CONTRAST THE REACTIONS TO THE SAME CRIME

 

Back a couple of years Sione Lauaki had just signed a lucrative contract with Toyota to play up in Japan. 

But when Toyota got wind of his assault conviction, wacking an innocent man in a bar, they ripped-up his contract.  

The Japanese hate violence of this nature. 

To the Japanese honour, one’s name are important.  

Pity we can’t adopt this mentality here in New Zealand. 

After Lauaki’s assault conviction his employers at the time, the NZFU, fined him $4000 and said if there was another incident they too would rip-up his contract - knowing full-well they would never be in position to make good on their weasel words since Lauaki was off overseas.  

The conclusion between the reactions to the same situation being… 

1.)    Toyota Rugby Club cares more about their name than the NZRFU

2.)    Punching people in the pub is a normal occurrence in N.Z, treated some-what leniently. Not so in Japan.    

3.)    Violence is an accepted part of rugby in New Zealand. Not so Japan.    

KEITH ROBINSON PROMOTES THE ALL-BLACK ‘BRAND’

When you are an ex All Black in New Zealand it’s crucial to remind everyone of your social status.  

More-so on special occasions, like say a Court appearance.

Nothing like donning an All Black polo shirt whilst in the dock, to remind everyone what an important person you are.  

And looky-here it’s even got the Adidas sponsorship logo on it!

 

 

I’m sure Adidas back in Germany, NZRFU will be chuffed with Keith Robinson promoting their ‘brand’.   

 

 

 

“Rich as” Sir Colin Meads

“Solid as... I'd say!"

 

That's how All Black-legend Colin ‘Pinetree’ Meads described Provincial Finance predominately to that of his same demographic, who given his status placed $300 million into a company that went bust in 2006.

 

Meads himself said five years ago he had lost money in Provincial and his promotional activity "You do it in good faith. Because it was Colin Meads, people put their money into the company." 

Meads also acknowledged he was the “figurehead” of Provincial Finance.   

Meads is still held in high esteem in New Zealand even though his endorsement lead to 14,000 Kiwis losing approx 10% of their nest-eggs.    

Cripes the bloke has a knighthood!  

Remember Sir Colin and Lady Verna stated at the time they too were victims of the same finance companies collapse.  

 

Garnished sympathy by claiming to be in the same boat as other investors.  

Really? 

Truly?  

I bet you gave back all the money you received for running the campaign as well to limit the fallout to investors, right Colin?  

 

At their stage of life poor old Colin and Verna must now be on the bones of their arse as a result of their losses in Provincial Finance?  

 

Think again!

On the weekend Colin Meads was at Ellerslie as a part-owner of the hot favourite Ruud Awakening in the $1 million feature race.

Sir Colin’s horse won by the way. 

Lady Verna was trackside as well but wasn’t cheering for Ruud Awakening, as she is a co-owner of one of a rival horse in the same race, Charlestown.  

Charleston finished mid-field.

For seventy-something pensioners Sir Colin and Lady Verna are evidently doing very nicely financially. 

They can’t have taken much of Colin’s own advice.  

Shame they don’t have the integrity to give their share of Ruud Awakenings winnings to some other poor bastards involved with Provincial Finance who can’t even afford presents for their grand-kids let alone interests in two thoroughbreds.       
 

Shame the N.Z Media swooning over Sir and Lady Meads at trackside, selectively blanking-out  Colin's role in ruining the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of Kiwis.  

Mark Hotchin from Hanover Finance infamy was pursued relentlessly by journalists in this country, TV3 in particular.

But I guess Hotchin’s not a sacrosanct  All Black with a title.    

 

 

 

 

Seriously nothing like this would ever go on in N.Z Sport

In a dream, in between myself hopping into the sack with the entire N.Z Women’s Hockey team, I came-up with this fictitious fantasy….….    

1.)    A nameless top N.Z Sportsperson wins a palter at a suburban pub betting big time on a nag ridden someone he was vaguely familiar with, plus another nag. His fortuitous five-figure win had no links at all with his mate who has nothing to do with punting what-so-ever, was never in a position to give him tips, so it was complete luck he won.  

2.)    The same-night half-cut this hypothetical sports person staggers back to a now-dead party he’d been at and involved in a bit of biffo earlier. Then ‘out of his tree’ on a combination of booze and ****** wanders into two bedroom and unprovoked assaults two male flat owners who were in their beds unconscious, resulting in serious facial injuries to one. These guys had nothing to do with the earlier biffo.     

Sorry for boring you with this hypothetical situation.  

It’s clearly fiction, random musings on my behalf.  

On reflection perhaps it would have been more interesting to tell you about ‘me’ and the hockey team?  

It would be wrong for you to place names to anyone that cropped up in my dream-like musings.  

Any fool can tell in the real-world nothing like this would never go on in N.Z Sport and be swept under the carpet.  

