Andrew Alderson: McCaw to soar even more

Richie McCaw's love of flying is reflected in chosen career path. Photo / Sport

Richie McCaw saved his best and most refreshing decision until last.

Many employers would have unfurled the red carpet for his services as a walking metaphor of reliability and manliness. Even Prime Minister John Key must have considered relinquishing his ninth floor Beehive office, given his professed bromantic love.

A logical and easy step for McCaw would have been to sidle back to what he knows - rugby. He could have opted for a permanent role in coaching, administration or punditry.

Yet he chose to train as a commercial pilot with Christchurch Helicopters. He could become New Zealand's version of Magnum PI's mate TC. He's already even worked with other pilots using the downdraft from rotor blades to protect frost-threatened grape vines in Marlborough. As if further proof of his altruism was needed.

But what an inspired vocational decision. It stood out from all the gilded - and deserved - coverage of his rugby valedictory. Here was a bloke prepared to start anew without relying on his reputation. It was indicative of his depth of character that he won't leverage directly off the game.

Yes, he will continue as a brand ambassador in various capacities but, in essence, his decision amounted to a love of flying trumping any love for himself. McCaw never struck as the sort of character to get harangued by a mirror in the morning.

That represents his finest characteristic, once you wade past the World Cup glories, the bottomless well of statistics and the physical indestructibility.

Despite having the media equivalent of the Hubble telescope focused on him, McCaw has negotiated public life without a whisper of scandal.

Any aspiring sports professional should consider bottling his mantra. It's not like he led a monastic existence, yet the 34-year-old avoided any salacious media tentacles his entire career.

What does the public really know, beyond rugby, about McCaw in almost 14 years as an All Black? A brief summary might read: 'He likes gliding'. Much of his private world from wealth accumulation to companionship has been scrutinised and speculated on, yet his image remains pristine.

McCaw appeared to work on the simple theory that if he kept his world shrouded, people would respect his privacy. No faux celebrity lures for him. The only foot McCaw put wrong appears to be the one he fractured leading to the World Cup. And New Zealand still won.

Expect McCaw clones to become rare in a social media age where gossip is queen. Given the attention All Blacks receive, which has intoxicated some of his team-mates figuratively and literally, how did McCaw fend off the limelight?

The answer might be that he toiled hard at his job and didn't shine an unnecessary torch on his existence, a scenario most average Kiwis can relate to. The loyalty McCaw inspires in his inner circle meant there was never a toxic public leak.

He should expect to assume a relatively normal life, albeit garnished by a diet of selfie and autograph requests at every turn.

Sportspeople shouldn't feel compelled to be role models but it helps sport when they have a positive social influence. If McCaw can show there is more to life than rugby, he will leave his greatest legacy.