Yahoo!7 Answers Australia

In the coming weeks, we will have the opportunity to speak with none other than Australian Tennis legend and Wimbledon Champion, Pat Cash. And we’re giving you the chance to ask him a question!

He has a long history as one of Australia’s most successful and acclaimed athletes. As a junior in 1981, he was ranked the top player in the world. By 1982 he had won the junior titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open, also winning singles titles in Melbourne the same year. The youngest to play in a Davis Cup final in 1983, saw him beat his opponent, Swedish player Joakim Nystrom, and win the Cup. His first foray into the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1984 saw him reach the semis but fall in 3 sets to tennis great John McEnroe, likewise at the US Open, going down in 5 sets to Ivan Lendl.

Pat’s career continued from strength to strength; and in 1987, saw him defeat Ivan Lendl, who was at the time #1 in the world, to claim the Men’s Singles title at Wimbledon!

Pat continues to play in various tournaments today and has setup the Pat Cash Tennis Academy, as well as supporting and working with several notable charities around the world.

To submit your question, just head to Yahoo!7 Answers via the link below:

• If you could ask Australian tennis legend, Pat Cash, one question – what would you ask and why?

It’s that easy! Be sure to check back regularly to see if your question was the one asked!

Kate
Community Manager

Today’s the day, Game 1 of the 2011 State of Origin Series!

Tonight, the teams from NSW and QLD will go head-to-head. State against state, mate against mate for the glory of Rugby League and bragging rights for the next year.

QLD have won the last few series straight, with NSW failing to rise to the challenge again and again.

• What are your predictions for the 2011 State of Origin series?

Do you think the Blues will redeem themselves this year and reclaim the NRL supremacy they used to be reknowned for? Or will the Maroons show their amazing skills and add another series to their trophy case? Let us know your thoughts!

Follow all the latest Rugby League action at Yahoo!7 Sport. Be sure to follow the live blog from 7:30pm!

Kate
Community Manager

PS – Go the Blues!

If you love Sport, put your knowledge to the test with the Yahoo!7 Sports Trivia Challenge. Get in the game to win substantial prizes for your efforts.

Prizes on offer include the Ultimate Netcast experience with a LG 3D TV and a Blue Ray Home Theatre system (major prize). There’s a weekly prize draw of $1000 so dive in and answer 10 questions as fast as you can here: http://trivia.yahoo.com.au

The maximum time allowed to play the game is 30 mintues. Users can use Yahoo!7 Search and Yahoo!7 Answers to help you find the answers. You can play as many times as you like to increase your chances of winning.

How to play

• Register your name, email address and phone number.
• Answer 10 Sports Trivia questions as fast as you can!
• You will see a question on the screen, if you know the answer, you can type it straight in.
• If you don’t know the answer, you will see the question already typed into the Yahoo!7 Search box on the page.
• Just hit the search button – and you will be taken to a page of search results where you will find the answer.
• As soon as you have the answer, go back to the Trivia game screen, and type the answer into the answer box.
• The fastest times will go onto our scoreboard.
• You can not skip questions.
• Once you have answered 10 questions correctly you will be entered into the draw.
• Check out the prizes page to see what great prizes you can win!
• Remember, you can play as many times as you like for more chances to win!

Good luck and have fun!

Photo by Slattery Media / Yahoo!7 Sports.

Australians, are you ready for this weekend’s double whammy of the AFL and NRL Grand Finals?

After last weekend’s AFL (Australian Rules) Grand Final clash between the powerhouses of St. Kilda and Collingwood drew 68-68, they are now required to replay the match this Saturday, October 2, instead of going into extra time. In addition, the NRL (Rugby League) Grand Final is also slated to take place on Sunday between the St. George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters.

So this weekend is truly not one to miss for footy fans!

I come from a family that is really into their sports, especially football.

That’s me to the right at the tender age of two, resplendent in my Dragons supporters gear!

