Worthy Champions
February 5th, 2010 at 9:00 am by David FarrarThe Herald reports:
The women were the big winners at last night’s Halberg Awards, with champion shot-putter Valerie Vili taking home the annual supreme title and retired rowing champs Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell being named Sports Champions of the Decade.
The golden girls – now Georgina Earl and Caroline Meyer – enjoyed a golden night when they headed off other Halberg Award winners from 2000-09, including Vili.
I think it is going to be a very long time before people stop thinking of Mrs Earl and Mrs Meyer as the Evers-Swindells!
So the Halberg decade winners have been:
- 1900s – 1905 All Blacks
- 1910s – Anthony Wilding (tennis)
- 1920s – George Nepia (if you have to ask which sport, you are in the wrong country)
- 1930s – Jack Lovelock
- 1940s – Bert Sutcliffe (cricket)
- 1950s – Yvette Williams (athletics)
- 1960s – Peter Snell (who also won the century award)
- 1970s – John Walker
- 1980s – Sir Richard Hadlee
- 1990s – Danyon Loader (swimming)
- 2000s – Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell
February 5th, 2010 at 9:04 am
the ape that throws a rock won again?? cause when you see her, you think “elite athlete”
[DPF: 30 demerits for that.]
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 9:16 am
That’s an arsehole thing to say dime.
Vili might be unlucky with decade awards as her results may span two.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 9:27 am
What the fuck? are you serious Dime?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 9:34 am
dam right im serious!
no rock thrower should win an award like this.
scott dixon is a tad more talented and deserving. mccaw dominates world rugby. rock thrower dominates a few bigguns from eastern europe.
and what the hell is a demerit?!
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Sure have a go at the sport, but to call her an ape? Scott Dixon is talented no argument but they always favour olympians. Who is Richie McCaw and what is rugby?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Who is Richie McCaw and what is rugby?
*okay boys take him down*
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 9:51 am
I follow Scott Dixon, and think he has done very well, but it is not just him on the day, it’s his driving plus the vehicle technology available to him, plus the crew – many races are won or lost on pit stops. Dixon is also competing in just one championship in just one country.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Id suggest more athletes participate in field events at athletic meets globally than some obscure egg shaped ball sport, and I’d imagine thats got something to do with McCaw being passed over, that and the fact they didnt win the tri nations and couldnt beat south africa
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:02 am
whats wrong with calling her an ape? i called carl hayman a gorilla and no one cared?
im sorry, but a sport that requires you to throw something and is over in 5 seconds should not take out any elite awards. im sure theres skill. im sure it takes a good few weeks to learn how to do it. then maybe a video analysis, change your technique slightly. but seriously. only a tin pot country would give their supreme award to this sport. 3 years in a row no less!
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Dime
You deserve way more than 30 demerits for that comment.
While I tend to agree that Kiwis make far more of Vili’s efforts than they are worth she is still a world and Olympic champion.
As for the athlete of the decade, the Twins were always going to win that award, IMHO Vili comes in third on that list behind the Twins and Sarah Ulmer.
As for McCaw (McCheat), you must be joking, Rugby is a minor world game and McCheat is the most over rated player I have ever seen, Kwis forget that for the best part of the last decade McCheat was outplayed by George Smith almost every time the came up against each other.
And Dixon…..stop taking the piss, anybody who sits on their arse and steers a car is NOT an athlete.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:07 am
“only a tin pot country would give their supreme award to this sport. 3 years in a row no less!”
Yet you call for McCheat to be awarded in a sport that the rest of the world does not care about.
At least be consistent.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Dime you make it sound like you could be up for a Halberg next year.
Vote:And who’s Carl Hayward? we are talking about international sport arent we?
February 5th, 2010 at 10:14 am
The twins-formerly-known-as-Evers-Swindell are worthy champions, as you say. It wasn’t the consistent wins but the comeback is what seals it, IMNSHO.
And there actually is a lot of skill involved in the field events, otherwise any big muscular person could win.
