Come on parochialism is so last week.

And this week's thing is cultural cringe?

I mention this because you may well know that the Dropkicks are no fans of yachting. When the America's Cup rolls around we merely roll our eyes and look for something approximating 'real' sport on the telly, competitive eating for example.

For me, sport has to involve a ball. Logical??

cultural

Speaking of culture..may I presentThe President of Bolivia
.http://www.onegoodmove.org/1gm/

The funny thing is, by my own standards I should like hockey. I don't, and I don't know why, It just never appealed really.

I think it's a silly game. You get penalised if you block the ball with your foot or leg. Surely the point of the game is?

And this week's thing is cultural cringe?

So is that it one snippy comment from well known Australiaphobe and rugbyasculturetragic Russell Brown. A person unable to know conditioning when it slaps him in the face, and totally crippled when it comes to walking past it.
You mention cringe after an?

Unless they lose. In which case we sack the coach and belittle them for at least six months.

I think the last couple of lines in the post shows the Dropkicks do understand the irony of their position. And I also know it's only a game and the sun will?

PUKE INDUCING FFS its a game/ and its a business.
Dropkicks such an appropriate nickname.

Steady on – I think the point being made by the dropkicks is that love it or hate it, rugby is a big part of the NZ psyche – much like cricket and swimming and?

So is that it one snippy comment from well known Australiaphobe and rugbyasculturetragic Russell Brown. A person unable to know conditioning when it slaps him in the face, and totally crippled when it comes to walking past it.

Sigh ... I just don't get a lot out of reflexive "but?

PUKE INDUCING FFS its a game/ and its a business.
Dropkicks such an appropriate nickname.

Awwww... Andin, do you need a hug mate?

C'mon big fulla. Here you go.

We'll talk about "mateship" next time if it makes you feel better.

But for the record, one line about Australia isn't?

This is what I feel about rugby.

On old post, so I don't think I'd read it, but a good one. I can't post there, so I'll put it here (your sporting glories and ignomines – a future chapter of Stories?)

I played football for many years as a kid,?

Hey, never said Australia is so much better. Chip on shoulder stuff is reflexive.

Oh, sorry. My humble apologies. I just took that impression when your opening foray was this:

Who's the biggest employer in New Zealand?
Australia
Who's the best healthcare provider in New Zealand?
Australia
Who provides the?

But something that give me's joy is knowing that if the AB's lose somewhere you lot could be having a bad day.

Hmmm, I thought you had a fair if not over-stated point earlier but now I'm not so sure. Its one thing to thing NZers go a bit gaga?

[Sport] is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.

We weren't trying to wind anyone up. Just to try and capture a little of what it is that New Zealanders think about?

We weren't trying to wind anyone up. Just to try and capture a little of what it is that New Zealanders think about their national game.

Cough... I won't be quite as vehement as andin, but really. If you want to talk about cultural cringe, why can't we just appreciate?

why can't we just appreciate the All Blacks as a team of remarkably talented and dedicated young men who are acheivers in their chosen field of endeavour?

I thought that's what we were doing? Except all of those young men are from our country and are representing us at a?

I thought that's what we were doing?

Ditto.

I understand that Craig's also saying that there's more to NZ that defines/inspires us. I agree with this too – I'm actually damn proud to share some whakapapa with Teddy Tahu Rhodes (who's all over the Australian press at the moment) and?

To paraphrase Elizabeth I, I do not seek to make windows into another man's soul but I sure wish the courtesy would be repaid.

Ironically enough, it was an Australian who coined the phrase 'cultural cringe' back in published in 1950. But A.A. Philips was also equally pointed on?

But whatever happened to the alleged Kiwi qualities of pragmatic individualism, distrust of pretension and excessive enthusiasm and (above all else) just keeping things in perspective?

30 years of wall-to-wall American media?

Sorry, but if we're going to sink into a national funk if (shock horror!) the ABs come home without the Webb Ellis Cup it's a very sad day indeed.

No, I'll just be pissed of for a week. People who get bitter and angry and demand retribution about the results?

