Crowded House once penned the anthem “Don’t dream it’s over”. It’s a sweet ballad that gave hope to all believers with the pinnacle line that reads, “Don’t let them win.”
The time has come to wake up All Black fans.
Several weeks ago I touched on a startling rumour that was running rampant through the rugby union community; that our proudest geographical asset, the historical All Black jersey, which has been just that way for more than 100 years, was selling out to a foreign sponsor, thus resulting in an eye sore of a logo being emblazoned across the jersey.
“Na she’ll be right bro, jersey’s been all black for years,” was the general statement heard from across the ditch, hence we went on with life with a somewhat comforting feeling that nothing will ever take away the pride of what that precious black jersey means to all New Zealanders.
Nek Minnit!
Money does in fact talk with the NZRU announcing that new sponsor AIG will have prime positioning on the front of the jersey for the next five years, starting from this Saturday’s meaningless Bledisloe Cup match in Brisbane.
No longer will the national anthem be sung hand over heart with just the NZ emblem and manufacturer’s logo on their chests. Now right bang in the middle will be AIG, which has absolutely nothing to do with New Zealand at all.
Sacrilege in its purest form.
Despite original reports that Adidas was against AIG appearing in such a dominant position, the deal has been done, breaking tradition and resulting in an iconic team looking cheap, which is ironic as the deal is set to be worth millions of dollars (astonishingly the actual figure that the NZRU are set to make has still not been disclosed).
See what always set the All Blacks apart from every other sporting team worldwide (apart from the obvious ability to dominate union) was the recognition by the simple fact it was a commercial-free jersey, in return enhancing its appeal to everyone from rapper Snoop Dog to despo housewife Eva Longoria.
Basically it was farking cool.
To be fair, we did have a good run though, the famous black attire has largely been commercial free, apart from the kit supplier Adidas logo, which also caused a minor upset with fans.
And who can forget the early 1990s when it had a wee romance with local brewery Steinlager being positioned ever so subtly. Sales did in fact benefit the booze company and seeing as it was an era where the All Blacks were playing ridiculous footy, no one cared too much. Probably because we were all drunk on Steinlager.
This, though, is an entirely different kettle of fish (fush). This AIG insurance team is an American company, not even from a round here cuz!
The fans are angry too. Any Facebook status or tweet will tell you that.
“It is part of our kiwi heritage, and by placing a company name on the front I think is completely disrespectful, especially considering it is a foreign company,” wrote Nico de Jong on the All Black official Facebook page.
“A hundred year history sold out for some cheap tacky advertising all in the name of greed,” Rene Gruss posted.
I struggled to find any positive comments.
I don’t care that it will help with the cost of the NZRU’s pricey outgoings, and I’m quite certain we have done a pretty damn good job the past 100 years remaining number one in the world time and time again.
Nonetheless this Saturday we will witness a new era. The one where we have to look at commercialism on our nations proudest product.
If Australia do get up this Saturday we now know who to blame. Or at least now can use this as a great jinx affiliated excuse.
Wallabies winning… I’m quite funny, aren’t I?
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Eddie - you need to do a bit of investigative research on AIG, before you compare that American company to either Adidas or Steinlager. The commercial reality is that dozens of companies would have coughed up 20 million a year for prominent branding on the All Blacks jersey. That piddly amount of money is a drop in the ocean for any company listed in the top 500 globally.
Eddie
Guest
Sorry Dean, my question came out wrong. It was directed more at your proposition about the sale of your ( and mine apparently ) soul to the highest bidder for the big bucks, of which I thought Adidas was the culprit initially, and Steinlager before those commercial cash cow ba$&@rds. I reply to your NRL comment with these words-commercial reality. And how we're meant to show a business that's prepared to throw a fair bit at us their logo. On the heel of the socks?
Dean - Surry Hils
Guest
Seeing that Adidas has been a supplier of boots, shorts, and jerseys for over four decades to Rugby players throughout the world, then I'd say players and fans easily make that simple relation. By your own leaps of logic, how do you think the collection nation of NZ would care to see three lil letters across the front of the All Blacks jersey. I will give you an example - NRL.
Eddie
Guest
Think you're being a wee bit precious Dean. How is Adidas related to 'the collective souls of a nation' as you so dramatically put forward? If the ABs keep winning in the jersey with the three lil letters on it, is that going to matter?
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Yes Con - emblazoning the name of a foreign financial institutiuon that is in no way, shape or form related to NZ, Rugby, or their ethics should go down a treat when the boys perform the Haka in Brisbane tomorrow night. You might as well throw the Coca-Cola Logo and Maccas on the back for another 20 million while you're at it.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
3000 retrenchments would save the government somewhere in the vicinity of 150 million annually - so what's 10 million between friends ? Graeme Hart should be able to kick in the other 10 million annually - seeing as though he has already amassed a net worth of 6 billion. The donation would be a massive tax write off for Graeme, and players would wear the NZ 100% Pure proudly across their jerseys, rather than selling the collective souls of a nation to the highest bidder.
Merino
Guest
Theres still heaps of room for Mcdonalds or KFC on the Jersey.Slam something on the back of the jersey as well,Dont worry about the numbers we already know what position they play plus it will confuse the opposition.
