Hayden Meikle's Last Word.
Let's try this again
"But seriously, how can we not get just a little excited about the future of New Zealand football?"
This may be the most dynamic and exciting group of young footballers we have ever gathered in this country, and there are genuine signs the All Whites could have a sustained period of success."
Spot on, young man. You have such a knack for sporting predictions, you should be the sports editor of a daily newspaper.
Fine, it seems I have a gift for jinxing sports teams. With that in mind, may I predict glorious achievements ahead for the following:
Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, the Crusaders, the Chiefs, the Wallabies, the South Canterbury rugby team, the English rugby team, Oamaru Old Boys, the Melbourne Storm, the New York Yankees, the New England Patriots and the English cricket team.
House about that
Omni Multum Nitente. Much is achieved when everyone strives.
That was - presumably still is - the motto of my house, Forrester, at Waitaki Boys' High School.
Being a magnificent school of unparalleled tradition, Waitaki boasted a vibrant house system that added much to the fabric of the school.
Forrester (bus boys), Lee (day), Sutherland (day), Milner (boarders) and Harkness (boarders) competed against each other for the coveted Scrano shield.
Milner and Harkness combined to form Don house during my time. These days, I understand the houses have been desegregated, which is a great tragedy, especially because Forrester no longer has 65% of the school's pupils.
The Scrano was once a sport-only shield but rightfully expanded to include academic and cultural elements.
You could have knocked me over with a feather when I heard Otago Boys' High School was only this year adopting the house system.
It's a good move. But while the four names chosen have unquestionable merit - and Otago sports fans will be particularly keen on Saxton, after the immortal Charlie - I wonder if one other name was considered.
Is there a chance, looking back years from now, they will regret not naming one of the houses McCaw?
Trucking along
There was nearly some major drama in the Highlanders' camp this week, but The Last Word can report it came to nothing.
Inspirational captain Jamie Mackintosh (@JMackwhoppa) tweeted a serious crime had transpired:"Just had my truck stolen!! Oh dear."
That was quickly followed by:"False alarm sorry team!! Boys playing tricks."
The possible culprit quickly emerged:"Do you think the car thieves needed enough cash quickly to buy a large meal at Mcdonalds?" tweeted centre Kendrick Lynn (@kendricklynn).
Stag power
A special plug for a publication to mark the 125th anniversary of our rugby neighbours further south.
The Maroons: Southland Rugby Representatives 1887-2011 is a labour of love by stalwart Graham Latta and contains every fact and statistic you could possibly want to know about the mighty Stags.
Latta also includes some tidbits on famous Southland rugby families, and on "the imports" who wore maroon in the professional era. And, naturally, there is a little chapter on that rather special shield Southland has won twice in the past three years.
Members of Stag Nation can contact the author directly (grahamlatta@clear.net.nz) or fire $25 to Graham Latta Graphics, PO Box 7054, Invercargill South.
When mascots go bad
An American baseball mascot is being sued, Reuters reports.
The Phillie Phanatic, from the Philadelphia Phillies, is accused of causing "severe and permanent injuries" to Suzanne Peirce.
The furry green mascot allegedly picked up the lounge chair in which Peirce was sitting and threw her into a swimming pool at a hotel in July 2010.
Exactly who was inside the mascot suit remains a mystery, with court documents showing Peirce is suing Tom Burgoyne and Matt Mehler, the two men who share mascot duties, as well as "any currently unknown or unnamed individual to play the role of the Phillie Phanatic".
More sporting siblings
A couple more to add to the list of rising Otago sporting siblings (The Last Word 2.6.12).
Bayfield High School's Hope sisters, Shannon and Samantha, are stars on mountain bikes.
In harness racing, North Otago's Williamson boys - Nathan, Matt and Bradley - are showing plenty of skill on the reins. The brothers all raced at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
Kids and animals
British film-maker Danny Boyle has revealed some details of the opening ceremony for the London Olympics next month.
It will cost 27 million ($NZ54 million), and will involve 10,000 adult volunteer performers and 900 children.
Most intriguingly, the ceremony will feature 12 horses, three cows, two goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, nine geese, 70 sheep, and three dogs.
Rafa, watch out
Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal left Paris with a seventh French Open title but no watch.
Nadal's watch went missing from his hotel room hours after his victory over Novak Djokovic.
The watch's value? Just 300,000 ($NZ600,000).
Birthday of the week
Australian rugby league great Peter Sterling is 52 today.
Sterlo was one of the best halfbacks of all time - though he made his debut as a fullback for Parramatta as a schoolboy - and played 227 games for his beloved Eels and 18 tests for Straya, before becoming a respected TV commentator.
He was also the recipient of one of the great sporting quotes.
"Kick to where the seagulls are," was super coach Jack Gibson's advice to Sterlo before the 1981 grand final at the SCG.
