And anyway I'd rather GB was taking golds than, say, Russia or the USA, as it's not like there are many events in which we actually clash for gold!
- Chelley
- August 22, 2008
Wow - have come late to this party and it seems that everyone has had more than their fair share of the liquor cabinet.I feel the need to offer some counter arguements to balance out the whole thing.....
I think both sides of this debate have overegged the pudding.
1. Uk peeps - considering your more numerous population you haven't done as well in the past. Its that simply. And yes NZ have done better than us per capital as have Jamacia etc....it is what it is......
2. Aussies - for godsake theres nothing more disgraceful than sour losers. Take a deep breathe and accept the fact that the UK athletes have worked their butts off for this and they deserve their victories. They were better than us in this competition. Good for them.
Now to address some of the more ridiculous statements:
This one's a gem. To paraphrase: Australia is jealous of the English history'. What on earth are you talking about? We have 40 thousand years of history that we are proud of. The oldest recorded culture in the world. just not yours
And this one from the Aussie distractors. To paraphrase, the english weather is sh*t ours is better, therefore we are better than you'. What?
Basing an entire value system on weather is a bit silly isn't it? Yes it can and often is cr*p, but that meant that they built some wonderful castles, manor houses etc.... to deal with these kind of weather conditions and Aussies visit them in droves every year.
I could go on but I won't. The baiting over sports victories/defeats comes from both sides. We are all as bad as each other - so lets agree to be friendly, in our ripostes and leave it there.
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 22, 2008
You are the classic stereo-type of the whingeing Pom except you forgot to mention spiders. If Oz is so bad then why is it still #1 destination for British Immigrants? Millions have made the trek to the other side of the planet to Oz. I doubt they saw it the way you did. BTW you tell me which natural wonder in Britain outdoes Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu or the 12 Apostles just to name a few? If I want to see a green pasture I can go to Kiama.
You will find Oz has 40,000 years of culture but its probably not white enough for you. We might be stuck with your monarchy and Union jack but at least we have a choice. You dont.
Eventually we will choose our own head of state and remove the Union Jack from the flag. You are stuck with an hereditary monarchy whether you like it or not. Could be worse, you could be in China. They get no choice at all.
- Richard S
- August 22, 2008
Oh dear, my children. As a devoted pom who lived in New Zealand for a long time, and having quite a few Oz friends, I love this gee-up stuff. And right now its great!!
If only Gordon Brown and Kevin Rudd will go head to head in a sudden death (to both) underwater synchronised swim off, life could still end in joy.
Say no more - over the past 5 years I'm A$80 up on joshing my Aussie mate! I choose my bets carefully, it has to be said. But another A$80 in the pipe this weekend!
- Floz
- August 22, 2008
I went to a restaurant in Mt Isa last year. It was the size of two basketball courts and we were the only ones in it. I presume that goes also for all the swimming pols in Mt Isa. Rejoice that as Brits we even care about a country with a convict pedigree - only joking - I love your competitive attitude but not your whingeing and sledging!
- moko
- August 22, 2008
FARC me some people can't handle a good old ribbing. Lighten up.
500 comments?.........good grief......Is this where we start telling dirty jokes cause the limpy overlords won't read 'em?...
- steve
- August 22, 2008
Come on team GB as long as we beat the Aussies. How the hell did you guys manage to keep beating us?. On to London 2012. As for Rugby if we can beat the Kiwis surely only then will we be the best. Just imagine if we manage to win the world cup, nothing to whinge about, can't be right.
- Pommy
- August 22, 2008
For those who wonder why so many Brits have found their way here - someone linked this blog on the BBC blog and told Brits to check it out. Ha ha. Good laugh.
- glad to be back
- August 22, 2008
The Australians get more big headed as day follows night. They seem to hate The Brits so much, yet they all flock to the UK. Our Union flag is still on your National flag. Get a life you Australians - oh I forgot,you can't, as there's nothing to do down there but drink and whinge!
- Corp Jones
- August 22, 2008
PRESS RELEASE: The IOC are considering banning the Austrailan Olympic Team from future games, the IOC are outraged that Australia went home after the first week, a spokeman said today "none I us like being here but we have to stay until Sunday' an investagation is now underway, the Parents of an Olympic swimmer in Sydney confirmed that thier son only took enough spending money for a week, we are told that the IOC will not let this lie, unlike the Australian IOC member who said 'Australians are really good at sport' before the games.
- Mike
- August 22, 2008
This has been a good and healthy laugh in both directions. As a Pom I've had nothing but good experiences of Aussies both here at home and overseas. We've a lot in common. You guys are brilliant in sport, especially as you have only one third of our population, but you don't spend half your lives under snow or floods. The main thing is that we're family and we're entitled to take the mutual piss. What really counts, is that when the guano seriously hits the fan, we're in there together. (World wars, Afghanistan etc.) Long may the rivalry continue. It's healthy, civilised and a unique relationship. God bless Oz and God save the Queen.
- Andy-UK
- August 22, 2008
Australia - it's like Kate Ellis' fanny - we all know where it is but no one wants to go there.
Everyone should have a cobber at their wedding - keeps the flies off the food.
It's humour, Jim, just not as we know it.
Thanks to SMH for a full size picture of a crying Sheila on the front page - we're lovin' it.
- John Watson
- August 22, 2008
Aussies: your sour grapes are making us smile.
As for Australian Sports Minister Kate Ellis...that wager looks pretty dead now!!
- tomcrackers
- August 22, 2008
Ok, as a "pom" I can take this article as a joke, even a funny, if not flattering joke (though the teeth bit doesn't...but doesn't bother me, mine are perfect and white).
But what i just read in the Australian is an absolute disgrace. Of course I don't know if I'm meant to expect this from this paper, but it is nothing but pure racism.
On top of that, aussies, it puts you in the worst light possible. If you're all like this then god help you, because no one else will.
Just for your information, Great Britain/United Kingdom IS a country, England, Scotland and Wales aren't: they are regions, much like your states. So we're not "ganging up on you", we're a legitimate country. This just smacks of excuses, excuses, excuses and then just plain racism.
I've always thought of aussies as nice people and fun but now I really, really don't. After having a look at your media and your television, you can all rot in hell for all I care...the Kiwis are where it's at.
Here's the article, I hope I'm not alone. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24221767-5014197,00.html
- kingdom-of-fife
- August 22, 2008
to all Poms living in Australia just now, please do as the Australians normally do when they are winning....
"give 'em heeps"
- larrydart
- August 22, 2008
A lot of you Aussies never give credit where it's deserved.It's not very often a British olympic squad do that well but for once it is.I don't know about moaning poms but its more like acrimonious Aussies.Deal with it Australia, for once we are doing better than you, who knows how long that will last?
- B-Town
- August 22, 2008
The Poms seems to be piggy-backing on the coat tails of their neighbours. Agreed, the Poms have done well but we should remember that they are not actually a " country" and are in fact a conglomerate of countries. This " Team GB" is very convenient, you don't see Poms claiming the Scots in the rugby or football...though now Chris Hoy is a "national" champion. Ask the Scots or the Welsh if they are happy being part of Team GB...do they like listening to the current anthem..or would they (as Colin Jackson tried to do many years ago) prefer to fly their own flag????
- Ginase
- August 22, 2008
If you live in the USA, as I do, you will note that EVERY single newspaper has Team USA leading the medal list. How so? I hear you ask. Well the Yanks just count the medals and not the colour. So by this definition you Aussies are breathing down our necks.
Thought this might help, since if the Yanks believe this then it must be so:)
- SuzyH
- August 22, 2008
If Australians want to do the Gold medals table according to population (per capita) then the standings would be as follows: 1. Jamaica, 2. NZ, 3.Georgia, 4. Slovakia, 5. Australia. So there we go, Australia still 5th. Feel better now?
- RosBif
- August 22, 2008
Aussies, it's OK to be jealous of the English. I know I would be if I were you.
- GB Man
- August 22, 2008
Who is this John guy?? Just because he is named after Englands 2nd city does not give him the right to call us bastards.
Sour grapes is it?. The Brits have worked hard to win their medals, so how about some respect.
- Matt
- August 22, 2008
What this Olympics shows is that countries that take sport seriously (ie put the money on the table) do well.
It's all about investing in the right sports, Australia have always been clever going for swimming (20+ golds avalailable, no 50m swimming pools in sub-sarahan africa, little serious interest globally) and now Britain has joined the party (see Cycling and Rowing).
You see it was never about the inherent superiority of "plucky, gritty Aussies" it was all about hard cash and investment.
The Australian sporting myth has been well and truly dispelled.
- Cate
- August 22, 2008
I thought I'd add something to help JB get another gold plated hovercraft and bunny; God knows you're constantly handing those bunnies out!
As an Aussie living in London it's been a little tough to see them overtake us and then seriously thrash us. Not that I don't think the Aust athletes haven't been fabulous. To be honest there hasn't been all that much in the media about "Team GB" (which by the way, does it include Northern Ireland, as shouldn't it be "Team UK"?) beating Aust, they're just exciting to be winning I think. Or perhaps they used all the catchy headlines up during the Rugby World Cup, as they seriously went to town then. (Those bloody cricketers better come through next year, it's almost getting too much to bear!)
That said, every second person on the street likes to remind me that GB are beating us, usually in good humour (yes, there are some locals with a sense of humour over here, contrary to the impression given by the bloggers here).
I find it funny that the English accuse Aussies of being sports obsessed (which I freely admit to!) as if they're somehow above it all. There's not one sport in Australia that is so passionately and fanatically followed to the extent that football (soccer, I've picked up the lingo) is over here.
Commonwealth Games will be interesting, although with the way I hear the Ruddbot is slashing funding to sport (first the binge drinking, now sport, is he Australian at all??), perhaps not in the way we'd like!
- Waiting for the inevitable
- August 22, 2008
Australia, fear not! The manifold successes of the Great Britain team are just the first part of our cunning masterplan: To engineer the greatest anti-climax in the history of sport by winning absolutely NOTHING at London 2012! Just you wait and see, that tournament will undoubtedly be the greatest ever disaster in our long and mostly pathetic sporting history.
It's a little like England in the 1966 World Cup, they won the bloody thing and haven't even got close since (and will never, ever do so again most likely). It's our speciality in this country, doing really well just the once so we can be tortured by the ever more distant memory of it for the rest of time. England will never win the Rugby World Cup again either. We're crap!
I further predict that, during London 2012, it will bucket with rain for the entire fortnight (except possibly for one or two days, when we will arrange for it to snow) and that most of the events will be carefully rigged so that Australia win 114 golds and top the medal table (with Germany second and France third), and every other country apart from us gets at least one bronze medal. It is the British way, so unfair to win anything when Bolivia, Malawi and the Marshall Islands might have to go home with nothing. I believe that we have even reserved a silver in the Modern Pentathlon for the Pope so that the Vatican can get onto the medals table for the first time. Isn't that nice?
Sorry, just getting the howl of agony out of the way four years in advance. I'm now off to take my medicine. Ta-ta!
- interested
- August 22, 2008
Just to say if you think England got together with 3 other countries to win all the meadls for us have a look tat this map.
Shows it is a GB team with golds coming from many places
- Johan.
- August 22, 2008
People can talk all this per capita stuff, but the reason Australia usually does so well is that it sends in such a large team.
Australia sent 434 athletes to Beijing.
Britain sent 311.
Infact many European countries and beyond, similar to Australia's size send 50% or less, athletes than what Australia does.
- El Tel
- August 22, 2008
I don't know about others, but I think that many of us should be ashamed of all the anti-British or anti-Australian comments posted here. After all, we are all members of the best "root stock" in the world. The real enemies are those who I'd better not mention, other than to say that tea towels on head come to mind!
- Andi Rew
- August 22, 2008
I think you need to focus on catching up with the Kiwis. (Given that Aussies are showing a sudden interest in population-adjusted medal tables you'll no doubt have spotted you're behind them on that basis). In Britain we're now only concerned about the real opposition. The Russians.
- Winston Churchill
- August 22, 2008
Danno says.......
"Australia is much more beautiful country then the UK - so thats something you will never beat... that's why most of you move here"
Clearly, he has never been to the UK. I've visited OZ five times and it has been done up well around the edges but the interior (97%)is crap!
and, I won't even start to give the figures on bar staff here in the UK lol
- Pomwitharash
- August 22, 2008
yes yes we poms are doing well and yes you lot from down under are shall we say not hitting the high notes at this olympics, but we are all missing the point we should not be throwing banter at each other we need to be having a go at the French, there are a number of reasons why we should laugh and point at the French they all sell onions, they all have stripy jumpers and they eat kermit. But i would just like to point out that i have had a happy 10 mins reading some of the comments here my door is locked to keep out the hoodies and the rain has stopped so i can send the wife out to get more tea and scones. so you didnt do that well this time! it will teach you for sending us home and away, and trust me you dont want to win any golds in London 2012 as if its golden and in the east end it will be stolen. But i look forward to seeing you overhere then having a beer looking at our fat ugly women our iffy teeth nasty weather and bad summer, it will be a joy to have you here oh and by the way YAH BOO WE WON MORE THAN YOU LOL ttfn
- Katieroo28
- August 22, 2008
Strewth!! It astounds me how many Pommie posters that claim to be living outside of Australia, and maintain they don't care about the medal tally or whether the Brits or the Aussies are ahead managed to find this blog. You must be an absolute legend in Old Blighty JB, they've come out of the woodwork to contribute to your thread. At least the Aussie blogs, yours in particular, are more amusing and interesting, and one up on the British ones, otherwise they'd all be posting there to celebrate their victory on the medal standings. You'll have to start doing the Aussie salute soon to swat the masses of buzzin' Pommies away. Australia has done remarkably well in the Olympic Games, they can hold their heads up high and be proud of their achievements. So what that the Brits have one or two more medals, big deal, I could understand the gloating from them if they were beating the USA and China. As always the Aussies will pick themselves up, dust themselves off and shine again in 2012. Can't wait to see what kind of Games the Beefeaters put on in London.
Advance Australia Fair...
- Andy-UK
- August 22, 2008
Open letter to Kate Ellis, Ex-Cons Sports Minister. (e-mail address is 'email@example.com')
Well, well you dopey Sheila.
Serial Chokers your motley lot turned out to be.
Despite Australia only having sport to try to justify its existence youve come up short. Too busy filling our libraries with great works of literature, Nobel prizes, life changing inventions??. Yes none of these are from Australians. Australias impact on world extends to a moron behind any bar in the world who cant work out what your change should be.
Just sport left for you in your cul de sac of the globe down towards the Antarctic.
Even in sport the defining moment for your churlish mob has to be that little genetic runt Howard plonking medals on the England team with probably the least dignity ever seen since well since the last stralian had to admit defeat. Wouldnt it be lovely to have Howard give all the Golds to Team GB?
Do us all a favour and keep your mumsy gob shut in future when pontificating on choking.
BTW such big hips on a sports minister dont go try a diet.
- Brett of Sydney
- August 22, 2008
Before all you Poms start patting yourselves on the back, remember that the Great Britain Olympic team comprises athletes from 3 countries... England, Scotland and Wales. Therefore, if you divide the total number of British gold medals (16) by 3, England has actually only won 5.3
- regurgitor
- August 22, 2008
John Coates is getting close,Bi polar is the culprit, so be prepared for total catatonic breakdown in 4 years.
- Kris
- August 22, 2008
The POMS make me sick. If you guys don't care, why do you come across oceans to post all these insulting comments on an Australian site. So you do care about this rare moment of "triumph" of Team GB. Talking about inferiority complex...
- Vincent-W
- August 22, 2008
Why does John Birmingham have a pus like a skelpit erse? You'd never tire of punching it, would you?
- kota kinabalu
- August 21, 2008
This guy 'Birmingham' has got it all: black leather jacket, sulky-whingey look, bald head, self-styled 'attitude' (look at me I'm rough, tough, and abrasive - wow!). I know why we're doing well - you can now do swimming and 400m sitting down. Off to buy my bar of soap. Toodle-ooh
- Nix29
- August 21, 2008
Just a quick word to Green and GOLD.
I'm English, therefore I'm a Pom. Only the English are Poms. Corgi's are Welsh. I agree, crap dogs, but not Pom dogs. Not that I have a problem with Wales. It's just that they (and Scotland) have a problem being called Poms.
Oh, and just to clarify, I come from the North of England and there's just as much banter between North and South as there is between us and Australia. One guy in London was asked if he thought there was a North South divide. He asked 'What? North South London??' It just shows you, every country has 'em. Well done to your athletes anyway. I'm sure you'll be back all guns blazing in 2012. But if there was an Olympic event for moaning, you guys have the gold, by a clear shot!!
- Will Nolan, South Of England
- August 21, 2008
I'm just lying by my pool in England, loving the sun. Sipping on a celebratory beer, 1 more gold for Team GB today. Thats now 6 more than you guys. Will turn into 7 when we win the BMX (olympic sport??!!) tonight!!!
- Taffy
- August 21, 2008
Well I'll give you another hit- you Aussies need all the help you can get (tic).
Trouble is with sarcasm (besides being the lowest form of wit) it usually hides latent viciousness. The word derives from the meaning "to tear flesh". That said I enjoy a bit of sarcasm. But you have it all wrong. We Poms are MUCH more concerned about beating the FRENCH in the Olympics. Germany and Russia is icing on the cake.
Now before the next Olympics, can we please have our Queen back? Please VOTE next time...
Oh and some friendly directions to 2012 Olympic stadium. When you arrive in UK...Head for St Pancras and catch the Eurostar. Don't listen to those ignorant cockneys trying to direct you to the East End (its all a conspiracy).
Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free...
- blackarrow
- August 21, 2008
John B you're a funny man I like your article, your swimming pools and school fields comment really hit the mark.
Australia has always invested in their sports men and women and it shows.
I'm glad more sports over here are now getting some funding, although if you're not in athletics don't hold your breath!
I think not so deep down we've always admired the Aussies for their sporting skill and determination.
I'm sure the Aussies will come back and do what they're best at doing, ribbing us for losing, what ever it is we lose next!! Just kidding :)
Good luck to all the boys and girls from whatever country who manage to get to the Olympics, they're not there by accident, it takes a lot of hard, hard work.
Oh, and another thing, Brits wouldn't care about the results if the Aussies weren't so damn hard to beat and the Aussies wouldn't be so upset if they didn't think they could do better, that's the nature of competition.
- Roo Up Tree
- August 21, 2008
Your obsession with the UK verges on the clinical. In truth, for Brits, we're not obsessed with beating Aussies, we're not even obsessed with winning. It's just that every now and again we rouse ourselves from being the fourth biggest economy on the face of the planet and nuclear armed power to see what would happen if we actually tried at something once in a while. This year it's the Olympics. And you know what? It's not that hard really. I think it's called effortless superiority. What you lot are doing is running very fast just to catch up. Chin chin, must dash.
- Dixon Bainbridge
- August 21, 2008
I'm getting really worried about how poor you Aussies are getting at everything. I mean here in London even the Poles make better barmen than you lot do now. And as for the poor show of your men's team in Beijin, don't worry I mean the average Aussie sheila looks like a bloke anyway, so who can tell the difference?
- August 21, 2008
I am a proud POM. I'm sorry but I would never call any other nation 'bastards', regardless of their sporting success. I was so glad to see how our athletes were doing - it never occurred to me to even think about where we were in the table compared to the Aussies. Concentrate on supporting your own athletes and stop taking an easy pop at us. Grow up and take it like a man.
- Karl
- August 21, 2008
August 21, 2008 04:12
Anyway, it must be hard for you Aussies. You've been brought up not to know the meaning of the word lose. For that matter, you're not quite sure of the words decency, taste, style or hard work either but we try not to hold that against you!
Pete - a fellow Brit here. Ever thought that our problem is that it is our state schools where no-one is allowed to lose?
JB I lost my rag with one of your idiot countrywomen on this board the other day, but my lot are making a lot of tits of ourselves rising to your bait.
There's a quote from a Scottish soccer player when they took the lead in the 1970 World Cup against Brazil. "Oh sh1t, we've annoyed them now". Australia and the rest of the first world will now throw cash at their teams. Us Brits might get a pasting in 2012...
- Paco
- August 21, 2008
Ooooh John - a bit touchy are we!! Having put up with the aussie pom-bashing for years now, it's about time we got our own back.
Come on team GB.
- Alba
- August 21, 2008
Its sad that the 2 nations that are normally so close by blood and tradition become so confrontational in things that do not matter.
I love australia ,i have shaken hands with Blinky Bill when I climbed that bridge made with british steel and australian sweat.
We are family ,so I will say what i say to family ,sit down and shut up the telly`s on.
- Taffy
- August 21, 2008
Dry your eyes, Sheilas, you've just been awarded the GOLD in whingeing (yes there is an 'e' in whingeing).... Can't even spell your insults.
Anyway, Good on yer cobbers- A GOLD. And you're hot favourites for gold in the American wannabe final. You certainly beat the old country in those two categories?
- Boingsaclapper
- August 21, 2008
Hiya Mr Birmingham
Can i ask you why you are slagging off the country of your birth?
Did you know Ricky Ponting eats jelly babies before he goes into Bat, found that out from the clapclap crew when they were giving him some durinf the last Ashes.
Pontings a good sport though, he was out in one test and the crew were giving him some, anyhow a member of the clap clap crew he was well known he is called SatNavWu said " Ricky there a being a bit harsh this lot!" but Ponting then said " Ah Well Mr Wu what can you do!"
Fair play to him, typical Aussie mail.
- fireybri
- August 21, 2008
well all you convicts nice to remind us of our down falls with weather and society
on my numerous visits to sydney ive always been told to keep away from some suberbs and the beach riots a few years ago were just a hiccup
see hotter weather same scum the world over
back to olympics sorry for taking shane sutton although we havent had to take him far as has lived in england as much as australia marrying a local girl and having kids so come on hes as british as most of you are you just dont like to admit it lolol
- Guernboy
- August 21, 2008
Madge Bishop, John Howard, Bouncer, Don Bradman, Germaine Greer your boys are taking one hell of a beating.
By the way I don't want to stir things up on this subject but what was the big deal about 'Bodyline' wasn't it just short pitch bowling???? I seem to remember Dennis Lilley doing similar things in the 70's and rather than complain what did we do started wearing bike crash helmets and got amongst it.....sorted!
Just more sore losing as we won the series 4-1 I think....don't quote me on that as I wasnt alive.
- Twister
- August 21, 2008
Just thought I'd log into an Australian newspaper to see with my own eyes all these sour grapes we have heard abouut. And true enough, they are all there! I have just three things to say;
He he he
Windsor UK
- Paddy
- August 21, 2008
In the words of the great Martin Johnson 'The Aussies call the English whinging Poms, but I tell you they are masters at it!'
- hybrid
- August 21, 2008
Hello all. Can someone please explain to me why the 'Poms' are so disliked by Australians? Incidentally I am married to one and take in interst in Australian news , hence my frequent forays to this site. However I do find it a tiresome an unnapealing habit of the australian nations to not care about anythingas long as they are beating or bashing the Poms. Us brits prefer to have a go at the germans.
- Chris
- August 21, 2008
Can't we just all be happy that the Saffa's only have a single silver (for the long jump)? They can stick that up their hoop when they next crow about the Rugby world cup
- Chris
- August 21, 2008
For all those pretending to work on a sunny afternoon like me, this NYtimes thingy is quite interesting historical perspective on the years the Brits and aussies have done well (and vice versa...).
I scanned the whole paper though and strangely enough the Yanks couldn't give 2 sh*ts about how well the either the Brits or the Aussies were doing. Funny that. Commonwealth team next time? Group hug?
- Worried of Tunbridge Wells
- August 21, 2008
God, this is embarrasing. Gold medals and things. There's something about winning that's so immodest, so un-British. Being British is all about coping with the world's hatred of you - just keeping your head down and showing stiff lips. Occassionally, we'd get to pop our heads up and enjoy the dangerous thrill of saying 'yay! We won!' but when we did this other people just got angry at us and reminded us of our other failings, usually along the lines of having an empire.
It's so much better to remain withdrawn and uninvolved. That way, we didn't even have to keep track of all these sporting rivalries - France, Germany, Argentina, the US (when the Ryder Cup's on), Australia, England vs Any Other Home Nation etc etc. Now we're having a bit of success, and the bloody athletes are crying. Crying! I mean, what happened to turning round with a polite smile, shaking hands and saying, "Great fun, chaps! Let's do it again. Shall we say my place, in four years' time?"
Honest to God, I now know what it feels like to be American or Australian, and I don't like it.
- Kingston Bob
- August 21, 2008
Glad to see that my suggestion that we all stop insulting each other's country has been taken to heart. Not. Anyway, the Mayor of London, Boris "Have I Got News For You" Johnson, is on his way to the Bird's Nest so by Sunday we'll all be united-in laughter.
- Great Briton
- August 21, 2008
Come on Aussies, quit the griping. I know that deep down you are all immensely proud of the Mother Country's great achievements. Each time you salute Australia's flag you are really saluting the Union Flag sitting proudly in the top corner. Come on, admit it - you worship us as is fitting for our loyal dominion.
- whatsapomanyway?
- August 21, 2008
you aussies are crazy people. for all your mocking of 'poms,' i can't help but laugh. your nations just full of us brits who've spent too many generations in that baked potato of a continent, right? anyway, we don't really care about the olympics much in the uk. not the man on the street. and sport success in general doesn't have to be a requirement for british national pride. in australia, its all you bloody well have... and you know it. so read that medals table and weep, mate.
- Tabman
- August 21, 2008
As a many-time visitor to Australia I like and admire your country. Don;t be too despondent - immitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We saw how you did it and copied, and now we're reaping the rewards. But, we're now there to be shot at and London 2012 will be tough. So I'm enjoying it while it lasts.
PS - JB, I seem to recall you were born in the UK???
- Lanch
- August 21, 2008
I love the comment that the poms are good at any sport that require sitting down,because thats exactly what I was doing when I brought my lottery ticket online to fund the athletes. If I could only get them to ban football we might stand a chance in the Archery in 2012, it stood us in good stead in the middle ages or am I just looking back at a glorious past wishing we were still there.
Or better still allow the fans to take a bow and arrows to the games. I,d pay good money to watch that on TV.
I have always believed that if you find yourself in a fair fight, you have not planned it properly. So get working on competing, forget about sharping your whinging, we poms are World Champions (we have had more than 200 yrs practice) and bring a World class team to London.
- Grungebucket
- August 21, 2008
I hear that the World Health Organisation has just announced a health crisis in Australia. Apparently it's due to over-consumption of sour grapes.
- Gruff
- August 21, 2008
JB..Whoever you are, your article made me laugh. You are right sod the rest, it's all about us v you. We have given your boys and girls a good hiding (this time) so we will relish it for now..roll on the next sporting event between us it might be very different, perhaps our pissed up alcoholic cricketers or crap rugby team can surprise you too..It's all good fun.
- RedWhiteAndBlue
- August 21, 2008
C'mon you Aussies, do you really think you stand a chance in London 2012 with us on home turf with another 1 billion dollars invested in our British athletes? Surely the fact we are caning you 5000 miles from the Motherland in Beijing means you can amplify the pain twicefold when it comes to rubbing your noses in good old UK dirt in four years time!!
Theo, Manchester
- Raymond
- August 21, 2008
The envy shown by Australians here is breathtaking. It's not a lack of Golds that Australians will be remembered for at these games, it is the appalling spitefulness. That is Australia's legacy - and it's shameful.
- Guernboy
- August 21, 2008
Madge Bishop, John Howard, Bouncer, Don Bradman, Germaine Greer your boys are taking one hell of a beating.
By the way I don't want to stir things up on this subject but what was the big deal about 'Bodyline' wasn't it just short pitch bowling???? I seem to remember Dennis Lilley doing similar things in the 70's and rather than complain what did we do started wearing bike crash helmets and got amongst it.....sorted!
Just more sore losing as we won the series 4-1 I think....don't quote me on that as I wasnt alive.
Anyway back to Olympics.....can we get another in the triple jump??? Whats left for you guys.....anymore swimming events left?
- What Rhymes With Brits? They Give Me The...
- August 21, 2008
Settle Poms...settle....
When Scotland finally throws the Sassenach yoke off and gets rid of those English dullards who are riveted by the likes of Eastenders and David Beckham, then the medal tally will berevised to show that true Celtic hearts won gold, not weak-kneed toffy nosed hooray-henrys and hooray-henriettas.
And by the way, let's do a quick score check:
Ashes...Australia hold them
Rugby World Cup: Australia 2, England 1
Football: The Socceroos dumped on the English last go-round 3-1
Rugby League: How long since GB has won a series against us?
Oh...and when a Pommie city went up against an Aussie city to host the Olympics who won the rights? Oh yes...Sydney
By the way Birmo, any chance you can write 'Olympics 2012 Version 2.1 Rebooted"...you know, where the Aussie swim team from 1956 get transported by a time machine experiment right into the London 2012 Olympic pool and the likes of Dawn Fraser, Murray Rose, Lorraine Crapp and John Devitt beat the hell out of the Poms lacklustre so called swimmers
- Loftgroov
- August 21, 2008
*six months from now*
Oh look - it's Anna Meares!!!
"Hiya love.... er....two Fosters, one Tetleys and a packet of cheese and onion crisps please. Ta"
- Loftgroov
- August 21, 2008
After this "performance" they'll be even more Aussie barmen in London!! That is up from the 4 million already there.
I'll be a weird expereince being served my beer by Grant Hackett shortly, but I guess the guy has to do something now he isn't capable of swimming competitively any longer...
- Bowler Hat
- August 21, 2008
If there were medals for big-heads and sore losers you Aussies would dominate.
After spending a few months in racist Asutralia I am only too pleased that this Olympics hasn't gone as well for you - with or without this "competition" with GB.
It's also laughable when I read comments about our weather. You even want to compete over that!
Grow up.
- Guernboy
- August 21, 2008
I was just looking at past tables and it shows that Australia Got 17 Gold in Athens and 16 in Sydney!
You are currently on 11 and if you take out the fact that you don't have Thorpe this time round you are pretty much bang on so why are you saying that you are having a bad Olympics.
I also looked at the mixture of golds Team GB have won and they are in the following sports
Cycling (Road)
Cycling Track
And The Ozzie list is:
Now how can you guys belittle the sports we are winning in when yours are exactly the same (Triathlon apart although also swimming) You also had 6 golds in Athens on the track cycling so it all seems that we are having very similar Olympics but we just had a better Cycling team....much better cycling team oh and rowing and athletics......!!
Imagine if we were here trying to belittle those cycling medals during the Athens games, how would you react to that.
Basically you should learn to be better sports its really bad form for your own papers and IOC members to stir things up and then react so badly when the Brits bite back.
Great games great competition ........and great banter keep it up
Jonny Wilkinson ;)
- GuidoGallini
- August 21, 2008
To even things up a bit, maybe in 2012 we should add the events (i) having good weather and (ii) having a population close to 20 million people.
- 1asian
- August 21, 2008
Well done!Brithish. You beat aussie on the one and the only one field they are good at. Now they got nothing to show off. Poor cocky aussie, that really hurt, doesn't it?
- RuggerQueen
- August 21, 2008
From Rugby (the town), England. I suffered (and yes, it was suffering) through the commonwealth games in Melbourne, I can only say how much better we do it - we're better sports, better people and better AT sport (at the moment for sure!). And don't try and kid the world that your lives are perfect - I've yet to see thousands of young brits taking to the streets attempting 'ethnic cleansing' like I had to see in Sydney. If I were you, I'd emigrate. London's rather lovely at this time of the year...
PS, the only time I've ever been the victim of crime was in aus. Nuff said. Come to London in 2012 and live life as it should be lived - with a bit of class...
- A bloody Pom
- August 21, 2008
Funny article Mr B.
It's a pity Britain and Australia aren't competing at the brain Olympics - we'd be crying into our beers together (awww!) rather than squabbling like a bunch of retards.
Some wag posted a link to here on the BBC website hence the number of disgruntled idiots you're getting from these parts.
- mirko
- August 21, 2008
well done to GB for doing so well, you have to take your hat off to them (and im a aussie). it shows what you can do when money is invested in your sports.
its a shame though that they only invest at the top end (unlike in australia).
Most schools in London dont have any sporting facilities, no youth clubs anywhere, in fact in London a city of over 7 million people there is not One single olympic size pool?
try and find a place to swim, play tennis, sqaush etc etc without paying through the nose and booking way in advance.
no wonder they have so many problems with their young.
I think think these medals are just covering the cracks really.
- Grumpy Grandad, Leeds, England
- August 21, 2008
Must be something wrong with my new HD television set. As yet I haven't seen an Australian in the Olympic Games. But I have seen a few of those winging white bastards who live over there. There seems to be a decline in their success since the drug testing has been tightened but do not dispair the influx of Chinese who can compete for you in 2012 will gladden your hearts again.
- Pompey Dave
- August 21, 2008
What a summer... i thought 2003 Rugby and the ashes were great, but this! Go GB! Come on Canada and NZ, go get the medals and overtake the arrogant laughing stock which is OZ.
- Erik Bloodaxe
- August 21, 2008
I'm British but spent part of my youth in Australia. Great Britain may be higher up in the medals table, but Australia still has more medals per head of population, by a distance. On a per capita basis, I have little doubt that Australia is the most successful sporting nation on the planet, and has been for several decades.
I love Anglo-Australian sporting contests, especially when I used to thrash Aussies at squash, as recently as the 1980s. ;-)
- August 21, 2008
Never mind the medals table look at Libby Trickett, She is a cracker. All we have is Beth Tweddle.
- Scotty
- August 21, 2008
I have to agree with daveinbalmain, You Aussies lack of knowledge of what happens beyond these shores is going to get you into trouble one day. If you ever make it to Wales, Ireland or Scotland, try walking into a bar and calling the locals a Pom or English - good luck with that!!
- Demalio
- August 21, 2008
Got to say Aussies - if the banter competition on the blog was for medals you wouldn't be anywhere near the podium!
- Ads
- August 21, 2008
I had the great fortune to chat with your Lord Coe (you still use silly titles over there right?) at a corporate breakfast in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics on the sparkling shores of Sydney Harbour.
A more interesting and charming, worldly man you could not hope to meet. (certainly not on this blog anyways!)
Anyway I digress - my mate Seb spoke of his admiration for the Australian sports funding model and how he had been successful in lobbying the UK Govt to copy it.
Therefore I must say it is with great pride that I congratulate Great Britain on their excellent Olympic performance and fantastic medal haul.
I hear LOCOG have also retained many ex SOCOG staff to ensure a successful games!
Good Luck and may the sun never set on......oops! Sorry!
- Redneck Ninja
- August 21, 2008
These British bloggers are almost as bad as the Chinese...
Stop with this pissing contest, children. Some of us are trying to watch the womens beach volleyball finals.
- CalgaryLeaf
- August 21, 2008
So, i'm a Canadian, an outsider so to speak. I've been to both the UK and Australia, and both are truly fantastic nations. But this rivalry is more of an Australian invention, i am certain of it. The Limeys care for beating the French and Germans, the same way Canadians care for beating the states and France if you are English speaking and Britain if you are Quebecois.
Anyway, you should both be happy you are not Canadian- now there is a real tale of Olympic woe.
- Stu
- August 21, 2008
COME ON you pasty faced oiks, put down the chip butty, suck down the wife beater and start getting those posts up. This is your one chance to wallow in the novelty of mediocre success!
- You_know_its_true
- August 21, 2008
Skippy, don't be ashamed of your compatriots. The vast majority of comments have displayed the gritty, spit-in-the-eye wit that we just don't have and sometimes don't understand (As some of our comments attest). It's this kind of sophisticated and politically correct repartee that spurs both sides on for the next time! Roll on the Ashes, roll on 2012, bring on the tiddlywinks as long as it's against Oz, etc. etc. If one side won all the time, who'd be interested?
- not bitter
- August 21, 2008
Damn straight why are you silly poms trying to pull the culture card...What culture?? You're all a bunch of chavs who live under a silly class system anyway?
..so this summer I'm going to be sitting on the beach drinking gorgeous Australian wine(not Jacobs Creek by the way which only costs $8 AUD /3.74 GBP) ...with my beautiful english boyfriend who does not want to go back to the so called mother country!!!
Anyway its good you won something. about bloody time the UK gets the sports side of things sorted...
- gotobed
- August 21, 2008
very grateful you did 'dump' us crims on this vast, beautiful island. we're very happy down here thankyou. can we expect another mass delivery soon? I know it's getting a little cramped over there.
- Growelly Powelly
- August 21, 2008
I have to give credit to you John Birmingham. You have written something that brings out the emotions of 2 nations. As Brits we are on a winning streak against Oz and brings pride to us.
I think the emotion that is happening to the Aussies about all their sport can be summed up in 1 British saying:
"You cant polish a turd"
By the way, have you been to Birmingham John?
JB: Never set foot there, mate.
- Stoneybe
- August 21, 2008
This seems to have moved away from sport and into the realms on trading silly insults.
Birdman seems to live in an Australia from an early 90s episode of Neighbours.
John M: Australians visit the UK because its and interesting place with lots to do. (Works the other way to) Some also move to UK to get well paid jobs. Some stay, some go. We are always happy to welcome them.
British or Australian I would suggest that if you have not got something positive or at least factual to add then maybe its time to keep your reckons to yourself.
Congratulations to all the athletes from both countries for their dedication
- Skippy
- August 21, 2008
As a true blue Auusie living in the UK i am ashamed of my fellow country men who continue to belittle and berate Team GBs success in the medal table over us. Come on guys, we pride ourselves on being a nation sportsmen and women yet when things dont go our way we look for any excuse to cover our ineptitude and lack of medals. Team GB are doing very well so far and this country and their people are rightly proud of their teams success. We dont need to slate their young folk, culture or lack of sporting venues - THEY ARE BEATING US FAIR AND SQUARE - LIVE WITH IT!!!
- djpk
- August 21, 2008
Well done to the Brits, great results in cycling and yachting. However, predictions of a new dawn may be somewhat exaggerated - neither the Ashes win nor the Rugby win resulted in a glorious future, just failure and struggle infollowing cricket series and six nations (and god knows what was going in the last Rugby world cup!). One good games result does not mean another will follow, we Australians can tell you that. Not sure how all these brits found your blog JB but you win a gold for getting responses. Well done.
JB: Thanks. I get a new gold plated hovercraft and Playboy bunny for every hundred comments.
- Mike
- August 21, 2008
I find it amusing that 80% of the British contributions to this AUSTRALIAN blog are so loudly proclaming their disinterest in anything to do with Australia.
What are you doing here then?
Congrats to Team GB anyway. This should make the next Commonwealth games interesting, compared to the last few where it was Australia first, daylight second and third.
- Smithy
- August 21, 2008
talksport magazine have absolutely slated us. Take a look at some of the rubbish they have said. Its so stupid you will actually find it funny.
- Cuppa Tea
- August 21, 2008
There seems to be a lot of miss-understanding around the population figures.
GB has around 60M of which 40M are bloody foreigners that wouldn't shite for this country much less support us.
I'm please to think there are a few here that rise to the challenge of returning the banter but this number is dwindling as more and more immigrants pile in daily. Like wise I'm pleased to have a few Aussies standing their ground for their country, a dying breed.
Now back to the Olympics and how many meddles we have, Looks like Auss may lose another place as Germany are hot on your heels and those Korean & Jap boys are in sight too
JB: Yeah, well, we've still got the bmx to go. I think.
- Growelly Powelly
- August 21, 2008
Strewth John Birmingham,
I cant wait to read your narrow minded little fairy tale when we take the Ashes back. Please tell me, what will you guys have then? No rugby world cup, behind us in the olympics and no Ashes. Maybe we should take up Aussie Rules at least that way you may win at something. By the way John, I am loving that good English name of yours! Have yo ever been to Birmingham? Thats a dump as well!
JB: Try harder Growelly. That bit where you diss your own city sort of works at cross purposes.
Still, the Rugby niggle was a good one.
Since you dont have the Ashes anymore though, and you're not getting them back, I'd have left well enough alone on that score if I was you.
- not so cool britania
- August 21, 2008
I hear David Beckham is appearing at the Beijing closing ceremony. Lets hope he keeps his mouth shut. Like most poms, he can't actually speak his own language too well.
And at the opening ceremony in 2012, lets pray the rain stays away long enough to get through the Andrew Lloyd Webber medley (that's 2 hours) and Princess Anne's tribute to Britains living Olympic Legends (that's 2 minutes)
- Smudger
- August 21, 2008
I heard that the IOC are thinking of changing Australia's national colours from green and gold to green and bronze.
Rule Brittania
JB: See, it's taken nearly five hundred comments, but finally, you're getting the hang of this blog thing.
- Anonymous
- August 21, 2008
Brilliant, I love JBs comments. He should be Aussie team manager, they may have done better!
We just need to put the Bastards back in Irons when they go to London in 4 years time. Then see how they bloody swim!
JB: Ah mate we've been doing all right for two hundred years.
- Jimmy
- August 21, 2008
I am a proud Pom. I have always had a great admiration for the Aussie sporting systems. Looks like we finally paid attention and invested money in the right places. Yes it is great we are ahead of OZ..but look what happend with the ashes in '05. We won, gave everyone MBE's and Two years later we got our arses kicked and looked rather stupid. So for now i am a happy gapped toothed, sandle and sock wearing bastard. I'm not getting too carried away. The guantlet has been laid down. 2012 will be the decider.
JB: Yeah. It will Jimmy. It will. But your team has done very well. Bask in it.
- Sir Henry of Clamthorpe
- August 21, 2008
The British see sport as a game, not as a profession. We don't like to punish our athletes because we think it is breaking an unwritten rule to be too competitive. We have been criticised for this in the past. But we still dominate the colonies despite our more relaxed attitude.
I think if Australia is going to ever pull itself back together, it is going to need to broaden its efforts away from the swimming pool, now that they have been outclassed in their only real strong event. Also, there is a worrying tendency for Australia to choke in sporting events. Just look at its performance in the last two rugby world cups against England! Remember, we don't take rugby nearly as seriously as the Australians.
But come on, let us forget all this bitterness. We Brits are in all honesty proud of Australia's Olympic performance. We feel a loving sense of responsibility for your fantastic effort, like one of our children putting on a good show at a school sports day.
'We don't like to punish our athletes'
JB: You don't read the tabloids do you, Sir 'enry
- birdman
- August 21, 2008
what culture in the uk are you talking about? bindge drinking culture? chav culture? town centre fighting at closing time culture?
so you finaly won a few extra medals. good on you. while im sitting back by my pool enjoying the sun and great food and life we have here, you all can go back to the cold winter that is your summer, watch as your kids have to hang out in front of shopping centres with their hoods on as there are no swimming pools, parks, fields, sporting centres etc etc to use..
yup.. you poms are real winners.
- Brown dog
- August 21, 2008
Yet another GB gold......Yawn!!! If the shoplifters go much lower they'll drop off the table
- john M
- August 21, 2008
I would like to get back to those Poms who have remarked on the number of Aussies in London. The reason they go to England is that they are interested in seeing the place. After all you were once a world power. Some tattered remanants from that period in your distant past are still lying around.
- Cuppa Tea
- August 21, 2008
Good on you JB. You have done what you're paid to do get a response (Talk about taking the bate). This is making coming to work bearable.
Sad to say there are no doubt some people taking this seriously!
I'm proud to say GB had the foresight and ability to see the benefits in an open area prison all those years ago.
JB: LOL. Yeah, and I'm glad to see that not everyone back there has had their funny bone removed.
- daveinbalmain
- August 21, 2008
Love your work maaaate - truly the apogee of knockabout Aussie humour. To paraphrase Ben Elton, "Laugh, I nearly did".
Small point of order that I'm convinced you're never taught at school - Poms are English, not necessarily British. Here'a challenge for you Pedro if you can ever scrape together the airfare. Wander into a Glasgow pub, find the first hard local you can and call him a Pom to his face!
Toodle Pip - medals to count!
- Ollie
- August 21, 2008
Apologies for the occasionally dreadful and unwitty comments made by my fellow countrymen - our nation is experiencing euphoria not seen since the 2003 RWC. Whereas everything is hunky dory at the mo, I'm sure that reprocussions/ backlash from yourselves in particular but also other European countries will shortly bring us straight back down to earth. However, in the meantime, MAN it feels good!!!
JB: Oh thank you Ollie. You give me faith on the old country. Congrats on your athletes' performance. They've been great.
- john M
- August 21, 2008
Hey John,
How are you going to top this blog? Thanks! Reading some of the responses you have incited has been a whole lot of fun!
BTW Poms, you are beating us and you are still whining! Why is that?
JB: Johnno, I don't think I can top this. Even Steve Hutcheon couldn't and he was getting swarmed by CCP blog bots.
- Joe Blogs
- August 21, 2008
Perhaps a period of quiet reflection is called for and consideration of the attractiveness of humility.
Your bretheren in the mother country will pray for your redemption, but maybe not quite yet.
- Katieroo28
- August 21, 2008
With it being summertime in the northern hemisphere shouldn't all you Poms be somewhere like Yarmouth or Blackpool beach with your trousers rolled up to your knees having a little paddle in the sea? Or sitting in your deck chairs enjoying that sea, sand and sun, wearing your four cornered knotted hankies on your heads, eating your cockles and whelks, instead of flooding an Australian blog, with your worries over whether the Aussies have more medals than the UK. Oh wait, that's right, silly me, you only have two seasons in Old Blighty, Wet and Freezing cold. Don't you just envy the lucky Aussies their glorious climate, their beautiful beaches, and their absolutely fantastic lifestyles.
- pomm38(medals)
- August 21, 2008
We should take pride in doing better than a Country whom imposes themselves as the Sun sports kings of the world. We don't have the climate to train that you do, we have not had the backing before....and now we do all we see is a torrent of bitterness trying to 'swim' north of the equator but, just like the olympics, failing to actually get anywhere! Enjoy the last few days! ;o)
- dave from barnstaple
- August 21, 2008
I find it amazing that you Aussies are just beginning to understand the joke .Fathers roll up in a ball and let their young sons hit them , oh how the kids laugh to be beating up their dads , or fathers hold their arms tight together and protect their faces as the hysterical youngsters punch the old man in the stomach as hard as they can , what delight . Hang on a minute , the old mans getting to his feet , he's laughing , mums laughing , everyone's laughing , well the youngsters not laughing in fact I think I can see a small tear rolling down his face .
- Spooner
- August 21, 2008
These days we can beat you lot sitting down!!
- Jonny
- August 21, 2008
You know you Australians really should relise that sport is just a pass time- it isnt important, the ecnomy, healtcare, jobs and good quality of life if more important. The messages on this blog really show 'stralians up to having a really big chip on your sholders- you never see this anti british crap in blogs in Canada and USA- and these countries have just as much reason to dislike the UK (The USA fought a bloody war to get independence from it!)- you are showing yourselves to be childish and pathetic. It showing your nation to have nothing other in their make up other than sport. This is a great shame really.
This pure hatred appears as nothing to me as jealous as the UK has thousands of years of history, culture, literature, music and really exciting cities and towns. It also has beautiful countryside too unlike the barren red of Australia- and I know it as I have travelled on atrain from Syndey to Perth- it is grim! Your cities are boring your kids can't wait to get out of the country its so dull for them. I know of a british family who moved over to Syndey- to get a better life for their 3 kids. Of course the 3 kids are back in the UK as soon as they turned are 18!
I imagine half the world think you Australians are just british anyway- you have their flag and even their bloody queen- your coins even looks the same as when you go to the UK!!!
Grow up Australia, find something meaningful to base your very insecure nation psyche.
Jonny, Dublin
JB: Pure hatred you reckon mate? That'd be a one way street would it? Did you read your own comment before you posted it?
- Bouncer
- August 21, 2008
Rack of Bouncer! Oh! how clever of you Birmingham - what you were really doing was a clever post modern ironic satire on the rivalry between the UK and Ausfailure? Its not that the UK giving one of the old colonies a good thrashing has exposed a chip on the shoulder? Nah! of course not!
JB: Cor Bouncer ,you must 'ave a fuggin phd or somefin wiv that big frobbin' brain ov yours.
- kim (about to fly to Seoul)
- August 21, 2008
"They may have to settle for Gary Glitter,I heard that he's now available for future gigs at a reasonable rate."
Better keep ALL the cute little kiddies out of the ceremony then, even the ones who are only miming...
(999999 - blog god agrees!)
- kim (about to fly to Seoul)
- August 21, 2008
Cuthbert - you can have your history and culture
(what would GB be without it? Nothing)
At least we Aussies USE our dental care services AND have decent plumbing.
(Mongolia's toilets work better than yours. Seriously.)
Something you lot might like to aspire to one day.
- kim (about to fly to Seoul)
- August 21, 2008
GB _should_ beat us.
They should _always_ beat us.
They have _3 times_ our population!
They are made up of _4_ separate countries, for FARC's sake!
Let 'em whinge - ignore them.
Let's have a look at rough figures - Aust has a population of about 21 million.
The 4 countries above us in the medal table? China - 1,300 million, US - 312 million, GB - 60+ million, Russia - 100 million (?).
If they CAN'T beat us in such a medal tally, then really...they shouldn't even bother showing up. Honestly.
- Rob
- August 21, 2008
Here in Britain the Olympics is a welcome distraction from a dreadful summer and an economy in tatters. Yes, we're all delighted with the performances of the British athletes, but we certainly aren't obsessing about which countries are ahead or behind us in the medal table or the reasons for such a state of affairs. Who cares? It's only sport.
Nonetheless, it's flattering to read that you guys care so much about the successes of our lottery-funded sportsmen and women. Thanks a lot. I didn't know we meant so much to you. Gee. I would have thought with all that fine weather, beautiful countryside, attractive women and good wine and food you wouldn't really be concerned about the successes of a small Northern European island nation at the Olympic Games.
How wrong can you be?
- sadaussietossers
- August 21, 2008
Quelle surprise. You Australians are crying like a bunch of little girls because you're getting a whipping. Wow, who would have thought it? Not like you at all.
Out come all the usual comments... blah blah blah, flash in the pan. Blah, blah, blah, what about the cricket. Blah, blah, blah, 3 times the population.
By the way, New Zealand have a population not much more than a tenth the size of yours, and yet they've won more than 25% of the number of gold medals as you. Would you extend that demographic rationale to them? No? I thought not.
You're rubbish, you're getting pasted, get over it. I can understand why it hurts so much. Sport is, after all, the one and only thing you're country is good at, so it must be embarrasing to perform so badly on a world stage.
JB: So badly?
- PeterH
- August 21, 2008
JB - great picture by the way. You do look a little like a man who's just realised there's no loo paper having just gone past the point of no return, but still, very 'macho'!
Anyway, it must be hard for you Aussies. You've been brought up not to know the meaning of the word lose. For that matter, you're not quite sure of the words decency, taste, style or hard work either but we try not to hold that against you!
JB: Actually, just between you and I, Pete, I'm wearing bright orange board shorts below that leather jacket. I was surfing an hour after the shot was taken.
- RobRoy
- August 21, 2008
Hello Oz! I have followed with interest all the Pom/Oz banter and I am rather surprised that so many of you take it so seriously. As a scotsman living in Plymouth, England, I am often on the receiving end of such ribald wit - particularly during The Greatest Sporting Event On Earth, namely the rugby Six Nations competition. I am used to it but I am also happy to give as good as I get, and so should you lot. Ok, so Team Australia are pretty pathetic at the moment, but Australia as a country has so much going for it. In fact, your geographical location makes you ideally positioned to take in Gary Glitter - after all, judging by recent news reports about the proliferation of sexual deviants in your country then one more should not make any difference!
JB: Hey Rob, remind me again about the glories of the scotish monarchy.
- ~~~~~~~~~~~
- August 21, 2008
You don't lose sporting events with any good grace and wonder why you're despised globally???
JB: Despised? Really? But you blokes said we weren't being noticed at all!
- Chris
- August 21, 2008
Tell you what though for all those that draw comfort from saying per capita Oz is still doing well for a nation of 21mil.
The kiwis have got more golds and silver and bronzes per capita than the Aussies. Let that stat sink in for a moment....
OUCH! There it is. The nail in the coffin.
Time to pack up and find a new island and populate it with just athletes. Its the only way.
Disclaimer: Obviously I personally have had diddly squat to do with any of the medals, I just happened to be born on the same island as everybody else. Perspective is great.
- Anonymous
- August 21, 2008
Tell you what though for all those that draw comfort from saying per capita Oz is still doing well for a nation of 21mil.
The kiwis have got more golds and silver and bronzes per capita than the Aussies. Let that stat sink in for a moment....
OUCH! There it is. The nail in the coffin.
Time to pack up and find a new island and populate it with just athletes. Its the only way.
Disclaimer: Obviously I personally have had diddly squat to do with any of the medals, I just happened to be born on the same island as everybody else. Perspective is great.
- You_know_its_true
- August 21, 2008
You guys need to be reeeealy careful with this medals per capita of population argument. You do realise that would put the Netherlands, Jamaica, Slovakia,etc above Oz, making you look pedestrian, with countries like Estonia and the South Poms very close? I mean, on that argument, just Scotland's 3 Golds out of team GB means that the Sweaty Socks must be an athletic powerhouse. I know different (I am one): we have the Eurpoean gold medal for obesity and heart attacks, the per capita argument is just falacious. Find a better excuse. And thanks for the coaches - they said it was good to be paid more than the school cleaner. Cheers! :-)
- Wal
- August 21, 2008
And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon England�s mountains green
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England�s pleasant pastures seen
And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold:
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England�s green & pleasant Land.
Bow down to your motherland! Your Bruces & Shielas should stop trying to be so "Americanised" and start walking and generally exercising more and while I'm on, lay off the red meat, all those barbies are playing havoc with your waistlines and sporting prowess.
- Baldipom
- August 21, 2008
Don't be too down Aussies, you are probably related to a successful British or Chinese etc Olympian anyway.
- Jezzer
- August 21, 2008
Is it any wonder the Aussi athletic team is so poor when the national TV broadcast shows repeats of semi finals in volley ball and diving rather than athletics.
- Green and GOLD
- August 21, 2008
ok heres the deal. every dog has its day right?? RIGHT!!!
so who cares if one olympic meeting (out of how many?? 34 or something isnt it??) the poms actually manage to do something note worthy. I whole heartedly applaude you Great Britain. for once youve managed to accomplish something other then cook a really good raost beef dinner and serve it with really warm ( sh*T) beer.
Kudos mother land. kudos.
PS. corgy's are a really crap dog.
- Corp Jones
- August 21, 2008
Due to the absense of the playing of the Australian National Anthem in the 'Birds Nest' Stadium (or any Olympic Stadium since before the war)the title of the Anthem has had to be changed, from now on it will be known as'Advance Australia Rare' however in the longterm the non playing of Advance Australia Rare will have a cost saving, only one recording is required to be posted to the 2012 games, this should be sent to the swimming pool, the IOC member for Australia is said to be delighted "that $5 can be better spent on our basket ball team, our new national sport needs all the help it can get in beating those Americans, the smug bastards with a population of 300 million and the worlds largest economy, its not fair that we never get above them in the medal table, its just not" he was unavailable for comment yesterday due to be involved in 'Ausbase 2016' the Olympic Baseball trials.
JB: See, Greg, this guy knows how to take the piss.
- Brian
- August 21, 2008
ashton that's laughable. I've lost count of the amount of times the press here have been going off their nuts about some article criticising Australia written thousands of miles away. One by Jeremy Clarkson (before anyone here would have known who he was) a few years back in a UK paper springs to mind - filled Aussie letters pages for days.... Australians are the most hyper-sensitive people on the planet! Our very own blog? I do hope this isn't that start of another Pauline Hanson style "if ya don't loike it, get aaht" rant. Surely informed debate from both sides is welcome, is it not. Would be a pretty boring blog if everyone agreed.
- Pedro
- August 21, 2008
You POMS think your are just bloody wonderful . Just take into consideration your large population as opposed to ours , it seems you are really not wonderful at all. Sorry about that old chap.
- ashton
- August 21, 2008
Geeezus. Us Aussies are painful? Have a listen to you poms go! You are all soooo sensitive! Why do you give a kate moss what comments we make on this, our very own local blog, and feel obliged to respond so desperately and aggressively? You think Aussies are blogging their way through your newspapers like this? No chance.
If this twisted nationalistic pride is a taste of things to come, can you imagine life during the London Olympics? Scary
- The Queen
- August 21, 2008
Afternoon all. GB has just claimed gold number 17 in the sailing. Tremendous news I'm sure we will all agree. On this occasion, we certainly are amused! The gap widens.
- paulc000
- August 21, 2008
- Corp Jones
- August 21, 2008
Those Aussie dont like it up em and the feel of that cold steel!
JB: Now that's how you reply to a piss takin' blog.
- cuthbert
- August 21, 2008
yes danno,your barren arid rock is more "beautiful" than our green and pleasant land.The population of london is 7 million,australia 20m so a little off on your facts tehre.And most of them are aussies working in bars endlessly going on about how great australia is despite the fact that as soon as they turned 18 they got the hell out the place to somewhere with some history and culture!
- London Pom
- August 21, 2008
With 2012 Olympics on the horizon, we Poms are on a winning high. No flash in the pan I am afraid. I have seen enough Aussies in London recently to fill an Olympic stadium. With Russia below us and above Australia in the medals table, we can't be better. Hope Aussies stop wingeing and settle down accepting the reality which is often bitter!
