This week's awkward sporting questions

Is the key to turning the Blues around a) re-appointing Tana b) reappointing Graham Henry or c) binning it all and starting again as the Tāmaki Makaurau Maroons?

Wasn't Jamaica's timing on being extremely publicly upset about a trophy no-one had ever heard of a 'kick them when they're down' masterclass?

What kind of messed-up gymnastics did Mark Reason have to perform to get into a position to defend Israel Folau? Bless.

If Scott Robertson were to run for Christchurch Mayor on a populist 'just build a bloody stadium' ticket, how many hundred thousand votes would he win by?

Where has Kevin Fallon's blog been all my life? This week's episode includes a textbook lash out at NZ Football, using the word 'obsequious', before some heartfelt appreciation for Carly Simon and Chuck Bukowski. h/t @Girvana

Do you even need to watch a full IPL match ever, when all the highlights are on the app? And can Trent Boult actually fly?

Where are the great New Zealand sport podcasts? Anyone?

Thanks for reading - Richard

Godzone

Debbie Hockley faces SKY cricket commentary backlash - but it's only from sexist dickheads, so feel free to ignore. Features strong comments from NZC, well played. [RNZ]

Dylan Cleaver on Sam Gaze, our foremost super intense bird flipper mountain biking gold medalist - his gears are calibrated very high indeed. [NZ Herald]

Stuff Interactive on trans-gender athletes, their struggles and the issues raised for sporting bodies, featuring Mountain Biker Kate Weatherly [Fairfax]

For ANZAC Day, the story of All Black Donald Cobden, who only got to play 25 minutes in one Test, went off injured and was labelled 'soft', and never played again - he died a war hero in a Spitfire. [Fairfax]

Video nasty

Retro TV corner - Not The Nine O'clock News does John McEnroe.

Offshore

Cycling as mid-life crisis - suffering while wearing fancy clothes no longer just about working in an office.

What you're up to this weekend

Another quiet weekend gang - the IPL rumbles on, the Warriors have a bye... It's hard to pick an exciting Super Rugby match this weekend tbh, except Blues v Jaguares, out of ghoulish interest. I hope nobody's subscribed to this newsletter to actually find things out about sport?!? Ahem.

Bring back the gif

When you wake up on a Monday and remember it's a public holiday.