I still follow the same Club, so you can imagine how excited I am at the prospect of the Dragons potentially winning their first premiership since they merged with the Illawarra Steelers way back when. And yes, my car is decked out in flags

With such an important weekend in Australian sporting history, it is only fitting we ask the following questions:

• Which team will win the 2010 AFL Grand Final and why?
• Which team will win the 2010 NRL Grand Final and why?

It’s supposed to be quite chilly this weekend, so be sure to rug up well in your favourite footy socks and scarves!

Do you have a photo of yourself in your supporter’s gear? Share it with us on Facebook!

Happy barracking!

Kate
Community Manager

A few weeks ago, we announced that we were conducting “The World Interviews David Beckham“, live and exclusive on Yahoo!.

We gave you the chance to participate, by posing the question: “If you could ask David Beckham one question, what will you ask him and why?“. The winner would receive a football signed by David Beckham as well as the opportunity to have their question presented during the interview. How cool is that?

We are pleased to announce that mum of 3 j’s has won with her question: How do you and Victoria cope as parents? Are you hands on like the rest of us or do you rely on Nanny’s to raise the children. Do your kids realise how famous their parents are?.

There’s a box of goodies on the way to her in the mail, along with the jabulani ball signed by David.

mum of 3 j’s question was also chosen to be included in the Yahoo! interview that was streamed live across the world last night. As it was the middle of the night for Australia, our colleagues in Singapore kindly asked the question on behalf of Yahoo!7 and the Australian Answers Community.

You can catch mum of 3 j’s question at approximately 28:25 into the interview. David talked for quite some time in response! If you wish to view a larger version, please visit Yahoo!7 Sport.

Once again, congratulations to mum of 3 j’s! We hope you enjoy your football and the interview

Kate
Community Manager

Well, yesterday was a pretty special day, as David Beckham was interviewed by the world! Seeing him respond to questions from Answers contributors from Australia and around the world was amazing.

He came across as a really genuine guy, speaking openly about low points in his life, how he met and first kissed Victoria and what their  “date nights” are like.  Despite his global susperstar status, his love for football came across repeatedly.

We could probably go on at length about what it was like to be part of this global spectacle but honestly, you just need to watch the video:

The city of New York and one of the world’s most recognisable baseball teams, the New York Yankees, have plunged into mourning with the death of team owner – George Steinbrenner.

It is reported that Steinbrenner, aged 80, suffered a massive heart attack at home in Florida and subsequently passed away.

Steinbrenner, along with a group of private investors, bought the troubled New York Yankees back in 1973. Under his watch it has grown to one of the most successful baseball franchises and renowned the world over.

“Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing,” Steinbrenner once said.

Willing to spend heavily to sign star players, he demanded results and got them as the Yankees won seven World Series titles and 11 American League pennants since he bought the fabled club in 1973. The Yankees won their record 27th World Series title in 2009.

“He took, literally, a dying franchise and turned it into arguably the greatest franchise in American sports and along the way probably saved baseball,” said Sal Galatioto, president of Galatioto Sports Partners, a sports banking firm that has done business with the Yankees.

“It’s a great loss to the Yankee players and fans,” said Easwall Semper, 65, a lifelong fan wearing a Yankees cap in midtown Manhattan. “He was a fair man. He had his own ways.”

Source: Yahoo!7 Sports

Whilst I am not personally a Yankees fan, lifelong Phillies for me, one definitely has to respect his business acumen and successes as an owner. He was also well known for supporting numerous charities. No one can deny the achievements of the Yankees under his control have contributed to the continued prosperity and growth of baseball in America and throughout the world, at both professional and junior levels.

This brings us to the following question:

• What is your favourite memory of the New York Yankees with George Steinbrenner at the helm and why?

Leave a comment on the question above or leave a comment below!

Kate
Community Manager

David Beckham needs no introduction. He is one of the most iconic athletes and decorated football players of all-time. He is the second most capped England player in history, scoring in three FIFA World Cups.  However, David’s name now stretches beyond just football –in recent years, his name has also become synonymous with style, fashion, and recently, through his work as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he has become known as a key advocate of charity work.

