Bizarre with Mick Molloy and Titus O’Reily

At the beginning of the 20th century, Australia decided to do something against its nature, ban gambling. The result was the rise of the SP Bookie, illegal bookmakers based in pubs, barber shops, pool halls and anywhere people wanted them. The result was a cat-and-mouse game between the police and the bookies; if the cats weren’t interested in capturing the mice and were willing to take bribes. Titus has three live shows coming up in May in Melbourne. You can get tickets here. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mick and Titus are thrilled to announce a new show, Animal Bizarre, which will be released each Wednesday, starting next week. Sports Bizarre will remain the same, out every Monday. “From seagulls who are too fat to fly, drunk echidnas, a crypto-investing hamster, racoons hell-bent on disrupting a ‘gender reveal party’, and a bear who invaded a military base, every week we will be looking at the most bizarre stories from the animal kingdom,” said Mick. “We’ve been thrilled with the ongoing success of Sports Bizarre – and we will continue to find the weird stories from the sports world, but we’ve always wanted to branch out with other topics. When it comes to the stories we tell about animals, we are like David Attenborough, if he didn’t fact check and had an incredibly poor understanding of wildlife,” said Titus. Animal Bizarre and Sports Bizarre will both be released on this feed so there's no need to change anything. The feed will be renamed 'Bizarre with Mick Molloy and Titus O'Reily'. If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With their first season at the top level in the bag, the Crazy Gang set their eyes higher, but not before a key member announces he is leaving. Before the season is over, the team will achieve something special, but it will also contain the seeds of their destruction. Titus has three live shows coming up in May in Melbourne. You can get tickets here. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets This story I had to piece together using a lot of different sources but a good overview is The Crazy Gang by Dave Bassett and Wally Downes which aims to set the record straight from two men who were in the Crazy Gang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unfortunately Mick was unwell last week, so we bring you one of our most popular episodes. Wimbledon will be back next week. On 4 June 1974, the Cleveland Indians decided to host a ten-cent beer night to attract fans; beer at the stadium normally cost 65 cents, so ten cents was a real incentive. The Indians were in a 30-year slump at the time, as was the city, their river would catch fire with alarming regularity, so the scene was set for trouble. Oh, and it was a full moon. The result was pure, unbridled chaos. There were streakers, firecrackers, a woman trying to kiss the home plate umpire and eventually, a full-scale riot. Titus O'Reily and Mick Molloy examine a night that started badly and then got worse. Titus has three live shows coming up in May in Melbourne. You can get tickets here. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two, Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang unlock their on field persona, tough, hard, and hated by opponents. As they push up the Football League divisions, a new young player joins the team, named Vinnie Jones, and the club begins their assault on the top division. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets This story I had to piece together using a lot of different sources but a good overview is The Crazy Gang by Dave Bassett and Wally Downes which aims to set the record straight from two men who were in the Crazy Gang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the mid-1970s, Wimbledon FC were an amateur football side that couldn't afford training cones, so they stole them from the nearby highway. But the club was going about to go on one of the greatest runs of any team in sport, rising from the bottom to the top, and they did it with a crazy owner, manager and a bunch of players who would become known simply as ‘the crazy gang’. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets This story I had to piece together using a lot of different sources but a good overview is The Crazy Gang by Dave Bassett and Wally Downes which aims to set the record straight from two men who were in the Crazy Gang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Albert Belle could hit a baseball. He could also hit a range of other objects when he got frustrated, from sinks to buffet tables. Joining the hapless Cleveland Indians, he was a big part of turning them around, but he also lost it at fans, teammates, and trick-or-treaters. Belle’s personality of being a jerk, even affected his chances of entering the Hall of Fame, because most journalists who vote for it, just didn’t like him. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two, Babe Didrikson turns to golf as her next sport to conquer, becoming one of the greatest of all time. She also meets her husband George Zaharias, a professional wrestler, known as the 'Crying Greek from Cripple Creek.' Together, they propel Babe to great heights, help form the LPGA, before Babe faces her toughest battle. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Babe Didrikson might very well be the greatest athlete of the 20th century. As a teenager she led her team to the National Basketball Championship, before moving on to the Olympics and became a two-time gold medallist. Baseball was next, playing against the men in the Major Leagues, and that was just the half of it. To make money, she turned to the stage, becoming a star, before deciding to conquer one more sport, golf. