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19/09/03 If I paid homage to Charles Bronson last article I will definitely have to mention Johnny Cash this week. The Man in Black passed away recently but he was not a big part of my life like Charles Bronson. Probably because my father Tony the Tool Man was not a big fan, he was more into Neil Diamond and German Second World War marching music. I certainly respected Johnny Cash for his melancholy music and work in prisons. The big blow up this week is the number of players from the poorer Rugby nations who have pulled out of the World Cup. Some big names who will be missing are: Trevor Leota and Henry Tuilaga from Samoa, Simon Raiwalui and Jacob Raulini from Fiji and Aisea Havili from Tonga. I think what is missing in the debate, is that it is the actual players who have declined to participate in the World Cup not the English Clubs barring them from participating. Players such as Trevor Leota, Simon Raiwalui and Jacob Raulini have all played in World Cups for their countries and they are nearing the end of their careers. Unfortunately they have missed out on the massive contracts that their Australian, New Zealand and English counterparts get for representing their countries. If you look at an average English Zurich Cup contract as 150,000 pounds per year, the players would miss out on 30,000 pounds for the World Cup. This is huge money for anyone, but especially for guys from the Pacific, who will never make this sort of money again in their lifetime.
To the imbeciles on my message board such as Goose who are bagging me about my slow rate of articles, you can all get stuffed. Remember this site is done for “Love not Money”, it is certainly a great vehicle to get square with anyone and also bag people which I enjoy immensely. Hence my “Ugliest Man in the Universe” competition which is being won hands down by the Stonefish aka Penrith’s Noel Selby. Greg Growden called me from the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday and asked me about the competition and I said to him I don’t mind being in it as long as I don’t win. Well there is no chance of that the Stonefish is going to win hands down. We need a prize for the competition so if you would like to donate something or have any ideas leave a note on the message board. My mate Captain Ron is currently in Egypt, remember last time I was worried about him disappearing in Kenya and turning up in a snuff movie. Well he writes that he is well and also how attractive he finds Egyptian camels, certainly a strange one my mate Captain Ron. I am staying at Captain Ron’s place for the World Cup when I am in Brisbane to watch Fiji/France and Fiji/USA, I will certainly be locking my bedroom door at night. Regards |
Tony Dempsey the International Rugby Players Association chairman has it right when he says that the IRB is to blame for the current situation. Today’s article in Rugbyheaven by AAP mentions that Australia won $3.4 million for the Cricket World Cup and overall participating countries were awarded $8.4 million. If this sort of prize money was given to participating nations in the Rugby World Cup I am sure the likes of
Leota, Raiwalui and Raulini would be able to play.