- August 21, 2008
WOW, check the level of bile and vitriol being bandied about on this blog. All of you, get a grip. Check John B's bio to wit: opinionated, pig headed and oafish. Add a healthy dose of tongue in cheek. The Brits are ahead of Australia. So what. Cannot see the sky falling in. They trained long and hard just like our athletes and deserve their postion on the medal table. We may have underperformed but not through lack of commitment. Fact is both spend a lot of money on sport. Australia has done so since Montreal in 1976. We expect success. If we don't quite manage it then we move on and go around again in four more years. And i know its been said a thousand times before and i should not start a sentence with a preposition but Britain is not one country alone. All this us versus them Pommy bashing is puerile in the extreme
- Dave
- August 21, 2008
The way the pom economy is going down the gurgler,they're bound to have trouble competing for offshore coaching talent for London 2012.If so,drastic budget cuts will have to occur elsewhere.I fear the opening ceremony fireworks experts might be forced to make do with a packet of skyrockets,a box of hand held sparklers and leave it to the special effects nerds to fill in the rest.And I doubt they'll be able to match the Chinese fee for a Sarah Brightman theme song,even if she mimes.They may have to settle for Gary Glitter,I heard that he's now available for future gigs at a reasonable rate.
- Jimmy Jinx
- August 21, 2008
Glad you enjoyed The Office Tom - an all time classic I trust you will agree and one of a long list produced by old blighty. As usual one has to look to the UK for good comedy when the best local produce includes Rove, woeful Wil Anderson etc. We've had our fair share of crap too, but at least ALL of our comedy doesn't fit into that category!
- Prince Harry
- August 21, 2008
Spot on Silverfox, they only got ahead in recent games due to massive govt funding while our sports system was left to rot for decades. They still have much better facilities as our improvement has only just begun yet we are back on top. What has occurred here is simply a reversion to the mean after a period of unusual volatility. You see it in investment markets all the time.
- Tokyo Brit
- August 21, 2008
God you Aussies are painful, you're all Brits anyway, listen to you with your Cockney and Northern accents. Just give it a rest will you, is life so boring down there that you can only get interested when you're bashing the poms... Beautiful country as you say, robbed from it's true owners, by us, the Brits, by you the Aussies..
- Stu
- August 21, 2008
430+ comments! A new record?
Way to go JB, you sure know how to push them buttons.
I reckon these Brits are smashing the Chinese when it comes to rabid nationalistic blogging.
Come on people, let's go for 500!
JB: YEAH! Bow down and worship me, Stephen Hutcheon for now I am your God.
- ken
- August 21, 2008
the funny thing is, I have a visual of all these Australians, hunched over their keyboards (at work), rabidly punching away 'Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!' and 'we're No.1 in medals per capita'(even though they aren't) and 'Just wait til 2012'.
Oh, and as I look out of my window, it's raining.
I live in Sydney
- Graham
- August 21, 2008
I do love the soap jokes, as the irony is you can just imagine the stinking bogan westie types who sit there typing that stuff in the absence of any genuine wit to fall back on in their time of need. Those Aussies with half a brain would surely do better than this. What next? Warm beer, bad weather, dentistry (see above again for they type most likely to be saying this)? In the word of one VERY misguided Herald headline that blew up in their faces early in the 2003 Rugby World Cup - Is that all you've got? Another gold chance just gone for Aus in the sailing. Time running out boys!
- tom
- August 21, 2008
I have a visual of all the poms who are jamming away furiously at their keyboards in retaliation here. I can see em straddling their chairs like David Brent from 'The Office', beating at their desks with their pasty fists, while it continuously drizzles outside over the monotonous little streets of Slough�
Ok, I know its a bit of a generalisation. But it hasn't stopped you poms on here rabbiting childishly about Australia's lack of culture and the uneducated references to our 'convict' history....so silly...and boring...
get back to work
- Silverfox
- August 21, 2008
Historically GB has outperfomed Austalia in the Olympics by a HUGE margin. I believe GB have won at least twice as many Gold Medals and more than double the overall medal total. I expect the Brits are happy about their return to form, but Autralia will not lead GB in the medal count in our lifetimes.
- Dr J Nebraska
- August 21, 2008
People, people,
When are we just going to be happy that we are little country, on a big island in the middle of nowhere - safe as houses, and rich as Croesus. The Olympics is a SPORTS CARNIVAL, people, geez! One that chews up too much cash that I'd rather be spent on education and healthcare. Get over it - everybody.
- Tommo
- August 21, 2008
Don't worry,the poms are Oncer's.These games will prove to be just a flash in the pan,they'll have burnt themselves out with all the unaccustomed effort,just like their test cricket team did after finally winning the ashes for the first time since the Crimean war.No nation can shake off such a consistent and wide-ranging legacy of ingnominious sporting failure that easily.
So here's my Nostrodamean prophesy for the London Games:
Aussies:38 gold,53 silver,?bronze(I couldn't be bothered counting them).
Poms:2 bronze.Both for darts(which they managed to browbeat the IOC into including as an olympic event).
- Baldipom
- August 21, 2008
GBR 16 Gold, 11 Silver, 11 Bronze
AUS 11 Gold, 12 Silver, 13 Bronze
Enough said.
- danno
- August 21, 2008
Dear poms,
it's good you've finally won something and actually sent yourselves in this time!! By the way the UK population is much larger than Australia!! In fact the population of London alone is the population of Australia and suddenly you feel good about yourselves for winning... Poor things.
PS Australia is much more beautiful country then the UK - so thats something you will never beat... that's why most of you move here xoxo
- Ian, Samara, Russia
- August 21, 2008
Montreal??? 1976??? Well, no, I don't remember it, and I am 41 now!
- GB - The Age
- August 21, 2008
The issue that Team GB consists of Scottish, English & Welsh athlete, not just the English (Poms) reaffirms my view that Australians & The Aus media is so poorly educated about the UK.
Here's an example.
Go to The Age Travel section.
Select Region as Europe.
Select Country as UK. View guide.
In the pulldown "Other destinations in England." You'll see you can visit Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh and Glasgow in England.
What a joke - cheers guys.
- GB - The Age
- August 21, 2008
The issue that Team GB consists of Scottish, English & Welsh athlete, not just the English (Poms) reaffirms my view that Australians & The Aus media is so poorly educated about the UK.
Here's an example.
Go to The Age Travel section.
Select Region as Europe.
Select Country as UK. View guide.
In the pulldown "Other destinations in England." You'll see you can visit Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh and Glasgow in England.
What a joke - cheers guys.
- August 21, 2008
John, you and your fellow countrymen who are bleating on about this like it matters need to grow up and get over it!
- GB - The Age
- August 21, 2008
The issue that Team GB consists of Scottish, English & Welsh athlete, not just the English (Poms) reaffirms my view that Australians & The Aus media is so poorly educated about the UK.
Here's an example.
Go to The Age Travel section.
Select Region as Europe.
Select Country as UK. View guide.
In the pulldown "Other destinations in England." You'll see you can visit Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh and Glasgow in England.
What a joke - cheers guys.
- nifty
- August 21, 2008
The poms might be back but the Russians are coming!!!!
- lunamickey
- August 21, 2008
Ok you two! Any excuse and you're at it like a pair of alley cats!
Step away from the keyboard and breathe!!!
Has everyone forgotten the second word in the title of this hyped up school sports carnival?
"GAMES" people "GAMES"!
- tortoise
- August 21, 2008
At least the Poms won't be subing in kids in the opening ceremony because their teeth aren't straight. Love them as they are England!
Reminds me of that Simpsons episoide where Homer pulls out "The Great Book of British Teeth"! Classic!
I love this stuff it's what makes sport entertaining
- Dave
- August 21, 2008
I heard that the pom's australian coaching team discovered a brilliant new training aid.If they dangle a block of soap on a rope behind the athletes they'll run/ride/swim and jump like the clappers to get away from it.
- Get over it
- August 21, 2008
Right, after a little bit of time wasting at work, I have discovered the following in answer to this whole GB not England rubbish. Out of our 38 medals now won, 26 are individual medals of which I have gone through to find out where in the UK they come from and the results are as follows:
Gold Silver Bronze Totals %
England 8 5 7 20 76.92
Scotland 2 1 0 3 11.54
Wales 1 1 0 2 7.69
N. Ireland 0 1 0 1 3.85
11 8 7 26 100.00
So as a country we are only 3 behind Australia on gold and 16 in total medals and that is on individual medals I am sure that seeing the percentages already shown, that the team medals would likely be listed under England and not any of the other home nations. Therefore let us say that there are 5 more golds under GB, 76.92% of them would be for England, meaning another 4 taking our total to 12, so still beating the Aussies.
- topherlessQ
- August 21, 2008
Just to add to the rivalry Australia and Great Britain are first and second on the xbox 360 Live game of Beijing 2008, olympic mode, and even though i am currently world number 1 i have nothing but respect for my british counterpart in 2nd. In a virtual world you should listen to the virtual athlete you know it makes sense
- Billpom
- August 21, 2008
Yep ok,
We threw our own people on boats because the idea was to eredicate criminal genes in the population. These theories were quite prevalent a couple of centuries ago. Thankfully we moved on. More recenty however your own government tried to eradicate the Aborigines (the real Australians) through separating the kids from their parents. Something still being done up till the 1960s, in the 1970s your govenrment still prohibited non whites immigrants from entering the country. Something to be proud of? Dont make me laugh. People living in glass houses shouldnt throw stones.
- Alby
- August 21, 2008
I love this, the problem is most rednecked aussies are shielded from the outside world and are bombarded with what can only be discribed as sporting propaganda to make them actually believe they are that good, then it comes as a bit of a shock to them when they don't succeed. Watching ch 7 you would think theres only three team in it, china, us and oz, poor ol aussies, never mind you can always merge with NZ to be more competitive! get ready for all the excuses and a request for sports funding yeehaa go GB!!!!!
- Dr J Nebraska
- August 21, 2008
The only reason I don't want the Poms to beat us is that the AOC will now want more of my tax dollars to make a - so called - mends for the performance. Rather than rape the public purse lets take a leaf out of the Poms' book and fund these hobbies with lotteries!
- Jack
- August 21, 2008
Why are Aussies so ungracious towards anyone? It's not towards the Brits - but the US, SA, Canada, China, you name it. They are persistently and consistently good at displaying their lack of style, culture and brains...not a lot has changed here in 200+ years. As one blogger said, if they were Italians (or Germans) then fine. But these guys are way out of their league...
- yep ok
- August 21, 2008
I'd rather be part of a culture that is tied to hard working petty 'crims' than stem from a culture who threw it's own people on boats, and sent them to the other side of the earth for pinching food. Now thats sumthing to be proud of.
The reality is we've never given a toss about beating the poms either. You've never been competition for us, in anything. We're just a little shocked that you're now leaving a mark on the medal tally. But then how could u hold your inflated heads high if you performed in London the way you have in recent decades? Besides, where are all you poms writing from? How did you manage to locate this blog and why are you desperately replying to all our 'childish' comments if you really don't care? Leave us alone and focus on all these other aspects to your wonderful existance you keep harping on about...
- Woffles
- August 21, 2008
Whilst it might be grating that the Poms are beating us(they have to now and then for national insecurity as they have'nt won a World Cup in their national game for 40 years and Euro2008 is best forgotten).
We should not forget that recent games have produced a rush of Oz Gold medals that have not always been the norm in the past.
AS an older Oz I for one can remember one word "Montreal".
So 11 so far is Ok by me. At least the Septics are not top.
- Scotsman in Oz
- August 21, 2008
This "debate" just confirms to me that the Olympic "ideal" is well and truly dead....and what we have left in its place is simply another excuse for nationalistic posturing and crude "jingoism".
I was born in Scotland and am immensely proud of being "Scottish".....I have lived for 18 years in Portugal, and consider myself to be "European" more than anything else. For the last 5 years I have lived with my wife and family just outside Melbourne, and they have been 5 brilliant years, my kids have Australian passports. The point is...none of us choose our nationality, it is an "ACCIDENT" of birth, so why do we get so worked up about it??? I'll tell you why....because we are all being manipulated...by our Governments, by the Media, by the establishment, by big business.....divide and rule people, that is what this is all about!
Wake up and get real the lot of you.
- Sports Fan
- August 21, 2008
Okay, here is the picture captured from that AP video clip. I don't about you, but I am still looking for my teeth.
- Pompey Pommy
- August 21, 2008
Its great living in Australia at the moment. I just whistle around the office and don't say anything. Silence is Golden, very powerful, especially when accompanied by an added little smile to natives in the office. I might even add the finger gun point tomorrow, David Brent stylee.
- Sports Fan
- August 21, 2008
Who said the Brits have beaten us? All we need is a creative way of presenting the medal table such as the pathetically funny way the Yankees are doing. Just click this link (the funny part is at the very end of the 1 minute clip). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggsbR-VNB0U
And you will know what I am saying, Brilliant!
- SamC
- August 21, 2008
We're not whinging. It is a matter or pride. We pride ourselves on beating the Poms. Even better if it is a sport they invented (which we do well!). We're so used to it that we expect it nowadays. Nothing would be better than winning on your home turf. Until London...!
- Stuart
- August 21, 2008
Do we need to remind you Poms about the Montreal Olympics where we led the medal table with 28 gold, 19 silver and 23 bronze whereas Britain only managed 1 bronze and that was in the Biathlon (which was technically a Winter sport but I blame the judges for allowing the athletes to carry around loaded rifles).
- Stevo in HK
- August 21, 2008
yeah i could cope with the boasting if they were italian too. There'd be a reason behind it
- Woody
- August 21, 2008
My friend please get a life.The reality is the POMS do not care about Australia. Of course there is banter but for me it is overplayed here, tuwe are must more concerned about this than them. Listening to our commentators gush about our achievements turns me right off
Time for Australia to run its own race and accept that sometimes we are not neccessarily the best on the day
Insecurity comes to mind!
- Heath-The -Horrible
- August 21, 2008
Get over yourselves! You have some of the fugliest people on the planet, with THE WORST TEETH and personal hygiene I have enocuntered right here in "OZ" - Why do you have to abbriviate everyting or give it a stupid nickname ending in "roo?" Oh, that would be the illiteracy rate!!
Bad manners? Crap service? Mediocre food? Oh, yeah, you guys have it all!!!!
And you just don't get it, do you? Great Britain doesn't give a toss about what you think, becaue you are a former penal colony made good due to the hard work and initiative of migrants like ME!!!!!!!!
Now, if you were Italian, I could cope with the boasting....
- Anonymous
- August 21, 2008
australians are becoming worse than the whingers they label the poms.The arrogance of their rugby team was well and truly shoved down their thraots in the world cup by england and in the olympics theyre getting the same treatment after the comments from their politicians.They clear still have a huge chip on their shoulders.The only thing they had was sport,they dont have any culture or history or invention to compare with Britain so now theyve lost sport,they must be in mourning,i weep for them.
- Ortelius
- August 21, 2008
You Australians are unreal. Arrogant in victory; petulant in defeat. No one in Britain cared where we stood relative to you until we saw the toxic bile coming out of your country. Now it's our solemn duty to beat you. No one wants to lose to a bunch of convicts after all, do they?
- batman
- August 21, 2008
I've just gotta say that this blog has been far more entertaining than any of the Limpdicks so far.
- BrianC
- August 21, 2008
I've read all of this. and i keep comming back to one statement
(for your Germaine Greer I'll raise you Isaac Newton)
Germaine Greer!!!! Germaine FU*(ING Greer, thats who you think we uphold as an example of australian intellect. She bloody well bolloxed off to england as soon as she could. So dont dump her on us, she's bloody well yours.
What about Fred Emery or Chris Wallace, I'll take them over Germaine bloody Greer.
And you know what else... Theres alot of english names posting here crowing about their success, but i dont see alot of Micks, Scotts, or Sheep shagers,(i meant to welsh i did) Posting, you know why, because they know the commenwealth games are just around the corner, lets how big you Tommies are when its just you and not your "Great Britain" friends
Great Britain why is it great anyways, what it done for me lately, bloody nanny state. Jermey Clarkson for king if you ask me, seems like hes the only pom with any sense
- Guru Bob
- August 21, 2008
Gee whizz and I thought it was only the yanks who don't get irony?
I suppose the poms need to get ready for when they host their own Olympic shindig in a few years. It is no good if the host country doesn't bag a swag of gold medals, although even given the current rate for gold on the market I don't think that a couple of dozen medals actually covers the billions of dollars (or pounds) involved in hosting the games.
- Therbs
- August 21, 2008
SteveF, I assume you'd like to register a complaint? Back of the line, son. That one snaking out from the Complaints Department and eating 99 flakes.
- paddy
- August 21, 2008
Dear Poms
when you've finished with our sporting coaches we could lend you some dentists if you like. And maybe you guys could loan us some of the forward thinking geniuses from the BNP to cure us of our racist tendencies.
your humble colonial cousins
- Bruce Pintpuller
- August 21, 2008
John congratualtions for hijacking the entire readership of The Sun and The Daily Mail onto fairfax blogs. Dave Kirk must be pleased.
About 80 % of these comments are "We Brits don't care but ... we are beating you convicts so nah nah nah!!!! And by the way you Aussies all work as bartenders in England, aren't I funny!
Fair dinkum, this lot make Collingwood supporters seem gracious and pleasant.
To all Poms - I truly hope you lot behave better than this when your hosting them in 2012.
JB: Bruce, it worries me that a humble pintpuller can see thru my traffic stat boosting shenanigans in a second, while, as you point out, 80% of that boosted traffic cannot.
- give me a break
- August 21, 2008
I lived in the U.K. for quite a while and have to say the British are the most violently one eyed and parochial bunch of people I've ever come across. I was at a soccer match where the supporters of one team had to stay put in the stadium seats til the other lot had left the building (for fear of a mob like attack). And that was between two neighbouring English teams! That would never occur here in Oz. You guys have no place calling us bad losers or to say we take our sport a little too seriously....
- Watery
- August 21, 2008
Well done Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.
Forget the whingeing and look at the results.
There will be more medals to come.
John A. Waterhouse.
Christchurch, New Zealand.
- SteveF
- August 21, 2008
To all the Aussies saying that 'whinging Pom' was invented for a reason, that reason seems to be to deflect us from the fact that the Aussies are the biggest whingers of all!
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 21, 2008
It's only the English that pretend to be British. Being British is the eqivalant of Oz invading and suppressing New Zealand, PNG and Fiji and forcing them to call themselves Australasian.
The Welsh and the Scots see themselves as that. Not some hybrid nationality invented by the English to legitimise the subjugation of their Celtic neighbours.
- Mat
- August 21, 2008
I'm voting for a 'Cheesy Soap Opera Event' at the games in London. Maybe the final would be NEIGHBOURS v HOLLYOAKS. You might be in with a chance of at least winning one gold off Team GB.
- brittybritbrit
- August 21, 2008
Oh come on! I'm British and I recognise the blog for what it is, I can only apologise for my compatriots lack of humour, can we not recognise piss-taking when we read it? No need for spitting blood. I am rather happy and to be honest amazed by GB's performance in the olympics, can't wait until 2012. I like the idea of us banding together to whup the Yanks though ... come on China get your act together and overhaul the USA's medal total!
- bondiboy66
- August 21, 2008
To all the Brits saying that Aussies are moaning /complaining and the like, the term 'whinging pom' was coined for a reason.
- David
- August 21, 2008
Birmingham? Hey, nice name. Scratch an ozzie find a pom.
Up the Villa!
- The Tyke
- August 21, 2008
Well my friend.Just wait until November when we whip (Well Beat) you at your National Sport.......Roll on Brisbane..
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 21, 2008
My point was not about who invented the symbolism of the Union Jack. It was about cross of St Andrew having the cross of St George smeared across it. Which bit of that did I get wrong?
And all you poms want to pretend that the Union was entirely voluntarily despite the hundreds of thousads who died through out the centuries resisting English oppression and subjugation. Try Googling Culloden. The Scots don't need to.
- Barnesm
- August 21, 2008
You know just because you don't see the funny, doesn't mean the funny isn't there.
As to racist, WTF how can it be racist for Australia to talk about "convicts and jailers settling some old scores in London in four years' time".
Still I love the numerous protests about the quality of this blog and how it is nothing but drivel meanwhile HOW many folk have posted? Mind you for some there is little evidence of having read it.
Still you have provided a couple of minutes of amusing diversion for a lot of people.
Not bad for an olympic blogg.
- August 21, 2008
Mate,what a donkey!
- Luke The English Man
- August 21, 2008
Ha HA you guys are so funny we realy dont care about your little unimportant nation. I used to think the aussie people were alright, but that was before i realised what a huge attitude problem you have, you are the biggest moaners and the worst losers. You all say your better at sports than us i can only think of cricket were that is true, we win at everything else. Some of the many exuses i have heard of been obsurd, you say we have forgeniers in our teams and coaching staff, well have you seen your rugby team all stolen south sea islanders. oh and one more thing just rember that every time your flag is raised so is ours if you know what i mean.
- Gold, Gold, Gold......
- August 21, 2008
Nothing like a brief glimpse of Sporting success to bring the out the ugly soap dodger as witnessed on this forum. A repeat of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Deserved winners saddled with fair weathered fans who jump on the band wagon when the sun shines. Where were you clowns when England�s sports people were the whipping boys (and gels) of the English media? Oz are having a poor Olympics and GB a great one yet they are ahead by only two positions. When it�s the other way around, as it has been recently, GB are not on the same page.
Those that say the UK media is not obsessed with beating Oz at these Olympics must be ignoring BBC, ITV and the London and provincial print media. Even Scotland on Sunday was crowing about the fact that GB had overhauled the Ozzies. The fact they are also in front of Russia has largely been overlooked.
The media is getting a great rise out of this but the rivalry is misplaced. It�s between England and Oz, not GB. Wales and Scotland loathe England more than Australia and the rest of the world does. That these athletes can get together and compete successfully is testament to their sporting professionalism. That the Barmy Army will hijack any band wagon and pretend as their own is testament to their desperation.
'bring the out the ugly soap dodger'
JB: I am so stealing that phrase.
- learnsomethingnew
- August 21, 2008
Gold, Gold, Gold.....
Your ignorance is showing. The Union Jack is actually a Scottish invention.
- leslie
- August 21, 2008
Sad sad sad. What dreadful comments you make. How many Brits move to or visit oz each year? This is a good country and, like so many other Brits, I've never looked back since moving here. You embarass me with you vile, and horrible mix of arrogance and ignorance. Read your own papers - don't remind me of what I left.
- britishandenglish
- August 21, 2008
You know what I find really irritating about these comments - the implication that as someone who is English I could not be proud or appreciate the achievements of someone who is Scottish, Welsh, or Irish. Team GB is just that - a team. It's British funding for British athletes.
And if anyone is actually interested, the Beeb appear to be more interested of setting up a 'rivalry' between the Irish and the British than they are about setting one up with Australia. They didn't seem to care about what the Aussie were up to until you started complaining about us. On tomorrows coverage? Setting up a rivalry with the French who are even more whiny and have accused the British cyclists of using drugs.
Personally, as a Brit, I think this years tally is a blip. We're going to mess up by the time that 2012 comes around and the Aussies will no doubt be above us in the table again.
Oh, and btw, I thought it was only the Americans who tried to take the piss at us because of our supposedly bad teeth. Well done, you've sunk to their level.
- Gold, Gold, Gold.....
- August 21, 2008
Brown Dog
Why are the English called POMS. Something to do with where they came from, England. Thats why the English are affectionately known as Poms.
As a rampant Ozzie Republican I cant believe you still have the English St George Cross smeared across your flag and Scotland is still pretty much a principality of the English Monarchy. Why has nothing changed since Culloden? Or have you forgotten? Time to stop collaborating and give the poms the @rse. We did.
- niel h
- August 21, 2008
I once travelled in Africa. It was just after england won the 2003 World cup in rugby. I was telling a Canadian about the RWC...I recall her saying, "England - it's like a country that has just - given up..."
Enjoy the hiatus boys...
- back stud from the front
- August 21, 2008
Come on now we are talking about sport, may the best man win.
Put the sour grapes where the monkey puts its nuts.
Australias greatest were the first Anzacs and never forget 96% of them were British born or British descent.
Show the world we know how to lose graciously the same way as we know how to win.
Don't be led up the garden path by ignoramuses such as who wrote this article.
JB: Or those 'such as who' commented.
- allan
- August 21, 2008
come on lets have some grown up comments
oz has stood by us in two world wars so why are we falling out now. BOTH countries have done wel aginst the rest of the world so lets BOth celebrate together.
nuff said
regards to oz
- Xbreed
- August 21, 2008
What a blatant troll. Some Aussies dislike Brits, some Brits dislike Aussies, it will never change. "My country's better than yours" is a pathetic line of 'debate' not worthy of The Age. This kind of drivel is more suited to one of Murdoch's rags where perhaps Mr Birmingham should seek employment.
- Oxymoron: Happy Pom
- August 21, 2008
"JB: Only by accident of birth mate. I'm an Australian by choice."
I am British by birth but having read your column (sorry mate some bright spark put a link to it on the BBC website - wasn't you was it?)...I've decided that I am now Chinese. There. My choice. We have 45 golds to your 11. Ya boo sucks.
- kenm
- August 21, 2008
Thoughts of an Englishman living in Oz...
England beats Aus at the medal count and there is one sad Brit who fanaticaly hates Australia because of it??
Most Australians are not concerned and are actually happy for the poms - they think it's about time we fired up. Contrary to the opinions in this blog, Australia just loves a fighter. Most writers here should not bother coming - thanks.
- August 21, 2008
Could you please tell your Minister of Sport that the GB Team is made up of athletes from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, they are not all English!
- buchanan17
- August 21, 2008
So funny - all these anti british comments coming from a man who has the surname of possibly the dullest city in the UK. I love the irony JB - real Aussie name you've got there!
- Roo_Basher
- August 21, 2008
Born in Liverpool eh??
Where do you side on the whole Kylie versus Beatles debate then?
If you're going to act like a twat at least wear a silly hat.
- Ian, UK
- August 21, 2008
Hey John, and the rest of you Aussies reading this, GROW UP. Why do you airbrush inconvienient facts out to try and support your lazy, misguided, false "truths"? Why are you so embarrassed by your heritage? Why are you acting up to the increasingly (worldwide) held view of Australians as obnoxious, loud mouthed, self centred, narrow minded, arrogant, unpleasant, illeducated, racist, hypocritical bad losers and graceless winners? NO ONE OVER HEAR REALLY CARES ABOUT YOU! YOU'RE OFF THE RADAR MOST OF THE TIME! YOU'RE JUST NOT IMPORTANT TO US MOST OF THE TIME. THIS RIVALRY IS TOTALLY ONE DIRECTIONAL, ALL FROM YOU, JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT MASSIVE CHIPS ON YOUR SHOULDERS ABOUT US, AND NEED TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELVES. The graceless ways you lot have reacted so far is sickening, childish and immature, and turned a lot of people here against you, that's why we're enjoying rubbing you're arrogant noses in it, the only problem is I don't think you're going to learn some humility. Remeber your cricketers behaviour against India recently? I suppose that was just "good natured Ribbing"? Or has it damaged Australia's standing in one of the largest growing economic markets in the world? Perhaps if you got out more, and stopped believing the rubbish you tell yourselves over and over, you might mature enough to realise ther's more important things out there, or are you just happy to be a backwater people only notice every few years?
- kimo
- August 21, 2008
Swings and roundabouts guys - heard of that? The attitudes in this blog are the same as the Jeromy Clarkson type 'We're Brits and we invented everything...' Yes you have - thanks for that - and thanks for allowing everyone else to move forward from it.
It's a bit like the spastic cousin that has learn't to spell his own name - everyone is embarrassingly proud of him at the family reunion.
- Oxymoron: Happy Pom
- August 21, 2008
Quick response to the rantings of "Broadmoor Greg" down below who clearly doesn't "get it".
The banter between us Brits and the Ozaroos is not meant to be vicious, mate, it's just banter...as you have when you're out with your mates for a drink - I was drinking in Paris with a bunch of Ozzies after we beat them in the rugby world cup. That's how it's meant to be.
Alright, so I had to buy the first round (and the second one for that matter)... and the French waiter would only serve the Ozzies, not me - but that's a different matter. The point is, keep it banter not "i'm a twat" offensive and leave off the red dot on the flag crap. Unless you've forgotten about the 60,000 australians buried in Flanders and Gallipoli.
On another point - there are 750,000 Australians estimated to be living in London. I'm off to find one for a serious conversation about sport...never thought I'd be saying that. And this time they can buy the bloody drinks.
- mick mally
- August 21, 2008
'Ave it - ave it'...hate em - hate em'...It's a bit manic guys, a bit hysterical, if you know what I mean? Proud of your country and its achievements? Why not - It's been a great success this games?
But dont denigrate the achievements by talking like twats. Years of being laughed at have obviously taken their toll. The breathtaking gloating does not give you any dignity and does rather set you up for a humiliating fall.
- August 21, 2008
Well you aussies better get used to losing as well we stuff you again in 2012. Bring it on!!!!
- Steve
- August 21, 2008
JB - love your work as usual.
