The Gruen Transfer seems to be going great guns, and it’s good to see Wil Anderson back on our beloved ABC dissecting the advertising we see. But a newish form of advertising that has caught my eye recently – or should I say almost blinded me – is the new animated/video Perimeter Advertising in certain sports. (epilepsy warning. Rapid animation scene below)

Thank god this isn’t so widespread in Australia yet, but watching the Rugby Union test the other night (Australia V Ireland), I was shocked to see it had made its way into the game they play in heaven.

I know this isn’t a new phenomenon, but I had only recently seen it on some warm up EURO 2008 football matches and thought holy fuck, what is going on there ?!

If you haven’t had the displeasure of seeing these ads, basically they’re the same as the standard Perimeter Advertising, but animated. Not merely moving from one ad to the next, but with motion in each ad.

What it offers is essentially more bang for one’s buck, for both parties. The sponsors can display more and more information and flashing lights to draw your attention, and the teams/stadiums can charge more for the space.

The only problem is that it’s a FUCKING ABOMINATION!

Can you imagine anything more annoying if you are trying to watch or play sport?

Field sports are generally a fast paced pastime (even lawn bowls has its moments); people run or move quickly and you have to focus on the action – so imagine these fucking annoying clips playing at the side of the pitch throughout the whole match. It’s bad enough for the athletes having to put up with this rubbish, let alone us – the paying customers – who are forced to have their senses bombarded like torture at Guantanamo.

Most us just want to sit around with a beer and a few mates watching the footy. We don’t want to sit around watching ghastly advertising, but the way things are going it seems sport will soon become secondary and the ads will just play against themselves.

This is yet another element of the media we will need to learn to subconsciously block out.

Article written by David Goldberg

The first Homeless World Cup was in Graz, Austria in 2003. Since then Gothenburg, Edinburgh, Cape Town and Copenhagen have played host to the tournament. Having participated with our Street Socceroos since the 2005 tournament in Edinburgh, The Big Issue put in a successful bid to host the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne.

Melbourne will host the sixth Homeless Word Cup and will welcome teams from over 50 nations worldwide. Players will come together in the spirit of sport and community to represent their countries, entertain the crowds and demonstrate the power of sport as a means of social inclusion.

Make sure you come to this fantastic free community event from the 1st December to 7th December 2008 in Melbourne.

From working the land in Narromine to winning cricket’s World Cup three times, Glenn McGrath has always faced life with fierce determination and an unerring will to succeed, despite the odds. Now, following his retirement from international cricket, McGrath shares the story of his life – in cricket and off the field.

Glenn McGrath’s most meaningful achievements, however, have been off the field. With his wife Jane, a survivor of breast and bone cancers, he established the McGrath Foundation , a major fundraiser for and supporter of people with breast cancer. Here, in their own words, the McGrath’s discuss their ongoing battles with the disease.

LINE AND STRENGTH is the tell-all story of an Australian country boy who took on the world. After battling cancer for 11 years, Jane died on 22 June 2008. Glenn McGrath is one of my heroes. He is a wonderful person & his wife Jane was a remarkable human being. For a great read, go & buy the book & you will not be disappointed. The book is being released on the 1st August 2008.

Two Flat Whites would like to pass on it’s deepest sympathies to the McGrath family. We appreciate all you have done for Australia Glenn & look forward to seeing the McGrath Foundation grow stronger.