> I caught the closing moments of a basketball game on TV today. It was really different. In the first place, it was between the US and New Zealand, but to look at the players, you'd think it was between Africa and Europe. Before it ended, I noticed players on opposing teams laughing and joking together. (At least that's how it appeared; I tend to watch ball games with the sound off.) It's nice when opponents don't hit and curse each other. I think the US won, but they had a considerable heighth advantage.
> Howard

Yep, the USA wiped us out 102-56, but it looked like our team was having fun. Basketball isn't exactly a big sport here.

Maybe it's ironic in the basketball that our national colour is black. The name of the men's Olympic basketball team, the Tall Blacks, is a joking reference to our national rugby team, the All Blacks (so named from the uniform, of course). I'm reasonably certain that to anyone outside New Zealand, a short, all-white basketball team called the Tall Blacks is hilarious.

Brunnen-"black for sporting excellence? Nah, we just like to look cooler than the opposition"G