Is Peter Blake really a NZ hero/icon?

[Winston001]

Fark mate we have just gone thru a period where we had no male leadership role models. Now you want to destroy what we had in the past. Do you miss Helen or are you just bored ?

Good point. Actually I admire Willie Apiata too - another VC and also a modest man.





And I sooooo miss Aunty Helen......

[LBD]

A NZ sporting icon...Definately

Hero?....Not in my books...Blake was driven to win at a sport he enjoyed and was good at, But a hero is self sacrificing, putting others ahead of self. On that front Blake is not in the same league as Hillary.

[Goblin]

The guy had balls the size of watermelons. That's worth something in my book.

Who here owned a pair of red socks?.

Hell yes! They were my "lucky" red socks...only threw them out last year cos they got too holey.

Sir Peter is a hero imo.

[98tls]

Yes.

More NZ children should be looking up to heroes like Sir Peter Blake, leaders of men who push the boundaries of where men can go, and how fast they can do it, supporting the environment and living a clean, honourable life.

Instead of thugs chasing a pointy ball around a field, living a life of alcohol and commercial whoredom.

Sounds a bit tree huggish to me,Colin Meads for my moneys a Kiwi legend and he spent some time chasing a pointy ball round a field,then again there was a bloke with a last name Fagan and all things considered he chased sheep round,still as far a Kiwi legends go he is right up there.Guess it boils down to what your perception of legend/Kiwi is eh.

[MisterD]

but at the time of his death it appeared his affinity was with England. He'd left NZ behind.

If anything, I'd say his affinity was with the sea...but yep, a hero alright.

[doc]

Good point. Actually I admire Willie Apiata too - another VC and also a modest man.





And I sooooo miss Aunty Helen......

I know it sounds stupid. But they did what they did. So you could say what you did. But I feel Cpl Apiata did what he did, more out of "espr'e de corp" because of our lack of nationality.

[Genestho]

A NZ sporting icon...Definately

Hero?....Not in my books...Blake was driven to win at a sport he enjoyed and was good at, But a hero is self sacrificing, putting others ahead of self. On that front Blake is not in the same league as Hillary.

Mate he was much more than a brilliant sportsman.

Do you not know of his expeditions and work in the Antartic and Amazon? He was special envoy in the UN environment programme.

He also headed the Cousteau society - group founded by Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Also:
"On 6 December 2001, pirates shot and killed Blake while he was on an environmental exploration trip in South America, monitoring global warming and pollution for the United Nations. "

and...post death
In December 2003, the Sir Peter Blake Trust was established, with the support of the Blake family, "to help New Zealanders make a positive difference for the planet through activities that encourage environmental awareness and action, and leadership development."

[doc]

Hero?....Not in my books...Blake was driven to win at a sport he enjoyed and was good at, But a hero is self sacrificing, putting others ahead of self. On that front Blake is not in the same league as Hillary.

I thought he died standing up to confront the thieves on his boat to protect his crew. He could have cowered under a blanket in the head.

[firefighter]

A NZ sporting icon...Definately

Hero?....putting others ahead of self. On that front Blake is not in the same league as Hillary.

Are you stupid?

What was he doing when he was killed again? Oh yeah, that's right......

[98tls]

A NZ sporting icon...Definately

Hero?....Not in my books...Blake was driven to win at a sport he enjoyed and was good at, But a hero is self sacrificing, putting others ahead of self. On that front Blake is not in the same league as Hillary.

What you saying?the short fella actually got there first?

[Genestho]

I thought he died standing up to confront the thieves on his boat to protect his crew. He could have cowered under a blanket in the head.

Shot twice while going out to investigate as I understood it.

[scrivy]

A NZ sporting icon...Definately
Hell yes!! How many other Kiwis have caused tickertape parades recently in Queenstreet????

Hero?....Not in my books...Blake was driven to win at a sport he enjoyed and was good at, But a hero is self sacrificing, putting others ahead of self. On that front Blake is not in the same league as Hillary.

One thing most people forget, is that he did try to protect his crew from the pirates - and ultimately lost his life as a result. If he hadn't had died, he too may have been regarded in the same light as Willie Apiata?
He also made alot of Kiwis realise we could do more than just play rugby.

He may be gone, but he's still a good bastard in my books.
Lets see how many young people in the near future will have as much impact as him.

[98tls]

He may be gone, but he's still a good bastard in my books.
Lets see how many young people in the near future will have as much impact as him.

Agreed,no doubt theres many young people making an impact but unless you give a shit about playstation highest scores and graffiti its doubtful in many cases you will notice.

[Hitcher]

Peter Blake was born in New Zealand but lived in the UK. His wife is a Pom, so are his kids. He's buried there.

If people are to be identified with where they culturally align themselves, then Peter Blake is English. A Sam Neil in reverse.

[Winston001]

Mate he was much more than a brilliant sportsman.

Do you not know of his expeditions and work in the Antartic and Amazon? He was special envoy in the UN environment programme.

He also headed the Cousteau society - group founded by Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Also:
"On 6 December 2001, pirates shot and killed Blake while he was on an environmental exploration trip in South America, monitoring global warming and pollution for the United Nations. "

and...post death
In December 2003, the Sir Peter Blake Trust was established, with the support of the Blake family, "to help New Zealanders make a positive difference for the planet through activities that encourage environmental awareness and action, and leadership development."

Thoughtful stuff. He was one of the good guys, no argument.

Ok fair enough, its good to learn what others think.