Try free for 30 days
-
A Sporting Chance
- Narrated by: Titus O'Reily
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
A Sporting Chance
Buy Now for $26.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also picked
-
Cheat
- The Not-So-Subtle Art of Conning Your Way to Sporting Glory
- By: Titus O'Reily
- Narrated by: Titus O'Reily
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 42
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 42
Where there's sport, there's cheating. No sport is immune: athletics, swimming, rugby, American football, cricket, baseball, badminton, motorsports, tennis and curling. Yes, even that sport on the ice with brooms. Almost as soon as humans started playing sport competitively, they started to cheat. They cheated to win, for the fame, for the money and sometimes for reasons that are hard to understand.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Surprisingly Good
- By Tim Pate on 07-09-2021
-
Please Gamble Irresponsibly
- The Rise, Fall and Rise of Sports Gambling in Australia
- By: Titus O'Reily
- Narrated by: Titus O'Reily
- Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 21
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 19
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 19
Australians will gamble on anything, from two flies crawling up a wall to less important things like federal elections. Thanks to the internet, mobile phones and gambling-tax loving federal and state governments, Australians can indulge their love of a punt no matter what they're doing. Aussies can be at the birth of a child, performing open heart surgery or handling heavy machinery and still put a bet on.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Informative, entertaining and a real hit to home
- By Andrew Dal Pozzo on 09-08-2023
-
The Fairytale
- A Real and Imagined History of Australian Sport
- By: H. G. Nelson
- Narrated by: H.G. Nelson
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 22
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 22
For more than 30 years, H. G. Nelson has been finding the poetry in the punt and humour during half-time. Now, he turns his keen eye for facts and folly to the illustrious history of our great sporting nation. In his trademark fast and furious style, H. G. dives deep into the moments that have truly made us who we are. He reminds us of our leaders' great sporting triumphs, from Harold Holt's swimming to John Howard's bowling, rewrites the record on legends such as 'Aussie Joe' Bugner and Jack Brabham; and explains why Australia's reality TV is the best in the world.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The Aussie Dream
- By Anonymous User on 24-11-2021
-
The Wolf You Feed
- By: Andrew Webster
- Narrated by: James Lugton
- Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 28
Wayne Bennett is the greatest rugby league coach Australia has ever had. He has won seven premierships and is the greatest man manager the game has known. He is also a living contradiction: Other coaches decry his tactics then attempt to imitate them. Players are desperate to work with him but are left feeling deceived when he cuts them loose. The media disparages him then lavishes him with praise. So who is the real Wayne Bennett? So who is the real Wayne Bennett? Celebrated sports journalist Andrew Webster has been on a mission to find out.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good story
- By Anonymous User on 10-12-2023
-
Great Australian Sporting Stories
- By: Ian Heads, Norman Tasker
- Narrated by: Chris Chapple
- Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 5
In these 65 original stories, we hear of the explosive introduction of World Series Cricket in 1977, which turned a genteel endeavour into a high-octane contest, and the clash of the titans as Packer and Murdoch squared off over the Super League war. We see Rugby Union become a battleground for race and the Olympics an arena for sublime acts of courage and achievement.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Absorbing
- By Anonymous User on 08-06-2022
-
Mack the Life
- By: Lee Mack
- Narrated by: Lee Mack
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 57
Where do comedians come from? Why is it that one person is a funny bloke down the pub while another actually makes a living by standing up in front of an audience telling jokes? And where does all that material come from? Well, young Lee McKillop used to wonder that too. Growing up in his parents’ pub, small and wiry in a world of bigger and chunkier specimens, Lee quickly learned that cracking jokes was a way to get attention.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
SLIGHTLY OUT OF DATE, BUT AN ENTERTAINING LISTEN
- By Rob in Nelson NZ on 04-01-2023
-
Cheat
- The Not-So-Subtle Art of Conning Your Way to Sporting Glory
- By: Titus O'Reily
- Narrated by: Titus O'Reily
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 42
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 42
Where there's sport, there's cheating. No sport is immune: athletics, swimming, rugby, American football, cricket, baseball, badminton, motorsports, tennis and curling. Yes, even that sport on the ice with brooms. Almost as soon as humans started playing sport competitively, they started to cheat. They cheated to win, for the fame, for the money and sometimes for reasons that are hard to understand.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Surprisingly Good
- By Tim Pate on 07-09-2021
-
Please Gamble Irresponsibly
- The Rise, Fall and Rise of Sports Gambling in Australia
- By: Titus O'Reily
- Narrated by: Titus O'Reily
- Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 21
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 19
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 19
Australians will gamble on anything, from two flies crawling up a wall to less important things like federal elections. Thanks to the internet, mobile phones and gambling-tax loving federal and state governments, Australians can indulge their love of a punt no matter what they're doing. Aussies can be at the birth of a child, performing open heart surgery or handling heavy machinery and still put a bet on.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Informative, entertaining and a real hit to home
- By Andrew Dal Pozzo on 09-08-2023
-
The Fairytale
- A Real and Imagined History of Australian Sport
- By: H. G. Nelson
- Narrated by: H.G. Nelson
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 22
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 22
