Julie Ash: Possum looked after the fans

Sometimes it feels like you would have a better chance of finding a four-leaf clover than securing a decent interview with one of our esteemed sporting figures.

Trying to battle your way past pushy public relations people or waiting for phone calls to be returned can sometimes make the game of sports journalism a little tiresome.

But to be fair, a number of New Zealanders are a pleasure to deal with, one of whom was rally driver Possum Bourne.

There were times when the 47-year-old endured interview after interview in the buildup to big events.

But even if he had done 10 or more in a row, Bourne always had time for one more.

More often than not he faced the same questions over and over again. It never seemed to bother him.

Maybe Bourne considered giving interviews as a way of communicating with his supporters. If so, then it is something his friends, rivals, Motorsport New Zealand and the Race to the Sky organisers have continued to do since his death on Wednesday morning.

Bourne's friends and workmates deserve commending for the way they have dealt with the media and the fans.

After the accident, his colleagues provided continual updates of his condition and gave fans Bourne's website address where they could send messages of support.

The day after his death, the Subaru that Bourne was to have driven in the world rally championships was parked outside his workshop just down the road from Pukekohe raceway - giving his many fans a place where they could pay their last respects.

The manager of Possum Bourne Motorsport, Murray Brown, then announced they would continue with the team, running two cars in the Australian championship as well as pursuing an involvement in the production car world championships.

Bourne's fans were constantly kept in the loop.

Among the 6660 tributes emailed to his website the day after he died, thousands came from those who did not follow rallying.

"He was genuinely happy to shoot the breeze with anybody and everybody," said Motorsport New Zealand spokesman Kerry Cooper.

In contrast to Bourne's approachability, a recent column written by former All Black Norm Hewitt in a Sunday newspaper revealed what most rugby fans had probably always suspected.

"The truth is, most players loathe the media," Hewitt wrote.

"Rugby journos hate it when you don't talk to them. Players and coaches know this, so tend to twist the knife and say nothing - not even 'G'day'," he added.

"They're not into all the marketing bullshit and just want to play footy."

Which is understandable, but isn't it stating the obvious?

Of course sportspeople would rather be in action than standing around yakking to reporters.

Of course Bourne would rather have been blatting round a race circuit.

Obviously it takes time for sportspeople to feel confident talking to the media, but when you hear or read regular comments from someone such as Bourne, doesn't it just make you pay a bit more attention to him and his sport?

Fellow driver Bruce Herbert, a three-time national champion, remembered the huge following that Bourne had developed.

"He's the name that everyone knows. The guy is a huge identity throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region. At Rally New Zealand, you'd see all these 'Go Possum go' signs."

Maybe if All Black coach John Mitchell shared Bourne's philosophy and provided rugby fans with a few more insights, there may just be a few more signs reading "Go All Blacks go" in this all-important rugby year.