Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: Sunday Bloody Sunday Newspaper

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  • Megan Wegan,

    Or is it that you only can't pass through a third of the court, but shooting is fine?

    No, you can only shoot from inside the goal circle. I was referring to the whole exciting buzzer-beater element. But hey I'm all for a rule change that lets Julie Seymour biff it from halfway.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    That's because the rules of the game are to stop whenever you get the friggin ball and only run around in a little area of the court. Shesh, no wonder they have the energy left over for more games.

    Yeah but there are ten people on the court and only one standing still with the ball. That's like saying tennis is boring because they (usually) stand still when they hit the ball (tennis is dull for other reasons).

    I suppose viewership is horses for courses, much like anything really. For example I wouldn't go to see one of those satirical "Movie" movies (i.e. Epic Movie) but somebody must do because they make money.

    Personally I enjoyed watching the netball (even though I find non-finals basketball dull), and I enjoyed it more when I was commentating.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    So, in my original post I deleted my rant about netball as a spectator sport (frankly women's hockey, football, cricket are all far more entertaining).

    This is a general question, not just to Don: is there any sport where you find women's version is more interesting than the men's?

    For me women's tennis and hockey is often far more interesting than the men's versions.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Rachel Prosser,

    If you have a listen to the Dropkicks commentary (and I recommend you do!) you here us bitch about New World's decision to paint the court red and white, give red and white inflatable bangy things to the crowd and generally fill the stadium with the colours of the opposing team!

    Hmmm. This means that those who don't attend games feel more positive towards sponsors than those who do. Sponsors, there be a lesson in this to you!

    That's because the rules of the game are to stop whenever you get the friggin ball and only run around in a little area of the court. Shesh, no wonder they have the energy left over for more games.

    Hey Don, you try stopping at speed (and see how much energy it takes to absorb the pressure). Quickly you will find why netball knee injuries abound here and in Oz.

    I'd love to see a pedometer (or the satellite equivalent) on Laura Langman vs Doug Howlett or Richie McCaw.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Agreed that rugby does have too much whistle, but doesn’t live in a straight-jacket quite the way netball does.

    Seriously, think of the rules of netball. Clipboard mania gone mad.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Seriously, think of the rules of netball. Clipboard mania gone mad.

    I agree with you about the defensive contact rule. Which is another reason why Casey "Chopper" Williams is such an axe, if she can get around those. Oh yeah, we gave them all cool nicknames as well.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Burns,

    Not too keen on netball as a spectator but a lot better than trying to play. Played social mixed for a couple of years and felt like I was getting tinitus I got blown up so much.

    Good to see the U17 women's football getting a bit of media coverage over the past few days.
    This competition could be really important for not just football in NZ but for the country as a whole. If it goes well and gets good support it will really help NZ piggy-back an Aussie bid for the mens world cup in 2018. The exposure from that would dwarf the RWC.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Seriously, think of the rules of netball. Clipboard mania gone mad.

    Not to disagree, because after all, what you like, you like, and I'm not going to say any one sport is better than another. (Except motor sport and the america's cup - not sports)

    But at least the netball rules are easy to understand. You can't stand closer to three feet, you can't push people, you can't run with the ball.

    Try explaining the offside rule, or what the hell is going on in a ruck, or the finer points of a line out.

    Or, God forbid, try explaining cricket to a baseball fan.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    MW, Cricket’s rules are simple. It’s the tactics that are complicated.

    Spot on with motor racing, Americas cup BTW.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    That's because the rules of the game are to stop whenever you get the friggin ball and only run around in a little area of the court. Shesh, no wonder they have the energy left over for more games.

    Whatever. I hear it's a non-contact sport too. Sheesh, look at cricket and baseball - half the players spend half the game sitting down.

    But at least the netball rules are easy to understand. You can't stand closer to three feet, you can't push people, you can't run with the ball.

    Agreed, though it has always amused me that you can be penalised for 'intimidation'.

    I love netball as a spectator sport, except I'd like to see something done about the fake injury breaks. It still has less stoppage time than basketball.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Yeah but there are ten people on the court and only one standing still with the ball.

    If you're blogging quite a lot about sports, you should get the numbers right. Basketball has 10 on the court, netball has 14.

    This is a general question, not just to Don: is there any sport where you find women's version is more interesting than the men's?

    Surely if your answer is a sport in which there's no difference between the two other than the participants (hockey), then you're actually answering a question of 'who do you prefer to see playing this sport', not 'do you prefer the women's version to the men's version'. There's no difference between the women's and men's versions of most sports.

    Ice hockey has different rules for men and women. Women can't play checking ice hockey once they are senior. So if you like ice hockey without people taking big runs at each other and mashing each other against the boards and getting into fights, you might prefer the women's version.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    I prefer watching women’s tennis to men’s.

    That’s mainly because the rallies are longer, and there’s more down to skill and finesse rather than brute power, particularly on the first serve.

