The Book of Sports

Tim and Nathan are back for a one-off episode unpacking all the drama of THAT Day 5 Bairstow stumping. Long Room + Lost game = Long faces.

Tim and Nathan tackle the Manly 7 and their decision to withdraw from last round’s NRL contest with the Sydney Roosters over the rainbow jersey. We discuss the overshadowing of the Women in League round, and give a verdict on what we should make of the Manly 7. IMAGE: AAP/SUPPLIED BY MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES

Tim & Nathan discuss the impact that recency bias has on sporting evaluations in light of Jonny Bairstow's mildly impressive knock on Day 5 in the second test against New Zealand.

Way back at the start of the year, Tim & Nathan were getting excited for the month of June. They cast novice opinions on Saudi-backed golf tours, track Liverpool's ups and (mainly) downs of late as well as give their thoughts on the Swans and the Raiders. The LA Lakers' absence from the episode is of particular delight to one of our regular hosts. This is kind of like a spring cleaning episode, in the middle of winter, where we try to get the Book of Sports house in order following the success of BOSConf. 

The Book of Sport Conference Sessions finish with a final conversation on the last morning of conference about serving, leadership and the church.

Tim and Nathan are joined by special guest Tom whose basketballing views are questioned, challenged, and affirmed. Stay tuned for a final Conference Sessions episode next week.

Tim and Nathan continue their reflections in the second episode of the Book of Sports Conference Sessions 

The Book of Sports Conference Sessions. Episode 1

Tim and Nathan discuss the national rhythm of sporting events. 

With the Aussie women winning the Cricket world cup (again), Nathan points out just how much better our Aussie women are when compared to their male counterparts. A surprise packet is thrown at Nathan pointing out the terrible season that one of his teams is having. We discuss the rich role that women have in Scripture and how it is most likely to be the reason why the west celebrates women in a way that other, non-Biblically informed cultures tend not to. Photo (Getty: Hannah Peters) Here are some highlights (or lowlights) of LeBron's recent action 05/03/2022 - LeBron can’t make a wide open lay up, lol https://streamable.com/8t2nzm 13/03/2022 - 3 minutes into a game against the Suns, LeBron is already not even TRYING to grab the rebound and doesn’t get back on defence. https://streamable.com/6xk4e8 16/03/2022 – LeBron getting angry at teammates for not playing defence, despite a perfectly good challenge and the ones he’s angry at are on the opposite side of the floor. https://streamable.com/fi3e7d LeBron gets blown by on defence teammate has to help, leaving opposing player unguarded under the rim for an easy dunk. LeBron complains and goes to SIT DOWN (no time out gets called), not getting down the other end for the whole offensive possession https://streamable.com/zici4l Later that game, LeBron just watches as KAT takes LeBron’s smaller teammate under the rim. No help, not guarding his own man, just watching from the free throw line. https://streamable.com/xxgwvh

"Basking In Reflected Glory (BIRGing) is a self-serving cognition whereby an individual associates themselves with known successful others such that the winner's success becomes the individual's own accomplishment. The affiliation of another's success is enough to stimulate self glory." Thanks Wikipedia. Listen to Nathan BIRG his way through a Raiders come-from-behind win and Tim plot a come from behind victory of his own in the world of fictional footballing fantasy. Are we hard-wired to gain meaning through the success of another or is it a meaningless element of human existence?

Is the public or private more important? Tim and Nathan cast their eye over the Tom Morris situation which has rocked the AFL world in the last few days. With cancel Culture, justice, forgiveness and power imbalances all at play in a situation, what clarity could Jesus bring to the situation? Photo: Fox Footy

"Beautiful ducklings soar, to hit the top four, until big cats roar, and the season is no more." Tim's prophetic statement for the season ahead is an optimistic one for the Swans while Nathan predicts his Canberra Faders' first halves will be like the shallow soil of Jesus' parables. Why do we get so amped for the nature of prediction in sports?  New Article of False Prophecy: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/baffling-this-is-not-the-pat-cummins-we-know/news-story/8e517dcfd3a90d87503629ed13cb93c0  

