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Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with George Donikian
Four Diegos Profile:
Respected Legendary Newsreader: SBS TV and Channel Ten
Four Diegos Verdict:
Only one of two people in the world (the other is Les Murray) who can pronounce the names of every member of the Belarus national soccer team backwards after a big night on the ouzo without missing a beat.
Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with George Donikian
George on South's 'TEAM OF THE CENTURY' Gala night…
Diegos: "The 'TEAM OF THE CENTURY' Gala night was a special night for the South Melbourne SC.
The ouzo was flowing and the plates where being smashed after each course with more gusto than ever.
You and SBS' Kyle Paterson co-hosted the evening.
It was great to see an NSL club celebrate its history in such a way wasn't it?"
Donikian: "It was a great night. I'm glad you mentioned Kyle; he was indeed fabulous.
It was a great for all to celebrate in such a way and more clubs should look at doing it.
It certainly was memorable for the current and past South players, officials, sponsors and fans."
Soft Sombrero Moment March 2002
George who made the team??
Diegos: "For those that couldn't get into the function last night, in your best newsreader's voice, can you give the Four Diegos radio exclusive and announce the team in its entirety?"
Donikian: "I would love to. Can you imagine this team lining up to play today in the NSL?
In the first team we've got Petkovic in goal, Davidson, Blair, Durakovic, Postecoglou - wearing the captain's armband, the magic man, Oscar Crino, Paul Wade, Johnny Margaritis, Jimmy Arrmstrong, Paul Trimboli, Jim Pyrgolios, and finally the coach, Manny Poulikakis.
On the reserves bench we've got Laumets, Bedford, Madarakis and Peterson.
That's not a bad team is it?"
Soft Sombrero Moment March 2002
George on the 'Committee Job'…
Diegos: "Anyone who has ever played soccer and not had a Dad or relative on the committee has all fallen victim at one time or another to the dreaded 'Committee Job'.
Were there any suggestions of favoritism or nepotism in the TEAM OF CENTURY selection and who stymied your attempts to get into the team?"
Donikian: "No suggestions of favoritism at all.
Of course I would've loved to part of the team but I'm a newsreader and not a soccer legend like the guys who made the team.
The final 16 who made the team were all thrilled to just make the final 40 to be nominated in the first place.
We had Anderson, Awaritife, Baxter, Boutsiannis, Brown, Christopoulos, Colosimo, Muscat; all these great players who didn't make it.
I think that says something about how tough it was to make the cut and for the Diegos benefit, it wouldn't have helped if their Dad's had been on the committee either."
Soft Sombrero Moment March 2002
George but the subs will never get a game… come to think of it no one will ever get a game…
Diegos: "Now George if you're on the bench in the 'TEAM OF THE CENTURY' does it create tension? If you think about it, you'll never really get a game will you?"
Donikian: "True but just think of it.
When the time comes to play that important game and it could well be the Worthington Cup final against Blackburn Rovers, you can go to the bench and you know that you've got an opportunity.
It's all in the quality and that's what we definitely have in this team."
Soft Sombrero Moment March 2002
George what about Ulysses??
Diegos: "As I was growing up, the cry down Lonsdale street was 'Lock up your daughters, Ulysses is in town'.
The Diegos believe one controversial exclusion from the team was the Greek soccer playing God, who in the 70's starred on the pitch, on the disco floors and with the women - of course we're talking about the great Ulysses Kokkinos.
This guy was a cross between George Best, Paolo Di Canio and Paul Gascoigne and had the best head of hair since Vinny Cattogio but still didn't get nominated.
Surely the selection criterion was flawed on this one George? The Diegos are demanding a recount immediately?"
Donikian: "For the Diegos information Ulysses was considered but unfortunately he didn't satisfy the selection criteria.
One of things that helps to shape and push some people further forward than others is their development both on and off the field and this was taken into consideration when selections were made.
Something else that the club did that they've never done before is to the create a Hall of Champions.
With this concept the club has an opportunity to include the many magnificent players who missed out on this occasion.
New players will be inducted into the Hall of Champions annually and I hope that stars like Kokkinos will be considered."
Soft Sombrero Moment March 2002
George on Angie…
Diegos: "Tell us about the TEAM OF THE CENTURY captain, Angie Postecoglou.
The Diegos don't think they've ever seen him more passionate and emotional than he was when he addressed the audience on the night - well he was once as passionate and emotional but that was at a nightclub and we don't want to talk about that.
He almost pleaded with everyone in attendance to not let South Melbourne die.
There was obviously a thought that with the reform of the league over the next 12 months that South might be in the firing line.
Have you ever seen Angie more emotional?"
