Night Rugby

Over the weekend I heard quite a few sports broadcasters and some rugby officials expressing their disappointment at the Jade Stadium test match not having sold out yet. I won't be going and I don't think I'm the only one who isn't going for these reasons.

Firstly, it's just too damn cold. This is winter in the South Island of New Zealand, it gets very cold. As I type this it is 8.20pm, right about when the 2nd half would start, and it's 3C outside. Personally I can think of better and warmer places to be than Jade Stadium. And of course there is the chance of rain. I actually went to a test match back in 2002 that was played in pouring rain and near freezing conditions. It was not a pleasant experience.

Secondly there is the overexposure of rugby. So far this year I've seen 15 Crusaders games, many other Super 14 games, 2 tests against the Irish and I've watched the Juniors twice. That's a lot of rugby. Next up we have 3 tests against the Aussies and 3 against the South Africans. I just can't get excited about it anymore. It's been done. We've seen 2 matches against these teams a year for the past 10 years. Are we really crying out for more?

Come the 8th of July I'll be sitting at home in front of my heater watching the game on Sky. I won't have to queue to use the toilet, I'll be able to get a drink without paying through the nose or queuing. All around, I think it's a far better way to enjoy the game, and it won't cost me almost $100!

Blogged with Flock

Long time no post huh. Guess I really have had anything interesting to say lately. However, now I do. There's been an interesting email floating around about the Super 14 quotes of the year with players saying extremely dumb things. The only thing is, most of these quotes were said by someone else.


The Super 14 quotes of the year...........

"Nobody in Rugby should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like
Norman Einstein." - Jono Gibbs - Chiefs

Nope, actually said by Joe Theismann.

"I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes." - Rodney
So ialo - Hurricanes - on University

Said by an unnamed senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh.

"You guys line up alphabetically by height." and "You guys pair up in
groups of three, then line up in a circle." - Colin Cooper - Hurricanes
head coach

More like Florida State football coach Bill Peterson.

Chris Masoe (Hurricanes) on whether he had visited the Pyramids during
his visit to Egypt: "I can't really remember the names of the clubs that
we went to."

Said by Shaquille O'Neal on whether he had visited the Parthenon during his visit to Greece. And when did Chris Masoe go to Egypt???

"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what
time it is." - Colin Cooper on Paul Tito

Wrong! Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota.

Kevin Senio (Auckland), on Night Rugby vs Day Games "It's basically the
same just darker."

This one cracked me up. It was actually said by Alan Kulwicki, NASCAR racer, on racing Saturday nights as opposed to Sunday afternoons.

David Nucifora (Auckland) talking about Troy Flavell "I told him, 'Son,
what is it with you. Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'David, I
don't know and I don't care.'

Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player.

David Holwell (Hurricanes) when asked about the upcoming season: "I want
to reach for 150 or 200 points this season, whichever comes first."

Here's the first truely mangled quote. It was actually said by New Orleans Saint running back George Rogers, who actually said, "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."

"Andy Ellis - the 21 year old, who turned 22 a few weeks ago"(Murray
Mexted)

Again mangled. Here's the real quote: David Coleman: "And here's Moses Kiptanui, the 19-year-old Kenyan, who turned 20 a few weeks ago."

"Colin has done a bit of mental arithmetic with a calculator." (MaNonu)

Actually said by John Arlott, a cricket commentator, about Bill Frindal

"He scored that try after only 22 seconds - totally against the run of
play. (Murray Mexted)

I think Murray may actually have said this.

"We actually got the winning try three minutes from the end but then
they scored." (Phil Waugh Warratah)

Phil definately said this in reference to the Chiefs game.

"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body."
(Jerry Collins)

When did Jerry Collins have knee surgery? In any event, this was said by Winston Bennett

"That kick was absolutely unique, except for the one before it which was
identical." (Tony Brown)

Mangled quote from Murray Walker.

"I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father." (Tana
Umaga)

Greg Norman.

"Sure there have been injuries and deaths in rugby - but none of them
serious." (Doc Mayhew)

Alan Minter on boxing, not rugby. And isn't Doc Mayhew retired from almost all rugby these days? (He's still the doctor for North Harbour)

"If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing
again."(Anton Oliver)

Said by an unknown softball announcer.

"I would not say he (Rico Gear) is the best left winger in the Super 14,
but there are none better." (Murray Mexted)

Again, sounds like something Murray would say.

"I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a
lifetime for that prat." (Ewan McKenzie)

Completely reworded, but from New Orleans Saints G.M. Jim Finks who said, "I'm not allowed to comment on lousy officiating."

Murray Deaker: "Have you ever thought of writing your autobiography?"
Tana Umaga: "On what ?"

Huh?

"Well, either side could win it, or it could be a draw."(Murray
Mexted)

"Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air
for even longer."(Murray Mexted)

Both of these are par for the course for Murray. The second one I remember when Scott Hamilton appeared to have scored in the corner but replays showed the ball had bounced touch in goal.

So there you have it. I've seen these quotes everywhere on the net presented as fact, unfortunately you can't believe everything that pops into your email box.

Sources: Sporting Wisdom Olympic Humour