… to know which way the wind blows.
This is, I have learned, a zephyrometer, located in Wellngton.
Archive for June, 2009
You don’t need a big needle…
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Keith “Punchy” Murdoch
A pretty cool story just popped up on NZ Herald:
Disgraced All Black not expected to return for cap
Disgraced 1970s rugby prop Keith Murdoch is not expected to return to New Zealand to receive his All Blacks cap, his brother says.
Murdoch has lived in self-imposed exile in the Australian outback since being engulfed by a media storm when he punched a security guard in a Cardiff hotel during the 1972-3 tour of Britain.
The late-night incident came just hours after the Otago prop had scored the All Blacks’ only try in their 19-16 win over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.
Murdoch was sent home but did not make it back to New Zealand, stopping in Australia, where he has lived since.
When I read “disgraced” I thought he must have done something pretty bad, Matty Johns or Greg Bird style.
But all he did was have a few drinks and snot a bouncer.
“Disgraced” is a bit strong isn’t it?
It’s funny how times change. What he got up to would count as a pretty quiet night out for most rugby types nowadays, and is probably including in the training schedule of most NRL players.
So in the end it sounds like he gave the two fingered salute to the rugby establishment, and went bush in Australia. He didn’t even make it back to NZ after being sent home.
Wikipedia sheds a bit more light:
Murdoch’s career ended controversially and mysteriously. He scored the All Blacks’ only try in their 1972 win against Wales in Cardiff, but later the same night was involved in a fracas and was sent home from the tour by All Black management, reputedly after pressure was brought to bear by the home rugby unions. Rather than returning to rugby in New Zealand, Murdoch virtually went into hiding, quitting his home and his sport and moving to the Australian outback where he has lived ever since.
So anyway, good on ya Keith. Hope you’re enjoying life, wherever you are. And if you’re ever looking for a job, don’t think your track record would stand in your way of working with any league team nowadays.
On Jesse Ryder’s groin and the fate of NZ’s T20 campaign
Latest happenings from the T20 World Cup:
- The Aussies are eliminated, because they’re rubbish at Twenty20. Actually they’re a bit rubbish all-round at the moment.
- NZ lose against Seth Efrica on the last ball, but still proceed into the next stage of the tournament.
The big news though that’s got everyone talking around the water coolers in NZ is Jesse Ryder’s groin muscle injury. The big fella wasn’t fit to play SA (reason why they lost obviously), and instead has been hospitalised and is undergoing tests on the *ahem* muscle.
What these tests are expected to find remains a mystery.
When I first heard about the nature if his injury, I was a bit concerned, to put it mildly. Then I remembered Shoaib Akhtar wasn’t playing in the tournament, so he can’t have passed on anything contagious.
So it must actually be a muscular complaint. Given that Jesse’s pretty much vital to NZ progressing any further in the tournament, John Key should put aside the GFC and organise a 24 hour around-the-clock team of Swedish masseuses to get Jesse up raring to go for the next match.
And before any of you Black Caps fans start busting my chops about Australia’s early exit, let me just say the following:
- Test matches are real cricket, alright? T20 is not.
- We weren’t actually trying to win. Nathan Hauritz had a bowl for god’s sake.
- JRod over at Cricket with Balls also has a handy list of excuses.
- Finally, we beat you in the 1981 one-day series. To refresh your memory, see below.
Ahh, it never gets old does it?
TVNZ scrap their stpd fkn txt-speak ads
This was something I was having a good whinge about last night, and then I was happy to see it was picked up in the Blog Idle blog this morning.
And then, wouldn’t ya know it, the ads have been pulled (though they still seem to be running tonight).
“We have learned in that period that vowels are extremely important to New Zealanders.” said TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards
True story :-)
Anyway, pretty soft by TVNZ, but still, I think it’s a good thing. It’s about time standards were raised a bit.
I mean, if our children aren’t learning to speak more better English from the TV set, where on earth are they going to learn it?
Finally, apropos of the image above, I’m after opinions to settle a disagreement.
I think Shanti’s been a bit of a shrew over the last few weeks. My better half thinks Scotty’s been a complete prick.
Who’s right?
