We need to talk more about the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.
Not just about where it will go if it leaves Dunedin, but about who has been inducted and who hasn’t been inducted and who damn well SHOULD be inducted but scandalously hasn’t.
Trust me, it’s a fascinating topic.
Why, for example, has seemingly every single person who has ever competed in running for New Zealand been inducted into the hall of fame, yet the two most popular global sports (football and basketball) combine for just three (three!) inductees?
In 2012, I put forward a case for those who should be in the hall of fame, and suggested a few others whose time would come.
Let’s take a look at those arguments to see how they stack up, and consider some new names in contention.
MY NOMINEES
These were the athletes/teams I suggested in 2012 deserved to be in the hall, and an update on their status.
Jonah Lomu (rugby)
We are one from one — but this was not exactly a stab in the dark. The great Jonah was inducted in 2014. We will not see his like again.
Two from two! Goldie beat his old All Blacks wing partner into the hall of fame by a year, making it in 2013.
1982 All Whites (football)
Deep breath, Hayden. Deep, deep breath. Just one team has been inducted in the past seven years. Rowing pair Philippa Baker and Brenda Lawson made it in 2012. Somehow, the amazing 1982 All Whites remain on the outer. Please join me in a convoy to the hall of fame to protest this injustice.
1996 All Blacks (rugby)
Nope. Four rugby teams — the Originals, the Invincibles, the 1987 All Blacks and the 2NZEF "Kiwis" — are in the hall of fame. I still think the 1996 All Blacks, the first to win a series in South Africa, deserve to be in there.
Glen Denham (basketball)
This might have been a little bit of Otago bias showing through. Others in the hoops world have probably leaped ahead of him now. But GD would not disgrace the hall at all, and it is a crying shame that Stan Hill is the only basketball inductee.
Chris Cairns (cricket)
Ooh, an interesting one. Certainly a strong contender based on his career — and cricket seems relatively poorly represented in the hall with 14 inductees compared with athletics’ 31 (told you). The question is whether the baggage surrounding Cairns puts people off.
Dean Bell (rugby league)
Still waiting.
Aaron Slight (motorcycling)
Still waiting. A forgotten hero who should be included.
The great Lesley Rumball was (deservedly) inducted in 2016, but netball is weirdly under-represented with just five players. "Bernie" is a no-brainer.
Nope. Erin Baker is the only multisporter in the hall of fame. Carter simply needs to be in there.
Mark Sorenson (softball)
Finally, back on track. Mr Softball was inducted in 2016.
Neroli Fairhall (archery)
The late legend of paraplegic sport would be a welcome posthumous induction.
Peter Belliss (bowls)
Still playing, so technically not eligible. But it’s bowls — you play till you die.
Poor old Winston McCarthy ... listen, wait for it ... is still on his own.
The Bushwhackers (wrestling)
Yeah, nah.
THE ‘EVENTUALLY’ LIST
These were the ones I suggested would be contenders for the hall of fame once their careers ended.
Stacey Jones (rugby league)
Yes! Inducted in 2015.
Sarah Ulmer (cycling)
Yes! Inducted in 2014.
Beatrice Faumuina (athletics)
Yes! Inducted in 2018.
Scott Dixon (motorsport)
Not yet! Still driving.
Richie McCaw (rugby)
Not yet! Retired in 2015 sooooo guess who is surely getting inducted this month.
Dan Carter (rugby)
Not yet! Only technically retired last year. Straight in when he is eligible.
Not yet! Surely soon.
Michael Campbell (golf)
Not yet! As soon as he is eligible.
Barbara Kendall (yachting)
Yes! Inducted in 2015.
Not yet! Unbelievable. The double Olympic champions have been retired for 14 years. What gives?
Rob Waddell (rowing)
Yes! Inducted in 2017.
Sean Marks (basketball)
Not yet! And surely time for the hoops pioneer to get the nod.
Kirk Penney (basketball)
Not yet!
Valerie Adams (athletics)
Not yet! Ineligible until five years after she retires.
Daniel Vettori (cricket)
Not yet!
Brendon McCullum (cricket)
Not yet!
Irene van Dyk (netball)
Not yet! A McCaw-van Dyk double induction would be perfect as both are GOATs.
Ryan Nelsen (football)
Not yet!
THE NEWCOMERS
New on the "surely destined for the hall of fame" list:
Lisa Carrington (kayaking), 2015 All Blacks (rugby), Lydia Ko (golf), Winston Reid (football), Chris Wood (football), Tom Walsh (athletics), 2019 Silver Ferns (netball), Courtney Duncan (motocross), Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snowboarding), Kane Williamson (cricket), Ross Taylor (cricket), 2021 Black Caps (cricket), Sophie Pascoe (para swimming), Scott McLaughlin (motorsport), Steven Adams (basketball), Nick Willis (athletics), Hamish Bond and Eric Murray (rowing), James McDonald (racing).