Fark it hurts to see the To and Froms doing so well. No - lets be truthful - just beating us...My, aren't they dignified in their success. Still, I suppose years of humiliation in just about every sport have qualified them for their moment in the sun.
We should take heart - like all things British (highly unreliable,completely inefficient and totally arrogant) - we can rely on their disappointment at failure in the near future.
Still...it painful now...at least we don't have to return to england.
- crow
- August 21, 2008
Typical Brummy,stir the shite and duck!
- Caro
- August 21, 2008
I don't see what the fuss is all about to be honest? Being beaten by the Brits could be just the thing Australian Olympic sport needs.
Yes, more often than not, Aussies beat us in sport, we haven't got a problem admitting that!
So when the Brits win, we like to have a little song and dance, (case in point, English cricket team getting MBEs and the parade after the '05 Ashes. And whatever anyone says, we are slightly enjoying beating you guys right now). And what happened then? Loads of people said it could be just what the Aussie cricket team needed after being dominant for so long - a little kick up the arse. And what happened next? You thoroughly thumped us a year and a bit later!
So basically, stop whining, let us have our moment in the sun, come back in 4 years bigger and better and try and beat us in our 'back yard'!
Think how much bigger the bragging rights will be then! And it'll be all the more louder given how many of you are over here in London anyway!
- Mattyb
- August 21, 2008
Well done Team GB.
What a shame the moronic readers of this blog don't have the same dignity, poise and humility that you have displayed.
You manage to lessen the pride in being British.
- london boy
- August 21, 2008
when it comes to greatness, I would put the invention of things like DNA MRI scans, jet engines, the internet, penicillin, television, etc etc above a few medals in beijing. Still it's nice to excell at sport once in a while as well. Top ozzie invention? The stubbie holder.
- John
- August 21, 2008
Leaving aside the "friendly" rivalry, it is really disgusting to see how your athletes capitulated on the track as soon as they realised they did not have what it took. When you are up against the best in future, please do not sit up and give up halfway through. You owe it to he other competitors to keep trying. Even when you are second best.
In 2012, please try, at the very least. The abiding memory now is of a team of losers who want to look like they were not actually trying too hard.
- L.B.Liston
- August 21, 2008
I just wanted to say how shocked I am at the Aussie reaction.
I've always admired Australia, and New Zealand, alot, as well as other Commonwealth states due to our shared heritage and achievements. I do not understand why Australian are being really bitter and twisted about our rare sporting success.
You know, there was once a day when the British and Australians would stand together as one to defend their common interests. We fought and died together in the face of an overwhelming enemy, and we claimed victory together, and celebrated it together. What has changed?
All I know, is that this bitterness is not near as mutual in the UK. In fact, Australia is admired by British people, everyone here loves Australians and Kiwis, and all our other Commonwealth cousins. It is true what another poster put, UK is perhaps Australia's biggest friend in the world, you would probably say USA is, but the USA would drop you in a heartbeat should you not agree with them (like they did to New Zealand). But the British have, do and will always stand by Australia. It is a shame the affection is not returned.
Also, if the Australians really cannot help but bash the British during a rare sporting glory, at least stick to factual and reasonable arguments.
UK has 60 million people, not 80. The UK is one country, not 4. It would be like saying the USA is entering as 50 putting into 1.
Anyways, peace from London.
- Neil C
- August 21, 2008
It's been quite funny reading about the reaction to Britain's success in this Olympics.
Many Australians seem to have this feeling of a great rivalry between the two countries when in fact we don't really care that we are beating you, just that we are doing well for once. Australia's excellent record in supporting and nuturing it's athletes and has long been admired (and now emulated) over here.
Perhaps Australia can look at how it could learn to become a nation of good sports as well as great athletes.
- Scott, Manchester, England
- August 21, 2008
Immature, pathetic racists. Is this really the image you want to present to the world, Australia?
- Kngston Bob
- August 21, 2008
Hang on everybody! All this bitterness between our two great countries is ridiculous.I've just checked out the Los Angeles Times and they've devised a way to show USA as top medal nation and no reports about UK or Oz at all.Add the Union Jacks on the flags together and we're tops Go GBR! GO OZ! Roberto Kingston upon Thames London
- Mick
- August 21, 2008
Oh what fun, I love it.
TBH, I welcomed the arrival of the Olympics with a dreadful resignation that all of our fancied athletes would somehow conspire to cock it with 5 max. Instead we have 16 and it could rise, its been a great weekend and last few days - are we allowed to celebrate, ab-fo-suck-ing-lutely !!! Can we wait for 2012 - absolutely not - its going to be great I can't wait and live about 10 miles from where its all going to happen. Sydney 2000 looked great, we want some !
Now, do I give a stuff at the olympics about getting more gold medals than anyone, to be honest NO - I just want memorable sport moments full of drama and excitement - like Usain Bolt, the star of the 29second show. If its us vs you, then guess what, I want us to win - wow, quelle surprise ! but I get far more emotional about our true team contests of rugby and cricket (yes I was there on Day 5 at the Oval !!) than I do about one of our cyclists beating one of yours - I simply want ours to win.
I find all this funny, you guys are not coming out of this very well, so much sour grapes, but no different really to when we won the RWC in your own backyard.
Our trait when we lose is normally to find an excuse and go on and on about it for ages, never witnessed it myself but apparently we do !.
You get so bitter and twisted like this article, give your head a break, applaud success whether its chinese, brazilian or british or Kiwi and stop being so racistly bigoted, the world has moved on JB !! Ha even your surname is from our second city !
- Taffy
- August 21, 2008
Gosh you learn something new every day- I had no idea OZ is so bitter towards Brits until our great successes this Olympics. I've always cheered Aussie competitors on, too and marvelled at their success in Sport. Hopefully the Aussie competitors themselves are better sports!
I've never heard of this so called rivalry- despite being an international athlete in my youth, hmmm. Guess its just one sided.
Go team GB - you do your country proud as sportspeople as well as winners.
- August 21, 2008
As a nation we need to 'man up' about it and stop banging on about the population to medals ratio. Its medals to atheletes sent ratio that matters. We took a third more athletes to the games than team GB. Simple as that.
- Ronster
- August 21, 2008
Hillybilly Aussies, your unbelievable.
Nobody in England gives a toss whether we finish on top of you in the medals or not!(no more than any other country anyway)
I can´t understand why the chip in both shoulders and the attitube.......
Keep on throwing your toys out of the pram ay!
- tom the pom
- August 21, 2008
Theres lots of good banter going back and forth...and theres loads of Aussies on UK TV saying "well at least we beat them at the rugby"
Are you people talking about the inconsequential tests ? The tours ?
Cos Im thinking about the world cup semis, and the final four years before that. Wilkinson ? Remember ? hahaha !
- Whocares
- August 21, 2008
Sometimes the UK win and sometimes we lose. However the majority of us always accept the result and still manage a smile and a laugh. We are used to losing and don't lose any sleep over it. Baaaaad loser!
- Whocares
- August 21, 2008
Sometimes the UK win and sometimes we lose. However the majority of us always accept the result and still manage a smile and a laugh. We are used to losing and don't lose any sleep over it. Baaaaad loser!
- August 21, 2008
Silly aussie wanker just wait till we take the ashes back you kangaroo shagging home and away watching convict bastard.
- JB is a Tosser
- August 21, 2008
What an absolute tosser you sound, too obsessed with how the UK is doing than how your backward country is doing.
I had the misfortune to spend 3 weeks in your country during the ashes tour and ive never met a population with such chips on both shoulders about the UK.
You wanna get over it fella and smell the coffee, the facts are over here we think of your country once in a blue moon (when we play you at rugby or cricket) the rest of the time your nation dont even register with us here, but you lot spend your entire lives obsessing about your mother country.
Face it you convicts are bad losers, always have been always will be.
Any convict who becomes mildly famous in a country outside your country leaves asap. London is full of minor celebs who were born in OZ, what does that say about your nation, a country so devoid of culture they have to hold up a bridge and a white hedgehog as national icons.
Know your place convicts, you will forever be hanging onto the mother countries coat tails.
Rule Britania
- robbie32
- August 21, 2008
Get over it you whingeing Aussies. NO-ONE in the UK gives a toss about beating you. You guys seem to suffer from a never ending inferiority complex. Get some national therapy and get over it. We've won more medals SO WHAT? Us Brits like you guys but to be honest not if you turn into second rate YANKS! With all that "USA,USA" "In the HOLE" type of crap we hear so often. A nations sporting prowess is only something to be proud of if you can win and lose with EQUAL dignity! FFS. GIVE IT A REST!
- Jim
- August 21, 2008
So what is going on there Down Under? First, you're welcoming new Chinese overlords and now you've fallen behind the Brits (?!) in the medal count.
So what's next for you Aussies?
- Captain Cook
- August 21, 2008
Don't worry Australia, from what I've seen on visits over the last twenty years, you should soon become very good at oriental sports!
PS. Can aborigines run? Perhaps an untapped asset. lol
- Katieroo28
- August 21, 2008
To John Birmingham,
The true reason that Great Britain has begun it's campaign of beating Australia at the current Olympic Games originated from the 'sour grapes' over the magnificent 2000 games hosted by Sydney. Sebastian Coe head of the British Olympic committee, has to prove his value and worth, having no other qualifications other than being a former athlete, to hold such a prestigious position, ergo this year the Brits have poured in billions of GBPs to ensure they do not lose face when they become hosts in 2012. If anyone is a sore loser it would be Seb-Coe, he couldn't stand the idea that Sydney did such a stellar job as host nation, and beat GB in medal tally convincingly.
quoted text from British Tabloids
"BRITISH sportswriters insist that when Sebastian Coe, head organiser for the 2012 London Olympics, was asked if the Beijing opening ceremony would be a difficult act to follow, he laughed, declared big did not necessarily mean better, and joked that, in any case, the important thing was to "**** all over Sydney".
So weary were English organisers of the Manchester Commonwealth Games of hearing about Sydney's success that the very name of the city was banned in conversation. It was to be referred to, instead, as "the other place", or "south Manchester".
Pretty much summarises the attitude of mealymouthed pettiness huh.
Incidentally I'm an Aussie living in the USA, so I am suffocated by all the media hype of the USA medal successes. Having resorted to checking the SMH and Melbourne Herald Sun sites, just to get some news of my beloved Aussies.
- R.T.Fishall
- August 21, 2008
Hot news for the Oz swimming team... "After your bar work learn to swim at your local London pool" lol
- Real Beer
- August 21, 2008
To all sour faced whinging Aussie's get over it show some class, I thought you were meant to be a layed back nation, with a fair go attitude.Take a few minutes to reflect have a cold beer, relax and stop getting so wound up, it's not good for you.
Remember at the end of the day you are just a big desert near New Zealand!!!!
- Sweet Jane Says
- August 21, 2008
You couldn't phase the Chinese; so, you decided to take on the Brits. It's a little late for a war of independence against the Commonwealth, but it's never too late to stir up attention, attention you need to sell your books. Remember, to really be a best-selling author you need British buyers as well as American buyers.
Have you even been watching the Olympic competitions?
Sweet Jane Says
- Andy
- August 21, 2008
I sometimes wonder whether the Australian love of sport is just to keep everyone sane. I mean Australia it's a wasteland miles from anywhere and there's little else to do. It's got to grate a little when nations with a *few* more pastimes win with a fraction of the investment. What is Australia good at if it's not sport?
- Gold, Gold, Gold......
- August 21, 2008
Congrats to GB. Finally their sports program (exploiting AIS techniques and ex-staff) has come together at an opportune time. Just prior to their hosting the Olympics and the collapse of Russia and USA as Olympic super powers.
Oz has failed to take advantage of the huge change in super power standings by chocking big time at these games with many Olympic Event favourites failing to perform. There are 4 alone in swimming, cycling has been a disaster and many other ordinary performances in other traditionally strong Australian Sports.
Sadly for Oz, USA and Russia 2012 looks like more of the same. GB will continue to ride the wave that Oz rode through Sydney and Athens. Oz will just have to get cracking if they want to be on the next wave. They have more catching up to do than they thought.
- dyson
- August 21, 2008
you can rant and rave all you like...the result is still the same....we are on top of you in the table, and dare we mention the cycling?...now lets see.....was that 9 medals to the uk..and a great big zero to the winging aussies
- chibaken
- August 21, 2008
Ewww, what a nasty little oik you are, John Birmingham. Say those things against any other country and you'd be deemed racist.
I feel sorry for people like you, people who have every piece of empathy sucked out of them. Your legacy is surely going to be one long, depressing read...
- tadger88
- August 21, 2008
If Australians put as much energy into winning medals as they do denigrating the achievements of the British, then they'd be at the top of the league table right now. And by the way, all this name-calling of the Brits is just pathetic and infantile. Move on and forget your past injustices. The Asians will ultimately become your nemesis if you continually let them beat you, not the British.
- dyson
- August 21, 2008
you can rant and rave all you like...the result is still the same....we are on top of you in the table, and dare we mention the cycling?...now lets see.....was that 9 medals to the uk..and a great big zero to the winging aussies
- chibaken
- August 21, 2008
Ewww, what a nasty little oik you are, John Birmingham. Say those things against any other country and you'd be deemed racist.
I feel sorry for people like you, people who have every piece of empathy sucked out of them. Your legacy is surely going to be one long, depressing read...
- Lord Smugingtons of Claphamshire
- August 21, 2008
Strewth, you Aussies are certainly bringing home the gold in the sore loser race aren't you? The main reason why Aussie journalists, sports stars, sports organisers and 'jonno' the barman at the Clapham local get so pent up is because without sport no-one in the rest of the world gives a hoot about what's going on down-under, tucked away in the back of the closet like you are. Sure, we've all back-packed the East Coast but we all return to the mother country with its culture, history and international standing in politics, the arts and economics (something you aussies would know very little about with the exception of the minogues, rolf harris, les patterson and neighbours).
Face it - with your decline in sport (very few here care about cricket and rugby league is about as popular as french pop music), unless Paul Hogan drags his crinkly butt to Hollywood for Crocodile Dundee 4: A Saga Cruise the rest of the world will begin to forget you even exist.
- Janabelle
- August 21, 2008
If Australia is not prepared to pay their coaches the sums other countries offer, is it any wonder they have gone overseas?
"A lazy, opinionated, pigheaded and oafish scribe" - well you said it. If you can't take it then don't dish it!
- August 21, 2008
AUSSIES SUCK DONKEY. No one here (UK) even cared until the convicts started crying now we love it. Especially since a load of your famous half wits went on the TV before the games started and said you'd destroy us
- AussieInLondon
- August 21, 2008
This is kind of embarrasing. I am an Australian living in London, and the Brits really are not making a big deal about beating the Aussies at all. I think i have heard or read it mentioned once since the olympics began. It is only Australians now who see this as a big deal, and that is pretty sad.
- Shawpster
- August 21, 2008
Wow!! Aussies really do have small man syndrome when it comes to Britain. Britain is doing really well in the medal table, Australia is doing well for a relatively small country. Take the bags of chips of your shoulders, and stop sulking! It's us Poms who are supposed to whinge. ps why are Brit's Poms? If you look at what Pom means, It sounds more like an aussie to me.
- Interested
- August 21, 2008
So the Australian Press said the Brits can only win Golds when sitting down but forgtot our swimming medals and now the 400metres. Hang on a minute the only Golds the Australians have won involve either swimming (to get away from sharks?) or sitting down on the water. How about winning one on dry land for a change
- August 21, 2008
Hi all bloggers, please don't think that the mis-informed twit Greg, who posted at 8.31pm on Aug 20, is in any way representative of Brits. Living as an Australian in the UK, I can verify that small-minded people such as him very much the minority, and that 99.9% of those Brits who I meet enjoy good-natured banter with the Aussies. Unfortunately Greg must have some unknown chip on his shoulder - I guess you get people like this in every nation.
- Chris
- August 21, 2008
I think that us Brits should allow Australia to come up with whatever excuses they want to (population, GDP, immigration blah), to allow them to be happy with their medal tally.
Australian whine is legendary - both 2003 and 2007 were vintage albeit slightly bitter. We can add 2008 to that list - and 2005.
Well done to your athletes. They tried damn hard and played their part in an entertaining Games.
It is telling that while the British celebrate their medal haul REGARDLESS of what the Aussies achieved, our main interest is arguably in specific feats such as those of Chris Hoys and Usain Bolt. Australias focus seems to be rather limited by comparison.
As for the 'per capita' arguments, I understand your Olympic squad was bigger than ours - maybe because a lot of our population are making technological, pharmaceutical and other cultural contributions to your life (music/TV/games). Also, look at how many golds your Olympic MEN won (all sitting down) compared to how many golds the ENGLISH men picked up - not bad on a per capita basis eh?
Before you critcise the likes of Hackett for not getting a gold you should swim a length in his trunks.
- Onizuka
- August 21, 2008
lol. thanks for the laugh.
this rant had me creasing.
people, don't take it so seriously.
if you can't laugh at yourself, you're a pretty dull bunch of blokes.
anyway, i hope we shake off the "neediness psychosis where the whole country's sense of self worth is based almost entirely on the fortunes of a handful of athletes" sounds like a nasty piece of work, could ruin our whole respectable stereotypical image.
Brits? Athletic? bloody hope not.
- You_know_its_true
- August 21, 2008
Terrific article - very funny. I'll be back. May I just point out that he who lives by the per capita argument may come to regret it? I think that if you follow it through, then Bahrain would top the Olympic medal table and Trinidad and Tobago would be worthy contendors.
And the UK population is definitely a mere 59 million, with 1 million more we'd like to send to you but have to keep in our own jails. I thought you needed a population?
- UKEdExTAS
- August 21, 2008
Can you hear yourself? The audacity of it.. Whinging Poms you say? Thats all we do eh? Whinge.. whinge.. whinge.. whinge.. whing.. whin.. win.. win.. win.. Love it.. bloody love it..
- paddy
- August 20, 2008
jeez john you've certainly upset our cousins from old blighty. They seem to have lost their sense of humour all of a sudden. I've always admired their cheerful a resignation to their lack of sporting prowess almost as much their cavalier approach to personal hygeine. But credit where it's due - they've won this by themselves. Unlike a couple of World Wars where the combined efforts of the USA, the Commonwealth and sundry others have bailed them out of the poo.
PS What's the difference between Paula Radcliffe and Hitler? At least Hitler had a go at finishing a race.
- Edinburgh UK
- August 20, 2008
Go Great Britain and beat the Russians!!
- lordprocrastinator
- August 20, 2008
I've never understand the Aussies! I thought we were very respectful of each other!
It's sad to see the comments made on the news by Aussies (many have some British connections, past and present).
We in the UK have nothing but respect and admiration of Australia: I don't think I've ever heard anyone here say anything bad about them outside of a joke.
There is a sense of pride here that we have a historical connection to you so why are you so vitriolic?
There was a news article on the BBC showing Australians coming up with all sorts of weird and wonderful excuses why Britain was ahead in the medals table and to be honest they all sounded pathetic! Aren't we called winging Poms over there? I've never heard such sour grapes. Why don't you focus on your achievements rather than worry about everyone else. Less of the school playground excuses!
- mr.mouse
- August 20, 2008
No only do we Brits get some nice shiny medals to take home, and more than you do, but it gets you all riled and clearly touches a nerve. Bonus!!
- kleida
- August 20, 2008
Hey, JB! I'm a humorless, gimlet eyed git.
Your turn.
JB: Well I think you've pretty much said it all.
- james
- August 20, 2008
poms= english, sounds a bit ignorant when chris hoy with 3 gold medals at the games is scottish. He isn't allowed to wave the scottish saltire flag because of restrictions from the chinese organising committe as scotland is not a olympic member in its own right. but he's scotman first, so stop calling the british team poms!
- bo
- August 20, 2008
Brits very rarley perform ! Let them enjoy it ! They can all be knighted by the queen and then will prob under perform miserably for the next 10 olympic games . Like there rugby and cricket and and and . Id like to see just england at the games that would be funny ! With out the help of the scotts . Engalnd sucks at sport .
- Mick Jagger
- August 20, 2008
How did this blog start?
"Right Birmingham, we've got the perfect opportunity to get some more 'hits' on the site.........write something racial and controversial about the POMS"
"Drrrr......OK boss, those British lads and lasses are doing well in the Olympics.......I'll slag them off and I'm sure the 80 bazillion people that live there will be on here like a shot"
"Good you numpty, get to work.......we'll be able to increase our advertising revenue to $6.34 with all these new 'hits'"
What an idiot!!!
- Rhino
- August 20, 2008
Oh my, I have to tell you that watching you third world country cousins duke it out is rather amusing. Much like watching the ugly sister calling the other fat just before they begin to scratch each other for the last can of beer. Better yet ... it is more like the defiant son that can't quite get his life in order standing up to his aloof, living on his former glories but now a broken drunk, father.
Maybe you should duke it out in a pay per view bout in Las Vegas:
In the red corner, weighing in with an inferiority complex of infinity plus 2 pounds is the former Olympic Host, Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the Brisbane Bitchers, the Sydney Simpers, the Canberra Cry Babies, AUSTRAILIAAAAA.
And in the blue corner, I present the contender and upcoming host, having moved from the Heavyweight division to the Lightweight by shedding Empire and glory, Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the London Loud Mouths, The Birmingham Bawlers, the Plymouth Poofters, GREATTTTTT BRITAINNNNNNNN.
Then again ... no one wants to watch two ugly cousins slap each other. So, let's just forget it.
- stevie
- August 20, 2008
Being a Scot I just dont care that Australia exists, don't care how they get on at the Olympics, dont care about Rugby League or that stupid girlie rounders game you and the English freaks seem to care so much about.
I do care that our proud nation is forced to allow its children to preform under the horrific banner that is the Union jack and there ears bleed to the dirge that is God save the fat German bird.
- humorless, gimlet eyed git
- August 20, 2008
"JB: Only by accident of birth mate. I'm an Australian by choice."
I hope you are supporting efforts to get the people out of immigration detention centres that would also like to be Australians.
Good funny article though. As a Scot, feel free to win the Ashes.
- booooooooooooring
- August 20, 2008
christ, have australins got nothing else to do than get freaked out by some crappy sports event ?? who said australia's got no culture...
JB And yet you're here cooooooooooooooommenting.
- Tim, UK
- August 20, 2008
"Frankly I don't care where we sit on the tally as long as it's somewhere in front of those gappy toothed sock and sandal wearing bastards"
Looks like you'll just have to go on caring then mate. Perhaps you could think of some better insults since that is all you are left with?
- Manjushaka
- August 20, 2008
Comrade Birmingham(man that doesn't sound good, get yourself a Chinese name dude) is doing a good job at inciting hatred amongst the imperialist opium-trading Gweilo's and those convict Gweilo's.
Let those Gweilo's fight amongst themselves while our glorious Motherland marches on to greatness...!
- August 20, 2008
nice to know JB has a balanced view ie a chip on both shoulders
- Cuppa Tea
- August 20, 2008
I'm not too worried who wins or who, loses, just enjoying the games, as long as US aren't first, they're big headed enough already.
BTW The logo on your'MYCAREER'page, cannot be an Aussie ? He appears to be winning a race!
- PeterH
- August 20, 2008
How many people reading this idiots blog realise that the great John Birmingham was born in Liverpool, England?
That's right he's, a pom and not only that, a scouse!
- hfxoc
- August 20, 2008
Your a class act JB - I live in Dublin and cannot avoid the Brit papers and telly - you would swear that the Brits had discovered the cure for cancer such is that level of self congratulations that they have indulged in - and dont be fooled - they are loving the fact that Oz is doing poorly in relative terms. I hope for the collective national mental health of the UK that none of their medallists turn up with dodgy stuff in their bodies - can you imagine the meltdown!! Anyway we have 2 boxers up against them in the boxing semis and wouldnt it be great to see the tricolour fly right abover the Union Jack for once!! Nice one JB
Hfxoc Dublin Ireland
JB: I'll be saying a prayer for your lads to thrash 'em.
- TripleRLtd
- August 20, 2008
Well JB, I told you over 200 comments ago that I thought nobody would "get it": the sarcasm/humor of your blog. A few did however. But the rest? YIKES.
This is a sad commentary. As a Yank of Irish/English heritage, I'm actually rooting for all of "us". Sadly, I must be the exception...
JB: It's is a bit sad isn't it. You wonder what happened to make them so defensive and bitter.
- Marky
- August 20, 2008
"Frankly I don't care where we sit on the tally as long as it's somewhere in front of those gappy toothed sock and sandal wearing bastards"
Would you be the same John Birmingham who was born in Liverpool, England?
Oh Dear.....
- Guernboy
- August 20, 2008
Right I have gone through most of these comments and it has made me chuckle, it was exactly the same as the rugby world cup, you guys seem to be such bad losers that there has to be a reason when you do
a) UK stole our coaches - Pathetic, imagine if we used that one against you we would get hammered.
b) All medals on the bikes - Again pathetic reason, Athens 6 golds, didn't complain then eh! Take away your swimmers and it's not so good for you either.
c) Going back to the rugby you realise that you can't compete with our forwards so you look to change the rules - Pathetic, pathetic PATHETIC!!!
I like the rivalry between us but banter needs to be banter you should not resort to such depths to get a reaction, we really didn't care about the table until it was bought up by your stupid media and committee members. I don't know about anyone else but I was just worried about the French and Germans catching us up.
- The Third Umpire
- August 20, 2008
Firstly - hilarious that this piss-poor blog is written by someone who was born in the UK. Secondly - nobody in the UK cares mate. Thirdly - would you like some cheese with that whine?
- team_gb
- August 20, 2008
Absolutely laughable bitterness. You Australians should really know that here in Britain, we really aren't that bothered what you are upto in the Olympics, or in sport generally. Seeing and hearing how annoyed you are by our superior performance only adds to our delight at our great gold medal haul. Maybe its because you are so concerned about "The Poms" that your display at the games has been so poor.
All the best though for the rest of the games, Craig Mottram looks like he could get you a gold, oh wait, he's just been dumped out in the semi final! Just wait till our boxers take part in their final, we might even add to our grand total of 16!
Without Ian Thorpe, you are no marks in the Olympics!
From the Proud Pom
- Jules
- August 20, 2008
Greg's comments (20th 8:30) are a disgrace, how is this acceptable to be left published. Please remove this ignorant and ironically racist's comment's immediatley.
JB: No Jules I think we'll leave Greg's comments there for the heuristic effect. Just between you and I, this has been an enlightening but somewhat depressing experience. I was expecting to get ploughed under with a lot of witty convict jokes and kangaroo shagging remarks and, of course, repeated references to the actual medal tally, where GB whupped us good.
Instead, the majority of commenters from the UK have reacted with all of the bitterness and nastiness they perceived in the original post.
And you know what? There is no bitterness there. Frankly, I think it's great that the UK has come back from the sporting dead, and even better that you've given us a bit of a kickin' to fire us up for London.
But I'm left bemused and little worried at the collapse in any sense of humor or perspective in the ol' country.
Greg is the ultimate manifestation of that.
So his comment stays.
- proudbrit
- August 20, 2008
As a proud brit, let me just remind you bitter dingo catchers, that we dont really care for your opinion back home. Your a bunch of sour faced slack jawed criminals, who can only wish to be a superior Kingdom such as GB! so stick your opinions up your arse, we've deserved every bit of our success, and maybe the end Olympic result will wake up australias arrogance that really, your nothing special. So get back to your sting ray spearing or whatever you do.
- proudbrit
- August 20, 2008
As a proud brit, let me just remind you bitter dingo catchers, that we dont really care for your opinion back home. Your a bunch of sour faced slack jawed criminals, who can only wish to be a superior Kingdom such as GB! so stick your opinions up your arse, we've deserved every bit of our success, and maybe the end Olympic result will wake up australias arrogance that really, your nothing special. So get back to your sting ray spearing or whatever you do.
- Adam
- August 20, 2008
"The brits should really be worried about the Germans beating them to a pulp!"
Nope, we're 2-0 to the good in that department...
- Terry
- August 20, 2008
I've just read down this blog and comments, come on everyone relax. Do a bit of research on the guy that wrote this tosh.
Let me quote something from one of his books about WWII (that's on the net);
"Hell's Bells, Turteltaub, What madness is this? Next you'll be telling me space lizards have landed" said President Roosevelt.
I mean come on, is his rant really worth any of our time, the journo is hardly going to pick up a Nobel Prize for Literature, let the man have his 5 minutes of international fame and shift a few more trash reads off the back of it.
Plus the bloody bloke was born in Liverpool in the UK, making the entire article pointless. I'm sick of these first generation POMs in Australia trying to prove too hard to rest of us that they are true Australians, they give the rest of us a bad name. Mate just try and be a bit more secure in your own skin, you don't have to put your old home country down in the process.