 

 

 

OH YES ZAC IS BACK IN TROUBLE

Just a few months after getting back on the turps, Zac ‘I can handle’ my piss’ Guildford is seemingly back to his old tricks.  

Think leopard and spots and you’ll get the gist.  

Let’s be frank here the odds at the TAB were a scant $1:05 on the nose he would re-offend, little surprise in the weekends report.  

Historically the NZRU and Crusaders management manipulated a gullible N.Z Media into believing their charge could be reined in.  

They made Zac out to be redeemable, a victim of his fame. 

They all said with the right environment redemption was possible.  

After the shameful assaults in the Cook Islands Todd Blackadder and Hamish Riach acted like brooding hens.  

The real victims were ignored, offered tickets to games!   

The NZRU and Crusaders management’s stand in respect to Zac ‘I can handle my piss’ Guildford is now exposed for what it was all along - contemptible load of bull-shit! 

These guys only care about their team, never the growing list of his victims. 

My challenge to the NZRU in 2013 is for them to keep their employees fists to themselves.  

Fat chance of this happening though.  

 

ALL BLACK HALL OF SHAME

ALL BLACK HALL OF FAME SHAME 1999-2012 

"I don't think the All Blacks have a drinking issue at all. What we do represents society - some drink, some don't." (John Hart All Black Coach 1996-99)

 

1999: Tearful All Black hooker Norm Hewitt admits a drinking problem after smashing a window during a weekend drinking binge in Queenstown. No charges filed. 

1999: Eric Rush was sentenced to community service for careless driving causing death and injury,
after an incident that left one man dead and two injured. Rush was travelling from a rugby training camp to a speaking engagement at the time. 

 

2000: Tana Umaga is caught on videotape drunk and abusive during a night out with teammates in Christchurch. 

2002: Former All Black and league star Matthew Ridge is stopped by police after allegedly driving outside the terms of his limited licence. He reportedly had to be pepper sprayed by police. The matter was later dropped after officers admitted a "technical error" in the prosecution. 

2002: Xavier Rush photographed slumped outside an Auckland service station. 

2002: Former All Black Jeremy Stanley faced drink-driving charges after an early morning crash in Dunedin.  Stanley, 27, a doctor, was driving a Ford Falcon car borrowed from Otago All Black Simon Maling while Maling was in Auckland with the Highlanders rugby team. 

2002: The Auckland Rugby Union suspends Mils Muliaina for two NPC games after he urinates near other patrons in a Parnell bar and gets involved in a brawl.  Muliaina's then girlfriend now wife Haley Armstrong was the former Event's Manager at the Auckland Rugby Union faced investigation in 2005 by the police fraud squad for allegedly stealing money from the union. The ARU board later withdrew its complaint in a show of support for Muliaina, after the missing money was repaid. 


 2003: Following the Auckland Blues Super 12 Final victory over the Canterbury Crusaders, Howlett and then Blues teammate 'Mils' Malili Muliaina were involved in a brawl at Auckland's Spy Bar, started when an intoxicated Howlett threw a glass at one of the bartenders. As a result Muliaina was left with a broken eye socket and dislocated nose.  

2004: Matthew Ridge thrown out of a Greymouth Pub. 

2004: All Black Sam Tuitupou has a criminal charge of fighting in a public place dropped after cutting a private deal with the police. The charge was withdrawn after he agreed to pay $100 to charity and only became public after police were ordered to disclose details to the Herald. 

2004: All Blacks player Ma'a Nonu was charged with disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest after a scuffle outside a bar in Courtenay Place. Police withdrew the resisting charge and granted him diversion for disorderly behaviour. 

2004: An All Black receives a discharge without conviction after pleading guilty in December of that year to assaulting his wife. He is granted permanent name suppression. 

2004: Former All Black Troy Flavell pleads guilty to assaulting a man in an Auckland bar. 

2004: Stan ‘Tiny’ Hill is named in an investigation into historic abuse at the Waiouru Army base. 

2004: Mathew Ridge's Remuera apartment development company, Basset Rd is liquidated owing $2.8 million. This followed shortly after another of his other failed property companies M3 Ltd went belly-up with debts of $1.3 million.  

2005: All Black Norm Maxwell apologises and pays $700 to charity as part of the police diversion scheme after being charged with assaulting a doorman. 

2005: A Tauranga businessman, 42, alleged he was punched in the face outside Home Bar in Tauranga Carlos Spencer, who was celebrating his stag night. No charges were laid by the Police.  

2005: All Black Andrew Hore - with two others - is convicted and fined $2500 for killing a fur seal, a protected species. 

2005: Charles Riechelmann’s company Auckland Wood Waste Removals is voluntarily  placed into liquidation.

