Crazy week of ‘shock’ wins

EVERY Saturday The Chronicle team talks about the big issues in sport – be it local, national or international issues.

With Sean enjoying the last days of his holiday break Glen and Jason turn their attention to a crazy week of ‘shocks’.

Jason Gibbs: It has certainly been a week of weird, wacky and shock results. And I’m not talking about Queensland winning on Wednesday (you deserved that one) or England losing in the World Cup (I think we were all waiting for that).

The thing that shocked me the most this week was Billy Slater’s Wally Lewis medal win.

Maybe shock is too strong a word – puzzled is probably better.

At this point in time I’d like to stress this is not my New South Wales bias coming out, and I’m not for a second suggesting selectors Mal Meninga, Lauire Daley and Darren Lockyer colluded to send Billy out on high.

I’d also like to stress that I believe Billy made a massive difference to that Queensland side in Game two.

But it wasn’t a winning difference – he took hold of his side and dragged them toward victory but ultimately they lost.

You’ve got to do a lot to win man of the series in a losing side – and Billy did a lot – but not quite enough.

It’s all puzzling to me because I can’t see how he can miss a game, split the others and still take enough points to win player of the series.

I guess working against the Blues was the fact their Origin win was a real team win.

But surely one of James Tedesco or Boyd Cordner did enough to get the win?

Glen McCullough: I’m still trying to get my head around Roger Federer’s bizarre Wimbledon choke in his semi-final loss this week to South African Kevin Anderson.

Does that go down as a shock defeat for Federer or a shock win by the other bloke?

Federer hadn’t dropped a set in his previous five matches and held match point against Anderson after claiming the first two sets.

Full marks to Anderson who probably deserves more credit for the win when he should have otherwise been packing his bags for home.

But sport results don’t get much more ridiculous than that and it’s a reminder to us all no-one is unbeatable and nothing is over till it’s over.

People are still blowing up about Billy Slater’s “shock” Origin medal win win but the outcome only re-enforces my view about awards in most fields.

Anything that’s handed out based on opinion can neither be proved “correct” or “wrong”.

So while such awards are open to conjecture, what do they prove and why bother with them?