One lousy trophy idea

death saw rugby and cricket briefly merge at the Cairns trial in London, as lawyers and court staff went out of their way to offer their condolences to Kiwi reporters on the press benches.

So this column and Duco are in agreement on one thing: ‘‘Both Martin and Jonah were men whose achievements transcended the sports field.’’

But here we differ: ‘‘So to be able to honour them even in a small way by naming the T20 Black Clash trophy the Lomu-Crowe Trophy just feels right.’’

No it doesn’t, not when the rest of the announcement was littered with more sponsor references than a Formula One driver’s race suit.

Here’s some of that: the Lomu-Crowe Trophy was unveiled yesterday, along with the playing uniforms for ‘‘the star-studded Team Rugby and Team Cricket lineups, and the Crown Lift Trucks umpires’’.

Wait, there’s more: Match umpire Billy Bowden showed off the Crown Lift Trucks umpires’ uniform.

And this bit: The Hot Spring Spas T20 Christchurch Black Clash in association with Swisse takes place at Hagley Oval on Friday, January 25.

No matter how beautiful, and even if the Crowe and Lomu families do approve, this sponsor-splashed sparrow of a game can never be worthy two soaring eagles.

This sponsor-splashed sparrow of a game can never be worthy two soaring eagles.

PHOTOSPORT/ STUFF Martin Crowe, main picture, and Jonah Lomu, inset, both transcended sport with their deeds on various playing fields. They deserve better than having a trophy named after them for an event that is little more than a piece of jacked up summer fluff.