Well, s'up y'all, welcome to all our readers here in New Zealand & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning into my Kiwiavenger blog but first that I still fondly remember about the biggest upset in sporting history such as the Miracle on Ice according to the previous blog that I did in 2021 & then 2 years later in 2023 about the strictly amateur US side would gone on to defeat the fully professional Soviet Union team during the Lake Placid Winter Games ice hockey game in 1980 (That was 11 years before I was born) when Al Michaels the future gridiron commentator who once commentated an ice hockey game, said that famous line after the Americans were triumphant against the Soviets "Do you believe in Miracles!" just before the United States won the gold medal after beating Finland in their last game, compared to James 'Buster' Douglas causing the biggest boil over in boxing over his historic win over the heavyweight champion of the world of 'Iron' Mike Tyson in Tokyo, Japan long ago in 1990 during a world heavyweight bout 23 days after Douglas's mum had passed away & also the famous line said by the then PM of Australia Bob Hawke that "Any boss who fires anyone for not turning up today is a backside" following Australia's historic upset victory against the United States (Who held on to the Auld Mug for so long as they had held the longest active winning streak in sports in which they held the trophy for 132 years) during the America's Cup (The oldest prize in international sport) on the waters of Newport, Rhode Island in America long ago in 1983 (That was 4 years before the Aussies reign had come to an end when Dennis Conner & his Stars & Stripes crew took the Auld Mug back what's rightfully theirs, & held on until New Zealand snatched it from the Americans way, way back in 1995 before losing it to Switzerland way back in 2003 as they took the America's Cup to Europe for the 1st time, & then all of a sudden that the Swiss got beaten by the Americans back in 2010, & held on until Team New Zealand returned to its former glory in which we dominated the last 3 America's Cups such as the one in Bermuda also back in 2017 against the Jimmy Spithill led Oracle Team USA to make amends of avenging our demons of San Fran in 2013 in which the Americans dominated after being 8 - 1 down, in one of the greatest comebacks of all time in the history of the Auld Mug billed as the San Francisco miracle, then on home waters in Auckland in 2021 which was during the COVID pandemic at the time against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli led by Spithill (Who was in his final ever America's Cup match by appearing 4 in a row (His first was way back in 2010, then 2013, 2017 & his last in 2021) before being on the losing side against Great Britain in Barcelona in the Louis Vuitton Cup final last year) & Francesco Bruni & then, in Barcelona last year against the champions of the Louis Vuitton Cup of INEOS Britannia (Who appeared in their first America's Cup challenge for Britain since 1964 in which they missed out convincingly but emphatically against the Americans) led by both Sir Ben Ainslie & Tokyo Summer Games gold medalist Dylan Fletcher in we successfully won the Auld Mug 3 times in a row in modern day history).
Meanwhile that there's news in the US as the 2nd Trump presidency could even be worse after the 1st Trump presidency was bad before losing to Joe Biden in 2020 therefore missing out on remaining in power, then he returned to power when he defeated Kamala Harris in an election last year with many Americans except the pro-right wing conservative people are still grizzling about Trump (Who I label him as a damn animal in the process because of him having a reputation as by far, the worst politician as well as the most corrupt, woke leader in the world (And yeah, stupid Trump! What an idiot!) but the South African born American billionaire, founder of Tesla & owner as well as CEO of the social media platform X, Elon Musk is in fact a massive Trump supporter (Just like the Head of UFC Dana White who recently joined Meta/Facebook as a board member, with the social media platform set to prohibit fact checking in order to moderate it just like the Elon Musk (Who is betrayed by Trump supporters think that he is a anti-MAGA type of person) owned social media platform X which is always bad stuff like free speech, so they're trying to crack it down like harmful content being posted in the process according to its CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Another one of Trump's close allies & associates), but he's ineligible to become the president of the United States (But the loophole states that to become president of the United States, you'll have to be born there unlike Barack Obama being born in Kenya that resulted in a backlash, but his birth certificate states that he was clearly born in Honolulu, Hawaii in the United States), but life's messed up in America as of today because of Trump who is a dumb individual human being for which I'm an anti-MAGA type of person) by criticizing him in the process (Especially me in which I always criticize & grizzle about Trump a whole lot) in which he became the first convicted criminal to be elected president of the United States (And Aunty Tan as well as Rejean are heading to Florida in America to see Rej's sis Francine who lives over there near the heavily secure official private Trump family residence at Mar-el-Lago in which there is US Secret Service agents everywhere on all sides, left, right & center, especially if the President is there, on a grueling trip), while there is reports that Trump is trying to make Canada as the 51st state as he makes good to annex that country that can be found on the US Constitution that he will not use military force to invade the country, amid speculation that outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shut down reporters where it's not going to happen as he said about Trump's rhetoric on 51st state 'flattering' but a 'non-starter' (And Aunty Tan could be worried along with Rejean if the United States intend to start an invasion on Canada as well as Greenland).