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1977, the movie Slap Shot starring Paul Newman was released about the crazy exploits of a fictional minor league ice hockey team. The plot was so unbelievable the movie flopped but later became a sports classic, partly because all the crazy stories in it were based on a real team, the Johnstown Jets. All the characters in the movie were based on real people, like the three Hanson Brothers, (not the musicians) and their arch-nemesis Bill “Goldie” Goldthorpe. They fought each other, the referees and the fans. This is the story of the Johnstown Jets, one of the strangest teams of all time. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2002, none other than Michael Jackson came to Exeter City's stadium to deliver a speech to the 7,000 fans in attendance. What followed was a rambling speech about curing AIDS, stopping poverty, and for good measure, ending racism. What made this even stranger was that Exeter City were at the bottom of Division Three at the time. Within weeks of his visit, Jackson would be appointed to their board. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Taylor Swift in Australia, we look at her impact on the NFL and examine other sport/entertainment relationships, like Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, Posh and Becks, and Denis Rodman and Madonna. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a few legal checks, we can now bring you part two of Fine Cotton, and we didn't even have to change it! When we left you, the horse was bright red, the race was imminent and it all looked like this slow-moving disaster was going ahead.   Find out what happens next in this extraordinary tale. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Resources There is a heap of newspaper reports from the time, and ever since then there’s been interviews galore with many of the main players. That said, there are still a few who have remained very quiet on this topic. The most recent book and the one worth grabbing if you want to dive deeper is The Fine Cotton Fiasco by Peter Hoysted and Pat Sheil. Chance by Andrew Rule also has a chapter on it which is great as all his work is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unfortunately, we can't bring you Fine Cotton Part Two today, we explain why in this pod, but it will be arriving soon. Instead, we present Frank Worthington, one of the wild men of English Football in the 1970s. A friend of George Best, he once famously failed a medical at Liverpool because he went on a bender the week before. What follows is a wild ride of women, booze, gambling and some amazing football. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are back, and with the most requested topic we've ever had. In Australia, the two most famous racehorses are Fine Cotton and Phar Lap but for opposite reasons.  When a handful of colourful racing types attempted to swap the poor horse Fine Cotton, for the much faster Dashing Solitaire, it all seemed so easy. What followed was an inept, sometimes tragic, sometimes hilarious slow-moving disaster, with a mystery still at the heart of it. We are doing two live Sports Bizarre shows on in Melbourne in February at the Corner Hotel. The first show is sold out and there’s only a few left for the second night. You can buy tickets here: Tuesday 27th February We are kicking off at the Corner Hotel because it’s a two minute walk from Mick’s house, but don’t worry if you’re not in Victoria, we will be announcing more dates in the near future. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Resources There is a heap of newspaper reports from the time, and ever since then there’s been interviews galore with many of the main players. That said, there are still a few who have remained very quiet on this topic. The most recent book and the one worth grabbing if you want to dive deeper is The Fine Cotton Fiasco by Peter Hoysted and Pat Sheil. Chance by Andrew Rule also has a chapter on it which is great as all his work is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Titus sits down with The Ringer’s Editor-at-Large Bryan Curtis to discuss the wonderful world of Texas football. They look at high school football, the rituals and rivalries of college football and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. Bryan discusses his beloved Texas Longhorns and how millions of dollars are poured into high school teams. They also look at the Houston Oilers, the USFL’s San Antonio Gunslingers and why in Texas, the three Fs, Faith, Family and Football are so big. We are doing two live Sports Bizarre shows on in Melbourne in February at the Corner Hotel. The first show is sold out and there’s only a few left for the second night. You can buy tickets here: Tuesday 27th February We are kicking off at the Corner Hotel because it’s a two minute walk from Mick’s house, but don’t worry if you’re not in Victoria, we will be announcing more dates in the near future. