Columns by Mike Crowl, from the Dunedin Star Midweeker, Dunedin, New Zealand

Column Eight - 24th Aug, 1994

Perception

Perception is a curious thing, depending so much, as it does, on circumstances. My son told me the other day, with great sincerity, that I don't really seem to be that old. A major compliment, I thought. I don't feel that old, and have great difficulty at times in dealing with a body which tells me I am. Of course, this same son has in recent weeks also told me I'm too old to understand A, B or C, depending on which facet of life he's not discussing with me at the time. I don't understand how I can simultaneously be not so old and much too old, but I guess it all has to do with the theory of relativity - though not Einstein's, mind you. This same ambiguity of perception arose in the course of the latest Bleed-Us-Slow Cup saga. For some reason I managed to see only the last five minutes, and as the NZ players wearily filed off the field, the announcer informed us that they were 'broken-hearted.' I stood right up close to the television, but found it difficult to perceive any broken hearts. I always thought broken-heartedness had to do with major tragedies, such as parents losing a child in an accident, for example, or a child in Rwanda losing his parents. These tough, macho, jersey-swapping men didn't seem to have any such air of tragedy about them. And then we read in the paper that Jeff Wilson was 'totally inconsolable' because he was tackled before he could score a try. I would think a newly-wed husband who saw his wife step in front of a bus might be totally inconsolable, but I struggle with the idea of anyone being in such a state over the loss of a try. Apparently Jeff, the would-be hero, felt he had let his team and his country down. Doesn't a hero appear in different kind of ball-game? Did thousands of New Zealanders, on seeing the loss, pour out into the street, weeping, wailing and gnashing their teeth? I think most of them went to bed, and slept soundly. Silliest of all is the fuss made over Laurie Mains, and his future as an All Black coach. Quite honestly, I don't know whether he's any good at the job or not, but plenty of people who should know seem to think he is. Why on earth is there such a fuss about him when the team loses? Did he play? Was he in boots, shorts and shirt at any time during the game? Did he get mud up his nostrils sliding along the ground towards the touch line? I don't think so. If any sacking needs to go on, sack the players - they're the ones who actually played the game, and who made any mistakes that were to be made. If I'm going for an exam, and fail, there's no point going to the examination board and blaming my teacher. I'm the one who has to front up on the day, just as the All Blacks do. The whole thing's as silly as some members of the Labour Party saying Mike Moore should be sacked because the party did so badly in the by-election. Was Mike Moore a candidate? I don't think so (though with that by-election I'd be surprised if anyone knew who the candidates were - most voters probably thought they were going to see the names of Bolger, Clark and Anderton on the polling papers, with Peters and Shadbolt as some kind of duet). We've gone into a super-star mentality with rugby. Super-stars, however, have to live up to their image. So where there's no room for failure, we're bound to get into this state of hype which exaggerates and makes nonsense of normal human ability. I prefer people who fail, or make mistakes, to people who are unconditionally right and able at all times. People who fail can learn new methods, new approaches; they know how to be humble. People who see failure as a reason to blame someone else for the problem, however, or who take the whole problem on their own shoulders, need a new perspective - on perception.

Bleed-Us-Slow Cup was my frequent misnomer for the Bledisloe Cup, played between Australia and New Zealand.  Curiously enough, no one ever commented on my renaming of it. [Back]

Jeff Wilson was, until recently, one of the bright stars of NZ Rugby.   He has just (2005) returned to playing professional cricket, for the Black Caps, a game at which he's equally proficient.  [Back]

Laurie Mains: one of NZ's outstanding, but somewhat underrated, rugby coaches. [Back]

Bolger, Clark and Anderton: leaders of three NZ political parties.   The first two have led as Prime Ministers. [Back]

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