2005: Former All Black and Warriors league star Marc Ellisis convicted and fined $300 plus costs for having five Ecstasy tablets. Outside court Ellis apologised. Josh Kronfeld’s name also came up at one the key conspirators depositions hearing but he was not charged with any offence.

2005: Steven Pokere, is sentenced to 2 1/2-year jail sentence for his part in ripping off investors of $3.9 million.  

2006: Tana Umaga is said to have hit Hurricanes teammate All Black Chris Masoe in response to Masoe allegedly attacking a bar patron at The Jolly Poacher (Christchurch)  tavern between early one Sunday morning. 

2006: An Auckland sportswear company that kitted out the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team was under investigation by the Commerce Commission for alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act. Sports Resources Ltd was raided by the commission late last year, after it was tipped off that the company was passing off China-produced sports gear - including Commonwealth Games team uniforms - as New Zealand made. Included amongst the Directors was Laurence Hullena.
 

2006: Sione Lauaki admits a charge of common assault and is granted diversion.  

2006: Former All Blacks player Stephen Bachop was arrested after allegedly verbally abusing passengers and cabin crew while intoxicated on a flight from Auckland to Tahiti. 

2007: Ma'a Nonu, receives diversion for a second time for breaching Wellington's liquor ban. 

2007: All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu admitted assaulting and trying to drag his pregnant wife along the ground and was discharged without conviction.  

2007: Doug Howlett was arrested outside Heathrow Airport's Hilton Hotel on suspicion of criminal damage to two cars following the All Blacks quarter-final loss to France. He reportedly coughs up NZ$26,000 for repairs.     

2007: Chiefs utility-back Sosene Anesi became the third player from the Waikato franchise in the past two years to be fined for assault.

2007: Regan King was arrested in connection with an alleged assault in a Welsh pub.

2007: Ali Williams was sent home from a Blues tour of South Africa for disciplinary reasons, including late-night drinking.

 

2008: All Blacks rugby halfback Piri Weepu was charged with disorderly behaviour after a late-night incident in the capital. The charge was later withdrawn after he agreed to complete diversion.  

2008: Jimmy Cowan faces three separate charges of disorderly behaviour in three months.    

2008: Jerome Kaino pleads guilty to driving with excess alcohol after being involved in a nose to tail accident. 

2008: An All Black was investigated for his role in an assault that left a Dunedin man concussed and with facial injuries. The potential charge could have been the second to arise from an incident that resulted in team-mate and Highlanders winger Lucky Mulipola being convicted of assault, sentenced to 180 hours' community work and ordered to pay $5000 emotional harm reparation to the victim.  

2009: Rene Ranger was found not guilty verdict in an assault case involving former the All Black outside a Northland Tavern.  

2009: Superfurn New Zealand, which Ali Williams was a 20 per cent shareholder was put in liquidation by a US wholesaler, by order of the High Court. 

2009: Dane Coles admitted abusing Police during a drunken scuffle. 

2009: French based former All Black Byron Kelleher and his clothing brand were sued for alleged copyright breach and non-payment of fees. That hearing came just days after Kelleher, who plays for French club Stade Toulouse, was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, hitting a car and being involved in a brawl.  

2009: AB was granted permanent name suppression after pleading guilty in the Wellington District Court to fraudulently using a previous employer's taxi chits worth $152.50. He was fined $500 plus costs.  

2009: French police investigated allegations former All Blacks rugby player Jerry Collins assaulted a woman. The woman later withdrew the allegations.  
 

2009: All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson walked free from Hastings District Court after being cleared of two counts of assault on his girlfriend, TV presenter Joanna Holley. Ms Holley, who was in tears in the stand at the trial said she also doubted the accuracy of police notes taken at the time of the 2008 incident. Ironically it was her that initially laid the complaint. "I didn't see the notes and I didn't sign them as I believed the policewoman interviewing me was putting words in my mouth." Indeed 2008 was a bumper year for the Highlanders franchise with no less than three players facing criminal charges.   

2009: Doug Rollerson admitted two charges of misleading his employer under the Securities Commission Act after pokie machine money flowed into the North Harbour Rugby Union he headed and gave others operating the machines substantial kickbacks.

2009: Sione Lauaki appears in court charged with trashing property at an Auckland motel.  

2010: Former All Black and Hamilton property owner Christopher (Kit) Fawcett is declared bankrupt, owing $1.3 million to the Southland Building Society. 

 

2010: Matthew Ridge was blacklisted from two swanky Auckland Bars after police were called. 

2010: Dan Carter's high fashion shop business G.A.S fails owing creditors more than $1.16 million. 

2010: Jarrad Hoeta pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving.

2010: Doug Howlett was arrested by Irish Police on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly at his Christmas party night out with his Munster team-mates. 

2010: Sione Lauaki convicted and fined for assault after The Chiefs and ex AB’s No.8 had earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in Hamilton’s Coyote Bar.  

