AussieBob

That is not the issue - they are using public roads and they are therefore subject to laws and restrictions. There are many things that are dangerous that are banned - from climbing public structures to street racing to base jumping etc etc. Liabilities do not completely disappear because of acceptance of dangers involved. IMO all racing on public roads should be banned - organised or not. At the moment they are legal to participate and it is their choice - but you watch what happens if someone kills some spectators/children - then the authorities will be forced to act. There are plenty of very fast and dangerous racetracks where participation is acceptable - build a racetrack on the island using public roads but with adequate safety arrangements. They do it in Australia for the car racing (Mt Panorama) but it was banned for motorbikes as they could not remove the walls. I used to go there in the 70s 80s and watch both - it was great - but it was extremely dangerous for the bike riders.

The article is total crap and atypical of the woke liberals when they lose - the methods used and the decision was wrong. Unlike in UK whereby most evidence was not admissible and a Jude decided on legal technicalities, in the USA the claimant has the right to 'confront' the allegations and the person making them. A great victory by Depp - he won against the forces of woke feminism and the 'me too' culture that portrays all white men as violent trash and all women as innocent victims. Hopefully a step forward, such that all allegations made by vindictive women are not automatically believed and portrayed in the media as the truth.

IMO the Isle of Man and all road racing should be banned. It is far too dangerous and modern bikes go far too fast. I love bike racing - but as Rossi himself said when watching them "these guys crazy".

Kim should never have been made captain - he was given the job to try and heal the divide between two factions within the team after Greg Chappel resigned. Kim was too young and too naive to take on such a role. But what a player - his batting was unbelievable - if he was in a settled squad and did not have the captaincy - he could have been one of the greats.

Firstly - I cannot see the video mate - error message 'page not found' (too big?) The thing about MC and no money needs to be addressed. Years ago the best cricketers in the world got good money when they won and SFA if they lost - now they are all on contracts endorsements etc. Times change and golf needs to move that way. IMO the PGA and all Tours should pay a minimum contract to all players per event played - not enough to get by comfortably - but enough to feed themselves and their caddies. Regarding the audience/market - people at the events are irrelevant - the money is in the broadcasting - the audience and market is at home. Going to see the best players in the world should be available to all audiences - at the moment it is 95+% available to Yanks - SFA for the rest of us. The PGA is holding on to control in USA as if it was a sport like NFL, NBA, NHL - but it aint a sport that has an audience that is dominated by the Yanks. I understand how the Yanks think - they dont follow football and other sports where they are not 'worlds best' and where it is not an integral part of their college sports (which is massive in USA). But golf is not like that - it is a global game and there are far more players and audience outside USA than inside. If the PGA does not compromise, when means their benefactors and sponsors, then they will be taken over. The ONLY reason Rory and the others play in USA is because of the prize money. But the USA is getting richer and richer, and the rest of the world is struggling and losing all its players. A few years ago Rory was going to withdraw from the ET - so they compromised to allow him and all the others to only play a few events in order to qualify for the DP World Tour big money events. Now the people and sponsors in Europe rarely see any of them. I rarely watch the ET anymore - not interested in seeing the second tier players. Look at the Aust/Asian Tour in Norman's day - we had big money events - now we are a backwater, with the occasional Aussie like Cam and Scotty coming back once a year. Same story all over the world - the PGA has sucked up all the best players and most of the sponsors - if Rolex quits the ET they are screwed. The PGA is great for US golf - but it is killing world golf and has been doing that for decades. PS - I will for a few days not be active in the golf forum much - ladies US Open and then men's soon - we play 2 days a week and then we watch each day of the big events on replay/catch-up - prefer not to know who won. It is great to be able to skip ahead over the ads while watching it live on replay - we do the same for all sports. We also watched the MotoGP at Mugello last night and we might watch the FA Cup tonight.

Maybe not Saudi - but I will refrain from comparing atrocities committed by any country - USA included. Saudi saw he opportunity and decided to act - that opportunity should not have existed - the elite players have been unhappy for decades - even talking about it like Norman did got you offside. And yes I would and do watch it. There are many issues/complications, but one of them is 'guaranteed salary'. If I was an elite player (top 50) I would not be too happy to 'work' for 2 days and get zero if I am going through a bad patch (form, injury, bad draw, etc). The solution was raised by Norman decades ago - a elite level Tour with guaranteed money and events worldwide. The Majors would be part of it - the PGA has rejected this or anything like it time and time again - all the other Tours were forced to comply. Rolex has put big money into the ET - but they are not getting the top US players all the time because the PGA and their sponsors 'discourage' their players from playing. The PGA does not care if the ET dies or if the Asian Tour does not grow - in fact they want that - they want themselves to be the World Tour. Change is coming - it is inevitable. If not this time - then maybe the next time. But it will happen.