- August 20, 2008
Lets get one thing straight fellow "poms" - when someone tries to be as insulting as possible to get a rise/audience, you actually legitimize their behaviour by responding in a similar manner. The reality is that JB is a cultural dinosaur. He's writing several decades too late, and needs to be as outrageous as possible to get some attention. I am a pom now living in Aus and loving it - and also loving the genuine good natured banter that I get from Australian friends and colleagues alike. Most Australian enjoy the banter without resorting to purile abuse. Sadly the JB's of Australia will never disappear, just as England will always have an annoying nazi contingent and America will always have the odd KKK idiot running around wearing a sheet. Poor journalism JB. Lets see you try and be interesting minus the insults.
- Aussie in Italy
- August 20, 2008
To Fair Dinkum
You missed the point!
You would expect GB (60m people),
Germany (82 million), Russia (142 million) to do so much better than Australia considering its scant population of 20 million.
I think our athletes have done extremely well and I'm sure that those athletes who didn't live up to their own expectations after years of sacrifice and training are much more disappointed than any "couch potato" can ever be.
PS Also think NZ with its 4 million and three gold medals does well too.
- Medal Table
- August 20, 2008
Who is that lady on the back of your coins? I am sure I recognise her from somewhere...... Oh yes, that's right, she is the Queen. Inferiority complex methinks? You remind me of someone who buys a big car to make up for their lack of something. Your linguistically agricultural sporting jingoism (that is under j in the ENGLISH dictionary) is manifest of your status as a veritable international backwater. Or maybe you should come over here and see the place for yourself? I am sure you could get a job in a bar in Clapham somewhere; maybe even write the menu. Or not.
- Andy-UK
- August 20, 2008
I noted some 'stralian bint called Brits "serial chokers". I looked up the phrase in the dictionary and it said "see Greg Norman, world's greatest serial choker". Possibly the greatest choke of all time on a sports field was Donald (Duck) Bradman. Only needing 4 in his final innings he notched a big zero. Choked I guess.
- Rob
- August 20, 2008
I hear the Aussies are saying Britain can only win in sports where you have to sit down.
Well you Aussies only win where you have to float on water i.e. in the pool. There's something else that floats on water and you Aussies are full of it.
It always makes me laugh as well that you lot have the nerve to call us "Whingeing Poms". Aussies are the poorest losers, and even worse winners, I've ever met.
I guess that's what comes from being a country built upon the scum of Britain.
- Greenie
- August 20, 2008
Birmingham, you are a bigot, and as an Australian born in England I am sick and tired of the endless snide references to the English in the Australian press. If it were another ethnic community that was referred to in this way you would be edited, sacked or taken to task in the courts. Grow up. It"s a group of games.
- Mumbo
- August 20, 2008
Forgive me if i'm wrong but you ARE ENGLISH, you were born in England, your parents and English and therefore you are English, no matter how long you have lived there or how much of a convicts twang you have.
Why do you call us Pome's anyway, it stands for Prisenor Of Mother England, which is why we called Australians it until they decided to call the english it!!
- Karl
- August 20, 2008
Bloody Hell, I hope the "What is a POM?" thing isn't coming from you ozzies. Acronyms didn't really get used for things until the 1900s, so it's not "Prisoner Of Mother (England)".
Oxford English Dictionary suggests that pom was shortening for "pomegranate" as rhyming slang for "immigrant".
- swansong
- August 20, 2008
Actually, getting hammered by the combined might of Great Britain should be good for us. For too long the Olympics have been a pretty boring affair (and apart from the shock of being overhauled by the Brits, has this not been the most boring games of all?). Bring it on I say. Lets smash 'em on home soil in 4 years time. We might even arrange another Aussie construction company to stuff up another stadium or 2.
And any of you lot who says they don't care about beating Australia (at anything) is not being completely honest.
- BKBaz
- August 20, 2008
I remember being in Oz one year when you lot bashed GB in rugby league (footy) - was in a smal town called Astonville far NSW coast - not many poms full stop - and I was the only one in the Pub - it was great the stick I got.
Anyway I love you guys for inventing the stumpjump plough, hills hoist and the stubby holder.
Ps any Pom who says they don't enjoy or look foward to beating the aussies in anything is a lying ba**ard.
Lets the wind ups continue.
JB: Alstonville! Man, what happened?
Wasn't that much fun - but they didn't throw pots at me at least! Strange how my father-in-law seemed not to want to sit next to me though!
- Joey
- August 20, 2008
Ummm maybe I'm missing something. But isn't Mr Birmingham deliberately stirring the pot? I'm surprised that people are really taking this so seriously and revealing such deep insecurities on both sides.
JB: Oh Joey don't give the game away.
- Andyd
- August 20, 2008
I lived in Aus for 3 years and while I was there I was amazed at how much coverage, interest and obsession you have regarding Britain. when a member of the royals farts, David Beckham has a hair cut or something negative happens in the country then its front page news, its a bit sad. Its great to be proud of where you come from but it just looks like 'small man syndrome' Australia needs to move on.
- Anonymous
- August 20, 2008
Are you kidding! the bbc reporter actually dropped himself in it the other day saying gb are leading the race in the medal table, and then corrected himself saying actually they are in 3rd place, in reference to beating the aussies for the first time in a hundred years, i have counted about 15 times a day when the bbc say they are above australia
- Anonymous
- August 20, 2008
Are you kidding! the bbc reporter actually dropped himself in it the other day saying gb are leading the race in the medal table, and then corrected himself saying actually they are in 3rd place, in reference to beating the aussies for the first time in a hundred years, i have counted about 15 times a day when the bbc say they are above australia
- Georgie
- August 20, 2008
God bless you Australia - you really think we Brits give more than a second's thought to Australia and its performance in the Olympics? I think you'll find that all of this talk of the post-colonial rivalry is all pretty one-sided. We couldn't give two hoots to your performance. Fine, its great to beat you at the Ashes because the Ashes is all about Australia and Britain. But the Olympics - its a world event and that's how we view it. The fact that we are doing better than you guys is a mere footnote on the news agenda. We are just thrilled to be doing so well - full stop.
And the comments about us wearing socks and sandals - err - I think you'll find that is the Germans. In fact, its how we love to mock the Germans - no Brit would be seen dead in socks and sandals, if only because of the German association!
And finally - seriously - get over yourselves. We are voracious consumers of all things Australian: Kylie, Priscilla, Muriel and all those amazing art house films. You guys do comedy better than anybody and we love it.
And anyway if you hated us that much you'd grow some balls and get rid of the Queen! :-)
- Team_GB
- August 20, 2008
Just remember OZ, your beer is shit.
Why do they call it Castlemaine XXXX
Because they can't spell piss.
- swansong
- August 20, 2008
If no one cares, why are you reading it (& then bothering to comment), Tina? Twat.
- Andy
- August 20, 2008
Tina is wrong, lots of us in the UK care about the medal table and where we are in relation to the Australians. We wouldn't have cared so much if your Sports Minister hadn't called us all 'Soap Dodgers'. Have to avoid any 2008 vintage wine as it will be full of sour grapes
- Johnny Wilkinson
- August 20, 2008
.........Sorry. Hang on. Let me wipe the tear away. Thats better. OK, now Ive stopped laughing, lets get on with it. You Aussies crack us Brits up. You make so much noise for so little reward. You get whooped at every sport (dont waste my/your time listing your wins, I wont be reading) and just dont posess the right quality of national honour to see anyone else do better. John Birmingham's comment about Blighty; "..the whole country's sense of self worth is based almost entirely on the fortunes of a handful of athletes." couldn't be more idiotic. This is England - we have more to be proud of, and excel at more levels (eg industry/commerce/finance/media/etc/etc) than you lot have inches of coastline. Shhh, Aussies. Shhhhhh. Hear that? Thats the sound of not having your whiney voices boring us. Nice, isn't it!
- Surreyslicker
- August 20, 2008
B*gger!! If we'd known it would wind you Aussies up so much we would have done it before.
Typed on my behalf while I am in the pool of my $15m house with 7 bathrooms.
- ferret
- August 20, 2008
Forget the bloody Olympics and rejoice in the humbling the 'world champion' springboks received at home from the All Blacks. Ha! Unfortunately not likely to be repeated by the Wallabies.
- Steve The Mother Country
- August 20, 2008
Oh dear oh dear, yet again the arrogant convicts showing what chips they have on both shoulders when it comes the the mother country wooping their sorry arses.
What sad little lives you must lead in the skin cancer capital of the world to obsess about us so much.
Loving it convicts loving it, just like when you predicted a 5-0 white wast in 2005 ashes and we beat you, again you were so sure you would beat us in the medal table and again are left wanting..
- Bean
- August 20, 2008
what is unsurprising is how Chris Hoy is all of a sudden British when he is as Scottish as Edinburgh Castle. Nothing new in this of course the Southerners have been robbing us, the Welsh and the Irish for hundreds of years.
- in london
- August 20, 2008
To all those people saying the Brits don't care about the Aussie performance... rubbish.
It would be natural for GB to be celebrating a fabulous 3rd on the medal table - it's less normal to have such a focus on simply being ahead of Australia... the breakfast shows are asking people to comment on other things they beat the Aussies in and refering to us every second sentence... quite strange really but a compliment at the same time I suppose?
- August 20, 2008
This is awesome. Birmo, who attacks racist pinheads in just about every one of his books is being called a racist, and another attack is about the quality of journalism from a country that produces "The Sun". Spun gold.
- john M
- August 20, 2008
I agree with Stu. Bring back the Chinese bloggers! I love the way they butcher the English language like it was a Tibetan protester.
- sdodyer
- August 20, 2008
Being a pom who lived in Sydney for nearly 4 years I am just luving this but you aussies should take pride in the fact we've nicked most of your coaches and that you have done so well in the past and are still doing so now.
- MancGuy
- August 20, 2008
You aussies make me laugh.From a nation where men wear THONGS lmao.You keep going on about POMS.Prisoners of mother england,think about it,you are the poms,the original prisoners of mother england.So sad that its an end of the world situation that you arent as good as you always think you are.Having spent 3 years working in Melbourne,ive never witnessed such a modern country which is the most racist today.Get over yourselves and remember your not true australians,the aborigines are,so who and what does that make you? Oh yeah another daft saying,it makes you MONGRELS because your neither here or there
- Billpom
- August 20, 2008
"You brits are just lucky that none of our troops are game to fly there on Qantas right now to start a war".
Hahahahahah! Oh no not the Aussie army please no! Come on mate compared with GB your troops are considered an endangered species. Not to be shot at or exported. Infantry officers have been resining from the ADF out of disgust.
- Sarah
- August 20, 2008
To my Australian brothers and sisters;
The most annoying thing about the medal table for us is we can nolonger use the joke -
Q. What do you say to an Australian who is waxing about how good they are a sport?
A. That's nice. Can I have two pints of larger, a packet crisps and I think the bar needs a wipe down it's sticky.
- Tom (UK)
- August 20, 2008
Come on, we're all victims of the media whipping up a storm to sell papers here. As if the average bloke on the street (in either country) gives two hoots about something so camp as the Olympic games. Some of the sports are so weird it's untrue. Greco-Roman Wrestling?! Dressage?! Real sports fans (Rugby, Football, Cricket) couldn't care less about this. It's just a bit of fun. Just like the sledging should be. And by the way, we're more similar than we are different, like squabbling siblings. Keep it in perspective.
Tom (UK)
- Barry Howlett
- August 20, 2008
Even you Mr B have to admit that Greg's comment is original, I fell of my seat at work laughing at how funny both sides are.
Come on Britain, victory is ours!
- PeterH
- August 20, 2008
I love this petty rivalry! The Olympics bore me stupid but as long as we're beating the Aussies (and the French), then I'm pretty happy.
How proud will you all be when your sports minister has to don the red and white of GB at a public/official event?
- Peter, Vancouver
- August 20, 2008
It seems that Australians care far more about this "rivalry" than British people do.
- Ross
- August 20, 2008
If you Aussies are complaining about the fact that we have a population about three times the size of yours, then why is it that us Brits arn't complaining in the same way about China and the USA having populations far greater than three times the size of ours?
Both Aus and GB have done great in Beijing, no need for such venomous rivalry, just a little joking around is fine but come on...
- Lord Nelson
- August 20, 2008
Re Stuart's comments and the invasion of Aussie troops - I didn't even know that the Aussies had an army? We could flatten Australia in a couple of minutes with our Nukes! CHARGE!!!!
- pompom
- August 20, 2008
What's that Skippy? Australians Olympic hopes are stuck down the old mine shaft well let me go get my ladder ... no, no, I am just going to watch team GB get another gold medal!
- August 20, 2008
To Fair Dinkum, August 20, 2008 07:34 PM, who says 'UK = 80 million people,
Australia = 20 million people, Has the UK got 4 times the gold, Argument over.'
Dear, dear, dear - Your argument doesn't hold up - if greater population = greater gold, then wouldn't that mean that China has badly underperformed because they have 60 times the population of Australia but only 4 times as many gold? Whereas the common view is that this is China are having an excellent games.
Let's face it, and stop making excuses - Aus spends heaps on Olympic sport (as does GB), but on the day, GB has clearly outperformed Autralia (and I am an Australian).
Otherwise we just look like whingeing Aussies...
- August 20, 2008
Ermmm no one here in UK cares!
- Big Al
- August 20, 2008
Come on for the love of God, who gives a toss about beating the convicts at anything apart from the Rugby! As long as we British beat an Olympic super power such as Russia then that's what I call winning!
- Greg
- August 20, 2008
You guys are just lucky that Britain is around, if it wasn't for us and the yanks you guys would have a great big red dot on you flag and would be eating with chopsticks. But, hey your good a sport, ha, ha, ha how pathetic your nation is...go back to your outback and stick a grub up both your nostrils. No one cares about your little racist country, it's funny how you inventing the term Ocenia to hide the fact you are in Asia? I suppose the bashing of Britain (where all of your winning athletes originate) is an extention of this racism the world now expects from you kangaroo infested backwater.
JB: I'm sure your compatriots must be very proud of you, greg.
- August 20, 2008
Well, the brits are back but fancy beating a country with one third of the population of the UK. Typical anglosaxon game I guess. The brits should really be worried about the Germans beating them to a pulp!
- August 20, 2008
Why to the Australian press get so wound up about beating the Brits? I live in the UK and, I have so say, Australia's performance is barely mentioned in the UK press. In fact, you'll be hard pushed to find any mention of Australia in the wall-to-wall coverage on the BBC website. Sport or otherwise.
I wish we Australians could worry more about ourselves and less about others!
- OzziePom
- August 20, 2008
Australia and Britain are both great countries and push each other to greater heights. I love the sibling rivalry.
- Leeds Rhino Lover
- August 20, 2008
As for Cheifs comment dont you realise that all the Brits that emigrate to oz are some of the most talented around where as our government take anybody??
- highersights
- August 20, 2008
Come on John Birmingham, just admit that you are a nationalistic racist.
JB: If you'll admit you're a humorless, gimlet eyed git.
- Atom
- August 20, 2008
ave it! ave some of that Australia! ave it! ave some more! If you get so worked up about losing something that isn't that important you can ave some of that! I hate you all.
- truth
- August 20, 2008
nice convict speech. Have a wash
- Leeds Rhino lover
- August 20, 2008
Thought the Comments of the President of the Aussie Olmypic commitee werenot really in keeping with the olmpic spirit as most of the hostility has been drummed up by the media as usual.The truth is these athletes have been invested in around 10 or more years ago and have worked hard everyday to acheive these goals we are honoured to have them just like Australia would be and is.Give us some respect or are you really sore losers???
- Frankly Speaking
- August 20, 2008
Lets face it, both countries are doing rather well. Perhaps we should consider France, Italy and Germany. Also if we did a medal count for world rulers, the Queen would be top of the table. Who wants to be a repulican now!!
JB: Well, I'm still quite keen on the republic, but happy to turn like a mad dog on those continental swine!
- Brown dog
- August 20, 2008
Why are the English called POMS. Surely the only 'Prisoners of his Majestys' were the low life they sent out there in the first place?
- Dean UK
- August 20, 2008
As GB revels in Olympic success not seen for 100 years, and the pride it has given the nation, for me the abiding image so far was the reaction of your athlete Sally McLellan as she crossed the line and then realised she had won a silver medal.
Her total unbridled joy embodied the Olympic spirit far more than the arrogance and posturing of the likes of Eugen Bolt, as brilliant as he is.
- Kim
- August 20, 2008
Birmingham you are a bloody POM!! Bloody turncoat Australian born in Liverpool, just like the yanks, no good unless jumping in late on someone else's war.
- Kim
- August 20, 2008
Birmingham you are a bloody POM!! Bloody turncoat Australian born in Liverpool, just like the yanks, no good unless jumping in late on someone else's war.
JB: Only by accident of birth mate. I'm an Australian by choice.
- H Saxon
- August 20, 2008
Why do the Ozzies here keep on inflating the population of the United Kingdom? It's 60 million, not 80 or 90. And the population of England is slightly over 50 million, probably closer to 51 now.
Yes Australia is doing very well in terms of medals per capita. And the Brits, myself included, acknowledge this, but we do sometimes wonder why pom bashing is the only thing that can crop up the moment Team GB is ahead of Australia in the medals count.
Here in England all we care about is beating the French, who have a similar population, etc than us and are ancient rivals. Can Australia not find a better rivalry than with its motherland?
Also wouldn't it be great if the "lesser English speaking nations" of Britain and Australia beat the USA with their combined medals tallies?
- August 20, 2008
Hilarious! As a gappy toothed sock and sandal wearing bastard pom living in the UK I find the article hilarious. We are pretty rubbish at most sport but hey let us have our moment in the spotlight and watch as we no doubt fall on our arses when the games come to London Village in 2012. You'll please to know also it's making headline news in Britain and boy are we milking it for all it's worth.
We are doing really well in sports that we have injected a bit of time and money into. The system has worked! And for once we should be proud of what the athletes are doing out there!
Bizarre thing is if we were doing rubbish we probably would blame it on ourselves and not resort to getting worked up by the fact that we where being beaten by the Aussie's!
- Ian : Herts UK
- August 20, 2008
The reason that there have been so many responses from the UK is that we are amused and amazed that beating us is so important to you guys.Sorry to disappoint you but that just isnt even on our radar. We are obviously delighted to be having such a good Olympics. But over here its all about Football and its Germany and Argentina that we look at.In this we are still miles off the pace.
Also interesting to see all the Aussie comments on population etc. However the fact remains that investment per head of population ,number of pools and velodromes per head of population you should be thrashing us.
Think also you are going to need to get used to it until at least 2020. Clearly we will still be dominant on the bikes in 4 ,in the pool there has been a noticable improvement this year expect to see a few more of those medals come our way in London.Then as with you in Athens there will probably be legacy from our Olympics lasting to the next.
Am also amazed that some of your great athletes have been critized like Grant Hackett a great athlete and ambassador over many years for you.
Clearly there is respect between the 2 nations teams as seen by Pembleton and Meares hugs after the final pity the press in both countries lets us down.
However there are 2 golds that you now firmly own that once belonged to us. So J.B Gold for arrogance as if any of us have a god given right to be at the top.
And Gold for Whinging.
Get over it celebrate some great Aussie wins and prepare for further great battles in London.
- AussieInLondon
- August 20, 2008
Well done JB for succeeding in creating this 'Bar room brawl'.
You have made a point here..... I have just checked back through 6 pages and 9 out of 10 'rants' or 'whines' were NOT from Aussies.
Don't you guys see how silly this makes you look?
You only support your nations athletes when they are winning, if they aren't..... they are swept under the carpet....
JB: Shhh, I was really to break three or four hundred comments before anyone noticed.
- Stuart
- August 20, 2008
You Brits are just lucky that none of our troops are game to fly there on Qantas right now to start a war.
- BKBaz
- August 20, 2008
Guys this is great. Taking the p*ss out of each other is what it is all about. Lived in Oz for 5 years and it was great. My ex wife is an aussie (I don't hold that againgst you!)and so are many of my extended family. Loved the pom bashing - best defence is attack I always found. I remember being in Oz one year when you lot bashed GB in rugby league (footy) - was in a smal town called Astonville far NSW coast - not many poms full stop - and I was the only one in the Pub - it was great the stick I got.
Anyway I love you guys for inventing the stumpjump plough, hills hoist and the stubby holder.
Ps any Pom who says they don't enjoy or look foward to beating the aussies in anything is a lying ba**ard.
Lets the wind ups continue.
JB: Alstonville! Man, what happened?
- rememberbannockburn
- August 20, 2008
you lot are getting a taste of what it's like when the pom's get a taste of success... it rarely happens, so the whole imperialist spirit arises like a phoenix from the flames to somehow claim that they are, and always have been, world beaters.
as a rampant scottish nationalist, i can't believe you still have the union jack on your flag! sort it out!
have you looked at how many medals were actually won by english competitors? take scotland's chris hoy's 3 gold's away for starters.
JB: Okay We will. Happy to get kicked senseless by the Scots any day, btw.
- The Chief
- August 20, 2008
The real reason Australia isn't doing as well in these Olympics is that a lot of talented young Aussies have actually emigrated to Britain.
To work in Pubs.
- roguexviii
- August 20, 2008
Australia? Who's Australia?
I more concerned with seeing if we can hold off the Russians!
- Stuart
- August 20, 2008
It's funny that the people that don't get the joke tend to write essays whereas us more intelligent wags tend to write brief gems... hmmm i think i have written too much :-(
- Fair Dinkum
- August 20, 2008
UK = 80 million people
Australia = 20 million people
Has the UK got 4 times the gold.
Argument over.
- ScotPom
- August 20, 2008
- ScotPom
- August 20, 2008
As a Scot Pom i'm proud of the GB team and The Aus team. Combine our total population and compare the medlas our two greta nations ahve won with the same data for the USA or China. Well done to both nations.
- Stuart
- August 20, 2008
More proof that God doesn't exist. The Atheists are beating the Christians while the Muslims, Buddhists and Jewish are nowhere to be seen.
- Jac
- August 20, 2008
In reply to Trish...
"GB might be GREAT but it isn't UNITED!"
Great Britain is the name of the largest island in the British Isles. Great, as in greater, or the largest.
Our official name at the Olympics is 'Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. The flag being waved around by Team GB at the Olympics is the Union Flag (as displayed in the corner of your flag) which displays the St Patrick's Cross, representing Northern Ireland.
- Haz
- August 20, 2008
How can a nation that is under a few centuries old turn around to Britain and claim that they are an artificial nation, there is nothing more artificial then killing off tens of thousands of Aborigines and created a country than never existed before. Face it, your the poorman's America. The rest of world evolved into nations, you guys are as real as GM crops.
Plus, face it you love us lording over you as you need guidance being all a bit dumb, face it the Australian stereotype is stupidity, if your head of Olympics wants to make up crap that Brits don't wash based on his grandfather not having a bath (when at that time no one washed much because water was so a commodity) then my response is simple.
It is easy for use to shake that rubbish off, we have a shower, but to shake off the stereotype that average Aussie is a bit slow off the mark and one marmite sandwich short of a picnic, well I guess it will take more then a bit of water.
- Ant
- August 20, 2008
Hey, has anyone else noticed that Australia is increasingly resembling America. A nation obsessed with the superficial and sport, not to mention taking the name of a perfectly good sports team and adding 'roo' or some other native animal after it. Even you Rugby League teams 'the bulldogs' etc.. you may as well can them the Sydney Red Skins your so far up the yanks rears trying to copy them. Sport is a great get out when you have no culture or history, I mean this is the country that gave us INXS and the Rolf Harris?
Face it you sourfaced mugs, your losing and you can now add sport to the list of other things your country is rubbish at. Why is it that you still don't realise that you not all white ex-pat British. Also, come on Australia, you famous for your complex, anyone who has been to you sand hole of country can see that Strickly Ballroom wasn't a comedy but a reality. Look at you politicians and olympic officials...they look like the stereotype of a fairdinkum dumb cousin marrying Australian - problem is they aren't a stereotype, but the average 'ozzie'. You pride yourselves mostly on things that have nothing to do with you. Your country's beauty and wildlife were there well before your chocolate bar stealing grandads. Lastly, it is well known that Australians are good at sport, it's in there blood, after all they were running and swimming away from the police when over here! just face it convicts the motherland police force have cuaght you and we a rattling the chain of defeat above your inbred heads once again. p.s. great name for the Austalian Olympic team - the "Bottler-roos". Lame farm peasants.
- ProudBrit
- August 20, 2008
Whats with the massive chip on your shoulder?? Im sure, given your heritage if there were gold medals awarded for stealing hub caps and car sterios, then you Aussie's would win gold, silver and bronze. Get over it. Up the Brits.
- stan349
- August 20, 2008
I honestly believe this is what makes both our nations great! As a pom who has a strong passion for anything Australian, (so much in fact I�m on my way over in two weeks) I will honestly use any opportunity to remind you of what is currently going on at the Olympics!!! Yes you may destroy us in the up and coming ashes, or the rugby world cup, but we will continue doing what we do best!! That is to remind you of all the times we have actually beaten you at a major sporting events, because we know how much it pisses you guys off!! And we love it!! Bring on the convicts and jailers re-match in 2012 because I�m damn sure even if we loose, I will be reminding you about Beijing 2008, or the even the rugby world cup, twice.....
JB: Noooooo. Staaaaaan.... Stop being so reasonable. You're wrecking my bar room brawl.
- noblerot
- August 20, 2008
For pity's sake, give them their moment in the sun (it doesn't happen frequently in any sense). It has gotten a bit tedious belting the poor buggers in 90% of the sporting contests in which we compete.
Now altogether we shall sing (to the tune of 'two tickets to paradise'):
You sent
Your prisoners to paradise
You sent
Your prisoners to paradise
- JenJen
- August 20, 2008
Re: Billpom.
To answer your question, its because those shows aren't set in the cities. Home & Away is set in one of those small beach towns like Bells Beach, Byron Bay etc. Quite representative of the demographic.
And well, Neighbours is set in little quiet surburbia and well yeah, they just aren't very good on updating the diversity there. There are the token ethnics, gays etc. but never arrive as a family as a whole- more one off characters. I can't say anywhere as diverse as Eastenders.
- pouty student
- August 20, 2008
My central gripe (as an Aussie in Oxford, UK) is that I am regularly being told I am from a country of acultural, competitive psychos; that sport is all we Australians have to thread together a national identity. But then now that the Brits have a taste of it, they're not sticking to their 'we're beyond sport', unemotional, stiff upper lip promise.
At the end of the BBC coverage last night, the producers displayed a gaudy montage of all their golds in the rowing, cycling and sailing with pictures of sofas/chairs, saying 'this is for you Aussies thinking we only win things sitting down'. It ended with Ohuruogu's run as a final barb. I don't think Aussies would pull that kind of stunt, would we?
I really am a bad loser, but I just think Aussies are more dignified winners and Brits are more dignified losers. It's really unsettling! : )
JB: Yeah, look, I'm sorry, but that kind of evidence based argument has no place in this blog. It will unsettle everyone's idiotic preconceptions.
I-d-i-o-t-i-c p-r-e-c-o-n-c-e-p-t-i-o-n-s...
(gargle gargle)
- John Bull
- August 20, 2008
Hey John Birmingham (you are even named after one of our cities), maybe you and the rest of country should look up meaning of this word schadenfreude!
- ben
- August 20, 2008
What a pity you lot cannot accept that we Poms are good at something. Whats the matter with you??
Do you think we spend any time at all winging about Aussies?? No we have other things to do. Australia is a great nation with which we have many connections but we are not in a race about anything -- we just dont think about you in that sense. We are Europeans you are not. Why not just get on with life and get over the fact that for once we are winning a few medals.
John Garner
- Ant
- August 20, 2008
Ha! Ha! Its so funny to see the insecurity that a few gold medals has caused our Australian cousins. I've never seen so much whingeing! I've always found it rich that the Aussies call us 'Whingeing Poms' - living in London you are never more than a couple of yards away from an Aussie complaining about the weather, the price of plums etc etc. Get over yourselves and put some more hours in the gym rather than navel gazing!
'I've never seen so much whingeing! '
JB: This is just a guess, but if you tote up the comments, you'll find most of the spit flecked ranting and raving is coming out of ol' Blighty.
- Stu
- August 20, 2008
Gee wiz, some of you people need to get a grip and lighten up a little. Birmo is just taking the piss. The fact that so many of you are taking it seriously is, quite frankly, hilarious.
But Birmo, enough is enough mate. Can't we get back to baiting the Chinese. Their state sponsored bloggers warm my cockles. Let us all strive glorious blog making for happy world and nation.
As for the UK, well, we have let you win once in a while at sport. Think of it as a sympathy root.
JB: Yeah, I'm really starting to miss those chinese bloggers. They had more of a sense of proportion.
- johnycoldears
- August 20, 2008
As a Pom I am not sure why so many of my countrymen are so uset by this article.
At least this article shows grudging respect wrapped up in humerous put downs. I mean its nice to be noticed as a sporting nation for a change (apart from the regular rugby beatings we dish out !).
Funnily enough it's only in the last few years that the sporting rivalry we share has come to the public consciousness in the UK. We've always spent our time previously building up football rivalry with the Germans - it was the only thing that mattered. It's actually quite nice to insult each other in the same language, and be understood.
