As Christmas fast approaches, we expect the weather to improve and summer sports to enjoy their moment in the sunshine.
Unfortunately, the Wellington Phoenix versus Sydney FC game at the FMG stadium in Palmerston North suffered in the swirly winds that usually blow the Turbos, cars and cows around the stadium.
They didn't get the crowd they were hoping for, and the gusty conditions prevented the beautiful game from portraying itself in the best light.
The Black Caps will be cursing as well, as the elements in Napier denied them a certain third-test victory against Pakistan.
It's no wonder that we are forced to play indoor sports, watch televised sports, or read about sports and sportspeople in the papers and magazines.
Unfortunately for Tiger Woods, the interest in his personal life, and the list of mistresses he has (had?) seems to exponentially grow.
Perhaps the bad weather and lack of excitement in other sports has led to this unhealthy fascination with this man's private life? As I flicked through the papers and browsed internet sites waiting for the nappies to dry on a wet and blustery day in Palmerston North I was overjoyed to hear that the minnow rugby unions (Manawatu, Tasman, Counties Manukau, Northland) have been given a one-year hiatus from being relegated to the six-team division proposed by the NZRU.
It's a momentary victory for these unions and perhaps it demonstrates the leverage the Players Association and litigation culture has on New Zealand's rugby management.
Of course, I can't help but be pleased for the likes of Manawatu because it gives me something to do in the winter.
I look forward to braving the weather to watch the Turbos give their all against the bigger unions for one more season.
But I can't help but feel that it's like being on death row and getting told that your execution date has been put back a year. In other words, it won't happen next year but it will happen.
What impact will this have on the provincial unions and the way they attract sponsors, players, and spectators.
Will people still flock to games in a show of unity now that the teams have been retained in the 14-team competition? What will happen to the unions that were hoping to be a part of the alternative 6-team competition?There is nothing like a threat to unify people, and now that the threat has passed will people go back to being apathetic and ho-hum about the Turbos, Makos, Taniwhas and Men of Steel?The fight has been won, but now it feels like 2010 will be the swan song for these teams which will eventually be culled.
That is, unless something miraculous happens between now and the end of the 2010 season.
The most common sense thing to do, in my opinion, is to nut it out with the Players Association and demand that a salary cap be put on the provincial teams so that all the unions don't put themselves in debt trying to buy too many players that they can't afford.
I'd also like to see the provincial unions focusing on some of their other teams now that the immediate threat has passed.
With the Maori rugby centenary and Women's Rugby World Cup coming up next year, what are unions doing to support these teams and competitions?For too long now the rationale for cutting the budgets of these teams and programmes has been survival in the men's NPC.
Like many golfers are realising, it is important that Tiger Woods plays in tournaments because his presence lines their pockets more.
The same goes in rugby.
With Christmas around the corner and the recent victory over the NZRU, I'm hoping the provincial rugby administrators are in a generous mood and are willing to spread some of their good fortune and good will in the direction of other teams.
Tiger has enhanced the image of golf for a long time, but his recent indiscretions must surely make the golf administrators realise how dangerous it is to give one person all that power.
Will the provincial unions realise the same could occur by putting all their eggs in the male NPC basket?