Off to a winning start in the Twenty20/Seven7
Memo England: this is how you do it against the minnows of world cricket.
Of course, the Poms don’t have a certain bandana-loving run machine to score a breezy 31, and the soon-to-be New South Welshman Brendan McCullum who put on 51 runs in three overs in partnership with Ryder.
Funny old match though. I never knew Twenty20 games could be shortened due to rain. I mean, once the weather cleared, surely they could have just played for another hour or so and finished off the match properly?
I mean, this hardly counts as a game of cricket, does it? I’ve seen Year 4 kids get through more over than this at recess.
Still, a win is a win. Next up is South Africa.
A good idea is a good idea, even if it’s stolen
I knew this was bound to happen eventually. A good idea such as this simply cannot go unnoticed across the Tasman:
(Tasmanian) PREMIER David Bartlett peddled a bold vision to build a 450km bicycle track from Smithton to Hobart yesterday as he gave Burnie funding to help it become a cycle city.
“I have a bike rack on the back of the limo and look forward to the day when people will be able to ride from Smithton to Hobart on a dedicated cycleway,” Mr Bartlett said in Burnie.
This of course comes a few months after New Zealand PM John Key announced a bike track running the length of the country.
And did Barlett mention where he’s pinched the idea from? Perhaps give credit for the visionary idea to the man who had the original brainwave?
Not a jot, the cheeky sod.
Still, at least he appreciates the benefits of such a scheme:
“Every dollar invested in cycleways takes more cars off the road. Spending on cycling ticks all the boxes – climate change, health and wellbeing and tourism,” he said.
Apparently size does matter in this case, with both politicians seemingly quite keen to trumpet the length of their respective tracks. John Key’s is the length of NZ, David Barlett’s is planned to eventually stretch from Smifton to Hobart.
It seem it’s not enough to build tracks around the major cities and towns, they actually expect people to traverse entire bloody islands.
Anyway, John Key’s obviously got the longer track, however no mention has been as to the planned width of their respective tracks.
So anyway, it’s all good news. It should even get public support in Tas, as it’ll get cyclists off the road, out of the way of the log trucks.
Now if only Barlett would build a decent mountain bike park!
NZ Mountain Bike Track Exploration Update
For the very few people who care about such things, over the past couple of months I’ve tackled a few new tracks at the Eskdale MTB park, and more recently at “Craters of the Moon” at Taupo.
Eskdale
Dingo & Ziggity
These tracks are heaps of fun, just a good fun ride that’s not too strenuous. Had one nasty fall on Dingo when my front wheel slipped over the edge of the track, but that was just through my own stupidity.Dingo ends with a nice fast run down to the map board at the Taits Rd end of the park.
Blackberry
A pretty short track, rated an intermediate level of difficulty. Few trick parts, most of the track is taken at low speed. Really fun, wish it was longer.
Overall, these three tracks, along with Sandpit, make a nice circuit. Enter via Taits Rd, ride around Sandpit, come back and do Blackberry, then head up Dingo. Come back along Ziggity, do Dingo again, then if you’re feeling energetic head up Zip, and then fly back down. If you don’t use your brakes you should almost make it all the way back to the car park.
Also, they Eskdale crew have put in some snazzy new signs (see below).
Taupo -Tourist Trap
After a big day the day before riding around in the mud in Rotorua, I only had the legs for a short ride at the Craters of the Moon park in Taupo. Decided on Tourist Trap as it sounded gentle, and let’s face, I’m still basically a tourist.
Now, this is only judging from one track, but this park makes up for it’s small number of open tracks (4-5, but decent distance-wise) by having some of the best maintained and laid out tracks I’ve ridden on. It was absolutely brilliant fun, and the few climbs were well worth it for the fast downhill parts you get.
Shall definitely be going back soon to try a couple of the other tracks.
Summary of the long weekend
Rain, mud, freezing temperatures, and some top notch mountain biking in the Rotorua redwoods.
Brilliant fun.
Also checked out the tracks at “Craters of the Moon” at Taupo, which was also pretty good.
Finally, I have had the misfortune to go flying over the handlebars before, but never as spectacularly as this poor sod, and certainly not when riding over rocks.
Ouch. Many plasters were needed after this one I reckon.
