The Curse of the Disloyal Cup Legend has it that there once was a powerful wizard who lived in a distant land. This wizard was known for his great knowledge and abilities in the magical arts. However, the wizard had a dark side - he was incredibly ambitious and sought power above all else. One day, the wizard created a magical cup that was said to grant any wish to the person who drank from it. The cup was adorned with beautiful gems and bejeweled with intricate designs. Many people coveted the cup and sought to possess its power.
Many people coveted the cup and sought to possess its power. However, the wizard soon discovered that the cup was not as loyal as it seemed. Anyone who possessed the cup would find themselves consumed by greed and desire for more power.
Paul Thomas: Obsession with winning Cup the curse of rugby
Are we witnessing the revenge of the gin-swilling old farts? Back in the days when rugby was an amateur sport, British administrators (in our collective imagination Colonel Blimp types with double-barrelled names who regarded New Zealanders as semi-house-trained colonials) were implacably opposed to the concept of a World Cup.
Their primary objection was that it would lead inexorably to professionalism by increasing the player load beyond what was reasonable to expect of amateurs and by generating revenue of which the players would demand a share. Their analysis was probably correct, although as it happened the abandonment of amateurism was precipitated by outside forces.
Not sharing their conviction that the future of civilisation was dependent on rugby remaining amateur, we pressed on regardless with the support of our like-minded friends across the Tasman. The concept was duly embraced and the old farts retired to their gentlemen's clubs to pickle themselves in Tanqueray.
Twenty years on, that blithe certainty smacks of hubris. The New Zealand Rugby Union's (NZRU) messy spat with News Ltd, one of its two key financial backers, over plans to withdraw 22 top players from half of next year's Super 14 is further evidence that the rugby landscape is now dominated - and disfigured - by the World Cup.
The international game, rugby's shop window and its competitive advantage over other oval-ball codes, is being steadily downgraded as teams either build towards or mark time until the next World Cup. Knowingly or not, rugby is following the soccer model, a development that has grave implications for New Zealand.
It plays into the hands of wealthy English and French clubs hellbent on emulating the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid, globally minded businesses whose brand-power derives largely from their stables of international stars. How long will it be before Biarritz or Toulouse makes Dan Carter an offer he simply can't refuse?
The NZRU-News imbroglio is a curious affair on a number of counts. For the supplier (the NZRU) not to inform the customer (News) of its intention to water down a product for which the customer pays a handsome price was an extraordinary oversight, but it can't have come as a bolt from the blue.
The move had been heavily flagged and widely reported. Doesn't anyone at News bother keeping an eye on its half-billion dollar investment? Didn't anyone at News' New Zealand subsidiary Sky TV bother putting through a call to head office?
Neither of those scenarios is believable. But if News knew what was afoot, why did it wait until it was formally announced before screaming like a stuck pig? The obvious explanation is that it wanted to publicly humiliate the NZRU, an interpretation that fits with the barrage of scolding and disdainful comments from News' public affairs spokesman Greg Baxter.
NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs has dismissed Baxter's haughty lectures as being at odds with the tenor and content of his face-to-face meeting with News' chief operating officer. Does he believe Baxter is voicing a personal opinion? In my experience corporate spokespeople don't engage in headline-grabbing attacks without explicit authorisation from on high. Or if they do, they don't do it twice.
The NZRU is entitled to wonder why News hasn't complained about All Black coach Graham Henry's selection rotations, which could also have the effect of reducing the attractiveness of the product.
And as News (or at least Baxter) is demanding compensation for what it sees as a weakening of the product, why hasn't it demanded a refund from South Africa, given that country's negligible contribution to the Super 12/14? (No South African team has won the tournament in its 11-year history and invariably there's an untidy heap of abject outfits from the republic at the foot of the table.)
Perhaps News has sensed a growing confidence and independence of mind on the NZRU's part stemming from its recent run of success and is seizing the opportunity to remind everyone in Southern Hemisphere rugby that he who pays the piper calls the tune.
Perhaps it is dismayed that the World Cup, for which it doesn't have broadcasting rights in most rugby markets, is compromising the integrity and appeal of its competitions and therefore views the NZRU's decision to withdraw players from the Super 14 as unhelpful and disloyal.
But the World Cup's malign influence extends beyond causing commercial partners to fall out. Winning the World Cup has become an unhealthy obsession for the New Zealand rugby community from the NZRU down, to the extent that failing to win it will be a strategic disaster and the trigger for a prolonged bout of self-flagellation.
No other nation is as consistently good as we are but the World Cup is not about winning the vast majority of your games year in and year out. In effect, it's about winning three games in a fortnight once every four years.
We've placed all our eggs in this treacherous basket, even though the nature of the competition suits our rivals down to the ground by reducing our great strength - consistency - to near irrelevance and making the high expectations created by consistent success a burden and potential Achilles heel.
And as News (or at least Baxter) is demanding compensation for what it sees as a weakening of the product, why hasn't it demanded a refund from South Africa, given that country's negligible contribution to the Super 12/14? (No South African team has won the tournament in its 11-year history and invariably there's an untidy heap of abject outfits from the republic at the foot of the table.)
This desire would turn them into disloyal and ruthless individuals, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. The curse of the disloyal cup spread throughout the land, as those who possessed it became corrupted by its power. Families were torn apart, friendships were broken, and wars were fought over the cup's possession. It seemed that no one could resist the allure of its power. The curse of the disloyal cup continued for many years, until one day a brave and wise hero decided to put an end to the chaos. This hero embarked on a dangerous quest to find the cup and destroy it, freeing the land from its curse. After facing numerous trials and overcoming great obstacles, the hero finally reached the wizard's lair and confronted him. The wizard, realizing the hero's determination, tried to use the cup's power to defeat him. But the hero was prepared and used his own wisdom and strength to prevail. In the end, the hero managed to destroy the disloyal cup, breaking the curse that had plagued the land for so long. With the cup gone, the people were finally able to live in peace, free from the grip of its corrupting influence. The curse of the disloyal cup serves as a reminder of the dangers of power and ambition. It teaches us that true power lies not in objects or possessions, but in the strength of our character and the choices we make. It also reminds us of the importance of loyalty and the destructive nature of greed. Let this tale be a lesson to us all - that the pursuit of power at any cost will only lead to destruction and despair. Instead, let us focus on the values of loyalty, compassion, and integrity, and strive to create a world free from the curse of the disloyal cup..
Reviews for "The Disloyal Cup: A Symbol of Treason Throughout History"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - "Curse of the disloyal cup was a disappointment for me. The plot was disjointed and confusing, with too many unnecessary subplots and characters that didn't add anything to the story. I also found the writing style to be tedious and overly descriptive, which made it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I had high hopes for this book but it fell short of my expectations."
2. John - 1 star - "I couldn't even finish reading Curse of the disloyal cup. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story lacked any real excitement or suspense. The characters felt flat and uninteresting, and I just couldn't bring myself to care about what happened to them. The dialogue was also stilted and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the story. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging read."
3. Emily - 2 stars - "I had a hard time getting into Curse of the disloyal cup. The writing was overly flowery and pretentious, with long-winded descriptions that didn't contribute much to the overall story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to form any emotional connection with them. Additionally, the pacing was inconsistent, with slow and dragging sections followed by rushed and confusing plot developments. While the concept had potential, the execution just didn't live up to it."
4. Mark - 1 star - "Curse of the disloyal cup was a complete waste of time. The story was predictable and cliché, with no real surprises or twists. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the characters' interactions. The author also relied too heavily on telling rather than showing, which made the reading experience dull and uninspiring. This book lacked the depth and originality I was hoping for, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking read."