Playing the understudy is a tricky business, especially in the inexperienced Lawson’s position where there will be so much scrutiny along with well-stated team expectations that he helps Red Bull regain the constructor title.
But it can go well. And this is a time to think positively ... which leads to this analogy (okay, I’m drawing a long bow).
The new Netflix programme Enigma attempts to reveal what the NFL Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Aaron Rodgers is all about. This is a tough assignment – Rogers is a riddle wrapped up in a mystery.
After being a lower-than-expected draft pick, Rodgers spent the first three seasons of his NFL career as the understudy to Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre, who wasn’t entirely welcoming.
But what a way to learn. The crazy dream is this: Liam Lawson will become a Formula One champion one day, or at least genuinely challenge for what is probably the most revered title in all of sport. And being this close to a legend in a great team can surely help, despite the pitfalls.
So for now … a big congratulations to the 22-year-old Liam Lawson, and all those who have nurtured and supported his career.
His Red Bull rise is already a great moment in the history of New Zealand sport, no matter how it turns out.
WINNER: Breaking the mould … pace and spin
This cricket item should be about the incredible Kane Williamson, who is so quietly efficient that his incredible test run-scoring actually slips under the radar.
It’s another radar that caught the attention, though. It has been the strangest of years for New Zealand cricket, of extreme highs and lows.
The best came last for me. There has been no better sight in Kiwi sport this year than that of Will O’Rourke terrorising England batsmen with sheer pace.
Great fast bowling takes cricket to a whole new level. It has not been a New Zealand forte. Just as unusually, a fleet of Kiwi spin bowlers destroyed India in the shock 3-0 victory there.
Bottom line: Hopefully O’Rourke stays fit, and is not hit by a Shane Bond-type injury curse.
LOSER: Boxing
We don’t need Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury III, that’s for sure. Actually, we didn’t need Usyk-Fury II either.
Heavyweight boxing is getting flabby again, just like Tyson Fury. The big Brit had the gall to complain about the loss to the Ukrainian when his lack of fury in the ring was there for all to see.
Old boxing blokes are lining up for overhyped paydays, but some spectators in Riyadh weren’t fooled. They reportedly booed and whistled at the end, as the clever Usyk retained his world crown.
Mind you, the DAZN streaming issues – the crashing and buffering – didn’t help. Maybe that was the real problem.
WINNERS: Liverpool … and Manchester City products
I just can’t see them being beaten for the English Premier League title. And they are absolutely fantastic to watch.
Mohamed Salah and co dismantled Tottenham Hotspur in the latest round of the EPL, in a wonderful nine-goal game.
And Manchester City’s title defence already looks over, incredibly, after a horror run of results, the latest loss coming against Aston Villa.
Making matters worse, two booming stars of the EPL are former City players Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, both just 22. Rogers scored one of Villa’s goals against the struggling champions and provided the assist for the other. Palmer is shining at Chelsea, possibly the one club who could, just maybe, halt Liverpool’s title charge.
LOSER/WINNER: Esport … and it has spoken for what should be all of us
“Perhaps they just don’t get it,” moaned New Zealand Esport boss Conor English, after they missed out on any High Performance Sport New Zealand funding.
English continued: “Recent research shows that those under 34 are more likely to watch an esports [video games] event than traditional sports, and the gap continues to grow.
“Far from being sedentary screen-dwellers, survey data from NZ Esports in 2024 shows that students involved in esports are twice as likely to participate in physical sport each week than non-esports players – shattering outdated stereotypes
“The world of sport is evolving, and New Zealand should be looking forwards, not backwards.”
He may have missed out on money, but English is bang on the mark. New Zealand’s HP funding is a relic, obsessed with Olympic and Commonwealth Games success while ignoring what most people actually do and regularly watch in this country.
New Zealand should adopt long-term, stable funding systems that reflect the massive interest in sports such as basketball and women’s football that have major long-term potential.
Instead, it relies on random greatness such as Dame Lisa Carrington’s prowess in a niche sport with no mass appeal to dictate where the dollars go.
Then it slashes the funding when a sport has a bad Olympic moment. How stupid is that? In all honesty, young people I’ve talked to about the Olympics don’t give a stuff about them.
The Olympics come up with the odd great moment, but overall they are a crock of boring you know what. But the old white guys who have run Kiwi sport for so long, protecting their antiquated views of the world, won’t let go.
It’s the same old guard nonsense that has wrecked Auckland sport by clinging on to Eden Park for dear life. At least Esport’s English has put up some kind of protest, not that anyone in high places will take note.
WINNER: Lindsey Vonn
The American skiing superstar faced some strange criticism, after announcing her comeback at the age of 40 following a six-year absence.
Operating on a titanium knee, she nursed her way to an impressive 14th place at the World Cup event in Switzerland.
WINNER: This family firm
The Kelce name has become a powerful sporting brand in America.
Both Travis and Jason Kelce are NFL greats, but it goes beyond that.
Travis Kelce became a world figure via his relationship with cultural icon Taylor Swift.
Now Jason Kelce’s wife Kylie has zoomed to the top of the Spotify and Apple podcast charts, overtaking The Joe Rogan Experience, with her show Not Gonna Lie.
