I found this article from Sunday interesting:
When the All Blacks, the country’s global ambassador embodying all the values New Zealanders hold dear, continually implode when the eyes of the world are watching, it hints at there being some kind of fragility in the national psyche.
Now I’m far from an expert on such things, unlike others, but these were my initial reactions:
- There’s more to life than the form of the All Blacks. Hard to believe I know.
- Nobody much in Australia, apart from alumni public school boys, gives a fig about the Wallabies, apart from at World Cup time. We love a good World Cup, even in tiddlywinks. And we’d better friggin’ win it.
- Be careful what you wish for. The endless over the top “aren’t we shit hot” attitude that Aussies carry on with when they win something is cringe-worthy. Even before they yobs start the “Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!” business. Olympic swimming events are the worst.
- Artistic types interviewed for articles like this always babble on about nobody being aware of the weirdo art house film producers that the general public simply MUST be aware of. They can be safely ignored.
- Measuring your place in the world based on rugby World Cup results is insane. Rugby is now a fully-fledged professional sport. Sport is now big business. The World Cup’s structure means that the “best” team doesn’t necessarily win. Get over it.
- However, don’t greet the useless turds at the airport with cheering etc, for god’s sake.
- Something does have to be done about the Black Caps. Vettori’s far to placid to captain an international cricket team (though he does however happen to be one of the best offies in the world who actually BOWLS). They haven’t been the same since Stephen Fleming retired. He had a bit of that bad-arsed bastard streak in him, I think.
- Are New Zealanders simply too well mannered and friendly to win at sport? I’m thinking this is possible the case. It’s okay to offend people – look where it’s got the Aussie cricket team.
- There’s more to life than the form of the All Blacks. Hard to believe I know.
- Stop being such sad-sacks. Isn’t the best mountain biking in the world enough for you people?
Thoughts?
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David said
In the last year NZ has made No. 1 for the most peaceful country on Earth (see Global Peace Index) and least corrupt country (see Corruption Perceptions Index)
We are big winners when it comes to the things that are really important!
Grendel said
I reckon we need the Aussies to bowl underarm again in a crucial match to really see the Black Caps lift from their apathy.
Megan said
IMHO Rugby is a violent game. A young bloke relates his story here [ http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/331/7508/94 ] about how he ended up in a complete paralysis of all voluntary muscles, even though his mind is fully sound.
Personally, I think it’s all money-related. Boxing, rugby, wrestling all complete utter bollocks! More’s the pity people pay to see other people beating the stuffing out of each other.
Ravi Chemudugunta said
@ David, I did not know this, why isn’t actual meaningful news not news worthy. What pisses me of is that on the news everyday sports occupies close to half the time – and most of it is what I can only equate to circle jerking.
craigus said
Until the selectors wake up to the fact that we need players with more than two brain cells to rub together, then we will continue to have a second rate all black team with no chance of winning a second world cup.
Go the Aussies….
Russell said
who else could captain the cricket team i think vettoris doing a fine job and moles is defintely building a stronger base of players at the moment. it sure couldnt bemccullum because look how well he did in the ipl captaining… were never going to have a better captain as fleming because he was the best in the world at his time. GO VETTORI hes our man he does really put 110% into his tactics
fushnchupsblog said
Russell, I think it’s the glasses. They fool people into thinking he’s much smarter than he actually is.