OPENING THE BORDERS

ON a recent trip up North I had the good fortune to visit the Waitangi Golf Couse in all its glory.
It's a stunning picturesque venue that looks out to the beautiful Bay of Islands.
There were a handful of groups enjoying the surrounds in these international tourist-less times and it became apparent the players were in their "golfing paradise."
This reinforced the indisputable fact that along with all our other outstanding attractions we are one of the planet's ultimate golfing destinations.
Scattered all around the country are courses ranging from the awe inspiring and majestic to the ones off the beaten track with fences around the greens to keep the sheep off.
There are courses for everyone.
It's a huge selling point when the borders re-open and the world returns to some normality.
I've often wondered why we haven't made more of  our golfing pedigree.
The Government invested $136.5m in the recently completed America's Cup campaign. While it would be churlish to question that investment there's no doubt a fraction of that spent on, say, a fully fledged co-sanctioned tournament with the PGA or the European Tour would reap rewards.
The current New Zealand Open (a Pro-Am type tournament) does a magnificent job of showcasing all that is good about Aotearoa so just imagine what substantial Government funding could realise.
It's time to tee-off post Covid and utilise our vast golfing potential.

***

LAST Sunday afternoon there was a collective groan when Blues' prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi lined up Crusaders skipper Scott Barrett and took him out in a sickening "clean out" during the Super Rugby clash at Eden Park.
Tu'ungafasi was yellow-carded for clipping Barrett in the chin with his shoulder. There's no question it could have been a lot worse. That it wasn't can only be put down to good luck - pure and simple.
Ironically the Blues' player was cleared of any wrongdoing in a baffling decision from the judiciary which will only serve to encourage the "Exocet missile" (i.e. flying in at a low trajectory) technique of taking players out.
As club rugby gets set to kick-off "clean outs" like this will be the norm. 
There will be yellow and red cards issued. There will be injuries, bad injuries. Players seasons will be finished and, in some cases, careers. 
The illegal cleaning out appeals to the boofhead element in rugby but for everyone else it's a shameful part of the game.
It's dangerous.

***

ON THIS DAY 

1896

At 9.30 a.m., an explosion tore through the Brunner mine in Westland’s Grey Valley. Two men sent underground to investigate were later found unconscious after inhaling black damp, a suffocating mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
Rescuers began bringing out bodies around 11 a.m. The noxious gases took their toll on the men in the rescue parties, many of whom collapsed and had to be carried out.
The final death toll was 65 – almost half of Brunner’s underground work force. This remains New Zealand’s deadliest industrial accident.
(Courtesy: nzhistory.govt.nz)

1978

The IRB at its annual meeting decided to introduce free kicks, from which points could not be scored, from the start of the 1977-78 season.

BY THE NUMBERS

WE like our heroes to be understated.
We like them to be tough in combat and uncompromising in their approach but humble when the competition comes to an end.
We don't mind a bit of white-line fever but we're not big on show ponies or try-hards.
We celebrate their hard work ethic and  their "team first mantra".
We' like them to be selfless not selfish.
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (and their mates) proved that - once again - this week.

***

 ONE of the primary roles of any rugby (i.e., the 15 man game if there's any confusion from our league friends) halfback  is to ignite the backline.
Setting the backline alight starts with an accurate fast pass off either hand.
The man who plays his 100th Super Rugby game on Sunday has proven to be one of the finest exponents of that craft.
Bryn Hall - the Crusaders' halfback - clears the ball brilliantly and consistently ignites the Red n'Black backline. The success of the Christchurch based outfit is testament to that.
It's also no surprise that Richie Mo'unga has excelled in the No.10 jersey given the quality ball he receives.
Hall is an outstanding player and has flourished in the positive environment the Crusaders embrace on and off-the-field. He's not "The Lone Ranger" there though as Super Rugby's most successful franchise continue to challenge the players to not only succeed but to excel.
It must seem a different set-up to the bumbling Blues outfit that shamefully showed Hall the door several seasons ago. But as that closed the Crusaders' door opened and Hall has excelled in the professional environment headed by New Zealand Rugby's outstanding coach Scott Robertson.
Ironically the Blues have turned to the Crusaders' blueprint implemented by former Red n'Black and All Blacks utility Leon MacDonald as coach to improve the franchise's fortunes. So far the Canterbury playbook seems to be working for the Blues.
Not that it will concern Hall. He'll be looking to continue to unleash the Crusaders' backline just as he has done since joining them for the 2017 season.
It's a stunning achievement to play 100 games at any level and Hall's efforts, like those of any player, will be celebrated.

***

I WAS asked during the week what the test match record of the All Blacks was.
Here it is.
(Played) 597 (Won) 460 (Drawn) 22 (Lost) 115 (Points For) 16,575 (Points Against) 7944 (Win Percentage) 77.05%

***

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I play golf for a living.
"I mean, I should be able to shoot a good golf score occasionally. It doesn’t happen as much as I want.
" But yes, I’m very happy with it. I was very calm, I was very relaxed out there."

Aussie golfer Matt Jones after hitting a nine-under-par 61 in the first round of the PGA Tour Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Euphemistically Speaking

 IT would have been too blunt for the spin doctors at Buck House to condemn the Los Angeles based Royal exiles by simply stating: "You aren't telling the truth - we don't believe you."
Instead create something that politely conveys what you're really thinking.
"While some recollections may vary," goes straight to the top of the euphemism podium for 2021 and should remain there for some time. That's how good it is in undermining the heartfelt veracity of what was said.
With just four words the "The Firm" (as the Royal Family is known) shamelessly discredited the exiles - Prince Harry and his wife Meghan.
It's amazing the statement didn't add that the Prince was on "gardening leave" and was having a  "workforce imbalance correction" or that his wife, wary of "underperforming assets" or, perhaps,  a "temporary negative clash flow" decided on the "tell all" interview.
Of course, with Queen's husband looking at an imminent "negative patient outcome" this whole dramedy will be further drawn out which rather begs the question of just how long this type of  colonialism (i.e. the Commonwealth) with its ingrained "dark ages" attitudes will go on for.
Hopefully not much longer.