Oh, and not everyone likes rowing, even if we as a country are better than most despite our size. I once had the sister of the twins-formerly-known-as-Evers-Swindell in one of my classes. She often wore a t-shirt that said “Rowing sucks!”.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:16 am
“outplayed by George Smith almost every time the came up against each other.”
yeah right – must be why pocock replaced smith in the last starting against ireland
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Yvette Williams also represented New Zealand in basketball, but it’s right that you note it was athletics – it wasn’t just the long jump, but also the discuss, shotput and javelin.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:23 am
well thats that sorted Dime knows fuck all of nothing about sport
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:25 am
The awards (like most sports awards) are a bit inconsistent.
If the rock thrower won the Supreme awards three times this decade, and the twins only once. where is the logic in the twins getting the decade award? Shouldn’t the rock thrower get it, seeing she has been judged supreme by the same body 3 times this decade, or is the awards body simply doubting its decision, that it made, 3 times.
Load of rot.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Patrick
Clearly you know fuck all about the game, try opening your eyes every once in a while.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:32 am
on the contrary Bruv,
Vote:for someone who clearly despises rugby you seem to have a lot of opinion on it ?
February 5th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Patrick
I am a fan of most sports and as such I can look at these things objectively.
When I sit down to watch the All Blacks (aka the Pacific Island selection) I want to see a good game of footy, the result is not important. A classic example of this was the 1999 RWC loss to France, most Kiwis missed a fantastic game of rugby simply because the NZ team lost.
We also fool ourselves into believing that the NZ rugby team is “world famous” when that is clearly not the case, this is perhaps the best example of our insecurity complex, a mature nation would not be worried if the rest of the world did not care about rugby, we would simply say “we love the game” and leave it at that.
Have a look at the biggest game in Australia which is Aussie Rules, the ockers are well aware that the rest of the world thinks it is a funny game but in true Aussie fashion they do not give a stuff, they are mature, they do not have an identity crisis, how I wish Kiwis were the same.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:40 am
patrick – pay a visit to pandasport, you can read thousands of anti-rugby and anti-mccaw posts from bruv. its how he rolls.
i love how people consider rock throwing this huge world sport. what a crock. athletics is. isolate the actual sport and not many people outside of the eastern European countries give a shit.
for the record, i dont like motor sport, hate golf and watch rugby. i think campbell should have won the decade award.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Dime
Not anti rugby, just anti cheating.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Campbell who?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Dime its an Olympic sport, these silly awards have always been biased towards olympic sports. And for the record I think on global participation and degree of difficulty Michael Campbell should be athlete of the decade, and at the other end of the scale the All blacks would be least deserving
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:18 am
“It wasn’t the consistent wins but the comeback is what seals it,”
So we should be giving out awards like this based on sentiment then?
And if you’re looking for a minority sport globally, it’s hard to go past rowing.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:22 am
“these silly awards have always been biased towards olympic sports.” very true. also very wrong.
ill bet money when the rugby sevens is introduced to the Olympics, they will lose out to a rowing team
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:24 am
“ill bet money when the rugby sevens is introduced to the Olympics, they will lose out to a rowing team”
And so they bloody well should, try and get your mind around this Dime, Rugby is NOT a global game.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Im not so sure about that Bigbruv, they love anything thats Olympic the Halberg judges
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:28 am
By the time sevens makes the Olympics other countries will have put heaps of $$$ into it, so NZ won’t win gold anyway.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Mikey
“hey love anything thats Olympic the Halberg judges”
Quite rightly so.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Bruv – come to terms with this – YOU LIVE IN NEW ZEALAND.
Besides, rowing isnt exactly a massive sport worldwide. its more of a past time
You sound like kiwiman, obsessed with what is and isnt a world sport.
for the record – i rate rowing far higher than rock throwing.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Dime
Come to terms with the fact that NOBODY cares about rugby outside of NZ.
I know where I live, I enjoy Rugby but unlike you I do not delude myself into believing that the game is bigger globally than it actually is.
The Rowing v Rugby debate is interesting, and for arguments sake lets agree that they are both minor sports, there is one difference between our Rowers and our Rugby players.
Our Rowers do not choke when the pressure comes on.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Dime its the shotput and its a legitmate sport with and Im only guessing here similar participation as rowing globally, rowing isnt that popular beleive it or not. The Olympics are on the slide anyway
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
bruv – NOBODY outside of NZ cares about rugby???
so why does newscorp pay hundreds of millions for the tv rights? who are all those people at the grounds in the UK? why do argentina want in to the tri nations? how did rugby get into the olympics? how to adidas sell more AB jerseys in europe than they do NZ?
sure, rugby isnt in the top 5 sports in the world, but it is global.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
What qualifies a sport as global?
