Tuesday, February 2, 2010

I am Back

Last year I stopped blogging right in the middle of the World Youth Netball Championship. It was because I had a very bad experience and I did not want to share it at the time with the world wide web. It was not pretty, it would not have done the sport I love so much any good so instead I decided to be quiet. I decided to let the edge wear off.

Now I can say no one should have been surprised at Australia's total devastation of the New Zealanders. New Zealand did not deserve to be in the finals but they were allowed there through bias umpiring. There I said it. As an umpire myself I try never to criticize officials but I found the selection of umpires very one-sided and borderline or full-line racial.

Malawi and Jamaica's opportunity to be in the finals was stolen from them both against an overly aggressive and less talented New Zealand team. The Kiwis were not however allowed the same dangerous unsportsmanlike play against Australia who were in my books truly the best team in the competition. I really admired how the Aussie coach used her team which was strong down to her 12th player as exhibited when her goal attack received an unfortunate injury in the semi-finals ( A big Congrats Australia, you were a picture of grace and true talent, sportsmanlike to the last play. Your game was really a great testimony to the great sport of Netball.)
I am looking forward to the day when we as a people can truly see pass colour. See the beauty, the strength, the grace in each other.

My hope and pray for my sport this year is for the World to go into this new decade truly open- minded. And that the superiority/inferiority will be demonstrated through good play on court rather than by bigotry.