Monday, April 06, 2009

Maddow mixing it up

Rachel Maddow making cocktails - lovin it

Saturday, April 04, 2009

A better product required

For both the first and second days of the third test between India and New Zealand, Wellingtonians have turned out in great numbers and while it was windy today, it was still a cracker.

In terms of selling the TV rights back to India, tours by Indian teams have become cash cows - with this present tour estimated to be worth around $23 million to NZ Cricket - which will pretty much pay for everything till they are due to tour again. But it seems as though NZ Cricket have allowed this to get the better of them and they look like they've got a bit greedy.

They are now charging $27 for a single day pass - almost double what a day pass cost a year ago and roughly what you pay for a one day game or 20/20. Now if this was India vs Australia - then yeah, I'd be happy paying that - but we're shithouse and test matches against us only really test one thing - the patience of NZ supporters.

In other cricket related news, through work I went to a function at St John's head office the other night. St John's is now the official charity of the NZ team and THE NZ batsman, Ross Taylor, and bit part, James Franklin, were there. After the formalities and photos with the sponsors (ie me) etc Taylor basically attached himself to myself and my colleague and we chatted away for about an hour. I dont think it was anything to do with us being particularly interesting, but rather we were the youngest people by about 30 years.

It turns out he's a wine buff (who would have thought??) and he amazed us by picking it was an Australian Pinot that was on offer... show off. I voiced my outrage at Jamie How's non-selection and let him know that it was me that taught Jamie how to play that cover drive and solid forward defense when he was in my team at Intermediate. I'm not sure he bought it though as he turned down my offer of a personal batting clinic on Saturday morning with chuckle and a mock-offended "what, are you saying my forward defense is rubbish??" - but who's laughing now? There are a couple of days before the players leave for the IPL competition so the offer is still there.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009