🏉 Manly Say Sorry After Pride Jersey Divide

Good morning, it's Wednesday, 27 July. Today's newsletter is a bit like a PT session with an ex-military instructor who gets immense pleasure from human suffering. All the heavy stuff is up first then things get lighter as you go on. By the end you'll just want to curl up on the couch in front of the TV, which is good because there's some great sport on this morning. Let's limber up and get to it, shall we? 

⏱ 1155 words = 6 minutes

👀 "Mr Dracula, your license expired 700 years ago"

THE MAIN GAME

🏉 Manly's pride problem

Manly's plans to celebrate inclusion and diversity by wearing a rainbow-themed gay pride jersey tomorrow night has had the opposite effect due to "poor management" and a lack of communication. 

Golden points: Here's a quick recap of what we covered in yesterday's newsletter: on Monday morning, Manly announced the team would wear the 1st pride jersey by an NRL club in tomorrow night's match against the Roosters as part of Women in League Round.

• But apparently, nobody had told the players this was happening and when they found out, reports circulated that 7 players - Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley - were going to boycott the game on religious and cultural grounds if they had to wear the jersey.

• At lunchtime yesterday, Manly coach Des Hasler delivered a passionate speech in which he sincerely apologised to his players, all minority groups, the LGBQTIA+ community, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and the other 15 clubs for the negative impact the initiative has drawn.

• He confirmed the team will wear the pride jersey and the 7 players would not play against the Roosters.

• He says the players should have been consulted "at a minimum" about the pride jersey and that he is concerned about their welfare because "spirituality is a central part of their wellbeing".

• It means Manly will put out a depleted team to play the Roosters in a match that is crucial to both team's hopes of making the finals.

They said it: "Our intent was to be caring and passionate towards all diverse groups who face inclusion issues daily. Sadly this poor management has caused significant confusion, discomfort and pain for many people. In particular, those groups whose human rights we were, in fact, attempting to support," - Hasler speaking yesterday.

What's next: ARLC chairman Peter V'Landys says he is open to the NRL holding a pride round as early as next year, because he says "one thing I take pride in with rugby league is we treat everyone the same. We are all human beings, it doesn't matter your colour, sexual orientation or race. We're all equal."

QUICK SINGLES

🏉 NRL: Bulldogs player Corey Waddell has been suspended for 5 matches for an eye gouge. Waddell was found guilty of the gouge on Titans forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui at the NRL Judiciary last night. Sharks forward Dale Finucane has also been suspended, he's out for 2 matches for a head clash with Panthers centre Stephen Chrichton that he called accidental but that left Chrichton needing plastic surgery on his ear (graphic content warning).

🏀 Liz Cambage and her WNBA team agree to a 'contract divorce'. A statement from the LA Sparks overnight said the club and Cambage have amicably parted ways after 25 games in their first season together. Cambage averaged career lows in points and rebounds with the Sparks since her rookie season in 2011 and is now on the hunt for a new team. 

🥇 Comm Games: Just one sleep left until the Birmingham Commonwealth Games which could be the biggest ever. Ticket sales have sold through the roof of the 'accidental Games' with more than 1.2 million bought and paid for. That's already more than the previous best of 1.02 million, which was at the Gold Coast in 2018. 

 🎾 Tennis: Nick Kyrgios is back on court with one eye on the US Open. Kyrgios is playing at the Atlanta Open in both singles and doubles and has accepted a wild card into the Cincinnati Masters next month. Things could awks pretty soon though - if he wins this morning he could play good mate and doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis in the 2nd round.  

• 📺 Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are in 1st round singles action today. Watch from 9am AEST on Foxtel and Kayo.

🏉 AFL: The final round fixtures are in and the AFL has saved the best 'til last. 4 blockbuster games bookend Round 23 of the regular season with all 4 matches having finals implications. We're talking the Dees against the Dogs on Friday night then Collingwood against Carlton on Sunday just to name a couple. Here's the full draw. 

LEFT OF FIELD

🏏 Cricket: Meet Pavel Florin, a passionate Romanian allrounder by day and a Transalvanyian nightclub bouncer by night. But turfing out drunk patrons isn't his real job, he says. Nup, sport is his real job and he's become quite the cult hero since his 'ugly' bowling action went viral on social media in 2019. Since then he's played cricket all over the world and now he wants in on the BBL this summer. He's nominated for the first BBL overseas player draft, and while it's unlikely he'll get picked up, reports say Cricket Australia might sign him up as an ambassador. You probably can't say no to a guy who checks the IDs of vampires. 

📽 Highlight reel: "You'll never, ever see anything like that whatsoever." Sometimes commentators add a bit of mayo but the mayo was justified for this outrageous goal by Alessia Russo this morning in England's Women's Euros semi-final win over Denmark.

📸 Photo finish: Danish cyclist Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig taking it easy after winning stage 3 of the Women's Tour de France overnight. 

THE POLLING BOOTH

Tuesday's result: 49.62% said the NRL should have a pride round next season. 

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

• 🎾 9:00am - Tennis - Atlanta Open, Night 2 - Atlantic Station, Atlanta - Foxtel, Kayo

• ⚾️ 9:00am - MLB - Mets v Yankees - Citi Field, New York - Foxtel, Kayo

• ⚽️ 5:00am (Thursday) - Women's Euros - France v Germany - Stadium MK - Optus Sport

All times AEST

THE MANAGER'S OFFICE

It's halftime. You're down by a goal. The team needs a lift. What would you say to fire up them up? Maybe something like: "Hey, have you heard about the Sport Today newsletter? It's heaps good. Here's a link to subscribe. Let's do this!" Love it. Please do that.