Donikian: "No I've never seen him so fired up which suggests to me that he must know something that we don't and that's why I think it's incumbent on all of us to take heed of those words.
There is nothing that upsets people more than losing their club. I remember the days when the fans of Fitzroy in the AFL lost their club and the how shattered they were.
I don't think anyone wants to see the great clubs, whether it's South or the Knights, gone but I know it can happen, like it did to West Adelaide.
The hardest thing to do for these clubs is to push through old borders and spread the word.
The money tree is shrinking so you've got to find new ways to make money."
Soft Sombrero Moment March 2002
Full List of South Melbourne Soccer Club
'Team of the Century'
GOALKEEPER: Michael PETKOVIC (1996 – 2000)
FULL BACKS: Alan DAVIDSON (1979 – 96); Ange POSTECOGLOU (1984 –93)
CENTRE BACKS: Steve BLAIR (1980 – 93); Mehmet DURAKOVIC (1989 – 2002)
MIDFIELDERS: John MARGARITIS (1961 – 67); Oscar CRINO (1983 -85); Paul WADE (1987 – 95)
STRIKERS: Jim ARMSTORNG (1970- 76); Paul TRIMBOLI (1987 – 2002); Jim PYRGOLIOS (1963 – 72)
COACH: Manny POULAKAKIS (1961 – 77)
George Donikian - Olympic Football Voice of the 'G'…
Diego: “It gave the Diegos no end of pleasure listening to you announce the names of the Olyroos prior to the Olympic Games opener against Italy a couple of weeks ago. If the boys had won it would've topped off a great evening.
It must have been a huge honour being declared official ground announcer for the Olympic football tournament at the MCG?”
Donikian: “Yes I was chuffed when SOCOG said to me would you I do it. Of course I said absolutely, no worries at all.
When they told me that it was going to be at the MCG it nearly blew my mind.
What a great venue for the opening game and what an atmosphere. I don’t think we could’ve done better than that.
The only thing we didn’t get right was the result.”
Soft Sombrero Moment September 2000
Donikian on the ‘oh la la’ Brazilians…
Diego: “Your dulcet tones could be heard prior to every game at the 'G' - it didn't matter: Chilean names, Chinese name, Moroccan names, Italian names - they threw them at you and you handled them with aplomb.
There was also something strangely sensual about you announcing the Brazilian women's team prior to their games.
Names such as: Monique, Raquel and Tania, certainly put a snap in the shorts of the Diegos and we know for a fact, made our listeners who are regular 0055 callers very, very happy.
What did it do for you? Did any names trouble you at all?”
Donikian: “All of them troubled me.
For me it took me back about 20 years when I was contemplating another newscast on SBS.
It was almost like doing a re-run of Fast Forward; a show that used to regularly take the mickey out of me and those Brazilian names…I got lost in those Brazilian names.”
Soft Sombrero Moment September 2000
Donikian on the Chileans…
Diego: “The Chilean supporters where amazing right throughout the tournament.
Who could ever forget the chant 'Chi, Chi, Chi, Le, Le, Le, Chile, Chile, Yeh, Yeh, Yeh' (OK we made up the Yeh Yeh Yeh bit ourselves- but you know what we mean)?
They were non-stop and colourful.
Did you ever feel like joining in?”
Donikian: “All the time. The worse thing was watching the beach volleyball up in Sydney who I think had the best deal. They were permitted to rev up the crowd but we were told constantly by FIFA to tone it down.
There were so many things I wanted to do especially for the opening game between Australia and Italy but it was very much frowned upon by the authorities.
But the Chileans were fantastic. They deserved a gold medal didn’t they?
Soft Sombrero Moment September 2000
Donikian on MCG hosting World Cup games…
Diego: “The MCG has proven that it can put on a great show for big soccer games.
Have you any doubts about Australia's and in particular, Melbourne's ability to host any future World cup games?”
Donikian: “Well I’ll tell you what I had doubts right up to this year how we would handle the world.
At the end of the day after what I have seen in the last two weeks and especially with what I saw with our security guys and volunteers, I have no doubts anymore of Australia being able to do anything.”
Soft Sombrero Moment September 2000
Donikian on ‘where’s the instant replay?’…
Diego: “The lack of video replays throughout the game, especially of controversial moments, was very frustrating.
Is that something that was forced upon you by FIFA and the IOC?”
Donikian: “It was a combination IOC / FIFA ruling. They were very keen to make sure we didn’t excite or incite anyone.
I couldn’t believe it. The crew that runs the scoreboards also do the cricket and the AFL so you imagine how frustrated they were. They all the equipment and facilities and it could’ve been truly magnificent if they were allowed to do what the boys do.”
Soft Sombrero Moment September 2000 |
