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Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth - Source: ONE Sport -
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Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth insists his team's decision to forfeit its Louis Vuitton Pacific Series race against Team New Zealand is nothing personal and says Team New Zealand has over-reacted to their decision.
Alinghi decided to skip Saturday's highly anticipated race as there were no points up for grabs for beating Team New Zealand in round robin two - but a team can lose points if penalised.
Butterworth said his relationship with Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton had nothing to do with the teams decision.
He said he doesn't have a problem racing anyone - but he needs to put his team first.
Butterworth says the whole issue is a storm in a teacup.
He says the Kiwis can try to make a big deal of it but it
isn't
Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker believes Alinghi's decision was disgraceful and in response Butterworth has labelled Barker a 'sook'.
What do you think? Was Alinghi's decision justified and understandable or just another example of arrogance from the Swiss team?
Have your say on our message board below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commenttom scarff said on 2009-02-09 @ 17:18 NZDT: Report abusive post
Sad ! This is a Management failiure to allow ambiguous rules which allow this kind of thing. There is a place for "sportsmanship" and "good form" but not in the rule book of an event of this magnitude
gardener75 said on 2009-02-09 @ 11:17 NZDT: Report abusive post
Grant D. said he wanted "friendly games". Well Butterworth and Co gave him thier answer. The whole Alinghi outfit should be rename Alinghi WC. (They are as thick skinned as the well known brick WC.
lofty said on 2009-02-09 @ 10:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
Come on guys, this is a lot of fuss over a set of match rules completely canted in favour of Team New Zealand. Look at what happened in the real world - Team Origin sailed against Team NZ and lost half a point in the process for a dubious penalty - they then sail against them again and win... but get zero points. Why should Alinghi put themselves at risk in case the same happens to them? If you want a series where all teams are willing to sail against each other, then level the playing field.
kevinr43 said on 2009-02-08 @ 18:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
I thought the swiss Milionare could only buy the souls of the New zealanders in his camp, but i suppose to some money means everything and he ended up with the body as well, a bit like darth vader really they have been seduced by the dark side. So very very sad that some people can be bought. All countries should drop the challenge for the old Mug then what would it be worth. Live on the LV Series without Alinghi
mollymalawimalone said on 2009-02-08 @ 17:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
They probably know themselves how despised they are in their own country so are working in reverse to make sure it is fully justified. They know themselves they're about as low as they can go in the world of home loyalty and sportsmanship. What else is there?