By Stephen Brook and Kishor Napier-Raman
Twenty years ago, Nick Adams was a humble deputy mayor calling for an extermination of pigeons to fight bird flu.
A post from the account of Nick Adams, who uses the handle Alpha Male.Credit: X
Now, the self-described “Alpha Male”, Florida man, Hooters enthusiast and die-hard Donald Trump devotee has been hand-picked by the president to become the United States’ next ambassador to Malaysia.
The bizarre appointment of the ex-deputy mayor of Sydney’s Ashfield local council was announced on Wednesday and sent to the Republican-controlled Senate for confirmation. It marries two key pillars of the second Trump administration – a commitment to awarding even the crudest of loyalists, and treating once serious matters like geopolitics as an utter piss-take.
The Alpha Male, who got his American citizenship in 2021 nine years after moving to the US, came into Trump’s orbit as an early, outspoken supporter, establishing himself as a “thought leader” in the MAGA movement through his breathless social media commentary.
US President Donald Trump with Nick Adams.Credit: Facebook
Some of that commentary is so unhinged that it led pundits to question whether Adams was a high-level troll, satirising the most grotesque of Trumpian culture warring.
“Eat a steak. Read the Bible. Pump some iron. Go to Hooters with the boys. Stay away from Starbucks. Stand with President Trump,” is one exemplar tweet.
“It starts with Fortnite and boneless wings. It ends with gender pronouns and communism,” reads another.
Then there’s Adams’ boycott of confectionary manufacturer Mars after it released “feminist M&Ms”.
Trump certainly took the Alpha Male seriously, appointing Adams to the board of the Woodrow Wilson Centre during his first term, and making him an official campaign surrogate during the 2024 election.
And now, Adams is off to Kuala Lumpur. How his often lewd online persona is going to fly in Muslim-majority Malaysia is anyone’s guess. He might give the concept of diplomatic immunity a workout before long.
Jayne, set match
Jayne Hrdlicka’s treasured time as chair of Tennis Australia will draw to a close at year’s end.
But there are still treats to be had – such as an invitation to attend Wimbledon centre court and sit in the Royal Box within the orbit of Queen Camilla. Hrdlicka ascended to that most hallowed hospitality ground on Wednesday.
Hugh Grant (second row) and Queen Camilla (bottom centre) in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Wednesday.Credit: AP
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’s Royal Box is the most exclusive hospitality zone in global tennis, seating about 85 people, as this newspaper has reported.
There are only two ways to get in: a) an invite from the All England club’s chair, Debbie Jevans, or b) a royal bloodline.
On Wednesday, Hrdlicka lucked in: Queen Camilla made an unexpected visit to the tournament.
The hospitality enclosure attracted global headlines after cameras filmed actor Hugh Grant, who attended with his wife, Anna, dozing in his seat, mere minutes after speaking with the Queen.
Another guest was Australia’s High Commissioner, His Excellency Professor the Honourable Stephen Smith, who brought along Aled Miles, chief executive of digital company Intellistack, who once had Smith on his podcast as a guest.
Also present were ex-UK prime minister Sir John Major and wife Dame Norma.
We checked in with the people at Tennis Australia who told us that the chairs of the Grand Slam tournaments are “traditionally” invited to the Royal Box.
Jayne Hrdlicka after she was announced as the new Endeavour chief executive.Credit: Louise Kennerley
It was back in October 2024 when CBD reported Hrdlicka’s third term on the board would finish at the end of this year.
In December, at the organisation’s annual general meeting, “senior business leader and strategist” Chris Harrop will become chair and gain the keys to the O lounge.
O, Tennis Australia’s prestigious private hospitality suite in Rod Laver Arena that leads directly to the best seats on centre court, is where Hrdlicka held her own court for so many years.
On January 1, Hrdlicka starts as chief executive of Endeavour, owner of Dan Murphy’s, BWS and a pub chain, which has more than 30,000 employees.
Hrdlicka will earn annual salary of $2 million, with short-term and long-term incentives totalling $7 million.
“Endeavour Group has much to play for,” Hrdlicka said when her job was announced in April.
As always, tennis was on her mind.
State versus mate
The rugby league State of Origin decider resulted in an all-too-familiar Blues (that’s the NSW team) choking at the hands of the Maroons who simply tried harder.
High above the action on the turf, the biggest game in town played out at Accor Stadium’s version of the Royal Box, where the King of Sydney Peter V’landys (technically chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission and Racing NSW chief executive) sat beside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Or rather, Albanese sat next to V’landys.
Last year, Albo signed a deal to bring an NRL expansion team to Papua New Guinea in an act of footy diplomacy to counter Chinese influence that was the subject of furious lobbying by V’landys. His new Labor mate, NSW Premier Chris Minns, was a notable absence from the box, the devout Doggies fan prioritising family over footy (huh?) and enjoying a holiday in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Queensland Liberal National man of the people, Premier David Crisafulli, Instagrammed the heck out of the event.
Back in the king’s court, federal Opposition Leader Sussan “I’m here with my tall skinny mate” Ley, mingled with Liberal prime minister emeritus John Howard, still sporting that massive bruise on his eye we first told you about months ago. Ley was fresh from revelations she had once quoted the “skinny mate” line while waving a gun at a male bushie who had once laid down next to her outback sleeping bag – clearly not with the intent to discuss quota policies for female MPs.
News Corp boss Michael Miller stepped out with a huge new white beard, serving Castaway and eccentric tech guru vibes.
One jumping for joy spectator was ex-Queensland premier turned rugby league commissioner Peter Beattie. Stout Queensland loyalist Beattie, along with his wife, Heather, now calls Sydney’s Balmain home. Funny old world, sometimes.
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