by ERNEST THE SHEEP (Nov. 29, 2004)
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/nz.general/UDaEm3xGYws/XW-AjKEFGswJ;context-place=msg/nz.general/A7_ZIouz0vI/qp6DNYwGQMwJ
With the calamitous goings-on in the Asia region, it has again been left to the intellectual heavy weights at the NZ herald to put a bit of perspective on events, least the less well educated among us might have lost theirs. Truly inspiring and thought provoking stuff for these troubled times.
Good on ya I say to the NZ Herald editorial team.
Editorial: Let's have consistency in our sport
29.12.04
Consistency is that most elusive of commodities in sport. Relatively few are
the Manchester Uniteds and New York Yankees - teams that function as
high-performance dynasties rather than witness their fortunes ebbing and
flowing with the coming and going of influential players. For New Zealand,
with its small population and limited resources, regular appearances on the
winner's podium are especially difficult to achieve. Yet by any standards,
2004 was a year of remarkable inconsistency for its flagbearers.
The All Blacks are the closest we have to a sporting dynasty. Over the
years, they have fashioned an impressive winning record, even if the advent
of professionalism has made maintaining that edge more difficult. This year,
a new coaching trio began in emphatic style, beating world champions England
with ease. But the team then stumbled to two away defeats in the
Tri-Nations, hobbled by the failure of new backline tactics. The year,
however, ended on a high note as the All Blacks, harnessed by the now wiser
coaches, produced a 45-6 victory over France in Paris.
years, they have fashioned an impressive winning record, even if the advent
of professionalism has made maintaining that edge more difficult. This year,
a new coaching trio began in emphatic style, beating world champions England
with ease. But the team then stumbled to two away defeats in the
Tri-Nations, hobbled by the failure of new backline tactics. The year,
however, ended on a high note as the All Blacks, harnessed by the now wiser
coaches, produced a 45-6 victory over France in Paris.
New Zealand's cricketers were guilty of the same, often maddening,
inconsistency. There have been few more authoritative and scintillating test
wins than that recorded over South Africa at Eden Park. Yet the same team,
hyped beyond its ability, went on to be soundly beaten in England and
humiliated in Australia. Only the one-day flag continued to flutter proudly.
The Black Caps beat South Africa and Pakistan easily at home, won a
three-way series with England and the West Indies, and matched Australia in
the Chappell-Hadlee series. But that could not mask the failings in the test
arena, a situation compounded by the limited talent emerging from domestic
competition.
inconsistency. There have been few more authoritative and scintillating test
wins than that recorded over South Africa at Eden Park. Yet the same team,
hyped beyond its ability, went on to be soundly beaten in England and
humiliated in Australia. Only the one-day flag continued to flutter proudly.
The Black Caps beat South Africa and Pakistan easily at home, won a
three-way series with England and the West Indies, and matched Australia in
the Chappell-Hadlee series. But that could not mask the failings in the test
arena, a situation compounded by the limited talent emerging from domestic
competition.
Some sports could not even boast the occasional success of a season of
inconsistency. In rugby league, the Warriors never recovered from management
boo-boos that led to the departure of a player of the calibre of Ali Lauiti'iti,
as well as coach Daniel Anderson. Shrewd recruiting held out the prospect of
better fortune in 2005. Unfortunately for Anderson, the disintegration of
his relationship with key players flowed through to the national team. The
Kiwis' unsatisfactory performance put his coaching tenure under a cloud. But
league's misfortunes were nothing compared to those of soccer and tennis,
both of which were among the world elite 20 years ago. The defeat by
Vanuatu, who knocked the All Whites out of the Confederations Cup and the
World Cup play-offs, and a Davis Cup loss in Pakistan plumbed new depths.
inconsistency. In rugby league, the Warriors never recovered from management
boo-boos that led to the departure of a player of the calibre of Ali Lauiti'iti,
as well as coach Daniel Anderson. Shrewd recruiting held out the prospect of
better fortune in 2005. Unfortunately for Anderson, the disintegration of
his relationship with key players flowed through to the national team. The
Kiwis' unsatisfactory performance put his coaching tenure under a cloud. But
league's misfortunes were nothing compared to those of soccer and tennis,
both of which were among the world elite 20 years ago. The defeat by
Vanuatu, who knocked the All Whites out of the Confederations Cup and the
World Cup play-offs, and a Davis Cup loss in Pakistan plumbed new depths.
Inconsistency was again the rule of thumb at the year's major highlight, the
Athens Olympics. It produced the best spectacle, that of triathletes Hamish
Carter and Bevan Docherty winning gold and silver, as well as superb
victories for cyclist Sarah Ulmer and rowing's Evers-Swindell twins. Yet
there were no medals from the yachting and equestrian squads, a
disappointing outcome given those sports' record of success.
Athens Olympics. It produced the best spectacle, that of triathletes Hamish
Carter and Bevan Docherty winning gold and silver, as well as superb
victories for cyclist Sarah Ulmer and rowing's Evers-Swindell twins. Yet
there were no medals from the yachting and equestrian squads, a
disappointing outcome given those sports' record of success.
The biggest stories from the Olympics and their aftermath, however,
concerned drugs cheating. Victor Conte, the founder of the Bay Area
Laboratory Co-operative, labelled the Games "a fraud", and alleged that
doping was rampant among top American athletes. The sensational absence from
Athens of Greek stars Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, who were later
charged with faking a motorcycle accident to avoid drug testers, hardly
diluted his claims. In the ongoing battle between anti-doping agencies and
drug users, times finally appear to be getting tougher for the cheats.
concerned drugs cheating. Victor Conte, the founder of the Bay Area
Laboratory Co-operative, labelled the Games "a fraud", and alleged that
doping was rampant among top American athletes. The sensational absence from
Athens of Greek stars Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, who were later
charged with faking a motorcycle accident to avoid drug testers, hardly
diluted his claims. In the ongoing battle between anti-doping agencies and
drug users, times finally appear to be getting tougher for the cheats.
The year after the Olympics is usually one for gathering breath, for
international events to be relatively low-key. But that will not be the case
in New Zealand. It hosts one of the major events, the tour by the British
Lions. The three tests represent the ultimate test for the All Blacks.
Consistent performances are a must. As they will be for other sports hoping
to make a bigger impact in 2005.
international events to be relatively low-key. But that will not be the case
in New Zealand. It hosts one of the major events, the tour by the British
Lions. The three tests represent the ultimate test for the All Blacks.
Consistent performances are a must. As they will be for other sports hoping
to make a bigger impact in 2005.
No comments:
Post a Comment