It will be revealing to see what effect the Breakers' Australian National Basketball League heroics has on the Halberg judges later this year.

JOSEPH ROMANOS - © Fairfax NZ News

I s Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy the new Tiger Woods? And is he in the vanguard of a whole new batch of gifted young golfers?

The greatest "bowler" in cricket history walked quietly into retirement in Mumbai the other day. I felt surprisingly sad watching him depart.

Consistency and New Zealand cricket are not generally terms used in the same sentence, but maybe they should be, at least with regard to the World Cup.

All Black great Michael Jones is right to worry about the mana being sucked out of the All Blacks. It's just that he's a little late.

Ross Taylor's breathtaking 131 not out against Pakistan at the cricket World Cup illustrated how fickle top sport can be.

There's quite a battle going on at present between Englishman Jonny Wilkinson and New Zealander Dan Carter for the honour of being the top points-scorer in test rugby.

There were things to talk about this week - the New Zealand cricket team (heavy on promise, light on performance, as usual), Tiger Woods, the Highlanders Super rugby side and the Breakers basketball team among them.

Sadly, the drugs cheats are still winning in sport.

Some New Zealand sports followers let themselves down after the Halberg Awards.

Kim Clijsters put motherhood in the spotlight by beating Li Na of China to win the Australian Open tennis title over the weekend.

A few questions this week. What's behind the modern cricket trend of fieldsmen pointing to where the ball is going? Are outfielders watching their team- mates for directions, rather than following the ball? Wouldn't they chase it if it wasn't pointed to?

Being in the right place at the right time can be vital in top sport. Just ask Central Pulse netballer Camilla Lees.

Organisers of the ASB women's tennis tournament dug deep when they invited statuesque Russian Maria Sharapova to play in last week's tournament.

I was delighted to see that Yvette Corlett was acknowledged in the New Year honours lists.

Zac Guilford joined the list of All Black wings who have made sensational test debuts with his stirring play against Wales over the weekend.

JOSEPH ROMANOS - © Fairfax NZ News

There's no doubt Kim Clijsters saved the women's tournament at the US Open.

JOSEPH ROMANOS - © Fairfax NZ News

I attended one of the great events of the British sports year, the rugby league Challenge Cup final at Wembley, over the weekend, and was surprised how much New Zealand featured.

JOSEPH ROMANOS - © Fairfax NZ News

Where does Usain Bolt rate in the pantheon of history's greatest sprinters?

JOSEPH ROMANOS - © Fairfax NZ News

It's not a bad thing that interest in rugby is declining.