***

THERE has been an overwhelming, and humbling, response to last Friday's blog.
To all those who replied to the post - publicly and privately - thank you.
What the post, regarding "ageism", has highlighted is just how widespread it is. Many "mature" people have contacted me describing how they've been subjected to "demeaning" questioning from prospective employers which has left them feeling disillusioned and, at times, desperate in their quest for work.
This shouldn't be happening and, perhaps, it provides an opportunity for the Government - who have been at pains to tell us all "to be kind" in these tumultuous times - to reinforce how important an experienced and elderly workface is to the economy but, more importantly, to society.

***

I'M looking forward to the NRL season.
I enjoy watching a game where I can understand the majority of the rules, see the ball most of the time, watch backs run with freedom, admire forwards with genuine skills, reflect on the engaging  personalities of the players and the coaches and, generally, enjoy the spectacle of a game that doesn't resemble glorified "force back."
It certainly is a novel approach.

SORRY YOU'RE TOO OLD

ANOTHER email lobs into the inbox.

“Thanks so much for taking the time to apply for the position of …

“In reviewing your application, we’d like to acknowledge the experience you’ve gained, though unfortunately on this occasion, we won’t be moving forward with your application for this role.

“While we couldn’t get things to work out this time around, our relationship definitely isn’t over and we'd like to keep your details on our files."

I’ve had 78 of those emails. I expect to go past 80 and slowly work my way to a well fought, if rather pointless, century in the next few weeks.

While the rejection emails always try to convey some sense of positivity after the “we don’t want you” line the irony is that the majority of employers don’t want a follow up as it’s an inconvenience. It seems it’s just too difficult to do that.

Since raising my bat at 50 I’ve decided to contact every one of the outfits I’ve applied for roles at. Only a few have come back to me (which is pretty ordinary in itself) and of those that have, apart from a suggestion that a tweak of the CV wouldn’t hurt, I’ve been told “Sorry you're too old.” 

Of course these calls are always made “off-the-record” and in “total confidence” with the “I shouldn’t be telling you this but …” explanation offered as some sort of softening up preamble to the hit that’s coming.

For a spritely bloke (and I do give myself a rap here) of just sixty it’s difficult to take especially when you know you would excel and enhance in the roles you’ve been applying for.

Perhaps, though, it’s probably better to face the indisputable fact that if you’re part of the “no hair or grey hair” brigade it’s going to be tough nowadays. That’s especially relevant if, like me, you haven’t got a degree.

“They’ll use the no degree excuse but it’s just code for you being too old,” a former colleague told me. 

“It’s demeaning but there are plenty of us mature types having the same battle,” he said ruefully.

A professional consultant confided that many employers are wary of taking on “more mature” workers.

“It’s especially relevant for the 55-60 plus group. Many organisations see these people as set in their ways, technically adverse to new technology, unwilling to look at new ideas and, let’s face it, they’re not that far away from getting the gold card and being looked after by the Government.”

When I replied that it’s a cynical way of looking at aging workers given many of us are technically adept, have a great deal of maturity (finally), wisdom and life experience he told me: “That may be so but it’s not the reality I’m hearing about. So you’d better get used to it.”

Is that the case? Do we need to face facts and “get used to it”? 

I reckon, despite the challenges, despite the knock-backs we have to battle on. There’s the honest appraisal that “there’s always someone worse off” and while that can come across as patronising and condescending sometimes it’s all you’ve got to hang on to.

And seriously for someone who didn't make many centuries in senior reserve cricket getting to a hundred could be an interesting experience.

Super Rugby; Tiger and Bradman

SUMMER hasn’t fired its last shot; cricket continues to entertain and the national game, under the guise of Super Rugby Aotearoa gets set to kick-off.
Yes another rugby year is about to hit us and, despite the perennial questioning as to why the season starts at this time, there is a level of anticipation surrounding Super Rugby.
Which teams will dominate early? Which players will shine? Which players will have slow starts? Will there be new stars emerging?
These are just some of the scenarios that fans love as they indulge in plenty of crystal ball gazing.
For starters I’m hoping this Super Rugby season brings some clarity with policing the persistent offside offending masquerading as defending in the midfield. If there’s a way to spoil a game then the flat defensive screens will do that. Referees have red and yellow cards so surely they should use them on players who consistently offend to gain an advantage on defence.
Sounds simple but it rarely is enforced.
Another aspect of the game that makes for a collective shudder is the cleanout. Players (primarily forwards) rocketing in to take a prone opponent out is dangerous (more on concussion in the next few weeks) and not a good look for the game.

***

AS you’d expect there have been some creative headlines relating to Tiger Woods and his car accident in the hills of Los Angeles.
“Bad Drive”, “Tiger Drives Out Of Bounds”, “Tiger In The Rough”, “Tiger Cheats Death”, “Tiger In Trouble … Again”, “Tiger’s Dodgy Drive”  and “He Should Have Taken The Driver”.
It’s another chapter in the life of a modern day sporting icon that will be followed closely.

***

IT’S the 20th anniversary of the death of cricket’s greatest batsman.
Don Bradman - the diminutive Aussie whose name became a metaphor for excellence - was a dominant and divisive figure on and off-the-field during, and after, his amazing cricketing career.
The test match average of 99.94 will not be threatened and the way he dominated made his name synonymous with a supreme brilliance that transcended the game.
His name endures with comparisons of sports stars who dominate, as he did, being of “Bradmanesque” quality. The term has even been applied to business prodigies or musical virtuosos - in fact anyone who excels - as the “Bradmans” of their particular field.
It’s a legacy that will endure.

