1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,827 Speaker 1: from Newstalk. 3 00:00:11,467 --> 00:00:15,587 Speaker 2: Zed b our regular Sunday Slot with James mcconey. 4 00:00:15,627 --> 00:00:18,787 Speaker 3: Hello, mate, Koda mate, Yes, I'm talking to you from 5 00:00:19,347 --> 00:00:22,787 Speaker 3: lovely Rainy Top, where I've been down here, not for 6 00:00:22,867 --> 00:00:26,787 Speaker 3: the cultures or concert, but for Storm Purvos's wedding. She 7 00:00:26,867 --> 00:00:29,787 Speaker 3: married Dan Hilton Jones, so North Harbor Rugby fans might 8 00:00:30,107 --> 00:00:32,067 Speaker 3: know his name, but of course Storm purpose from the 9 00:00:32,067 --> 00:00:35,307 Speaker 3: Crowd Goes Wild and the Silver fans fantastic. 10 00:00:35,307 --> 00:00:37,907 Speaker 2: Well, I'll wait for the magazine spread to take in 11 00:00:37,947 --> 00:00:40,787 Speaker 2: all the photos. Were you told you weren't allowed to 12 00:00:40,787 --> 00:00:41,227 Speaker 2: take any? 13 00:00:42,107 --> 00:00:44,147 Speaker 3: Yeah, we were told, and I was going to break ranks. 14 00:00:44,507 --> 00:00:45,507 Speaker 1: I'm gonna men you. 15 00:00:46,827 --> 00:00:48,267 Speaker 3: And of course, you know, I looked around and I 16 00:00:48,307 --> 00:00:51,107 Speaker 3: was thought, am I going to be the only person 17 00:00:51,187 --> 00:00:55,027 Speaker 3: who decides to take photos and in that we've just 18 00:00:55,067 --> 00:00:58,107 Speaker 3: specifically been told not to. And then I realized, look, 19 00:00:58,147 --> 00:01:01,147 Speaker 3: we need a shot for the show for Crowd Goes Wild. 20 00:01:01,187 --> 00:01:04,707 Speaker 3: So I put my phone in landscape mode, you know 21 00:01:04,787 --> 00:01:08,787 Speaker 3: TV mode. Ye took a photo of the first I 22 00:01:08,787 --> 00:01:11,507 Speaker 3: mean a video of the first kiss. So I don't 23 00:01:11,547 --> 00:01:12,987 Speaker 3: know whether I'm going to be allowed to use that 24 00:01:13,027 --> 00:01:16,227 Speaker 3: on crowd Go as well. But wat's the space always working. 25 00:01:16,907 --> 00:01:20,147 Speaker 2: You're always working, James, always working, always just in a 26 00:01:20,227 --> 00:01:22,107 Speaker 2: back of your mind. How can I get the content? 27 00:01:24,587 --> 00:01:27,827 Speaker 2: The Australian Tennis Open comes to its conclusion tonight with 28 00:01:27,867 --> 00:01:30,587 Speaker 2: the men singles final. I'm not sure whether you had 29 00:01:30,627 --> 00:01:32,547 Speaker 2: the opportunity to watch the women's final or have caught 30 00:01:32,627 --> 00:01:35,387 Speaker 2: up on it. But Madison Keys. I was a fan 31 00:01:35,467 --> 00:01:37,387 Speaker 2: of her finally winning a major. 32 00:01:38,227 --> 00:01:41,667 Speaker 3: Yes, so was I, Pony. I've seen Madison Keys grow 33 00:01:41,747 --> 00:01:44,307 Speaker 3: up from tennis prodigy. She was on the tour at 34 00:01:44,387 --> 00:01:47,147 Speaker 3: fourteen years of age and she turns thirty next month. 