The Dropkicks Discuss: Athletes and Money

Another of the Dropkicks famous email conversations. We may not be insightful but we do talk a lot.

Hadyn:
While NFL stars are throwing bags of cash around at stripbars, tennis players can't eat and runners are broke.

Che:
Example 1 = “cheap bastard”
Example 2 = “drug abuse”

Dom:
Cheap? They are charging something like 10 pounds (~$30 NZD) for a burger, fries and a coke???????
WTF? I wouldnt eat it either?

Mind you Safin has career earnings of something over 20 mil, so whats he cryin about.

James:
Actually, 30 bucks for a nice plate of spags at the top tennis club in the UK is probably pretty reasonable.

Che:
Exactly.

You’d think 20mil would make it easy to spend $US25 on spaghetti.

Hadyn:
Hold tight player haters.
That's 20M over the course of his (??) year career. Include in that training, flying, hotels, coaches, food (athletes eat a lot), etc and the fact that he's in the tournament and so might have to eat there every day it could get pricey.

I'm not saying he's going to have to sleep in a cardboard box outside the stadium but still, he's speaking out for his fellow man. Like a commie.

ps. I'm not coming to the defence of Marion Jones

Dom:
This aint fancy Logan Brown spaghetti. This is a bowl of carbohydrates. You pay a buck and change for a massive pot full at the supermarket.

Hadyn:
I really wish you'd said "yer" in that sentence:
"This aint yer fancy Logan Brown spaghetti"

Dom:
Damn, I wish had too.

Che:
I’m calling poor budgeting on that one.

Mtherfcker should have stayed at The Y more often.

The Dropkicks Discuss: Women's Tennis

We're trying to figure out a better way of doing this in the future (any super-techies think they can help, please email us) but here is yesterday's email conversation between the Dropkicks about women's tennis (mainly).

Note: before reading, please see this research article from Waikato University on "New Laddism" and know that the Dropkicks subscribe whole-heartedly to being anti-New Laddism and Marc Ellis in general.

Dom:
If I had to guess, I'd say she was right handed...

...or Popeye was new coach.

Che:
Speaking of manly.


Hadyn:
ah, I always feel sorry for Amelie. She and Lindsey Davenport (former world #1) never got the big bucks or big attention because they don't happen to stunningly beautiful AND good at tennis.

For the same amount of money that was paid to Anna Kournikova to come and lose in Auckland a few years back we could've had Davenport and watched some fantastic tennis.

Che:
It was more the arm and shoulder that freaked me out for manliness.

But, on the good looking note. You’ve got to admit that males stars tend towards the good looking as well.

Must be the code. Attracts the “purdy”

Dom:
Hmmmmm maybe.
I think If I wanted to watch the style of tennis of Mauresmo and Davenport, I'd watch men's tennis. seriously. Yes they were good but mainly cos they played the men's power game.

Justine Henin, now she knows how to play tennis. she has the best combination of power and touch. And she's better lookin than M and D. I think its very very very rare to find someone who is both very attractive and at the top of their sport.

In fact, I cant think of anyone, female or male...apart from me, of course.

Hadyn:
yeah the boys are goodlookin too. Tennis is a fitness sport (to a large extent) which helps with the goodlookingness.

I agree that JH-H is a fantastic player and deserves the top ranking but I'd also argue that Federer is not the World's #1 because of his power play.

Last year's women's #1 was Maria Sharapova. Pretty and at the top of the game. (not as good as JH-H but she was injured)

Dom:
I'd argue that Sharapova wasn't that hot. And Federer has plenty of power. I think what I was trying to say was that they were at the top of their code because they played with the power of men. I think I've forgotten my point. ah well.

And the top guys aren't exactly models. Federer has the sort of brow common south of Wellington, Nadal looks like an angry chipmunk, Tiger is actually quite goofy looking and none of the top All Blacks are oil paintings.

Hadyn:
Yeah, I agree (except about Maria). Mostly there is a tendency to go "wow they're hot because they're on TV a lot" (see P. Hilton). I suppose there is also some evolutionary thing going on with watching sports people too (sussing out good genes etc).

ps. we should figure out some way that we can have these discussions live on the blog

Dom:
Yip I agree with that. Its tragic to see so many people fascinated by a bung-eyed waif with all the personality of a bag of three day old fish & chips (Paris H) just because shes on TV.

But yes I agree the attraction is the fitness. Sharapova, Kournikova, that rookie indy car driver-chick (MmmMmmmm), its a genetic thing to be attracted to healthy bodies.

Hadyn:
Rookie indy car girl? Coz there was a bit of a stir over Miss Danika Patrick

Dom:
yeah, but this one is from Venezuela.
Milka Duno. And holy cow, shes amazing. Degrees up the wazoo, a racing driver, and pretty cute to boot.

James:
4 masters degrees! Show off.

Hadyn:
I hope that's a bad photo you sent through.
Because I'll still take Danika (anyone see her in that Jay-Z video driving the Bugatti?)

Dom:
Yeah she wasn't quite as I remembered her when they showed her on TV. Ah well.

Hadyn:
See, she was moving and athletic and stuff and your DNAs were all like "I believe that this female would a good vessel from whence* to pass on my genetic traits"

* which your DNAs say because they ain't so bright

Dom:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
You dont need to say FROM when you say WHENCE!!!!!

Hadyn:
Did you see the asterisk?

The Dropkicks - 2007 - Episode 17

International rugby is now upon us, and the Dropkicks take a look at the first match-ups of the year, with Ireland v. Argentina, Wales v. Australia and England v. South Africa. Some motorsport (Indy 500), French Open Tennis, Football (Wales v. New Zealand) and a whole lot of Nintendo Wii Bowling...

Download Episode 2007/17.

The Dropkicks - 2007 - Episode 14

It's Super 14 semi-final time, and the Dropkicks are here to guide you through the tense final acts, as well as discussing the intriguing last round of pool play, which saw the top 4 teams change (nearly) after every game. There's also a bit of tennis, some America's Cup, and dick and athletes of the week...

Download Episode 2007/14.

The Dropkicks - 2007 - Episode 09

Pipping the post just hours before the kick-off of this week's Super 14 matches, the Dropkicks share their thoughtful and insightful analysis on not only the Super 14, but the Six Nations, Formula One, the Cricket World Cup, US College Basketball, and pick their athlete and dick of the week...

Download Episode 2007/09.

The Dropkicks - 2007 - Episode 08

Returned from their voyages to alternate realties, the Dropkicks return with more stunning insights into the Super 14, the Six Nations, and any other sport issues that take their fancy.

Download Episode 2007/08.

Roger Federer, being awesome

You've got to wonder if he actually practices this sort of shot, or if it's all just perfect, spur-of-the-moment brilliace.



Andy Roddick's reaction is great, too.

[cheers to sport review nz]

The Dropkicks - 2007 - Episode 02

Here it is, virtually (and in fact, actually) un-edited due to time constraints on the currently over-worked Dropkicks editor, episode 2 of the 2007 Dropkicks season, featuring the build-up to the first round of the Super 14, Six Nations, Tri-Series Cricket, mountain-biking (Vanessa Quinn), Dicks of the Week (Turkey Shooters), Athlete of the Week (Jacob Oram) and Roger Federer still being awesome.

Download Episode 2007/02.

The Dropkicks - 2007 - Episode 01

Yes, we're back, better, badder, and, thanks to various technical hitches and non-related work deadlines, later than ever.

This week: some Super 14 pre-season analysis, A1GP, Australian Open Tennis, Dakar Rally, World Record Distance Skateboarding, Beleaguered NZ Knights season review, and other bits and pieces...

Download Episode 37.