Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: American Gods

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  • Hadyn Green,

    And as an addendum to my last post...

    FA Cup LIVE and in HD on SKY Sport 2 from 1am (kick-off at 2am) Sunday morning!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    We're a pretty irreligious lot generally. I tend to approve of the failure to make gods from humans, but it does mean we don't get any gods.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Also I can't help but feel that hockey would get a lot more viewers if it didn't schedule its playoffs at the same time as the more popular NBA.

    Given that ice hockey used to be played on frozen ponds, which only occur during winter, I'm going to go with "we were here first".

    Also, both sports have playoffs that go on for over 2 months. It would be difficult to have them not clash and still call them both winter sports.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    not a sport mind you, simply a way to pass the time

    like cricket then...

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Patrick,

    I can only think of two who are still revered in some way: Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Blake. Both are dead and both did work overseas.

    Bring back Buck?

    (on a completely "unrelated to sports" note, some wag had a "Bring Back Buck" banner outside the Christchurch City Council offices protesting something Sideshow Bob had been doing)

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report Reply

  • noizyboy,

    Peter Snell?

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    I can only think of two who are still revered in some way: Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Blake. Both are dead and both did work overseas.

    Sir Richard Hadlee
    Sir Colin Meads
    Don Clarke
    Grant Fox
    Zinzan Brooke

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    Peter Snell?

    John Walker
    Jack Lovelock
    Ian Fergusson

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Patrick,

    Murray Halberg?
    Winston Whineray?

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Winston Whineray?

    Wilson.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    I think Hayden's right,

    A nation turned its lonely eyes to him.

    Those listed above aren't so much pop culture icons as legendary athletes. With the exception of Buck (almost). They certainly don't feature in the lyrics of many songs of note.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Patrick,

    Winston Whineray?
    Wilson.

    Crap - teach me to type when I'm not concentrating

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    They certainly don't feature in the lyrics of many songs of note.

    Hasn't Marcus Turner posted here from time to time? You haven't lived until you've heard The Ballad of Fergie McCormick.

    Lyrics from Marcus' site here.

    The Ballad of Fergie McCormick.
    Lyrics and Music © Marcus Turner

    Now, Fergie McCormick was walking one day,
    When he noticed a building on fire.
    The screams of a woman could plainly be heard
    Through the flames, as they soared ever higher.
    The trembling lady was clutching a baby.
    The building was ten stories high.
    It could plainly be seen that both she and the child
    Were most certainly doomed for to die.
    Now, the firemen were there, with their ropes and their ladders
    And holding a big trampoline.
    Though they tried to enourage the lady to jump,
    She was, patently, not very keen
    For, the babe was too small to survive such a fall.
    And so, she refused to let go.
    What could they do? They were right in the stew
    As they helplessly gazed from below.
    The up stepped the hero. “'Tis Fergie McCormick,” he cried. “Throw your baby to me!”
    “Fear not: I will catch it! From death, I shall snatch it,
    And save in my arms it will be.”
    Now, the big fullback's arms and his masculine charms
    Allayed all the young mother's fears.
    She cried “Bless you Fergie!”.
    Then tossed her child over the edge, as her eyes filled with tears.
    Now, the rest of this story will long be remembered
    In legend throughout all the land.
    For there, on the ground, as the crowd gathered round
    The wee babe landed safe in his hands!
    “He's rescued the child!” said the crowd, going wild.
    The excitement was plainly too much.
    As they all stared in wonder, with a swift up-and-under
    He kicked forty metres for touch.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    They certainly don't feature in the lyrics of many songs of note.

    And let's not forget the Reuben Thorne song.

    I shan't post the lyrics.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    not a sport mind you, simply a way to pass the time

    like cricket then...

    Oi! You take that back, sir! Cricket is not a waste of time. The life that goes on in between cricket matches, now that's a waste of time.

    In fact, I'd go futher and say that the purpose of most sports - like religion - is to make you forget that some day you will die. Not cricket. Cricket does the opposite.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I can only think of two who are still revered in some way: Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Blake.

    He's right - the others are just old guys who used to play sport, and few under 30 will ever have heard of them

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Oi! You take that back, sir! Cricket is not a waste of time. The life that goes on in between cricket matches, now that's a waste of time.

    Ain't that the truth.

    I shan't post the lyrics.

    Why ever not?

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    ..,the purpose of most sports - like religion - is to make you forget that some day you will die. Not cricket. Cricket does the opposite

    indeed, cricket makes me think abouth death too

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    I can only think of two who are still revered in some way: Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Blake.
    He's right - the others are just old guys who used to play sport, and few under 30 will ever have heard of them

    Jack Lovelock and Buck Shelford might be contenders. But the others... Hadlee and Meads especially have almost gone out of their way to un-deify themselves.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I lived in the US for 20 years and largely avoided sports - but my boss had season tickets for the then new SF baseball park - I took my 9yr old son, not a baseball fan either - to watch - he was supremely bored, luckily there's a lot more going on in the stands to keep people's attention.

    Turns out watching professional baseball is very much a thinking game - lots of thinking about positioning, strategy, etc etc - not much happens for long periods until bam! bases are loaded and a home run - no fun for a 9yr old and if you're not paying close attention all the time you'll miss the important 20 seconds of the game

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    But the others... Hadlee and Meads especially have almost gone out of their way to un-deify themselves.

    Oh c'mon. What self-respecting living legend doesn't hawk natural remedies and insurance in their spare time?

    (actually when you list those two things together... does he not have faith in the former?)

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I lived in the US for 20 years and largely avoided sports - but my boss had season tickets for the then new SF baseball park - I took my 9yr old son, not a baseball fan either - to watch - he was supremely bored, luckily there's a lot more going on in the stands to keep people's attention.

    That was my experience too - Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox, 2006.

    Watching the drunken fans abuse each other and get tossed out, followed by the 7th innings stretch cultural experience was way more interesting than whatever was going on on the field.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    You haven't lived until you've heard The Ballad of Fergie McCormick.
    Lyrics from Marcus' site here.
    The Ballad of Fergie McCormick

    I may be mistaken, but I don't think those lyrics are from here. For one thing I've heard the The Whiffenpoofs introduce one of their football songs with with that poem - about a player from their school's legendary football team (only with an Irish name, rather than a Scottish one)

    The song went on to the describe his subsequent glory crushing their arch rivals, the Harvard team. Besides, where would NZ have had a 10 story apartment building?

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    I've heard the The Whiffenpoofs introduce one of their football songs with with that poem - about a player from their school's legendary football team

    Actually, on reflection, the poem was about a dim-witted player from their arch-rival's team, because I remember The Whiffenpoof saying something rather unkind about that "esteemed old correctional facility and technical school, Harvard", and they namechecked their famous alumnus, the Unibomber.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    where would NZ have had a 10 story apartment building?

    Levin was a megalopolis before the Taupo eruption.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

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