Thursday 21 December 2017

Episode 9: The Wrong Bracket

After an extended rest period, Chris and Gary Talk Sport return with a new format in which we focus on just one sporting subject... and what a subject we've picked for Episode 9.

Belatedly, we look back at the 2018 World Cup Finals Draw and give you our assessment of the teams involved along with a lengthy prediction of how the competition will play out.

What fate awaits England after what could be another misguidingly competent qualification campaign? Will Portugal follow up their win in Euro 2016 with their first World Cup? And which teams do Gary think will qualify from The Group of Mild Peril?

Warm those balls, plug in your earphones and listen in to find out. Chris and Gary are Russian to tell you more...*

* (ouch)

Listen in to episode 9 by downloading the MP3 file here, or download our podcast via iTunes or AudioBoom.

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Episode 8: Dog Ate Homework

After an extended break caused by illness, work commitments and your hosts doing national service with the Venezuelan army (OK, that last one was an outright lie), we're back with another episode of Chris and Gary Talk Sport.

In this edition, we're joined once again by Damon Threadgold to look back on the first Ashes test as we collectively say 'England - what happened?'  There's also a review of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup including an inevitable prediction that Australia will win the Final, and there's also an update on the current woes of Dulwich Hamlet which takes in the murky world of property developers, club ownership and the Mayor of London.

Listen in, if you dare, by downloading Episode 8 here, or you can download our podcast via iTunes or AudioBoom.

Thursday 9 November 2017

Episode 7: A Beach Ball With a Tennis Racquet

Every now and then, we like to steer the good ship Chris & Gary Talk Sport into unchartered waters by looking at a sport that we're not very familiar with, and the latest episode of our podcast does just that. This time around it's baseball, and who better to plot a course through the 2017 World Series than John McGee of Bat Flips and Nerds.

Our opening section sees John enlightening us about the recent match-up between the Houston Astros and the LA Dodgers. If you've ever been curious about the excitement of this most popular of American sports and the hoopla surrounding the game, then this is your ideal chance to find out more.

Then we turn our attention towards Lewis Hamilton - the 2017 Formula 1 World Champion and now, so it seems, legend of the sport. We look back on the key moments of this year's competition and try to work out whether we really can call Hamilton yet, or whether our curmudgeonly old age prevents us from doing so.

Then finally we look at the glut of rugby union fixtures currently taking place, including the All Blacks' northern tour and England facing Argentina. There's also an update on all the events taking place in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, so truth be told, you can't really complain that we haven't crammed as much into our latest podcast as we could. And if you are complaining, well sorry - we're just not that interested.

You can listen to Episode 7 here, or you can download our podcast via iTunes or AudioBoom.

Thursday 26 October 2017

Episode 6: Genteel Sports Special

We could blame Damon Threadgold, but to be fair, he had nothing to do with it. Our recent absence from the podcasting landscape was not caused by the inferiority complex he inflicted on us. Instead, our audio editing software decided to mangle the recording we made two weeks ago. It was a real beaut as well, trust us.

But ever determined not to let technical setbacks get us down, we're back at last with a Kiwi-flavoured look at the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, cricket and the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Offs.

Who are our choices to win the egg-chasing extravaganza in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea? What future is there for test cricket now that the one-day internationals and T20 games are getting so popular? And can the All Whites inflict the same devastating blow to Peru that they dealt out to the mighty Bahrain in 2009?

All these questions, plus a threat to talk about bowls and croquet on a future podcast, form the basis of Chris and Gary Talk Sport - Episode 6. Enjoy.

You can listen to Episode 6 here, or you can download it via iTunes.

Tuesday 3 October 2017

Episode 5: A Strangely Large Number of Argentinians

Delayed by a few days due to Chris being unwell (altogether now - ahhhh...), Chris & Gary Talk Sport returns with a special guest in the form of fellow British emigree, Damon Threadgold.

And the main topic this time around is the state of regional football in New Zealand and Australia. Look below the level of the A League or New Zealand Premiership, and what do you find? Is football in good health on a local level down under, and if not, what's likely to improve its profile?

There then follows a discussion on the post-season Finals Series format that's so popular in Australia as well as a growing number of places around the world. As Brits, are we a bit long in the tooth for this alternative way of finishing a league season, and most importantly of all, could it improve the Scottish Premiership?

Finally, with only a matter of weeks to go until the 2017-18 Ashes Test series in Australia, there's a look at how well the two competing sides could do, not to mention the key personnel that could make all the difference in the classic battle to win that little urn. You can't see the join, folks, which is more than can be said for some of the editing that was required to iron out the technical glitches caused by Google Hangouts on Air during recording. Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Listen to Episode 5 here, on SoundCloud and on iTunes.

