Well, hey, welcome to all our readers here in New Zealand & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning in to my KiwiAvenger blog here on blogger (And happy birthday to my second cuzzie of Ben 'Benny' Blain who turns 37 today as he's still in the Philippines working for a business there, so I wanted to really give a shout out to him), but first that it's been 30 years since the America's Cup was then, New Zealand's Cup when Team New Zealand had a successful glory of the Auld Mug against Dennis Conner & the boat that wasn't even his on the waters in San Diego, California, United States way, way back in May 1995 (And I remember one time that I was trapped in a old style swimming pool (For which it was renovated in 1999 in order to keep it up to date, but last summer that I had been for a swim 7 or 8 times, compared to once both summer's ago in 2023-24 when I was in Northland with Carole & Pops) at the late Nan & Pops place meaning that I was stuck meaning that my finger was bleeding (And it was like a scene of a horror movie), so I went to an hospital with my parents when I heard the news that Team New Zealand won the America's Cup for the 1st time when it was shown on TV at Whanganui Hospital therefore that's why my love affair of the Auld Mug began (And we won the next one in 2000 in Auckland against the Prada Challenge of Italy in which we had our successful defence of the America's Cup outside of the United States, then we waited 17 years in Bermuda back in 2017 against an all-Aussie crew of Oracle Team USA in which we dominated the last 3 including bringing the Auld Mug back home, then we won another won straight away the last time Auckland had hosted the America's Cup in 2021 against the Italians of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli before we had a historic successful first ever threepeat during the modern era at Barcelona, Spain last year against the Brits of INEOS Britannia, a year before that there was genuine symbolism that began on the move when Peter Burling departed to go to Sail GP, just like Russell Coutts & Brad Butterworth who after our success in 2000 that the pair went to Alinghi founded by the Swiss pharmaceuticals billionaire of Ernesto Bertarelli to successfully pull of the Auckland heist, in which they did in 2003 which was the strangest America's Cup ever) which was Mother's Day back here in our country in which we etched into New Zealand sporting history since the late Sir Edmund Hillary stood atop Mount Everest in May 1953 as we swept all five races to take the cup away from America again in 144 years, in what was the most significant moment in the race's history. As that victory was a 5-0 sweep for New Zealand, making it the first time a challenger had won the cup in 144 years, since 1983 when Australia defeated the United States, as Team New Zealand, with their yacht 'Black Magic', defeated the American challenger, "Stars & Stripes" helmed by the then-controversial Dennis Conner, while Black Magic won all five races, showcasing a strong performance and securing the victory, but that win was notable as it was the 2nd time in America's Cup history that a challenger won the trophy, the first being Australia's victory in 1983, & the win was a major success for New Zealand, marking a significant moment in their sporting history and bringing the Auld Mug to Auckland for the first time.
And secondly, bad news for their beloved GTA aficionados is that the new Grand Theft Auto VI game (Which is set in Vice City (A city based on Miami, Florida that appeared on GTA: Vice City, compared to Liberty City in the state of Liberty (New York in real life) is based on New York City, New York that also appeared on both Grand Theft Auto III & GTA IV, & Los Santos in San Andreas (California also in real life) is based on Los Angeles, California that appeared on both Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Along with San Fierro (The city based on San Francisco, California) & Las Venturas (The city also based on Las Vegas, Nevada) & GTA V) in the state of Leonida (Florida in real life) won't be coming out this year due to the release date being set for May 26th next year in 2026 (And I've got 3 GTA games that I play at the moment such as GTA San Andreas definitive edition, then it's Grand Theft Auto IV that I mainly play daily, & GTA V for which I haven't played since April, but I love it of course (And my favourite part of the game would have to be engaging in a police shooting/shootout (For which GTA IV is by far, the best shooting simulator since the 2005 version of Star Wars Battlefront II (For which also the best Star Wars video game I have ever played, but I like the 2017 version of Star Wars: Battlefront II indeed) according to the previous blogs that I did) which reminds me of both wars, such as that dreadful invasion since 2022, & the one in Gaza between Israel & Hamas that they're still having for that is a stark reminder not only because it is still dreadful & shocking) for which seems to be the good news, but the release date for Rugby League 26 has been confirmed which is happening in July (Same month as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is due to come out) for their first Rugby League video game release in 8 years since back in 2017 with Rugby League Live 4, so too is Cricket 26 (Although they have not announced it yet) which will come out to coincide with the upcoming Ashes test cricket series down under between the current holders of the urn, & the defending world test champions Australia (Who'll put their WTC title on the line against first time finalists South Africa at Lord's in London in this year's World Test Championship final in their bid of becoming the first to win 2 titles (It was the Black Caps who stunned India in 2021 at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton, England, then the Aussies did it last time out against the Indians who appeared in another final at the Oval in London, England), & the Brendon McCullum coached England side (Who'll have the services of former Black Cap Tim Southee (Who retired in December last year from all forms of cricket) as the assistant coach who specialises in the bowling department).
