Sunday, December 17, 2006
The off season (...and other fairytales.)
The Holiday season brings a time of reflection for most South African sports fans, Other than the current India cricket tour (which lets face it, is as exciting as an infomercial) there's not a lot to do but think, and reminisce on the year past...... you're right, that is too painful, so lets look at something else. How much is the Super 14 becoming like the NFL enterprise in the U.S.
In it's infancy the Super 10 was nothing more than a hand full of provincial teams from SA, NZ and Aus playing each other. It wasn't really seen as a world class tournament. Now we have regional franchises with brand recognition, inter-franchise player trading, clever logos, cheerleaders, corporate sponsorships, the similarities are endless. I think it's time we stole a few more ideas from them.
Halftime shows!! How about that? It's Half time at the Super 14 Final (We can call it the SuperCup) we're at Absa Stadium, the Sharks are leading the Blues 14 to 12, and as the teams come off, 2 dozen cheerleaders come running onto the field followed by an elaborately designed float with the Rolling Stones playing "Start me up". Okay so we might have to settle for Zola, but you get the Idea.
And what about creating some NFL style Mega-Stars. Sure we have Big Joe, Schalkie and Habanna, but let's put our franchise marketing guru's on the job and Make them as loved by the public as LaDanian Tomlinson, Tom Brady and Tough 'ol Brett Favre are to the yanks. (Yes realise you may not know who they are, but trust me the Yanks love them more than Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny combined)
And Last but not least, Lets get some entertaining fucking commentators. Don't get me wrong I like Naas, he does have some personality, makes a few good cracks and has a solid analysis of the game, but the rest of them? are you kidding me, Ettiene Fynn? he played what? 2 games 10 years ago and now he's a sports celebrity?
Just a little bit of style, that's all I ask.
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