Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: Things we can learn from Americans

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  • Megan Wegan,

    So just remember that next time you're fawning over the pretty boys and girls, they will always come back to hurt you.

    Words to live by.

    I could be looking at this through rose-tinted lenses, but the NBA seems relatively free from the kind of steroid/assaulty bad behaviour you're talking about. I can't think of any major scandals of the past couple of years, at least.

    The referees are a very different story indeed.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder,

    The thing about steroids and basketball is, the NBA isn't actually trying that hard to find them. It's an old problem: they don't want the reputation for drugs cheating, but they quite like the audience numbers that these hyped up athletes bring. Solution: introduce a half-assed drug testing regime, then claim you're doing something about the problem. You'll note the argument that hey, drugs aren't a problem for basketball because:
    a) it's a skill game! Just skill - muscle has nothing to do with it.
    b) it's clearly not a problem because if lots of people were taking drugs, we'd be catching them. We're not catching them, therefore there cannot be a drug problem.

    Trust me, speaking as someone who was cheering Floyd Landis on in '06, I know athletes can let you down. I'm currently just praying that Mark Cavendish doesn't turn out to be un chaudiere.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    NBA basketballers and their treatment of women doesn't have a particularly good reputation. And there was that brawl a couple of years ago between some players and fans.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    They hurt animals.

    And the sadistic rat bastard was immediately rehired! (Although yes, I think people should serve their time and get another chance and yadda, this issue is particularly galling to me, because of my deep and abiding love for our canine friends.)

    NBA basketballers and their treatment of women doesn't have a particularly good reputation.

    I have always (cruelly and unfairly, I admit) mocked Kobe for buying his fiancee's engagement ring from Sears. And that's the least of his issues, obvs.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    NBA basketballers and their treatment of women doesn't have a particularly good reputation.

    True, although that argument can be made for every (professional) sport ever, I think.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Donald Reid,

    A kinda funny parody of US sports and sport shows:

    http://www.theonion.com/content/video/nhl_tries_to_woo_fans_by

    Dunedin, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 17 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Look no further than the Pulitzer-winning Seattle Times expose on the University of Washington football team and their antics, genially covered by highly-sympathetic public officials.

    I have to say, for all the shit that gets bandied about around both our police and our top-level sporting figures, we just don't seem to have the misbehaviour and covering-up that goes on in the US. The notion of serious assaults being brushed under the carpet on the strength of a phonecall from a team coach is pretty much unthinkable to most Kiwis, I hope. Hell, look at the strife that followed the Kelston/Grammar brawl, and that was just high school students!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    True, although that argument can be made for every (professional) sport ever, I think.

    I was going to post: "It's always seemed (relatively) worse to me with basketballers, though I base this on nothing other than impressions of what I've seen in the media."

    And then thoughts of representation and impressions of race got into my head and made me pause.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    Two words which are the exception to the rule[s]: Hines Ward.
    Sure he pulled off an amazing block last season which is now illegal, but he's amazing.

    Oh and Drew Brees.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    I was going to post: "It's always seemed (relatively) worse to me with basketballers, though I base this on nothing other than impressions of what I've seen in the media."

    For every Dennis Rodman there's a Michael Jordan.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    And there was that brawl a couple of years ago between some players and fans.

    You're thinking of Ron Artest.

    He's 100% genuine free-range funny farm.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    The referees are a very different story indeed.

    The scorekeepers aren't that crash hot either.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Ron Artest.

    Truwarier!

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    A massive advantage that American leagues have over other sports is they don’t need to slot in those pesky international fixtures.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder,

    Anyone else see this part of the allegations made by the crooked basketball ref against the NBA? Basically, he's alleging that under some circumstances, the NBA themself had a quiet word to the referees and pointed out how certain results would work out nicely for everyone. If true, that's insanely damaging; if the corruption's that insitutionalised then it's hard to see how you could regard any results as legitimate.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    For every Dennis Rodman there's a Michael Jordan.