Thursday 14 September 2017

Episode 4: I Do Shoes and Shovels

With all the regularity and consistency of New Zealand's top sports trophy engravers, Chris and Gary are back with you once again to talk sport.

In this episode we run the rule over the US Open tennis tournament and assess the fairy tale ending for Sloane Stephens. We also ask if Rafael Nadal will consider injuring himself more often if he comes back so strongly afterwards...

There's also a two-wheeled look at the ongoing greatness of Chris Froome. Winner of this year's Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, we wonder if he'll ever be considered a cycling hero in Belgium. Well it worked for Eddy Merckx...

Finally it's off to the park - Selhurst Park, to be exact - as Chris and Gary wonder what exactly possessed Crystal Palace to appoint Frank de Boer, and can the introduction of Roy Hodgson ensure Premier League safety for another season?

All that, plus some career tips for a friend with a liking for currywurst, football manager-themed pubs and lots more besides.

Want to find out more? Then listen to the latest thrilling instalment of Chris & Gary Talk Sport.

You can listen in to Episode 4 here, on SoundCloud and on iTunes.

Friday 1 September 2017

Episode 3: A Bit of a Circus Show

The latest edition of Chris and Gary Talk Sport has something for everyone. We discuss the implications of 30 men beating the crap out of each other, two men beating the crap out of each other and two other men that probably ended up beating the crap out of each other once they got out of their Force India motor racing cars.

Yes. this week, we assess the opening Bledisloe Cup double-header of the 2017 Rugby Championship, followed by much head-scratching at the Mayweather-McGregor fight, and to round off we consider the closest Formula 1 Driver's Championship for many years.

As if that wasn't enough, we've got listener feedback, a preview of Australia and New Zealand's upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers and some Aussie rugby league pointers too.

Interested? Then listen to the latest thrilling instalment of Chris & Gary Talk Sport.

You can listen in to Episode 3 here, on SoundCloud and on iTunes.
 

Thursday 17 August 2017

Episode 2: And About Bloody Time

Greetings, sports lovers, and welcome to Episode 2 of Chris and Gary Talk Sport.

We're back once again (in spite of a truly global sense of apathy towards Episode 1) to give you our take on three specially-chosen topics we think you'll like.

First of all, the 2017 World Athletics Championships - a festival of the best track and field action which, sadly, had a bittersweet ring to it this time around. Did the mixed fortunes of Bolt and Farah cast a shadow over the event, or did Hero The Hedgehog provide sufficient positivity to render such feelings worthless?

We then follow with a discussion on women's sport and the wonderful achievements of The Matildas, The Lionesses, England and India's cricket teams and much more. Has the time finally come for the fairer sex to rightfully gain their share of the spotlight, and if so, how can they maintain that privilege in future?

Finally, Chris grits his teeth and gives his account of Manchester United's ruthless treatment of West Ham United in the opening week of the Premier League season. Is he already regretting his prediction of Chelsea as this season's champions, and if so, will it curtail what could turn out to be a very expensive gambling habit?

All of this, plus netball, rugby league and our first listener feedback on the second edition of Chris and Gary Talk Sport.

You can listen in to Episode 2 here, on SoundCloud and on iTunes.


Thursday 3 August 2017

Episode 1: Wonderfully Gloriously Niche

And so we plunge into the gently bubbling world of international sport with our first podcast which has a triple bill of rugby union, soccer and... indoor rowing.

To begin, there's a preview of the 2017 Super Rugby final between the Crusaders of New Zealand and South Africa's Lions, an assessment of Australia's current rugby malaise and two of South Africa's clubs switching hemispheres next season.

After that, The World Games. Don't worry, Chris is on hand to explain exactly what that is including references to frisbee throwing, orienteering and Fred Trueman. It really does all make sense - trust us...

Finally, there's a look ahead to the new Premier League season and a shake of the head at the huge transfer fees flooding the world game. It was all so very different back in the days of the Dutch Tulip Bubble, and if you're still feeling confused, you're just going to have to download episode 1 of Chris and Gary Talk Tulips.

Sorry, 'Sport.' Chris and Gary Talk Sport.

You can listen in to Episode 1 here, on SoundCloud and on iTunes.

Welcome...

...to the biggest collaboration in the history of aural entertainment since Paul Simon looked up Art Garfunkel's number in the phone book.

Chris and Gary Talk Sport is a podcast where two men who think they know about sport try and talk about sport. In the space of an hour, three topics of a topical nature are discussed, analysed and assessed, and all for the sheer love of sport itself.

Published on a fortnightly basis, consider this your go-to take on all that's important from football and rugby to cricket, golf, athletics and all points beyond.

If sport's your thing, allow Chris and Gary to occupy your ear drums. You might just learn something, but in reality, probably not.