35 00:01:47,227 --> 00:01:51,667 Speaker 3: So this is an amazing story really because she, you know, 36 00:01:51,747 --> 00:01:54,227 Speaker 3: she lived in the shadow of the Williams sisters and 37 00:01:54,667 --> 00:02:00,027 Speaker 3: every time a new tennis star emerged, she seemed to 38 00:02:00,067 --> 00:02:02,387 Speaker 3: move further back down to taxi ranks. So, you know, 39 00:02:02,867 --> 00:02:07,987 Speaker 3: Sloan Stevens and Coco Vandaway and Coco Goff and then 40 00:02:08,227 --> 00:02:12,987 Speaker 3: now Madison Key's just been plugging away. She is you know, 41 00:02:13,067 --> 00:02:15,827 Speaker 3: she hits the ball hard, She's pretty tall, you know, 42 00:02:15,947 --> 00:02:19,267 Speaker 3: five point ten, she can you know, she's got that 43 00:02:19,467 --> 00:02:23,187 Speaker 3: bill to be a Grand Slam tennis winner and finally 44 00:02:23,187 --> 00:02:26,187 Speaker 3: put it all together perfectly. But there's a nice story 45 00:02:26,227 --> 00:02:28,707 Speaker 3: behind it, Pony about her rackets. Have you caught up 46 00:02:28,707 --> 00:02:28,987 Speaker 3: with us? 47 00:02:29,427 --> 00:02:29,507 Speaker 1: No? 48 00:02:29,587 --> 00:02:30,027 Speaker 2: I haven't. 49 00:02:30,747 --> 00:02:35,667 Speaker 3: So she she was a Wilson racket user for many years, 50 00:02:35,667 --> 00:02:38,467 Speaker 3: probably a decade, and last year decided to change to 51 00:02:38,587 --> 00:02:43,707 Speaker 3: YONIX and then and also got married coincidentally to one 52 00:02:43,707 --> 00:02:48,107 Speaker 3: of her coaches and who she'd been dating for seven years. 53 00:02:48,147 --> 00:02:52,507 Speaker 3: So married in November. Suddenly, new new racket, new husband, 54 00:02:53,147 --> 00:02:55,427 Speaker 3: and she's winning a grand Slam, and so she won 55 00:02:55,467 --> 00:02:58,067 Speaker 3: them with yon X. And then meanwhile, over on the 56 00:02:58,107 --> 00:03:02,187 Speaker 3: other side of the court, Sablenka smashing her Wilson, which 57 00:03:02,267 --> 00:03:06,267 Speaker 3: is a racord that then Madison Keys used to you. 58 00:03:06,587 --> 00:03:11,387 Speaker 3: So yeah, one empire rises another another one for not. 59 00:03:11,387 --> 00:03:15,387 Speaker 2: A great night for Wilson. No, not a great night. Hey, 60 00:03:15,427 --> 00:03:18,067 Speaker 2: we had. We had some Keiwi involvement as well, quite 61 00:03:18,107 --> 00:03:21,947 Speaker 2: deep into the women's doubles and the mixed doubles. Aaron 62 00:03:22,027 --> 00:03:26,467 Speaker 2: Rautler and Michael Venus together couldn't get past the semifinals unfortunately, 63 00:03:26,507 --> 00:03:29,467 Speaker 2: but I enjoyed watching a couple of Kiwis go deep 64 00:03:29,747 --> 00:03:30,667 Speaker 2: in the mixed doubles. 65 00:03:31,467 --> 00:03:34,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's awesome. You know, they're almost a father daughter combination. 66 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:38,707 Speaker 3: Michael Venus slapped me for saying that, but yeah, he 67 00:03:38,827 --> 00:03:41,627 Speaker 3: is thirty seven, so he's slightly younger than Gale moffeeest 68 00:03:41,787 --> 00:03:45,907 Speaker 3: but you know, and is one of the veterans and 69 00:03:46,027 --> 00:03:50,507 Speaker 3: outstanding doubles player. You know, he's won a Grand Slam before, 70 00:03:50,627 --> 00:03:53,627 Speaker 3: He's won of bronze medal at the Olympics with Marcus Daniel. 71 00:03:53,667 --> 00:03:55,827 Speaker 3: But what I really like is that they've got this 72 00:03:56,067 --> 00:03:59,067 Speaker 3: amazing chemistry. They want to play all the majors again 73 00:03:59,307 --> 00:04:02,587 Speaker 3: this year together, so they've committed to the Actually, while 74 00:04:02,587 --> 00:04:05,387 Speaker 3: I was interviewed them, interviewing them for Sky Sport, I 75 00:04:05,427 --> 00:04:07,267 Speaker 3: sort of put them on the a little bit and 76 00:04:08,027 --> 00:04:10,267 Speaker 3: Aaron said, I'm always the one as to ask Michael, 77 00:04:10,267 --> 00:04:13,147 Speaker 3: and Michael goes, I'm disorganized. And so suddenly they said, yeah, 78 00:04:13,147 --> 00:04:15,067 Speaker 3: we'll play. He goes, do you want to play French? 