Friday, March 23, 2007

Radio Sport and Brothels

I have been a listener to Radio Sport in NZ for a long time, since its inception in fact. I am fed up with the regular ad's involving two imaginary figures Nobby and Lofty, symbolic of men who are horny. They feature in ads for an Auckland brothel. I do not think that it is wise for the station to advertise in this controversial area, despite the fact that some of their audience will appreciate such establishments. Neither do I think that these ads should feature during day light hours when fathers like me are listening to the radio in cars or at home with kids able to listen in. I also know that kids listen to the station on occasion.

That being the case, I complained to them. Their respons is that it is legal and they are a paying customer. So! The station has a moral responsibility to the nation as well. I have made a complaint to the NZ Broadcasting Complaints Authority hoping for a result.

If you read this, join me, google the NZ Broadcasting Complaints Authority and complain about the Radio Sport ad for Femme Fetale.

Bob Woolmer Etc

What a world cup! Pakistan out! India going out as I write, in huge trouble against the Sri Lankan's. But all this pales in significance to the killing of Bob Woolmer. It was strange from the start, it crossing my mind that it was suicide or murder. But murder it is. So who killed him? It seems to me the options are a random killing; a gambling syndicate; a disgrunted fan or fans; an upset player of team member; an act of terrorism. The last option has not been discussed. Is it possible that this is an act of terrorism to disrupt the tournament; the victim chosen because of a possible smoke screen concerning the other options. After all, Pakistan is right in the heart of the Al Qaeda situation.

From this far away in distant NZ listening to the news, it seems to me that it is probably a gambling issue; it was someone (or more) who knew him.

Whoever it is, I pray they are found and brought to justice.

If it is a gambling syndicate then cricket is in trouble again. It is blighted with cheating and if it involves the World Cup it cuts to the heart of the sport. I heard an interview today with the perpetrator of the American drug scandal Victor Conte. He said it was the excitement that caused him to get into providing performance enhancing drugs for the likes of Tim Montgomery and Barry Bonds! Sport is so corrupted. It is sad.

As for the cricket world cup... Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia, the West Indies and NZ look the goods. Who will it be? But it is just sport... a human life is more significant; this world cup now doesn't quite feel the same.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

More on NZ Soccer

Now I just heard the news and now NZ soccer have postponed the final of the league! It is all over some points scandal over a player who did not travel with the All Whites but then played for the club the next week without permission. What a pendantic, pathetic bunch of losers the whole administration are. Who cares? Surely, what matters is sport is that people participate. So, he didn't cross his t's and dot his i's! It is time for soccer to get its act together for sure. In an earlier blog I suggested that soccer is the greatest game in many ways. I stand by that; but in this country I think without doubt it is the worst administered game! Grow up the lot of you!

Femme Fetale and Radio Sport

Is anyone else out there in NZ fed up with hearing ads for a brothel on mainstream Radio Sport time. I have had enough of the supposedly humourous Nobby etc ads which talk of going to this establishment and... well, you can fill in the gaps.

I emailed them today and told them I was going to stop listening if the ads continued. Surely they can confine their ads to a time of the day when kids are not listening. Why does a sports station have to lower its standards? It furthers the stereotype of jocks as neanderthals who think of nothing but a good shag. The media is full of twits who reflect this; I expect better from a mainstream radio station.

I enjoy the station and it is my first port of call when turning on the radio; but I am out of there if it doesn't end. I hope someone from the station reads this...

NZ Soccer and a Team in the A league

This whole NZ soccer and the A League thing is another example of NZ sports administration at its worst (cf. 2003 rugby world cup). It continues the Kings, Knights fiasco which has been a disaster.

NZ soccer en masse should hang its head in shame. Nothing could be better for NZ soccer than to have a competitive team in the A League. It would provide a pathway for NZ juniors into professionalism, gets them onto the world stage and provides a stepping stone to the All Whites and overseas teams.

What on earth is going on? Supposedly NZ soccer has no cash! Is there no wealthy sponsor in this land who sees the value of sponsoring a team?

I have no idea concerning the ins and outs of this but one thing is certain; it will be a total disaster if it does not come off! Come on or you will see further dominance from rugby and the best athletes going off shore or to other codes.

I don't get it!

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Who will win this far out?

So how will the 2007 rugby world cup go?
It is time to work out the result... can I nail it this far out?
No doubt I will relook at this in the future.

Pool A includes England, South Africa, Samoa, USA, Tonga. Clearly England and South Africa will go through probably South Africa topping the pool. I like the look of the South Africans from what is happening in the Super 14.

