Mark Keown

I have been a listener to Radio Sport in NZ for a long time, since its inception in fact. I am fed up with the regular ad's involving two imaginary figures Nobby and Lofty, symbolic of men who are horny. They feature in ads for an Auckland brothel. I do not think that it is wise for the station to advertise in this controversial area, despite the fact that some of their audience will appreciate such establishments. Neither do I think that these ads should feature during day light hours when fathers like me are listening to the radio in cars or at home with kids able to listen in. I also know that kids listen to the station on occasion. That being the case, I complained to them. Their respons is that it is legal and they are a paying customer. So! The station has a moral responsibility to the nation as well. I have made a complaint to the NZ Broadcasting Complaints Authority hoping for a result. If you read this, join me, google the NZ Broadcasting Complaints Authority and complain ...

What a world cup! Pakistan out! India going out as I write, in huge trouble against the Sri Lankan's. But all this pales in significance to the killing of Bob Woolmer. It was strange from the start, it crossing my mind that it was suicide or murder. But murder it is. So who killed him? It seems to me the options are a random killing; a gambling syndicate; a disgrunted fan or fans; an upset player of team member; an act of terrorism. The last option has not been discussed. Is it possible that this is an act of terrorism to disrupt the tournament; the victim chosen because of a possible smoke screen concerning the other options. After all, Pakistan is right in the heart of the Al Qaeda situation. From this far away in distant NZ listening to the news, it seems to me that it is probably a gambling issue; it was someone (or more) who knew him. Whoever it is, I pray they are found and brought to justice. If it is a gambling syndicate then cricket is in trouble again. It is blighted with...

How does God's guidance work? There have been some discussions on a forum at College about this question so here are some thoughts. For me, the Scriptures set the agenda for the manner in which God guides. Here are some thoughts 1. God guides: we are in a relationship with a living Being with a plan for the universe and a plan for every individual in his creation. Where we bow the knee to the King as he is, we become completely subservient willingly and joyfully to this God. He is a communicating God and so I believe he does and will guide. 2. His guidance is related to his plan: I do not think this means that every little decision we make involves us waiting for divine directive. He has given us brains which are infused with his Spirit and we are to use them. He has given us freedom in our decision making. His main concern is to intervene to ensure his purposes are involved. As such, we will recieve guidance when and if God needs to intervene. Otherwise, we use our brains and tran...

Now I just heard the news and now NZ soccer have postponed the final of the league! It is all over some points scandal over a player who did not travel with the All Whites but then played for the club the next week without permission. What a pendantic, pathetic bunch of losers the whole administration are. Who cares? Surely, what matters is sport is that people participate. So, he didn't cross his t's and dot his i's! It is time for soccer to get its act together for sure. In an earlier blog I suggested that soccer is the greatest game in many ways. I stand by that; but in this country I think without doubt it is the worst administered game! Grow up the lot of you!

Is anyone else out there in NZ fed up with hearing ads for a brothel on mainstream Radio Sport time. I have had enough of the supposedly humourous Nobby etc ads which talk of going to this establishment and... well, you can fill in the gaps. I emailed them today and told them I was going to stop listening if the ads continued. Surely they can confine their ads to a time of the day when kids are not listening. Why does a sports station have to lower its standards? It furthers the stereotype of jocks as neanderthals who think of nothing but a good shag. The media is full of twits who reflect this; I expect better from a mainstream radio station. I enjoy the station and it is my first port of call when turning on the radio; but I am out of there if it doesn't end. I hope someone from the station reads this...

This whole NZ soccer and the A League thing is another example of NZ sports administration at its worst (cf. 2003 rugby world cup). It continues the Kings, Knights fiasco which has been a disaster. NZ soccer en masse should hang its head in shame. Nothing could be better for NZ soccer than to have a competitive team in the A League. It would provide a pathway for NZ juniors into professionalism, gets them onto the world stage and provides a stepping stone to the All Whites and overseas teams. What on earth is going on? Supposedly NZ soccer has no cash! Is there no wealthy sponsor in this land who sees the value of sponsoring a team? I have no idea concerning the ins and outs of this but one thing is certain; it will be a total disaster if it does not come off! Come on or you will see further dominance from rugby and the best athletes going off shore or to other codes. I don't get it!

