Hayden Meikle

As major games go, a smash-bash against an invitational team as part of the Scarborough Festival is not exactly the Ashes.

The Highlanders could be preparing a daring swoop on Hurricanes stars Ma'a Nonu and Hosea Gear.

Hayden Meikle counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport. No 149: Chris Shilling makes world top 10 (1998)

Hayden Meikle counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport. No 150: Dunedin Technical wins Chatham Cup (1999)

Manchester United has done it: knocked Liverpool off its "perch". But football has changed so much between the dominant eras of the great red-clad clubs. Objective observer Hayden Meikle looks for some comparisons.

Did you believe? Don't lie. If you thought the Highlanders would still be in playoff contention this late in the season, you were either deluded, drunk or called Jamie Joseph/Mackintosh.

Here's the funny thing about continuing to play video games nearly 30 years after you picked up a joystick for the first time.

An American football team? A high school American football team? In the far reaches of West Texas?

I started playing football when I was 5. The first opportunity I got to watch the FA Cup final live on television was Leeds v Sunderland in 1973.

Sport is sometimes derided as a mere trivial pastime, often misguidedly but occasionally with accuracy.

It is not exactly the New Zealand Open but a new amateur tournament will at least get The Hills back on the calendar this year.

I was a product of St Paul's in the 1980s.

This might seem premature - and I must point out it was written before last night's game (glorious victory?) against the Blues.