Sport

Talking to a Demon

This morning during my radio programme I spoke to a man who is both an Assemblies of God minister … and a demon.

Chaplain of the Melbourne ‘Demons’ Football Club and head of Sports Chaplaincy Australia, Cameron Butler, joined me on 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning to talk about his role with the club and the wider influnce of chaplains in sport around Australia.

Far from being religious zealots out toforce their faith on others, chaplains prefer to simply be a trusted friend to those who are comfortable with developing a relationship. Their duties can cover a range of areas that go well beyond those of a traditional pastor or minister.

A lot of high performance sports in Australia have chaplains supporting their teams. There are over 180 chaplains now serving teams of men and women involved in sports such as test and shield cricket, motor racing, tennis, rugby league, AFL, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, yachting, skiing, netball, rodeo and horse racing, the Australian Institute of Sport and state Institutes of Sport.

Sports chaplaincy is a Christian cross-denominational service providing support for sports organisations. This includes sports men and women, administrators, supporters and family networks.

Why Chaplaincy?

Sports organisations and welfare officers recognise that sports people are whole human beings. The condition of other areas of an athlete’s life including unplanned circumstances can and do affect their performance, both on the field and in the public arena. Sporting demands can also have an impact on vocational responsibilities and relationships.

If you’d like to hear what Cameron had to say when we spoke this morning you can click the play button on the audio player in this post.

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It's almost footy time again

Mar 18th, 2009

by Rodney Olsen.

3 comments

As each year passes I prove more and more that I’m hopeless at footy tipping. This year I’m at it again and I’m inviting you to give me a kicking with your tipping prowess.

If you follow AFL can I encourage you to try to beat me at tipping for the coming season?

I’ve signed up again at footytips.com.au and so I’ll be able to pit my skills against thousands of other footy fans. The best part is that you can try your skills against mine by signing up to The RodneyOlsen.net Footy Tipping Competition. Just follow the link and join up. It’s free.

Some people spend ages checking the form of each side and thinking through the match ups, the ground, the ladder and a whole range of variables before tipping. I tend to just go ahead and choose then hope for the best.

Go on. Join up. It’ll be fun.

The great thing with footytips.com.au is that you can be part of more than one competition at a time so if you’re already part of a competition with them you can still add your name to mine.

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Swans ready to take the flag

Sep 14th, 2008

by Rodney Olsen.

12 comments

Next Sunday afternoon I intend to be at Subiaco Oval.

For the first time in 18 years, Swan Districts will be playing in a Grand Final.

I’m sure that most people would be picking Subiaco to grab their third Premiership in a row, but win, lose or draw, Swans have had a remarkable year and taking the flag for 2008 is certainly not out of the question.

With a mid-season form slump that saw them lose several games in a row, no one would have predicted that the mighty black and whites could have lifted so well to place themselves in this year’s Grand Final, but after beating West Perth yesterday by ten points, they’re ready to fight for the ultimate prize in the WAFL competition.

The Swans led at the first change by six points, but trailed by 27 points at half-time as Adam Campbell fired up at full forward to try and put the game out of the Swans’ reach.

However, the ‘comeback kings’ of season 2008 controlled the majority of the second half to claim a 15.14 (104) to 14.10 (94) victory in front of 5556 fans at the Arena in the first preliminary final played away from Subiaco Oval since 1934.

Swans, the only team to have beaten the mighty Subiaco this season, will take on the Lions in the WAFL grand final next Sunday, September 21 at Subiaco Oval. – WAFL Website

I’ve only ever been to one other WAFL Grand Final. That was back in the early eighties when WAFL footy was still huge in Western Australia. I slept on the concrete outside the gate to ensure a good seat. When the gates opened thousands of people flooded in to stake their claim. I got a seat one row back from the fence which is where I sat all day to watch Swans win a Premiership.

There won’t be a full house at the game next Sunday but I certainly intend being there. It’ll be a lot more civilised as I wander up to the gate with my numbered ticket and then make my way to my seat, but I can assure you, victory will be just as sweet.

Swans will certainly go into the game as the underdogs but I’ll be hoping for a massive upset and big celebrations after the game.

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Eagles Fly Again

Jul 27th, 2008

by Rodney Olsen.

1 comment

I can’t remember the last time I was able to go to an AFL game, so when I was invited to head to Subiaco yesterday I jumped at the chance.

With the way the West Coast Eagles have been playing this year I didn’t really expect a win but was happy to support my team during the tough times. I figured that they’d at least put up a fight.

As the first quarter started it looked like we were in for a miserable day with St Kilda kicking several goals and building quite a lead. The Eagles were putting in the work but it sure wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard.

Thankfully, as the game progressed there were signs of better things to come and the match turned into a real arm wrestle with the lead swapping and both teams putting everything into trying to grab the win.

The Saints had a one point lead at half time which had turned into a two point lead for the Eagles at three quarter time. The tight game continued before the Eagles started to kick away to build a handy lead. The St Kilda cheer fans who had been singing loudly earlier in the day, seemed strangely quiet. They had been belting out a rousing chorus of “When the Saint Go Marching In” after each of their teams goals earlier in the day, now their rare goals were met with silence.

The West Coast Eagles finished the game with a comfortable 17 point lead, 15.13 (103) to 12.14 (86).

We’ll still finish the year towards the bottom of the ladder but it was great to see a little pride restored in the team and even better to be at the game to witness it first hand.

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The Dream is over

May 22nd, 2008

by Rodney Olsen.

6 comments

I’m now even less interested in the upcoming Olympics.

I really haven’t felt much excitement about the Beijing Olympics but now News.com.au tells me that The Dream is over for Roy and HG.

The Dream has been a great show, helping to inject some humour into the endless hours of sporting action.

The show is being replaced by a morning programme titled Yum Cha, hosted by Kylie Gillies and Andrew Daddo. I really enjoy watching Andrew Daddo but it just won’t be the same.

The satirical late-night program that helped Seven rebrand itself as a cheeky yet competent network is a victim of time zones and Beijing security.

Beijing will be two hours behind the east coast of Australia, with many event finals stretching into late night, which is when Rampaging Roy Slaven and HG Nelson won fans during the 2000 Sydney, 2002 Salt Lake City and 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

I’m sure I’ll still keep an eye on some of the results, specially the cycling, but without Roy and HG to spice things up a little there seems even less reason to get excited about the games.

What about you? Are looking forward to spending hours in front of the box to watch all your favourite events?