Tim and Nathan kick off season 2 of the Book of Sports with a therapy session following the tragic death of Shane Warne. Obscure stats underpin his status as a once-in-a-generation talent. Why are we so ill-prepared to face death and therefore live life in a meaningful way? Photo credit Getty Images via ESPNCricinfo

Tim's recent research into baby names has resulted in a discussion of coaches and their names. From the Prophetic to the Pathetic, he and Nathan discuss a selection of examples before drilling down on the angel of Australian coaching at the present time, Angellous (angel) Postecoglou, who has taken Celtic to the top of the league. Meanwhile in Western Australia, Just-in Langer has returned home in the middle of much discussion over whether he has been dealt with justly or not. Some say he is the sacrificial sheep, others say he is the demon that needed to go. What should you think? Find out on our third emergency summer pod: Angels and Demons. 

With 2022 underway, Tim and Nathan provide the top 3 sporting events they are looking forward to this year. The discussion prompts a chat about why Christians look forward to the future and anticipate good things with a little help from an 18-year-old Jonathan Edwards.

With Tim Paine ousted from the captaincy and Pat Cummins elevated to the 2nd most important job in the country, #Straya continues its search for a leader who is scandal-free and worthy of emulation in all facets of life. Will and can such a leader be found? Tim & Nathan also give their predictions for the Ashes before Day 1 at the Gabba. 

The final Book of Sports for the season sees Nathan's most extensive research into the obscure stat of the week and a debate over whether a finals system or first-past-the-post structure more effectively establishes the true order of a sporting competition.  Hear why it is no surprise to Christians that people are so obsessed about establishing order out of the chaos of pre-season AND hear about Book of Sports plans for Summer specials before Season 2 which kicks off in March 2022. Richie would love it.

The Holy Grail of the AFL world will be handed out this Saturday, so Tim and Nathan are joined by two time (Sydney Junior) AFL Best on Ground winner Nick Baglin to dissect the clash between the Demons and the Dogs. Reminiscing on Channel 10's use of the Hunters & Collectors anthem causes a discussion about holiness and what life there is ahead of us when we reach the end of our individual quests to reach the Holy Grail.

As Manchester United run down the driveway and throw open their arms to wayward son Cristiano Ronaldo, Tim and Nathan discuss the Messi v Ronaldo question and the character of the one who receives the returning prodigal.

Nathan and Tim decide to wap host and co-host seats, as a living embodiment of their disillusionment with the NRL finals. Tim, therefore, owns the Obscure Stat of the Week segment and Nathan gives an update on the tipping comp. Just how long a bow is it for Tim to compare his disillusionment with NRL to the average punter's disillusionment with Christianity?

Tim and Nathan host a discussion about parents and coaches who live vicariously through the success or failure of the little ones under their charge. Is this a surprisingly Christian virtue? Special guest Evan Lowndes also joins to share about why he put the Celtic v Ranger Old Firm derby in his calendar last Sunday night. ALSO the #AFLFinalsBookofSportstippingcomp enters its second week. Tune in for the leaderboard and give us your tips below.

The AFL Finals are upon us! Tim and Nathan share their words of prophecy, predicting week 1 winners in the #AFLFinalsBookofSportstippingcomp.     Comment below to have your tips entered into the official competition. Rules in the Episode.

Jordan Peterson joins* Tim and Nathan to talk about potential in sport as they devote an episode to cricket after neglecting the sport for some time. *without his consent, via an excerpt from a lecture 

The big debate results are in and one wounded ego refuses to concede ground. Nathan and Tim shift their attention instead to the Olympics and the joy-filled, exuberant Christianity of Nicola McDermott who won silver in the High Jump. Why does the identity that Christians find in Jesus shape their lives so extensively?

"The Olympic Games are more excrement than excellence" Tim affirms, Nathan rebuts. It is the great Book of Sports debate.  Are the Olympics an archaic, predictable, political tournament of novelty sports OR the pinnacle of athleticism and the ultimate legend-maker? We would love to hear your thoughts. PM me your verdict and we will announce the result next week.