And thirdly, news straight out of the Super Rugby competition as the title race is wide open so here are the results that had happened throughout the weekend:
Fijian Drua 5 - 34 Blues (It was the Blues night as they sail to a convincing victory over the Fijian Drua at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva to keep their playoff dream alive & their quest of retaining the title)
New South Wales Waratahs 21 - 28 Queensland Reds (And it was the Reds who prevail over the Waratahs in style at Allianz Stadium Sydney in Sydney)
Crusaders 19 - 35 Chiefs (It was also the Chiefs night as they return to the top of the table going into their bye week following their high octane win over the Crusaders at the Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch)
& Western Force 14 - 33 Brumbies (And it was also the Brumbies (Who had lost Noah Lolesio to a horrific spinal injury during the game) night as they stunned the Force to bits at HBF Park in the west in Perth, & after their result that they leapfrogged the Crusaders to 2nd on the table behind the table topping Chiefs).
And finally that a 21 year old female social media influencer from our country of New Zealand named Dominique McShain-Suson has passed away, & the reason why? Is that she had been diagnosed with an incurable colon cancer (Just like the late American race car driver John Andretti in 2020 (Same year that his Dad Aldo (Twin brother of famous racer Mario) also passed away due to a combo of COVID & bacterial pneumonia) that she had from last year until her passing a year later (And there was Lara Hawker (One of the late Nan's old students at Aramoho School (Highlanders rugby player Jona Nareki's old alma mater which closed down back in 2016, 5 years after both the late Nan (Who passed away also back in 2016) retired, as well as Pops (Who is still alive at 77 (In which he'll be turning 78 on July 5th, 4 weeks after my 34th on the 7th of June (2 days after Dad & 3 days before Aunty Tan) as of today) who retired a year early, & got Her Majesty's service medal for his contribution of teaching) currently living in Auckland for a creative designer job) who came to our place in 2020 before COVID had happened) that she had from last year (2024) until her passing whilst making a documentary about it.
So that is my 610th blog of the year 2025 (MMXXV) & my 34th of this year, viva Ukraine & Palestine.
P.S. And the rugby world is in mourning as Josaia Rasuqe, the Olympic silver medalist in rugby sevens for his country back at the Paris Summer Games last year, & the one who had been shown a red card for lifting a referee in a celebratory way, has been tragically killed in a serious fatal car wreck which the vehicle was collided by a train that took his life in France (Just like the late Jerry Collins did in 2015 where he was involved in an accident that also took his life in the aftermath of a bus crashed into his car killing him & his wife instantly (And only their daughter Ayla survived through the impact, but now she's being currently raised in Canada by her relatives) whilst on his way to training for his French club side that he played for of Castres, but all thoughts, prayers & condolences go to the Rasuqe whanau & his loved ones back in Fiji, may you rest in love.
Josaia Rasuqe
1994 - 2025
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