Super leagues or super lame?
The worst part of the quicklyaxed Super League was not the pure greed, but the competition name. It’s been done to death in sport with very little success. Cameron McMillan ranks the best (and worst) uses of super in sport.
Special mentions: The Herald’s Super Sport section ( Editor’s note: Brutal ranking this, we deserve at least to be in the top five), the adidas Supernova runners, Super Netball, Super 8 and Jimmy the Superfly Snuka.
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Super League (the first one)
Oh, we’ve been here before. Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Packer fought over the broadcasting rights for the Australian Rugby League competition which led to a stunning split of two competitions in 1997 — the breakaway Super League (owned by Murdoch) and the ARL. The Warriors joined the Super League with likes of the Broncos, Bulldogs, Raiders, Panthers, Sharks, Cowboys and Perth Reds along with newcomers the Adelaide Rams and Hunter Mariners. The jerseys all looked like bland knockoffs of the ARL strips, it had a State of Origin knockoff which also featured New Zealand, the Warriors finished just outside the playoffs and the Broncos won the title.
Meanwhile, the ARL had one of the most dramatic finals with Darren Albert scoring in the dying seconds to give Newcastle their first title by beating Manly.
Was it super? No.
But it was league.
As a young football fan growing up in Hawke’s Bay, Napier City Rovers winning the inaugural New Zealand Superclub League in extra time was a pretty big deal. Sadly, the competition lasted only two more years as it dawned on everyone that travelling around the country to play football was a fairly expensive undertaking if you didn’t have a sizeable broadcasting deal. Was it super? Well it was to me and Rovers legend Perry Cotton. But probably a no.
10 Super subs
The super sub was an experimental rule introduced by the ICC to ODIs in 2005 that, much like promoting Daniel Vettori to the top of the order, failed to get off the mark. Under the rule, the 12th man became a substitute who would replace any player on the field and take over their batting or bowling duties. The ICC hoped teams would use all-rounders but instead specialist bowlers or batsmen were favoured.
It wasn’t long before it was realised teams who lost the toss were at a distinct disadvantage because if your 12th man was a bowler and you were forced to field first, they were suddenly of less value as they’d need to replace a player who hadn’t batted yet. It was canned after less than 10 months. The equally pointless powerplay rule, however, remains.
Was it super? No. Not at all.
9 Super League (the British one)
The British rugby league competition was created at the same time as the failed Aussie one. It’s been around for 25 years but has never been able to shake off its reputation as being the next best league competition behind the NRL. It’s at least an option for live sport viewing on a Sunday morning.
Is it super? In Hull, Huddersfield and Salford, yes. Outside of northern England and the bank accounts of past NRL stars, not really.
8 The Super Smash
The New Zealand domestic Twenty20 cricket competition has been around since 2005 but it took on the Super Smash moniker in 2014. Pre-dating the name change, thanks to the lucrative Champions League (the cricket one, not the football one, but that’s another list for another day) it meant big overseas names like David Warner, Herschelle Gibbs, Brad Hodge and David Hussey turned out in the competition. This peaked when Tillakaratne Dilshan was flown by helicopter from Auckland to Mt Maunganui for a game.
Is it super? A day at Eden Park No 2 watching the men’s or women’s competition on a fine summer’s afternoon can be a pretty super day out.
7 The Super Dome
Home field of the New Orleans Saints and one of the loudest atmospheres in the NFL, which gives the team a distinct home advantage. The Saints have an impressive 56-24 record at home going back to 2011. The Super Dome has also hosted the Super Bowl seven times. More importantly, it was used as a vital shelter in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that devastated the city in 2005.
Is it super? More dome than super. Its super abilities will be truly tested now that Saints quarterback Drew Brees has retired.
6 The Seattle Supersonics
RIP. The 1979 NBA champions were ripped from the city of Seattle when former Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz sold the franchise to a group of businessmen from Oklahoma City in 2008. No surprises that shortly after the franchise was changed to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Sonics had an iconic duo of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp who pushed the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen Bulls to six games in the 1996 finals.
Were they super? Yes. Because they won a title. Eleven of today’s 30 NBA teams can’t say that.
5 Chennai Super Kings
What’s more powerful than a king? A Super King. The IPL franchise are three-time cricket champions, famously winning in 2018 after sitting out two seasons under suspension following the 2013 IPL betting scandal. They have also lost the final five times.
Are they super? Eight finals appearances in 11 seasons is pretty super.
4 Supercars
It may not seem like it this season with Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen dominating proceedings but Supercars has a pretty decent strike rate in providing entertainment each round. The coverage is fantastic and Bathurst remains one of the top sporting viewings of the year. Watching Scott McLaughlin race around the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama in the IndyCar opener was pretty cool but there was a tinge of sadness that it wasn’t a saloon car racing around Pukekohe.
Is it super? Yes. Lives up to the name.
3 Super Rugby
At its height, it can be one of the best sporting competitions in the world but it’s arguable that height may have been somewhere between 20-25 years ago. The ever-changing structure hasn’t helped its cause but in the end watching the New Zealand teams clash and All Blacks squaring off is still pretty great.
Is it super? Super Rugby Aotearoa certainly has been so far. It’s wait and see for Super Rugby Transtasman and the next version of the bigger competition once the South African franchises return and two new teams join.
2 Super Over
It might be unpatriotic to say considering the Black Caps tied the most important Super Over in cricket history but they are fun. Who isn’t thinking of a Super Over heading into the final over of a tight game?
Is it super? For sure. Best invention in cricket since the thigh pad.
1 Super Bowl
The original “super” that no doubt inspires so many people in suits to name their sporting competition “Super something” instead of Greatcars or Splendid Smash. One of the most watched sporting matches of the year and most of the time it lives up to the hype.
Is it super? Yes.