Pool B includes Australia, Wales, Fiji, Canada, Japan. Australia will surely go through number 1 with Wales nos 2.

Pool C includes New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Romania, Repechage 1 with NZ going through number one ahead of Scotland.

Pool D includes France, Ireland, Argentina, Georgia, Namibia. I think France will go through nos 1 (just) with Ireland nos 2 (wouldn't be surprised if it was reversed and Argentina threw in a surprise).

So the quarter finals will look something like this:
6 October:QF1: Australia vs England: Australia should take this one out but England will be a tough assignment and could win.
6 October: QF2: New Zealand vs Ireland: NZ should take this one too but again Ireland (or perhaps France/Argentina) will be a great challenge.
7 October:QF3: South Africa vs Wales: South Africa should romp home here.
7 October: QF4: France vs Scotland: France should win this easily. Or Ireland if things are reversed.

Then the Semi's will go like this
13 October:SF1: Australia vs NZ: I would expect NZ to win this but remember NZ have never beaten the Australians at a World Cup and this will be a one-off! Anything could happen.
14 October:SF2: South Africa v France: I actually think SA will win this. Time will tell, but I think they are on the rise.

Play off for 3rd.
19 October: Australia vs France. This will be won by the French who will be feeling terrible about losing the semi and will seek to make amends for their home fans. If they play NZ in this one it will be a terrible caning for the French because yet again the AB's will have blown it and will take it out on them! It won't save them from horrendous criticism if this occurs!

20 October: NZ vs South Africa: If this is the final it will be tumultuous, aggressive and incredibly close. I think the South Africans will be formidable if they get there and it will be anyones game. I do believe unless terrible injury intervenes (or food poisoning etc), NZ will win this one.

Here's hoping anyway!

From a NZ point of view this will be a huge challenge. To beat Ireland/France then Australia then South Africa/England in successive weeks is a huge challenge! If NZers think they have the cup in the bag, get real; this will be a gigantic challenge and it is anyone's cup!

So that's how I see it. What you think?

Friday, March 9, 2007

Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson last week won the Honda Classic in the PGA, his first tour victory. Good on him. What has caught the imagination of many is the self-imposed penalty for his caddy Chris Jones telling his playing partner about the loft on his hybrid club which he has just hit. Giving advice to the other team is out in golf and so technically this was a breaking of the golf rules. Wilson told the officials and received a two-stroke penalty, which could have cost him his first title!

I want to take my hat off to Mark Wilson! What a guy! Good on ya! I have nothing but respect for those who take it upon themselves to play sport with integrity, honouring the rule and the spirit of the game.

Some will call him naive as it may have cost him a lot of money, his first tour victory, his PGA card, the endorsements and exemptions that he would then have missed out on. But he put the bigger issues of life and integrity above short term gain. He kept his integrity.

I think it is time for a revolution like this in all sport. How about cricketers walking and bowlers and fieldsmen calling people back when they are not out? How about rugby players owning up to not scoring a try instead of waiting for endless replays to decide things? How about athletes turning against performance enhancing drugs? I say bring back the integrity of sport.

This is not the first such incident like this; many New Zealanders remember Michael Long owning up to moving his ball on a green in a big golf tournament and potentially it lost him the tournament.

It is time people of the world to bring back the honesty! Or am I dreaming. I am actually, I was typing in my sleep. There is fat chance of this. So to Mark Wilson; go Mark; may you have many more tour victories my friend, you are a role model to us all!

Sunday, March 4, 2007

So Close

I blogged recently about being a sports parent and the challenges. Yesterday my youngest won a NZ title for the 1500m. It was a good effort. She was the youngest in the U17 field and squeaked home in a sprint finish. It was her first national title after 7 podium finishes in road, cross country or track. She was thrilled. She needed to crack 4.32 to make the NZ team for the youth champs in Czech Republic. Would you believe she missed by .29 running a 4.32.29. Even more frustrating is that this is the third time she has cracked the IAAF standard of 4.35. NZ has set the standard higher with the hope that those that make it will get through to the second round. She has a month so here's hoping her day will come.

It is bitter-sweet though; she beat one of her older sisters in the same race! Two years ago the older one was winning national titles but she has grown heaps and has not regained her strength. This is common in female athletes and her younger sister may go through the same challenges. The older of the three daughters ran in the U20 race and did well finishing 7th.

It is a constant roller coaster of challenges, financial pressures and more. If you are a sports parent out there, God bless you, you will need it!