79 00:04:15,067 --> 00:04:17,747 Speaker 3: He goes yes. And then now they're going to play 80 00:04:17,747 --> 00:04:20,867 Speaker 3: Wimbledon and the US Open, and it means that New 81 00:04:20,947 --> 00:04:23,307 Speaker 3: Zealand has a chance. In New Zealand doubles pairing has 82 00:04:23,347 --> 00:04:26,507 Speaker 3: a chance to win a first Kiwi Grand Slam for doubles. 83 00:04:26,547 --> 00:04:29,907 Speaker 3: There's been plenty of KEYWI players of one doubles titles 84 00:04:29,947 --> 00:04:33,147 Speaker 3: with players from other nations, but never a key WE pairing. 85 00:04:33,547 --> 00:04:35,387 Speaker 2: Oh, we'll look forward to that. I was just having 86 00:04:35,587 --> 00:04:39,627 Speaker 2: a quick check on on Michael Venus's career. He's made 87 00:04:39,627 --> 00:04:41,267 Speaker 2: a pretty good career out of being a very good 88 00:04:41,267 --> 00:04:44,947 Speaker 2: doubles player. Four point seven million UIs dollars in prize money. 89 00:04:45,907 --> 00:04:47,747 Speaker 3: I know, it's amazing. And actually, do you know what 90 00:04:47,787 --> 00:04:51,987 Speaker 3: mixed doubles is very watchable? They they play, you know, 91 00:04:52,227 --> 00:04:54,267 Speaker 3: they don't really play best of three sets off. It's 92 00:04:54,547 --> 00:04:56,267 Speaker 3: if it's one set all they goes straight into a 93 00:04:56,267 --> 00:05:01,787 Speaker 3: super tiebreaker, which is first to ten. I think, yes, 94 00:05:02,547 --> 00:05:08,267 Speaker 3: first ten. So you know, it's high enter attainment, a 95 00:05:08,307 --> 00:05:10,787 Speaker 3: lot of pressure on each point, which I think is 96 00:05:10,867 --> 00:05:13,827 Speaker 3: really what you want out of out of sport and 97 00:05:13,867 --> 00:05:17,627 Speaker 3: for tennis. So I mean, let's make mixed doubles great again, 98 00:05:17,747 --> 00:05:18,587 Speaker 3: then Trump do it. 99 00:05:18,587 --> 00:05:21,987 Speaker 2: I don't know, I don't know where that his involvement 100 00:05:22,027 --> 00:05:26,707 Speaker 2: would necessarily be be integral to it to mix doubles 101 00:05:26,707 --> 00:05:28,747 Speaker 2: becoming great again. Look, I think of this in this 102 00:05:28,827 --> 00:05:31,507 Speaker 2: part of the world. If Aaron Ratlif and Michael Venus 103 00:05:31,547 --> 00:05:34,067 Speaker 2: can win a Grand Slam, then yeah, I think would 104 00:05:34,667 --> 00:05:37,067 Speaker 2: you know it would be very very happy with that. Hey, 105 00:05:37,387 --> 00:05:39,227 Speaker 2: I was going to ask you about rugby. I know 106 00:05:39,267 --> 00:05:42,227 Speaker 2: it's only the twenty sixth of January, but actually Super 107 00:05:42,307 --> 00:05:45,627 Speaker 2: Rugby starts and is it three weeks man? That's going 108 00:05:45,627 --> 00:05:48,227 Speaker 2: to come around quick. The Fiji and Drewer are going 109 00:05:48,267 --> 00:05:53,827 Speaker 2: to play against major League rugby side Rugby Football Club 110 00:05:53,867 --> 00:05:56,427 Speaker 2: Los Angeles as one of their preseason games. 