So how will the 2007 rugby world cup go? It is time to work out the result... can I nail it this far out? No doubt I will relook at this in the future. Pool A includes England, South Africa, Samoa, USA, Tonga. Clearly England and South Africa will go through probably South Africa topping the pool. I like the look of the South Africans from what is happening in the Super 14. Pool B includes Australia, Wales, Fiji, Canada, Japan. Australia will surely go through number 1 with Wales nos 2. Pool C includes New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Romania, Repechage 1 with NZ going through number one ahead of Scotland. Pool D includes France, Ireland, Argentina, Georgia, Namibia. I think France will go through nos 1 (just) with Ireland nos 2 (wouldn't be surprised if it was reversed and Argentina threw in a surprise). So the quarter finals will look something like this: 6 October:QF1: Australia vs England: Australia should take this one out but England will be a tough assignment and could win. 6 O...

It is funny what you notice when you read Scripture. One thing that caught my eye recently is the connection of two assumptions in Scripture. Firstly, that Jesus was a carpenter. This is based on the vocation of his stepfather Joseph who was a carpenter as we are told in Mk 6:3; Mt 13:55. The second strand is the saying, 'foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head' (Mt 8:20; Lk 9:58). I suddenly thought today, 'hey; if Jesus was a carpenter, why didn't he make himself a home base'. I then looked up carpentry and found this from The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol 2, 2085): 'The carpenter worked in timber, setting up the framework of houses, the roofing, windows, and doors. Often small structures were erected by the householder, but temples and palaces required specialized artisans where carpenters worked alongside stonemasons (2 Kgs 12:11; 22:6; 1 Chr 14:1; 22:15; 2 Chr 24:12; 34:11; Ezr 3:7). Some o...

Mark Wilson last week won the Honda Classic in the PGA, his first tour victory. Good on him. What has caught the imagination of many is the self-imposed penalty for his caddy Chris Jones telling his playing partner about the loft on his hybrid club which he has just hit. Giving advice to the other team is out in golf and so technically this was a breaking of the golf rules. Wilson told the officials and received a two-stroke penalty, which could have cost him his first title! I want to take my hat off to Mark Wilson! What a guy! Good on ya! I have nothing but respect for those who take it upon themselves to play sport with integrity, honouring the rule and the spirit of the game. Some will call him naive as it may have cost him a lot of money, his first tour victory, his PGA card, the endorsements and exemptions that he would then have missed out on. But he put the bigger issues of life and integrity above short term gain. He kept his integrity. I think it is time for a revolution like...

Last week I was absorbed in Jn 1 and Jn 1:3 stood out to me. It speaks of Jesus as creator; 'through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made'. Paul says something similar in Col 1:15, 'for by him all things were created, things in heaven and earth... all things were created by him and for him.' Heb 1:2 also says he is the one 'through whom God made the universe.' This has stuck with me. I often think of creation and it is God the Father who seems the prime agent. There is also the work of the Spirit who hovers over creation (Gen 1:2). Yet here is a three-fold witness from different authors (John, Paul, ?) who agree that it is God's Son who created the world. Wow! So from the very beginning the Son of God, who would become redeemer, is also creator. John also tells us that he is the source of life and Paul that 'in him all things hold together'. Hence, God's son sustains and gives life to the universe. This is rad...

I blogged recently about being a sports parent and the challenges. Yesterday my youngest won a NZ title for the 1500m. It was a good effort. She was the youngest in the U17 field and squeaked home in a sprint finish. It was her first national title after 7 podium finishes in road, cross country or track. She was thrilled. She needed to crack 4.32 to make the NZ team for the youth champs in Czech Republic. Would you believe she missed by .29 running a 4.32.29. Even more frustrating is that this is the third time she has cracked the IAAF standard of 4.35. NZ has set the standard higher with the hope that those that make it will get through to the second round. She has a month so here's hoping her day will come. It is bitter-sweet though; she beat one of her older sisters in the same race! Two years ago the older one was winning national titles but she has grown heaps and has not regained her strength. This is common in female athletes and her younger sister may go through the same ch...