Cheat one day and hero the next HERE is what I don't get. In November last year, the jockey Damien Oliver was found to have bet $10,000 on another horse in a race in which he was riding. The other horse won. For his infraction of the rules, the racing authorities did not ban him for life, as would happen in every other sport, and as would have been appropriate. Instead, they suspended him for just one year, allowing him to be there on Tuesday to record his third Melbourne Cup win. The message that goes forth from the whole episode? Cheating in racing is no big deal. A quick suspension, and you can be back in time to win the Melbourne Cup! Disappointing, Anthony Mundine. For decades you have been an outspoken and courageous advocate for those who are discriminated against on the basis of race and religion. You've been an inspiration to a generation of indigenous youth, particularly. So why, when it comes to those discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality, do you change sides? Last week Mundine was appalled while watching the ABC television series Redfern Now to see positive representation of a gay indigenous man, and posted his outrage on Facebook. Like my dad told me GOD made ADAM & EVE not Adam & Steve. For his trouble the boxer received an instantaneous literary right hook from indigenous actor Luke Carroll, who stars in Redfern Now: "God or Christianity isn't a part of our Culture either ... our Ancestors had Dreamtime beliefs!" A KO to Carroll in the first round. And speaking league, gays and Redfern, TFF has done a little light palling around on a TV thingammy this week with the toughest and gayest footballer I ever saw, Ian Roberts. After seven years living in LA pursuing his acting career, the former Kangaroo will be heading home for keeps before Chrissie. To do what, exactly? Exactly. He is not yet sure, but is open to offers, either in the rugby league world, or elsewhere. Steve Waugh spoke at a lunch at the Opera House last week, and was asked when he knew that his career was truly over. He replied that it occurred a year or so after his retirement when he was going for a walk with his five-year-old son in the Shire, when they ran into Ricky Ponting going for a walk. The two long-time teammates chatted for a bit and then said their goodbyes. Noting his son being a bit quiet afterwards, Steve asked him what was on his mind? "Dad," he said. How do you know Ricky Ponting?!?! And speaking of Ponting, on the off chance you missed it, here was Shane Warne midweek, taking the long handle: "I've got nothing mean to say, or a bad word about Ricky. But bringing up the stuff about Pup, maybe it was a bit of jealousy because Pup was batting so well and Ricky was at the end of his career, not really making so many runs and just hanging in there the last few years. You'd hate to know what Warne would say if he did want to be mean! The international rugby community was saddened this week to learn of the death of the hugely likeable Peter Fatialofa. A wonderful man, the captain and tight-head prop of the Western Samoa side that beat Wales and Argentina in the 1991 World Cup, died on Wednesday, after a massive heart attack, at the age of 54. His side's 16-13 win over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park electrified that World Cup, prompting one of the Welsh players to say, "Thank God we weren't playing the whole of Samoa!" His biographer, Kiwi journalist Phil Gifford recalled to me this week, how "Fats" once came to Christchurch to do a fund-raising speech, and told the audience that in that match against Wales in '91 he was "prepared to break an arm, break a leg, break a neck, to win." On the way back to the airport, though, he confessed to Phil, "You know when I said I'd break an arm, a leg, a neck to win? I was bullshitting about the neck. Vale, Fats. Attention, those interested in forming champion teams. The Welsh soccer star Ryan Giggs gave an interesting interview this week to The Independent, in which he defined what constitutes winners in football. They are, he said, "people who will go to the edge to make sure that you win the game; and that includes in the week as well, in training. They would kick their teammates; they would do whatever it took. It would ruin their day if they lost a five-a-side game; it really means that much to them. Sculptor Graham Ibbeson explains why his Barnsley statue of famous Test cricket umpire Dickie Bird, complete with an upraised finger, had to be raised up a couple of metres on a plinth: "On Friday and Saturday night everybody who wobbles home from the town after a few sherberts seems to gravitate towards that finger, with knickers, brassieres, condoms, whatever." Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas responds to the outcry after he allowed his goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to play on after being knocked out: "I stand by the decision I took and I stand by the decision made by my medical staff. They did everything by the book. In that case, the book is worthless. Dr Barry O'Driscoll, the former IRB medical adviser who resigned last year in protest at rugby's cavalier attitude to concussion: "If they incorporate the 'five-minute rule', I think you're putting people with brain damage back on the field, and the arena they're going back into is brutal." BBC website commentator on the start of the opening lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where Mark Webber had pole position: "A dreadful start from Mark Webber. No surprise there, I guess. Usain Bolt on his time in Beijing: "I was able to get any lady I wanted ... I could walk into a party and take my pick. I would go into a club and think, 'Hmm, a'ight, which one? You? Oh, you! Let's do this.' Ian Chappell on why grade cricket has an average age of just 22-23: "When I played on Saturdays in Adelaide the hours were 1pm 'til 6pm. The older players could take their kids to the game and tell the wife they were doing something for childcare. Now the hours are 11 to 6, or even 10 to 6 if it's a one-dayer, and the coaches want the players there an hour-and-a-half before the start to do calisthenics and throw Frisbees. St Kilda president Peter Summers after they sacked their coach in the off-season weeks after previously declaring he was safe: "This is not the same old St Kilda. We are a completely different club. We are ... determined to be sustainably successful. Matthew Hayden on David Warner: "The culture demands excellence on and off the field ... His commodity is runs, but he's got to also put together a personality which is consistent with the culture which maintains a really good discipline." Coach of London Irish Brian Smith after James O'Connor completed his first match for the club: "James was outstanding. He's 23 and is still just a kid who gets up in the morning and puts his trousers on one leg at a time like everyone else. Kiwi Shaun Kenny-Dowall highlights the appalling state of nicknames in sport these days: "With the likes of Pearcey and Friendy as co-captains, they've had a chance to learn a lot off Mini, who has only had the chance to be captain for one year." Why isn't Jake Friend, at least, known as "Phone-a"? Gai Waterhouse. The Sydney trainer this week secured the last racing prize that had eluded her, the greatest prize of them all, the Melbourne Cup. Despite TFF's absolutely IGNORANT assertions last week that their "crowds are not so strong," their first two home games drew a 20,000-plus and a 40,000-plus crowd, and don't you forget it! faceboat.org.au. Raising $100,000 to allow disadvantaged children, and those with disabilities, to go sailing. Asmir Begovic. Became fifth goalkeeper to score in a Premier League match, this one after just 13 seconds. James Faulkner. Smashed the records for fastest ever one-day century by an Australian. Samantha Stosur. Another week, another final. Sebastian Vettel. Another week, another F1 victory. At least Mark Webber finished second this time. Wallabies. A shocking second-half - even in the 12As, we knew the importance of kicking the ball OUT when going for the line on penalty kicks - saw them fritter away a 13-6 half-time lead against England, to a 20-13 full-time loss. This isn't working. India-Australia one-day series. There are meaningless one-day series, and this was one of them, but the cricket played in this one was of a sustained consistent level that was staggering. Australia's three losing scores were 359, 350 and 326. Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group. With the assistance of Wenty Leagues Club - bless 'em - they are entering a team of Tamil Asylum Seekers to the Last Man Standing Cricket Comp, but they need a cricket kit. Can anyone help? Give me a yell on pfitzsimons@smh.com.au