20 replies to this topic

[Kirwan]

http://www.stuff.co....r-NZ-Cup-stance

Good on him, sounds like he's been demoted because of it though.

Quote

Former All Black Mexted firm on Air NZ Cup stance
By PETER LAMPP - Manawatu Standard Last updated 12:24 28/01/2010

STANDING FIRM: Rugby commentator and former All Black Murray Mexted is standing firm on his decision to speak out against NZRU plans to cut rugby's top division team numbers.

Former All Black Murray Mexted has no regrets about making his stand in support of the four endangered provincial rugby unions last year.

It has been at some personal cost. One of his employers, Sky Television, stood him down as a commentator last year.

"I am a bit out of favour because of my stand. I will be doing matches but not as much as in the past," he said.

Mexted, who has been working on television for 17 years, publicly argued last year for the 14 premier competition teams and the New Zealand infrastructure to be retained. If the cut had been made, he said, it would have meant a 29 percent drop in the number of premier players.

Mexted said he continued to believe in the stand he made last year in support of retaining Manawatu, Tasman, Counties-Manukau and Northland in the Air New Zealand Cup competition.

"I believe seriously in the good it [the competition] does for the good of the country," he said. "I couldn't believe the naivety of the New Zealand Rugby Union."

[Nepia]

Good effort Murray. I know a bunch of people don't like him (due to his commentary), but he loves the game, and always wants what's best for it.

His academy does good things as well.

Edited by Nepia, 28 January 2010 - 01:40 PM.
Incompetent spelling

[BartMan]

perhaps using it as an excuse for being put out to pasture too. Agree, good on him for making his stand, but hell, 17 years is a long time in anyones life, time for we suffering fans to suiffer some other clowns voice...!

[Parcy v2.0]

Maybe know he'll have more time to learn NH players' names.

[bullet]

Good on him for showing some integrity and not selling out.
But you can't expect to use your job to criticize your company's main business partner and one of your company's main products and get away unscathed.
I guess that's why you got to admire him.

[BartMan]

Quote

I guess that's why you got to admire him.

because he's got enough other irons in the fire not to care about his Sky job??!!??

Anyone else it would not be the smartest thing in the world to do, the ole biting the hand that feeds you thing!

[Red Beard]

BartMan said:

because he's got enough other irons in the fire not to care about his Sky job??!!??

Anyone else it would not be the smartest thing in the world to do, the ole biting the hand that feeds you thing!

Yeah Sky is just one of several sources of income for big Mex. He can afford to vent his true feelings, its not as if he will be eating at the soup kitchen should Sky tell him not to come Monday.

[bullet]

Although he's got other avenues to make coin, don't you think he's the type of guy who couldn't stand not having an outlet to listen to his own voice on telly?? (Although what a lovely booming and masculine baritone sound it is). If he wasn't on TV he'd turn into the NZ media's rent a quote.

I'd love to have a few pints with him. He must have some great yarns.

[Razbra]

I was pretty stoked that someone of his standing would take to the NZRU so publicly and so unapologetically.

But as Bart said the guy has his fingers in a lot of pies(Mexted vernacular) . It's the same reason he comes out with rent-a-quotes and innuendo without worrying about the consequences.

But if in some way his repeated bleatings brought about the stayed execution of Counties and co then good on him.

[canefan]

The old man has regular contact with him, he is a decent guy who doesn't faf about and says what he thinks. Like him or loathe him you have to respect him for that

[mogwai]

Respect him for the stand & saying what he thinks, but I REALLY hope this means he'll be working in NZ rugby to lobby groups to do the sane stuff, and never, ever, ever be inflicted upon the listening public, cause by christ hes a terrible deeply unfunny commentator. Its like listening to your dad when he's come home half cut.

[taniwharugby]

I guess the NZRU crying and threatening to cut thier ties with Sky musta been what got Mexted reprimanded....

[Emerican AB]

i think he's great and i'm happy to hear him speak up. i don't know why people get down on him...i'd like to meet the guy and shake his hand! very entertaining broadcaster.

[Higgins]

taniwharugby said:

I guess the NZRU crying and threatening to cut thier ties with Sky musta been what got Mexted reprimanded....

