Quokka Shocker

The place: Rottnest Island, 20km off Perth. The occasion: a Western Force pre-season jaunt. The scene: the guys were minding their own business, when a herd of snorting wild beasts stampeded into their midst, unleashing forces of cruelty and destruction which shocked all onlookers. The guys minding their own business were, of course, a group of cuddly, furry quokkas. The wild beasts: Scott Fava and friends from the Force. Is there no act a Perth-based sportsman won’t stoop to?

Fat Chance

In the summer of ’82-83, some Gabba fans showed what they thought of portly visitors Ian Botham and Eddie Hemmings by releasing a pig onto the ground. The pig had “Eddie” scrawled on one flank and “Botham” on the other. Incredibly, they smuggled it in by sticking an apple in its mouth and claiming it was lunch.

Hairy Encounter

It’s ’93. The third Test at Trent Bridge is about to start. But wait, what’s this? A dog’s on the field. Quick, get that big bloke with the mo to get rid of him. Great work, Merv. Hold on a minute, which one is the cricketer and which one the mutt? The dog was later adopted and named Merv.

In a Pickle

When FIFA’s official World Cup trophy, the Jules Rimet Trophy, went walkies from an exhibition in London just before the 1966 finals, it was left to a mongrel pooch called Pickles to dig it up from under a garden hedge in South London.

Flipping the Bird

The ’60 Belgian GP took the ultimate toll on British drivers Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey, who died in separate incidents. Stacey’s crash was caused by a bird flying into his face during the race. Convertible drivers, you have been warned.

Bee Nice to Murali

In the recent Sri Lanka versus England Test in Kandy, a swarm of bees sent players scurrying to the ground. The stingers were later analysed, and found not to exceed the maximum 15-degrees of bend.

Hop ’til You Drop

If one thing is guaranteed to get Australian sport relayed across the world, it’s a kangaroo bounding across the top of Mt Panorama at the Bathurst 1000. In ’04, a roo ended Jim Richards’ chances, although Skippy came off much worse.

Disarmed and Dangerous

Young Hawaiian soul surfer Bethany Hamilton rips it up in surfing competitions. This is all the more impressive because she does it without her left arm, which was removed by a shark in the waters of Hawaii’s north shore in 2003. 

Off the Leash

Each year, as Tour de France riders flash through the French countryside at speeds in excess of 40km/h, dog owners only have to lock up Fido for five minutes, but do they bother? Mais non. Les idiots insist on letting them off the leash, which is why a labrador derailed Marcus Burghardt last year.

Magic Number

“Plugger” Lockett wasn’t always top dog in Sydney. In ’93, some semi-literate Swans fans painted the number “4” and the word “Pluga” on a pig, which they released onto the SCG turf. Who would’ve thought the then-Saint would boot the AFL’s record-breaking 1300th goal on the same ground in Swans colours just six years later?