A few things you should know about world sport's new superstar, US Open golf champion Rory McIlroy:
1. He's from the Oamaru-sized Northern Irish port town of Holywood, which is missing an "l" but hosts an annual jazz and blues festival.
2. He's an only child.
3. While people have been eager to see him as the anti-Tiger, he too was introduced to golf at an exceptionally young age - 18 months.
4. He is, regrettably, a Manchester United fan.
5. His agent is Chubby Chandler. This is the greatest name in sport.
6. He has an iPhone app, which allows you to access exclusive video and voice messages.
7. A good friend is Graeme McDowell, who won the 2010 US Open and hails from Portrush, just 100km from Holywood.
8. He's on Twitter. After returning home to a hero's welcome, he tweeted: "I'm a golfer. Not a football team."
9. A local bakery has started producing Rory McIlroy buns with his image on the icing.
10. He's a massive boxing fan.
• Earning plenty . . .
One doesn't like to give the Crusaders too much credit because, you know, they're evil and they win all the time.
But it would be a cold heart that didn't recognise New Zealand sport's poster boys for their efforts this season.
Not only have they been dealing with the personal trauma of the earthquakes, with families that need protecting and houses that need repairing, but they have faced a travel schedule unprecedented for a New Zealand domestic team.
That they have earned a home Super 15 semifinal despite their itinerant existence speaks volumes for their class and professionalism.
• ... of air points
So let's tally up the kilometres - as the crow flies, from Christchurch and back - the Crusaders have travelled this season.
In the regular season, they made:
- A trip each to Auckland (1500km), Dunedin (620km), London (37,900km), Tauranga (1400km) and Brisbane (5000km).
- A big round trip taking in Perth, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Napier (27,000km total).
- Three trips to Nelson (1500km total).
- Two trips each to Timaru (580km total) and Wellington (600km total).
Total travel? A whopping 76,100km.
Plus they are back in Nelson tomorrow night. And their reward for winning?
Another trip to Cape Town.
• Sattler's jersey
An intriguing story has been developing in Australian rugby league.
South Sydney Rabbitohs great John Sattler has undergone a DNA test to establish if an old jersey listed on auction site eBay is legitimate.
The jersey is purportedly the one Sattler wore in the 1970 grand final, when he captained Souths to victory over Balmain despite suffering an early double fracture to his jaw from an off-the-ball punch.
The story goes that Sattler told a team-mate: "Hold on to me. Don't let me go down. Don't let these bastards see I'm crook". He later berated his team-mates for not getting him the ball. Tough man.
Anyway, Sattler is convinced the jersey is not kosher and there is a theory a fake may be circulating.
• Pork talk
From an advertisement in this newspaper on Wednesday:
Three boar images.
Four mentions of "Razorpack".
Two of "Razor".
One "Razorback".
Three "Razorbacks".
Hmm, you think the ORFU is keen for us to use the Otago rugby team's new nickname or what?
• Going west
I was initially a confirmed stadium sceptic, as readers of this column might be aware, but the sports fan in me is very excited about the coming months.
The Glasshouse - come on, it's a much better label than the Toast Rack - looks spectacular, and it's pleasing to see a variety of sports lining up to use it.
And, of course, my old gold blood is pulsing in anticipation of the big opening game, North Otago v West Coast in the Heartland Championship on Sunday, August 6.
It was interesting to see one of the game tickets this week, with "North Otago vs Westland" in bold type. Hopefully the game will be promoted with West Coast's correct name.
• New beginnings
Former Otago surf life-saving stalwart Mark Weatherall is moving from the waves to the sometimes murky world of rugby administration.
Weatherall, who has been working in Wellington as a general manager for club development at Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, starts his new job as the chief executive of the Poverty Bay union next week.
He said he had always wanted to work in rugby at some stage, and the new role was an exciting opportunity.
Weatherall, who will remain in surf life-saving in the volunteer role of New Zealand team manager, only needs to pick up the phone for some tips on swimming with the rugby sharks.
His father, Dunedin city councillor Colin Weatherall, is a former Highlanders and Otago chairman.
• Book giveaway
The Last Word is feeling uncommonly positive and generous after a three-week holiday.
We have a book to give away - Four More Years: World Cup Trivia, by Graham Hutchins.
To be in the draw to win, email your name and a daytime contact number to the address below by noon on Monday.