Here at Yahoo! we are honoured to have David as our Global Ambassador working with Yahoo! Sport to interact with as many fans as possible and sharing his thoughts on subjects ranging from his favourite World Cup player to his preparation for the big day – with much more in between!  If you haven’t checked this out already, take a look at David’s coverage on Yahoo!.

Here’s a taste of one his interviews:

The World Interviews David Beckham

Following the World Cup, we’ll be conducting one more interview with David and like everything else in his career; it’s going to be BIG!

We will be hosting The World Interviews David Beckham LIVE and exclusive on Yahoo! And YOU – the Answers community, are the ones with the golden opportunity to have your question put to David.

We’ve asked you the question:

• If you could ask David Beckham one question, what will you ask him and why?

Maybe you want to ask about how his career took off? His future ambitions beyond football?  Or even find out what it is really like to walk out onto the pitch with 100,000 fans cheering your name?

Whatever your question, come up with the most original, interesting, topical or relevant question and yours could be the one we ask when the World Interviews David Beckham on July 14^th GMT!

If that isn’t enough… we’ll also be rewarding the Best Answer for Yahoo!7 Answers with a football signed by David Beckham!!

Remember that your answer MUST follow all the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. If you do not follow these guidelines your question will NOT be considered.

By answering the question you will be accepting our Competition Terms and Conditions.  The competition is only open to residents of AUSTRALIA.

The Winner

We’ll be announcing the Best Answer and competition winner on Tuesday July 13th and will contact the winner through the email address associated with the Yahoo! Answers account.

The winning question will be announced on this blog and on our Facebook and Twitter pages.   Follow us on Twitter or ‘Like’ us on Facebook and you’ll get the updates immediately.

To enter, head to Yahoo!7 Answers and leave your question for David – please don’t leave your question in the comments below.

Happy answering and Good Luck!

– Yahoo!7 Answers Team

Did you know that you can set your allegiance for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Yahoo!7 Mail? Even better, you can share it with all your friends across Yahoo!7 and Facebook!

How does it work?

Tasla from the Yahoo!7 Mail Team, has put together a step-by-step tutorial:

“…you will see a flag icon in the status area – the flag is based on the regional version and language of Yahoo! Mail that you use – If you have a Yahoo!7 Mail account, you will see the Australian flag.

By clicking on the flag, Yahoo!7 Mail will auto-fill your status message with a short phrase of support for that country.”

To read the rest of the tutorial, head on over to the Yahoo!7 Mail & Messenger Blog for further details.

The Yahoo!7 Lifestyle Team is asking the following question on Yahoo!7 Answers:

• What methods are you using to stay awake to watch the World Cup?

Have you been staying up late or getting up early to catch the games? Leave a comment on the question above or leave a comment below!

Kate
Community Manager

The NRL has taken the task of disciplining one of the most successful Rugby League clubs seriously, stripping the Melbourne Storm of two Premiership and three minor Premiership titles. In addition, all competitions points accrued to date have been removed and the club will not be awarded any further points for the remainder of the 2010. They have also been fined $500,000 and will be forced to return $1.1m in prize-money with the prize-money being distributed evenly among the other fifteen clubs.

It is reported they have been found to have been breaching the salary cap on multiple occasions over a number of years in excess of $1.7 million.

The NRL has uncovered breaches estimated to be in excess of $1.7million over five years, around $400,000 in 2009 and with a projected breach of $700,000 in 2010.

While the amount itself is cause for concern, the most damning indictment is the systematic attempt by persons within the club to conceal payments from the Salary Cap auditor and, it would now seem certain from the club’s Board and from its owners, on an ongoing basis,” Mr Gallop said.

“It was through this system that they were able to attract and retain some of the biggest names in Rugby League.”

Source: Yahoo!7 Sports News

We’d like to know your thoughts on this controversial move by the NRL:

• What would be the most appropriate punishment for NRL clubs that bring the game into disrepute?

Leave a comment below or on the question above!

Kate
Community Manager