Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Rugby has once again been in the sporting headlines for all the wrong reasons.

People forget that the media is a two-edged sword and that if you court the newspapers, radio and television for publicity, you have to be able to handle adverse publicity when things go pear-shaped.

Professional sport has sharpened the agenda of the media and the activities of young men, many who have plenty of money and spare time on their hands, has proved a fertile source of daily headlines.

Without getting into the recent transgressions of some rugby players – many of us have done things in youthful exuberance that we later look back on with little pride.

There is a line that marks right from wrong and if we chose to step over the line, we need to then be responsible for our actions.

The problem is often that people blame the media (and other parties) for getting caught, rather than face up to facts and deal with them.

As someone that has been involved in sport as a player, administrator and commentator for most of my seven decades on earth, there is one element that redeems most youthful transgressors – maturity.

One of my joys of many years of sports administration, is to see youngsters come into sport at primary school level and develop their sporting prowess and become good citizens in our beautiful country.

The one major factor in most people's journey to maturity is becoming a parent.

Managing and mentoring sports teams has been a great experience for Sideline Sid, with some memories that quickly bring a smile to his face.

Like running well behind schedule, when taking a Western Bay rugby team to Te Kuiti, to play their King Country counterparts.

When the bus stopped in a town on the way, instead of heading to the nearby toilets to change into their playing gear to save time – the players changed in the town's main street, much to the delight of several young ladies on the nearby street.

Taking junior sports teams away on trips can be like herding cats, however, there is a special pleasure in seeing the youngsters go on to learn sporting and life skills, which turns them into good citizens.

The most satisfying sporting event that this sports nut has been associated with, was at the other end of sporting age-spectrum.

In 1993, the Surf Lifesaving World Masters event was held on the main beach at Mount Maunganui.

A huge Marque on the Mount Maunganui Municipal camping ground ocean-front, was the administration and party headquarters for the 1200 competitors.

While the majority of the over 35 (years of age) athletes came from New Zealand and Australia, there were a sprinkling from the USA, Great Britain and Europe.

What a time was had by all, with fearless but friendly competition by day and partying by night.

On the Friday night, the Mount main street became a party zone as competitors and locals rubbed shoulders in party mode.

However the event that grabbed the most attention was the over 85 surf race, where three or four surf legends battled it out in the shallows for the world title.

While all the over 85 years surf race competitors have gone on to competition in the big sky - that day took us back to the early days of surf lifesaving in this country.