111 00:05:56,867 --> 00:05:59,787 Speaker 3: Well, they played them on Friday, Pony and it was 112 00:06:00,027 --> 00:06:04,547 Speaker 3: reasonably close, high scoring game. The DLUA got up so 113 00:06:04,627 --> 00:06:08,307 Speaker 3: they won it. And but I looked at LAFC and 114 00:06:09,067 --> 00:06:14,147 Speaker 3: RFC and they scored several good tries, they were combative 115 00:06:14,147 --> 00:06:16,187 Speaker 3: in the forwarde and I just think, is this a glipse, 116 00:06:16,747 --> 00:06:19,147 Speaker 3: you know, to the future of rugby. Can we get 117 00:06:19,187 --> 00:06:22,867 Speaker 3: an American team into Super Rugby? They seem pretty competitive 118 00:06:22,867 --> 00:06:24,747 Speaker 3: and this is a team that, Yeah, they had a 119 00:06:24,747 --> 00:06:28,547 Speaker 3: couple of rarely gun players lelia Fano at verse five 120 00:06:28,587 --> 00:06:32,267 Speaker 3: and betraying the Puma's half back. But then there were 121 00:06:32,347 --> 00:06:37,947 Speaker 3: players from Randwick Club Rugby, you know in Sydney filling in. 122 00:06:38,027 --> 00:06:41,507 Speaker 3: So once a team like that can get bolstered by 123 00:06:41,547 --> 00:06:46,067 Speaker 3: more talent, then could they actually be continue to play 124 00:06:46,107 --> 00:06:49,507 Speaker 3: Super Rugby and maybe does Super Rugby think about doing 125 00:06:49,867 --> 00:06:53,867 Speaker 3: two divisions? This is where I mean, I know it's 126 00:06:53,907 --> 00:06:56,307 Speaker 3: hard to see that happening when you see what's happening 127 00:06:56,307 --> 00:06:58,907 Speaker 3: with crowd numbers, but I think something needs to happen 128 00:06:58,947 --> 00:07:02,387 Speaker 3: to the game. It needs to expand. And America is 129 00:07:03,227 --> 00:07:05,907 Speaker 3: fresh pastures and this time of year. Of course, once 130 00:07:05,947 --> 00:07:09,307 Speaker 3: the Super Bowl is over next week, there is no 131 00:07:09,387 --> 00:07:13,347 Speaker 3: American football really in the college football season is pretty 132 00:07:13,427 --> 00:07:15,867 Speaker 3: much done and dusted. So there's this's clear ear for 133 00:07:15,947 --> 00:07:21,387 Speaker 3: rugby a lot. You know, from February through the June are. 134 00:07:21,307 --> 00:07:22,827 Speaker 2: These are sorts of things that are sort of going 135 00:07:22,827 --> 00:07:24,987 Speaker 2: through your mind as the wedding vows are being read 136 00:07:25,067 --> 00:07:28,547 Speaker 2: yesterday or an alullan proceedings at the wedding, And these 137 00:07:28,587 --> 00:07:30,987 Speaker 2: are the sorts of things that fit Popp into your head. 138 00:07:31,667 --> 00:07:34,827 Speaker 3: Yeah, can we get La Ragby and super and it's 139 00:07:34,867 --> 00:07:38,027 Speaker 3: just super. Yeah, that's all I did to make the speech. 140 00:07:38,067 --> 00:07:45,867 Speaker 3: Piny I got dropped as MC and as it woo 141 00:07:47,147 --> 00:07:51,987 Speaker 3: for for a brother and sister combo and you can't 142 00:07:52,107 --> 00:07:53,787 Speaker 3: argue with that. I'm not going to sort of throw 143 00:07:53,867 --> 00:07:56,907 Speaker 3: my toys, but I did say, well, I had actually 144 00:07:56,907 --> 00:07:59,947 Speaker 3: already prepared something, so maybe and so Storm said, well, 145 00:07:59,947 --> 00:08:02,667 Speaker 3: why don't you introduce the MC So I sort of 146 00:08:02,707 --> 00:08:04,627 Speaker 3: managed to muscle my wa hands to the wedding, feeling 147 00:08:04,667 --> 00:08:08,187 Speaker 3: a bit guilty of about that now, pulling focus like 148 00:08:08,307 --> 00:08:11,987 Speaker 3: a proper TV person. So you know, I'm keeping a 149 00:08:11,987 --> 00:08:15,187 Speaker 3: low profile today. You know there'll be no big entrances 150 00:08:15,187 --> 00:08:17,027 Speaker 3: to the to the barbecue the day after. 