I hear you, but it all reminds me of what happened when both the cricket and the rugby league 'empires' were challenged by the senior players seeking more lucrative contracts and payments. The existing authorities attacked both the players who they saw as traitors, and the organisations putting up the money, but in the end the empires collapsed and had to give in. I think it is about time the authorities controlling golf were taken down - they are all about their own empire and no matter what they say, they are not about the benefit of the game and the elite players. Guaranteed purses, much higher winning payments, and the freedom to play where and when they want - that is what is on offer for the elite players - and they will get what they want in the end if they stand up for themselves. Anything that takes the extreme control and power away from the PGA is a good thing IMO.

No - that was the 1980s version. The one pictured was the 1991 16V upgraded version - different head cover - the 70th anniversary version had the BMW blue leather seat and BMW pearl white fairing. I had that one for years - put on a staintune exhaust and a new chipset (forgot name) and it flew. I rode it many times to Phillip Island and all over the place - best touring days of my life on that bike (no speed limiter on the back).

Ray was in another similar film which was very good - Identity - very under-rated movie.

Because the players strength and their equipment, especially the ball, have made the golf courses obsolete for today's professionals, in order to 'defend' the courses, they are now making greens and rough very hard to deal with. But that sounds like it is a step too far - but then again why not - unless they continue to counter the enormous distances they are hitting it, golf will become even more a game of power over skill. I can remember many years ago Jack Nicklaus complaining about how in his 60s he was hitting it farther than when he was at his prime. He made the point that he was hitting it a bit further when he won his last Masters, but at the time he liked that because it kept him in the game. But he said the modern equipment and ball since the 90s, and now the player's strength, is hitting the ball way too far to easily and too straight. It is bad enough they can dive it over 350 yards, but the real problem is that they can hit a 4 iron 250 yards (straight), a 6 iron 200 yards, and a wedge 150 yards (high and straight). On a 450 yard Par 4, they are hitting 3 wood and a wedge. Jack said it many years ago - and he stated that he knew the players and the industry (selling gear is worth $billions) will not like it - but he said the game was at risk of being dominated by Linebackers. Take a look at the modern players and he was right - many of them are all power and not a lot of skill - it should be the other way around. Back in the day it was all about the skill and power was a bonus - it is now completely the other way around. Luke Donald. Bryson forced the PGA to do something - besides making golf courses longer and harder. The R&A is currently conducting an investigation into the issues of strength and length, in terms of rules changes about equipment and techniques (I have contributed my bit). What I hope and do expect to see come out of that is a massive crackdown on putting - both the equipment, technique (hands only) and caddie assistance. Plus I expect to see the ball used by Pros severely changed - minimum spin rates and maximum carry distances using the robot tester. Plus rI hope and expect that the PGA will have regular random (and severely enforced) testing of player's equipment and balls after a round, together with random drug testing of all players. When and only when that sort of thing is done, will players with the skills dominate the game again. Many of the old Pros could hit the ball over 300 yards - but it was a massive risk as the ball could easily fly way right/left - and they could not do it all the time as their bodies were not fit/strong enough. When Pro golf players are spending more time working on fitness and strength than on their game, then it is obvious the game has gone too far in the wrong direction. I dont blame the players - they are doing what they have to do to compete and make a living. Bryson showed them exactly what the problem was - Johnson and Koepka had showed them already that the problem was there - but Bryson shoved it so far down their throats they could not longer ignore it.

A mate had one of those and brought it with him for a trip down the Phillip Island (2 day trip). Besides the fact that he couldn't really ride it (he was all show and no go), the bike kept breaking down. It often rained and when it did, he broke down or slowed. We had to make him leave with a dealer in one town after about the third break down - and we then took turns carrying him on the back of our bikes. He was not invited back again.

Yep - nothing can kill Keith Richards - unbelievable that after so many drugs he is still alive - maybe that is what is keeping him alive.

So many famous people passing away that had an impact on my life - many of them same/younger in age as myself - including people I have met. I hate getting older and watching them fall away - but life goes on.