No insults and cockiness from me though, because as you Aussies must realise by now - pride comes before a fall, and I don't want to set myself up for a verbal lashing when we lose the Ashes next year.
JB: Johnny, it's this sort of reasonable, well considered comment that absolutely kills a good blog stoush.
- Steve
- August 20, 2008
John, top rant - hope you are in London for 2012, should be a great Aussie vs GB medal medal fight. In fairness, Aussies always fight above their weight in population terms, long may it continue.
PS, teeth check? no gaps!
Sandal/sock check? - no sandals, that's a Yank thing surely?
Steve, London.
- henrythefifth
- August 20, 2008
What was that joke made by the President of the Australian Olympics committee about the Poms not washing......shame your athletes spend all their time in the bath, poncing themselves up with perfumes and ungents..(look it up)...if they got out there and trained a bit more they might win something..
- Anonymous
- August 20, 2008
I've been hearing on the Radio, and reading on the web about this rivalry and the hard way in which you Aussies are taking this thrashing we're giving you, so from a very happy brit - up yer arses you Aussie twats! Who's whinging now....lmao!!
- Dixon Bainbridge
- August 20, 2008
As a quarter of the Aussie Flag is still the dear old Union Jack, that means we as your colonial masters (who's your head of state, remind me?) must therefore be entitled to a quarter of your medals as well.
- PRForum
- August 20, 2008
Boo hoo - harden up Birmingham - your few Olympics ahead of us are over.
Stick to playing sports nobody else cares about.
JB: Like cricket?
- The POM
- August 20, 2008
What OZ people forget is the UK is competive
in nearly every sport there is, unlike Austrila rugby cricket and any water sports which as 95% of the population live with in few miles of the coast is really a suprise is it, thats about it
- Yorkshireman
- August 20, 2008
I think the competitition ought to be about GB + Australia versus the yanks. The reason we (UK/Australia) aquabble is that we're so bloody alike). But the yanks need taking down!
- Mike Taylor
- August 20, 2008
It might upset a few Aussies on here, but this Pom (and a good deal more) cheers on the Aussies, the Kiwis and the Canucks whenever a Brit is not involved.
Like most Brits, I have a great number of cousins in all of these countries and my late father fought alongside most in WW2.
Let's remember what unites us, not what divides us
- Steve-o Lancashire
- August 20, 2008
Bloody 'ell what a load of whiners you Aussies are. You blame us for everything from Botany Bay to Gallipoli (where many, many Poms died too), now you're blaming us for Olympic success. Accept its our revenge for Rolf bloody Harris, Les Patterson and your crappy 4X beer. How can we ever be your "colonizers" - "we" were all in it together when we dumped our GB felons on your snake infested island.
That said-my daughter is currently on holiday in Sydney/Melbourne and loving it. Anyway, bugger Oz, so long as we're ahead of the Frogs (arrogance personified) I'll be happy.
- Karl
- August 20, 2008
August 20, 2008 04:41 PM Any sort of world British rule ended at about the time that Australia was discovered. All of the good Poms were sent to an island paradise. Britain's history in sport is rubbish, and in fact, I can't think of any significant Pommy achievement outside of sport in the past 220 years since Australia was discovered either."
Do the names Alexander Flemming, John Logie Baird or Tim Berners-Lee not mean anything to you then?
To be honest, I've not been interested in our relative positions in the medals table until the ozzie media started getting excited about it. I'm much more interested in the direct competitions that between England and Oz rather than comparisons between medals won in different sports. As a Scot, I'm not inclined to support England against anyone at sport but your head administrator of Rugby's comment in the WRC had me cheering for them against you. It's a shame that the most sporty of nations seems to be one of the most unsporting - or rather its media and general public do.
Maybe its just the ozzies that don't leave Oz who have this view - most of the ones I know in London (many of whom are mates) are good fun and treat sporting contests as they should be treated.
- Dean UK
- August 20, 2008
Your blog has made it onto the BBC, and is causing quiet a stir.
Just be thankful your ancestors had the temerity and foresight to steal that loaf of bread and get shipped off to the 'colonies'.
It could have been worse, the UK population could have, en mass, ventured to Australia and left your family behind to endure the strife that is modern day Britain.
Of course it is better for us poms to remain seated to win our gold medals rather than exert all that effort for nothing.
- Deluded
- August 20, 2008
As much as I love competition, there is no point for racism.
Remember everybody, these are individual athletes competing, not us, or even nations. I think they are more so representing themselves, as opposed to their countries.
Whilst most of you type away behind your computer, there are individuals out there training rigorously to become the best, not nations (or countries, or empires, or colonies etc). What is the point of fighting over something NONE of us are directly involved in?
This whole 'our country is better than yours' mentality is ridiculous! Isn't it more 'this individual who happens to be from this country is better than most others in this particular sport'.
I'm Australian, but I hate the nationalistic egos that come out whenever GB and OZ are comparable. Both the British elitism and the Aussie sarcasm.
And aren't we forgetting to bag out on those damn Kiwis?
- Glaswegian
- August 20, 2008
Who gives a damn what the Australians - those backward, inbred convicts - think of we glorious British?
The Germans are sick of it because we are beating them also - must have a similar mentality to the Australians.
You shouldn't complain, Aussies, it's just the natural order of things. You can't stop the cream rising to the top.
You like to think of yourselves as sporting Gods. Well, you're not. You are a bunch of irrelevant nobodys, set on a time line 10 years behind the UK. Did you hear Princess Diana died, by the way?
OK, you have better weather than us, but, hey, I'd rather have an adequate supply of drinking water (as we do). Suppose it depends where your priorities are. Mmmmm....water.
Enjoy battling it out with burkina faso, luxembourg et al in the medal table.
Now, don't you have a sheep to shear, or something?
JB: Glasgow? Didn't england conquer you or something?
- John who?
- August 20, 2008
Just logged on to your web site - some Ozzies over here in England have just told me about you. I'm at work and have just had to explain why I was giggling at the computer.....
The Pom bashing in your media has made it to our national news programmes after one item a couple of days ago the presenter said that you lot could call us Brits what you wanted - we have one name for Australians - bar staff.
Bit feeble compared to you guys I know but we getting there - by 2012 we'll have the Oz Bashing up to gold standard too. (You know that really we're all loving the rivalry its kind of like sibling rivalry - you love em but you'll fight for the last chocolate)
Bring on the grudge match in 2012!
PS err isnt it 16 gold to GB and 11 to Audtralia now? Not bragging of course..
JB: It'll be the Ashes all over again buddy.
- Derek the Duck
- August 20, 2008
Unbelievable - why do you Austrians have such chips on your shoulders? Is it because deep down you know that you're cultureless, boorish, wingeing....and increasingly crap at sport? You should put your money where your mouth is and replace the union flag in the corner of your flag with the stars and stripes. More accurate and frankly my dears, we don't give a damn!
JB: No, well, I don't much care about Austrians either.
- strangerbird
- August 20, 2008
Several correspondents have queried why we compete as England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in Football, Rugby and Cricket. Well, its obviously to give other countries like Australia a chance, isn't it!
- Helen Daniels
- August 20, 2008
John Birmingham makes Harold Bishop cry.
JB: Harold is a wuss.
- AussieInLondon
- August 20, 2008
I agree with you Sugarcane.
It astonishes me that both sides blame the other for the 'sledging', 'bantering', 'name-calling' etc. Calling the other 'whinging poms', 'whinning aussies' etc. It reminds me of school playground antics.
Both sides are somewhat at fault here. You know how the sayings go....
'It takes two to tango', 'it's a two-way street' blah, blah, blah.
As an Aussie living in the UK I am proud of Australia's sporting achievments but I can also be grown up enough to acknowledge the efforts of the UK team.
Yes we normally finish above the UK on the table.... well done to us! But is a great feat to finish above the Aussies in 2008... well done to them!
Lets not forget.... It's only a game!
- fair go JB!
- August 20, 2008
JB,, sorry to say this, but I have been following some of your comments on these blogs and am even amazed that the fairfax group allows your ranting to even carry on. you are either ill informed, stupid, or just an a-typical journo "spin-doctor" looking for traffic to their site. I suppose that's why you have the job!!! it's a shame that you represent smh, as your views are insular, bias and in many cases racist. I love every aspect that the Olympics represents, but it only takes a few DH comments by the likes of people like yourself to stimulate all the other idiots to jump on your bandwagon and totally put us Aussie to shame. maybe you should think about moving offshore yourself, get cultured up, learn something about the world and leave these blogs for people with integrity and a sense of sportsmanship. it is a damn embarrassment that we have low level bottom feeders making us look like winging spoilt school children. as I know this mis-represents the vast majority of Austrlian sportsman/women.
mate, give credit where it is due, smarten up on cultures other the ours, and enjoy the rest of the games. cherio
JB: You know what, it's snotty, self important, humourless nit wits like you who make this gig so rewarding.
- Robyn
- August 20, 2008
It's all because the Aussie team wore bloody blue at the opening ceremony! They better not do that again because it's jinxed the tesm. Green and gold has always been hugely successful for Australia, and they should have been wearing those colours during the parade of nations. That said, Australia's performance at the Olympic Games so far has been great for a nation of only 21 million people, despite the failures in the cycling and missing 2 or 3 extra golds in the pool.
- john M
- August 20, 2008
I believe I know why the Poms are beating us. It's all about shower time. While our athletes are showering, the Poms are squeezing in a few more minutes out on the track.
JB: attaboy.
- M. Phelps
- August 20, 2008
Actually, on a per-population basis, I'm doing better than Australia.
- sugarcane
- August 20, 2008
Umm could I just retract my last statement - having read some of the Brit comments about convicts and so forth I withdraw myself from the argument.
Us Brits should be ashamed of ourselves too.
- GodBlesstheMotherCountry
- August 20, 2008
You have to give it to the Poms - not only are they now so far ahead in the Golds League and the total medals, but also most of our medal winners are of British descent so they could justifiably add those to their total too. I say well done Poms - we're proud of you!
- August 20, 2008
Mr Birmingham. As a representative of one the most read papers in a former colony of the UK you show a remarkable lack of perception, finesse and intelligence. But, then we have come to expect that over here. You see, we not only have sport, but things called history, culture, heritage and international standing. I find almost everything written by your sports writers to be childish and worthy of a salacious red top.
I am reminded of a similarly purile article written by one of your colleagues in anticipation of an Aus win in the RWC semi finals. 'All you can hope to do is do is to lose with dignity'. I am fairly sure that we won that one... Glass houses? Pathetic, misplaced, stupid and useless drivel. Whinge, whinge, whinge. Maybe you should stick to decent journalism? Or maybe not. A daily reminder of your pettiness is oddly comforting.
Good luck with the rest of the games.
' a remarkable lack of perception, finesse and intelligence'
JB: Oh, hissy, that's a two way street. Or is it just that you've had so much piss extracted over the years you can no longer tell when somebody is taking it?
- Jonboh
- August 20, 2008
Per capita medals what about per capita funding. What this olympics should teach the Aussies is that no nation is any more sporting than the other its all about the coaching and the funding. If you gave anyone the amounts that GB has spent on cycling and the Aussies spend on swimming that would excel at both. Thats whats so annoying about the parochial media here they actually beleive you have an advantage in sport just by being born Australian, well you don't. Just see how many medals you got in 1976 (5 with no gold) then the money poured in, hey presto medals. As for poms having bad teeth. Two words - Libby Trickett.
- Billpom
- August 20, 2008
Cook landed in Australia in 1770, the Dutch landed in the early 1600s. The Aboriginals at least 40,000 years ago discovered the country. Britains empire didnt reach the limit of its expansion for at least another 100 years when we added the rest of India, many African countries, parts of Latin America and Oceania till it encompassed over a quarter of the worlds surface. Opinions divided about when the US took over as a dominant power but at some point in the first half of the 20th Century is a good bet. There isnt space to list the significant achievements of GB since the discovery of Australia but trial by jury, free speech, free enterprise etc were already in existence by the time we settled there unlike in France, Spain etc at that time which could have set up shop there if the Brits hadnt.
- Chieftan
- August 20, 2008
POM=Prisoner of Mother England
so that's actually you guys right?
Ha ha. Losers (literally)
- August 20, 2008
When the Irish,Scots or Welsh do well in the international sporting events,such as golf or tennis,the Poms are quick to proclaim them as Britons & bask in the glory.However when the same group falter,they revert back to being Irish or Scots with the English press just as quick to sink the boots into them.This concept of a 'Great Britain' only applies when it suits England.
- proud to be a pom
- August 20, 2008
come on you Aussies are such poor losers!!!! Where are all your fantastic sports people probably in Earls Court enjoying our Pommie hospitality. or they could be behind our pub bars serving us Poms, thats exactly where they belong!!!! No, you do love us reallly, don't you????
JB: Like a faithful hound.
- Dappa
- August 20, 2008
Sherro - the population of England is 50 million and the population of the United Kingdom (the country competing at "Team GB" in the Olympics - not England) has a population of 60 million.
Anyway, I'm English, and I'm not sitting here gloating. Not at all in fact. I'm proud that the 3rd and 4th positions in the medals tally are being held by, as John Birmingham says, the "lesser English speaking powers". And New Zealand (a "lesser, lesser English speaking power"?) are doing pretty well too, considering their population.
Finally it's good to see that Britannia does appear still to rule the waves - the countries with the Union Flag are the top dogs in swimming, rowing, sailing, etc. Let's be proud of our heritage - English, Australians, Kiwis...
- Trish
- August 20, 2008
Why is it GB - Great Britain? The official name of the country is "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" so why are the Northern Irish being ignored?
Why not the "UK".
The other question to ask is why is it that these countries act separately in every other major sporting event including:
* Association Football (Soccer), including the World Cup
* Rugby Union Football (World Cup / Six Nations)
* Commonwealth Games
* World Athletics Championships
The reality is that although the English like to think of it being as the "poms", if you look at the Welsh or Scottish newspapers then it's clear that their focus is not on "Great Britain" but rather on their local heroes.
GB might be GREAT but it isn't UNITED!
- Canadian
- August 20, 2008
What's with you Aussies and Limeys and your childish grudges? (What the heck's a Pom, by the way?) The Games are really about whether Canada beats the Americans in any sport whatsoever. Yes, the Americans may win 900 gold medals and we may win 2 bronzes, but by God there's a good chance we'll come 34th to their 38th in lightweight mixed synchronized hammer throw. And we don't even have a summer.
- Ozzy
- August 20, 2008
Firstly Great Britain is a proper nation- it is made up of 4 "home nations"- these nations are in reality four states- a bit like how the commonwealth of Australia is made up of many states and territories. Really England, Scotland etc shouldnt play sport like football and rubgy under those "home nation" names as they arent nations- but due to history etc the ruling bodies of Soocer and Rugby allow it for some reason. The olympics though won't allow it. So we have GB.
John I find it insulting to call the british bastards or unclean- my parents are from the UK, and after being to the UK you will find it to be a great place whichis better in some aspects than Australia- just as Australia is better in some aspects compared to UK.
There are probably no two nations on the earth that are so linked together in terms of society etc than what Aus and UK are- so lets stop the childish pom bashing.
I personally reckon that Aus will finish just above GB though, but it will be a close thing. But by 2012 Gb wil prob finish fourth after USA, China and Russia.
- Billpom
- August 20, 2008
Serious question re Neighbours and other Australian tv programs. When you visit state capitals in Oz the streets are full of asians, middle eastern and other ethnic groups yet they hardly ever seem to be represented on tv. Well apart from the newsreadsres on sbs, I find this curious considering non white people have been allowed to settle in Australia since the 1970s. Why is this?
- Architect
- August 20, 2008
I'll never understand the Australian attitude. It's very easy to argue the case that Australia, per capita, are the most successful sporting nation on the planet. Ignoring per capita, you guys can clearly hold your own against nations several times bigger than yours, beating pretty much everyone that dares to get in your way. You beat us Brits at everything we do but on the rarest of occasions where we manage to pull a victory out of the bag, you act like spoilt children and throw your toys out of the pram and hurl insults at us.
Not the bahaviour of champions but of sore, sore losers.
Why can't you take the high-ground and give us a round of applause, maybe just once? British sporting victories are RARE, you only have to worry about it once every few years. The rest of the time you can celebrate your victories as normal.
And to throw insults like: "gappy toothed sock and sandal wearing bastards" is even weirder. The socks and sandals thing is the Canadians guys. Not sure about the gappy teeth either, mine are fine, lovely and straight, thanks for asking.
I guess I would just expect a bit more sportsmanship from such a successful sporting nation. You're better than that.
- Michael St George
- August 20, 2008
If you guys worked out how to take the handcuffs off your wrists and the shackles off your ankles, you might be able to cycle, swim, sail and run a bit faster...........
- Mick
- August 20, 2008
You Aussies need to get out more.
There is more to life...you are acting like you have a serious chip on your shoulder. Solution? I dunno, why don't you drop the Queen, get your own head of state, and probably lose the union flag from the corner of your own flag (this fact means that 25% of your medals are actually ours, of course). Next, get a sense of self worth, and hopefully your bitterness and obsession with the UK will subside in time.
Funny, I read about you guys obsession with beating us but didn't really believe it until I scanned a couple of your papers, reading articles from both before the games began and up to today and am frankly astonished. Quite unlike the aussies i know who work here, but then, perhaps they are the enlightened, worldly-wise ones?
Toodle-pip, chaps....and remember, its only the olympic games.."games" - clue is in the name.
- sugarcane
- August 20, 2008
I'll never understand the Australian attitude. It's very easy to argue the case that Australia, per capita, are the most successful sporting nation on the planet. Ignoring per capita, you guys can clearly hold your own against nations several times bigger than yours, beating pretty much everyone that dares to get in your way. You beat us Brits at everything we do but on the rarest of occasions where we manage to pull a victory out of the bag, you act like spoilt children and throw your toys out of the pram and hurl insults at us.
Not the bahaviour of champions but of sore, sore losers.
Why can't you take the high-ground and give us a round of applause, maybe just once? British sporting victories are RARE, you only have to worry about it once every few years. The rest of the time you can celebrate your victories as normal.
And to throw insults like: "gappy toothed sock and sandal wearing bastards" is even weirder. The socks and sandals thing is the Canadians guys. Not sure about the gappy teeth either, mine are fine, lovely and straight, thanks for asking.
I guess I would just expect a bit more sportsmanship from such a successful sporting nation. You're better than that.
- sugarcane
- August 20, 2008
I'll never understand the Australian attitude. It's very easy to argue the case that Australia, per capita, are the most successful sporting nation on the planet. Ignoring per capita, you guys can clearly hold your own against nations several times bigger than yours, beating pretty much everyone that dares to get in your way. You beat us Brits at everything we do but on the rarest of occasions where we manage to pull a victory out of the bag, you act like spoilt children and throw your toys out of the pram and hurl insults at us.
Not the bahaviour of champions but of sore, sore losers.
Why can't you take the high-ground and give us a round of applause, maybe just once? British sporting victories are RARE, you only have to worry about it once every few years. The rest of the time you can celebrate your victories as normal.
And to throw insults like: "gappy toothed sock and sandal wearing bastards" is even weirder. The socks and sandals thing is the Canadians guys. Not sure about the gappy teeth either, mine are fine, lovely and straight, thanks for asking.
I guess I would just expect a bit more sportsmanship from such a successful sporting nation. You're better than that.
- ricosuave
- August 20, 2008
being a relative outsider as a scot, i find this all a bit amusing.... "we have citizens who can run, swim, pedal, jump, sit on a horse/ boat better than you"... sorry Oz. if it wasn't for the scottish/ welsh/ n. irish contingent of medal winners, you would've been above the POMS. blame us!
surely allowing a collection of 4 countries to enter is cheating?... but that's another story.
sledging? i didn't even know Oz had snow!
everyone knows cricket is just colonial legacy nonsense. same as rugby. just homoerotic egg chasing and i'm suspicious of any man who wants to "scrum".
football, or "socceroo" as you call it is the only sport worth a toss as it's the only truly world game.
who won the aussie rules world cup final anyway?
JB: Hmm. How's that english monarch working out for you.
Oh, wait...
- Goldie
- August 20, 2008
If you cant take it dont give it-you might win a gold in eating humble pie and sour grapes.
We're loving it.
- Larry the crab UK
- August 20, 2008
This is way out of control, basically if you look at medals per head of population we are both doing great but your doing better. Its china thats not doing well 1.3Billion!!! Why so few medals?
- Catopom
- August 20, 2008
I reckon we poms should get an extra medal counted for every four medals that are won by the aussies and kiwis, since they insist on raising our flag on theirs; being gappy toothed unweaned toddlers. By the way John is your name birmingham cos your ancestors wanted to remind themselves of one of the UK's most elegant cities, or was one of them caught pinching a bread roll there way back?
JB: I'm from the ... uh.. the Alabama Birmingham's. Yeah. That sounds right.
- Larry the crab
- August 20, 2008
This is way out of control, basically if you look at medals per head of population we are both doing great but your doing better. Its china thats not doing well 1.3Billion!!! Why so few medals?
JB: Yeah. You're right. I think it's time to go back to niggling china.
And France.
We haven't done france yet.
- Sherro
- August 20, 2008
Well done to the Poms for their great performance in the Olympics, or should I say (just like in Australia) that small percentage that are actually competing. Seems to be that this blog is full of wingers on both sides and I am sure that some of them would have trouble getting off the chair or have seen their toes in a while. What is the point of competition if you don't get beat occasionally? You end up like the American Basketball team, who we know will win so what is the point. Just like the Ashes you need to loose occasionally to spur people otherwise there is no point in competing. England should celebrate their wins have a dig at us, knight their athletes (standard procedure when a POM wins any sporting event) and get on with making the next Olympics a great spectacle. Oh and to population expert commenting on the ratio of people in Australia to England the BBC thats right the BBC web site states the population of England is 90 million do the maths .
- Stuart
- August 20, 2008
You Brits are still peeved that we beat you in World War 1, World War 2, the Boxer rebellion, the Boer war and that one where you threw excessively taxed coffee beans overboard in Sydney Harbour.
JB: And vietnam. don't forget we saved their arses in vietnam. they're always forgetting that one.
- si
- August 20, 2008
If they gave out medals for whingeing, you Aussies would be ahead of us...
- Heather
- August 20, 2008
Any sort of world British rule ended at about the time that Australia was discovered. All of the good Poms were sent to an island paradise. Britain's history in sport is rubbish, and in fact, I can't think of any significant Pommy achievement outside of sport in the past 220 years since Australia was discovered either.
- Alby
- August 20, 2008
When team GB finish above Australia, be prepared for the Aussies saying "Well its not just England, its Scotland and Wales as well they get their athletes from, no wonder" well thats how its always been, you knew that before the games, has Australia considered merging with NZ? oh yeah BTW hows "channel Australia" presenting the games, crap eh, they always dig up some pathetic fact that 'the poms nicked our coaches' etc when GB has just hammered em, they can't say well done we got beat, let it go my aussie friends. All Ch 7 are showing is plenty of vision of the hosts, cos there cute and will finish above Oz in the Medals anyway and the US, well Oz is licking dubyas boots anyway and whoever gets in next
- very bad teeth?
- August 20, 2008
Why is there such attention to teeth? I only ever found this tooth obsession in one other country.. America.
Psuedo yanks no less.
A new republic country could be the United States of Australia? USA!
Of to get me absess lanced!
Brits teeth are sold chipped because of all this gold medal bite testing.
- August 20, 2008
Couple of conditions on that one. Either you lot go first or we do. If you guys get the first round, we need a scent sanitation period, would not want the dogs tracking the wrong scent, they do go for the strongest ya know.
- August 20, 2008
some people simply don't get sledging. SHIT, our KIWI brethren get it, we get. Why is it other don't, its called taking the piss and you takes ya shots whenever you can get them. SO them sandal wearing, smoke jacket clad, unshowered , soggy fish n chip eating cretins from Blighty got a couple up on us and started throwing some our way.
HELL, I got no issue with that at all, just do not get upset, when we return fire, I know it goes both ways, most skips do.
Lighten up, its only pommie bashin..sheeeez
- DeeK
- August 20, 2008
Thus quoted by Billy Britain, August 20, 10:22 AM:
we gave you Monty Python, The Office, Little Britain etc etc ;all you have to offer in return is Rove.
Surely you have forgotten Neighbours and 'Home and Away', two shows that have greater popularity in the mother country than most native productions. But with the pseudonym you have adopted, I can see that a balanced argument is unlikely.
My fellow Australians, I too am shocked to the core to see the British outperform us. I can only attribute it to a major statistical aberration; a fluke of astounding proportions. I say let them have their moment of glory. Let them crow and gloat all they want, for while they may have the medals, we live in Australia. Given the choice of one or the other, I know what I would prefer.
- livers
- August 20, 2008
LOL! Insecurity complex? Australia we love you. Your athletes are sporting and gracious, but your media and public are so xenophobic and small-minded!!!
Get over it. Come 2012, according to John Coates, it'll be "payback time"...
Yawn. Get something else in your lives.
- bear
- August 20, 2008
As an aussie who lived in uk for 15 years i say congrats to the poms. you being competitive has always been far more exciting than not (only exception the 5-0 ashes win!!!)As for all those who have lived in the uk and say they are not obsessed with beating us, you must be joking each monday morning i'd be greeted with a barrage of poms gloating if they had beaten us at something and after a while you return the favour. its called friendly rivalry and long may it continue.
Lets just hope we can win more golds than the uk in london. and for the record there is no country called great britain. I defy you to find a scots man, an irishman or a welshman or an englishman who considers themselves british!!!!
to those who bask in glory i say enjoy it while it lasts....and remember last time you beat us at the cricket it made for the best ashes series ever.
On a political note. am i the only who has noticed that in the years when decline in sporting performance occurs it is on the back of a conservative/liberal government. Tony Blair enters number 10 in 1997 and invetment brings reward and a better medal haul (most medals have been won by english ). Australia has liberals in and sports funding declines along with performances. there is a direct corelation.
- Dave
- August 20, 2008
OH MY GOD, I can't believe the incivility and small minded....oh hang on, it's a blog.
This thread=SIWOTI Syndrome
In short:
Humourless barrackers, cultural elitists and arrogant thin skinned sods on all sides: bugger off and let the rest of us have some fun. Whether it's sport, art, music, literature, etc- unless you are somehow directly contributing to it's creation, it's someone else's acheivement you're basking in. Stop staring into the shiny surface of Team Oz, Team GB or whoever/whatever it is you idolise and confuse the reflection you see with yourself. All these things are a terrific escape from the daily grind, but no matter what happens, none of them change that grind one iota.
- Scooter
- August 20, 2008
People in the UK look on the Olympics as a bit of fun really. Like the Eurovision Song Contest but with better music.
Winning is a bonus. The UK has world recognition for many achievements other than sport....
- Stephanie
- August 20, 2008
The Poms aren't really Poms at these Olympic Games. They're not even Great Britain. They in fact are the United Kingdom which is made up of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In other words, they have picked a team from a total population of 60 million people and four countries. That is three times the population of Australia's 20 million people, and an extra three more countries, and a lot more funding, particularly in their cycling.
Australia have humiliated "the Poms" for years in the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and just about every other sport, but know they're singing and dancing because of one Olympic Games where they have a current overall lead of one medal, even though they have such a greater population and much more money to spend.
In fact, of all the leading nations, China has 1.3 billion people, the USA has 202 million, Russia has 150 million, Germany has 80 million, South Korea has 50 million, Japan has 127 million, Italy has 58 million, Ukraine has 48 million, and France has 64 million. Australia keeps punching out of our weight division, and is clearly the leading nation per capita, and the best sport nation in the world!
- Jusso
- August 20, 2008
As an Australian living in Britain, I'm finding it hilarious how the constituent elements of Team GB can forget how much they hate each other at Olympics time, but can't stand the sight of one other when it comes to the Football (ie soccer) World Cup. Given the number of Scottish accents I hear in post-podium interviews on the BBC, perhaps it's time that SNP devolution was carried through where it really counts - in pointless sports rivalry.
- SmugBrit
- August 20, 2008
You started this: should have kept quiet. Do you think we would be that concerned about a match with our former dumping ground for crims and other low life if you had shut up? No, we're too busy doing important things like ruling the world (still). But being a beneficial ruler and to help you out next time, I've started a campaign to add 'roo shooting as an event in 2012: that should give you a chance.
- Harry
- August 20, 2008
John congratulations on gaining a huge amount of comments but you do realise you made yourself look stupid and petty.
Oh sorry, you were just stirring and being ironic.
Right ...
- sparty
- August 20, 2008
Its True. When I quickly scan that medal table I dont look up to see who's ahead of the UK I just look down to make sure the Aussies are still below.
Ps The Polish are better at being bar staff than you lot as well...(Better looking and less gobby). Roll on the ashes..... see no British self doubt anymore we are cured as a nation...
JB: Better looking! Better looking?!!??