2010: Dean Kenny who is now a chiropractor, was convicted for fraudulently billing ACC for treatment sessions his clients never received.  

2010: Zinzan Brooke and his wife Alison were declared bankrupt in the UK related to a failed B& B operation.

2010: Frano Botica’s failed property investments sees him declared bankrupt.  

2010: Sione Lauaki was charged with careless driving after he rolled his car near Huntly. 

2010: Former All Black Bryce Robins is linked to brutal assault in Taranaki which left a man with permanent brain damage. Two other people where charges and convicted over the same incident both receiving jail terms. Robins trial is expected to take place in 2013.    

2010: Former All Blacks lock Robin Brooke publicly apologises after he gropes a teenager while on holiday in Fiji, assaults her boyfriend. He was subsequently accused of having sex with a near-comatose teenager in an incident 12 years ago which lead to him losing his chance to captain the All Blacks.  

2011: Former All Black Stephen Bachop pleads guilty to two assaults involving his partner and a member of the public on the night of the Rugby World Cup final. 

2011: A charity set up by an Frank Bunce to help underprivileged youth has folded after only two years - and most of its money was spent on running costs, with little reaching the intended recipients. The Frank Bunce Charitable Foundation raised tens of thousands of dollars from high-profile charity events and other funding.But the money is yet to reach children through a sports scholarship programme that has were left waiting for funds.

2011: Jerry Collins was embroiled in a late-night incident at a Wellington bar. 

2011: Rugby sevens star Declan O'Donnell is charged with assaulting two men in a Hamilton pub brawl. 

2011: All Blacks wing Zac Guildford walks into a bar naked and bleeding and assaults two men during an alcohol fuelled rampage in Rarotonga. Kelly Pick adds fuel to the fire when she claims Guildford sexually harassed her during his Cook Islands bender. 

2011: Jock Hobbs, a director of finance company Strategic Finance, which was placed in receivership in March 2010 owing investors $380 million is investigated by The Financial Markets Authority. Due to illness the Authority decided to cease their investigations. Unsecured investors got 1.5 cents in every dollar.   

2011: An Auckland gym owned by former All Black Inga Tuigamala goes into liquidation. 

2012: A name-supressed former All Black was convicted for assaulting his 11-year-old son with a leather belt, but he will not be punished further if he does not reoffend for six months. 

2012: A former All Black convicted in The Dunedin DistrictCourt of committing an indecent act is fighting to keep his identity a secret after being fined $6500 in the form of reparation to the victim.  

2012: Former All Black Keith Robinson admitted hitting a man, and pelting him with bottles. The man was left unconscious and bleeding outside a hotel in Te Aroha as a result of the stoush.  

2012: Police investigate an assault complaint against Eric Rush at the Browns Bay Supermarket he runs. Charges were later dropped.  

Note: If my sources are incorrect leave me a comment below with the appropriate changes/references. I can only be as accurate as the details available in the public domain. I have listed at least one media source, I'm sure you can google more. Should I have missed someone, bound to have given the share numbers, again please leave me the details in the comments section below. A similar list was compiled by The N.Z Herald in 2011.

 

OVERWEIGHT ALL BLACK HOPEFUL PINGED FOR DRIVING WHILST DISQUALIFIED

An aspiring All Black continued to drive while disqualified because he said he needed to get to training to work on his fitness.  

Benjamin Tameifuna, a 21-year-old prop who trained with the All Blacks before the test series against Ireland earlier this year, was dropped from the Hawke's Bay Magpies front row during the NPC season because he was thought to be overweight. 

On September 13 he was caught driving the 16 kilometres from his Hastings home to rugby practice at Park Island in Napier, despite having been suspended last year for having too many demerit points.

He had also been caught driving twice before when he should not have been.  

Tameifuna pleaded guilty in Hastings District Court on the 13^th November to two charges of driving while disqualified. He was also caught on October 25, driving to get his car deregistered. 

Judge Richard Watson said that, although Tameifuna breached a court order, he had not been caught speeding or driving recklessly.  

In yet another example of one rule for high profile rugby players and the man on the street.  

Judge Watson sentenced Tameifuna to just 50 hours' community work and disqualified him from driving for nine months. He told him he hoped he would use his community work to talk to and inspire young rugby players. 

Tipping the scales at close to 140kgs wow what an inspiration Tameifuna will be.     

As part of his community work they could hold pep-talks at KFC.  

The judge was evidently impressed with a submission from Chiefs assistant coach Tom Coventry, who had known Tameifuna for some time. He said Coventry had "wonderful insight" into Tameifuna's background, which was "not as privileged as some".  

Tameifuna may not have had a privileged up-bringing but he sure the hell now knows the privileges of being a professional rugby player in New Zealand when it comes to the even-handed implementation of the law.