According to IRB figures, rugby union is played in over 100 countries spanning six continents by men and women of all ages.
Rugby union has established itself as a popular sport for both spectators and participants, particularly in Australia, Argentina, Cook Islands, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, New Zealand, Niue, Namibia, Romania, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, and Wales.
Other places with lasting traditions in rugby, as a minority sport in most cases, include Andorra, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Moldova, Morocco, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
mikey – synchronised swimming and handball are also legitimate Olympics sports. hell, is darts in the games yet?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I agree Bigbruv I dont think we have a more precious ,over paid bunch as the All Blacks, I always cringe the way we as a nation carry on at supposed injustices by referees, officials the french and even a waitress named suzy
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:40 am
My new (old) house was built by Jimmy Hunter, who played 2nd Five on the 1905 tour and scored 44 tries in 24 games.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:41 am
FFS dime; handball is one of the biggest sports around.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:43 am
leg break – yea i enjoy watching the hand ball league on sky all the time. huge game. youre sounding like durmast or whatever the hell he calls himself there.
and just for the record – i was right about shane watson
anyway, meeting all afternoon. see ya people
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:45 am
What about Shane Watson? That he’s a totally contemptible twat?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Handball is a huge sport dime you donkey again I have to say you know fuck all about sport
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Pete
According to the example you use then Aussie Rules is also a global game.
It is played in the following countries , ARFL Ireland, AFL Canada, Danish Australian Football League, AFL Britain, AFL Japan, Nauru Australian Football Association, New Zealand AFL, USAFL, AFL South Africa, AFL PNG, AFL Samoa, Tonga Australian Football Association, AFL Germany and AFL Middle East.
Just because the game is played by a few expats in some far flung country it does not make the game global.
Look, there is nothing wrong with being a Rugby fan, I am one myself, but I do not delude myself into believing that the game is popular outside of NZ and Wales.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Dime
Stay in that meeting all weekend, it will be a lot less embarrassing for you.
Handball is huge in Europe.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:51 am
dime (1787) Says:
February 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
mikey – synchronised swimming and handball are also legitimate Olympics sports. hell, is darts in the games yet?
As are ballroom dancing and chess from memory.
NZ produces at least ten rugby players of quality every ten years that are far ahead of any other sportspeople.
That the joke bunch of netball watchers and single interest tossers who select this award continue to ignore them puts this award into perspective.
It’s not worth shit.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I think the decade award went to the right people. These two top atheletes won two gold medals and countless international titles. Rowing is one fo the most phsyically challenging sports out there, and these ladies footed it with the best in the world and ate them for breakfast.
If the All Blacks win the World Cup next year I am sure they will get the big award.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Tinman that was kinda my point, despite my opinion on rugby I think the Awards are biassed towards the olympics. But in saying that if we produce these ten rugby players every ten years why cant they win the sports top prize?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
AFL 14 countries (compared to RU 100). And how many players?
Rugby pulls crowds larger than total AFL players in NZ, Aus, SA, Japan, Hong Kong, Argentina, Italy, France and all UK countries.
Apart from football/soccer, which sport would have a world cup with as much participation and interest as rugby?
Participants in team sports like rugby will always have a tough job competing for individual awards. For the All Blacks to win a decade award they would just about have to win two world cups.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
How about the Baseball world cup Pete George?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Pete
Don’t tell me you have fallen for that bullshit line about the RWC being the third biggest sporting event in the world?
As for sports that have as much (and more) participation and interest as rugby, well I really do not know where to start, lets see…..
1 Volleyball
Vote:2 Cricket
3 Basketball
4 Handball
5 Cycling
6 Baseball
7 American Football
8 Golf
9 Tennis
10 Olympic Games
February 5th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Tinman
“NZ produces at least ten rugby players of quality every ten years that are far ahead of any other sportspeople.”
Name ONE in the last ten years who is far ahead of every other Kiwi sportsperson.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
IMO anything is sport that does not require a series of judges awarding points to determine the winner.