Eddie
Guest
Crip-who were Steinlager and who are Adidas?! Ok, generations of blood and sweat whilst Rugby was still amateur, but it's a professional game now. Has been for a while. Do you think three ( more ) letters are going to devalue the All Blacks standing on the field? If money isn't everything, don't take the cash NZRU. Keep things as they are. I'm sure the cream and up and coming players in NZ won't take any big money offers OS.
Sylvester
Guest
The loss of revenue will be felt, but I'm more challenging the inference that provincial unions or NZRFU are somehow responsible for the profitability or otherwise of the country's stadia.
crip
Roar Pro
If you sell the jersey for $20 or $20 million you're still selling out something that has taken generations of blood sweat and tears to create (including mums and dads just driving the kids to games) and instantly devalue it. Jedi from Alternative Rugby Commentary writes a brilliant blog about it called fade to black: http://cargocollective.com/alternativerugbycommentary/Jedi-s-Blog You have to scroll down a little on his page to view it.
Con
Guest
Poor article!! In a Professional era where a small country and sport struggles to turn a profit, injecting 20 mio a year into the kitty is smart! For a logo 1/3 of their allotted size ( the first time AIG have EVER downsized thgeir logo AND removed the logo box)....the ABs have nailed their sponsorship to a tee. Between AIG and Adidas thats $40 mio a year for the next 5 years! That's three times what England and Australia get for ALL of their sponsors combined....and the Wallabies jersey is littered with large and brash logos..... the ABs has two small, white ones...and one of those is the jersey makers emblem ( which like AIG, were forced to compromise with NOT putting their 3 Stripes on the sleeves) Not even Man U or Real Madrid could do that.....AND their Jersey Sponsorship was cheaper (haha)
Guru
Guest
The underlying problem surrounding these financial institutions & their collapse wasn't so much the products they sold, but the complete & utter lack of control & regulation of them. The rating agencies & relevant regulators were as much to blame as anyone. I hope you have voiced your equal disgust at Adidas & their exploitation of child labour & use of 'sweatshops'! Or is that OK? http://m.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/nov/19/jasonburke.theobserver?cat=uk&type=article
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Would rather the mafia than AIG. And if you think AIG played no part in the GFC read on... http://www.dailywealth.com/506/How-AIG-s-Collapse-Began-a-Global-Run-on-the-Banks
cinematic
Guest
Huh? They're not being sponsored by the mafia but by a company that employs over 45,000 humans just like you and I. AIG did not cause the GFC. Apparently the money is being invested into a bio-engineering firm that's already started work on a McCaw clone. The NZRU's aim is to be exclusively McCaw by 2031.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
It is disgusting to see AIG on the front of the All Black jersey. Not so much because of the sponsorship thing but the fact the company responsible for the worst financial disaster of the 21st century which was the catalyst for destroying half the worlds financial instutions and destroying hundreds of millions of people retirement, super and savings is now on the jersey of the greatest rugby team in the world. Anyone but those filth at AIG would be a better sponsor. How are they paying for this sponsorship as well? With an Obama-US taxpayer bail out fund.
atlas
Guest
NZ-owned company with that kind of money? Get real. Note the biggest rugby sponsorship is for the Super rugby teams who have bnz (Bank of New Zealand) on their jersey 2010 to 2012 (don't know if they continue 2013-beyond as contract expired). BNZ an Australian-owned bank since 1992 and operates as a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank. And the government - make me laugh! Sponsoring rugby would sit well with the 3000 public servants who lost their jobs in recent cutbacks (including me), more to come.
atlas
Guest
are you saying the lost revenue from the non-Jade Stadium is insignificant? also the contractual commitment NZRU has to play more tests at the Dunedin Stadium and re-vamped Eden Park (effectively at Wellington's expense) to assist covering the debt, is insignificant? NZRU are committed to those financial obligations.
moaman
Roar Guru
Tui's comment sums it up nicely for me,too.
stillmatic1
Guest
i would venture to say that you dont really know too much about how a business makes money, johnno. certainly not enough to deride the "traditionalists". the world didnt suddenly revolve around money since the advent of professionalism in rugby!! and it is most likely that the so called traditionalists amongst us have created the pumped up economies (and the flow of easy money)we have in the first place. johnno, you forget the biggest cavet of any deal, and that is value. money by itself is useless, it is the value we ascribe to the investment. in the scheme of things 20mil is nothing, but is adequate in regards to the value it would have in a small market. other sponsors coming in with higher figures further down the track would not get value for their investment. hence, money is not everything. johnno, it would also pay to know that the people who attain great riches and keep it are very traditional in their approach, so much so that they get derided by the flashy young guns of today. if the only way the Abs or Wbs can run their businesses is by hoping for sponsorship from floundering companies, then how is this sustainable? both AIG and QANTAS aren't exactly running great businesses currently, are they? they do have a brand name though, but this will carry them only so far. point is, the best people to use any money effectively, and with an eye to the future, tend to be traditional and "boring" and shouldnt be so readily dismissed. the logo deal is a nice little shot in the arm, but not the panacea you claim either. what happened to all that money from the 03 WC again? easy come, easy go.
liam
Guest
bro who cares. it's money