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Titus sits down with comedians and authors Paul Nardizzi & David Barend who literally wrote the books on how to annoy Jets and Yankees fans. They discuss the Jets disastrous season and why non-Yankees fans hate Yankees fans. We are doing two live Sports Bizarre shows in Melbourne in February at the Corner Hotel. You can buy tickets here: Tuesday 20th February Tuesday 27th February We are kicking off at the Corner Hotel because it’s a two-minute walk from Mick’s house, but don’t worry if you’re not in Victoria, we will be announcing more dates in the near future. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Titus sits down with Devin Gordon, author of So Many Ways to Lose: The Amazin' True Story of the New York Mets. They chat about how Mets fans experience more pain than almost any other fans, and how whenever things look good, they go bad in the funniest way possible. We are doing two live Sports Bizarre shows on in Melbourne in February at the Corner Hotel. You can buy tickets here: Tuesday 20th February Tuesday 27th February We are kicking off at the Corner Hotel because it’s a two minute walk from Mick’s house, but don’t worry if you’re not in Victoria, we will be announcing more dates in the near future. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we look at people creating mayhem just for the joy of creating mayhem. First, we look at snooker legend Jimmy White, particularly when he teams up with fellow madman Alex Higgins. Next, we look at the total mayhem of mob football at the Atherstone Ball game. Lastly, we look at the player who never played, Carlos Kaiser and his brush with organised crime. We are doing two live Sports Bizarre shows in Melbourne in February at the Corner Hotel. You can buy tickets here: Tuesday 20th February Tuesday 27th February We are kicking off at the Corner Hotel because it’s a two minute walk from Mick’s house, but don’t worry if you’re not in Victoria, we will be announcing more dates in the near future. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we look at people who had too much money. Starting with F1 racer James Hunt, and his relationship with Lord Alexander Hesketh, a man who had money, and knew how to have fun with it. Then there’s J. William Oldenburg, who owned the USFL team, the Los Angeles Express, and got into a spending war with Donald Trump. Lastly, we look at James Gordon Bennett Jr, the youngest ever Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, who had a cow on his yacht so he could get fresh milk. We are doing two live Sports Bizarre shows in Melbourne in February at the Corner Hotel. You can buy tickets here: Tuesday 20th February Tuesday 27th February We are kicking off at the Corner Hotel because it’s a two-minute walk from Mick’s house, but don’t worry if you’re not in Victoria, we will be announcing more dates in the near future. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we look back at one of our favourite characters ever. Albert Griffiths, or ‘Young Griffo’ began life in the slums of Sydney, as leader of a local gang. This proved to be the perfect training for boxing, and before he was twenty he was the World Featherweight Champion. Moving to the United States, Young Griffo would go on to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, despite never training and almost never fighting sober. In a career spanning 232 fights, Girffo would only lose nine, despite multiple arrests, stints in jail and various asylums. We're doing two live Sports Bizarre podcasts in Melbourne this February. Tickets on sale now. February 20th Tickets February 27th Tickets If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival was in full swing, news emerged of what could be Australia’s biggest Ponzi scheme. High on the list of victims were bookmakers who invested millions with an unassuming suburban lawyer named John Adams. Titus sits down with crime writer Andrew Rule to discuss the emerging story. Tickets to Titus’ five Melbourne shows are selling fast with three already sold out and the others selling fast. For tickets to Sport: The Unauthorised History click here. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Titus sits down with author Dan Liebke to discuss his new book, The 100 Funniest Moments in Australian Cricket. They discuss Rob Quiney's resurrection of a dead seagull, Shane Watson's LBW appeals, Dennis Lillee asking the Queen for an autograph and Jeff Thomson's speech at the Allan Border Medal. For tickets to Titus' new live show; Sport: The Unauthorised History click here. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2023, we found plenty of athletes who were unlucky in love. In this best of, we look at John Daly's interesting marriages, Jese Rodriguez interesting way of gaining revenge on an ex, and James Hunt's creative end to a marriage. For tickets to Titus' new Show; Sport: The Unauthorised History click here. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the war, Keith Miller dazzled England in the Victory Test and returned to Australia a star. Debuting for Australia, Miller would dazzle crowds around the world, while also clashing with Don Bradman on a regular basis. Miller’s on-field antics were matched by the intense interest in what he did off-field. He was rumoured to have had an affair with Princess Margaret, and once while hungover, used a bike to switch fielding positions. For tickets to Titus' new Show; Sport: The Unauthorised History click here.  