And in Formula One news that many predicted that the 4 time defending world champion Max Verstappen (Who is on a suspension for accumulating penalty points after the stewards had handed him a time penalty for allegedly causing a pile-up on McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the opening lap of the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year which was won by Lando Norris who gifted McLaren their first constructors championship crown in the 21st century in which they managed to beat their rivals Ferrari with ease, & since 1998 where the iconic British racing icon last triumphed, but while I say that the FIA are desperately needing to introduce a loophole regarding to lunging (Which is F1's cousin of IndyCar's dragon/snake move which is prohibited now since last year with tougher/harsher penalties will be handed out if they do that illegally, just like Josef Newgarden blatantly did at the 2023 Indy 500 in which he won when he defended his position against the 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson prior to the rule change) in which Verstappen always does it in a malicious way towards Norris during separate Grand Prix races in both the United States & Mexico last year, that it should be outlawed from Formula One altogether in order to make it fair, positive close racing, & assist Lando's chances of finally becoming champion of the world for the first time this year, just like Fernando Alonso who at last, became the world champion for the first time as he ended the dominant reign of Michael Schumacher by bringing in a raft of tweaks to the rules 20 years ago way back in 2005 such as abolishing tyre changes during pit stops which lasted just the one entire season, until they restored them by bringing it back to the rulebook a year later also way back in 2006, & also in 2018 that a crack down on winglets on the halo before the Spanish Grand Prix took place has ended Sebastian Vettel & Ferrari's chances of world championship glory during mid-season which helped Lewis Hamilton & Mercedes who eventually triumphed of securing a double title (And also Vettel's quest of winning his 5th world championship took a hit where he was beached in the gravel trap during his home Grand Prix which had gone in the way of Hamilton) whose title reign as well as his invincibility, might come to a possible end since McLaren's Norris has taken over from him as the clear favourite to secure a maiden F1 championship this year according of the bookmakers (Unlike the original favourite of winning the Auld Mug of Alinghi Red Bull Racing who got eliminated in the hands of INEOS Britannia in the Louis Vuitton Cup semi in Barcelona, Spain that handed Emirates Team New Zealand to take over as the favourite to defend the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup (And there was a football related story that France, Germany, Italy & Spain are the 4 European nations out of 10 (With the Soviet Union (Way, way long ago in 1960), Czechoslovakia (Then the Czech Republic & now Czechia who won it way long ago in 1976), the Netherlands (Long ago in 1988), Denmark (Way, way back in 1992), Greece (Way back in 2004) & Portugal (Back in 2016 led by the most glamourous footballer/soccer player in the world who currently plays for Al Ahly competing in the Saudi Arabian league where he is the skipper, Cristiano Ronaldo) being the other champions of the Euros) that have won both the Football/Soccer World Cup (In which France have won it twice long ago in 1984 & also way back in 2000 in the Euros, & also way, way back in 1998 & also back in 2018 in the Football/Soccer World Cup, then Germany won it 4 times in 1954, 1974, way, way back in 1990 & back in 2014 in the Football/Soccer World Cup & won it 3 times in 1972, 1980 & also way, way back in 1996 in the Euros, then Italy have won the Football/Soccer World Cup 4 times just like the Germans in 1934, 1938, 1982 & their last one to date was way back in 2006, compared to Spain who just won it once also back in 2010) & the Euros (The Italians triumphed twice in both 1968 & 2020 which was played in 2021 due to COVID, while the Spaniards won it a record 4 times in 1964, also way back in 2008, back in 2012 & last year in which they surpassed Germany as the most successful in the European continent), & become the 11th British driver to do so after the late Mike Hawthorn (1958), the late great Graham Hill twice (Way, way long ago in both 1962 & 1968), also the late great Jim Clark twice (Also way, way long ago in also both 1963 & 1965), the late great John Surtees (Way, way long ago in 1964), Sir Jackie Stewart 3 times (Also way, way long ago in 1969, way long ago in 1971 & also way long ago 1973), the late James Hunt (Way long ago in 1976), Nigel Mansell (Way, way back in 1992), the late Graham's son Damon Hill (Also way, way back in 1996), Lewis Hamilton (Who was Britain's last ever Formula One world champion & is currently racing for Ferrari now alongside Monaco's Charles Leclerc as he heads into a new chapter, just like Michael Schumacher did when he first came over to Ferrari way, way back in 1996 after spending 5 seasons with Benetton in which he won both world drivers titles between them while Sebastian Vettel joined Ferrari back in 2015 after spending 6 seasons with Red Bull in which he won 4 world championships between them, but was unable to rediscover glory during his time with the Italian racing icon & departed in 2020 when he joined Aston Martin in 2021 a year before he left Formula One, & Hamilton in which he went to Mercedes-AMG from McLaren (The team that he raced from way back in 2007 until also back in 2012) back in 2013, & the rest was history when he won 6 drivers world championships between them) 7 times (Way back in 2008, also back in 2014-15 & back in 2017-20), & Jenson Button (Also way back in 2009).
