Firstly, the wine...
So, there are times when worlds that you follow closely collide and you hope that it creates a good thing. I have been wanting to try Ponting Wines for a while but only managed to get a hold of some recently.
Ponting Wines is “a collaboration between one of Australia’s most celebrated cricketers, Ricky Ponting and Ben Riggs, an award-winning Australian winemaker known for uncompromising, high quality wines.”
I have been sceptical of such collaborations ever since I tasted the ACDC range of wines a few years back (it wasn’t good). I tried two of the Ponting Wines: ‘The Pinnacle’ Shiraz which is from McLaren Vale and ‘Close of Play’ Cabernet Sauvignon which is from Langhorne Creek.
The Pinnacle at first taste was ok but I was coming from my Hunter Valley Shiraz frame of reference. The Pinnacle didn’t have the peppery, strong body of the Hunter but rather a more fruity, mild taste. Once I had the right context, I enjoyed it the more that I drank it.
The Close of Play was very good and a Cab that you think that would only get better after a couple of years. It’s strong and like any good Cab, goes well with a steak. One thing that I did notice was that 24 hours after opening both bottles, the wine only got better.
Ponting Wines are definitely worth trying and I have a strong feeling that like the man himself, it will only get better as the years and the results go on. For me, next will be the Pinot Noir!
Like of lot of people, I have been riding the COVID lockdown rollercoaster over recent weeks so being motivated to do regular posts has been a challenge. However, as each week goes by and I haven’t done one, my mate Al’s voice keeps nagging at me (in a good way) as he recently gave me some suggestions on topics that he wanted my views on (why I don’t know, you have to ask him).
One of the topics that he did raise was the Olympics and as the Paralympics are about to reach a conclusion, it triggered something that comes to my mind whenever they come around.
As a country, we really jump on the national bandwagon when it comes to both the Olympics and the Paralympics. It is one of those times where for the most part, we are united as we cheer on our athletes as they literally take on the World and we get to bask in the glow of their achievements. This year, it is also safe to say that both the Olympic & Paralympics helped a lot of people get through the depths of being locked down.
It is also a time where we become experts in sports that the majority of us only take an interest in every four (and in this case five) years. Sports such as shooting, table tennis, gymnastics etc. I even have to laugh that after two or three days, I am convinced that I understand the nuances of kayaking, handball & what makes a perfect dive.
It also started me thinking and remembering that I have been fortunate to meet a number of Olympians and Paralympians over my life and I thought about who was the most memorable one that I have met.
I have been very fortunate that through my professional career I have been able to do events with both Cathy Freeman and Andrew Gaze; both experiences left me with memories that will last a lifetime. However the most memorable Olympian that I met, I also had the very good fortune to work with.
It was my second year at HP and through some changes that were made that gave me a chance to stay there, I ended up working for this man (I’m not mentioning his name as I haven’t asked him for permission to do so).
During my first year at HP, my engagements with him were friendly enough but I didn’t know him that well. That said, I must have made some impression as he was the one who suggested to come work for him.
As we started to work together, I noticed one day that he had a very unusual keyring. It was one that said ‘Olympians Club’ with its own unique number. Being a sports fan that doesn’t mind purchasing a bit of merchandise now and again, I knew it was something that was different to the norm but it took me a few weeks to get up the gumption to ask him about it.
He told me that he represented Australia at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. That alone just blew me away. I couldn’t believe that I was sitting next to, let alone working with an official Australian Olympian!
That and why wasn’t there more noise about this in the office?
Over time, he shared with me more and more details about his Olympics experience. That he done well in the lead up to the Games but the results in Seoul were not what he was hoping for or expecting. Hence, I think it was one of those things that you just keep to yourself and kind of try and forget the disappointment of it all.
Who could have blamed him? The biggest disappointment I had in my sporting career was being triggered out LBW for 99 in a school second XI final so I have no doubt that not achieving your goals at an Olympics dwarfs that in comparison…by a long way! That and the fact that an Olympics comes around every four years, it could be the only shot that you have.
Anyhoo, one day he called me over to his desk and he had a large photo album which contained photos and memorabilia of his experience at Seoul. I was in absolute awe! I remember seeing the large credentials that he had to wear, photos from the Opening Ceremony and if memory serves me right, there was a photo of him with a young basketballer playing in his first Olympics called Luc Longley! It was very, very cool stuff.
I remember thinking at the time (and I would like to think that I said this to him) that irrespective of the result, representing your country at an Olympic Games is such a massive achievement and is one that should be celebrated and saluted by all; not least the athlete themselves.
And it is something that comes back to me whenever I watch the Olympics & Paralympics. Like everyone, I get wrapped up in the ‘Gold Rush’ but the fact is that to even make a national team means that you are in a select number who is truly world class in their sport; which to me is rarefied air indeed.
Over recent weeks, I have seen a lot of coverage of our medal winners and the rewards that are rightly due them. However, congratulations must go to everyone who donned the green and gold for Australia (and indeed, whatever colours that they wore for their country) because that is an achievement that very few of us will ever get to and one that is worthy of celebration.
That and every four years, I am reminded that I have had the honour of working with an Australian Olympian. How cool is that???
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