Stats, Stats and Pre-Season Training

 MY post last Friday regarding the pandemic and whether we'd be looking at the finish line or eyeing up more of a marathon effort was put in context by increase in "levels" for Auckland and the rest of the country following the community transmission outbreak.
It also raised the speculation as to when (or if)  the pandemic will be sufficiently controlled as to allow international tourism to resume.
A reader of the column sent me the following stats to confirm just how important tourism is to Aotearoa and why it's essential the world-wide vaccination process is accelerated.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism made a huge contribution to the New Zealand economy:

• Total annual tourism expenditure was $41.9 billion – $115 million per day.
• Annual international tourism expenditure was $17.5 billion – $48 million per day.
• Annual domestic tourism expenditure was $24.4 billion – $67 million per day.
• Total annual tourism expenditure had increased by almost $15 billion, or 55%, in the past seven years. Tourism was New Zealand’s biggest export industry, contributing 20.1% of total exports.
• Tourism generated a direct annual contribution to GDP of $16.4 billion, or 5.5%, and a further indirect contribution of $11.3 billion, another 3.8% of New Zealand’s total GDP.
• 225,384 people are directly and another 158,802 indirectly employed in tourism in New Zealand – 13.6% of the total number of people employed in New Zealand.
• The annual GST paid by tourists is $3.9 billion, including $1.8 billion collected from international visitors

PRE-SEASON training is in full swing.
On a sticky night on Auckland's Gold Coast I watched a local team labouring through their paces as I was out wandering.
It looked tough.
There was plenty of sighing, double teapots and frequent swigging of the water bottles. It's not meant to be too much fun at this time of the year and it didn't look like it.
Once I got home I reached for "Rugby on Attack" by All Blacks great Ron Jarden. Published 60 years ago by the visionary wonder winger it is an enlightening read.
Jarden - who was ahead of his time as an analytical thinker of the game - had the final chapter of the book titled "Coaching, Captaincy and Training". As part of that he had some fascinating insights into pre-season training.
He writes that "long slogging runs up hills and along bitumen roads, for as far as four or five miles" serve no purpose for the backs.
"I cannot imagine anything worse for them. Especially in the early part of the year they should be concentrating on developing speed and nimbleness. Slow work develops slow players. Backs should never run slowly at practice. "
Jarden - who must always come into the conversation regarding the ultimate All Blacks XV - also reiterated the concept that a "rugby ball should be present."
"From the very first session players should be handling and passing, catching and kicking - learning to get the feel of the ball again.
One cannot over-estimate the importance of training with the ball at all times. Most certainly backs have not trained if they have not handled the ball during a training session."

Note: There will be more from Rugby on Attack over the course of the year. 

Playing The Long Game

IS the finish line in sight?
Or is it getting further away?
It depends on where the Covid-19 race is being run. If the track is Aotearoa - New Zealand along with the Pacific Islands, and possibly Australia, then the finish line is in sight. If the track is the "Rest of the World" (with a few exceptions) then it seems to be getting further away.
The rollout of the vaccine here will reduce the danger of this  serious disease developing and go a long way to ring-fencing our country against the risk it presents.
But what happens if there's another outbreak as there has been in Melbourne this week?
There's no doubt that proportionate short term and measured solutions as we've seen since the major lock-down last year will ensure we continue to lead the way in our Covid-19 response.
As much of the world battles to combat the pandemic we should be thankful that we live where we do. 

***

WHY would Team New Zealand get ahead of themselves and start planning for the next America’s Cup before the current one has been done and dusted?
All the talk about what the outfit will do in the future has been centre-stage despite not having defended the America’s Cup.
Is Team New Zealand so dominant that a crushing win is a foregone conclusion? Is the outfit so strong that the Old Mug can be locked away at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron? 
Surely the Grand Dalton led organisation wouldn’t want to get too carried away and go off early.
We’ve seen that before.

***

RUGBY officials won’t rule out more changes in order to speed the game up and make it “more fan friendly and easier to watch.” 
Two new innovations – the goal-line drop-out and captain’s referral – will be introduced for Super Rugby Aotearoa this season.
A media release from NZR (New Zealand Rugby)  this week outlined: “A goal line drop-out will occur when an attacking player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal or knocks the ball on in the in-goal area, or when an attacking kick, other than a penalty or drop goal attempt, is grounded by the defending team in their in-goal area. 
“A captain’s referral will see each captain given one opportunity per match to ask the referee to have the Television Match Official (TMO) check for an infringement in the lead up to a try, or to review foul play.”
Sources close to the NZR High Performance team believe more innovations, primarily seen in the NRL (National Rugby League), will be introduced.
“The two changes introduced this week have been taken directly from the NRL and we’re keen to integrate more of those wonderful innovations from across the Tasman into our game in order to make it more watchable,” the source said.
“Our focus groups have told us they enjoy watching league more than the 15-man-code so we’re keen to explore more ways of streamlining our game.”
Reducing team numbers to 13 on-field players per side, ensuring any player can form a scrum and eliminating lineouts will be trialled.
A spokesperson for NZR Ms Nomore Scrummagin would not elaborate other than to say: “We are engaging with our stakeholders, broadcast partners and American hedge funding consultants as to the way forward.
“We will not be making further comments unless we need to.”

Back On The Horse

HOW are those New Year resolutions going?
It's a month into 2021 and according to the experts (a scientific term apparently) 94 percent of us have either issued a yellow card or the dreaded red card to our resolutions.
The same experts reckon the top 10 resolutions at the start of every year are:
Exercise more
Lose weight
Get organised 
Learn a new skill or hobby
Live life to the fullest
Save more money - spend less money (LOL)
Quit smoking (I assume this refers to tobacco)
Spend more time with family and friends
Travel more (Don't leave town until you've seen the country)
Read more 

To be fair five out of 10 is reasonable.

***

A LICENCE is mandatory in order to drive. While it's questionable - given what I've witnessed during the summer - how some drivers got their licence the fact is that you need one to legally operate on our roads whether that be a car, van, motor-bike, truck, bus, steamroller, whatever.
So why don't you need to a licence to operate a boat (I'm not talking cruise liners, cargo ships or super yachts) but rather the Haines Hunter types.
Why don't owners have a test to go through? Questions along the lines of : Should swimmers be terrorised close to the shore; why is it acceptable to ignore ski lanes or, perhaps, whether life-jackets are a fashion accessory or a necessity? 
Jet skiers - the motor bike riders on water - could also be subjected to a test before they're licensed. Perhaps something like - how much mayhem is acceptable when dodging swimmers (especially children) five metres offshore. 