For more than 30 years, H. G. Nelson has been finding the poetry in the punt and humour during half-time. Now, he turns his keen eye for facts and folly to the illustrious history of our great sporting nation. In his trademark fast and furious style, H. G. dives deep into the moments that have truly made us who we are. He reminds us of our leaders' great sporting triumphs, from Harold Holt's swimming to John Howard's bowling, rewrites the record on legends such as 'Aussie Joe' Bugner and Jack Brabham; and explains why Australia's reality TV is the best in the world.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The Aussie Dream
- By Anonymous User on 24-11-2021
-
The Wolf You Feed
- By: Andrew Webster
- Narrated by: James Lugton
- Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 28
Wayne Bennett is the greatest rugby league coach Australia has ever had. He has won seven premierships and is the greatest man manager the game has known. He is also a living contradiction: Other coaches decry his tactics then attempt to imitate them. Players are desperate to work with him but are left feeling deceived when he cuts them loose. The media disparages him then lavishes him with praise. So who is the real Wayne Bennett? So who is the real Wayne Bennett? Celebrated sports journalist Andrew Webster has been on a mission to find out.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good story
- By Anonymous User on 10-12-2023
-
Great Australian Sporting Stories
- By: Ian Heads, Norman Tasker
- Narrated by: Chris Chapple
- Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 5
In these 65 original stories, we hear of the explosive introduction of World Series Cricket in 1977, which turned a genteel endeavour into a high-octane contest, and the clash of the titans as Packer and Murdoch squared off over the Super League war. We see Rugby Union become a battleground for race and the Olympics an arena for sublime acts of courage and achievement.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Absorbing
- By Anonymous User on 08-06-2022
-
Mack the Life
- By: Lee Mack
- Narrated by: Lee Mack
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 57
Where do comedians come from? Why is it that one person is a funny bloke down the pub while another actually makes a living by standing up in front of an audience telling jokes? And where does all that material come from? Well, young Lee McKillop used to wonder that too. Growing up in his parents’ pub, small and wiry in a world of bigger and chunkier specimens, Lee quickly learned that cracking jokes was a way to get attention.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
SLIGHTLY OUT OF DATE, BUT AN ENTERTAINING LISTEN
- By Rob in Nelson NZ on 04-01-2023
Publisher's Summary
In sport, the term 'good bloke' doesn't mean what it says. Like 'fun run', it in fact often means the exact opposite.
Titus O'Reily, the sports historian Australia neither needs nor deserves, examines why our nation's sportspeople can do terrible things yet be so readily forgiven.
In this Great Southern Land, a sportsman can be excused almost any sin if he is elevated to the mythical status of being a 'good bloke'. So, what does it take to earn the title of 'good bloke'? And can female athletes be good blokes, too?
With ridiculous tales from Australia's chequered sporting history, A Sporting Chance dissects the scandals big and small, the mistakes made in covering them up and the path athletes tread back to redemption.
From the corrupt cop who gave us the race that stopped a nation to the Australian boxing champion who refused to train - not to mention the sandpaper-loving Australian Test cricket team - Titus reveals the key archetypes at the heart of our greatest sporting scandals.
In his own rambling and at times incoherent style he asks the question: are Australians really that forgiving of their sporting heroes? Or, with the rise of social media, women's sport and the drive towards greater equality, are the good blokes of Australia's sporting landscape becoming an endangered species?
Critic Reviews
"An indispensable voice for serious fans, who need to be reminded to take sport a little less seriously." (Inside Sport)
More from the same
Author
Narrator
What listeners say about A Sporting Chance
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Damoomad
- 17-05-2019
worth a listen
some funny stories, good sarcasm . a bit repetitive in parts but worth a listen
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jaidee
- 26-10-2021
Really enjoyed this
Titus doesn’t miss and because of this it’s a wonderful and entertaining book. I’ve always had the same views and cynicism of our misbehaving sports stars. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-01-2023
Great listening
Fantastic book. Equal parts investigative journalism & comedy. Really entertaining. I’ll be sure to check out more of his work.👍
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 22-06-2019
cool
good story and it was nice to reminisce about some tales from the past days
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Api
- 01-08-2021
My review on this book
This book is such a delight to listen to. One of the things that is so good about this book is that there so many interesting facts like I didn't know that Australia's greatest boxer liked drinking. Without this book, I don't know what to do, it is just so good. 😀👍👌👏
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr M
- 10-11-2021
Truth-Teller
Qudos, Titus O’Reilly, for showing us behind the curtain and saying out loud what I have been thinking about many sports people in Australia. Well done on your bravery and your courage to speak the plain truth. I also enjoyed your sardonic humour! Cheers.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-12-2020
Great Read
Another great read from Australia's funniest sports comedian. The stories are both interesting and funny. I also enjoyed hearing Titus narrate the book himself.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Looshbaby
- 01-06-2019
About Time
Titus has given us an extensive look behind the scenes of Fame and fortune into the character and misdeeds of some of our most celebrated Australian stars. While personally I do not care for cricket or football I found this book riveting and very interesting, well done Titus.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Robbie S
- 10-06-2019
Biased
Written with a preconceived opinion. Many subjects not researched thoroughly. Over politically correct.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