Millions of people around the world follow you religiously. You believe that if you get things right this time around then you might come back more successful and be higher on the pecking order. You are an NBA Franchise. Tim and Nathan are joined by their first-ever guest host Rhys to unpack and banter their way through the NBA season.

Slightly better than expected seasons from both real-world teams and fantasy teams have Nathan and Tim eyeing off an outside chance at a title run in 2021. The Swans, Raiders and Xpert Eleven all enjoy extensive coverage and we discuss why we allow our hopes to lifted by such meagre hints of success.  Over the next two weeks, the Book of Sports has two firsts for your listening delight.  1. Our first guest, Rhys, will join us next week to debrief the NBA season and take Nathan to task over some misleading obscure stats. 2. Our first BIG DEBATE will be "The Olympics is more excrement than excellence" with Tim taking the affirmative and Nathan the opposing position.

A successful week for Australian sport (and a disastrous week for England) has Tim and Nathan pretty chuffed with their national identity. Tennis, Golf, Basketball and Football are all discussed (just don't mention the cricket). Why does Nathan tip the Boomers to win Olympic gold? Why do we go resort to novelty games like a penalty shootout to decide a major international football tournament? Why do we insist there has to be a winner? 

Tim and Nathan fail to understand how people can play 400 games of AFL when their own bodies are falling apart. The obscure stats of the week surround some of the great sporting performances by old people and prompt us to wonder why aspire to and admire the superhuman performances from human athletes.

It is mid-season review time for our favourite football codes, so Nathan and Tim check-in to see how well their teams aren’t doing. The return of lockdown life for Nathan’s birthday prompts a discussion on why we’re so desperate for sport to be happening.

The shocking incident involving Christian Eriksen prompts a discussion about compassion on the sporting field. At our best, we show it to our opponents (though not always), but where does it come from? Along the way, Nathan revisits some scars from the first time our paths crossed on a sporting field. We discuss the agony of the after-the-siren finish and as always share some obscure stats.

Nothing got under Nathan's skin like a New South Welshman who played for Queensland *cough* Greg Inglis *cough*. Just how positive a character trait is loyalty? Is it always a good thing? Hear our thoughts as well as origin tips, backhanded compliments and general dribble about a sport which I know very little about. 

Back from a two-week, Paternity-leave break and Nathan is now a dad! We hear his hopes for little Grace, and what lifetime of sporting accomplishments lie ahead of her. Hear how she has already conquered boxing, how wise parenting knows music is subservient to sport and how parents can nurture a healthy relationship with sport for their kids.

Tim gets nostalgic about a game he attended as a 14-year-old after the Sydney Swans beat Geelong in a comeback victory. Nathan doesn't have a comeback story to celebrate so clings to a prophetic hope that one of his teams will enjoy one this season.  Why is it that come from behind victories elicit such joy in us as athletes and fans? Sound effects by zapsplat.com

A sad state of affairs has meant our teams are losing, our hopes are fading and our expectations have been dashed. What do you do when sport leaves you thoroughly underwhelmed - either as an athlete or a fan? Sound effects by zapsplat.com

Nathan's irrational love for an under-utilised Aussie quick turns out to be too rational for Tim's liking. Nathan then tries to explain why he thinks sick kids shouldn't get a fundraiser in a debate over the merits of Sport on the Easter weekend.  Sound effects by zapsplat.com

Tim and Nathan return for another week of discussion. Hear Nathan argue for the excellency of Ricky Stuart's character and Tim froth over a Kenyan golf tournament. Both then ruminate over how fans are pilgrims, stadia are temples, athletes are idols and the cost of a meat pie at the footy is why Jesus drove out the money changers in the temple on Palm Sunday...sort of.

Tracking the beginning of the 2021 NRL and AFL seasons, Tim and Nathan discuss an obscure fantasy football obsession, surprising Liverpool FC stats and the hope that we all look to sport to provide.  Sound effects by zapsplat.com