Answers on a post card please.

***

THE Matariki public holiday is unique to Aotearoa. It has more relevance than, for example, the annual Queens Birthday public holiday.
Matariki should always be celebrated here.
(Note: Matariki is both the name of the star cluster and also of the season of its first risingin late June or early July. This is a marker of the beginning of the new year.)

 ***

MEMO all millennial sportspeople: When you are asked as to which team you are playing on a particular weekend please refrain from using the word "versing." 
You are playing against A, B or C not "versing" A, B or C.
(It's a losing battle but I thought I'd try.)   

 ***

IT'S been a long time between drinks but, despite the tumultuous challenges, of 2020 it is an appropriate time to kick-start the blog.
I'll do my best to keep it going weekly.
Shoot through any tips or suggestions you may have. 
I reckon the cartoon sums it up.

VJ DAY; the Crusaders and Covid-19

AS Aotearoa battles the current pandemic hopefully the significance of August 15 should not be forgotten.
The day should be indelibly etched into our collective memories and it certainly will be for many in our community who are in the sunset of their lives.
It was on this day in 1945 that "Victory Over Japan" was declared (marked as VJ Day) when Japan surrendered. VE (Victory in Europe) had been declared on May 8.
And while we discuss and dissect the statistics regarding Covid-19 we should remember what this remarkable nation sacrificed.
It certainly gives some perspective to the "crisis" we're currently facing. 
Remember our population at the start of the war was 1,164,600. Around 140,000 men and women served in the theatres of war all round the world.
11,671 paid the ultimate price.
That's perspective.
Lest we forget.

***

IN the past month 61 criminals have been flown out of Australia on charter flights to be "housed" in prisons on this side of the ditch.
Many of these "crims" are hard-nosed gang types who, despite living in Australia for most of their lives, are returned "home" (a technical term obviously) to serve their sentences here and then released into our society.
Why are we being lumbered with these thugs?
It is especially ironic given the vile coward who went in to a place of worship and murdered the innocents in the Christchurch mosque is Australian (he's from Grafton in New South Wales) but will serve his life sentence in this country.
Surely this murderer should be sent back to where he came from. It can't continue to be one-way traffic.

***

THE Crusaders rightfully took out Super Rugby Aotearoa.
The Scott Robertson coached outfit was too good, too tough and too smart during the disrupted season.
From fullback to the front-row to the players on the bench the men in scarlet and black proved once again that when it comes to consistent rugby excellence the Crusaders are the best outfit Super Rugby has seen.
That simply cannot be debated.
There have been players singled out for praise with Richie Mo'unga to the fore. That's fair enough because the No.10 has been instrumental in the Crusaders' triumph but I'd also question why halfbacks Bryn Hall and, to a lesser extent, Mitchell Drummond have not been given the accolades they deserve.
Hall has a fast, accurate pass that has always given Mo'unga the time and space he needs to run the cutter.
For a first-five or fly-half to consistently receive quality ball is a luxury that Mo'unga has enjoyed for the past few seasons thanks to the excellence of Hall's distribution.
It's a contribution that has been seriously underrated in the Crusaders' success.

***

THERE'S plenty of merit in postponing the general election scheduled for September 19.
Given the shameful politicisation of the Covid-19 crisis by opposition parties firing cheap shots at the coalition Government and front-line health staff it's obvious the election should be postponed.
Three years would be ideal.

****

HOW about those entertaining conspiracy theories regarding Covid-19?  But this has to be on the podium for the gold medal.
A viral Facebook post has claimed that NASA and the Vatican were hiding the discovery of an asteroid on its way to demolish our planet.
What’s the best way to hide the discovery of a doomsday asteroid? It's by unleashing a deadly and highly contagious virus that forces people to stay home. 
Seriously ...

Dollars And Sense

CASH. What's that?

In an increasingly cashless society - accentuated during the Covid-19 crisis - the days when "cash was king" are fading.

That's why a significant event on this day 53 years ago will go largely unnoticed and, yet, it was on Monday July 10, 1967 that New Zealand embraced decimal currency.

It was a big deal back then.

The wonderful encyclopaedia of New Zealand notes (no pun intended): 

"The notes – the first New Zealand paper money to show the reigning monarch – were kept under wraps until June 1967 to thwart counterfeiters. 

"In the weeks before 10 July, $112 million worth of the new notes and $8 million in coins was delivered to trading banks around the country by secret trains carrying Reserve Bank, police and army personnel.

"The new $1, $2, $5, $10, $20 and $100 banknotes each had different native birds and plants on the reverse, and were distinguishable by colour.

"The new coins were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents."

For our parents and grandparents who had grown up with pounds, shillings and pence a generational change saw us grapple with the "new" dollar and cents. It was exciting for us at primary school as the new notes and coins filtered through the community. Crisp, clean colourful notes and glistening coins. For kids it was bold new age.

That continued as we moved through adolescence and adulthood. 

To be fair there was always something special about having cash in the wallet especially if you were lucky enough to be handed some new notes when you went to the bank.

Many will also remember the days of getting your pay (i.e. cash) in small (very small) square brown envelopes that were hardly the most ideal way of ensuring savings were at a premium. In fact the term of "living from payday to payday" was probably penned for those days.

I've attached an image of the original $100 note because I rarely saw one. 

In fact I wondered at one stage if they existed. The myth of the beautiful crimson $100 note was, however, dispelled in a fundraiser at the rugby club. 

Along with another reserve grade player we were given the responsibility of selling $2 tickets for the chance of winning the elusive $100 note.  

It was a reasonable fundraiser (100 tickets at $2 for a profit of .... you guessed it $100) and given the fact we'd mislaid the "pig in the barrow" (it didn't pay to leave a superbly dressed, as in butchered, pig and the brand new wheelbarrow outside certain drinking establishments in Whangarei during the early eighties) the previous Friday it was full-proof. 

Mind you it paid to have a winner.

* It should be noted that a $50 note was introduced in 1981, and in 1990 the $1 and $2 notes were replaced by coins.