    In fact 1970s men’s tennis is more like modern women’s tennis than modern men’s tennis.

    Which is as good an indication as anything that modern technology has damaged men’s tennis.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    I love netball as a spectator sport, except I'd like to see something done about the fake injury breaks.

    Didn't they try to do something about that before the world champs? I'm pretty sure they changed the rules, but I did notice in one of the Aussie tests it seems to have slipped back to an "ow my knee" thing .

    There's no difference between the women's and men's versions of most sports.

    In rules maybe, but not necessarily in the way the game is played. As Leg Break notes, women's tennis relies less on brute force, and is less baseline to baseline.

    Women's basketball tends to be (played well) faster, and more reliant on outside shooting and good ball skills than post play and strength. And they use a smaller ball.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    Why is golf "not a sport"?

    Admittedly it doesn't take a high degree of fitness, but it is a competitive outdoor pastime requiring a high degree of physical coordination.

    Or is it because it can truly fuck with your mind?

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    If you're blogging quite a lot about sports, you should get the numbers right. Basketball has 10 on the court, netball has 14.

    Quax!

    I wrote that at high speed and I remember thinking "is that right?" before blipping to the next point and hitting submit.

    There's no difference between the women's and men's versions of most sports.

    What LB said about tennis and same goes for (field) hockey. Though I do/did like watching Federer being able to place a ball in exactly the right place with a deft touch.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Why is golf "not a sport"?

    Golf isn't a sport because if John Daly can play it, it can't be sport. (I await your rebuttal with gleeful anticipation)

    Though I'm still trying to deal with why motorsport isn't sport. Schumacher used to do three hours a day in the gym in order to keep his car on the track.

    I have no defence for the America's Cup

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    Hadyn,

    I had failed to realise that John Daly was a benchmark figure in your parallel universe. Does this also mean that other pastimes such as snooker and darts are also "not sports" because men with a neck-girth larger than your thigh take part?

    Or is it not to do with his size & physique but some other attribute that we should implicitly understand simplay at the uttering of his name?

    Yes, I do play golf - how did you guess?

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    "Simplay" - how very Siggi of me.

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Stewart I was waiting for you name a big fat American baseballer like CC Sabathia or Prince Fielder (both play for a team named after beer-makers)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    This is a general question, not just to Don: is there any sport where you find women's version is more interesting than the men's?

    Certainly hockey, as you mentioned.

    There are a raft of sports where the gender doesn't matter, as seen in the Olympics...athletics, swimming, cycling, sailing and so on. I think male rugby is still more interesting to watch but I would rather watch a WC women's soccer match than The Pheonix (who I do shell out to see occasionally).

    I must admit I am a bit of s sucker for all sports no matter what the gender of the players. The netball thing is a bit tongue in cheek but of the sports I see in NZ it rates as my least preferred.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Oh, maybe I should mention softball. I mean, I get the tension, kind of, but could someone hit the bloody ball, just occasionally, please.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    Hadyn,

    I am even less interested in baseball than I am in cricket. So it approximates negative interest levels and I couldn't name you any current players (Barry Bonds & Babe Ruth are probably the only 2 I could name from any era.)

    That said, I once read an interesting book about/by a baseballer. The book was called Ball Four but I have no idea who wrote it.

    Despite having an almost addictive relationship with golf I can appreciate that others don't like it - and I don't get much enjoyment from watching it on tv. It is a total immersion thing for me...about 4 hours of thinking about golf & nothing else; gets rid of office-stress, domestic stress, etc and you get to drink beers together afterwards - a sign of a true sport.

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Oh, maybe I should mention softball. I mean, I get the tension, kind of, but could someone hit the bloody ball, just occasionally, please.

    Yeah I don't get softball. Baseball I like (usually), but softball is a bore (again better to play than watch).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    and oh again. I have John Daly clubs which get out once a year. My purchase decision was definitely influenced by his "reputation".

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    One thing the Aussies consistently beat us at is media coverage and water-cooler discussion of women's sport. It's REALLY noticeable.

    That doesn't really fit with the Australian netballers regular comments about how they are blown away by the level of interest and media coverage of netball in NZ when compared to the awful coverage they receive back home.

    This is out of date but it sums things up fairly well.
    http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/articles/2003/09/04/1062548969225.html

    Here's something a bit more extreme from a couple of years ago in the Melbourne Age: http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/count-me-out-women-must-earn-coverage/2006/08/04/1154198332013.html

    "WOMEN'S soccer is a joke. People walked across the street in order not to watch it in Adelaide last week. Women's cricket is not much better. Netball is OK, sometimes, when there is nothing else on. But women's basketball is not.

    Gymnastics? Jumped-up school sport. Women's tennis? Don't get me started. Women runners, jumpers, throwers, cyclists and swimmers do their best, but it is, by definition, second-best. Women's triathlon is a yawn. Women's golf is nothing more than a set of gimmicks. Women's AFL is embarrassing. If women insist on playing sport at all, it should be beach volleyball."

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

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