How the hell did this ever happen?!
The biggest mix-up since Roger Wilco earned his captaincy.
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Where Have We Gone?
Successful and respected musician Trent Reznor was recently and undeservedly booed off stage during an Auckland Nine Inch Nails concert in Auckland (and takes the blame) ; the crowd at Westpac Stadium united in jeering and booing the French team as they attempted a penalty kick to close the game within a point; and now I learn that a French back, Mathieu Bastareaud was physically assaulted in Wellington after the match. What is happening to us Aotearoa?
When I was growing up in New Zealand I remember being taught – from the media as much as my parents – that our country may be little, but was a global superpower when it came to morals and reputation. Clean and Green, Nuclear Free, and it seems we can now add to the list: bad sports.
I can somewhat understand the tension that must have been present during Saturday nights match, especially since France have now knocked us out of two World Cups, and had beaten us at Carisbrook the week before. But after the game was over, the All Blacks certain victors… physical assault? Really?
Commenting on the Bastareaud’s beating, the French rugby team “insists his bashing in Wellington won’t provoke any anti-New-Zealand sentiment”. As an isolated incident, perhaps not. But alongside the same team being pelted with beer bottles in Dunedin (which happens all too often at New Zealand sporting events) and other named occurrences, as well as numerous unnamed others, we are no doubt earning the reputation as bad sports overseas.
New Zealand as a social and sporting nation always had pride in the mana and stature with which we presented ourselves. This is the very thing which once made the All Blacks so ‘great’. It pains me to see us spoiling this.
If we wish for our sport teams to succeed, perhaps we need to take some responsibility ourselves. The fans are players on that field as well, and share the responsibilty we place on our sporting teams when we ask them to represent us on the world stage. Spectators simply cannot escape or ignore that responsibilty or, it sadly seems, it can lead to beatings.
I agree with BK Drinkwater; this is sickening.
Successful and respected musician Trent Reznor was recently and undeservedly booed off stage during an Auckland Nine Inch Nails concert in Auckland (and takes the blame) ; the crowd at Westpac Stadium united in jeering and booing the French team as they attempted a penalty kick to close the game within a point; and now I learn that a French back, Mathieu Bastareaud was physically assaulted in Wellington after the match. What is happening to us Aotearoa?
When I was growing up in New Zealand I remember being taught – from the media as much as my parents – that our country may be little, but was a global superpower when it came to morals and reputation. Clean and Green, Nuclear Free, and it seems we can now add to the list: bad sports.
I can somewhat understand the tension that must have been present during Saturday nights match, especially since France have now knocked us out of two World Cups, and had beaten us at Carisbrook the week before. But after the game was over, the All Blacks certain victors… physical assault? Really?
Commenting on the Bastareaud’s beating, the French rugby team “insists his bashing in Wellington won’t provoke any anti-New-Zealand sentiment”. As an isolated incident, perhaps not. But alongside the same team being pelted with beer bottles in Dunedin (which happens all too often at New Zealand sporting events) and other named occurrences, as well as numerous unnamed others, we are no doubt earning the reputation as bad sports overseas.
New Zealand as a social and sporting nation always had pride in the mana and stature with which we presented ourselves. This is the very thing which once made the All Blacks so ‘great’. It pains me to see us spoiling this.
If we wish for our sport teams to succeed, perhaps we need to take some responsibility ourselves. The fans are players on that field as well, and share the responsibilty we place on our sporting teams when we ask them to represent us on the world stage. Spectators simply cannot escape or ignore that responsibilty or, it sadly seems, it can lead to beatings.
I agree with BK Drinkwater; this is sickening.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
"It's Just a Game"
Square heads, oval balls, tiny shorts, missing teeth and vacant expressions. Such is the stereotype of rugby from those among us who scoff and yawn at our national sport.
The culture of rugby is so incredibly intense in Aotearoa (to the point of being called ‘New Zealand’s religion’) that a strong, unorganised counter-culture is only natural. I find this especially so in circles which place more emphasis on art and high-culture, and perhaps see rugby culture as insensitive, hyper-masculine and out of touch with our nations developing identity. But is this perspective perhaps no more than a knee-jerk reaction to the stranglehold rugby has over New Zealand?
I, for one, have been a soldier on both sides of the war. I grew up in a fairly standard household which placed importance on both sport and art, and therefore was a neutral fan of the All Blacks and (especially) the Wellington teams who I had passionate loyalty for. Yet, I have been put off the game in recent years due to consequently diminished quality from numerous rule changes. But also because of the resurgence of sport focused lad-culture, which seemed to me an archaic flashback to the traditional ‘masculinities’ of the mid twentieth century.
Tonight, I watched an All Black game for the first time in what seems an age, and I really, really enjoyed it. My return to the sport with fresh eyes and lack of expectations resulted in an experience allowing me to view rugby not as a culture, religion, or even sport; but as a game.
Ideas on culture are socially constructed. New friends are often exceedingly surprised when they learn of my interest and enjoyment of rugby, and even more-so when I discuss rugby with passion and opinion. But why should this be so? Why should we stereotype young rugby supporters as people who seemingly and actively stereotype themselves? It is after all a game involving a ball and an objective... and we all enjoy games.
Sometimes, I think high culture can go fuck itself.
The culture of rugby is so incredibly intense in Aotearoa (to the point of being called ‘New Zealand’s religion’) that a strong, unorganised counter-culture is only natural. I find this especially so in circles which place more emphasis on art and high-culture, and perhaps see rugby culture as insensitive, hyper-masculine and out of touch with our nations developing identity. But is this perspective perhaps no more than a knee-jerk reaction to the stranglehold rugby has over New Zealand?
I, for one, have been a soldier on both sides of the war. I grew up in a fairly standard household which placed importance on both sport and art, and therefore was a neutral fan of the All Blacks and (especially) the Wellington teams who I had passionate loyalty for. Yet, I have been put off the game in recent years due to consequently diminished quality from numerous rule changes. But also because of the resurgence of sport focused lad-culture, which seemed to me an archaic flashback to the traditional ‘masculinities’ of the mid twentieth century.
Tonight, I watched an All Black game for the first time in what seems an age, and I really, really enjoyed it. My return to the sport with fresh eyes and lack of expectations resulted in an experience allowing me to view rugby not as a culture, religion, or even sport; but as a game.
Ideas on culture are socially constructed. New friends are often exceedingly surprised when they learn of my interest and enjoyment of rugby, and even more-so when I discuss rugby with passion and opinion. But why should this be so? Why should we stereotype young rugby supporters as people who seemingly and actively stereotype themselves? It is after all a game involving a ball and an objective... and we all enjoy games.
Sometimes, I think high culture can go fuck itself.
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