The morning commute can be daunting, whether it be battling maxed-out public transport full of worker ants keen to kick on after work, or stuck listening to the latest reality TV contestant having a crack at radio.
The best way to get by? Staring out the window and wondering how you’d make your first million once Future You gifts a Grays sports almanac for the next 50 years.
The second best option? Podcasts.
It’s been a banner week for sports podcasts. Here’s the best bits.
THE FINAL WORD - TRIPLE TEST TREAT
Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon do cricket reporting well. Really, really well. The Final Word is consistently entertaining, and you just may learn something.
Less talk, more listen: Here you go.
Episode description: Three Test matches at the same time? Yes please. Adam and Geoff run the desert comb over Australia and Pakistan at the Gabba, India and Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, and New Zealand versus England at The Mountain, which the Kiwis won live while we were recording the show. Also, Harsha versus Manjrekar, which wasn't much of a contest, and the WBBL. And a closing tribute to Phillip Hughes, five years on.
SPORTING NEWS - FROM THEN TO NOW
Full and shameless disclosure: From Then To Now is our baby, and we’re goddamn proud of it. After launching a shortened five-minute video on Facebook, we’ve delivered the full, unedited chat for the whole story.
Less talk, more listen: Here you go.
Episode description: In episode one, we chat with former rugby league player, Matt Seers. Seers made a name for himself as an electric fullback with pace to burn.
However, his world came crashing down in 2015 when he was charged with supplying and trafficking cocaine.
Four years on from that moment, Seers caught up with us to chat about his rugby league career, his time in jail and what life is like now. Check it out.
NO CHALLENGES REMAINING – REVIEWING NEW DAVIS CUP
Yeah, sure, we didn't win the Davis Cup, but even the most casual tennis fan will risk missing their stop from Ben Rothenberg’s reasoned – damn near logical, even - takes on the tennis world.
Less talk, more listen: Here you go.
Episode description: To wrap up the highs and lows of the radically revamped Davis Cup Finals event which just wrapped in Madrid, Ben is joined by Eleanor Crooks of PA to get impressions from on the ground at the new "World Cup of Tennis" from a veteran reporter of the format.
How did expectations match realities? Which constituencies were most and least happy? What most needs addressing? And how does the relative success of Davis Cup change the pressure on ATP Cup, which is the next event on the men's tennis calendar?
Also, a bit of bonus talk about the new Andy Murray documentary.
THE LEAD – MELO RETURNS
The Athletic’s daily podcast is a 20-minute interview with a journalist covering the day’s biggest topic. The Lead markets itself as more on the ground reporting than from behind a newsdesk and, though it’s early days, it’ll equip you with enough info to own any pub conversion on sport’s biggest yarns.
Less talk, more listen: Here you go.
Episode description: Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and hauled in 8 rebounds last night in an emphatic win over the Bulls. After more than a year away from the NBA, the aging superstar signed with the Trailblazers last Tuesday amid much fanfare. Considered one of the best players of his generation, Melo has earned a reputation for prioritizing himself over his team. The Athletic’s Frank Isola joins us to talk about the missteps of Melo's career, to question some of the criticisms, and to look at what lies ahead.
ROCK'D - JEFF FENECH INTERVIEW
Whenever Aussie icon Jeff Fenech pops up, it’s worth the time – especially considering the crop of up-and-coming Aussie boxers, that he’s mentoring, making a charge for world titles.
Less talk, more listen: Here you go.
Episode description: Presenting Jeffrey Fenech’s fight for life. His infamous robbery in the desert. That day, the rematch! A WHERE WERE YOU MOMENT for boxing fans around the world. And please enjoy a sneak peek at the enormously talented Kayla Fenech – she goes acapella with a Lady Gaga number
THE GRADE CRICKETER – BERNARD FANNING AND ROBELINDA2
Bernard Fanning. The saviour of cricket Youtube and twitter, Robelinda2. Drop everything. Listen.
Less talk, more listen: Here you go.
Episode description: Summer is here. We’ve decimated Pakistan at the Gabbatoir; our number 3 batsman hit a nerdy, well-compiled Daddy Hundred; and Davey Warner did the Toyota leap thingy. As a nation, we're rightfully approaching Bicentennial/Expo ’88 levels of safety.
However, India continues to send warning signs from abroad as their frightening attack rips through Bangladesh in a Pink Ball test. Across the Tasman, Mitchell Santner moves from “bloke who bats 8” to test centurion, while Joe Root continues to face criticism over his leadership from blokes with 43 followers and an egg for a Twitter profile pic. The ICC World Championship Test points system makes no sense and therefore needs to adopt the Qantas Frequent Flyer status credits system to determine membership levels. And CA has released a new board game, albeit one that is eerily similar to an existing product in the market.
Two phenomenal guests this week. We get Oz rock legend (and self-professed ‘alpha’ of Powderfinger) Bernard Fanning to talk childhood cricket memories, backstage tubbing (not a thing among musos, apparently, although he does share a shower story from a recent charity match), while closing out the chat with a pointed message to Virat Kohli. And @Robelinda2 (Rob Moody) jumps on to clarify the correct pronunciation of his internet moniker, what it’s like to be the Banksy of cricket video uploads, and his altruistic motivation for making people happy (when he could literally be making millions in YouTube advertising).
