KEY POINTS:
Oh dear. Another Auckland stuff-up. The announcement that Hamilton will be the venue for the David Tua-Shane Cameron heavyweight fight was a body blow to the city's reputation, but sadly predictable.
Despite what some of the nobs who run this city might think, this is an eagerly
awaited sporting contest.
Tua himself told me that the venue was of no concern and that's the way it has to be for a fully focused combatant.
But it should matter to the rest of us, because Tua and Cameron are as Auckland as None Tree Hill. The fight belonged here. It should have been something for Auckland to celebrate, a former world title contender and a world-ranked opponent, fighting in the city that feeds them.
The really distressing part was the comments made by Auckland City councillor Aaron Bhatnagar last week in which he denigrated the contest by saying he doubted it had widespread appeal.
Okay, so the council did not want to get involved in enticing the Tua-Cameron fight to Auckland. And to be fair, Auckland has ploughed many millions into providing a venue, the Vector Arena, which the promoters could have booked.
But to actively put the fight down, to knock it to its knees, was an appalling judgment by the head of the city's development committee. A simple "no thanks but we wish you well" would have done the trick if he couldn't have conjured up any outright enthusiasm. Why not celebrate the pageantry, the mystery, the whole mad world of it all. It sure as hell beats trudging off to another "no comment" rugby game.
In the wake of the $1.79 million David Beckham match disaster - a disgrace that lies at the Auckland Regional Council's door although Auckland did put $128,000 into it - Bhatnagar saw a chance to portray himself as a budget crime buster and has taken shots at a soft target: fight promoters.
Yes, boxing has a shady history, but if it wasn't for promoters who are prepared to take a risk, we wouldn't have events to enjoy. And yes, they are in it for profit, like just about everyone else in this life. Bhatnagar should know that, being the son of a successful businessman.
Maybe Bhatnagar should put the silver spoon firmly back in his mouth before he embarrasses the city any further.
Auckland desperately needs a smart strategy which attracts big events and their spinoffs, not individuals running off at the mouth in an effort to impress the electorate.
It is increasingly difficult to have any confidence in the management of this city, and God help us if the current mob end up running the super city.
Auckland blew it with the Supercars, which represented a chance to prove that this once-great city can actually rise to the occasion. It is fast becoming a place of snobbish pretensions with no respect for what really interests Joe and Jane Blow.
Hamilton is the winner again, and good on them. The city is smart, enthusiastic, innovative, committed and - most importantly - unified in bidding for events.
A hometown duel has turned into a Hamilton duel. At least, for the fans, it is not too far to travel.
David has belted Goliath this time, with Hamilton leaving Auckland red-faced, but Cameron won't upset Tua.
Tua has made great strides in training over the past few weeks. It will be vital for Cameron to box clever and stay out of his way, but unfortunately for the brave Mountain Warrior that's not in his nature.
Some - including councillor Aaron Bhatnagar - may scoff at this fight, but there is also a queue that can't wait for it.
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Epalahame Lauaki has been released by the Warriors, and with the best will in the world towards the big forward, this is a predictable moment to celebrate.
It is no surprise the mistake-prone player will see out his days in England. Lauaki was a lost cause by NRL standards.
His mid-season dropping had plenty to do with the Warriors' form reversal last year. He was capable of three or four errors a game, putting the team on the back foot.
Even in the era of the super athlete, footballers need an innate sense of the game. And Lauaki didn't have it.
It would be a double victory if the Warriors lured the tough Kiwi Greg Eastwood to Auckland in his place.
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Matt Giteau will leave the Force for the Brumbies at the end of this season ... now there's a surprise. This is a welcome victory for the Sydney media, who have long said that the brilliant Aussie playmaker wanted out of the wild west. The Perth club claimed this was a New South Wales plot to destabilise them.
The Force are playing with fire by hanging on to unpopular coach John Mitchell to avoid a massive payout. They would be better off paying his wages and telling him to stay at home, which is what they did over Christmas. I won't suggest who is right and wrong but the overwhelming numbers are against Mitchell. The Force risk wrecking their fragile club by leaving him in charge, and thus a new rugby frontier is in jeopardy.
