Posts by Edward Siddle

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  • Field Theory: Ruth Aitken is the new…,

    Sports and music: You can play music during football. You wait till World Cup 2010 and the vuvuzelas, if you can describe that as 'music' (cue outrage from any South African readers).

    I also hate the constant fouls and timeouts towards the end of basketball. I watched most of the second part of Reunion while waiting for the bball to finish. Normally I'd have preferred to watch the live sport, but not much seemed to be happening except endless tactical chat.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Worst. Game. Ever.,

    Hmm. I can recall a few games of a similar nature.

    11-3 to the Boks at Athletic Park in 1998 (and maybe one or two of the other tests that year also).
    15-9 to England in 1993. Referee hated us that day too.
    Maybe first test v France 1994 - don't remember it well, except that it was terrible and we looked unfit and outclassed.
    WC Final 1995 - I guess at least we were in it because they weren't trying very much in the way of attack so the score was close.
    2nd Lions test 1993.
    In fact much of the Mains era was characterised by cluelessness until the players found the recipe themselves in the second half of the one-off Bledisloe in 94 (albeit in a lost match).
    The ABs playing without brains and poorly isn't that uncommon.

    My mate in England says exactly what you did Hayden, that we're cheating b'stards. It's a very common perception.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Frickin' LZRs,

    the perception among sports followers (not necessarily swimming followers) when record-holders emerge from nowhere and are replaced only months later by similarly 'unknown' swimmers - the suits have enabled this scenario.

    this is i don't get. if everyone is using the suits, how come it affects some people more than others? or is it just that phelps is out of his top form right now and the true greats will reclaim the records in due course.

    If somehow it does affect some more than others though, then I think that it does seem to be 'technological doping'. Because that's the issue with other types of doping, such as in a sport like cycling - not everyone responds the same to the same dose of a drug like EPO. See for example a guy like raimondas rumsas who came from nowhere to get on the podium at (i think) the 2002 TDF. Or - more controversially, and watch out for his lawyers jumping on this site for me saying this - Lance Armstrong, who could hardly finish a tour de france before cancer, but post cancer enters and suddenly wins.

    So are the suits making racehorses out of donkeys, and working more for some than others? If it is a level playing field then I can't see why they can't be allowed (apart from arguments about historical comparability which may be valid).

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Field Theory: So who ya got?,

    So what was the score - 28-19 or something (I was busy with Tour de France instead)? That means the All Blacks got 40% of the points compared to the prediction of 35% - that's not a bad prediction at all.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Black and White Stripes,

    That might have been a good option the day Jeff Wilson got tackled by George Gregan back in 1994 (in the first ever night test the All Blacks played, and on a weekday n'all!) when about to score. the buildup, and indeed the whole 2nd half, was 'worth it'.

    as for 1973, they seemed to let all sorts of things go back in those days. that game was riddled with uncalled knockons.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Black and White Stripes,

    back in the day, the barbarians games were often played as a final match of a tour by a team like the All Blacks. they were pretty serious affairs, and often were like another test match, with the teams selected often being virtually a Lions side. the 73 game where they beat the all blacks playing running rugby (in contrast to our dour style) is still talked about over there (i know, i have a mate who references it at least once a year). what the point is now, i'm less sure.

    jerry certainly wasn't wearing this year's st pat's town socks anyhow...perhaps they've changed over the years or they really are some other socks.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/college-sport/2441570/Traditional-strength-test

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Black and White Stripes,

    norths socks can be seen here:

    http://www.petonerugby.com/gallery.php?id=5359&imageset=Saturday%2C+4+April+2009

    can't find a pic of st pat's town socks but the colours match.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Speaker: ReEntry V: Finding my Feet,

    Daniel
    I enjoyed this piece and I appreciate precisely your hesitancy to get too decisive about how you feel. You say:

    "But to a returning Wellingtonian, these merits are filtered, unevenly and unpredictably, through a web of recollection and emotional response."

    I have this experience all the time. I was out riding my bike at lunchtime, and just riding past certain streets or parks still has this effect, five years after returning. And furthermore, after all this time, I still don't know whether it is the right thing that I'm here. I'm not sure if it is a common thing to take so long to really adjust back, or if actually the length of time it is taking just means it wasn't really the right move after all.....

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Field Theory: So what are you doing in 2011?,

    i quite like late kickoffs myself. fewer clashes with what my wife watches on tv, and my daughter probably in bed by then.

    on the other hand, I've never really liked night rugby as a spectacle, and it probably isn't that great for taking the game to young folk who do like it (unlike my little girl) so....perhaps they could consider a few 9am kickoffs (or even earlier)? presumably would work out ok for the european and the americas tv market (bit rough for the aussies and Asia but you can't win 'em all), you get to play in daylight, hopefully less problems with post match drunkenness. If it's good enough for the under 10s to play at that time of day....

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Cricket isn't Rock,

    test cricket would be more like jazz, or maybe prog rock, wouldn't it?

    20/20 like thrash metal or some types of punk.

    one dayers not sure.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 54 posts Report

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