And finally in cricket news such as the Black Caps dominate the 1st T20 international as they won against Sri Lanka by 8 runs in front of a sell-out crowd at Bay Oval in Tauranga (But there has been an update as New Zealand clinch the T20 series against Sri Lanka after dominating the 2nd T20 international before Sri Lanka had denied New Zealand's quest of completing a stunning clean sweep as they had their turn of dominating the 3rd T20I in Nelson, even before the Black Caps won the ODI series 2 - 1 just like in the T20 series that took place (And I'm gutted that we lost the 3rd ODI in Auckland (Which is shades of Nelson in the 3rd T20I (And it's was in 2023 that the T20 format celebrated its 20th anniversary when it first came into life here & changed the game with its high-energy format in which the Aussies beat us in the first match of the new men's international format at Eden Park in Auckland that was inspired by Cricket Max in which the late Martin Crowe was the brainchild of the format to go along with ODI (50 overs) & Tests (5 days) in which the format lasts 20 overs, but bowlers would have to require to bowl the allocated 4 overs while 5 bowlers can be used to complete the full 20 & there has been the rise of franchise cricket with cricket leagues around the world dominate the format such as the IPL league in India which started way back in 2008, then the BBL in Australia back in 2011 & the CPL in the West Indies also back in 2013) after dominating the 1st 2 ODIs to clinch the series), but news coming straight out of the Boxing Day test in Melbourne as Australia (Currently led by bowler Pat Cummins who had their young 19 year old Sam Konstas (Who was called up to the squad to replace the out of form Nathan McSweeney) making his test debut by opening the batting while bowler Scott Boland has replaced the injured Josh Hazelwood (Who could potentially be ruled out of the tour to Sri Lanka along with skipper Pat Cummins who'll sit out the entire tour mainly due to his workload in this cricket season as well as possibly both the Champions Trophy in Pakistan & the UAE, & the upcoming IPL season for RC Bengaluru) according to the playing XI which was revealed at the toss by Cummins) are one hand on the Border-Gavaskar trophy in the aftermath of their 184 run win against India (Who for I was rooting for the entirety of the Boxing Day test since I support 3 teams such as New Zealand & whoever is playing against Australia & South Africa now, but I'm absolutely gutted that the Indians lost meaning that the BGT is on the line when they go to Sydney at the SCG during the New Years test) with Steve Smith scoring a ton during the first Aussie innings, then Nitish Kumar Reddy (Who had his Dad there witnessing his son of scoring his maiden test ton) replied with a century also during the 1st Indian innings, but then the Aussies turned it around with Yashasvi Jaiswal (Who dropped 3 catches during the 2nd Australian innings of the test, then their star Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah thought that he got a 5 wicket haul when he had Nathan Lyon out caught, but the wicket didn't count because of a no ball being signaled by the umpire for overstepping (Real drama there) getting out caught behind after originally being given not out which was the turning point (Game changer) of the test, then the LB decision that was originally being given not out which was reviewed by the DRS (Decision review system) decided the outcome of the test which resulted victory as well as joy & relief for Australia (Who have 3 tests in hand against India in Sydney, in an effort of securing a place in the World Test Championship final again at Lord's in London against South Africa who became the first side to qualify for the final of the WTC following their incredible victory against Pakistan who the South Africans thought that they're out of it after not sending an A team to New Zealand against the Black Caps last year by sending a B or C team instead with much of their frontline players unavailable due to their commitments in South Africa's main T20 cricket league competition called SA20 in which they played for the inaugural Tangiwai Trophy), then they go to Sri Lanka for both tests) with the most followed test series being at stake at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the pink test on the 3rd to the 7th of January (And Australia have made one change with all-rounder Beau Webster replacing Mitch Marsh who had to be withdrawn due to a lack of form, in a bid for BGT glory for the first time since 2015 (And they need either a victory or a draw to clinch a spot against South Africa at the Lord's Cricket Ground located in London, England, in the WTC final in June this year, while the Indians need to win in order to retain cricket's most followed test series), while in the Indian camp that there is a rift (Or tensions should I say) between the coach in the test format of Gautam Gambhir & captain Rohit Sharma amid speculation that I heard about the Indian skipper might even quit the test side before the 5th test with Shubman Gill likely to take Rohit's place in the playing XI & have the best bowler in the world of Jasprit Bumrah as captain just like in the 1st test in Perth which resulted victory for India), but the Aussies have dominated international cricket since 2023 such as winning the World Test Championship for the first time, ironically against India during the final at the Oval in London, England, UK, then they retained the most recent Ashes series against England despite the series ended in a draw, before ending an 8 year wait of winning the men's Cricket World Cup also ironically against the previous hosts India in the final in front of the pro-Indian crowd at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, & finally that there is only one piece of the puzzle that the Aussies were missing, & that is the Border-Gavaskar trophy that they last held also back in 2017, in which India have dominated the last 4 series, & the Aussies are gunning to end the Indians reign as holders once, & for all.
So that is my 589th blog of the year 2025 (MMXXV) & my 13th of this year, viva Ukraine & Palestine.
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