If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Resources Aside from lots of contemporary newspaper accounts, there ate quite a few books on Miller. An older book and out of print that I found useful was Keith Miller; The Golden Nugget by R S Whitington and can be tracked down online. Miller himself wrote quite extensively, such as in Cricket Crossfire be Keith Miller, again a second hand book these days but available online. For a more contemporary version and ultimately the most authoritative account, is Miller's Luck: The Life and Loves of Keith Miller, Australia's Greatest All-Rounder by Roland PerrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to cricketers, there have been many as exciting on and off the pitch as Keith Ross Miller. Miller played VFL, flew fighter planes in the war, and was one of, if not the greatest, all-rounder of all time. Miller combined movie star looks and incredible charm off the field, with a dark side few got to see. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Resources Aside from lots of contemporary newspaper accounts, there ate quite a few books on Miller. An older book and out of print that I found useful was Keith Miller; The Golden Nugget by R S Whitington and can be tracked down online. Miller himself wrote quite extensively, such as in Cricket Crossfire be Keith Miller, again a second hand book these days but available online. For a more contemporary version and ultimately the most authoritative account, is Miller's Luck: The Life and Loves of Keith Miller, Australia's Greatest All-Rounder by Roland PerrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second part of our Lucky Baldwin series, Lucky had just escaped death after being shot by a jilted lover. He followed that up by being shot by another lover almost immediately, which is careless. Lucky also managed to create a new town, which the Los Angeles Times described as a “gambling hell and booze pleasure park.” If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Santa Anita Park is one of the most famous racetracks in America, a regular host of the Breeders' Cup, but its founder is little known. Elias 'Lucky' Baldwin was a self-made millionaire, who left behind him a trail of wives, mistresses and unhappy business partners. In business, he was lucky and shrewd, and his biography starts with the line, 'immoral, unmoral, amoral, Lucky Baldwin was all of them.' If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1964, one of Australia’s leading javelin throwers, Reg Spiers, was training in England when he failed to make the Australian Olympic team. Things got worse when his wallet was stolen, leaving him completely broke. He was stuck in England with no way to get home. Reg, however, was an out-of-the-box thinker. Perhaps there was a way to get home that would cost him nothing, it just had never been done before. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Reg attracted a lot of attention back in the day, and has given countless interviews since which I drew on. The most definitive account is the book Out of the Box: The crazy true story of the Australian champion athlete who posted himself by Julie McSorley and Marcus McSorley and is worth checking out if you want the whole story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The MacRobertson Air Race got underway in spectacular fashion, with a pilot trying to take off but forgetting to release the brake. Once in the air, things got only more confused, with emergency landings, crashes, and pilots getting arrested by Benito Mussolini’s men. Soon the first planes would arrive in Australia, and the people of Albury would play a major role in saving one plane from disaster. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Research To research this I went through more aviation materials than I had ever thought possible. There are a heap of contemporary reports online and I had to dig deep to flesh out a lot of minor details, not all the reports line up. The best book on the race is On a Wing and a Prayer: The Race that Stopped the World by Di Websdale-Morrissey and is a great account.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1934, the 100th anniversary of the founding of Melbourne was celebrated by what was at the time, the most dangerous and ambitious race in world history, flying from England to Melbourne. The race would see wooden biplanes go up against the first metal airliners and was funded by an Australian Willy Wonka, Sir Macpherson Robertson, inventor of Freddo Frog and Cherry Ripe. The finest pilots of the age gathered in England, a man who flew with a lion cub, a married couple who argued over directions, and a man who once ‘bombed’ the English flagship, HMAS Queen Elizabeth, with toilet paper during a naval exercise. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Access to all past episodes Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Research To research this I went through more aviation materials than I had ever thought possible. There are a heap of contemporary reports online and I had to dig deep to flesh out a lot of minor details; not all the reports line up.  The best book on the race is On a Wing and a Prayer: The Race that Stopped the World by Di Websdale-Morrissey and is a great account.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 26, 1863, at the Freemason’s Tavern in Great Queen Street, London, representatives of various football clubs from across England met to try and figure out a universal set of rules for football. This optimistic project fell apart over differences over whether you could run while holding the ball, and if you could kick an opponent in the shins. The group split, one would form the Football Association, and the rest would go off an create Rugby. