Top 5 for Friday - GOLD and SILVER

The inspiration for this week's Top 5 comes from the most intense and unbelievable netball game I have seen in a long time. I couldn't watch - I couldn't not watch. I am (of course) talking about the match up between the Silver Ferns and the Australian Diamonds last night for the Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games. Even at the end of normal time. Even at the end of extra time. Then it was just a matter of who held their nerve and blinked first. AND WE WON!!

Back to the Top 5 on Friday - Sporting heroes and sports stories about pursuing your dreams of Gold and victory.

1. Changing Colours - The Irene Van Dyk Story. Well after last night this had to be top of the list. Our flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony may have hailed from South Africa but there is no doubt that she is now a very proud Kiwi.


2. High Flying Kiwis by Mark Taylor. Who says Kiwis can't fly. Read about 100 of our sporting heroes, from Cardigan Bay to Colin Meads, Jack Lovelock to John Walker, celebrate our sporting tradition in this 1988 book, which was later followed by Volume 2 published in 1994. An honourable mention that looks like it is worth a read is Hard Man Fight Back for inspiration about those Kiwis who have truly beaten the odds.


3. Titch: Sevens is my Game by Heather Kidd. Gordon Tietjens. Legend. Almost single-handedly the steely-eyed fitness fanatic from the Bay of Plenty has taken a sport that was once regarded as little more than a pre- or post-season muck-around and spearheaded its development into a global game. Which we are very good at - more Gold.


4. Chariots of Fire (DVD). The 1924 Olympic Games are the setting for this classic tale of athletic rivalry, class conflict and living by your values. A true classic.


5. And finally back to the netball with Sterling Silver (DVD). Archival footage of some of their unforgettable moments in the sport, with present-day conversations with the legends.

Congratulations to the Ferns. You are legends and I think Gold and Silver go together really well when it is a Gold Medal for the Silver Ferns. If you are interested the team are flying home and will be arriving at Auckland approximately 11.50am tomorrow (Saturday), so get out there and welcome them home. Have a fantastic weekend everyone.