Vote:If its 1st over the line or most goals etc wins – then its a sport
February 5th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
You’ve got to be kidding that Dixon is not an athlete. His wife is a triathlete, the guy runs marathons for fun, and his sport requires him to cope with up to five gs for two hours. Villi throw just nine throws to win a world title, Dixon has to win constantly throughout a year to win a championship. This year the Indy teams will race in Brazil, Japan and the US. He has won two titles, finished second twice, and also become the first New Zealander to win the biggest one-day sporting event in the world, the Indy 500.
People who say he has no right to even be nominated are just showing their own ignorance. All athletes have coaches, physios and a support team, so ruling Dixon out because he has a pit crew is nonsense. Big Bruv, if he’s not an athlete and if it’s so easy, why are you not over in the US winning millions of dollars instead of posting ignorant comments on Kiwiblog?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Patrick
Spot on. (12.14pm)
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
dog
It has nothing to do with his pit crew, it has everything to do with the fact that he sits on his arse steering a car.
Dixon is very good at what he does, of that there is no doubt, however when your pastime is one that relies on a motor to win then you are not an athlete.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Boxing is a sport Patrick, one of the oldest and best for that matter
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Yeah Dixon is like a jockey, who do you give the award to the horse or the jockey?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Bruv,
That explains why there’s so many obese and overweight Indycar drivers then, Bruv? It is for this reason that most motorsport championships are split into a team and a driver award, with the team who builds and prepares the best car taking one and the driver who exhibits the most skill taking the other. It’s like arguing that Michael Campbell should throw golf balls instead using the mechanical advantage of a club, and rowers should swim. It’s irrelevant really, as Denny Hulme was made Sportsman of the Year in 1967 when he won the Formula One World Championship, so history disagrees with you as well.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Dog,
Vote:When did running marathons for fun become a criteria for awarding a Hallberg?
February 5th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
While motor racing requires a hell of a lot of fitness, I too would question whether a driver is an athlete, indiviual examples such as Dixon notwithstanding.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
dog if Dixon emulated Denny Hulme and won the F1 world championship he would win the Halberg, he would fucking piss it in
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Dog
Campbell has to hit the golf ball himself, he does not have some mechanical device doing it for him.
You seem to have taken this personally, if so then that is your tough luck.
What Dixon does is amazing, I have not downplayed his achievement, all I am saying is that what he does is NOT sport.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
“Boxing is a sport Patrick”
mikeysmokes – boxing points are awarded on hits
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Patrick the judges score the fight round by round, and a “hit” as you call it may be judged differently by different judge. what scores more a headshot or a bodyshot? etc
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
yeah, on hits
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Is cricket a sport Patrick?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
well most runs usually win…..
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Yep most runs usually wins but there is a judge who makes rulings based on his interpretation. Thats why I think your definition is flawed
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Big Bruv – The weight of public opinion is vastly in favour of calling motor racing a sport, after all it is called “Motorsport”
Vote:Although Dixon doesnt provide the motive power for his vehicle he still has to steer & control it and that takes enormous skill at any speed let alone 180+ mph.
Motorsport is a contest in the true sense eg the “winner” is the one who gets across the line first.
Using your argument Yachting wouldnt be a sport either.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
mikeysmokes – Your talking about a referee’s interpretation of the rules, or ‘line ball’ decisions? – Not a judge awarding points on things like style, degree of difficulty and other bullshit like that.
Vote:Sure there are some sports that have dodgy decisions that may effect whoever scores the most goals, but the basic principle of ‘getting over the line first’ is not lost.
Point I’m making is things like synchronised swimming, diving, dressage, and most gymnastics etc are not sports
February 5th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Yes I understand that Patrick my point is that adjudication and interpretation are a huge part of most sport wether its airy fairy faggot synchronized swimming or Boxing or Cricket
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Jesus!
These petrol heads really get scratchy when you point out that the pastime they love is not sport.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
in cricket (and amateur boxing) you can, through technology go back and examine any decision , and fairly conclusively determine whether it was a correct decision or not. ‘First over the line’ sports are far more clear cut, and poor refereeing is the excpetion rather than the rule. You’d have to agree most games are clear cut on who won?, and it is known by who scored the most runs, most goals – or got over the line first.