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1823, William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it during a school match creating the "rugby" style of play. Except he didn’t, and the true story of how rugby emerged involved school uprisings, broken shins, and the invention of an origin story. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the 26th of September 1983, forty years ago, Australia II crossed the line to end the New York Yacht Club's 132-year-long winning streak. To celebrate the anniversary, Mick and Titus sat down with winning skipper John Bertrand to learn more about what it took to win the America’s Cup. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Research There is no limit to the writings on the America’s Cup, and this was one of the biggest research jobs I’ve had. Some of the key sources included: A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory by Richard V. Simpson Exposed: The Dark Side of the America’s Cup by Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Of course, the great man joined us and his book is Born To Win: The Power Of A Vision by John Bertrand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1983, Alan Bond would go all in for the Cup, bringing together John Bertrand and Ben Lexcen in an all-out assault on the New York Yacht Club. The Australians would bring their winged keel, and perhaps more importantly, their mind tricks, as they fought the Americans in court and out on the water. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy recount the year the Australians challenged for the cup and for the first time in 132 years, prised it from the New York Yacht Club’s iron grip. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Research There is no limit to the writings on the America’s Cup, and this was one of the biggest research jobs I’ve had. Some of the key sources included: A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory by Richard V. Simpson Exposed: The Dark Side of the America’s Cup by Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Of course, the great man joined us and his book is Born To Win: The Power Of A Vision by John Bertrand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the British trying and failing for 100 years, the Australians now entered the fray, with Sir Frank Packer launching a challenge. When Sir Frank was asked why he decided to challenge, he replied, "Alcohol and delusions of grandeur." With the passing of Frank Packer, another Australian would pick up the mantle. He was from Western Australia, and his name was Alan Bond. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Research There is no limit to the writings on the America’s Cup, and this was one of the biggest research jobs I’ve had. Some of the key sources included: A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory by Richard V. Simpson Exposed: The Dark Side of the America’s Cup by Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Of course, the great man joined us and his book is Born To Win: The Power Of A Vision by John Bertrand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the end of the 19th Century, the America’s Cup had become a plaything for the rich, with men like J.P.Morgan and William K Vanderbilt controlling the New York Yacht Club. Challenging them from Britain was Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, founder of Lipton’s tea, who would challenge five times for the Cup. In one practice, no less than King Edward II was on board when the mast collapsed, almost killing him. The King had his cigar knocked out of his hand, and calmly lighted a fresh one before asking if anyone was hurt. This week, there will be two episodes; the second will be out on Wednesday, except for Bizarre Plus members, who will receive both immediately. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Research There is no limit to the writings on the America’s Cup, and this was one of the biggest research jobs I’ve had. Some of the key sources included: A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory by Richard V. Simpson Exposed: The Dark Side of the America’s Cup by Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Of course, the great man joined us and his book is Born To Win: The Power Of A Vision by John Bertrand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the English accusing the New York Yacht Club of ‘unfair and unsportsmanlike proceedings’ it fell to the Canadians to launch the next challenges. The Canadians were so unprepared that the crew were still nailing down her deck as their ship set sail. The English would pick up the mantle again, with the challenge of William Henn, who raced with five dogs, a cat, a lemur, a raccoon and an official mascot of the ship, a monkey named Peggy, who wore a pullover and a hat and could pull in the sails. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Research There is no limit to the writings on the America’s Cup, and this was one of the biggest research jobs I’ve had. Some of the key sources included: A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory by Richard V. Simpson Exposed: The Dark Side of the America’s Cup by Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Of course, the great man joined us and his book is Born To Win: The Power Of A Vision by John Bertrand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the America’s Cup donated to the New York Yacht Club (NYYC), Civil War would intervene before anyone could challenge for it. After the war, it would be the new NYYC Commodore James Gordon Bennett Jr, who would kick start the challenges.   