PETE’S PUNCHLINE – The National

Question: If drone racing and chess are considered sports (in whose nutty world, I don’t know) then surely dancing can be considered a sport too, right? Who wouldn’t want to get down and boogie for a gold medal?
Novak Djokovic whacks a ball in disgust at no-one in particular after dropping a point in his US Open fixture and it hit a lines official in the neck. Reckless? Yes. Intentional? Come on. But he gets ejected from the tournament anyway. I’ll bet if it was another player (someone who hasn’t courted controversy in 2020), then that guy would’ve been let off with a caution or warning. So transparent.
No way in God’s green Lae did Sonny Wabo score that match-winning try against the Muruks on Sunday. I have photographic evidence. But that’s OK, I believe in karma.
So the sons of former Auckland rugby icons have made the All Blacks squad. We’ve got Caleb Clarke whose father Eroni was a mid-field mainstay for the Blues, and Hoskins Sotutu whose father Waisake played for Auckland in the NPC back in the 1990s. What about Will Jordan? Well, after that flying leap to pluck a cross field kick and score the match winner in the North-South clash on Saturday, I was going to cheekily say Michael Jordan.
PNG lightweight champ Junior Kauko Raka says he developed an interest in combat sports as a youngster initially through beach fighting at night on his native Vitu Island, West New Britain. That’s right, since they didn’t have any streets, they fought on the beach, at night. Raka knew he had something when he kept beating the bejesus out of everyone he faced.
Raka’s favourite boxer is Canelo Alvarez. Excellent choice. Canelo is one of the three best boxers on the planet right now. I have Terence Crawford and Vasiliy Lomachenko that make up that triumvirate.
I can’t believe Corey Oates is back on the field in 2020. The way his broken leg was reported in the Aussie media, you would’ve thought he’d need a bionically reconfigured limb to ever play again. Who’s his manager, Oscar Goldman?
Yeah, it looks like the Lakers and the Clippers will meet in the NBA’s Western Conference finals. Too much class and power.
The Celtics blew out the Raptors 111-89 yesterday. They lead the series 3-2. If there ever was a time for Raptors gun Pascal Siakam to step up and take over, it’s now.
Everton have signed Real Madrid star James Rodriguez for K92 million. I believe the Toffees are still far from vying for Champions League qualification.
Lionel Messi has returned to pre-season training at Barcelona. – PGTP ([email protected])