KEY POINTS:
It's time Auckland gave Scott Dixon the proper fanfare for his brilliant motor racing deeds and organised a street parade for him.
I know the city's mothers and fathers don't like causing any sort of disruption in the name of motor racing. But Dixon deserves the full treatment
for winning the Indy 500 this year and scoring his second Indy series win.
In some parts such feats make him the king of the world. If the street parade bizzo is good enough for yachties (and no doubt rugby players if they ever won anything worthwhile) then it's good enough for Dixon. We should be revelling in Dixon's achievements.
His performances are extraordinary in a highly competitive sport that is virtually a religion in parts of America. He is already one of our sporting greats with the promise of plenty more to come.
* I'm not sure who an extensively quoted sports management whizz was trying to impress over the weekend, but his extravagant words might well have been lost on the intended target, Rotorua golf sensation Danny Lee.
David Rollo, an Aussie IMG bigwig, talked about Lee's market capability, delivering his profile, upside potential, generating attention for companies, opening corporate doors and translating golf success into millions of dollars.
But wait. Hear ye. Hear ye. Rollo warned - although it wasn't stated just who he was warning - Lee's earning potential would dip if his form wavered.
What a mouthful, and also an extremely sad and horribly accurate commentary on how sport is perceived by those with all the power these days.
But Danny Lee is different.
I can't speak for him, but this is the strong impression both he and his family give out.
The close-knit Lees are both humble and grateful about being wealthy, thanks to Danny's paternal grandparent's business interests in Korea. Danny Lee was never going to go hungry, even if he swung a golf club like a drunk on a bender.
What stirs and drives Lee is playing great golf and winning tournaments. He is a ferociously determined character in that regard and the Lees certainly don't give a stuff about the money talk. Market men might find by banging on about their favourite upside - in other words money - they end up on the downside with Danny Lee.
* Credit where it's due. The rugby honchos got the allocation of rugby World Cup venues dead right. And giving Hamilton a Tri-Nations game against the Springboks next year is another top move. The purpose-built rugby stadium in Waikato is as good as it gets in this country. It will be a treat to witness a top test in an excellent, boutique stadium. Hamilton is on a roll, having also snared the Supercar motor racing series.
* Roger Federer's class has come to the top again. It would have been nice - especially for the success-starved Brits - if Andy Murray had won the US Open and broken the Federer/Rafael Nadal show. But it was just as satisfying watching a great champion come back after a couple of failures by his sensationally high standards. The man is tennis perfection at his best.