Firmly in the spotlight for the first half of the week, the football game proper, Soccer, scaled mind games and foot falls to bring about the awareness of their folly. The lacklustre Euro 2004 performances on the part of Italy shoveled their early exit and fuelled cries to hidden backdoors and intricate rigging techniques leading to their departure. Soon this was quickly dashed with the local football codes vying for attention.
Leading the charge, Andrew Johns' inability to make his mind up about his twilight playing career. The Newcastle Knights halfback was toying with the idea of jumping codes to the buoyancy of Rugby Union. Deals and shaking hands were passed all around in cloaked scenes as his mind raced toward the glittering prizes of dollar signs and the re-affirmation of his stellar hold in the rugby codes.
Seeking to usurp the attention given out that way, the AFL trotted out bad news for Adelaide Crows' Wayne Carey. Forced to quit quietly due to a possibility of paralysis. This was quickly taken back as the Waratahs lamented the final decision of "Joey" Johns to stay and finish off his career in the safety of the NRL Rugby League.
Written on Friday, 25 June 2004