What a depressing weekend. The weather was gloomy, and we lost two nationally significant titles to the Australians in nail-biting, sofa-jumping, hair-pulling fashion.
What a contrast to what the women's hockey team must be experiencing at this time, having recently returned from their successful tournament in the Netherlands where they came third and improved their world rankings from 12th to sixth.
They are also feeling pampered and spoilt after receiving gifts from expatriate New Zealand businessman and well-known philanthropist Owen Glenn.
In the past he, on behalf of the Glenn Family Foundation, has made massive donations to the likes of the University of Auckland's Business School (a modest $8 million), the Millennium Sports Institute, and the Christchurch quake recovery fund ($1 million).
Glenn's donations sometimes cause controversy as they did in 2008 when his political donations to the New Zealand Labour Party and the New Zealand First Party caused a stir.
His most recent donation to stir up media interest was a pledge of $1 million to the Hockey Foundation as well as an annual $100,000 grant for the next three years to talent development.
Hockey New Zealand officials must be skipping all the way to the bank with their sticks waving in the air.
Of course, there is a small "but" in that the million won't be deposited into the coffers of Hockey New Zealand until matched by other donors. I'm sure Sparc, the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Hockey New Zealand will be able to scrape together a million bucks to meet Glenn's requirements, especially now that the women's team has performed beyond expectations and looks set to threaten at the London Olympics next year.
I must admit it seemed a bit creepy at first that an old man would take such a keen interest in a bunch of young female hockey players and woo them with French perfume, dinner invitations in one of the most romantic cities in the world, and pampering sessions at a day spa.
But I'm just jealous. It would have been great to have a benefactor on hand during the Rugby World Cup to adorn us with gifts and pampering. What a sight that would have been - a whole lot of battered and bruised rugby players at a day spa.
It happens all the time in men's sport (philanthropy, not day spas) and no-one twitches uncomfortably or suggests there are ulterior motives.
Weren't the All Blacks given guitars and watches at the last World Cup by sponsors keen to get on the bandwagon of what they thought would be the winning team?
It's a risk most sponsors are willing to take, but they always want something in return, like product endorsement or an association with a successful and marketable brand.
It seems Glenn was a bit of a hockey player in his day and has been a fan of the Black Sticks (men and women) for some time.
If we were to put our sceptical hats to the side, all he wants is to see the hockey teams he has followed succeed and the sport he loves grow.
In his own words he is a great believer in the importance of sport and what it teaches young people. Of course, it doesn't hurt your image to be seen supporting worthy causes and attractive and able sports teams.
Wouldn't it be great if we could find more philanthropists in New Zealand to support sports that don't necessarily get the financial support they need through other sources like Sparc or global sponsors?
Marc Ellis looks set to make almost $US15 million ($NZ18.2 million) personally from the sale of his juice company, Charlies, to the Japanese drinks giant Asahi.
The former Otago and All Black rugby player, brief league convert and constant larrikin is definitely laughing all the way to the bank and rubbing it in the faces of all his critics. Will he offer some of that freshly squeezed wealth in the direction of the provincial rugby union where he made his mark on the world?
Will he remember that the Otago women's rugby team boosted his ego in the mid 1990s by auctioning off one of his sweaty training jerseys for a couple of hundred dollars?
If I was a part of the Otago Rugby Union, I'd be on the phone reminding him of where his rugby grassroots began! You never know, he may even do an Owen Glenn and promise to throw in a six pack of Charlies juice for each player if they win the ITM Cup.
