Just heard Ian Smith on Radiolive, commenting that he might tape the Australia v All
Whites game because Desperate Housewives and the Pacific are on on monday night. WTF, This guy is a sports broadcaster ( well tries to be). Clearly this is a swipe at football by another rugby sycophant, and in the run up to the World Cup these are getting more frequent. And people wonder why football fans have a chip on their shoulders.
Ian Smith is a former footballer. Heard an interview with him a few years ago where he remembered leaving school to play Central League Football- not cricket. The cricket came later.
In fact Ian was a Central Region & North Island age-group football rep. He went on to play Central League footbal for Kiwi United 1974 -77 & Manawatu United 1977-79
Most cricketers don't really push on and make national sides etc. till they're in their mid-twenties. Many of our best cricketers were also talented footballers e.g. Richard Hadlee first achieved success as a Southern League goalkeeper for Christchurch Rangers (played a few seasons before cricket commitments took over); Jacob Oram: NZ U-20 goalkeeper; Nathan MacCullam: NZ U-20 international striker, Otago football rep & played several seasons of Southern League & a bit of National League I think (more well-known down south for his football skill until recently); MacMillan & Astle: talented Canterbury junior football reps who helped carry Canty football coaching legend Terry Conley's coffin at his funeral.
Smith genuinely likes football and may have to tape the AWs game next week because his wife wants to watch Desperate Housewives (Oh, us lucky bachelors!)
He maintains an involvement in the game through three sons who play football (Jarrod- former All White & two younger sons who also play)
And since 2008 he has been a trustee of "NZ Future Footballers Foundation" a charitable trust which sponsors young players. See about his involvement here:
So, criticism's a bit unfair in this case. Problem is one of lack of communication and awareness of peoples' football ties...
Big Pete 652010-05-21 05:08:37
Big Pete 65, Christchurch