Australia has just commenced the Commonwealth games in Melbourne for 2006. Games are open to member countries and, unlike the Olympics, America isn't in it to win all the Gold. We usually do. A lavish event in Au if your interested in the games. Even The Queen of England HRH, flew in to open the events of the next twelve days. God bless her, and no doubt the UK are watching us closely while she's a guest here. Yes, the games are here. Television will do them proud for the folk who couldn't get a ticket.

And for the rest of us though, it means twelve days of people in sporting events that most people have never heard of, sometimes. Australians are upset the Ian Thorpe has dropped out of the games. Many Insane urine soaked man on park bench news reporters believe he should stop selling himself, and stick to the sport his good at. Swimming. Not selling sugar-water or wheat-bix in different packaging. That way, he can concentrate on the sport. Even that walker who got disqualified, what's her name, Jane Saville, turned down the chance to carry the Commonwealth batton because of, get this, an injury that happened years ago. Its only 500 meters. Dang.

The fact is Australians are getting too lazy with there sport. Sure we follow our Footy Afl & Nrl plus Cricket in our own country, with the usual competitors, and enjoy that. Although as soon as it comes to opening up to the world and their range of sports and bringing in people of nations we've never heard of to compete, our sporting stars get nervous. And drop out. I would like to see our Shane Warne put down the phone and have a shot at a clay pidgin or play a game of table tennis. How funny would that be. Lets see some more unknown sports stars rise to the occasion this year of the games.