Oh... well.. ok.
- moka
- August 20, 2008
August 20, 200810:35 AM
and by the fact that when you were given the opportunity to become a republic you voted against it.
I rest my case
Perhaps do some research first and then you would have understand why the republic was voted down, oh but that would mean you you would have to put down your warm can of beer (probably XXXX or Fosters) turn off the soccer which your probably losing, take a bath even if it isn't the last sunday of the month, put something on that isn't a faded dirty soccer shirt and go down to the library but then you'd have to ask for some help but you wouldn't be able to because your dirty rotten teeth have all fallen out or been kicked in by a bunch of pasty faced knobs who's soccer team had a boring nil all draw.
See how easy it is to make unfounded assumptions. You may say that all Aussies want to live in England, but in my experience it is the other way round,i distinctly remember there was a tv show that followed Pom's moving "down under".
- CraigWA
- August 20, 2008
As an Aussie living and working in Scotland I'll just say that one of the people I work with commented yesterday that it was all a bit odd. People didn't know what to do because they were so used to sitting around talking about how badly they were doing during the Olypmics. I'm just waiting to see if all of them get some kind of honour from the Queen when they get back. In fact the BBC breakfast news are about to have a story about "Why our friends down under are upset about our Beijing performance".
- Bruce Wombat
- August 20, 2008
What a load of absolute drivel this all is. I couldn't give two hoots whether the Poms are ahead of us or behind us or up us in the Olympic medal tally. We have enough opportunities to play against them in both codes of rugby and cricket where we can indulge in this one-on-one rivalry.
I think our Olympians are performing magnificently, they have recorded some great results, and I have enjoyed and am very proud of their efforts.
Congratulations to the Poms for their excellent performance in these games, I hope London in 2012 is a huge success for them.
By and large I have found Poms sports fans to be passionate, good fun and fair-minded - like most Australians. Although you wouldn't know it from reading some of the comments from both countries on here.
- Londoner in Sydney
- August 20, 2008
The worst whingers are Aussies and Yanks, and now the Yanks are rubbishing the Aussies, read this ridiculous commentary from New York Daily News:
Australia is a land of hippity-hop kangaroos, adorable koala bears and gymnastics judges who hate Nastia Liukin's routines in major competitions.
How can you Aussies put up with this kind of American crap? Or are you just like little Johnny licking Dubyas arse?
Now back to you, can you Aussies lose graciously, just for once?
Watch out, we will beat you in the Ashes, and of course in London 2012!
- Therry
- August 20, 2008
I'm rather impressed with the British Olympians this year.
I actually couldn't believe they are doing so well at first and thought to myself they must have fluked it. But now it had sunk in... Oh well, they Are doing well this year. Just take it.
They must have realised that there's a need to show the world that they can do it too. Also, we all know that 4 years later they'll be the host nation, so i'm guessing they wanted the world to witness that they have the abilities to do well.
But can they keep it up (in the next Olympics)?! Let's hope it's not just a once off thing. Surely we need all the pressure/incentives to drive our Olympians to be better!
P.S. To those who said Aussies always have an excuse when defeated... Are you saying Pommies don't?! Yankies dont?!
- Welsh J
- August 20, 2008
As a Brit I thought the original post was funny as hell, as are a lot of the more "switched on" responses (Stand and deliver! made me laugh a lot).
Sport really isn't the same without a good rivalry. In the UK/AUS case, it's also a sibling rivalry. Some people can take it too far, but ultimately you're like our little brothers.
We like to see you do well, better than most others, but not beat us. You on the other hand desperately want to beat us every time to show how grown up you are.
Now the playing field has been levelled out a bit by better funding on our side the rivalry should be even closer (except in the bloody cricket anyway!) and therefore even more fun.
- ken
- August 20, 2008
I'm amused by the comments of GBisajoke, who tries to perpetuate the old myth Australia wins more medals per capita than any other nation.
The LA Times has been running just such a table for these Olympics.
1st is Slovenia, 2nd is (gasp) NZ and 3rd is Jamaica.
On the alltime list, Finland is 1st.
- Billy Britain
- August 20, 2008
Hey JB
You don't need to print this one, just to say that I understood the sentiment entirely in your original post (also why it was provocative - nobody replies if they agree with you!) and thought it WAS funny. As are all the other ones under the links on the left hand side there. I've not seen this column before today but I'll be keeping an eye out now. Keep up the sh#t stirring!!
- Tone
- August 20, 2008
Good story about the German weightlifter though. For him it wasn't about how many gold medals his country had over anyone else. It was about individual achievement for his wife and being the best at what he does. That's what the Olympics is about isn't it, Individual achievement.
- Adam
- August 20, 2008
The moment has just come with the last medal...
Britian total medals = 36 (16)
Australia total medals = 35 (11)
You boys have just gone "even further down in China town". It must really hurt you deep down to know that Australia is now good at nothing.
p.s. read a great article today about your PM wanting Australia to remain the regional powerhouse by giving aid to Pacific nations...Jesus Christ...you Australians really have no diplomatic pride do you, even your own topdog is worried that you might capitulate under the might of a marching economy in Fiji? Somoa? hahahaha!!! what a joke your island now is, it's time we took back the reins we once whipped you, our sticky fingered cousins with...
- Sydney Dav
- August 20, 2008
Once again, the Aussie Tall poppy Syndrome!! Always seem to have an excuse when defeated. Blaming the weather, polution, drug cheats (unsupported claims), funding, the technology, the stealing of coaches, trainers and even the training methods. Please have some integrity in admit defeat when due and be graceful about it. The reason for the failure to win is more to do with the fact that the Aussie olympic squard have became arrogant and complacent of their ability. Regardless whether GB or China have the funding or the technology alike to help the athletes, it is still down to the athlete's ability to win the Gold at the end. Talk about stealing, I notice some of the our coaches are Chinese/ European imports does that mean that we too have stole other countries training plan, coaches as well. I just hope that other countries understand that not all Australian's are bitter and twisted. It is really embarassing!
And I rest my case.
- Sports Fan
- August 20, 2008
Crikey! The brits are beating us even in the total medal count. Otherwise, we could have at least done a US, i.e. rank the nations by the total medal count. That�s how they are beating the Chinese. The bloody brits are even denying us that option, it�s no fun at all!
- Billy Britain
- August 20, 2008
JB I actually liked your original comment. The reason I joined this debate was because, having lived here for 5 years, I've never seen a country so good at giving it out but not at taking it back. Crowing, gloating winners and miserable, sore losers driven by a media which bangs on about not whether medals will be won but how many GOLDS WILL be won. Interesting some of the comments that have been raised, even somebody suggesting that there's something on the nose about how many medals have been won by the UK. This from a country where one man can be president of a football club, call its games, run a tv station featuring its games, head up a tv show about football, write a newspaper column and basically tell the league when and where his team will play its games and what they will or won't be wearing. Nothing 'not quite right' there then...
JB: Yeah, I thought the 'Not Quite Right' comment was outta line. But then I've been saying that all week to similar comments. It gets old.
The thing about the original column, if you read it really closely, you should be able to see that it's not entirely serious. But not everyone seems to get that.
- August 20, 2008
As a Brit living in Aus, (happily I should add, with my wife and child, who I consider an Aussie) I am also a bit bemused by the mistaken belief that the UK is 4 separate, chummy nations who get together when they feel like it to compete. It shows a real misunderstanding of UK History. Great Britain is a nation under one parliament, a sovereign state recognized by the United Nations. I've even been told that it's like Aus teaming up with SA and NZ to compete. That really makes me laugh. I also don't buy the argument about the UK having 3 times the population to select from. Do we really believe that the UK has three times the number of Olympic grade sailors, or cyclists or track and field specialists to chose from. I doubt it. And if it's entirely about population size why aren't India at the top of the table, or Brazil. It seems a bit desperate. Having said that, I love this country and it wins the Gold medal for lifestyle every time.
- Vincent-W
- August 20, 2008
Nothing quite as hilarious as a whinging Aussie!
As for the author of this piece he looks like he's been made to watch each one of those 16 golds 10 times over
- Colonial
- August 20, 2008
Alas I to work with some of those from the old mother country! Yes they are Australian Citizens but heh that Fine English blood still courses through their system and impinge on their loyalties or lack of, depending on Gold Medal count circumstances! Up, their Poms, Australia up, where is my Citizenship patriotism papers? But please spare a thought for the disparities across the sporting arena, rugby
tennis, volleyball, swimming and please don�t mention rowing and sailing. Cut them some slack. Allow them the opportunity to Skite each four year period and hey even that is not guaranteed! That gives us about 1440 days to give it back!
- Colonial
- August 20, 2008
Alas I to work with some of those from the old mother country! Yes they are Australian Citizens but heh that Fine English blood still courses through their system and impinge on their loyalties or lack of, depending on Gold Medal count circumstances! Up, their Poms, Australia up, where is my Citizenship patriotism papers? But please spare a thought for the disparities across the sporting arena, rugby
tennis, volleyball, swimming and please dont mention rowing and sailing. Cut them some slack. Allow them the opportunity to Skite each four year period and hey even that is not guaranteed! That gives us about 1440 days to give it back!
- renai
- August 20, 2008
Why do we still care? We're a country of 21 million people currently in 5th place in the Olympics (which aren't even supposed to be about countries' success anyway).
All this means is that millions more of our hard earned cash will go into our athletes so that we can beat our old colonisers. Seriously what is the point when all that money could be spent on schools, universities, hospitals, roads and the like?
Besides wouldn't it be more enjoyable to really treasure our sporting victories rather than expect them? The cyclists "under-perform" with a silver medal, the rowers get 2 gold and are still "disappointing". It's ridiculous, as is all the hype about the Brits doing slightly better than us.
And finally, England is a real country.
- August 20, 2008
there is a difference between Australian sports fans and UK sports fans.
WE DO NOT TRASH OR BURN DOWN EVERYTHING IN A 10 MILE RADIUS. zing!
- August 20, 2008
What's absolutely hilarious is listening to you lot bleat on once you go behind the UK! If it wasn't for your ministers and heads of olympic commitees banging on about beating us, or us not having much soap blah blah blah, the UK media wouldn't give a flying fig about how we do compared to Australia!!
Simple really - if you can't take it, don't give it!
- Just a Convict!
- August 20, 2008
If this is 'Pom Bashing', then we should focus only on England. So, let's not forget Australia's dominance on our fabled 'Coloniser' in Melbourne 2006;
84 Gold, 69 Silver, 68 Bronze (Aust.)
36 Gold, 40 Silver, 34 Bronze (England)
Truly the leaders of the Commonwealth. And all from convict roots!
- steveuwa
- August 20, 2008
Good on the Poms. As an Aussie I am more concerned about the stupidity of John Coates and the fact that he supposedly represents us.
I think the first thing we should do is get rid of him before 2012 before he makes a complete fool of himself and us in London
- Peter
- August 20, 2008
Everyone calm down. I'm writing this message from GB and I think I am well qualified on the matter of the Oz-GB debate. I was raised in Australia until I was 13 and moved to Britain (my mother's side being Australian and my father's English).
Firstly, Britain is one country which shares a sovereign parliament, i.e. it is not four nations randomly joined together, I really am shocked by the ignorance about this basic fact. Secondly, as someone who is half-Australian I hate to say it, but British people don't even think about Australia as a main rival in anything (except cricket or union). I remember being shocked when I came here about how little they actually care about Australian sport full stop. Face it, Australia has always used sport to punch above its weight internationally; as it lacks money, people, history, culture and a significant geographical spot on the map. The chickens have finally come home to roost for many bigots in Australia, Britain has beaten you at the one thing you ever stood a chance to beat it in, sport. As an ex-Oz take it from me, travel around a bit and it soon becomes apparent that Australians are the cultural laughing stock of the rest of the world after America, and it may shock you all to realise that it is actually the UK that respects Australians the most! You are just our petulant little side kick.
- steel
- August 20, 2008
oops..the UK have equalled the total Australia medal tally as well..and should be ahead of that shortly!
Can't wait to hear the next wave of rantings!
Incidently last 10 years of living in the UK I dont recall the Brits being to fixated with what the Aussies are up to all the time. It's just here in Australia that you always notice the keen interest in all things British.
- steel
- August 20, 2008
oops..the UK have equalled the total Australia medal tally as well..and should be ahead of that shortly!
Can't wait to hear the next wave of rantings!
Incidently last 10 years of living in the UK I dont recall the Brits being to fixated with what the Aussies are up to all the time. It's just here in Australia that you always notice the keen interest in all thinks British.
- August 20, 2008
For a group of people who dont really care much for the Oz/Pom rivalry, you guys sure post a lot of 'rub it in' messages.
Quiet in defeat, loud in victory, guess you must have learned to win after all.
Enjoy your moment in the sun, I would.
- Kat
- August 20, 2008
Would you make comments like that if you were talking about Asians, Jewish people or black people? No, there would be a public outcry. Why is it OK to publicly mock English and American people? It smacks of paranoia and chip-on-the-shoulder to me...
JB: Well, actually, the chinese bloggers have a pretty low opinion of me too. And the Indians. And dont get me started on vegans and cyclists.
- Skipper Johnson
- August 20, 2008
God, I didnt know there we so many Poms living here!! Worse than Richmond supporters after they win 2 games in a row. Quick, the bandwagon is rolling...get on board oh great founding fathers
JB: They're shockers aren't they. I'd have thought the inventors of python would be better able to take a joke. Apparently not.
- Stevo in HK
- August 20, 2008
Thought you were joking about the pushing other nations out with our GB-AU perennial swedge match. At the cafe this morning looking at the front page of the "South China Morning Post" and lo and behold on the banner above the main article front page headline "GB to beat Aussies in Medal Haul?"
Life imitating art JB?
JB: And I thought I'd just made it all up.
- Skipper Johnson
- August 20, 2008
Fabulous. The Olympics now have something to get excited about. You Poms might find this hard to believe but we actually want you to be competitive. Theres no fun kicking a sick dog. Forget the AIS etc, we now have a massive incentive in 2012. Congrats too to your 400m winner, absolutely clean
- rubaiyat
- August 20, 2008
When peak oil comes we'll be turning to our vast Aussie resources of MacDonalds, Hungry Jacks, KFC, Pizza Huts, Taco Bell, Ali Baba, Red Roosters etc.
If that fails we'll be able to melt down our sofa-games console loving kids to power our big screen TVs in the air conditioned, mortgaged to the hilt, Mac Mansions, because we LOVE sport!
Hey! We can still look up to our title of the fattest nation in the known Universe!
- Tone
- August 20, 2008
Great Britian is not England. POMS are English. Great Britian is made up of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Just a little geography lesson for those who are a little confused and keep spurting out stories with POM in the title. If anyone needs a quick refresher on Russia (who also appear to have gone above you too) I'll gladly fil you in.
- Iznibz
- August 20, 2008
You still have telephone booths in Australia? How quaint. Did you buy them from us when we'd done with them?
- Iznibz
- August 20, 2008
You still have telephone booths in Australia? How quaint. Did you buy them from us when we'd done with them?
- PaulH
- August 20, 2008
I was always told we were unbeatable at open water swimming, that the guy who won the swim at the Life Saving meet was the best in the world at open water swimming. A mate who follows sport closely said this would be crap and that if the rest of the world tried we'd be on a level with them. The same mate got into an argument with a triathlon dude who said Greg Welch was the best soft sand runner in the world - no one could beat him on the surface. It was suggested that every runner in the Olympic 3k steeple chase would have creamed him. We get hyper inflated value of our athletes sometimes. I've loved the games, I've loved the different athletes and countries who have come up trumps. Well done to the pommies. They picked sports they knew were soft - cycling and rowing and pumped heaps of dough into them. Didn't waste money on sports they knew they couldn't win.
- nemesis
- August 20, 2008
Quote from HAVOCK
JB: Yeah, england. we totally saved your arses in vietnam!
Did England fight in Vietnam???
Get over it you Aussies..Your male swimmers (ex swimmers) had their arses kicked by the Yanks, Chinese and the Aussie female swimmers.
And now the Brits are leaving you well behind:-) in the medal count.
JB: Oh nemesis. I'm sorry about your humor bypass. Google up that line with 'The Simpsons'
- brethynda
- August 20, 2008
"gappy toothed sock and sandal wearing bastards?"
Come on over Johnnie boy. One more Aussie bartender is just what GB needs.
Suck it up, cobber. Straight from John Coates's arse.
- too funny
- August 20, 2008
Displace America and China in 4 years? Absolutely hilarious. The poms are a few gold in front of Oz, and still a few medals (total) behind, and they think they're dominating the world? Australia's medal tally (given our population) is astounding and confirms we continue to be world leaders when it comes to sport. I'm extremely proud of our result so far. We have won medals in a huge spectrum of sports. And to say that the British press couldnt care less about beating Australia is rubbish. Their lead in the tally is all over the English press like the pox.
JB: Yes, there is that.
- brethynda
- August 20, 2008
John Coates is an arse.
Keep sucking, cobbers.
- bondiboy66
- August 20, 2008
'Billy Britain
August 20, 2008 10:22 AM Hey bondiboy66
You have no idea about sarcasm. We invented it and you inherited it.
The one thing the Poms do have is a sense of irony and the ability to laugh at ourselves. But that's only when the humour is well, funny, rather than just of the racist, toilet or playground variety. Take this from one who knows -we gave you Monty Python, The Office, Little Britain etc etc ;all you have to offer in return is Rove. I rest my case.'
And this from the country that gave us Mr. Blobby, Benny Hill, 'Mind Your Language', and any number of naff/twee/cringeworthy 'comedies'.
And Australia took irony to new heights after the Brits allegedly 'invented it'.
That you failed to see any humour in the original article says to me you have indeed had a humour bypass. I rest MY case!
- GBisajoke
- August 20, 2008
I hardly think that with a combined population of nearly four times that of Australia and very slightly leading us at this point in the event can be considered meritorious. In terms of medals per person, and even world championships per person, Australia leads the world by a street. Our sustained sporting dominance cannot be threatened by the temporary overachievement from an entity who need to combine three countries to be competetive at an Olympics for the first time in living memory.
- August 20, 2008
Englands not a country? well at least its not a colony
- Billy Britain
- August 20, 2008
hey therbs
Sorry if I hit a nerve with my crack at Rove, I recognise that he really is a comic genius. The fact that his face features on ten more often than those good old kfc ads are a testament to the quality of aussie entertainment; just feeding crap to the masses, rather like 7's coverage of the games.
You're right also that the poms have no sense of humour whatsoever. We might have done better had we had Dame Edna or Graham Kennedy, the err, "King" of comedy.
- teflon
- August 20, 2008
Well done to Great Britain. As an Ozzie I have always enjoyed the rivalry between England and Australia in all sports. Generally when it comes to Olympics we don't see much from GB but this year, their performances have been outstanding and really good to watch. Let's not overlook the fact that England is only one quarter of GB and we should transcend our rivalry to Scotland, Wales, Nthn Ireland etc. On that note, can anyone explain to me why England doesn't compete as its own country like West Indian countries do? Is there any prospect of a change? It seems ridiculous that they need to band together. Don't these countries have their own individual pride?
- Intern
- August 20, 2008
I have to agree with Proud GB - we have to remember that it is Great Britain, not England. That's because England is not a real country.
- August 20, 2008
Oh man, I got high hopes for this comment count. Steven Hutcheon I'm coming to get YOU!
- Lord Muck
- August 20, 2008
Love all the comments berating GBs gold medal count as being totally propped up by cycling. Don't think the Aussies have noticed that if it wan't for half a dozen female swimmers, they would be down on page 2 of the medal table with the likes of Togo !
What is it with swimming anyway, not only is it intolerably boring to watch, but they have to find numerous ways of getting from one end of the pool to the other ! We don't ask the runners to do the 100m forwards, backwards, sideways and with their feet tied together, so why not restrict swimming to freestyle (front crawl)only ?
- August 20, 2008
Heres a tip for 2012
Stop running over your cycling team
- Fallonator
- August 20, 2008
What a week this is turning out to be! Sat having lunch at my desk in Sydney CBD...another Silver and Bronze...in the 10K swim???!!! Aren't you Austrayans supposed to be the dogs b*ll*cks at swimming!!!??? Now equal on total medals and 5 Golds ahead of you Austrayans...BOOM!
Dame Edna, Ned Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Shannon Noll, Delta Goodrem, Paul Keating, John Howard, Dave Hughes, Rove McManus, Bert Newton...your boys and girls sure are taking a hell of a beating
- August 20, 2008
you lot just have not worked it out yet have you.
We will take the piss out of you every chance we get, simple really. Its on the field, its sport and so on, and yes it comes back at us as well.
If your athletes do well, then good on them, as an individual of course. Because once they become part of the TEAM {UK}, they are fair game. We have been doing this for ages, why is it you lot don't get the sledging bit, too proper or what. Oh yeah, next one its ON!.
Don't stress.
If ya get ya nuts in a fire you know we will come pull them out ...AGAIN. Bring on 2012 JB, its on.
JB: Yeah, england. we totally saved your arses in vietnam!
- Proud GB
- August 20, 2008
What's all this Englsih, Pom crap!!
England don't have an olympic team. I'm assuming you are referring to the Great Britain (England , Wales & Scotland) team.
Aussies and the Aussie media seem to have a strange infatuation with the UK/ Great Britain (just swith on Sunrise in the morning) but they seem so poorly educated about the place.
- Another Brit writes
- August 20, 2008
It seems my gracious hosts (the Aussies) really don't like losing to the Brits. If us Poms were behind Australia in the medals table I doubt we would be quite so upset and in some cases genuinely angry. The fact is Australia thought they had the right to get lots of medals at the olympics, the fact is they don't, nobody has that right. People from other countries (GB included) have trained harder and have more natural talent than your athletes this time around. It's very simple, there's no need to get so upset. GB are treating this a prelude to 2012 where preparations have been going on to produce a crop of superstars ready to displace America and China. The "battle" with the Aussies for medals will be irrelevant in four years time.
- Something Smells N-Q-R
- August 20, 2008
Makes you wonder about the Brits and the Chinese when their Gold Medal winning percentages (57% of medals won are gold for CHN, and 48% of medals won are gold for GB) are so much better than all other nations, and so much greater than their overall Gold Medal Winning Olympic records.
Something just doesn't smell right...
- Something Smells N-Q-R
- August 20, 2008
Makes you wonder about the Brits and the Chinese when their Gold Medal winning percentages (57% of medals won are gold for CHN, and 48% of medals won are gold for GB) are so much better than all other nations, and so much greater than their overall Gold Medal Winning Olympic records.
Something just doesn't smell right...
- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
- August 20, 2008
Oh come on my fellow Australians! Its all a bit of fun!! We've done well, GB have done well - the weather is fine and everyone is happy!!
what would you rather see - the US winning the medals that GB are? I think not! I will always be cheering the Brits and Kiwis ahead of those other countries! We're family after all!
- OzzieinUSA
- August 20, 2008
Come on folks.. lets not turn a witty blog entry with backhanded compliments to the next host nation into some tacky bar room brawl.
I blame channel 7 for this.. I have not seen any of their coverage but everyone at least seems to agree it's terrible.. interestingly enough the US Network NBC has been amazing at covering the Aussies in action..
so my theory is this:
maybe if you got to see a great TV coverage of the Olympics such as what NBC offers on no less than 4 separate channels, you all would be much happier and not resort to taking out your Olympic tv viewing displeasure out on other countries or the athletes.
Just a thought. :-)
- Steel
- August 20, 2008
I am a Brit and I do admire the Aussie fighting spirit but what the I have begun to get irritated with is their perpectual whinging. Man what sore loosers. I know its hard to believe that a Country like the UK which is more occcupied in boozing, brawling and the weather is doing better that a country obsessed by trying to prove to ,well themselves, that they are a great sports nation.
- Gritting teeth
- August 20, 2008
Poms have done fabulously well by following Aussie example of years gone by. Australia has been given a timely wakeup call of what happens when you take success for granted; time to retire many of the perennial tourists and rebuild the teams. With success by Canada, Jamaica, Kenya and others the next Commonwealth Games looks like being the best for a long time.
- Wack
- August 20, 2008
Forget about all that.
Combined, our medal tally beats the Americans.
Join us, Great Britain. Join us, and we can rule the English Speaking world together...
- August 20, 2008
Come on now, stop all the whinging, NAFAs, there there.
- Philip Rowell
- August 20, 2008
Wow, a lot of angry people on this blog. The original article was funny and true, and took affectionate and witty swipes at both England and Australia. Maybe all the Mr Angry's should go back and read it again before dialing their rage settings up to 10.
- Rusty in Sydney
- August 20, 2008
Have we won some gold??? Sorry i've been watching Channel 7.
- Therbs
- August 20, 2008
Hey Billy Britain
You left out that outrageous and side-splittingly funny "Keeping Up Appearances". Man, I never laughed so much. Hahaha - Bouquet instead of Bucket, bwahahaha!!! That's still got me in stitches. Oh, the irony.
- Aussiepom
- August 20, 2008
Lots of sour grapes here, we (I mean GREAT Britain) has invested in sport not to increase our competitive ness against Australia but to become comptetive full stop. Australians have always been poor loosers and even worse winners! all these winging Aussies proves it even more!
I'd also like to say that Channel 7's coverage has been terible I used to love watching the olympics but channel 7 only seems to cover anything with an aussie in it! either that or re runs of the medals they have won!
There are some wonderful events in these games and we're not getting to see them! Thankfully the bbc has live updates on the web thats the only way I get to find out whats going on, Outside of planet Australia!
- Rosie
- August 20, 2008
John Coates should get a grip and realise what an idiot he sounds, it's about competing in this multi-cultural, global sporting event, not about thrashing Great Britain, get over yourselves Australia and enjoy it instead of looking like a bunch of over competitive morons.
- Pity
- August 20, 2008
Ahh you poor poor Aussies. How you love to beat us Brits and what delight it gives you.
How you love to rave on about how miserable it is over there and how it rains all the time. Yet, deep down, deep deep down in your collective consciousness, you all still really want to be British.
This is shown in the fact you all want to live there (look at the amount of Aussies living in "miserable London and by the fact that when you were given the opportunity to become a republic you voted against it.
I rest my case
- August 20, 2008
I think the one event that Australia is clearly better at is Pom-stirring.
I suspect there is a need for a British Academy of Sarcasm.
- space cadel
- August 20, 2008
all our cyclists should be wearing spacehelmets like the brits. that's the crucial difference.
- Billy Britain
- August 20, 2008
Hey bondiboy66
You have no idea about sarcasm. We invented it and you inherited it.
The one thing the Poms do have is a sense of irony and the ability to laugh at ourselves. But that's only when the humour is well, funny, rather than just of the racist, toilet or playground variety. Take this from one who knows -we gave you Monty Python, The Office, Little Britain etc etc ;all you have to offer in return is Rove. I rest my case.
- ken
- August 20, 2008
I'm loving the bleating about GB stealing Australian coaches, given that in the late 80s over 200 foreign coaches were poached by Australia, mostly from the Eastern Bloc. And the real reason behind the GB success in cycling is Chris Boardman, not any overseas coach.
As for pumping money into Olympic sports, isn't that what Australia has been doing for years?
Funny how Australians come off 2nd best once there's a level playing field.
- Jim
- August 20, 2008
It should only be sport, but when it comes to the Oz media and England/UK it is sadly so much more. Bitterness and racism abound. Comments about personal hygene etc are racist. No ifs, no buts. It would not be allowed about arab nations etc so there is a serious double standard here. A lot of this was when Oz was winning everything, what the hell is it going to get like if they start losing on a regular basis. Most Aussies I know are great people. Sadly the media does not reflect this and is filled with xenophobic, racist morons. If you think London is dirty feel free to stay away. The rest of the world won't miss you in the slightest.
- bondiboy66
- August 20, 2008
Forget the sport - I'd be hard pressed to pick who is the more 'sarcasm deprived', the Poms or the Chinese Communist party hacks.
JB: Yeah, they had a bit of a piss-taking by-pass haven't they.
- Stevo in HK
- August 20, 2008
Gotta admit living here in this bastion of England that was carved out of, then sold up the river to, China, I haven seen or heard too much sledging either way. Good natured bantery now and then, especially when the UK heads of the HKRFU said some comments about the bledisloe cup coming here in Nov and wanting BOTH AU and NZ to lose,.. but good natured nonetheless.. Is our current form dissapointing compared to previous efforts? on the balance of figures, yes but keep things in perspective. The world is finally catching up to the whole AIS system of things twenty years after we started. It was inevitable..
and add to which ,.. if we do bad this time maybe it will give our boys and girls the fire to go and teach them how to suck eggs in 2012. Nothing hurts so bad as losing on home soil,.. remember our ashes losses? feel something like The japanese raids on Darwin at times don't they? lets not forget that shall we?
- Bill Pom
- August 20, 2008
My 2 cents worth, thats the old coin with the Queens head on it, like all your other coins and the 5 dollar note.