I was meaning both the "Blatant Blatherskite" and his opposite. Both ends of the scale expect?

None taken – to run some sports cliches through a blender, it's a game of two halves on PA System and you can't bitch when someone is playing the ball not the man. :)

In short: supporting the All Blacks is not at all like anything political. It's just something that traditionally New Zealanders have been good at.

I'm not so sure about that. We're very good about supporting them when they win. We're not so good about it when we lose. You don't?

I KNOW and this bugs the hell out of me

Me too. On the other hand, I've heard plenty of far more knowledgeable people than I (e.g. ex-players) say that the fact that the NZ fan base are (generalisation) such bad losers is one of the major reasons why our?

I've heard plenty of far more knowledgeable people than I (e.g. ex-players) say that the fact that the NZ fan base are (generalisation) such bad losers is one of the major reasons why our national team is so good.

Can hardly believe that — would be much more likely to?

nervous twitch, a paranoid disposition, and a sense of impending doom

I agree. I think the reason NZ have such a good national team is the amount of passion at the grassroots level. Same goes for soccer in Sth America, cricket in the West Indies and baseball in the US?

the alleged Kiwi qualities of pragmatic individualism, distrust of pretension and excessive enthusiasm and (above all else) just keeping things in perspective

I think the reason why we get more of the

"The All Black sucked!?

I think the reason NZ have such a good national team is the amount of passion at the grassroots level.Same goes for soccer in Sth America, cricket in the West Indies and baseball in the US of A.

I dunno ..... you are probably right, but I'm not 100% convinced.?

When the ABs win a match, as they sometimes do, by what I would say was a very good margin, 10 points or so, the rugby analysts start in. Why the need to be so critical, I wonder?

Well at least we're consistent :)

I think the reason why we get more of the

"The All Blacks sucked! F'ing XXX and stupid YYY can't pass/throw/kick/tackle"

style of commentary is perhaps because ::cough:: we are so good.

I don't want this to be true, because that would make us collectively some of the worst losers?

possibly the finest on-field moment of the RWC so far?

Followed by possibly the finest off-field moment, when Ngwenya and Habana traded shirts.

Booo, Adidas/NZRFU/ABs.

I don't want this to be true, because that would make us collectively some of the worst losers in sport. Is it not possible to lose gracefully and calmly? Can we really excuse this petulant tastelessness, this lack of basic manners and class?

I'm not sure whether this makes it?

possibly the finest on-field moment of the RWC so far?

Looks like he can now have his choice of European club contracts.

I'm half-expecting someone to jump in with that thing about domestic violence rising sharply when the ABs lose. Which if it's true

Don't worry, it's not, thank goodness.

In our defence ("our" being much like Stephen's "we") at least we don't hate/hurt/kill supporters of opposition teams like some football supporters?

Followed by possibly the finest off-field moment, when Ngwenya and Habana traded shirts.

That's possibly the best double-inside-outside swerve I have ever seen, he owns Habana's jersey, and that's the way it should be.
I played wing, Henry was my Form Master, we're in good hands.

That's possibly the best double-inside-outside swerve I have ever seen, he owns Habana's jersey, and that's the way it should be.

I wonder if a young Lomu would've caught him.

I quite liked the face-plant *cough* fend on the SA first-five as well.

I wonder if a young Lomu would've caught him.

No he wouldn't have, it wasn't just the dazzling pace that beat Habana, it was the insane inside outside swerve that mis-footed Habana, that's old school skills that is.

I quite liked the face-plant *cough* fend on the SA first-five as?

I dunno ..... you are probably right, but I'm not 100% convinced. The high level of grass-roots passion in UK football (soccer) for example has not translated to international success for England.

I think there's a world of difference between the UK soccer structure, and the NZ rugby structure. Their?

Lessons of the Western Front
HANK SCHOUTEN – The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 3 October 2007

"There's something about the New Zealand psyche that we tend to celebrate heroic failures rather than victories or disasters."

... except when the ABs?

I'd volunteer to write it ....

Bevan.