A huge reason for my coming to Japan was to support NZ at the World Champs.....this is how it went down.....
Day 1
Today started with a 9am departure from Yokohama, travelling to Hiroshima by Shinkansen (Bullet Train). It felt like travelling on a plane, except there was more leg room! Arriving at Hiroshima at 1pm, we quickly found an Irish Bar and settled down there to watch the All Blacks. After watching yet another sublime display from the men in black, we went to our hotel to relax a bit before going to the stadium. The games were played at Green Arena, an excellent spectator stadium - very spacious with comfy seats. We found our seats next to the legendary Sonny Shaw (on his 39th NZ sports tour!). He is an absolute sports nut... possibly the most patriotic NZer ever when it comes to sports! Before the game he was standing up waving his flag and was told to sit down by a Japanese usher, to which he replied, "Show some bloody respect!!"...classic. We also met another Kiwi, Heath, who would become our drinking and support partner the next few days. As for the game, it was an average Kiwi performance….dissapointing start, but I kind of expected a tough loss to start. Spain could be a title contender. Post match, met with Heath and downed his duty free Jim Beam, then went into town and talked to heaps of people on the streets and in the bars. Somehow a lot of people got the impression we were players? I don't know why they thought that, especially as we were staggering around until 5am, but it got us into a bar without paying the cover so sweet as!!
Day 2
After last night we get a well deserved sleep in and wake up with just a slight hangover. We went to the stadium with high hopes for a better performance today, but it soon fades away as NZ cannot buy a basket…17 points in the half…and Germany aren't even going to Nowitzki! By 2nd half the late night has caught up with us and the support is a little quiet. Another disappointing loss, but at least that’s our two hard games out of the way. Went to the Irish pub again for dinner and watched USA destroy China…I'm pretty sure USA is gonna win, but I have not seen Argentina play yet. The boys are tired so we make it an early night.
Day 3
Refreshed after big sleep and high expectations for an NZ win today. In the morning we went to the Peace Park and A-Bomb dome. Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit the Museum today, but the park itself is a very beautiful reminder of what happened here 61 years ago. We have high expectations for todays match against Angola, so we start drinking early to celebrate. Game time…somehow Angola get off to a flyer and once again NZ just can't get it right? Our support today lasted the full 40 and some, but it wasn’t enough….at least the copious amount of beer somehow numbs the shock of losing 3 straight. After the match we went next door for lunch and were joined by Mark Dickel and Tab Baldwin. It was great to get the inside word from Dickel about his suspension, Baldwin about Sean Marks' withdrawl and both of them about what the hell was going wrong with the team! After lunch we went back to watch Spain and Germany. By this time we were pretty boozed up so I can't remember much about it, other than Spain winning convincingly....they are gonna be tough to beat. This was Heaths last night so we went to an Izakaya for a Japanese meal then had a couple more drinks at a bar. As we were leaving, this Japanese guy steps to us like he wants to fight and says "My name is bi-sexual". Everyone within earshot started cracking up and it was made all the funnier that his girlfriend was holding him back....we walked out laughing our heads off! Said our byes to Heath (we'll see you in Tokyo bro!) and went home for an earlyish night after a long day.
Day 4
No games today, so we had the chance to go sightseeing and recuperate. Theres really only two must-see places in Hiroshima- The A-Bomb Dome/Peace Park/Museum, and Miyajima....so we went to Miyajima. Miyajima Island is about 1/2 from Hiroshima by train then a 10 minute ferry. When we got off the ferry and walked outside the station we saw a deer…totally amazed, we quickly pulled out cameras and started taking photos before realizing there were actually deer all over the place!! They just cruise around and scavenge food from the visitors. Miyajima is famous for the big red Tori gate that sits in the water (at high tide) and the temple next to it (same deal with the water). We followed the tourist trail and went to the filthiest aquarium in the world (some of the water was green!). Then we walked to the otherside of the island for a quick swim before heading home....cool day of sightseeing. Had a quiet night, kicked Marks ass at bowling and went to sleep early. Must win game tomorrow against the hosts.....
Day 5
We kick started today with a visit to Hiroshima Castle (nothing special, but nice view from the top) and then went to the A-Bomb Museum. This place is an amazing history lesson that features graphic photos, memoribilia and all the information you could ask for about the final days of the war, the development of the bomb, the decision to drop it, the bombing itself, the aftermath, the reconstruction, nukes in the world today and world peace efforts. The feeling here was hard to describe, but I have great respect for the Japanese people that rebuilt the city and I felt terrible pain for the 300,000 that were killed by the bomb (not to mention thousands more that died in later years from bomb related illnesses). It's really scary to see the descruction that was caused and realise that there are hundreds of these bombs (even more powerful) in the world today.
We spent the afternoon relaxing for the big game ahead, heading to the stadium at 6pm for the 7pm tipoff. Arriving at the stadium, we were pumped up, but so was the Japanese crowd. Japanese crowds are amazing, in that they are like robots....the chants and noises are all synchronised, led by the drummers and cheergirls around the stadium....nobody dares to start their own chant. This is where the Kiwi fans may have an advantage as our totally random shouting, waving flags, running around, changing seats, doing the Haka and all-round shenanigans start distracting the crowd. The Tall Blacks had another dissapointing start, but even down 18 at the half, I had a genuine belief we could come back....3rd quarter the run began and as Pero started nailing 3's in the 4th, the Kiwis got even louder and crazier. After Penney dropped his 3 to break the late tie, we were going buckwild!!! Game over - New Zealand win - Japan is eliminated - Party on!!! After the game Paul Henare came out to thank the die-hard supporters and the security guards tried vainly to move us out, but we had to tell them "Just one more photo bro", "Last pic cuz"....We then went and partied a bit with the NZ fans and got to sleep fairly early for the morning depature back home.
Arriving home the next day, I was stoked to learn that New Zealand held off Panama to advance to a quarterfinal showdown with Argentina. Good luck boys....you'll need it!!!! I'll be off to the final next week, hopefully I can see Team USA in action. Thats all folks...better luck next time Tall Blacks!
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