The Aussies seem to be raising the anti GB vitriol to new levels here, fanned by the media to sell papers and raise viewing figures, they know if they dont the population will change channels and watch repeats of US programs (lets face it most Aus tv is dire).
Its about time you people got over this colonial small nation syndrome.
The arguements that we wouldnt do so well competing as separate home nations are pathetic as is the per capita medal view. How many medals would the Australian states win if they competed separately? Lets face it you only federated 107 years ago. Per capita NZ is almost up there in gold medals with you in any case.
Its amazing that Aussies resent any British success considering a lot of the population is still of British descent. I think it comes down to two things. Firstly an inbuilt inferiority complex which can only find expression in sport. In a similar way to the underachieving kids you get at school subjects but can play a good game of rugby or some other sport to make up for other deficiencies. Secondly a chip on the shoulder or maybe one on each shoulder as Aussies seem to think they are the most well balanced people on the planet.
If its so painful to come up short vote for a republic, take those stars off our flag and change the 3rd verse of your national anthem but stop whining.
Tally ho what?
- FlyingScot
- August 20, 2008
I think Steve Waugh showed his true sporting class when he summed it up yesterday -
I'm just here to see good sport," Waugh said yesterday. "They've prepared really well, put a lot of money and effort in.
"I want to see Australia win, and I certainly don't like being beaten by the Poms, but there's no sour grapes."
It's a pity Ponting doesn't have Waughs sense of sportmanship and dignity.
- Billy Britain
- August 20, 2008
I agree with Prince Harry here. Cycling was oh so important until GB won some medals and the Aussies didn't. Go home and take your ball with you, Englishoz.
Whinging poms?? - some of the natives here would win a gold medal in whinging. "ST" Moaning about GB being some merged Superpower of England, Scotland, Wales and Nth Ireland - what, is this some new concept we've come up with to win medals? Never bothers you when we win one bronze for the entire tournament, does it? Also, for the record, I'm now an Aussie citizen living here full time. When I lived in UK we were happy to see Aussies win medals rather than the all conquering US. We certainly didn't sit about sharpening our knives because we weren't good enough to win events. We'd rather go down the pub. I hope they make Darts the new sport at the London games, then we'll clean up on medals..
- Moka
- August 20, 2008
So you silly englanders football (SOCCER) is the sport that counts??? What happened last time Australia played England?? oh yeah we won.
So cricket isn't a big sport? seem to remember something about some people on a bus with a parade of sorts and MBE's being handed out like they were going out of style only for it to come crashing down in a 5 - 0 whitewash.
Nottingham Pom August 20, 200805:57 AM
"beating Australia is meaningless to us. We don't care in the way you so obviously do"
that my friend, is complete and utter bullshit.
- who cares
- August 20, 2008
So britain may bring home more gold than Oz at these Olympics. It's really only because they invested in sports that provided opportunity for multiple gold. And who really cares anyway? It was going to happen one day. Doesn't mean it will continue to happen in the future. It doesn't mean that the drab suburbs of London will become any brighter. Or that the sun will shine over their dark, cluttered little country for any longer.
- Phildo
- August 20, 2008
Hey Brian,just relax man. It's only sport, after all.
- Prince Harry
- August 20, 2008
Englishoz, cycling seemed OK with the Aussies when they picked up half a dozen gold in Athens! Now you don't care?
- Macko
- August 20, 2008
Pom here. Look, mate, we love the Aussies. It wouldn't be worth playing without them. But where do you get this thing that we stole all your coaches, ideas, secrets etc? Take cycling, our big time winner this time. All down to Peter Keen, a Pom--not an Ozzie in sight. Don't make the mistake of substituting myths for medals.
- Sir Lee Oldgit
- August 20, 2008
I think you will find that the Poms got very focussed when the Oz swimming coach referred,very disparagingly, to the lack of soap in the UK - that old canard eh! - won't win any medals mate!
- Sarcasm impaired Pom
- August 20, 2008
Hi I'm a Pom. What is this sarcasm you speak of?
- Anonymous
- August 20, 2008
convicts? i thought they were all sen to oz we are now coming back to bite ya asses we are improving you are all too complacent
ashes next year
waltsing matildas!!!!!!!!!!!!
- MGinMelbourne
- August 20, 2008
It would be interesting to see the medal table rejigged for medals won by investment per sports participant (averaged over all registered levels of the sport in question), rather per capita. This then takes into account the relative economic importance of sport in each country, therefore allowing us to determine the truly successful nations. Team GBs spend may be high, but it is spread over a lot more registered participants of sports than in Australia for example. How that relates in the average benefit per player is interesting. Where Team GB have made inroads is in identifying sports where improved structure can yield the greatest gains. Rowing, Cycling and Sailing have all succeeded, whereas swimming is starting to yield improved results.
- Tony
- August 20, 2008
First things first, at the Olympics it's Great Britain - lumping the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish in with England and calling them all Poms is lazy and incorrect.
Secondly, and particularly for the benefit of our British friends, this ridiculous "we have to beat the Poms" stuff is perpetuated and spread by a small number of media presenters, and idiots like John Coates who really need to move on. Of course Britain were going to do well, they are building up for London 2012 and they have the National Lottery money coming in to help fund their programmes. If only we had such a dedicated use of funding here, although it coming from gambling revenue would probably annoy the do-gooders.
We should be looking at why our track cycling stocks have fallen so far in four short years rather than having a go at the UK for doing well. I, for one, would much rather see the UK win anything than the US, but my main interest is seeing our athletes perform to the best of their ability on the world stage, and seeing the great performances from other athletes such as Bolt, Phelps etc.
Doing as well as we have done in the recent past has been punching above our weighy, and we deserve credit for that. We wanted to do well in Sydney and it has all flowed from there. Now Great Britain are doing the same thing. Good on them - let's see what they are doing well and learn from it. It'd be great to put out a high performing team in London because it certainly looks like Great Britain will be.
- Englishoz
- August 20, 2008
Let's face it the difference is all down to the cycling. The Poms have so far won eight to the Aussies nil. Who cares about a sport that no-one would ever bother to watch normally. Give the Poms their moment of glory.
- August 20, 2008
Maybe Australia should combine with a few other nearby countries to create a "Great Southern" nation. Seems fair given England, Scotland, Wales and Nthn Ireland are allowed to join forces.
We'll take NZ of course - sure, not much to be gained there unless rugby becomes an Olympic sport. How many other ountries do we need to join up with to get near the population of Great Britain?
- Graham
- August 20, 2008
I don't seem to remember Oz having a problem with "sitting down" cycle racing when they were cleaning up the medals in Athens... In fact, throwing money at sports only a couple nations care about (swimming anyone?) in order to win (buy?) multiple gold medals is a distinctly Australian thing to do - you pretty much invested the practice. We are merely following your lead.
- track and field
- August 20, 2008
Yee haa! Kiwi's are beating Aussies where it counts - Track and Field! I guess its all the sheep chasing we do at training! Baaaaaa!
- Happy Sanders
- August 20, 2008
The Aussies got 'Owned' by the British! Maybe its time they got on their bikes.
- Brian
- August 20, 2008
Phildo, where is the "sarcasm" in misinformed racist comments about bad hygene? Comments by the way your media would not dare make about certain other nationalities. Sarcasm requires intelligence, that's why so many don't get it, including yourself it seems. The problem here is that it means so much to Australia to beat GB. That is why it is so hard to take now that things have turned. Poms living here have had to put up with endless sneering and, it has to be said, outright racism (during 2003 RWC was the worst) in the press at times. Often this is over sporting events (and non sporting matters) taking place 12,000 miles from Australia and with no Australian involvement - how pathetic is that! You can't expect not to get it back in spades once the Brits win again as they are here. We can buy medals now too, as you have been doing for 30 years. The illusion that you were just better or gutsier is just that, an illusion. It was always only about the AIS and the money. GB's surge since lottery funding started only proves this point. Maybe you shouldn't have carried on so much when winning and the Brits wouldn't have bothered. We know that sport underpins 99% of your national pride so this has got to hurt.
- Therbs
- August 20, 2008
Ziggy - a lot of cash was derived from a lottery wasn't it? Well we're going to do something similar to ramp up investment in sport. We're going back to what got some of us here in the first place.
(brandishing illegal firearm)
Stand and deliver!
- sm2671
- August 20, 2008
This guy really has got a chip on his shoulders but is it really because we're sitting higher on the medal table or because he's been unfortunate to be named after Englands second city! get over your self! Living in city over the past few years I've noticed this rivalry get worse it used to be friendly banter but its getting beyond a joke now!
I live in Sydney and love it here I used to enjoy watching Australians do well and have enjoyed watching them in the pool this games but articles like this just encourage resentment between people.
I've noticed this get worse over the years how about we get back to a little friendly banter we've all got rivalrys in sport England has always had arivalry between Germany, Argentina, Scotland and Wales not just Australia, your one of many. As many other people above have commented I don't even notice Australia is below us its just good to see us in the top 5 lets push on to London and start to eat in to some of the US's medals, hopefully Australia can do the same as well.
- pommie b'stard
- August 20, 2008
Great article!
Let's keep the whingeing and posturing and bragging going. After all, sport is all about rivalries and it has got to be close to be interesting. If we spectators don't have all the "verbal" bit then it's just watching. And what is the fun in that?
- Ozpuck
- August 20, 2008
At least they're not beating us in swimming. Then I'd really be worried.
But all is not lost. We're still beating the Kiwis.
- It's Sidenii!
- August 20, 2008
In Athens Australia tallied 17 gold (6 cycling) while GBritain got 9 gold (2 cycling) medals. In Beijing Aust's total so far is 11 gold (nil cycling) compared to pommies' 16 gold (8 cycling) medals. How the wheel has turned.
- It's Sidenii!
- August 20, 2008
In Athens Australia tallied 17 gold (6 cycling) while GBritain got 9 gold (2 cycling) medals. In Beijing Aust's total so far is 11 gold (nil cycling) compared to pommies' 16 gold (8 cycling) medals. How the wheel has turned.
- Chaz
- August 20, 2008
Sorry for a momment there i thought JB was slating BOCOG or the PRC again with all these negative comments, but no just a load of pommie post colonial angst.
Maybe the UK has finally realised that kicking a round ball around a pitch isn't the only sport on the planet and decided to try something else?
Birmo, i thought the Commonwealth games was the Aus-Brit grudge match?
JB: Yeah, but nobody's paying attention then.
- GoldDigger
- August 20, 2008
Were not all Convicts, some of us are Gold Diggers!!
- Anthony
- August 20, 2008
I think we need to go back to gloating about how much better we are than New Zealand, that is always fun (and a safe bet). Look, they only have 8 medals, including 2 golds! I feel better already.
Besides, Great Britain is really 4 countries, so we should actually be dividing their numbers by 4, or only 4 golds for each. That is pretty pathetic. We are so much better. Normality restored. Happy days.
- toffeenosedpommiegit
- August 20, 2008
Jolly good show JB old chap! What spiffing old sports you are! What what.
Latest wheeze from Blighty is that we don't have enough cash for a pool next time round. You won't mind no swimming will you?
You'll only lose a few medals ....like 50%.....
Pip pip!
- Robert Davies
- August 20, 2008
What a bunch of whinging Aussies!
You don't have a prayer in 2012. There's a new world order now and basically we're better than you! Ha ha!
This "journalism" (and I use the term loosely) sums up Australia's demise. Even Neighbours doesn't get the viewing figures it used to!
- Therbs
- August 20, 2008
Ahh, let me see. This blog was about hwo the main game in London in 2012 is going to be The Poms v Aussies. Then some poms come on and say how soccer, the "falling over a shadow and demanding a penalty" game is their national sport. They must fall over a lot in Blighty.
But really I think darts and snooker should get in the programme in London. Poms are good at that stuff and it would boost their national psyche more by winning those matches than medalling in pushbike races. I'd prefer them to be happy hosts in 2012. Nothing like a surly Brit Rail worker to put you off the place.
Congrats to the Poms, its good to see you've finally been let out to come and play with the rest of us. We'll see you in London.
- roguexviii
- August 20, 2008
I didn't realise there was such strength of feeling between Australia and GB. As long as we stay ahead of Germany and France I'm happy. Australia can place themselves where they like and I don't think anyone here is gonna bat an eyelid
- Tony
- August 20, 2008
Gee whiz these poms get a bit excited when they win.
John please repost all these comments in 2012 when we smash 'em :-)
- Ziggy
- August 20, 2008
What should REALLY scare you Aussie's is the fact then when we decide to take sport as seriously as you do, like we have this Olympics, you cant live with us.
Our Athletes have over $1 Billion to spend between now and 2012..
Be Afraid, be Very Afraid.
- Phildo
- August 20, 2008
Jeez Birmo... it seems the Brits have discovered how to win a few medals but lost their ability to digest sarcasm. Something had to give I spose.
- Prince Harry
- August 20, 2008
I've seen a lot more Aussies wearing socks and sandals (EVERY bus driver for example) than Poms and oz is hardly the home of great dentistry either! There was only ever one reason why Oz was better then GB for so long. The AIS. GB had no equivalent and useles facilities. Now they have started spending on sport times are changing and they are back on top. Its simple a reversion to the mean. Have a look at an all time olympic medal table and you will see the true picture. Only recent times have seen Australian ahead and that was becasue the AIS gave them a massive advantage. That advantage is disappearing fast. Well done GB, you have wiped the smugness off their faces.
- Matt White
- August 20, 2008
I have to be honest, I'm really quite surprised (and disappointed) at the Australian reaction to our success. There seems to be this built in necessity to beat the Poms. Its fuelled by the media of course. Watching television this morning I was shocked to see the host actually put his head in his hands and proclaim his disappointment that we were beating his beloved team and urge his compatriots on. You wouldnt get that on the BBC.
Perhaps Im alone when I say I dont have such an inbuilt passion to beat the Aussies. Of course its great to beat them, like beating any team but my wish is not motivated by such an intense desire. Of course it stems back in time to history, the days of the British Empire. However if there is such hatred (perhaps too strong a word) the British Government should remove rights to ancestry visas, if this happened I guarantee well see opinion change. Were excited to be third and rightly so. Its a great achievement and testament to skill, endurance, investment and competiveness of our athletes regardless who coach them. And to say were only good at cycling or weve stolen your coaches and coaching techniques is a weak attempt to dampen our fire. Afterall the Aussies seem only good at swimming. And good on em. Id swim every morning if I could swim with Stephanie Rice.
- Lord Snooty Pants
- August 20, 2008
My, my... well introduce a Whingeing event for 2012 just for you lot. Its simple guys, you havent been good enough and thats that. Grow up and get a grip!
Anyway, what is it with the chips and shoulders thing that you Aussies have never been able to deal with? Face it, win, lose or draw, Nature intended that we should be On Top and you should always be Down Under. So, it's not our fault... its official!
Mind you, losing's one thing, but there cant be anything worse than having to wake up next morning to find youre still Australian. That must be tough!
- moko
- August 20, 2008
If they win, let's boot the Poms out of Australia.
- Mr Smug
- August 20, 2008
If this olympics has proven anything in our internet drenched days, it's that a chunk of the Australian public and a lot of it's media need to break out of the Antipodean echo chamber and grow the hell up. Headline in C7's Olympics website "Meares saves face: Loses gold". Dear godtopus, some perspective please.
All parochial jibing aside, I am glad GB are doing well because they are back in the world sporting contest that they seemed to exit back in the early 90's (barring the occaisional rugby and cricketing cameo). Hopefully the next Ashes will be a more engaging contest than the last one.
- m
- August 20, 2008
I am Ozzy but ashamed at this whole England chip on the shoulder. We should be ashamed of ourselves. Pommy this pommy that. It is interesting that this doesn't qualify as racism at all. What is the difference between calling a black person a n****r and calling an english person a pom. The only answer is social acceptance. It is easy to dismiss my argument by saying I am taking it too seriously but if you leave emotion at the door and just think about what is going on we look manic. Good at sport? We ozzies only excel in swimming, cricket and rugby with sporadic triumphs in a couple of other sports. Since when is that an overall victory to australia in "sport"? Winning things that the rest of the world don't take seriously is not something to sing about and oz is even starting to loose out to the yanks in swimming. Auatralia is the fat kid on the trampoline desperately crying to mum to "look at me, look at me, I'm doing something". I think it's about time we grew up and stop looking so manic about something that really doesn't matter as much as we make it out to.
- Lodon_Calling
- August 20, 2008
Hello feller, greetings from the host city of the next Olympiad.
With the sun setting on the temporary Australian Olympic pre-eminence over the Motherland, I thought Id drop by as I was concerned about how you all might be but, Jesus, looking at that mug shot youve got bigger problems on your plate. Sorry mate, it cant be easy.
You might not have noticed that GB has, so far in Beijing, won as many Golds as Australia did in total at Sydney in 2000 not only is GB ahead of target, Im starting to get a little concerned that you wont turn up at all in 2012. Well, except to sleep on the couch and get a job at the pub down the road.
For goodness sake get the suits to put more folding stuff into sports, otherwise well be looking for more competition from the Euro trash than the prison dodgers.
And no, the sofa isnt free. Ta ta.
- Andy-Roo UK
- August 20, 2008
Booo hoooooo! You Aussies Only sing when your winning! Time to learn some humility and be good sports. Too bad so sad! Rule Britainia!
- Pom_in_Sydney
- August 20, 2008
Putney Dude and pommiekeith you got it so right.
I'm stuck in Australia watching the media's one-sided grudge against the UK, first hand. The pommie bashing is in the media daily, only way to get objective journalism is through the web.
On a serious note, it worries me bring up two young kids here, when national pride is founded on hate. as you say why don't they focus on all the good that Australia has.
Because they are not that intelligent!
- Stuart
- August 20, 2008
The real 'competition' we need to know about is whether the British TV Olympic coverage is as cringeworthy, vacuous and sycophantic as that from Australia's Channel 7.
- PommieKeith
- August 20, 2008
Three more things:
1) amazed you really think there is a england-Aussie grudge match..as noted elsewhere we would never even list you as a rival! We have germany and Argies
2) Only football matters anyway in england
3) Well done Aussies for not going the USA way...look at any US site (CNN for example) - they have changed the table to be medals won so they look top - now that is sad!!!
- pete ot
- August 20, 2008
Enjoyed Mr Birmingham's comments...an observation of the fact there is still a residual chip on Australians shoulders regardind the 'Mother country'.Hey Stop "whingeing!"..you Aussies have no devine right regarding being successful at sports...after all the AllBlacks have recently thrashed you in the tri -nations...you also allways seem to lose against England at Rugby when it matters eg Rugby world cup,plus you are not very good at soccer.
Its not an uncommon phenonema these days to hire coaches from other countries....as evidenced by the Wallabies hiring a Kiwi coach.
So get a life ....we Poms are really bothered about you guys ..welcome to the new world order.
- jockmchaggis
- August 20, 2008
Maybe you should be venting your spleen in the direction of the real villains of the piece, Scotland, who without the clutch of medals in such "major" sports as cycling and canoeing, adding to "team GB's" mystifyingly high medal tally. Your ignorance is obviously celebrated, but what always gets on my goat is the fact Scotland's achievements will always be lobbed in to the mix along with the sock's & sandal wearing Timothy's and Jemima's in the crap sports like sailing and equestrian. I always thought it was just us jock's who had a (deep fried) chip on our shoulder. Now I realise we have a lot more in common than I thought. Cricket is still the most boring sport ever invented though. No one plays or watches it in Scotland. Something to do with the 11 months of rain. But you wouldn't know that though, would you?
- Blue
- August 20, 2008
G'day convicts, how does that medal table look to you lot? Looks great from where we're standing. Shame all your great sports stars have now retired and your left with nothing, you may like to think of us as whingers, but I tell you, it's nothing compared to an Aussie with a chip on his shoulder the size of Sydney Bridge. Hope you enjoy the rest of the games, although I guess you've all probably stopped watching by now.
- Putneydude
- August 20, 2008
Oh, one other thing John, it wasn't Thatcher who took away our Olympic spirit in the 80s; we never recovered from our disappointment at the premature end of Shane Ramsay's diving career.
Two decades on, we are back on form, and as London 2012 will prove, that's both Home and Away.
- Britzbane
- August 20, 2008
Nice blog John, you almost got through it without whinging too, almost.
- Richard Holloway
- August 20, 2008
Yep, we're back, except we never left... Don't you remember the rugby? Or that ashes tour (okay so you won a whitewash after that, but where's the fun in you winning every time?)
Britain are ahead of Australia in the Olympics table... sounds great to me.
- nemesis
- August 20, 2008
We sent you our finest criminals in the 18th and 19th centuries and you convicts have continued to steal anything is site, including Olympic Medals since.
Now the jailers have learnt your tricks!
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 16 and counting
- Putneydude
- August 20, 2008
Dear John,
I'm afraid you don't get it. There is no grudge match between Britain and Australia over olympic medals. Whereas it takes two to tango, it only takes one to hold a grudge. Britain simply isn't in this match. It is Australia playing on its own (has it got no mates?).
We take no particular pleasure in winning more medals than you, but we do smirk quietly to ourselves when we watch you whinge about that fact - yes whinge, like whinging Aussies. Then we are interested, not in winning more medals per se, but watching you all wallow further in your own angst. Now that's good sport.
Instead, you should be focussing on congratulating your superb athletes who have won medals. You are a nation of, what, less than a third of our population and you push us close; I'm certainly proud of how little Britain has pushed the US and China.
So be proud; Australia is a great country. I certainly enjoyed my last night in Sydney immensely. It was of course 22 November 2003.
- Barnesm
- August 20, 2008
You are so right, obviously this is just the warm up and we need to be ready for 2012 (screw the apocalypse we have the 'lypics to face).
What we need to do is stop wasting tax and rate payers cash on all that culture and arts and invest serious $$$$ into funding sport in this country to be ready to thrash the poms at the next games.
its on, its on like Donkey Kong.
- PommieKeith
- August 20, 2008
Haha you poor aussies - what are you upto wanting to beat us?? In the nicest way we don't really notice you - well we do - but only as we notice how much you want to beat us.
As for the olympics it really has no bearing on the countries' populations. Arent Aus, Uk and USA the most obese nations in the world?
Lets face it UK is winning based on investment in technology, Aus is normally doing well as there are 100s of medals for one sport -swimming and the yanks? well funding again!
I find hard to belive the medals reflect a country's sporting prowess - or is the whole of south america really uttuerly usless at sport - no!
Olympic sucess=Money invested. That is it.
You stick to Rugby and criket - no-one really plays them here anyway so you will keep winning - and be able to convince yourselves that you are 'a great sporting nation' - haha Yeah right....
...the search for a national identity continues huh?
But Shane Warne said it - 'If you put in the time, money and effort you deserve it, no sour grapes'. I agree whether GB Olympic team, Aussie Criket (We actually sent a pub team for the last ashes) Brazlian football or whatever.
PS I like the attempt to claim it is all 'aussie' methods that have done it - great chance to gloss over defeat - we usually go for the Honrable loser!
- MattB
- August 20, 2008
Sour grapes indeed!
We've - yes I'm bloody British - done well through sheer hard graft, and it would be nice, now and then, to get a well done from our old friends(!?)
If you'd had heard the number of guys (not one of them an Aussie) cheering on Anna Mears in her semi for her achievements you'd wonder where the rivalry lay; on your side only.
Congratulate us on what we've done, it will make the next encounter that much more exciting. What better for you than to try to win in London.
All we need now is a consistent rugby team to be the Springboks and All Blacks, cricketers that remember what winning means and footballers that are less interested in the Wags - then we might finally rule the waves!
P.S. Can't wait to see your sports minister wearing the 3Lions!!!!!
- ARinBris
- August 20, 2008
...and I can't wait!!
The rivalry between us and the Poms is the greatest and oldest in the world, and the fact that they are now (impressively) standing up and being counted on the sporting stage just makes the rivalry so much better. Think of the banter we can pack to them if it is this close in London, especially as it is on their home soil. John Birmingham you are so right; no-one will be looking at the US and China in 2012, everyone will be concentrating on the Pom-Aussie battle in the middle. It's going to be awesome.
- Turn&Run
- August 20, 2008
"This gig is now all about convicts and jailers settling some old scores in London in four years' time."
Come on John, I know the Aussies are falling further behind the Poms, but have you given up already?!?
- Bryan RIT
- August 20, 2008
"This gig is now all about convicts and jailers settling some old scores in London in four years' time."
Come on John, I know the Aussies are falling further behind the Poms, but have you given up already?!?
- kingdom-of-fife
- August 20, 2008
I lived in Oz when I was a teenager in the 80's and still remember how biased and one sided the coverage of the 1984 Olympics was. I'm enjoying every minute trawling through Aussie websites where "whinging" has been taken to new levels. Now you are resorting to "per capita" as a way of saying you ae the best. Your country has loads of space, great weather - kids have loads more opportunity to play sports - so it is no surprise that you punch above your weight.
Anyway, I'm sure normal service will be resumed in 2012 but just for now i am laughing my ass off at how badly you guys are taking this.
- Nottingham Pom
- August 20, 2008
Goodness what a bitter article. Talk about a chip on the shoulder... The truth is, however much you may not wish to hear it, is that 99% of us Brits do not care one single bit about beating you lot at the Olympics. If it hadn't been for the Australian moaning it wouldn't have even registered on the majority of the population who are just enjoying some rare success for a change. There must be some sort of national inferiority complex going on in your country for you to get so worked up about it.
Remember, MOST English (can't speak for the rest of the Union) aren't really even bothered about cricket when it comes to it; it is football, always football, that can get the nation soul searching when we are poor (as we have been for a while.) Our national grudge matches, btw, are generally against Germany, France to some extent, and Scotland & Argentina if it is football. These are all FAR more meaningful than beating Australia in the medal table.
Are we all clear now? There are no convicts and jailers settling scores, beating Australia is meaningless to us. We don't care in the way you so obviously do. We are just enjoying the ride!
- YoBroMoFo
- August 20, 2008
Remember that the aussies have two of their strongest sports to come...
They are strong favourites for the dummy spitting and teddy throwing...
- kennys hat
- August 20, 2008
Jailers Vs convicts in 4 years time? We'll be ready for you. We've beaten you now but we'll act as gracious hosts. We'll even help your preparations. We're all sure you'll feel more at home in wormwood scrubs than the olympic village
- Not every Brit's a Pom
- August 20, 2008
You sports commentators should buy a bloody atlas and have a look at a country called "Great Britain"
You'll find England at the bottom, Scotland at the top, and Wales and Northern Island off to the side a bit.
That's three whole countries besides "England"
So perhaps you could stop refering to the British team as "English" or "Poms"?
But, nah, journalists getting their facts right just wouldn't do...
- TripleRLtd
- August 20, 2008
Something tells me that nobody will "get" your sarcasm/humor John...
- Richard S
- August 20, 2008
True. All true. Eat your hearts out, Ozzie bastards , sorry - friends. You're already beaten in Beijing - no matter the end result in medals. Now bring your arrogance - sorry, inferiority complexes - to London in 2012. Wanna bet on the results?
- chislewick
- August 20, 2008
How lovely! Oingo Bongo in a respected Australian journal. It's good to see your "Luckly Nation" is still 50 years behind the Mother Country in one respect at least....
- PatthePom
- August 20, 2008
Oh dear, oh dear. We've always had you on culture (for your Rolf Harris I'll raise you Led Zep or The Beatles or The Stones), we have you on intellect (for your Germaine Greer I'll raise you Isaac Newton) and now, hilariously, we have you on sport. Maybe you should move back, our bars need tending.
- salsoulnugget
- August 20, 2008
Aw is that a bit of bitterness I hear? As a Brit I have to say that its been a pleasure to watch the smug aussies eat their words as the penny drops that for once we might (in fact will) beat you!
Allow us our moment to shine, it´s once in a blue moon that this happens!
And please, everyone knows that its the Germans who wear sandals and socks, not us Brits!
- August 20, 2008
We'll beat you you bunch of whinging, sore losers!!!!
- Loftgroover
- August 20, 2008
"Award winning Journalist"?
What was the award? Biggest prick in Australia?
- stitchup
- August 20, 2008
You want to be here in UK with the POMS looking for any sign of the green and gold to come and commiserate with us. Mind you in fairness we've rubbed their noses in it for years, but it still hurts.
We've got 4 years to learn that the order has changed and take on board the lessons of Bejing, as it hurts, and if history repeats itself in four years time in London, it will be even more miserable. The POMS have shown that money and systems are essential,- let's learn
- Andy, London
- August 20, 2008
Raise your game boys, You're being crushed by your mild mannered sporting friends from blighty! I'm not one to gloat but there's only so much whining and moaning I can take (stealing your coaches etc blah blah blah). Nothing worse than sour grapes.
On that note, I look forward to knocking your boys out of the next Rugby World Cup...again!
Andy, London
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John Birmingham is an award-winning sports writer and author. A lazy, opinionated, pigheaded and oafish scribe who was never any good at any sports growing up. So instead of trophies, he has issues.