Put out your baked beans cans!
Geez.
1 Like
Been a crap 24x hours.
2 Likes
For some strange reason l can’t post in the other thread, so will post here instead.
This is a story l have told here once before, not long after l joined BBlitz. After a gap of about 20 years sufficient time has passed and enough new Blitzers have now joined our illustrious company, to make the retelling worth the while in light of Shane Warne’s premature passing. I will preface the story, by saying that every word of what you are about to read is true.
Not many people know this, but l used to play with Shane Warne, we were once teammates. This was obviously a long time ago, back in 1985 to be exact. We were sitting around in the clubhouse in the middle of a match when 15 year old Shane told us that his school cricket coach at Brighton Grammar and he were tossing up on where he should concentrate his skills. He asked us for our opinions on whether he should concentrate on becoming an opening bat, or a leg spin bowler. The conversation went back and forth and l don’t remember anything else that was said, then finally young Shane turned to me for my opinion.
I said, “Everyone likes to think they can bat, even those that can’t.” I went on, “But the art of leg spin bowling is dying. Australia hasn’t had a really good leg spinner since Benaud, and if you can master that art, the sky is the limit.”
I make no claim as to exerting any influence on Warne’s decision one way or the other, only that the above conversation took place, and those were the very words l used. As they say the rest is now history. l didn’t mention the venue nor the competition. It was at Tulip St. Tennis Centre in Sandringham, and we were playing in the men’s doubles competition on a Tuesday night. By the way Shane’s father also played in the same comp, while his mother played with the mid-week ladies comp at the same venue. I could have dined out on that story when l travelled to cricket mad Sri Lanka, but never told anyone.
RIP Shane Warne, you are a true cricket legend who thrilled us with your exploits on the field, and gone all too soon.
27 Likes
Mentone Grammar boy. Casts doubt on the entire story 
Although the Tulip St bit holds up.
I only gave Warne advice once. “You’re teeing off 9? Don’t hit it in the right trap”.
He hit it in the right trap. Lucky he was more inclined to take your advice
4 Likes
Kim Pitt was Warnie’s leg-spin coach at East Sandy Boys Club (the club where Jobe, Teddy Richards and Judd started their football careers, among others) and where Brad Hodge finished his cricket career (in Melbourne at least).
I reckon Pitty was in his late 40’s or early 50’s (and still delivering soft drinks for Slades) when I had a few East Sandy Longmuir Shield games at the beginning of the oughties. Didn’t turn it much then. He was still playing 3 or 4 years ago, but haven’t seen his name in recent years in lower divisions.
One of Melbourne’s last drive-in theatres was in Tulip St. I remember playing a turf game (against a Brighton club in the VTCA) and one of the rare occasions I could say the official umpire was either cheating, or incompetent beyond all belief, more likely cheating. 25 years later I still remember him vividly.
The drive in was right next to the tennis centre in Tulip St.
Yeah I was in there as well. There was a rain delay so plenty of people wandered across.
William Hurt died today
RIP ‘That’s gotta’
1 Like
William Hurt put together a very impressive body of acing work. My interest in a movie would always increase, if I had learned he was playing a role. Sad news of his passing, RIP.
1 Like
Sadly Peter Bowles passes away. A likeable English actor on stage, film and course TV sitcoms. Enjoyed his work and the roles he played.
7 Likes
To The Minor Born!
2 Likes
Alan Hopgood, playwright and actor, notable for And the Big Men Fly and Alvin Purple, acting in Bellbird, Prisoner and other shows.
Also, after contracting cancer, he wrote three plays for Peter Mac and the health care sector, had them performed for HCW , boosting their morale.
4 Likes
I’m not sure a celebrity death has affected me in quite the same way as Warne.
Of course there’s always shock and sadness.
But never before has it been two weeks later and I still can’t really accept that he’s dead.
7 Likes
Madeleine Albright gone. First female US Sec of State. Cancer, 84yo.
2 Likes
2 Likes
According to him:
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6454019/itspronouncedjif.0.gif)
1 Like
Well he’s wrong
6 Likes