Girls Get Down And Derby

Posted 4:49pm Sunday 5th August 2012

Roller derby is the marmite of sports: you either love it or you don't. There are no half-measures when it comes to roller derby. Those who love it are obsessed with it. It takes over their lives and the lives of their families. People who don't really couldn't give a shit. I’m not ashamed to Read more...

An Unnecessarily Clinical and Probably Inaccurate Analysis of New Zealand's Olympic Team

Posted 2:15pm Sunday 29th July 2012

185 New Zealand athletes will compete across 21 sports at the London 2012 Olympics. That's a lot. It puts us in the top 20 nations in the world in terms of numbers competing. Britain will have the most, with 542 athletes competing across all 26 sports. 21 sports is a lot of sports to know Read more...

What is a Sport (Part 2)

Posted 2:15pm Sunday 29th July 2012

So here goes. First, I would like to say that this is a completely thankless task. This debate will never be decided, and no amount of emotive vitriol or ascerbic wit will bring us any closer. They only thing we can hope for is to be dragged entertainingly off-topic by some interesting thoughts and Read more...

Sexuality in sports

Posted 10:46am Sunday 22nd July 2012

I have to admit that I was a little nervous writing this article. Not because of what people will think, but because I am certain that I am bound to offend someone in some way. I am mindful that there might be a bit of a “poking your uneducated nose into something that doesn't really concern you” Read more...

Caden Shields

Posted 10:46am Sunday 22nd July 2012

Caden Shields might not be at the Olympic level just yet but it seems he's on the fast track. The Dunedin-raised physiotherapy student has recently returned from a scholarship at Purdue University in Indiana, where he competed for the “Boilermakers” in long-distance running events and found his Read more...

A review of the Highlanders’ Season

Posted 5:14pm Sunday 15th July 2012

Best player: Aaron SmithWent from being underrated backup to best halfback in the country in the space of about six weeks. A rapid pass, good decision making, and an improving running game. Critic’s favourite Highlander is now everyone’s favourite Highlander. Best Win: Highlanders 27-24 Read more...

London – a sensible but boring Olympics?

Posted 5:14pm Sunday 15th July 2012

Unfortunately, for most cities that win the right to host the Summer Olympic Games the blessing quickly becomes a curse. Enormous sporting organisations such as the IOC, FIFA, and the IRD operate by farming out the risk to the host countries while keeping all the goodies for themselves. The host Read more...

Woo Sports!

Posted 5:13pm Sunday 8th July 2012

For Critic Issue 15 of 2012 I have compiled ten reasons I'm excited about sports in second semester. Semester One was okay I guess, but Semester Two is offering up an absolute smorgasbord of sexy sporting action to watch both locally and on the telly. So, in no particular order, here are some things Read more...

What does Sonny Bill Williams want?

Posted 5:13pm Sunday 8th July 2012

Straight after winning a World Cup and killing it for the Chiefs this year Sonny Bill Williams might be quitting New Zealand rugby, at least for now. He’s been pretty damn good at everything he's tried, but what does Sonny Bill want to look back on when he retires from sport? What does Sonny Bill Read more...

Smashed Him Bro!

Posted 8:39pm Sunday 3rd June 2012

This week we are going to talk about head injuries in sports. TVNZ's Sunday programme recently broadcast a shocking exposé on the reality of brain injuries caused by contact sports. Research in the US has shown that the repeated traumatic brain injuries often seen in contact sports can cause Read more...