(Image courtesy - teara.govt.nz) 

IT'S difficult to fault (mind you given the current political climate there will be critics) the Government's response to resurrecting the sporting landscape in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

The $265 million earmarked for "sport recovery" in the 2020 budget should ensure that all areas are adequately funded.

An initial outlay of $80 million will help community sport and boost participation for those clubs (read all) who are struggling in the post "virus" times.

In a positive move funding to the tune of half-a-million dollars will help the men's and women's national basketball leagues.

I've long been a fan of how basketball has been run at a national level and given this "can do" proactive attitude it's little wonder there's been such wonderful engagement within the community.

HEARTLAND Rugby should have been played this year.

It was a "quick fix" from New Zealand Rugby to red card the competition and, I believe, a retrograde step.

While the decision not to play this season was flagged as fiscally responsible given the economic crisis rugby faced it seems to be rather premature given what could have been achieved.

And there's plenty of angst within Heartland unions that this "could be the thin end of the wedge" as one administrator told me.

"We've been given assurances that the competition is safe but with it not being played this year it's hardly ideal going forward. 

"I think we need to be realistic and realise the competition and the format we used to play is a thing of the past."

It seems that's correct with a "pool" type or conference system (to use an American term) being looked at from next season. 

I'VE had a "love-hate" relationship with Team New Zealand and the America's Cup. 

There's always been a sense of "nationalistic" pride at how our teams, on and off-the-water, have punched above their weight against the heavy hitters.

But that's been outweighed by some of the arrogance, back-stabbing and over-the-top in-your-face nastiness that's often pervaded both Team New Zealand and the Cup.

I got a brutal lesson in that many years ago when I dared to break the story that the much heralded red socks were going to be made overseas and not in the provincial manufacturing capital of New Zealand - Levin. 

To me it went against the very ethos of Team New Zealand being "our" team.

How could you - I wrote and commented on the wireless - be authentic by pulling the pin on a genuine manufacturer and asking us to buy socks made overseas?

It was a good yarn (no pun intended) but Team New Zealand didn't think so and I was given a not so subtle reminder about the issue. Sitting at my desk at the nation's watchdog (aka The Truth) my phone rang (those were the days before mobiles were generally accessible) and before I got out "Doug spea ..." boomed a voice.

"Who the f--- do you think you are? What's this sh-- about the socks? Aren't you with us?"

"Sorry - whose speaking," I squeaked.

"It's Peter Blake - and if you want to write any more sh-- like that come and see me."

So I did. 

Funnily enough it's therapeutic what the sponsor's products can achieve. 

Mind you Steinlager Classic has always been a favourite. It's fair to say Sir Peter and I were never close but we did sort that drama out and I got a few decent yarns from him in the following years.

That's how the America's Cup has panned out for me. 

A seaborne roller-coaster ride over the years. A good example was the shameful Black Heart campaign (orchestrated by  some egomaniac media and advertising types) targeting those who dared leave Team New Zealand for another syndicate, The vitriol aimed at the likes of Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth was disgraceful.

It also ruined Dave Dobbyn's song "Loyal" for me ... forever.

SO Dan Carter is joining the Blues.

Well ... hurrah. The ageing legend (he's earned the right to be tagged a 'legend') will strut his stuff on, but mostly, off-the-field for this new-look season.

He wants to give back (I assume on a minimal wage given rugby's financial woes) and he'll mentor the younger players we've been told. Great. His experience, work ethic and general demeanour will be invaluable to an outfit that's lacked consistency and struggled for credibility in recent times.

Carter is a decent bloke by all accounts - down-to-earth, generous and a good team man - so he's a reasonable acquisition.

But ... and there is a but ... it is just a shame that none of the play-makers Carter will impart all his wisdom to are from the Blues area and it rather highlights how dreadful the outfit has been in not being able to fine-tune or develop - call it what you like - any classy, consistent, game-breaking players in the No.10 jersey.

It's quite staggering when you reflect on that. Where have those players been? 

Now, of course, Beauden Barrett of Hurricanes and All Blacks fame (born and bred with the amber and black of Taranaki on his back) is running the Blues' cutter alongside Manawatu's Otere Black with Carter as the cover for Stephen Perofeta who was born in Whanganui and usually runs around for Taranaki. 

What has been going on? Obviously not a lot when it come to the play-makers. And don't get me started about the halfbacks. The best halfback from the Blues' area - Bryn Hall - is playing his trade brilliantly for the Crusaders after being shamelessly shelved by the Blues.  

As for first-fives you have to go back to Carlos Spencer ... but hang on he came from Levin and played for Horowhenua- Kapiti.

So where have the No.10s been in the "Blues" area? Well North Harbour's (think Rosmini College and East Coast Bays) Gareth Anscombe could play but, and I'm pretty safe in stating, was bullied out of the Blues; Northland's tough as teak (a relatively strong and hard wood for our younger readers) legend David Holwell only got six outings for the Blues at the end of his career in 2007 after 76 games for the Hurricanes.

So it rather begs the question as to what has happened to the massive rugby breeding ground that is the Blues area?

While we're on a roll just a couple of points about the Blues. 

Firstly - just like the other Super Rugby outfits in New Zealand - they're not a club. They are franchises or licence holders. So please repeat - Super Rugby outfits are not clubs.

Secondly - surely it's time to change the Blues logo. Rangitoto - seriously? And you want to engage fans? 

Tell that to the fans out in west Auckland or in Northland. From my understanding it's pretty difficult to see Auckland's extinct harbour volcano from Massey, or Whangarei or Kaikohe.

It's quite simple ...get a new logo. Ideas to me on a postcard.

WHAT have Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt and ... wait for it ... Bobby Joe Morrow all got in common?

They're all members of the exclusive 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m, Olympic gold medal club. Owens at Berlin in 1936; Lewis at Los Angeles in 1984; Bolt in 2012 in London and four years later in Rio.

Morrow swept all before him at the Melbourne Games in 1956 and his death over the weekend, once again saw a headline (made famous in "The Guardian" newspaper) resurface. It read "The greatest Olympic sprinter you've never heard of."

