Waikato Uber Alles !: May 2009

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Rocky Horror Picture Show Statue - Hamilton

Location: Victoria Street, Hamilton. Between the Victoria Street Dairy and Master Kong Restaurant.
Cost: None! Its a statue so you can walk around it.
Estimated Time: 35 seconds to walk around, although you can spend time reading the inscription.
Details: To celebrate Richard O'Brien who created the Rocky Horror Picture Show and his work at the Embassy Theatre that was in Victoria Street until it was demolished in 1994.
Interesting Facts: Did you know he wrote a sequel to the RHPS called Shock Treatment, although no-body really cares.
Safety Level: Takapuna - its in the main street next to public toilets though so if you go in the evening the danger level would be Kingsland. If you there past midnight it would be bordering Manurewa.

Virtual Tour of Hamilton City, Waikato 1

BubbleShare: Share photos - Easy Photo Sharing

Coming to Hamilton for a game in 2009? Never mind if you are a supporter of Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, North Harbour, Northland or Auckland... leave it to your friends from Waikato Uber Alles to point you in the direction of all the cultural experiences that you need in our great fair and wonderful city!

Farewell to the Chiefs (Reprise)

Farewell to another season of the Super 14... now the real business begins. After a season that relatively promised so much, after the first three games where it seemed like business as usual before that incredible run to the semi-finals... what price now a single point out of the first three games? A home final instead of the bloodbath that was Pretoria? A bonus point loss to the Crusaders seemed on the face of it a great result until the rest of the Crusaders results proved what a spent force that they were. Dropped balls cost us the Warratahs in Sydney, but the game that we should have received more was the home game against the Sharks.

Kevin O'Neil dropping the ball when unopposed while crossing the try line, right in front of the Green Zone... Brendon Leonard dropping the ball when switching between hands when about to score in the same corner... then to top it all off attacking the Sharks line repeatedly on full time only to be denied time and time again, phase after phase. A converted try at that point should have been enough to secure us top spot - but it was not to be.

And what of the fans? The early games were testament to the hard year of neglect and failure - not even half decent crowds for the opening games against the Sharks and Force , then suddenly a decent run and everyone in H-Towns a fan. Sold out crowds against the Hurricanes, terrible conditions and a near sell out against the Brumbies and a vital win, then the last hurrah against the Hurricanes again. Who cares if half the crowd were confused and ringing Cow bells at a Chiefs game?

Now the real business begins with the premiere competition in New Zealand- the Air New Zealand Cup and we can't wait. Mark 1st August in your diaries - the date we take on Southland in Invercargill.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Counties Manukau Doomed

Today's Sunday Star Times had a story about the Air New Zealand Cup and that an announcement would be made this week to cut two teams from the competition. While its to be confirmed the gist of the article is that Counties Manukau is doomed and that Northland may be following them into oblivion as well.

I don't like Counties Manukau, those of us who were at the semi-finals in 1996 might remember the game when the announcers stated when we could pick up tickets for the following weeks game at half time, and then in the second half we were defeated. I actually saw Mac McCallion the Counties Mankua Coach of the time in town later that evening, about 1am and forlornly offered him my scarf. He didn't accept.

So goodbye Steely Dan, farewell to the Taniwha and possibly good riddance to the terrible shark that is the mascot for the Tasman Makos. Well that was before the Rugby Union released a statement saying that the SST had all the journalist integrity of Tony Veitch.

There's no planned cull or restructuring until 2011, or 2010 if all parties can agree on it. As Counties Manukau are bankrupt from last season one would think they'd put up there hands at the end of this season and end everyone collective misery.

Personally I'd like to see Auckland go. Nobody cares at Eden Park. Its a soulless lifeless place filled with apathy and mistrust. People just don't care, the ground, supposedly the premiere Rugby Stadium in the country is lousy, out of date and lacking in character. Crowds are minimal food and merchandise are terrible and the people are awful, then that's just my opinion.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Bay of Plenty and the Money Man

Whats been the Bay of Pleny's contribution to the strength of the Chiefs this season? Hand on your heart how many players can you name from our neighbouring province that have made a meaningful contribution to our team? Let's be honest is nothing. Counties Mankua have had a bigger impact with one player who may well be 'flash' but whose defence and ability under the high ball is always going to come into question, and surely should prevent Masaga from gaining an All Black call up if the selectors have any sense. How many players from Bay of Plenty actually make up the Chiefs squad?

14 years of indifference have not been eliminated by one decent season, and its not hard to argue that our comrades in arms from a neighbouring minor province have contributed anything meaningful to the team this season.

The actual answer to the question is five: my, my how the Chiefs would have struggled this season without the input from Colin Bourke, Mike Delaney, James McCougan and Joe Savage.
Latimer is probably the exception to this list, just.

Money Man is a self help New Zealand show with 'Money Man' Brendon Johnson who supposedly help couples in financial stress. It's a farce and as surely as there is no Santa Claus or father Christmas when the supposedly ex British Marine coming to save couples from financial stress its a completely fabricated situation. It makes god-damn awful TV, but how many of your know that he doesn't actually do any of the financial planning himself?

That's right its done by an actual financial planner who write a column in the Woman's Day magazine. When you realise that the dire implications of the show are quite laughable - the supposedly financial planning by an ex British Marine is simply a set of scripted lines that he's fed. Who knows if he really is a British Marine whose obsessed with feeding people on the show porridge? Does he really stay at someone's house for four days on a camp bed? Why does he persist with the ludicrous 'Freddie Mecury' and frankly who really cares... but back to the 'mighty' Steamers.

Bay of Plenty might be having their moment shining in the sun based on the Chiefs success but as surely as Brendan Johnson has no idea about the advice he gives its a false success. The true test of their contribution to the Chiefs will come this season when the mighty Mooloos travel to quite possibly the worst stadium in New Zealand - a converted Speedway that was formerly known as Blue Chip Stadium. Then on Saturday 22nd August there will be no more false pretence. Waikato should utterly smite the hapless Bay of Plenty Steamers, baring a miracle or another season of All Black duties. We of course will make the dreadful trip across the Kaimai's to that awful place safe in the knowledge that as long as we avoid being sat on by Hori BOP that it will be five points safely in the bag.
- FMDWS (Fanktons Most Dangerous Waikato Supporter).