Those sports stars you just can't warm to
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="594199" data-time="1467707530">
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<p>I don't know if Ralph is a dick or not but he did all that despite being one of the slowest outside backs in the abs for quite sometime .<br>
Come to think of it if he did tell his mates about her lady garden that is a bit of a dick move .</p>
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<p>Pretty sure a ferner on here may have mentioned what Ralph said.</p>
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<p>He had an incredible AB career for a guy who couldn't really do anything, I think the fact he looked like an athlete helped though.</p> -
<p>I recall reading somewhere that Ralph was very, very fit and had the quickest 5km time in the All Blacks, which is handy for a winger on a 100m pitch...</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="594211" data-time="1467710055"><p>
I recall reading somewhere that Ralph was very, very fit and had the quickest 5km time in the All Blacks, which is handy for a winger on a 100m pitch...</p></blockquote>
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Deans reckoned Ralph could have been an Olympic middle distance runner if he hadn't concentrated on rugby -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="594211" data-time="1467710055">
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<p>I recall reading somewhere that Ralph was very, very fit and had the quickest 5km time in the All Blacks, which is handy for a winger on a 100m pitch...</p>
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<p>Poor guy, if only they played on much bigger pitches then all those explosive, dynamic wastes of space like Jonah, Cully, Tana etc wouldn't have stolen his limelight. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="594180" data-time="1467705092">
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<p>I would like this post 5 times if I could. Great picture too, capturing the essence of Ernie.</p>
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<p>How good is Kingpin ? Probably the Farelly brothers best. So many good lines and just top humour all round.......</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="594214" data-time="1467710687"><p>
Deans reckoned Ralph could have been an Olympic middle distance runner if he hadn't concentrated on rugby</p></blockquote>
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Deans also thought he would make a useful All Black winger so his judgement is in question anyway. -
<p>The young and occasional NZ Maori midfield version of Ralph was a decent player, I don't know why he moved to the wing. </p>
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<p>He may also be the earliest example of the Crusaders sucking the flair out of a player (a la Dagg) - he was a damn good 7s player and I remember his break out for the Blues in 1997 (or 1998) when he still had the flair.</p>
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<p>MJ is still the best rugby player I've ever seen, but I can't stand his religious views.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="594245" data-time="1467724372"><p>
Deans also thought he would make a useful All Black winger so his judgement is in question anyway.</p></blockquote>
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Deans was never a selector, only assistant coach -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="594044" data-time="1467674787"><p>He should be pleased he's done enough to be mentioned with those two greats.<br>
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That reminds me, Add Brian "I could have died" O'driscoll to the list for the whining everyone knows and for being overrated.</p></blockquote>
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Dempsey kept Geordan Murphy's caps total down way below what it could have been. Criminal. -
Carl Lewis. Smug, smug, smug. Even though it was subsequently found to be drug-enhanced, Ben Johnson burning Lewis in that 100m final was one of the most exhilarating sports happening I've ever witnessed. And of course, Lewis was soooo clean himself...
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="594273" data-time="1467752491"><p>On the athletics theme, Mo Farah</p></blockquote>
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I agree, but can't explain. Maybe the Mobot thing, maybe the Quorn adverts? -
<p>If we're talking about sports stars you just can't warm to, rather than really despise, I've got a few NZ finalists...</p>
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<p>Again, no real reason for some of these - it's just hard to love them for some nagging feeling. </p>
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<div>Barbara Kendall</div>
<div>Mahe Drysdale</div>
<div>Nick Willis</div>
<div>Moss Burmester</div>
<div>Susan Devoy</div>
<div>Lauren Boyle</div>
<div>Ben Fouhy</div> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="594275" data-time="1467752900">
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<p>I agree, but can't explain. Maybe the Mobot thing, maybe the Quorn adverts?</p>
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<p>for me it's his constant association with dodgy characters whilst maintaining a clean image. </p>
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<p>Much the same as Chris Froome I find his improvement over his career hard to believe without some sort of drug use.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smudge" data-cid="594278" data-time="1467754927">
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<p> </p>
<p>If we're talking about sports stars you just can't warm to, rather than really despise, I've got a few NZ finalists...</p>
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<p>Again, no real reason for some of these - it's just hard to love them for some nagging feeling. </p>
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<div>Barbara Kendall</div>
<div>Mahe Drysdale</div>
<div>Nick Willis</div>
<div>Moss Burmester</div>
<div>Susan Devoy</div>
<div>Lauren Boyle</div>
<div>Ben Fouhy</div>
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<p>I think there's something about NZ greats in individual sports that for whatever reason completely sucks any personality out of them and most of the above have that affliction in spades, perhaps it's all the training on their own and no teammates to go on the piss with afterwards and have fun ? add John Walker and Brett Stevens to that list but take out Mahe Drysdale, he seems a good rooster.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="594247" data-time="1467725257">
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<p>The young and occasional NZ Maori midfield version of Ralph <strong>was a decent player</strong>, I don't know why he moved to the wing. </p>
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<p>He may also be the earliest example of the Crusaders sucking the flair out of a player (a la Dagg) - he was a damn good 7s player and I remember his break out for the Blues in 1997 (or 1998) when he still had the flair.</p>
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<p>MJ is still the best rugby player I've ever seen, but I can't stand his religious views.</p>
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<p>What did he do ? all I remember is a reasonably big guy who should have been able to break tackles but never did.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="594281" data-time="1467755178">
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<p>I think there's something about NZ greats in individual sports that for whatever reason completely sucks any personality out of them and most of the above have that affliction in spades, perhaps it's all the training on their own and no teammates to go on the piss with afterwards and have fun ? add John Walker and Brett Stevens to that list but take out Mahe Drysdale, he seems a good rooster.</p>
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<p>Drysdale is a massive Willis, ask anyone involved with NZ rowing</p>
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<p>John Walker is a great guy, ran so many races he didnt have to (comprimising performance in others) to grow the sport</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="594283" data-time="1467755384">
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<p>Drysdale is a massive Willis, ask anyone involved with NZ rowing</p>
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<p>John Walker is a great guy, ran so many races he didnt have to (comprimising performance in others) to grow the sport</p>
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<p>That's disappointing to hear, comes across a nice fella in interviews which admittedly isn't a great deal to go on. I did feel for him when he got that bronze about 8 years ago to the day, I was up with my now 8 year old son cos he wasn't sleeping so will always have memories of him running out of gas in that final stretch.</p> -
<p>Always thought Peter Stringer and to a lesser extent, Ronan OGara were knobs playing for Ireland, although their behavior/attitude was a driver, so not quite fitting in with the thread of just 'cos!</p>