Morrow - who died last weekend aged 84 in a Texas hospice - was something of a sprinting phenomenon but who, after his career was ended by injury and on the back of several dodgy business ventures, became embittered.

The introduction to his obituary to him in the Washington Post sums it up: 

"For a brief period in the Eisenhower era, the world’s fastest man was arguably an American sprinter who trained on his family’s cotton and carrot farm, chased jack rabbits through the Rio Grande Valley and turned down scholarship offers from major schools to attend a small Christian college in west Texas.

"From 1956 to 1958, Bobby Morrow won all the major sprinting titles for which he competed, capped by three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Not since Jesse Owens had a sprinter so dominated the Olympic track. Not until Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt would a man do so again."

* It should be noted that both Owens and Lewis also won gold medals at the Olympics mentioned above in the long-jump. Not bad. Also Bolt would have had a third haul by including Beijing in 2008 but one of his compatriots in the relay was subsequently found to be "juiced' up. 

WHEN you're disproportionately represented in all the wrong statistics it's little wonder that there's civil unrest in the United States. 

That's why a combination of institutional racism, the huge death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic, a leader who lacks empathy and a police force that can't seemingly differentiate between white and black or right and wrong then it's little wonder society splinters in a catastrophic way.

And it won't change unless there is a seismic shift in attitudes. But will it change? Probably not given the ugliness that's evident.

"Being black in America should not be a death sentence" was a quote given plenty of prominence on social media platforms. 

It's a foreign concept for many in New Zealand (although some might dispute that) but we must not turn a blind eye or a tin ear to what's going on.

That means the rise of an under-class emerging, and growing, in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

You can't ignore that fact.

Mass unemployment, sub-standard health care and education, the widening of the gap when it comes to the "haves" as opposed to the "have nots" along with a lack of hope will contribute to a volatile society.

The argument that protest and the aggravation that goes with it won't happen here is fanciful.

* OF the many sporting yarns that did the rounds during the lock-down there was one that made me shudder.

When it was suggested that college rugby could be shelved a story emerged that several 1st XV players, obviously with big wraps on themselves, were contemplating returning to school next year just to play footy so that they'd "be seen".

I assume they mean seen by "agents" or the inaccurately labelled "talent spotters".

If anything was to sum up the "nonsensical fascination" we've seen with the modern-day product that is "elite" college rugby then this was it.

Unfortunately many college players, where the "ego to talent ratio isn't in sync", see themselves as superstars but can't cope when, predictably, they miss the representative cut.

You would think that playing club rugby would compensate. 

But no. 

Many of these players believe that turning out for a club (they're the outfits that the game for all New Zealand is built on) is beneath them and the ones that do rock up at a club have a supercilious, sneering attitude.

Playing for "your" club should be "aspirational" but unfortunately that quality seems to be lost on many of the "younger" players.

As an aside it might also help them if they took a "hands up (i.e I'm happy to learn and contribute) rather than a hands out (i.e. What can I get?) " attitude when considering their careers.

Mind you some rugby clubs don't help themselves by pandering to (aka paying) players or enticing them away from rival clubs. 

That's a slippery financial slope and given the current economic crisis it would seem those clubs will be, and should be, exposed.

ASSESS the risk and act accordingly.

That's how we've lived for two months.

We've been asked to change our lives; we've been asked to help "flatten the curve"; we've been told what to do and when and where to do it.

We've been told to "Unite" and that "We're All In This Together".

We've been encouraged to be kind (we should do that anyway) and we've been congratulated on what we've achieved,

But now ... let's assess the risk and act accordingly. 

Surely that means we have to fast-track or kick-start life as we used to know it.

The economic wounds created by Covid-19 are deep and by continuing to protract the crisis we are ensuring the hurt will linger for longer than it needs to.

Enough is enough. 

We've heard throughout this crisis that we have to protect the vulnerable.  

That hasn't been an issue.

The question is now ... just who in our community is categorised as the "new" vulnerable? 

* THE divisive nature of politics we've seen in many places around the world, most notably in the United States, is becoming increasingly apparent here.

The "left" and the "right" - both taking an incendiary approach to each other - are seemingly so diametrically opposed that compromise or some sort of mutual understanding of the philosophies they espouse is an abhorrent thought.

You only have to scroll through posts on Facebook to realise that having an empathetic approach to anyone who doesn't support "your views" isn't a consideration when it comes to political choices.

Conspiracy theories, nasty personal attacks, infantile innuendo, puerile retorts and the escalation of bizarre rumours are considered the standard approach.

I've know how it works. Recently I made the comment "What's wrong with wanting clean water and clean air?" to an acquaintance.

"Didn't pick you for a Green loving Commie," was the reply.

Rest my case.

* YOU have to hand it to the NRL. 

Beating the other "winter" codes to kick-off the "footy" season has been a lesson in single-minded determination to ensure fans (and the broadcast partners) have a professional competition to look  forward to.

Despite many obstacles - think government bureaucracy, player and referee pay disputes along with an illegal substance drama - the NRL has proved to be a shining light in the sporting gloom.

* FOR all your PR, editing and content creation needs give me a yell. 

After 30 plus years experience in all areas of the media I've got the skills you need for any project and I'm happy to help.

Drop me an email here

LEVEL Two.
It's the signal we've broken the back of Covid-19.
Normality - or what we remember as normality - is returning, albeit in a measured way and many in the community especially our front-line medical staff can be justifiably proud of the way they've fronted up.
We'll look back on the past two months with a mixture of pride, frustration and, for many, sadness and there's no doubt it will change the way we live our lives.
Hopefully the positives of effectively communicating with those around us especially our neighbours; keeping relatively fit and undertaking some attitudinal realignments will outweigh the negatives.
But there will be extremely challenging times ahead for the community. It will be interesting to see how we address them.

