Note-to-Reader: This is to be read on recline, and not on the run…

The All Blacks – History, Tradition, Commitment, and still, even now, a world leading and very marketable Brand.  This team thus named, evokes joy, fear, with much inspiration for the faithful and from the opposition, who add to this list another concept… a loathing and very unloving respect.

Does this fit with your understanding and perception of this Rugby Union team from the wind-swept coastlines from Cape Reinga to the Bluff?

As these “blogging” words are being presented on a worldwide platform, the diversity of responses will invariably reflect the diversity of cultures on this planet Earth.  However, for those living in our “Land of the Long White Cloud,” Aotearoa, New Zealand, the conception of our All Blacks can be encapsulated in the words surrounding the subsequent image of this all black jersey.  It’s not that this isn’t a jersey, it’s just it seems to represent so much more!

Growing up in New Zealand, as a community, we are birthed and encapsulated with the rugby culture that is very part of our sporting past-time.  While there are other sporting endeavours we will bleed for, what we will venerate more faithfully, and what we will explicate more passionately, in newspapers, on talk-back, at work, and throughout play, even in the quietness of our reflections, will be what happens with our Men in Black on the battlefield. When this field filled with potential dreams becomes our living nightmare, such can indeed haunt our thoughts from sun-up to sun-down.

Call this what you will, and in time we will get to this point, be it healthy or otherwise, putting hyperbole aside, it is easy to affirm that on this subject, when these men are at war, we all join in the battle!

Are these All Blacks our nation’s best perceived projection of our cultural identity to the world-at-large?  Functionally, this may be so!

In fact, I would say that what we most strongly identify in this nation, is tied up in this concept and this reality.  This resonated personally when our family spent some time in another land, away from our “Kiwi” context, and at those times when the All Blacks filled our television screens, my wife, a rugby heretic, became a believer.  What happened?  Let me qualify, she certainly did not fall in love with the game, nor wanted to take in all the sights and sounds, however, in a foreign land, away from home, this image of a band of black-shirted brothers, most deeply and cognitively called forth the inner longing of a land-less and flight-less kiwi, thereby providing a bridge to commune with this reality, for a short time, at least.

It would only take the restrains of Dave and “Loyal” for this to have reached its cultural zenith… RWC 20-11 Big Noters, please take… note!

To give you some idea of our national team, or to remind you of times gone-by, here are some images to fill your concept and your context…

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Now, for the Haka [Yes, from more than one challenging context],

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And after the war was won…

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Okay, so what is the point of all this posting?  I am glad that you asked!

Well, if you were thinking when you read the header, such should be loud and clear, as coming soon on CNNZ will be an EXCLUSIVE-ONE-ON-ONE-INTERVIEW with an All Black, where we go on the record and off the hook. To provide you some insight as to the present proceedings in making this happen, last night, I digressed on the phone for a little over an hour with the said All Black, talking with this soon-to-be-named man about some contexts that you will soon-to-be-able-to-read.

Time will be telling whether this provides you more than the typical piece from the typical sources, but my goal in this adventure is to let the man speak, let the man define his reality, let the man give us an insight into his world,and how he views this life under the Sun… and to do so in a style that may turn out to be different, but may suit!

More details will be coming in the next few days as to WHOM this is exactly, but depending on where you heard or read the details of this deal from, you may have more than an inkling.

Not only will you have the opportunity to gain more of an inside look into an All Black, but there will be an opportunity to WIN SOMETHING PERSONALLY FROM THIS MAN!  Trust me, I have the audio to prove it.

I have yet to decide exactly how we will break this down, but but as it relates to the subject matter, first, we will hear about this man’s history and life journey, focusing more on the development of the boy-to-man, also talking about those things that ultimately define him, such as his faith!  This will set an appropriate foundation to talk shop, to talk Rugby, as we converse about the Rugby context, one digression at a time.

The bigger this becomes, the more fun we will have… AND, if you have any rugby questions, there may just be an opportunity to represent!

However, for this to all take place, you must stay tuned, invite ya friends, and even your enemies [this is a Christian blog, after all], as we begin to make this happen for your reading pleasure!

I am excited about this potential!  Let’s get excited together… Ah, Special!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin