Liz Mills breaking down barriers for female coaches as leader of Kenya men's basketball team. Liz Mills's decision to look more professional when coaching basketball games by wearing high-heeled leather boots instead of sneakers was somehow seen as provocation.
Liz Mills is the only female currently coaching a men's international basketball teamMills lead Kenya to qualification for the African championships for the first time since 1993Mills said national federations are "absolutely" at fault for there not being more female coaches To make sense of that, you have to understand her environment. Australian Institute of Sport Share a Yarn ambassadors build Indigenous cultural understanding. Taxpayer-funded report into viability of an NT AFL team yet to be released despite completion. AFL Northern Territory has been sitting on a taxpayer-funded report it commissioned to map out a local bid for a potential AFL club for nearly 18 months In 2018 the NT Government gave the AFL $100,000 to examine the viability of an NT-based AFL clubThe study was commissioned to guide a potential bid for an AFL team licenceIt is not known when the AFL will next make another team licence available The funding for the "scoping study" into a potential AFL team was first announced by Chief Minister Michael Gunner in October 2018.
The report was due to be released in mid-2019 and was tabled to the AFLNT board in September 2019. The report, however, was not released to the public after it was tabled to the board. The outbreak of coronavirus subsequently led to an indefinite delay of the study's release, according to AFLNT chief executive Stuart Totham. Why just kicking a footy can be the best sport of all. I always thought it was an urban myth.
Like sightings of the Tasmanian tiger, rumours of a secret society of guys kicking an Aussie Rules footy around on Sunday mornings were heard, but I never saw the evidence and I never quite believed. But then a chance casual remark by a mutual acquaintance led to a reunion with an old school friend. We bonded over Neil Young and a love of Aussie Rules in school 35 years ago. Grassroots Indigenous footballers say Collingwood systemic racism report hardly a surprise.
The exposure of systemic racism at the Collingwood Football Club has prompted calls for community sporting organisations to address the issues in their own backyards.
Key points: Indigenous footballers say racism has to be attacked at a grassroots level if meaningful change is occurA club president says conditions have improved, but racism is still prevalent and can be extremely hurtfulCelebrating the achievements of the greats rather than lamenting the inequalities is one way to stay positive WARNING: This story contains language that readers may find offensive. Collingwood was called on to apologise this week after an independent review found the club guilty of "distinct and egregious" systemic racism. Wotjobaluk and Jardwadjali man Ben Muir, who plays football with Taylors Lake in western Victoria's Horsham District Football League, was not surprised by parts of the report.
"He got taunted and he couldn't get rubdowns because his skin was too black. Joel Wilkinson, the AFL and the search for racial justice. This is not a victim story.
Joel Wilkinson is not a victim. This is a story about one man's decade-long battle against what he believes is institutional racism in the AFL, and their attempts to silence him. It is a story that has gone in circles for a decade with no end in sight. The man at the heart of it is not going anywhere until there has been fundamental change — resolution not just for him personally, but for others who have experienced and continue to experience institutional racism.
Patty Mills starts first Indigenous Community Basketball League, partnering with NBA. Basketball is already a hugely popular sport in Indigenous communities, but a new program by NBA champion and three-time Olympian Patty Mills aims to improve young Indigenous lives on and off the court.
Key points: There are currently three Indigenous men playing in the NBLFormer NBL player Tyson Demos says he did not have many Indigenous basketball-playing role modelsThe NBA is partnering with Mills's organisation to try to unearth more talent like the Spurs star The Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) is launching this Sunday in eight locations around the country. Former Illawarra Hawks player Tyson Demos is the director of basketball operations and said he has seen "some serious untapped talent" in remote Indigenous communities. "If we can provide those legitimate pathways maybe we can see the next Patty Mills or Nate Jawai," Demos said of two Indigenous stars who have made it all the way to the NBA. Prime Minister Scott Morrison's views on Australia Day 'selfish' and 'lightweight', Michael Dodson says.
Former Australian of the Year and Northern Territory Treaty Commissioner Michael Dodson has called Scott Morrison's comments about Australia Day "selfish", saying he is "very lightweight when it comes to understanding Australian history".
Key points: Michael Dodson said the PM's comments on Australia Day exposed a "shallow understanding" of the impact of the First Fleet on Indigenous AustraliansDodson praised Cricket Australia for its work in having an inclusive policyMelbourne BBL franchises will not drop Australia Day from their promotional material The Prime Minister on Thursday criticised Cricket Australia for its decision to recommend that teams drop the term "Australia Day" from its Big Bash promotions. "Australia Day is all about acknowledging how far we've come," Mr Morrison said during a Thursday press conference.