THE demise of the cheque book will evoke some wonderful (and not so wonderful) memories.
In the days before ATMs we'd all queue up at the bank to - that's right - cash a cheque. Fridays were the worst days because with the impending weekend it was imperative there was cash in the wallet. So for much of your half hour lunch-break you'd line up at the local bank.
Mind you the sporting clubs up and down the country (or the friendly grocer or the TAB) were also wonderful "cashers of cheques" primarily on Saturdays after all the proceeds of Friday's withdrawals had been spent. Remember most places weren't open on Sundays either.
Of course, many establishments refused to take cheques, so if you ran out of cash - bad luck.
For businesses the task of manually writing out the details of every cheque into a ledger and then depositing them at the bank was downright tedious. I experienced that twice in my illustrious work career in the eighties. Firstly with the Northland Harbour Board and secondly with Rothmans. Given the fact I couldn't balance my own cheque book my tenure as a up and coming financial controller with both outfits was brief.
So to all you young people who might have a few problems with your banking app ... spare a thought for those of us who battled with our cheque books.
So what will be the next piece of our lives to go the way of a roll of film (pictured for those who don't know what it is), fax machines and cheques?
Answers on a postcard. Mind you ...

GIVEN the red-carding of Radio Sport it was astonishing to see how quickly Trackside Radio was scratched.
Surely there was a great opportunity for the network to storm down the home straight and win the radio sport and racing battle in what had become a one-horse-race.
Clearly a lack of strategic vision, where cost-cutting has taken precedence over common sense, has robbed sports and racing fans of an engaging platform.
Trackside Radio - which broadcast across New Zealand - paid around $30,000 a month for the frequencies which seems a bargain when you've got a captive audience but unfortunately, for fans, listening to a network that had much to offer is no longer an option.

DROUGHT.
A word that is again being increasingly used in the northern parts of the country.
The Covid-19 drama has rather relegated a lack of water in the "north" to "also ran" status when it comes to urgent attention and yet it, along with the "pandemic" crisis, will have a major impact on the economy and well being of a large part of the community.
And it rather begs the question why we, as a nation, don't take the issue of water harvesting more seriously.
During recent downpours (ironically not enough to put a dent in the drought) it was bizarre to see water disappearing off roofs down spouting and into drains although there were "new-builds" where the spouting wasn't connected and gutters on roads were like mini-rivers before heading out to the harbour.
Why isn't mandatory for all residential and commercial "new-builds" (including apartment blocks) to have water retention systems?
Many rural and coastal homes have water tanks so why aren't they compulsory in urban areas when new homes and apartments are built?

IN between news of Adele's new look; a back to the future" rugby competition featuring New Zealand franchises and yet more endless whinging about the Government there has been a significant event that has, seemingly, gone through to the keeper.
The 75th anniversary of  "Victory in Europe" (VE) Day commemorates the end of the Second World War. (Victory over Japan or "VJ" Day is August 15)
To put our current crisis in perspective this is from the wonderful website New Zealand History:
The Second World War was New Zealand's greatest national effort.
About 140,000 men and women were dispatched overseas to serve in fighting formations, 104,000 in 2NZEF, the rest in the British or New Zealand naval or air forces.
In March 1944 there were just under 70,000 New Zealand personnel serving overseas.
Fatal casualties during the conflict numbered 11,928 (Commonwealth War Graves Commission figures).
Post-war calculations indicated that New Zealand's ratio of killed per million of population (at 6684) was the highest in the Commonwealth (with Britain at 5123 and Australia, 3232).

Photo caption: 'New Zealand servicemen celebrate VE Day' in London (Ministry for Culture and Heritage)

SAM Cane - the 28-year-old from Reporoa - is a fine choice to lead the men in black.
Cane - a down-to-earth - bloke has served a decent rugby apprenticeship and will bring stability, humility and plenty of class to the role.
A battle-hardened loose-forward with an excellent skill-set Cane, who was inexplicably left out of the starting lineup in the World Cup semi-final, will inspire on and off-the-field.
* Reporoa is a rural community (farming and forestry mainly) and is a 40 minute drive north of Taupo and about the same south of Rotorua.

REFLECTING on the game for all Aotearoa a battle-hardened old bloke once told me, as he sipped his beer and dragged on a ciggie he'd rolled himself : "There's two types of fans. All Blacks fans and rugby fans."
It was an astute observation many years ago and it's even more relevant nowadays.
Obviously it's a chicken and egg scenario and yes you can't have one without the other but given the current crisis it would seem that the very foundation of rugby at community level needs to be stabilised before the upper tier of the game is further fine-tuned.
It's all very well to have "another enquiry" into Super Rugby but surely ensuring the survival of the game at community level is of more importance.
What happens to the clubs (and I'm not referring to the Super Rugby franchises) up and down the country given the current state of uncertainty?
Are they the responsibility of the the union they report to or are they the responsibility of NZ Rugby?
Hopefully the words of NZ Rugby CEO and former All Blacks midfielder Mark Robinson will offer some confidence for "rugby fans" when he wrote in the annual report:
"Without community rugby we wouldn’t have All Blacks, Black Ferns or Māori All Blacks. "However, more than that, we believe rugby strengthens and connects our communities through communication, teamwork, and enjoyment; as well as helping to keep people fit and healthy.”
Make a note of that.

WELL done to Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby President Bailey Mackey on his election to the board of New Zealand Rugby.
Mackey - who is a founder of high profile television company Pango Productions - will have a mandate to both protect and grow the interests of provincial rugby. This will be critical in years ahead especially with the much-loved Heartland Championship being sidelined due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Heartland seemed to be a soft target for rugby's cost cutters and Mackey must ensure the championship is not further diluted when (and perhaps "if") it kicks-off next year.

THE confirmation of Ian Kirkpatrick (pictured in a typically rampaging run with first-five Bob Burgess alongside him)  as Patron of New Zealand Rugby will be well received.
The iconic loose-forward who would be selected in any "ultimate" All Blacks XV has a down-to-earth manner that marks him as man of great humility.
Universally respected for his on and off-the-field attributes "Kirky" succeeds his great friend Sir Brian Lochore.

STAT of the day from the NZ Rugby annual report:
A total of 159,773 people played rugby in 2019, an increase of 2,492, while there were 31,035 female players, a rise of 11 percent from 2018.

