A Crusaders fan on coping with a long, rugby-less summer
G'day mate. It's your round by the way.
How's the summer? Mine's been OK. New jet ski's louder than standing on the cat. Everyone on the lake front loved it.
Gets a bit long and boring though eh. Imagine a summer duck shooting season, that'd be mint.
Saw Reado at Bunnings. He needs a new bath mat, is thinking about a charcoal BBQ and is going for a quarter Spanish white in the lounge I reckon. That's all I could pick up before his missus told me to piss off. They drive a Ford, but I lost them in traffic. Good people eh.
Cricket? Useless. Who's been playing? Sri Lanka? Never heard of them. India? Jeez. The trouble with cricket is it needs more rugby. That Black Clash was a good start. Get more All Blacks playing, one per team. Get Jeff Wilson and Scott Robertson standing around bantering about what high school they went to. Magic.
Tried watching the tennis for a while, but fell asleep. Mouth was dryer than a jandal. Got locked in at the bowls club and all, bit embarrassing.
How about Beaudy's wedding? Had heaps of photos in the Women's Day I pinched from the WOF place. Snuck a look at the missus' Instagram, but think I got influenced, so left it. Boys looked mint in the fedoras.
Thank christ it's rugby season again though eh. New Zealand without rugby is more boring than religious Kevin's 21st. Seeing how the boys handle playing in 22 degree heat will no doubt offer some real insight into how we go in Japan eh. Plan for Saturday is basically curtains drawn, 24 pack of CD and five games in a row. Ripper.
Better shoot. Have to get up early tomorrow and throw the dog crap over the fence before the neighbour gets up. Catch ya.
Thanks for reading - Richard
The week's best NZ sport writing
Suzanne McFadden was there when some of the WHITE FERNS Test players received their historic caps, including Catherine Campbell, one of the great contributors to cricket in New Zealand [Locker Room]
The Indian women's team cleaned up the ODI's here - RNZ's Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to two key players [RNZ]
Dylan Cleaver has a full and frank look at our ODI team a few months out from the world cup [NZ Herald]
West Auckland's Sarai Bareman is in charge of women's football for FIFA, making her one of our most high profile administrators, with huge mandate and responsibility - Steve Deane spoke to her [Locker Room]
Video nasty
High Flying Bird is Steven Soderbergh's new film - it's for basketball nerds, it's shot on an iPhone, and it's on Netflix now.
Long read
Olympic-hopeful cyclist becomes bank robber, uses bike as getaway vehicle [Chicago Mag]
Selected weekend fixtures
BLACKCAPS play ODI number two v Bangladesh at Hagley on Saturday, starting at 11am, it's on SKY
In the Burger King Super Smash, it's Aces v Stags this afternoon at Eden Park at 4pm, with the winner playing the Knights in the final on Sunday in Hamilton at 4pm, they're both on SKY
Also tonight at Eden Park is the Phoenix v Melbourne Victory at 7.35pm, it's on SKY too
Super Rugby... it's Chiefs v Highlanders tonight at 7.30 from Hamilton, and Blues v Crusaders at Eden Park at 7.30pm, they're both on SKY
Bring back the gif
When you're really enjoying the cricket and along comes rugby.
