Supershorts: Tasker caught with mic on

America's Cup commentary team Peter Lester (left) and Martin Tasker.

Tasker caught with mic on, telling tales about Taylor and academic pride in NRL

Careful of that mic

Martin Tasker, Television New Zealand's wind-whipped sailing reporter, got a timely reminder that the mic is never off yesterday (see A8). He's not the only sports broadcaster caught out. Ian Chappell was once sprung saying Jesus Flaming Christ, or something like that, in a non-religious sense, while he thought he was off air. Soccer pundit Ron Atkinson once said the dreaded N work when describing Marcel Desailly. On that scale, Tasker's blooper was very mild.

Taylor dismissed

Rumour has it Ross Taylor was at a party at Chris Gayle's the other night and none other than Mr Bombastic - Shaggy - was on the decks. Taylor plays for the terrifically named Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, who were in town to play Gayle's Jamaica Tallawahs on Monday (NZT). Gayle had the better night, dismissing Taylor for 20 before smoting 51 off 25 balls in the home side's successful chase.

Nickname rumour

Another Taylor rumour: He is known as White Boy among his teammates.

Academic pride or folly

The NRL this week named their "Academic Team of the Year", perhaps to provide a counterpoint to the numerous off field "achievements" that have plagued the sport in recent years. The star-studded lineup includes injured Warrior Ben Henry (business management), David "the Wolfman" Williams (graphic design), NSW star Ryan Hoffman (Bachelor of Business), Roy Asotasi (Certificate in Small Business) and Nathan Fien (Diploma of Management). There was, sadly, no room for Blake Ferguson, Josh Dugan and James Tamou.

And then ...

What next? The NRL "Those Who got to the Majority of their Polytech Classes Team of the Year"? "Those Who Have Read a Book Team of the Year"?

Way to beat stereotypes?

Honestly, league is hounded by stereotypes (perpetuated by snide remarks like the one directly above!) but is this really the best way to dispel them?

No way to score

Septugenarian Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson entertained radio listeners in the US capital yesterday. When told that Boston Red Sox slugger Mike Napoli was apparently dating a porn star who goes by the name Rachel Starr, he replied: "Well none of my guys could, 'cause we can't score."

More for Ryder

Said someone who has been following Jesse Ryder's career rather closely in the aftermath of his suspension for failing a drugs test: "All he needs is a sex scandal and a firearms arrest to complete the set."

No tomato sauce

Paolo Di Canio is taking his job very seriously. Not only is he trying to change the way Sunderland play (i.e. to win a bit more often), but he's changing lives off the field, according to UK daily Metro.

Di Canio has given his stars a list of things they can and cannot eat. Top of the list is tomato sauce and mayonnaise, while having a cheeky ice cube in your drink has also been ruled out.

"Gone are the days of a player coming in and boasting about drinking seven beers the night before," Di Canio said. "Now they arrive an hour early for training, and we have lectures about why we can't have everyday things like mayonnaise, ketchup and ice. They can cause chemical problems to the liver, to the stomach. If you have ice with coke you can have indigestion.

"I know players who've had ice with their coke the night before a game and then couldn't play. We give the players diet sheets to follow, but I think they still enjoy life."