Nicknamed “The Mad Commodore”, Bennett Jr was known for riding his personal horse carriage about the streets of New York city at break-neck speeds in the middle of the night while completely nude. This week, there will be two episodes; the second will be out on Wednesday, except for Bizarre Plus members, who will receive both immediately. If you’d like to become a member of Bizarre Plus Click here to join today Research There is no limit to the writings on the America’s Cup, and this was one of the biggest research jobs I’ve had. Some of the key sources included: A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory by Richard V. Simpson Exposed: The Dark Side of the America’s Cup by Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Of course, the great man joined us and his book is Born To Win: The Power Of A Vision by John Bertrand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1851, the yacht America, headed to England to take on the best of the British, stopping to pick up the finest French wines along the way. After defeating the English, the owners decided to entrust the trophy to the New York Yacht Club, as an international trophy to be competed for. They named it after their yacht, America and the America’s Cup was born. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy begin their series on the America’s Cup, the 132-year winning streak, and its end, 40 years ago when Australia II won a famous victory. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Research There is no limit to the writings on the America’s Cup, and this was one of the biggest research jobs I’ve had. Some of the key sources included: A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory by Richard V. Simpson Exposed: The Dark Side of the America’s Cup by Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Of course, the great man joined us and his book is Born To Win: The Power Of A Vision by John Bertrand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forty years ago, on the 26th of September 1983, Australia II crossed the finish line in the deciding race of the America’s Cup, ending the longest winning streak in the history of sport, 132 years. Sports Bizarre with Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the victory with a special series exploring the history and rare facts of the America’s Cup. The series begins Monday 4 September and will run right up to the 40th anniversary on the 26 September with a special episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two of our series, Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt begin their assault on the Le Mans 24-hour race. Signing with Jaguar, the 1953 seemed full of promise, only for them to be disqualified during qualifying on a technicality. Not to waste the evening, Rolt and Hamilton have a huge night out, only to find out they might not be disqualified after all. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy discuss the wildest 24-hour Le Mans race in history, and the two men at the centre of it. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Resources The ultimate source is Touch Wood: The Autobiography of the 1953 Le Mans Winner by Duncan Hamilton the man himself. Of course, I had to research a lot of other things as Duncan never minded telling a good story, with the truth sometimes being bent a little.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a baby, Duncan Hamilton crashed his pram down 38 steps. This proved to be just a precursor to him crashing cars and planes. Despite the crashes, he was fast, incredibly fast, becoming one of the great race car drivers of his era. Then he met Tony Rolt, a war hero who had escaped from seven German prisoner-of-war camps, and the two formed one of the great racing partnerships of all time. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy discuss a friendship that led to one of the greatest Le Mans races in history. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Resources The ultimate source is Touch Wood: The Autobiography of the 1953 Le Mans Winner by Duncan Hamilton the man himself. Of course, I had to research a lot of other things as Duncan never minded telling a good story, with the truth sometimes being bent a little.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bunker Spreckels became famous as a surfer, but he was born into the wealthy Spreckles family, a dynasty built on the sugar trade that gave us the term ‘sugar daddy.’ At five, Bunker’s mother remarried, and he suddenly had a new stepfather, Hollywood icon Clark Gable, who treated him as his own son. When Clark died, Bunker fled to Hawaii, where surfing took over his life. At 21 years old, Bunker unexpectedly inherited $50 million, leading to his life becoming an ongoing international surfing trip, with a coterie of writers, artists, photographers and filmmakers documenting his every move. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy examine the man who made popular the idea of the surfer as a rock and roll star and look at the family that produced him. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before organised sport, there was mob football, where entire villages played against each other for days, with no rules, and the kings of England banning it, then legalising it and then banning it again. Like one of those prehistoric fish in the depths of the ocean, some forms of medieval football have survived to this day, still without rules. Organisers do say, ‘Unnecessary violence is frowned on.’ There is a lot of frowning. Titus O’Reily and Mick examine how modern-day medieval football games, such as the Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide game and the Atherstone Ball Game have survived. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Follow Sports Bizarre on: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two, Tex Rickard moves to Argentina to raise cattle. Instead, he ends up in the middle of a war between Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil, with Argentina asking him to lead their army. Declining this, Tex returns to the United States, where he begins promoting a boxer by the name of Jack Dempsey, buys Madison Square Garden, and creates the New York Rangers. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy wrap up their series on the greatest promoter of all time and how the mafia tried to end him. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Research There’s been a lot written about Tex, given his range across all kinds of sports and endeavours. The book I found most helpful was Tex Rickard: Boxing’s Greatest Promoter by Colleen Aycock and Mark Scott.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By his mid-twenties, Tex Rickard had been a cowboy, a Marshal, was friends with Wyatt Earp and had followed the gold rushes to Alaska. In Alaska he became friends with people with names like Swiftwater Bill, Deep Hole Johnson, Ham-Grease Jimmy, and the Chills and Fever Kid. He also discovered his true genius, promoting sport. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy examine the life of Tex Rickard, the greatest promoter in the history of sport. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Research There’s been a lot written about Tex, given his range across all kinds of sports and endeavours. The book I found most helpful was Tex Rickard: Boxing’s Greatest Promoter by Colleen Aycock and Mark Scott.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carlos Kaiser had one of the longest careers in Brazilian football, joining all the big four clubs Botafogo, Fluminense, Flamengo, and Vasco da Gama, plus stints in Mexico, Argentina and France. However, what made Kaiser’s career remarkable was not its length or being part of so many top sides but the fact that he never played a single game. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy look at the greatest footballer to never play football and examine how he got away with it for so long. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access Access to all past bonus episodes A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Research Kaiser was a hard one to pin down as every source I found seemed to have either differing accounts or outright myths. Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never To Play Football by Rob Smyth was incredibly helpful and is the best book to get on the topic. Otherwise, there’s a treasure trove online about him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week we left off with the two Dassler brothers splitting apart their shoe company after a vicious falling out. With the Second World War now over, the two brothers start building their new companies, Puma and Adidas, with the rivalry only getting hotter. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy look at how the two feuding companies took sports apparel, footwear and marketing to new heights, and how the focus on each other meant they missed a new company emerging, Nike. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access Access to all past bonus episodes A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Resources There are too many resources to name for this one as it’s been a favourite for both business and sports reporters for years. The person who has covered it the most however is Barbara Smit. She's written a few books on the topic. I’ve put the link below and highly recommend it as not just a great sports book but a great read for anyone. Sneaker Wars: The Enemy Brothers Who Founded Adidas and Puma and the Family Feud That Forever Changed the Business of Sports by Barbara SmitSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1923, two brothers formed a new shoe company, Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, or Geda. The company grew quickly against the backdrop of the rising Nazi party, and by the 1936 Berlin Olympics, top athletes, including Jesse Owens, wore the brothers' shoes. Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy look at how the Second World War tore the two brothers apart, leading to the biggest feud in sports history. If you’d like more Sports Bizarre, become a member of Bizarre Plus. As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access Access to all past bonus episodes A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Click here to join today Resources There are too many resources to name for this one as it’s been a favourite for both business and sports reporters for years. The person who has covered it the most however is Barbara Smit. She's written a few books on the topic. I’ve put the link below and highly recommend it as not just a great sports book but a great read for anyone. Sneaker Wars: The Enemy Brothers Who Founded Adidas and Puma and the Family Feud That Forever Changed the Business of Sports by Barbara SmitSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.