By Jon Pierik
There’s no better way to relax through the Christmas period than to unwind on the couch with a veritable Santa sack full of sport.
While the Australian football codes have shut down, and the summer of tennis has yet to begin, there is plenty of live cricket, soccer and US sport to keep you busy.
There’ll be plenty of sport to watch this Christmas.Credit: Aresna Villanueva/Getty Images
The centrepiece local attraction over the Christmas break, of course, is the Boxing Day Test from the MCG, where this year Australia and India are engaged in an enthralling battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With the series locked at 1-1 heading into the fourth Test, expect plenty of action from the likes of Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, Steve Smith and Travis Head, should the latter be declared fit.
For those wanting a second serving of cricket on Boxing Day, there are two major Big Bash League games at night, not to mention South Africa hosting the Test series opener against Pakistan at Centurion.
The 79th edition of the Sydney to Hobart race gets under way on Boxing Day, the sea of boats in the famous harbour one of the most spectacular sights in world sport.
For hoop heads, the Christmas Day slate of NBA games, shown live in Australia on Boxing Day, is one of the great events of the year. This is the 77th edition of the NBA on Christmas Day, and there are five marquee match-ups to get through, beginning at 4am if you’re brave enough to wake that early.
The NBL is also working to turn Christmas Day into its own special event, with two evening games.
The NFL has muscled into the NBA’s territory on Christmas Day, and will now have two games that day, shown exclusively for the first time on Netflix. The streaming outlet now has a great thirst for live sport, and there is none bigger than the NFL. In an unusual quirk, the network has gathered familiar faces from the league’s other major rights holders to bring their pre-game and commentary to life for a day. Beyonce will also be a half-time performer. One thing is for sure – Netflix bosses will be hoping there’s no repeat of the sketchy streaming that impacted its coverage of the fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.
For those keen to sit back and take in a sports documentary or show, there are plenty of 2024 productions to pick from. We’ve gathered our own Green Guide list of options, but, as anyone with the likes of Foxtel, ESPN, Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime can attest, there is a buffet to choose from.
Can somebody please pass the cranberry sauce … and the remote. It’s time to chill. Here’s where to get started.
Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve
All times AEDT
NBA
- Houston at Charlotte, Utah at Cleveland, Boston at Orlando, San Antonio at Philadelphia, Minnesota at Atlanta, Brooklyn at Miami, Toronto at New York, Milwaukee at Chicago, Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis, Washington at Oklahoma City, Portland at Dallas, Phoenix at Denver, Indiana at Golden State, Detroit at Los Angeles. (NBA League Pass)
Christmas Day viewing: Dallas playmaker Kyrie Irving and Boston Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum will feature prominently on one of the NBA’s marquee days.Credit: Getty Images
NBL
- Adelaide v Brisbane at Adelaide Entertainment Centre (5.30pm, ESPN, Kayo)
Cricket
- India women v West Indies women (7pm)
NFL
- New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (12.15pm, ESPN, Kayo)
NHL
- New York at New Jersey, Winnipeg at Toronto, Washington at Boston, St Louis at Detroit, Tampa Bay at Florida, Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Montreal at Columbus, Buffalo at New York, Carolina at Nashville, Chicago at Minnesota, San Jose at Vancouver, Dallas at Utah, Anaheim at Vegas.
Happy days: Glenn Maxwell and his Melbourne Stars are part of a monster day of Boxing Day cricket.Credit: Getty Images
Wednesday December 25: Christmas Day
NBL
- Tasmania v New Zealand at MyState Bank Arena (6pm, ESPN, Kayo)
- Sydney Kings v Illawarra Hawks at Qudos Bank Arena (8.30pm, ESPN, Kayo)
Thursday December 26: Boxing Day
Test cricket
- Australia men v India men at the MCG (10am, Fox, Kayo, Seven)
- South Africa men v Pakistan men at Centurion (7pm, Fox, Kayo)
- Zimbabwe men v Afghanistan men (7pm, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo)
Big Bash League
- Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars at SCG (6.05pm, Fox, Kayo, Seven)
- Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium (9.15pm, Fox, Kayo, Seven)
Sailing
- Sydney to Hobart yacht race (1pm, Nine, 9Now)
NBA
- San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks (4am, ESPN, Kayo, NBA League Pass)
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks (6.30am, ESPN, Kayo, NBA League Pass)
- Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (9am, ESPN, Kayo, NBA League Pass)
- Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors (12pm, ESPN, Kayo, NBA League Pass)
- Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns (2.30pm, ESPN, Kayo, NBA League Pass)
NBL
- Cairns Taipans v Melbourne United at Cairns Convention Centre (7.30pm, ESPN, Kayo)
Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs will feature on Netflix’s foray into live NFL broadcasting.Credit: Getty Images
NFL
- Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers (5am, Netflix)
- Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans (8.30am, Netflix)
EPL
- Manchester City v Everton (11.30pm, Optus Sports)
While there is a smorgasbord of live sport, for those wanting to delve deeper, there’s been plenty of sport documentaries released this year. Here’s what you can catch up on.
