Why do sporting greats make comebacks? Because they’re competitors who get off on competing and never really get used to a world where the adulation and applause has died down, writes Back Page Lead’s Charles Happell.
Articles by Charlie Happell 
The end of the road for lil’ Lleyton Hewitt?
Surely now, even the hyper-competitive little man from Adelaide — who has more than made up for his physical shortcomings in 14 years of Grand Slam tennis with an unparalleled strength of mind — must see the writing on the wall: his days of winning the biggest tournaments are over.
AFL betting … and a sledgehammer to crush walnuts
The AFL again has reached for its sledgehammer in handing out hefty penalties to six AFL figures caught betting on matches. Perhaps the League should save the leg-irons and manacles for the time they catch out some real crooks.
Malthouse has form when it comes to losing his temper
As a former chief football reporter for the West Australian, Charles Happell has seen Mick Malthouse’s temper many times first hand. And Malthouse’s latest spray — calling St Kilda’s Stephen Milne a “f%cking rapist” — doesn’t surprise him.
Howard, the diplomat, may prevail as ICC president
The appointment of John Howard as International Cricket Council president from 2012 is more due to his diplomatic nous and less because of his awful bowling technique.
Any sport in a storm: Coates and Co cop a reality check
At a moment when we’ve just emerged from recession, when childhood obesity in Australia is at an all-time high and when some state schools have little or no sporting equipment — let alone PE teachers — David Crawford’s report into Olympic funding couldn’t have come at a better time.
Carey and Cousins may be buffoons but don’t be too quick to judge
The behaviour of sporting bad boys has pulled apart by all manner of social commentators in the last few years, some thought-provoking, others laughably simplistic. Just examine Ben Cousins and Wayne Carey.
Taxpayers can’t separate Tiger Woods from its IMG fees
While the rest of the country slowly pulls itself out of recession, a full-scale Tiger Woods-led recovery will be raging down in a little suburban pocket of south-east Melbourne.
Swimming now a contender for title of worst-run sport
Swimming is now a laughing stock, with its shoddy performance over the past few days at the FINA World Championships in Rome.
This isn’t the first time Buckley’s snubbed the Roos
Nathan Buckley’s decision yesterday to spurn North Melbourne — one of the AFL clubs hoping to secure him as senior coach in 2010 -– in favour of an assistant coaching role at Collingwood had many old-time Kangaroo officials shaking their heads ruefully.
Code of silence: the murky mix of stars, sex and sports writers
As well as bringing into focus that culture, the Johns Affair also raises questions about the sometimes murky relationship between sportswriters and their sport.
Why St Kilda vs. Geelong should be at the MCG
The St Kilda and Geelong match in Round 14 should be moved from Etihad Stadium to the MCG.
Reviled John Elliott: the man who saved Carlton FC
Perhaps the time has come for the Blue Army to raise a glass in Big Jack Elliott’s honour.
Bet fixing in Monte Carlo ATP match?
The spectre of the dreaded “m” word — match-fixing — continues to linger over tennis following an extraordinary round-one match in the Monte Carlo Masters this week.
D’Arcy and Dajka parallels cannot be ignored
Two men and two similar stories should give every sporting administrator in this country pause for thought — and especially those at Swimming Australia.