I think Sky would have all the negotiating power over the NZRFU as the free to air channels seem to have neither the time , money or inclination to televise every Super 14 and NPC game in this country. There appears to be no alternative organisations out there with the setup and infrastructure in place to take over and offer what Sky offers to the NZ sports fan. For them to tell Sky to reign in Mexted's criticism or suffer the consequences does not seem true, unless of course the NZRFU have not thought the issue through clearly enough. Still with Steve Tew running the ship anything is possible I guess?

The NZRFU needs the television rights money or they simply would not be able to operate, full stop. Mind you Sky needs the rugby coverage or they would lose 95% of their subscribers but they would be in the stronger position as they have the money (or the ability to generate it) that the NZRFU needs.

[BartMan]

Higgins, I am sure it comes down to one thing for the other channels and the rugby, and that is the money. THey would love to have the All Blakcs I am sure - and TIVO (or whatever it is called) is the first ste in that direction, as they would then be able to have pay channels, and generate the revenue they need to be able to afford to get NPC / Super 14 / tests.

[timslim]

taniwharugby said:

I guess the NZRU crying and threatening to cut thier ties with Sky musta been what got Mexted reprimanded....

When did this happen? I can't imagine the NZRU would ever publicly do so - although I'd agree there might have been pressure behind the scenes.

I'm with mogwai - I really struggle to listen to Mexted's commentary during the rugby. I know he's paid as a 'personality' type comments man - but apart the ridiculously sublime ones, eg. "coming inside me..." etc - he is IMO really quite annoying. I personally prefer Grant Fox's style of comment.

It's also a tough place to put your employer (SKY) in - there's a pretty close relationship obviously between Sky and the NZRU. I can totally agree with him stating his personal opinion - but you'd be silly to wear your Sky TV cap and attack the one organisation that supplies the game that you're paid to comment on. He's paid to commentate on rugby games - commenting on the politics and management of the game could be seen to be beyond that brief.

It's a fine line that often happens when you're talking about your own industry - separating the professional and personal opinion - and I'm sure Mexted knew the potential consequences.

[Cyclops II]

If true, it suggests to me that the broadcasters are playing a big role in the new look of the ANZC. There are plenty of reasons for the NZRU not to go throwing it's weight around where sky commentators are concerned. But if bigwigs at Sky are pushing for a new look ANZC that they think will give the bottom line a better look, this makes a lot more sense imo.

[taniwharugby]

timslim said:

When did this happen? I can't imagine the NZRU would ever publicly do so - although I'd agree there might have been pressure behind the scenes.

I'm with mogwai - I really struggle to listen to Mexted's commentary during the rugby. I know he's paid as a 'personality' type comments man - but apart the ridiculously sublime ones, eg. "coming inside me..." etc - he is IMO really quite annoying. I personally prefer Grant Fox's style of comment.

It's also a tough place to put your employer (SKY) in - there's a pretty close relationship obviously between Sky and the NZRU. I can totally agree with him stating his personal opinion - but you'd be silly to wear your Sky TV cap and attack the one organisation that supplies the game that you're paid to comment on. He's paid to commentate on rugby games - commenting on the politics and management of the game could be seen to be beyond that brief.

It's a fine line that often happens when you're talking about your own industry - separating the professional and personal opinion - and I'm sure Mexted knew the potential consequences.

Was a sarcastic comment, but given the NZRU moaned to Sky, when at the end of the day, Sky coulda told em to get f@cked, and the NZRU would have to have returned to thier box, because it aint like the NZRU can actually sever ties with sky now is it!!

[whyisthat]

Needed to be said. Was said, sensibly. Good on Mexted for having the balls to say it. Don't think he is dumb enough to not have thought about consequences before saying it. His other business arrangements testify to that. As to his comentary style.........one size will never fit all. For me he is ok, most of the time.

[Red Beard]

I was watching an 87 game this morning called by Bill McLaren. Man commentary and TV graphics are abit different thesesdays. McLaren was the sole caller and what a great job he did. There were no onscreen stats during the game other than the score. Im not sure things have changed for the better but maybe Im just being nostalgic because Bill was superb. Certainly no commenator from his era would have stuck their neck out and bagged their national union publicly thats for sure. They would just have been stoked to receive a cheap motel room, cold pie and a few pints after the game. But good on Mex, at the end of the day though he can survive without Sky and the NZRU.

[Cactus Jack]

Good on him for saying what he thinks . I hope he commentates in as many games a possible . I love listening to him at his politically incorrect , most Hurricane biased best .