From afar

The relationship between culture and performance in sport is a fickle thing.

We're only in the second month of the new year and already evidence of systemic corruption in high-profile sports has hogged the headlines.

Gillies Kaka and Rocky Khan will be experiencing the Wellington sevens tournament this weekend as the newest members of the New Zealand team.

The confession box has been rather busy this week. Lance Armstrong confessed to doping during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, and Jodie Foster confessed to being gay as part of her acceptance speech for a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes.

It is the exception rather than the rule for professional athletes to juggle the transition from player to coach, as Ryan Nelsen has with the recent announcement that he will be the head coach of Toronto FC, in America's Major League Soccer, while still contracted to Queen's Park Rangers as a player.

Last week, I talked about a new year being all about untapped potential. But I wonder if 2013 could be considered a bit of a sporting anti-climax after the frenzy caused by the Rugby World Cup in 2011, and celebrations associated with the London Olympics in 2012.

What is potential and when do we know we have it? This profound question came to me while watching the movie Boy on Christmas Day, after overindulging on festive food yet again.

The interaction between Black Caps coach Mike Hesson and recently dumped captain Ross Taylor must have been like watching a recipient of an unwanted Christmas gift straining to make all the right noises of appreciation until enough time had passed for it to be exchanged.

While couch potatoes and armchair critics endlessly debate the reasons why the All Blacks lost to England, the outcome of the curtain-closer between the Black Ferns and the England women's team hardly caused a ripple.

What is going on in the world of sport this week?

Despite concerns about "selling our rugby assets", it has been announced that the Hurricanes and Crusaders have found a licence arrangement that suits all parties, but the Blues and Chiefs are yet to get the nod of approval from the New Zealand Rugby Union.

The latest doping revelations by the United States Anti-doping Agency (USADA), upheld by the International Cycling Union (UCI), have seen Lance Armstrong strong-armed out of the history books of cycling. But will his legacy necessarily disappear as well?

Speaking your mind in a public way seems to be more and more acceptable these days. The stiff upper lip is losing ground to the loose-lipped, highly-emotive outbursts that tend to be expressed via tweets, emails, and video blogs. As a lecturer, I find more and more students are expressing their disappointment with their assignment marks via email, by phone, or in online forum discussions.

As the end of October approaches, speculation rises about who will or won't make the final cut for the 2013 Super Rugby season, and this applies to players, coaches, and administrators.

With the revoking of Mike Tyson's visa to visit New Zealand in November, the National Government, John Key, Kate Wilkinson, Life Education Trust, ticket holders to the 'Day of Champions' event, and New Zealanders in general have narrowly evaded a heavy blow from one of the hardest hitters in heavyweight history.

Why was it that last year the condensed NPC was embraced and yet this year, the crowds, coaches and players seem to be giving the 8 week competition the thumbs-down? Rugby overload? Economic recession? Mental and physical fatigue? Less time to actually coach?