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| Ben Sigmund Signing book for fan Sasha Kerslake |
Player
autobiographies and any football books are big business...........................in
the UK!
Here in
rugby mad New Zealand, one of the top Wellington Phoenix players, a
fan favourite, Ben Sigmund, retires after 181 games for the Phoenix,
32 games for his country, an infamous stomp and even a season playing
rugby, decides to write his autobiography. Now this
isn't a bloke who will produce a humdrum story that will infer all
his playing mates were great guys and tease you with stories of what
may have happened but not actually tell you the detail. There is a
story here, but apparently publishers didn't believe it would make
any money so wouldn't back it.
So what
does Sigmund do, he gets a few mates together and organises backing
from his first employers, Corporate Consumables, and publishes it
himself and then takes to the road to promote it.
Last
night I was at the Nelson book launch of Fully Committed – The Ben
Sigmund Story
From the
outset when the video showing highlights of his career includes the
infamous stomping incident when playing for NZ against UAE, you knew
he wasn't going to shy away from any issue, as he said it can be
difficult facing up to some truths, but then what's the point of
writing a book if you don't.
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| Ben Sigmund telling his story |
This is
an interesting story, with many highs and lows, including being part
of the disastrous U17 World Cup squad in Egypt (when the losses
included 13-0 to Spain, although Sigmund didn't play in that game),
making his full All White debut before the age of 20, chucking it in
to play club rugby in Christchurch, coming back to the beautiful game
and getting back into the All White's, signing for the Phoenix and
going on to make 181 appearances, not playing a game a the World Cup
finals in 2010, his deteriorating relationship with Ricki Herbert and of course that infamous stomp.
Ghostwriter, Jason
Pine, asked the questions as Sigmund took us through the book and gave
us some insights. He constantly has Ryan Nelsen's voice in the back
of his head saying “only you know if you've given your all”. He
gets in the zone on the field and dishes out a fair amount of abuse
to his teammates, but always has their back. He dislikes Tommy
Smith's attitude to the NZ shirt and has let him know. He is still
not fully over his non-appearance in the 2010 World Cup. He believes
that the Phoenix need to invest in some experienced players.
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| Paul Ifill |
He was
then joined by former team mate Paul Ifill, who told us his first
impressions of Sigmund was a meathead and he quickly learned to pick
him in his side in training to avoid being kicked! But he soon
realised that his work ethic was outstanding and that he would do
anything for his teammates.
Piney
put some fun questions to them both, along the lines of which Phoenix
player of all time would / is etc so we learned Leo Bertos would win
the 100m, Tony Lochhead the beep test. Tony Warner would be the last man standing if there was
a fight between all Phoenix players ever. Tyler Boyd spends most time
in front of the mirror and Ben Sigmund is the worst roomie!
Ben
Sigmund is a winner, he is driven and the sort of guy that if he is
told it can't happen will find a way to make it happen. He is also an
honest genuine guy who is wanting to give something back. He said at
the start he hopes that in telling his story he can inspire others. He has and will continue to do so.
The next event is in Blenheim tonight and then Wellington
And if you haven't got it already buy the book Fully Committed for $39.95
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