Women in sport have come a long way from bringing a plate, being thanked for their work in the kitchen and being considered only as fluff to entertain and titillate at men's sporting events.
So far, the Silver Ferns have managed to scrape out a pair of two-goal wins against the English in a fashion that has been described as bungling, rusty, sloppy, not pretty, error-ridden and, when it comes to shooting, woeful.
As the Black Caps lick their wounds after an embarrassing thrashing from a below-par Pakistan team, some of them are licking their fingers and counting the dosh they are worth according to the Indian Premier League.
In between marking assignments and catching up with family over the holidays, I stumbled upon Andre Agassi's autobiography, Open (actually, I found it in my partner's pile of opened presents and borrowed it).
As the first decade of the new millennium comes to a close it is tempting to focus on sporting highlights over the last 10 years.
As I'm teaching a leadership course this summer, issues of leadership in sport (or lack of it, as the case may be) fascinate me.
It's prizegiving time for schools, and I was privileged enough to go to a year 6 farewell evening as the guest speaker recently.
It's that time of year when people start to reflect on their achievements and plan for the future.
What could I write about this week considering the drama that is taking place on the West Coast?
Like the Melbourne weather, a French-trained horse put a damper on the high spirits of Australians at Flemington on Tuesday.
Have you noticed how there is a shift of power going on in New Zealand sporting organisations recently?
Who said drama and controversy were the domain only of professional sports with a lot at stake financially?
There are times when I appreciate the role television and technology play in sport.
In order to keep "mushy baby brain" at bay, I've decided to jump back into public and paid life.
Wouldn't it be great if sports teams acted more like wildebeests and ants and less like zebras?
The World Cup is about to start and for the first time in ages little ole New Zealand has a part to play in one of the largest global sporting events.
WhileAndy Haden takes time out on the golf course, is consoled by Paul Holmes and delivers a run-of-the-mill apology, the rest of us debate the issues he has brought to the fore.
It seems suggesting the All Whites, All Blacks and Warriors break a leg in their upcoming games is tempting fate rather than invoking good luck.
She is the Maori academic and former Black Ferns captain who says this year is about celebrating Maori rugby, not pushing for an apology for the non-selection of dark-skinned players on previous New Zealand rugby tours of South Africa.
These days, catching a brief moment to myself is as rare as a Central Pulse win.
