No need to even open an envelope. There’s only one winner here. Soccer – or “football”, as quite a few Crikey types corrected us throughout the World Cup. Debates over the sport’s name aside, it was impossible not to salute the rise of the world game in Australia, spearheaded by the Socceroos’ Germany2006 campaign – with huge crowds watching giant screens pre-dawn across the nation – and reinforced by strong crowds and entertaining matches in the new-look local comp, the A-League. Hot on soccer’s heels, Australian cricket is also looking pretty robust, ageing Test team or not, while Australian golf is flying and men’s basketball has a new star in Andrew Bogut. Women’s basketball has a whole team of stars in the World Champion Opals.

Crikey readers say:

“Aussie Rules: a $780 million TV rights deal says it all.” — Dave Smartt.