IT'S the least we can do.
A wonderful inspiring initiative from the New Zealand Defence Force for this year's ANZAC Day.
The NZDF writes:
"This year, Anzac Day will be like no other.
"Let’s all #StandAtDawn — apart, but together as one.
"The Anzac spirit has taught us many things; endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and mateship.
"And in these unprecedented times, it’s important we unite together using all of these qualities."
"This Saturday, 25 April we are asking the country to unite and #StandAtDawn (6am) with your bubble, wear your poppy and listen to our special dawn service. You can stand at dawn in front of the TV, in your courtyard, in your driveway, in your garden or even your balcony."
Lest we forget.

* IF the borders remain closed then get set for a "Back to the Future" scenario for our national game.
A North Island - South Island clash and an All Blacks trial will be scheduled. As for the men in black December tests will be on the agenda.
There's also a focus on playing 10 weeks of Super Rugby and 12 weeks for the Mitre 10 Cup. The Farah Palmer Cup will be played with eight teams but a decision on whether that particular competition will go ahead is still being debated.

* WHEN did respect for the role of the Prime Minister go out the window?
Why do people (and I include certain media types) refer to the Prime Minister by her first name or derivations there of?
Cindy, Jacinta, Taxinda or, as I heard the other day, "that woman" are commonplace and not just on the usual social media trolling pages.
No matter what politics you practise Jacinda Ardern is the Prime Minister and should be referred to as such.

* I'VE had a wry smile at the outrage expressed by so many over plans to demolish a few homes in the well-to-do  area of Northcote Point to make way for the Northern Walkway. Apparently it's a travesty, a tragedy and an affront to human dignity.
I sympathise with those whose homes have been targeted but where was the sense of outrage from the community when homes (not houses but homes) in the less salubrious part of Northcote off Tonar  Street were demolished to make wake for the Awataha green-belt.
One rule for the well-to-do and another for the battlers?
Just saying.

* THANKS to all those who have submitted their Northland Rugby "Team of the Century" especially those sharp analytical minds from the Far North.
There will be a special 'Blog" with the teams coming up in the next few weeks.

DAMNED if they do and damned if they don't.
Let's face it it's a no-win situation for everyone at the moment. And, to be fair, that's everyone - all of us.
The Government - spearheading the operation to give Covid-19 the red-card - is either doing a straight-up job of stopping the spread of the "Miley Cyrus" or going way over the top in fighting it. It's too much or too little.
The police are being too cautious or not tough enough and health "

experts" are either too conservative or too populist in their views.
Sports officials - they do exist - are either too keen or not keen enough in kicking-off their respective codes.
Ordinary folk, like many of us, either agree to reluctantly live life in the bubble or decide to, perhaps, go for a surf or a drive with the dog or take the mountain bike out for a blast.
And there we go again ... damned if we do and damned if we don't.
Let's be honest it's all getting a bit of a drag now. Admit it ... it is.
The novelty of the first couple of weeks was ... well just that ... a novelty.
There was something surprisingly edgy about getting woken up in the middle of the night by an alert on Facebook messenger with a video of a dog dressed up as Donald Trump or a musical parody about the virus from a group of folk singers in Cumbria.
There was plenty of mirth when lists were produced about what your first car was or when you last wore flairs. And, of course, there's been the endless lists of the "greatest."
That's right give us your 10 greatest dentists or the best bakeries you can remember not to mention the sporting lists ranging from the best golf balls you've used to the "most deserving players who never went beyond Presidents Grade".
That's not to say it's not productive because, for many (and I'm not judging) it is. And, at times, it can give you a bit of a chuckle so good luck to you.
But seriously ... how much longer can we (those without meaningful work anyway) keep it all in perspective?
How long does the lock-down go for? How much damage does the economy have to take before "enough is enough"? How many more battlers have to lose their jobs? How many more businesses have to be knocked out.
It's challenging alright but, in the end, and, rather reluctantly, we'd all agree that we have to get rid of this virus. As one prominent business-type told me from his "home" on the coast north of Auckland  "Mate it's not rocket surgery. Seriously ..."

*Note: Miley Cyrus is rhyming slang for ... you guessed it ... virus.

IN these days of self-isolation, home-fitness-training regimes, humourous videos on Facebook, hook-ups on "Zoom" along with endless self-help advice from cooking to "painting like the masters" there are many within our community experiencing incredible sadness due to the loss of loved ones.
You only have read the "Death Notices" in the daily newspapers or online to realise that for many these times throw up intensely personal challenges in times of bereavement.
Funerals that would usually provide a time of relative "closure" are, because of the lock-down laws, now confined to people within that specific bubble.
For everyone who is experiencing this sadness it is a time of incredible stress and is is especially intense for our Maori and Pasfika communities. This is, in no way, meant to diminish or understate the grief of all cultures but rather to highlight the sadness that many are experiencing.
Spare a thought for anyone who cannot grieve with their family or friends; send best wishes to people who are experiencing great sadness and remember "We're All In This Together".

*
IT'S increasingly difficult for charities to raise much needed funds but the current Covid-19 crisis has provided an even bigger challenge.
One charity spokesman told me that it was "quite chilling when we look forward to the year and the years ahead and wonder how we'll cope."
That should send a huge warning to the Government about how even more support will be needed in these cataclysmic financial times.
We often like to put the boot into the Aussies but the Federal Government across the Tasman has pledged to provide $100m to 300 charity organisations.
Perhaps we'll have to follow that lead.

THANKS to a reader who sent this photo into "Straight From The Dugout". The sign was set up on the northern approach to the "new" Auckland Harbour Bridge that was opened in 1959.
The bridge took four years to build and was originally a toll bridge as the photo depicts. Tolls were 2/6 (Two shillings and sixpence) per car which equates to about $5.50. The tolls came to an end in 1984.
Ironically if the tolls had been kept in operation and modernised similar to the electronic tolling we have in operation nowadays a second Harbour crossing or even the Northern Pathway would have been financially sustainable.
Please send through any photos from "yesteryear" and I'll post them.