    It's weird that I think that Rodman would be the lesser jerk of those two.

    Basketballers tend to be the ones using internet video services for what they think are good ideas.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    If true, that's insanely damaging; if the corruption's that insitutionalised then it's hard to see how you could regard any results as legitimate.

    Well, yeah, but...couldn't that just be trying to play into the conspiracy theory that the NBA does everything it can to make the Lakers win? It turns out that's not quite true, even if refs do have some inherent (if unintentional) biases.

    And the league does have some great refs.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Rachel Prosser,

    Given that point 3 of "Things we can learn from Americans" is that All sportspeople are jerks, I thought I'd share a non-jerk story.

    The cafe nearest my house (I work from home, and sometimes from the cafe) is opposite Rugby Park.

    Canterbury's coaches, staff, and team members are sometimes in there, and a more courteous, pleasant lot would be hard to find.

    Rob Penny and Tabai Matson brought the Ranfurly Shield in the other day and showed it off and took photos for people of it, and I've seen them clear their own cups from tables (most people leave them there) to make things easier for the waitstaff.

    On a contrary note - Graham Henry's decision to keep Wyatt Crockett, Colin Slade and Tom Donnelly watching in the stands is seriously fan-unfriendly. Why can't they be playing Ranfurly Sheild rugby?

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Yes, in my experience, the Canterbury Rugby Union is incredibly accessible - especially with the Shield. There's a photo of teenage me holding it, and it stayed overnight in my house.

    But then, I suppose when you hold it for such long lengths of time, you get a bit complacent with it...

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    On a contrary note - Graham Henry's decision to keep Wyatt Crockett, Colin Slade and Tom Donnelly watching in the stands is seriously fan-unfriendly. Why can't they be playing Ranfurly Sheild rugby?

    Aye. While I'm glad we avoided the war that the English Rugby Union has to go through to get its players off clubs, I'd like us to avoid provinces not having players because they're needed to warm seats in the All Black stands. The guys aren't in the team, or the reserves, send them to Christchurch to play in the game. If you get a late injury, you can always get them back.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    On a contrary note - Graham Henry's decision to keep Wyatt Crockett, Colin Slade and Tom Donnelly watching in the stands is seriously fan-unfriendly. Why can't they be playing Ranfurly Sheild rugby?

    The guys aren't in the team, or the reserves, send them to Christchurch to play in the game. If you get a late injury, you can always get them back.

    And then, if they get injured AND someone above them in the ABs [don't forget there's no lock cover at the moment], the entire point of bringing them in as injury cover and teaching them the plays etc is negated. I don't like the idea - it's cost Wgtn Hosea Gear and Tamati Ellison [and Otago Adam Thomson and Auckland Isaia Toeava], but it doesn't mean it's not the right idea. IMO.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    Sorry, I meant Tanerau Latimer is out for BoP [or Waikato? I can't remember who he's with], not Thomson.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Are the likes of Gear, Ellison etc physically in Sydney? If so, I can understand, although not necessarily agree with, it.

    If not, it’s 2007 Gone Mad.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And then, if they get injured AND someone above them in the ABs [don't forget there's no lock cover at the moment], the entire point of bringing them in as injury cover and teaching them the plays etc is negated.

    There has to be a balance. I don't have a problem with them being brought in to train with the All Blacks and having a wider squad than 22. They're not going to play this, so surely they should fall back into the same policy as "we release some all blacks depending on their workload to provinces when we have a couple of weeks of no All Black games".

    Fear about them being injured Naly would mean that Carter and McCaw shouldn't have played in the recent Shield victory against Wellington.

    At some stage the All Blacks have to name a team of 22, and bar bracketing or concerns that players should have a week or two off after a hectic schedule, if the All Blacks aren't going to play them, surely the provinces have the right to them.

    Are the likes of Gear, Ellison etc physically in Sydney? If so, I can understand, although not necessarily agree with, it.

    Hamilton.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

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