by Col Hennessy

Last weeks Superbowl victory by the Philadelphia Eagles saw them establish themselves as World Champions. That makes as much sense as Penrith or the Brisbane Lions setting themselves up as world champions.

They simply are NOT world champions just champions of that particular part of the world that plays that sport. It’s just part of the American mindset in my opinion. Next thing you know they will be world champion peace makers.

Back to the Superbowl and the efforts of our own Jordan Mailata who was the first Aussie to play in a winning team. Others have made it to the big game but have only been punters who are only on the field for a very short time. Did you know that Melbourne identity Eddie Maguire’s son is one of those.

Jordan is a Bankstown boy who trialled with South Sydney but was told he would have to lose a lot of weight to play League. He is after all a huge specimen standing over 200cm and weighing last week some 166kg. Those figures match his contract which when renewed recently was for $300 million Aussie dollars over three years. Our best footballers get about $3mill over that same time. Incidentally, when he trialled successfully with the Eagles, he was told to put on all that weight again.

He played well in the big game protecting his quarter back Hurts which is what his opponents didn’t do and that contributed to Patrick Mahomes having the worst game of his career for the Chiefs.

It got people in the grandstand thinking. Just what have been the biggest success stories of our Aussie’s on the world stage. For me it has to be something that makes people sit up and take notice and unlike the Yanks has to have worldwide significance.

For that reason, Shane Warne’s ‘ball of the century’ doesn’t register. Craig Johnston’s winning goal in the FA cup all those years ago might. Cadel Evans winning the Tour de France has to be right up there with its worldwide status. Adam Scott winning the Masters in the US impressed many and our lady member pointed out Jessica Watson’s solo round the world epic journey just as our victory in the America’s Cup in 1983. For most of us though it was Cathy Freeman winning gold in Sydney in 2000 with all that pressure. Keep talking about it though.

Let me offer two other suggestions for consideration. Steven Bradbury winning a gold medal in the 1000m sprint in the 2002 winter Olympics. Go and listen to his account on the ABC’s conversation hour and you will see it was more than just a fluke.

Then there is my favourite with the recently deceased Peter Norman standing on the dais to receive his silver medal (200m) with the two American runners who were so impressed with his courage to support their cause that they travelled out here to be pall bearers at his funeral some fifty years later. Now that is world class.