"When those 12 ships turned up in Sydney, all those years ago, it wasn't a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either. W-League crowd culture under the spotlight after bottles thrown in Melbourne derby. There has been a lot of discussion about male fan behaviour at women's football this week after a Victory fan threw a bottle at Melbourne City goalkeeper Teagan Micah during a W-League match on Sunday.
The fan was part of an A-League active group that had attended the last two Victory W-League fixtures, sitting separately from the women's Victory Vikings group and acting on their own accord. Originally lauded for their loud and proud support, the recognition of their attendance turned sour after Sunday's incident at Melbourne's Epping Stadium, prompting robust conversations within the football community about the difference between A-League and W-League crowd culture.
If you have ever attended an A-League match, you will have seen what male active support looks like. Loud and unapologetic with passion, they chant in a chorus well into the hundreds throughout the full 90 minutes, while moshing together and drenching themselves in beer anytime a goal is scored. Bottles thrown during Melbourne Victory vs Melbourne City W-League match. Melbourne City's remarkable W-League turnaround against Melbourne Victory has been overshadowed by a group of Victory fans hurling bottles and abuse at City and Matildas goalkeeper Teagan Micah.
Play had to be stopped for several minutes late in Sunday's game at Epping Stadium as referee Danielle Anderson, City captain Emma Checker and Victory skipper Angela Beard attempted to calm the crowd down. It took the gloss off City's thrilling 3-2 win, which was a remarkable turnaround from their 6-0 loss to the same team a week earlier. "The behaviour of the fans at the match was not acceptable," Micah said on Twitter after the match. Study finds AFL players with concussion likely returning to play with damaged brain cells. A five-year study has found AFL players are likely returning to play from concussion with high levels of damaged brain cells, putting them at risk of long-term harm, even though they might feel fine.
Key points: The research shows concussion effects last longer than previously thoughtSome players may be returning before their brain has recoveredResearchers believe tests for a protein in the blood could determine when a player is safe to return to play The Monash University study of concussed Aussie Rules players found on average they showed no ill symptoms after a week. However, analysis of their blood showed their brains had released elevated levels of the protein Neurofilament light (NfL), which is evidence of damaged brain cells. Newcastle's Mitchell Pearce quits as club captain after inappropriate text messaging with Knights staffer. Newcastle will be forced to find a new captain for 2021 after Mitchell Pearce stepped down from the role following a text messaging scandal involving an employee at the NRL club. Mitchell Pearce has met the Newcastle playing group to tell them he is quitting after revelations he sent inappropriate texts to a club stafferPearce's scheduled wedding to fiancee Kristen Scott was called off last month The half-back's contract with the Knights runs out at the end of this year The 31-year-old half-back has met with club staff and told the Knights' playing group of his decision ahead of his return to pre-season training this morning.
In a statement, the Knights said Pearce had approached coach Adam O'Brien, chief executive Phil Gardner and head of football Danny Buderus to apologise for his behaviour and the distraction it had caused to the team. He then met with the Knights' playing group to tell them he would be giving up the captaincy, which was already under scrutiny at the club. The athletics training group helping runners from all backgrounds get back on track. It's a cool weekday afternoon at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, with the usual assortment of runners ranging from schoolkids to professionals going through their paces. But at one end of the track, there's a group of world-class sprinters who run with a deeper purpose than most. It includes Ismail Dudu Kamara — a Sierra Leonean refugee who's running from fear of political persecution. There's Abdoulie Asim — an easy-going refugee from Gambia who's been cast out by his family because of his religion.
The softly spoken, heartbroken Isoken Igbinosun from Nigeria, who is struggling to survive. Boxing Day Test man of the match to be presented the Mullagh Medal. There is a new award for the man of the match in the Boxing Day Test and it honours an Indigenous Australian with statistics hardly conceivable. Cricket Australia announced the best player of the Melbourne Test match will receive the Mullagh Medal, named after Johnny Mullagh. He was the best player from the 1868 Aboriginal team that became the first sporting team from Australia to tour internationally. Dick, Kerr Ladies attracted 53,000 fans on Boxing Day 100 years ago. A year later, they were banned. The year is 1920. It's Boxing Day and Goodison Park stadium in Liverpool is packed to the rafters with 53,000 supporters. As many as 14,000 fans have been left outside, unable to get into the ground.