Starting 5 (Netflix)
This 10-part series goes behind the scenes with LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) and Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings) through the 2023-24 season. James’ focus on his health and fitness and the extraordinary lengths he maintains to prolong a career now in its 22nd season is notable, while the players at home with their families humanise these multimillion-dollar (or, in James’ case, billion-dollar) athletes, although even the most ardent of Celtics fans could argue there is a little too much Deuce (Tatum’s son) these days in broadcasts. Overall, it’s a good watch, but perhaps a touch too slick for its own good.
The Test (Amazon Prime)
While we may be deep into an engrossing summer of cricket, there’s no reason not to flick back and visit series three of this behind-the-scenes look at the Australian cricket team, taking us deep into the 2023 Ashes tour. This follows the drama that unfolded after Alex Carey threw down Jonny Bairstow’s stumps on day five of the Lord’s Test, and the abuse the Australian weathered by MCC members in the once-austere Long Room. We feel Nathan Lyon’s raw emotion when his tour ends abruptly, and witness a dummy spit by David Warner. There’s plenty to get the juices flowing.
Full Swing (Netflix)
Season two of this eight-episode series details the shake-up golf endured in 2023, after the Saudi Arabia-owned LIV Golf poached some of the PGA Tour’s most recognisable names. We see two recognisable camps emerge, as the cameras follow the behind-the-scenes action at all four of the sport’s major championships and what was a controversial Ryder Cup in Italy. Rory McIlory (it was a necessity he was a part of this series such was his role in defending the PGA Tour), Justin Thomas and Matt Fitzpatrick all feature, as does Rickie Fowler, who is working hard … on strengthening his abdominal muscles. There’s plenty of raw emotion, including when the cameras found McIlory venting his frustration to his caddie and agent in the PGA Championship locker room.
Receivers (Netflix)
In the same mould of the well-received Patrick Mahomes-led Quarterback series, this eight-part series follows the 2023-24 seasons of NFL receivers Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers), Amon-Ra St.Brown (Detroit Lions) and George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers). These pass catchers all have a good tale to tell, with cocky and confident Jefferson the highlight. We also like St.Brown, who has the Egyptian “Sun God” first name and is the son of a Mr Olympia dad and a German mother, who made him learn 10 German words a day as a youngster.
Sprint (Netflix)
This was great viewing heading into the Paris Olympics, casting a light on the world’s best sprinters (even helping the average layman know who they are) as they navigate training, the media and the lead-up events to the world’s showpiece event. Under the mastery of Box to Box Films, the same organisation that has produced Formula 1: Drive to Survive since 2019, the tension and rivalry between athletes is clear, beginning with American Noah Lyles and Italian Marcell Jacobs. Series two has just dropped, which includes the recent Olympics. We won’t spoil it for you.
Simone Biles Rising (Netflix)
Arguably the greatest gymnast of all time, this series follows the road Biles took to the Paris Olympics, having withdrawn during the Tokyo games because of mental health issues and a case of the “twisties” – when gymnasts lose their sense of position in the air – while completing a vault. She was criticised heavily for her decision in Tokyo, the documentary capturing all the emotion of that time, and the struggles she was wrestling with in her personal life, including the sexual abuse she and hundreds of other women suffered at the hands of former US gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar. We also learn just when she really started to train for the Paris Games – it may surprise you.