Vote:If you examine the “fairy faggot ” displays that masquerade as sports none of the contestants or spectators even know who has won until the judges award the points
February 5th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Mikey
Would a better interpretation be this…
Any event that has an element of artistic merit in the points scoring system is not a true sport?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Yep that works for me Bigbruv. Interesting really the definition of sport is pretty broad.
Vote:What about a ruck or a maul or wether a player has come in through the gate and stayed on his feet Patrick? It doesnt matter that technology plays a part or not its still being adjudicated by a third party, but in essence I agree
February 5th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
yep, they’re not sport – they’re art
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Big Bruv, I wouldn’t call myself a petrolhead, just someone who enjoys all sport and participate in some.
What is missing, which would probably deflect most negative repsonses to your posts are the words:
Vote:“In my opinion”
February 5th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
big bruv (5373) Says:
February 5th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Tinman
“NZ produces at least ten rugby players of quality every ten years that are far ahead of any other sportspeople.”
Name ONE in the last ten years who is far ahead of every other Kiwi sportsperson.
I’ll in fact name three who played in the last decade and were the best NZ has produced;
McCaw
Carter
Cullen
There could be arguments for several more players who’s abilities in sport excell and one, your Wellington mate, who was far and away the best sports thug in the last millenium
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Tinman
Do you honestly think that McCaw (aka the fucking cheat), Carter (aka the Cardiff Choker) and Cullen are better sports people than…
The rowing Twins
Sarah Ulmer
Shane Bond (as much as I detest the man)
Valerie Vili
Rob Waddell
Mahe Drysdale
Michael Campbell
Ryan Nelson
Nick Willis
etc….
Clearly you have started drinking early today mate, while two of the three you named (Carter and Cullen) are outstanding footy players there is no way you can say they are far superior to any of those I named.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
big bruv (5374) Says:
Shane Bond (as much as I detest the man)
Why?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Tinman what have Carter, Cullen and McCaw won? And where does their sport rank in greater scheme of things?
Vote:Cullen like so many All Blacks will go down in history as an excellent player who won no super titles and no world cups, in fact your players of a generation have never seen a WC final. Michael Campbell in comparison as an example won a Major which is huge, a massive field in a hugely popular global sport.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Voice of reason
You really do not want to get me started on that…..
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
But after Campbell’s great win he has been scratching around in the rough, now rarely making any cuts. He deserved to be in the running for an annual award, but certainly not decade.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
I agree with most of what you say pete George but I think its pretty safe to say that one win was bigger than anything else in the decade. I mean if the All Whites win the Football world cup this year it will be the greatest feat of this decade,century and they will never even have to look at a football again. To compare McCaw, Cullen and Carter is silly
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Mikey
Nobody would disagree that Campbell’s win was the major sporting achievement of the decade, however, the award is not for the outstanding achievement, it is for the athlete of the decade, IMHO Campbell is not even in the first five.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Fair enough BigBruv to be perfectly honest I know buggar all about the awards and dont really give a hot about them. Im just puzzled by the numptys that think a bunch of guys who played for the All Blacks and choked out of so many World cups are world beaters
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
The twins won two Olympic medals and two world championships. Also as an aside rowing is a huge sport within New Zealand Secondary Schools . Not bad in 10 years for the girls
Vili has only won one Olympics so far and her world Champion ships, she will do more and be the Athelete of the 10′s.
Then there was daylight for the others nominated, honestly, all the All Whites have done is qualify for a tournament!!.
The basketballers did well once, but they were not close to winning it. There are only 5 countries who play netball.
But not being negative, all those nominated are elite ,are excellent, and should be congratulated for their efforts,
But no, this post starts off with a despicable comment and then the onanist trys to cover his arse by saying he called Carl Hayman a gorilla, Dime , you are tragic
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
It is sport! No amount of denial by you changes that fact.
There’s a contest which finds a winner; the driver is skilled beyond the average; people deem it good enough to watch in large numbers & bet on it…..it’s a sport!!
Dixon sits on his arse, sure. So do rowers, kayakers, etc. are they not sportsmen/women either?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Dazzaman
I suspect you are a bit thick, so I will explain things in a rudimentary fashion.
Dixon drives a car, that car has a motor, therefore Dixon is doing nothing apart from steering the car.
Rowers, Kayakers do not go anywhere unless they are the ones providing the horsepower through their own efforts.