However, this capacity crowd is not there to see the male players of two-time First Division and 1906 FA Cup champions, Everton. Domestic abuse survivor Kim O'Reilly calls for football clubs to ban violent men. How trailblazing African footballers are changing the game in Sydney's West. Rita Oppongboateng never had the chance to play football with other women until she took part in a tournament in Western Sydney. She used to train boys in her home country but finally got to play with other women at the African Cup NSW. The tournament, held in Blacktown, saw teams representing their countries of origin play off over nine weeks for the title. Canberra cyclist who lost power during virtual race has one last bid for professional team.
"The start of a new life. " Key points: Australian track cycling leading the sprint to change coaching of elite female athletes. Stephanie Morton was in the Australian squad to go to her second Olympic Games next year at Tokyo. Coronavirus-disrupted 2020 sporting season reminded us sport is not an industry, but a way of life - ABC News. In accordance with tradition, the final episode of the ABC's Offsiders for 2020 will reflect upon the events of the previous 12 months.
While normally this is a matter of sorting through the customary triumphs and tragedies, identifying heroes and villains and squabbling about respective merit on partisan lines, this year's retrospective will be, yes, unprecedented. Breakdancing confirmed for 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but Tokyo 2021 has even more new events - ABC News. Breakdancing is the latest event set to be added to the Summer Olympic Games, confirmed for Paris 2024.
Australian national anthem sung in a First Nations language before Wallabies-Pumas rugby Test - ABC News. Wallabies players have sung the Australian national anthem in both Eora language and English ahead of the Tri Nations Test against Argentina at the Western Sydney Stadium. Alex Blackwell says homophobia remains a serious problem in women's sport despite 'misconceptions' - ABC News. Darwin bowls club rises above pedants and misogynists to celebrate 60-year history - ABC News. A dress code normally means wearing clothes that are longer, darker, hotter, have more fabric, and are more stuffy. Key points: Football Queensland's members' fees only went up a few dollars, but they weren't told where the money was going - ABC News. The first thing Murray Bird saw in the budget meeting was the new boss's salary, and he was "horrified".
Former politician Robert Cavallucci was hired on nearly double the pay of the last chief executive at Football Queensland (FQ) — almost $320,000 a year. "No-one else that I know of involved in Queensland community sport is receiving that sort of money," Mr Bird says. The CEO was recruited via a two-month consultancy that earned the president of the board Ben Richardson $44,000. When Mr Bird, the general manager of operations, found out weeks later about the discreet consultancy payment, he says he felt sick that Mr Richardson's own board had approved his handsome fee. Programs encouraging more women, of all abilities, to play wheelchair sports - ABC News.
A lesson for everyone who plays organised sport — you too are subject to the World Anti-Doping Code - ABC News. Olsen Filipaina rugby league's Polynesian trailblazer - ABC News. Architects raise significant heat concerns over university plans for Darwin's CBD - ABC News. Pigeons race home to Canberra as droppings fertilise community vegetable garden - ABC News. Surfing is a national pastime — but it has a dirty little secret. Health boss destroyed notes relating to sports rorts spreadsheet meeting - Politics. Sports grants scheme gave money to club in Scott Morrison's electorate that had already built facility - Politics.
Government's sport grants leaked spreadsheet reveals more secrets about the scheme - Politics. The future of coal has already been decided in boardrooms around the globe. Clubs fear retribution through new $150m sport fund if they criticise Government over grants - Politics. Bridget McKenzie downplays membership of shooting club given almost $36,000 in controversial sports grants program. Rugby league concussion casualty takes rising stars through school of head knocks. Nike's high-tech, record-breaking Vaporfly marathon shoes should be banned, Rob de Castella says. Federal government targeted marginal seats in potentially illegal sports grants scheme, auditor-general reports - Politics. Golf club closures loom as memberships plummet to lowest level in 20 years. Former ASADA chief Richard Ings accuses Swimming Australia of trying to cover up Shayna Jack positive test. Pacific Games 2019: Nauru's star weightlifter Charisma Amoe-Tarrant switches allegiance to win bronze for Australia.
Gay former rugby league star Ian Roberts feels 'sorry' for Israel Folau, but says posts have 'consequences' Batten disease medication Brineura available to Australian children via Life-Saving Drugs Program. AFLW's Tayla Harris is not first female athlete targeted by trolls, and even some male players. Tennis NSW split on sanctions for former board members over handling of child sex abuse claim.
Tayla Harris AFLW photo could become landmark moment in Australian sport. On International Women's Day, USWNT sues football federation over alleged pay discrimination. NRL gender advisor Catharine Lumby says some rugby league players are 'education-proof' AFLW players are 9.2 times more likely to injury their knees than male players. Here's why. Indigenous All Stars captain Cody Walker and Mal Meninga call for national anthem to be changed.