The Black Cocks

Recreation Sports
1

In NZ, first there was the “All Blacks” who are so called because their Rugby uniforms are all black. Then a few other team have adopted the color black as their name: “Black Caps” (Cricketers), “Black Sox” (Softball), “Tall Blacks”(Basketball) etc.

And now the badminton team comes up with this:

Black Cocks name being reconsidered
14 September 2005
By MARTYN WATTERSON

Badminton New Zealand appear to be going soft on adopting the controversial Black Cocks tag for the national team.

The monicker was raised as a potential team name by Badminton NZ over a year ago as a gimmicky label to attract sponsors and fans.

Badminton NZ were expected to confirm it at a board meeting last month, but opposition from home and abroad has seen a rethink.

Badminton NZ will seek feedback from the 27 regional associations at its November annual meeting before deciding on the name, president Nigel Skelt told NZPA today.

The reaction from the associations and former players was mixed, though current team members were comfortable with it, he said.

The International Badminton Federation (IBF) had also poured cold water on the idea.

“They don’t want to see the game lose its composure for the want of a gimmicky name,” Skelt said.

“If you’re over in China and you get introduced as the Black Cocks, it raises some issues.”

When the name was raised, Badminton NZ were inundated with sponsorship offers from companies such as condom manufacturers. Despite the opposition from within the game, Skelt said the public reaction was still positive.

"At the recent New Zealand Open, crowds were yelling out `c’mon the Black Cocks’.

“Whether the team actually adopt the name officially, they’re already known as the Black Cocks.”
stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,341 … 23,00.html

2

There will be a rise in the number of female fans.

3

Ha ha.

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

4

Badminton is a hard sport. It takes a long time to learn to play strong and fast.

5

it’s all in the wrist action.

6

Requires deep thinking.

7

In the Airforce I once played an ambidexterous dood. Bloody impossible to beat as he was always ready with a forehand shot. :s

8
9

heh hehe heh

10
11

Good skill to have at parties.

12

especially if you have a[quote=“914”]number of female fans.[/quote]

13

A rot of sweat and rough handling is involved.

14

Risque NZ supporters’ shirts steal the show
17 March 2006
By MARK GEENTY

MELBOURNE: The ‘Black Cocks’ are back. New Zealand’s badminton supporters raised eyebrows and had the Melbourne public giggling yesterday as they unveiled their new black t-shirts and caps blaring out the team’s controversial, unofficial nickname.
Eighty t-shirts and caps have been flown to Melbourne and were donned by the players’ parents, siblings, friends and officials as the team beat Kenya 5-0 in their opening Commonwealth Games match.

“Black Cocks: Expect Big Things,” is emblazoned on the back of the t-shirt while the caps carry equally subtle messages: “Not A Soft Option” for the men or “Nobody Likes To Come Second” for the women.
The nickname was coined last year as the quirky object of their sport, the shuttlecock, gave them the leeway for a risque approach.

It created a stir and Badminton New Zealand decided not to officially adopt the name, but the team were keen to continue with it and a Hamilton clothing manufacturer climbed on board.
Doubles player John Gordon, whose Games dream was ended a month ago when he ruptured his achilles tendon, proudly wore his t-shirt in the stands yesterday and even his parents followed suit.
“That’s one good thing about being a supporter, you get to don one of these great shirts and a hat,” he said.
"It’s certainly quite interesting wearing them through the Melbourne town. We’ve had a really good reaction from people and I think we could make some money out of it.

"Plenty of people have offered to buy them so I’ll be selling mine to the highest bidder.
“Everyone loves it - the fact they’re black and they create quite a lot of attention, especially when there’s quite a few of us together.”
But there were potential tricky moments in store, Gordon said with a grin.
"We’re playing Jamaica tomorrow so there could be some competition there.
“We played Kenya this morning so we possibly should have looked at the draw before we made the t-shirts.”
Mixed doubles player Sara Runesten Petersen was adamant the shirts were a great idea as the side’s 80 supporters prepare to come out in force for Saturday’s crunch match against Australia.

“The shirts are awesome and it’s great to have so many supporters over here,” she said.

stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,360 … 77,00.html