Oracle to Win America's Cup

It was probably not the article I wanted to write for my 750th post but then again, it is the sort of topic that will probably get people talking and be quite memorable especially if it turns out to be true.

I was hoping by now to have written my 750th post celebrating Team New Zealand's recapture of the America's Cup with a play on PJ Montgomery's famous America's Cup is New Zealand's Cup.

Alas, things have taken quite a huge twist in the week since we got into a position of gaining match point.

David Beckham celebrates as Man United win 5-3 after being 3-0 down at Tottenham - sound familiar Kiwis?

In most sports, the 8-1 scoreline in the America's Cup is a bit like a 6-1 scoreline in the final set of a Grand Slam Final, a 5-0 scoreline in football, or 44-0 scoreline in rugby or having a team 9 wickets down with you just need 1 wicket to win. You really should win the whole shabang from there.

But, as Tottenham, Liverpool, AC Milan and England cricket fans should know, that sometimes doesn't quite follow the script. The same unpredictability that makes us follow sport can also be a poisoned chalice for supporters.

Kiwis will be hoping that they can celebrate like the English after a nail biter of the ages

Indeed, Oracle's sudden rise is not unlike Australian cricket's famous run-chase in the 2005 Ashes Test at Edgbaston when they kept scoring runs with their 10th wicket partnership with England only needing one wicket to win. Kasprowicz and Gillespie came oh so close to breaking England hearts just in the same way that Oracle is set to break New Zealand hearts and quite possibly send the economy into a recession.

France sent major gloom and doom back in 1999

In fact, New Zealand could see its economy fall briefly in the same way it did back in 1999 when the All Blacks lost to France in the Rugby World Cup semifinal especially if most of the country goes into recession. Helplines could see a spike in calls as many flock for counselling over potential post-America's Cup depression.

David Cunliffe could benefit from the malaise in the wake of Team New Zealand's America's Cup collapse

The only benefactor from a shock Team New Zealand defeat to Oracle could be the Right Honorable David Cunliffe who could take advantage of the public malaise in the country and win the election in 2014. Nice timing from Cunliffe then. John Key probably has left the country at the worst time possible.

Ok, maybe the effect won't be so drastic if Oracle do pull off what will be the most amazing comeback in sporting history and win the America's Cup 9-8 (bearing in mind the penalty points they had too) some time on Thursday or Friday morning depending on the weather.  

Give some credit to Jimmy Spithill who has taken over from his fellow Aussies who have sort of chickened out in recent times as being New Zealand's most hated Aussie. With Oracle staring at a 9-1 thrashing, Spithill got his men stuck in and they have rallied from a position of despair to a position of strength. The turnaround has been remarkable and the Oracle boat is clearly the faster boat now and the one with momentum.

Sir Ben Ainslie has been key and in the last week, has outshone his fellow tactician, Ray Davies, with the changeable current and wind.

If there is one clear cut pivotal day the Kiwis and Americans can look back on, it will definitely be Friday afternoon (Saturday morning NZ time). New Zealanders should have been celebrating by half-past 9 on Saturday morning, alas it cued the start of an amazing Oracle return.

Oh well, I sure hope you guys have other thoughts besides sport because it's gonna be quite a depressing time for New Zealand sport - did I mention that only Javier Hernandez's Mexico stands in the way of the All Whites qualifying for the World Cup next year?

Could this sight be permanent for the rest of this thrilling America's Cup?

Anyway Oracle to win 9-8 on Thursday morning to cue the gloomiest day in New Zealand sport since the Sunday after the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal. You heard it here first.