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Springbok Five-eighth Morne Steyn - Source: Photosport
Valerie finally has her gold - Source: Close Up
Richie McCaw with trophy - Source: Photosport
Short memory? Take a look back at the week that was with
Sport in a Teacup.
Monday 17th September
A battle of professional opinions was
brewing
after the All Blacks v Springboks Test match
in the indoor Forsyth Barr Stadium realised seven missed kicks for
the visiting side. The statistics tell a story of the strange
effect of the air turbulence with the kicking average in all
competitions not exceeding a measly 65%.
Speaking for the universally recognised pursuit of science, Brian Wilkins who dedicates whole books to atmospheric conditions, explained "in rugby, most kickers don't strike the ball dead centre and their boot doesn't come through straight in line with the target; they come around the ball slightly."
He continued articulately, "only those who kick straight through to send the ball tumbling straight, under and over, around a horizontal axis, will succeed - in low turbulence air."
Speaking for the diplomatically challenged, stadium CEO David Davies put that theory to bed emphatically by stating, "My view is there was nothing atmospherically [to blame]. The reality is that, at times, people kick badly and are looking for any excuse."
Tuesday 18th September
Former Springbok crazy
Peter de Villiers is at it
again,
criticising the current regime for playing too
many white players. Ringing off names of coloured players who would
make a difference, the constantly lost in translation de Villiers
summed up by saying, we're turning all the black support against
the Springboks. Wherever I go I hear people talking negative about
the Springboks."
Pete, I feel your pain. The All Blacks once had 14 Cantabrians in the starting fifteen and a coach like you.
Wednesday 19th September
The good news is, the FIFA campaign against racism in football has worked with marked improvements in the atmosphere at grounds.
Using the now household slogan say no to racism at all big football games, it has been reported that it is now not the main source of concern.
The bad news is studies suggest that homophobia is now the sports biggest form of discrimination. Working on a suitable slogan is the first major hurdle for FIFA.
Thursday 20th September
Rugby League was once again in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week. After their elimination from the Toyota Cup, the Junior Warriors were up to no good as Warriors CEO explained, "there were complaints of noise from guests in three rooms in the hotel.
It was revealed that alcohol was a factor in the noise much like the noise Nate Myles made in the Terrigal hotel hallway and the noise Brad Fittler flashed at his Townsville Holiday Inn neighbours all those moons ago.
Friday 21st September
Our golden girl Valerie Adams finally got her time in the sun with her own personal medal presentation at The Cloud in Auckland. After the drama of chasing the tarnished shot-put medal down through the former Soviet Union and the myriad of excuses from the disgraced O-Chook, Adams always remained graceful, endearing herself to the Belarusian people saying , who knows where the medal has been. It has been in Belarus, who knows, but all I know is that the IOC has buffed it and cleaned it."
Saturday 22nd September
Got a problem with someone? Twitter them. The idea is to cram as
much slander and insult as you can in fewer than 140 characters
with little or no consequences. Used predominantly by the celebrity
in all of us, sportspeople like Tottenhams American goalkeeper
Brad Friedel shot back at former French
keeper Fabian Barthez
opinion on his fellow countryman
Hugo Lloris that, "he is faster than Friedel, he jumps higher.
Incensed, Friedel tweeted angrily, "I normally don't comment on such crap but when disrespected by someone I don't respect I must. Barthez was ignorant, disrespectful and out of order to mention my name."
Friedel however exposed himself as an amateur tweeter, constructing a grammatically perfect sentence.
Sunday 23rd September
Sadly, the rumours are true, All Black captain
Richie McCaw is going to take six months off
rugby
. It gets worse; hes taking them in a row.
Designed to keep the legends body in one piece for a possible tilt
at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, McCaw exercised a clause in his
contract to take a much needed sabbatical.
Word is Richie will be back in time for the Super XV playoffs which is a bit presumptuous from the Crusaders.