Bazaar of Oz
Talking Balls No Comments »
Featuring Ricky Nixon, the leading actor in increasingly moribund tale of wannabe professional sports stars from these shores heading down under in search of some filthy lucre and a beachful of luscious lovelies, the Oz Factor is probable being broadcast six months too late. Really, dos anyone give a toss about GAA players heading to Australia anymore?
Talking Balls examines the facts. Although Ricky gave us an exclusive interview earlier in the year and confidently predicted in that Tommy Walsh would be signing on the dotted line (it hasn’t happened) things have gone noticeably colder for our antipodean cousins.
Among others Aisake O hAilpin has returned to the Rebel fold and lines out at No 14 this weekend. Tyrone starlet Kyle Coney was gone down under but was back home before you could say Natalie Imbruglia.
James Kielt, he of the most famous busted jaw in Derry was supposed to be exchanging dentist drill for oval ball drills but he has publicly stated he won’t be for going. Fellow Derry player, Chrissy McKaigue has also been linked with a move. Corkman Micheal Shields has been and came back. Setanta, the most high profile export landed himself in water after he bate the dung out of one of his teammates a while back. He’s still there but for how much longer. Tadhg Kenneally is home but longing to go back if you listen to reports.
The Sunday soap also features Mickey Harte. As you know the well known Tyrone manager is one of the most strident critics of the game and of its bastard offspring, the International Rules series.
According to the PR blurb, the story kicks off with Nixon taking a selection of his target players to the pub for a rake of pints of Fosters that lasts til’ about four in the morning, followed by a good ole Aussie dust up with a couple of locals. Then he kicks them out of bed again at seven to go surfing in the Atlantic of Mayo and afterwards they get to pose around on the beach in their speedoes whilst a load of final years from the local convent school eye them up lasciviously. Each player was required to wear a mullet-styled hairdo and skin tight tee shirt with a pair of unfeasible baggy shorts. Native Australian speakers were on hand to teach basic phrases such as G’day Cobber, Suss, Now Worries, and that Kangaroo has a quare tongue on him sur.
The purpose, of course to try and recreat what they will encounter when they go to Oz. Needless some players took to it better than others.