What part of that do you not understand?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Mikey
“Im just puzzled by the numptys that think a bunch of guys who played for the All Blacks and choked out of so many World cups are world beaters”
On that we agree.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Gee thanks for that bruv, LOL
Every part actually,…and it means & changes nothing really. It’s an organized SPORTING contest to find a winner at an activity. That’s what sport is, spoon.
Do you not get that?
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Motive power means nothing of course, the contest is all.
So I guess you’d call Dixons activities…..recreation? a Sunday drive? nothing to consider at all? What??
What’s horse racing/trotting/pacing then? Just a flit around the track?
By that single measure (motive power) you consider motorsport to be…not sport. Wow. Nice measure dude.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
hey bruv ya snapperhead. player number for handball are around the 2 million mark. rugby is at 10 million.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
DIME not only have you been responsible for the most appalling post I’ve seen with your comment today, you are also ignorant to the nth degree – rugby doesn’t even rate particiapation wise world wide. you’re just a wanker
Estimates of participants are directly from the International Sports Federations themselves.
The Number of Affiliated National Federations comes from the International Olympic Committee. Only the sports who laid claim to the title of most or second-most popular were included in the study.
I left out Auto Racing/F1, the FIA has 119 affiliated national federations but the participants are hugely outnumbered by the spectators, particularly the TV watching public.
2002 Estimates of Participants Worldwide
Volleyball – 998 Million participants and 218 Affiliated National Federations (The FIVA and FIVB agreed they’d included everybody who played VB, even guesstimates re: kids on the beach)
Basketball – 400 Million and 211
Table Tennis – 300 Million and 186
Soccer – 242 Million and 204
Badminton – 200 Million and 147
Tennis – 60 Million and 191
Baseball – 60 Million and 110
Dragon Boat Racing – 50 Million and 51
Team Handball – 18 Million and 147
Hockey – 3 million and 118
Judo – 2.5 Million and 187
Rugby – 2 Million and 97
Cycling – 600,000 – 160Bouch1
Posts: 16047
Vote:Joined: “Wed Dec 19, 2007 6:57 pm”
February 5th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Yep Dimes an idiot he wouldnt know international sport if it was on the end of an apes knob drilling him in the ass. jog on you fucking muppet
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
“IMHO Campbell is not even in the first five.”
Have to agree there, pro-golf has an ostensible characteristic whereby every dog on the circuit has his day, then reverts to obscurity.
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Angus alot of dogs never get their day, some good golfers without a major Montgomery and Sergio Garcia spring to mind
Vote:February 5th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
“Angus alot of dogs never get their day, some good golfers without a major Montgomery and Sergio Garcia spring to mind”
I know what you’re saying. Guys like Montgomerie were consistently good but never made it to the top echelon, prize wise. My comment was more of a layman’s reference to the Craig Perks type phenomenon – no Kiwi tall poppy bashing intended – that only a relative few protagonists are consistently competitive over a long period of time.
Vote:February 6th, 2010 at 10:42 am
If the award was sporting achievement of the decade, the 2002 NZ Mens Basketball team at the World Championships would be crowned decade winners. But the award is for consistently having high performance over the decade you would be looking at the finalists. Vili should be a shoo-in for athlete of the next decade if she can win in London and Rio.
Anyone who regards motor racing on the same physical level as driving to the shops is misinformed – it’s more akin to flying an fighter airforce jet while juggling.
Regading the merits of sports, a lot of sports higher on the list are pastime sports – I’ve played Tennis, soccer, table tennis, basketball, a few times over the years as a social sport. But you can’t play rugby without being serious about it.
Vote:February 6th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Michael you shouldnt win an award for achievement without actually winning anything should you? The tall blacks did well, but achieved the same as the All Blacks.. fourth. Michael Campbell, Villi the twins etc actually won.
Vote:And you can play rugby without being serious about it. Internationally basketball and tennis are huge participation sports that dwarf rugby ten or twenty fold
February 6th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
“If the award was sporting achievement of the decade, the 2002 NZ Mens Basketball team at the World Championships would be crowned decade winners.”
Utter bollocks, for a start the American/NZ team did not win the bloody championship.
I am not really a Golf fan, but Campbell’s win in a major is without doubt the greatest single sporting achievement of the last decade, however, that still does not make him the athlete of the decade.
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