This email summed it up from Claire:
"Dalton shamed us all."
So is the saying "you can't buy class".
"He's got shitloads of money but when it comes to his kids competing and him doing so he's lacking - and he's shamed us all."
Ok, I get it, Grant may have got his timing 'off' on this one.
But, can I just try and play devil's advocate for a moment.
There is no doubt in my mind, that Spithill and Oracle launched an orchestrated campaign to get rid of the Team NZ CEO, several times since the disaster of San Francisco.
Dalton, without wanting to mix words, has been a pain in their backsides.
He challenged Oracle's every move around the Deed of Gift.
I remember vividly the day Jimmy Spithill made himself available for my show on NewstalkZB and the entire tone of his message was Dalton was bad for Team NZ, Dalton was bad for the America's Cup, Dalton's ego was out of control.
Spithill even rattled off a series of Kiwi sailors, who were much better equipped to take Team NZ forward.
At the time I thought that was odd and nothing has changed.
A public campaign by the Cup holders to get rid of a CEO from another team.
I have no doubt, if Spithill and Coutts had got their way, Dean Barker would've been running Team New Zealand, not Grant Dalton.
Dalton knew he was a target, he also knew the weight of public opinion had turned massively against him post the defeat from 8-1 up four years ago.
As he told me an interview, just a couple of months ago.
The misinformation around the 'lay-day' in San Francisco and why he didn't race when he had the chance, will go with him to 'his grave'.
Should Dalton have held his tongue when asked about Spithill... maybe, but that is not Grant Dalton.
If you take what he said at its most basic level, he was asked a question - he told the truth. Spithill did want him gone.
What may have disappointed some in New Zealand, is that Dalton had done such a good job of keeping his head down and letting this young team of winners, draw in the New Zealand sporting public, with their youthful energy.
The fact, we're even talking about this, during a week when we should be celebrating one of the greatest redemption stories in NZ Sport is sad.
But, Grant Dalton is old school. He speaks his mind, he takes no prisoners.
He's not your typical low key Kiwi, but would that type of person have kept this campaign together, after so many disasters?
I truly believe this, without Grant Dalton, we don't win back the America's Cup.
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For those of you that have listened to my radio shows over the years, you will know, I'm no fan of Eden Park.
Trust me, I've tried to understand the difficulties and pitfalls of running a 50,000 seat venue, in the middle of a residential zone.
I even went and had a crack at pouring beers, to better understand the queues, which seem to be the norm at our national stadium.
But, last Saturday night, the first Test - the British and Irish Lions v the All Blacks was it for me.
It wasn't frustrations inside the ground, it was the basics of trying to get home.
Without mincing words, it was a bloody nightmare.
Sure, the trains were full of fans heading back into the centre of the city.
But, what about those of us, who wanted to head home and not to some booze up?.
The main road of Kingsland was a battle ground of punters trying to convince Taxis to take them anywhere other than Eden Park.
It was impossible. Roads closed off. Poor old Lions fans had no idea where to go.
Taxi drivers blatantly breaking the law, by refusing to take customers unless the fare was at an acceptable level.
By the end of it, I took three retirees from the U.K. and we made our way out of the Eden Park 'closed off' precinct, and headed for a place where we could call an UBER.
Here's the reason for my rant. Close off streets to cars, I get that.
But, why not make one of those empty corridors a massive taxi rank?
Surely, it can't be that hard.
Surely the residents don't have that much power.
Because, right now as it stands, going to Eden Park is not good fun. Not even close.
I spent the night stressing about how I was going to get home, knowing the America's Cup was back on at 5.00am.
If we want to be a truly international city, our national stadium has to go.