151 00:08:17,987 --> 00:08:20,267 Speaker 2: I'm going to make So there's two distinct sets of 152 00:08:20,307 --> 00:08:23,907 Speaker 2: people in Topaul. There's there's the wedding crowd for storm 153 00:08:23,907 --> 00:08:27,187 Speaker 2: Purpose's wedding and there's the Cold Chisel crowd. Have they 154 00:08:27,267 --> 00:08:29,867 Speaker 2: been in evidence around Topaul in the last little while? 155 00:08:30,227 --> 00:08:32,547 Speaker 3: Oh they have, I can see them. And I think 156 00:08:32,587 --> 00:08:34,707 Speaker 3: that the father of the groom would have rather been 157 00:08:34,747 --> 00:08:39,627 Speaker 3: at Cold Chisel by the sounds of things. Russell Hilton Jones, 158 00:08:39,667 --> 00:08:42,387 Speaker 3: I'll throw him under the bus. A former North Harbor 159 00:08:42,427 --> 00:08:45,507 Speaker 3: Flanka and in Northland as well, I think, And so 160 00:08:45,587 --> 00:08:49,427 Speaker 3: he yeah, he was definitely talking about Cold chizzl a 161 00:08:49,467 --> 00:08:53,027 Speaker 3: lot last night, wondering what the playlist was and you know, 162 00:08:53,147 --> 00:08:54,947 Speaker 3: when are they're going to play forever now and all 163 00:08:54,947 --> 00:08:57,707 Speaker 3: this kind of thing. I was like, Okay, Russell's just focus. 164 00:08:57,787 --> 00:08:59,907 Speaker 3: We've got free booze here. We're having a good time, 165 00:09:00,387 --> 00:09:04,827 Speaker 3: and you know that the band is playing Proclaimers five 166 00:09:04,907 --> 00:09:06,427 Speaker 3: hundred miles. It's not the last. 167 00:09:07,747 --> 00:09:12,027 Speaker 2: A wedding reception floor filler like that. You cannot go wrong. 168 00:09:12,427 --> 00:09:15,787 Speaker 2: James Safe travels back up to Walkland and look forward 169 00:09:15,827 --> 00:09:18,907 Speaker 2: to chatting some sport with you again next Sunday. Cheers 170 00:09:18,907 --> 00:09:22,867 Speaker 2: Piney mate into YouTube mate, James mcconi, huge part of 171 00:09:22,867 --> 00:09:26,467 Speaker 2: our Sundays Alternative commentary collective. Craig goes wild all across 172 00:09:26,467 --> 00:09:31,347 Speaker 2: your social media as well, and look out for that prohibited, 173 00:09:31,387 --> 00:09:35,027 Speaker 2: forbidden video. I think that's what happens if you're really famous. 174 00:09:36,467 --> 00:09:39,547 Speaker 2: The magazine, the women's magazines get the you know they 175 00:09:40,067 --> 00:09:43,667 Speaker 2: signed the deal. I've never been in this situation as 176 00:09:43,667 --> 00:09:46,227 Speaker 2: a guest or certainly not as the participants in a 177 00:09:46,267 --> 00:09:49,187 Speaker 2: wedding either. But they say, okay, we'll pay you X 178 00:09:49,427 --> 00:09:52,787 Speaker 2: amount of dollars, but no one can take photos because 179 00:09:52,787 --> 00:09:54,867 Speaker 2: we want to be the ones for the photos. I 180 00:09:54,867 --> 00:09:57,587 Speaker 2: think that's what's happened here. I hope it was a 181 00:09:57,587 --> 00:09:59,227 Speaker 2: brilliant Dan toport. I'm sure it was not. 182 00:09:59,747 --> 00:10:02,947 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 183 00:10:03,027 --> 00:10:06,267 Speaker 1: to news talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 184 00:10:06,427 --> 00:10:07,947 Speaker 1: a podcast on iHeartRadio