Price-gouging. So sick of hearing that word.
International Rugby Board boss Mike Miller was at it again last week, lecturing New Zealand businesses, especially in the accommodation sector, on the evils of raising prices during the coming World Cup.
This is, of course, the same IRB that charges $31 to watch Japan v Canada in Napier, and $797 to watch a semifinal potentially involving the All Blacks at Eden Park. No gouging there.
The inherent contradiction in Miller's argument is that the World Cup has been sold to the New Zealand public as an economic boon - yet the same public is now being castigated for trying to make money.
Miller suggests the major chains are being responsible, but the smaller operators are being greedy. So the big boys deserve a clap, and Ma and Pa moteliers should pull their heads in.
I suppose he's right. I mean, when I stayed in Cardiff during the last World Cup, my newspaper paid normal rates. Oh, hang on.
The fact is accommodation providers only charge what people are willing to pay.
For the IRB, which forces New Zealand-owned stadiums to be stripped of advertising, and won't even let a school run a sausage sizzle beside them, to point the finger at us for seeing financial opportunity in this tournament is rather hypocritical.
And from Dunedin's perspective, a little gratitude for building the best stadium in the country might be nice.
• The Glasshouse ...
Around the office, they are calling me The Politician.
For I have flip-flopped again on the issue that has dominated this fine city for six (seven? eight?) years now: that aforementioned stadium.
To be fair, I have only ever opined on the proposals on the table, and they changed over the years.
When the idea was for ratepayers to chip in a few million to do up Carisbrook, I was all for it, much to the anti camp's disgust.
When that changed to $200 million - from various sources, but a big hunk from ratepayers - to build fancy new digs, I had questions relating to necessity and affordability, much to the pro camp's disgust.
Now the Glasshouse (by far the best nickname) is nearly complete, and I have been lucky enough to have had a little tour.
• ... is worth every cent
And guess what?
I love it. I'm a shameless bandwagoner. I'm excited about North Otago v West Coast, and the Phoenix, and the Rugby World Cup, and the possibility of other sporting and general events. And I'm cracking jokes with Malcolm Farry like we're old friends.
Call me a sell-out, if you like. I'm still sceptical about the stadium's ability to meet its own bills, and I'm still disappointed the Carisbrook option was discarded so quickly.
But I walked in to the great tent last week, caught my breath, looked up into the heavens and gasped. It's an extraordinary piece of architecture. Let's make it work.
• Outrageous fortune
So, you're the New Zealand Rugby Union.
You have a domestic competition envied by all. It's tribal and intense, it has a glorious history, and it's a production line of wonderful talent.
It also makes sense: three divisions, round robin followed by finals, automatic promotion and relegation. People LOVE it.
So, naturally, you decide to pull the house down. First to go is automatic relegation. Then the round-robin format is tossed out the window. Then you change the name of the competition (three times). Then you put four more teams in the top division, then threaten to drop four teams, then decide to keep two, then decide to keep four.
Finally, you split the first division into two, but say the second division can't be called second division, you alter the format this year and again for next, you play six days a week, and you make the inexplicable and, surely, globally unprecedented decision to allow unions to choose their own opponents.
The old NPC lies in ruins, wrecked by the very masters entrusted with its care.
And yet ... and yet ... somehow the tinny buggers got lucky.
In many ways, the spirit of the old NPC lives on. The tradition and the tribalism are still there, and the general dilution of skills creates both a level playing field and a more free-flowing style.
Go figure.
• Your Carisbrook
Well, the clock is ticking on the dear old 'Brook.
Keep an eye out for a special ODT publication celebrating the sports ground that evolved into the heart and soul of Otago.
As part of our reflections on 130 years of history, we'd like to offer readers the opportunity to have their special Carisbrook memories published.
In no more than 200 words, tell me (email below) why the ground meant so much to you, or recall your favourite moments.
• Old Boys memories
Some New Zealand rugby clubs strike it lucky with passionate historians who produce epic chronicles of decades of grassroots footy.
One such is Dunedin's Pirates, which had Winston Cooper and Mark Fowler to thank for the comprehensive
Skill and Crossbones.
Now Oamaru Old Boys has got into the act with a superbly detailed book,
144 Years of Rugby, compiled by Roddy Brown and Leo Breen and assorted club members.
I'm a little biased - the Meikle name appears more than once - but I would be surprised if there is a club history with more information, more statistics and more good yarns.
I particularly liked the tale of the Old Boys forward pack pushing the scrum machine against a pole at training one night. A hefty shove severed a conduit running power to the lights, and the eight forwards received a mighty shock.
Flanker Brian Docherty "got a hell of a belt and was left clutching his arm and uttering expletives. Brian bound looser than ever after that".
• No Blair Pocock?
It seems to have been lost in the crush a little but I see the International Cricket Council has been copping some flak for naming a Best XI skewed towards modern stars.
The ICC asked for a public vote and received more than 250,000 votes.
The team was: Virender Sehwag (India), Sunil Gavaskar (India), Donald Bradman (Australia), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Brian Lara (West Indies), Kapil Dev (India), Adam Gilchrist (Australia), Shane Warne (Australia), Wasim Akram (Pakistan), Curtly Ambrose (West Indies), Glenn McGrath (Australia).
You obviously can't complain about the inclusion of Bradman and Warne.
And, of the more modern faces, Tendulkar and Gilchrist present compelling cases for inclusion, and Sehwag's astonishing record merits consideration.
But Dev over Garry Sobers? Ambrose and McGrath over Dennis Lillee and Malcolm Marshall?
The modern skew and complete lack of Englishmen has angered Geoff Boycott, who described the team as "biased" with "no credibility".