Yep - the Yanks love theirs at the exclusion of all others - I am so sick of their crap when talking about what college/school they played for - who gives a phark outside USA. JT is a very negative type bloke - always scowling - but he is very good when he is in form - especially when the driver behaves. He deserved to win - he was in the wrong side of the draw on both Thurs and Friday, but he scored well enough to give himself a chance over the weekend. But like you said, IMO he got there because the other guys were not mentally strong and fell away, rather than him performing great to make up that many strokes. Reminds me of Gary Player's win where he finished early posting a very low score, and the weather turned and the rest of the field were blown away. JT played solid good golf - the others played like Rory did on Fri and Saturday - throwing shots away unnecessarily. Players these days are so immature - I have said it before about Rory too. They are still boys and they cry when they win. The problem with that is decision making - or should I say unclear emotional thinking. JT has learned to take the caddies advice and in Bones (ex Mickelson) he has a caddie who knows about getting an emotional player over the line. IMO Bones told JT he did not need to shoot 62 and trying to do that was wrong - he would have said post 4-5 under and then it is up to the others to not fold over the last 4-5 holes - and fold they did. As an example of the immaturity of the modern player's thinking. Zalatoris did real good and was 'strong' but his last shot on the last hole was a shocker. He was in the fringe about a foot away from the green and had to make it or the championship was JT's. When he took out his putter I started screaming at the TV - "WTF - No No No - You HAVE to make this Will - he aint gonna 3 putt - chip it - who gives a rats arse if it goes 20 feet past". The wife knew too - she said putting from the fringe is the 'safe' play and not a good idea. Chipping would take out the bumps but risk going long - but it was the play. And sure enough the ball bounced and bobbled when he putted and missed by a mile - a chip over the fringe was the ONLY shot. Bad thinking to putt. Mate - I know all about it. I sat up all night for 3 days (took leave from work) watching to see Norman finally win the Masters. He was still 6 shots in front after 7 holes - and then he 'melted down'. It was sickening to watch - he was completely screwed and made bad decision after bad decision. I can remember when he was once standing over a shot ready to fire and he didnt move - someone timed it and it was over 20 seconds I believe - and of course the shot was bad. What I did admire about Norman was how well he took it and got over it - but that was the end for Norman's golf career - he won a couple of events and made a few good appearances but he was never the same again. In fact he started to focus even more on his businesses after that - good call. Mental strength is more important than ability - Gary Player and Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus. Another thing about the 1996 Masters stands out too. Tiger missed the cut that year and then in 1997 he won by 12 strokes. Very interesting - at the time I was dubious about how one gets that good so quickly - still am.

That is why not many anywhere - they break down a lot. Mate had one too - heaps of trouble, especially when it rained.

Yes - it was no Van der Velde that is for sure, but it was rash thinking to pull out the driver. As you said, he should have thought more about it. 3 wood, long iron, 2 putts - win. The driver was only needed if he needed to make a birdie. But then the 2nd shot was also a bad decision - which is where the Van der Velde comes into it - bad decision after bad decision. He should have done what Zalatoris did - took a club that would never go long (which is dead on that hole) - he should have been going for a bogie to get in the playoff not trying to get close enough to have a putt for par. And then the 3rd shot was also crap decision - out of heavy rough and downhill he plays for turn that was not there and goes long leaving an impossible fast downhill put/chip for a bogie which he left 'miles' short as he didnt want to go 20+ feet past. He should have chipped towards the hole - he needed to just get it below the hole and have an uphill putt for bogie. Every shot on that hole was a crap decision. Some players at the elite level have the ability to think clearly and correctly under pressure no matter what the situation - Nicklaus, Woods, Watson, immediately come to mind. But most people do not have that ability and they need the advice of a very good caddie - Van der Velde desperately needed his caddie to break his driver, and if not then to at least jump in after he hit it and say stop - you only need a double bogie to win - stop! Mito needed some advice, and he did not get the right advice - 3 times. Rory often does that too. Norman was the same - he was unlucky a few times in Majors, but he threw away several - which Jack or Tiger or Tom would have won.

Yep - gotta be careful. If it goes wrong you should only ever get divorced while living in one of those countries. Just like marriage - never ever take her home and get married there - marry her in her country and then take her home (for a while). If anything goes wrong while living at your home country, get back to that country and take all your money with you, and immediately lodge a divorce case there - and pay for a good lawyer (way cheaper than contesting a divorce back in your home).

Now that is a bike - but prefer the RS myself. Had a 1992 K100RS with touring bags etc - take them off and fly around Eastern Creek. Best of both worlds. The model I had was released in 1991 and was very advanced - Motronics, ABS, etc etc. I sure miss that bike.

One of the many great things about Thailand (and Philippines, Vietnam, etc.) is that an old guy from the West is seen as 'rich' by comparison to the locals, and can therefore attract the same aged females of the species. But in those countries the old 'rich guy' cannot be divorced after she has done a few years of 'work', and end up paying more than it would have cost for a hooker in New York to get the same 'services'.

I like the look of Fitzpatrick - the worse the course/weather, the better he seems to do. But as you said Mito looks the real deal too - but on Sunday as a 'rookie' he will be under extreme pressure - if he wins then he is going to be a contender for a while. Mito is older (27?) and just coming good - therefore he has the toughness - otherwise he would have quit years ago. As they say - sometimes the class players take a bit longer to develop - Fitzpatrick is also 27 and has yet to win on PGA Tour. Gonna be a great last day watching those 2 play together - hope one of them wins it and the other one does well (not crash and burn).