Tuesday, 25 August, 2020

AFL grand final showdown; Hurricane alert in Caribbean; Cameron Smith’s next move; and the great emu war of words.

 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

 

THE LOWDOWN

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All eyes will be on AFL headquarters in Melbourne this week as a decision is made about where in Australia the biggest sporting event of the year – the AFL Grand Final – will be held.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground – traditional home of the grand sporting event – is off the cards this year because: corona. 

So the game’s ruling body is sending their prized event to another state – with each one desperate to play host.

So which states are in contention – and what are their chances?

New South Wales has ANZ Stadium – but it’s thought the chances of Victoria handing over its golden goose to the home of rugby league in Australia is unlikely.

South Australia has the Adelaide Oval – and a footy-mad public. Plus it’s only had a few COVID cases – so that’s a plus.

But it’s Western Australia’s Optus Stadium in Perth, and Queensland’s Gabba in Brisbane that have emerged as the two most likely to nab it.

WA’s Optus Stadium is newer and flashier – and sandgropers – which is the colloquial term for Western Australians – love their Aussie Rules. But players and officials would have to quarantine for 14 days. So that could complicate things.

And then there’s the Gabba in Brissie. No quarantine requirements. Plus the chance to take AFL into a state – and in front of an audience – who are rusted-on rugby league supporters. Which is to say: a chance to win new converts to the game. 

The grand final is scheduled for mid-to-late October, and a decision will be made by the end of this week. May the best stadium win.

 

SPIN THE GLOBE

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Each day, we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops. And today, we’ve landed in the Caribbean – which is the collection of island countries that lie to the south of the United States .. where two massive storms are sweeping through the region.

Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura have caused chaos in countries like Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic – where strong winds and flash flooding have seen the evacuation from their homes of thousands of people. 

And now the storms are moving north: and are expected to hit the southern states of the US, where President Trump has issued a disaster declaration and locals in low-lying areas are being ordered to evacuate. Two storms one after the other – no one deserves that. Especially not this year. 

 

SPORTS TIME

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When it comes to NRL players, they don’t come more decorated or widely respected than Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Smith. The boy from Brissie has played 19 seasons with the Storm .. and if the rumours circulating are true, then it’s unlikely that he will play a 20th one with them.

Smith is widely expected to make a call on his next career move some time this week. And though, at the age of 37, retirement is not out of the question, speculation is mounting that he could play another season or two at either the Brisbane Broncos or Gold Coast Titans – back in his home state of Queensland ..

Meanwhile, spare a thought today for Moto GP rider Maverick Vinales who was forced to jump off his bike whilst travelling at 210 km/h after his brakes failed at the Styrian Grand Prix in Austria – a race in which Aussie motorcycle racer Jack Miller went on to come second. There’s a link in today’s episode notes to the scary brake fail moment .. which it goes without saying, should not be tried at home. 

 

POP CULTURE CORNER

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Quick! Take up arms! The Australian language needs defending – America is trying to tell us how to pronounce ‘emu’ – and they’ve gotten it all wrong.

A radio station in America caused a storm yesterday after insisting on pronouncing emu as ‘e-moo’.

Whilst reporting for his radio station about an emu in the US state of Maryland called Winston Featherbill, the radio journalist repeatedly referred to Winston as an ‘e-moo’ – and later tweeted that he had sought advice from his colleagues who had ruled that ‘e-moo’ was an acceptable pronunciation. 

But Aussies weren’t having it – taking to Twitter demanding a correction. 

This is a country that calls jam ‘jelly’ – so really, who are they to tell us how to pronounce the name given to our flightless birdy friends?

 

THE S’QUIZ

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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …

1. What’s the name of the stadium in Brisbane hotly tipped to host the AFL Grand Final?
2. Name the NRL player expected to announce the end of his career with the Melbourne Storm this week?
3. Which native Aussie animal has been mis-pronounced by an American radio announcer?

 

SHOUT OUTS

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It’s August 25 ….. Uruguay’s National Day – so hug a Uruguayan today if you know one. Plus its one of the original James Bonds, actor Sean Connery’s birthday.

It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today … Klara from Canberra, William from Crookwell, Ella from Wagga Wagga, Georgie from Wynnum, Addison, Tashi and Monique from Sydney, Charlie from Bathurst, Summer from Redlynch, Asher from Putney, Mia from NSW, Charlotte from Moonee Ponds, Sianah from Valentine, Lachie from Chinchilla, Ruben from Hobart, Claire from Buninyong, Mia from Lismore, Joshua from South Kingsville, Maya from Murwillumbah and Catalina from Carlingford.

And some belated birthday shoutouts… Macie from Galston, Mikayla from Bungendore, Jade from Perth, Jamie from Sydney and Abbie from Wilston. 

Happy birthday one and all!

Today’s classroom shoutouts… Grade 3/4 from Ardeer South Primary School, Year 4 at St Joseph’s Primary School in Laurieton, 2/3L from Booragul Public School , class 1/2W at Highvale Primary School, and Year 6, Room 2 at Calista Primary School.

 

  The S’Quiz Answers:

1. Gabba
2. Cameron Smith
3. Emu