The Wallabies (Stan)
If you really want to know how far the Wallabies had fallen before their revival this year, this behind-the-scenes look at their disastrous 2023 World Cup tells the tale. No doubt, the producers had hoped for a miracle championship win or, at least, a deep final run, but, instead, there is something almost cathartic about watching the trashing of a once-proud brand, a polarising coach and players who just weren’t up to it. “We’re going to change Australian rugby,” coach Eddie Jones extols to his men 145 days out from the World Cup. Jones did, but not in the way he had planned.
Tale of woe: The Wallabies’ forgettable World Cup, led by polarising coach Eddie Jones, is captured in the Stan documentary, The Wallabies.Credit: AP
Hope Solo v US soccer (Netflix)
The controversial former US goalkeeper opens up about what led to her contract termination in 2016. And it won’t surprise you what the drama was really over.
The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox (Netflix)
Sorry Yankees fans, and those still lamenting how they lost the best-of-seven American league championship series after leading 3-0, this three-part series relives how the Sox went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals and end an 86-year drought to win the World Series.
Aaron Rodgers: Enigma (Netflix)
He may be one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks, but Rodgers – now struggling with the New York Jets – has been a polarising figure, particularly for his beliefs. Rodgers is an acquired taste, making this series a potential struggle to get through.
Ratings phenom: The life of the Dallas Cowboys’ cheerleaders is shown in the top-rating Netflix series.
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
This seven-part series shows just how tough it is to survive the audition process and training camp to make the NFL’s most prestigious cheer squad. What we also learn is that these women are paid terribly for what they bring to game day, with most working extra jobs to get by. “But the facts are, they actually don’t come here for the money. They come here for something that’s actually bigger than that to them. They have a passion for dance,” argues Charlotte Jones, the Cowboys’ chief brand officer and daughter of owner Jerry Jones, in the series. Even if that’s true, that still doesn’t make a wrong a right.
Drive to Survive (Season 6: Netflix)
There’s not much more that needs to be said about this transformational fly-on-the-wall series about life amid the Formula 1 circus. Daniel Ricciardo gets a look-in through the 2023 campaign, one of the last times we’ll get to see the one-time Australian ace after his F1 career was terminated this year.
Sport movies
Senna (series)
It’s been three decades since Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna was killed after his car crashed into a concrete barrier during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Italy, but his legend lives on. For those who are keen to know more about him, this TV series, with Brazilian actor Gabriel Leone playing Senna, follows his emergence from karting to his three F1 world championships, and his professional and romantic life off the track (his family gave the series their blessing). Well worth a look, as the producers went to great lengths to recreate the cars and other period features of the times.
Gone but not forgotten: The life and times of former Williams Renault driver Ayrton Senna is captured in a fine Netflix series.Credit: Allsport
The roast of Tom Brady (Netflix)
This was awkward to watch at times, with comedians, former teammates, former coach Bill Belichick and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on hand for a one-night “roast” of the retired NFL superstar. Hosted by “roastmaster general” Jeff Ross, this was aired live on Netflix during the “Netflix is a joke” comedy festival in Los Angeles. The roast included jokes about spygate, deflategate, Brady’s trainer Alex Guerrero, Belichick’s job status, and Brady’s divorce from Gisele Bundchen. The latter was reportedly unhappy with some of the jokes, while Brady – who was executive producer of the night – later admitted on podcast The Pivot that he regretted doing the roast because of the impact it had on his children.
Funny (sort of): Kevin Hart and Tom Brady chat on stage during Brady’s roast on Netflix.
From the vault
Once Brothers (ESPN 30 for 30 series. Released 2010)
This is part of the largely brilliant ESPN 30 for 30 series, and tells the deeply moving tale of former Yugoslavian teammates, and once great friends, basketballers Vlade Divac and Drazen Petrovic. The pair, who would forge NBA careers, played together for their country from 1986 until 1990, before the Yugoslav wars drove them apart, as they had differing views. Just why that transpired was both fascinating and sad, and they were unable to reconcile before Petrovic, the gun shooter who was starring with the New Jersey Nets (check out his highlights while representing Croatia at the 1992 Olympics), died in a car accident in 1993. Divac carries this regret, and you can’t help but want to reach out and hug Petrovic’s mother, Biserka.
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