Louisa Wall: He'll play only if he can win

COMMENT

Bring back Buck seems to have been replaced this week by the mantra "Come back Russell". So easily we forget and forgive.

But, hey if he's up for it why not.

Russell Coutts left last time to win. Sure he was motivated by the allure of more money but, fundamentally, it was the excitement of being involved in a campaign that he knew he could win given disillusionment within Team New Zealand that was showing the post-Cup defence that they were not up to another challenge, with the resources available.

As a strategic decision it was masterful and the critique of this action, as they say, is written in the history books.

Additionally, Russell likes to be in control, and his style of leadership requires an environment where he has significant responsibilities.

His influence within Team New Zealand was rendering a diminishing value of return that he could not comprehend or live with.

And so it seems that this virtuous cycle has repeated but with Coutts in this instance being let go as opposed to his exiting back door for greener pastures.

The man is a winner there is no doubt. When he left Team New Zealand the conceptualised betrayal sent tremors through the nation. We weren't aware that Team New Zealand was a brand, identified by the red sock campaign, the iconic menagerie of New Zealand public and private sponsors, not to mention the public good contribution via Government funding indicative of a nation unified in battle.

That this assortment was merely a collaboration of interest groups unified behind a professional sailing challenge, and not New Zealand the sovereign nation vs all challenging nations for the America's Cup, was a moving goal post (psychologically) as the game was being played.

How naive we were, but now we have matured and Grant Dalton has had the foresight to collaborate with Ernesto Bertarelli to make sure New Zealand is represented at the 2007 America's Cup.

It is a stroke of genius (that hopefully will bite the hand that fed it) and in this no-strings attached deal maybe the potential to collaborate with other Bertarelli resources may be brokered. Maybe Grant can get his friend Ernesto to let Russell come play with us? Forget the bat and ball, we have our own and this arrangement could be just between us. This could be his level of influence within Team New Zealand. That is, if he really wants a competition.

Alinghi is destined to win and so confident are they that Coutts has been discarded. So, there is much motivation for Coutts to come home and rally the troops on the water for the 2007 campaign in a battle that is the signature of his life to date.

Bertarelli is the key player (money is power) and with his endorsement the legal straitjacket could be disengaged to ensure Coutts' participation (with that much spare change anything is possible). But what could/would motivate him to do so?

The inspiration to fund Team New Zealand aligns itself to the advertising and marketing of the event. We will be used to sell the contemporary historical challenges and hence to promote and validate the significance of the America's Cup. Regarding Coutts' specific participation, that is a fairly simple question to answer. Ego, little e or big E, it doesn't really matter.

Bertarelli, I am sure, would love to beat Coutts on the water. But herein lies the juxtaposition of this proposition, for the issue of adequate resources will be vital. For if Coutts did not think we could win given the resources, he would not compete given his love of winning.

However, given his willingness to front the media, I feel a return to Team New Zealand is a very real prospect that would be intensified if adequate resources were secured to launch a successful challenge.

So, hoist those "Come back Russell" banners and let the arm-wrestling and ego- fest begin.