It was a bloody silly idea in the first place, but New Zealand's badminton world may finally have to concede that calling the national team the "Black *advertiser censored*" really is a bit too strong, the <cite>New Zealand Herald</cite> reports. Badminton New Zealand adopted the name a year ago as "a gimmicky label to attract sponsors and fans". It worked to a degree, because the organisation was quickly innundated with cash offers from companies such as - you guessed it - condom manufacturers.
Furthermore, Badminton NZ prez Nigel Skelt confirmed: "At the recent New Zealand Open, crowds were yelling out 'c'mon the Black *advertiser censored*'. Whether the team actually adopt the name officially, they're already known as the Black *advertiser censored*."
That's as may be, but the International Badminton Federation (IBF) has decided not to take the Black *advertiser censored* lying down. Skelt admitted: "They don't want to see the game lose its composure for the want of a gimmicky name. If you're over in China and you get introduced as the Black *advertiser censored*, it raises some issues."
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/15/nz_badminton_kerfuffle/
Furthermore, Badminton NZ prez Nigel Skelt confirmed: "At the recent New Zealand Open, crowds were yelling out 'c'mon the Black *advertiser censored*'. Whether the team actually adopt the name officially, they're already known as the Black *advertiser censored*."
That's as may be, but the International Badminton Federation (IBF) has decided not to take the Black *advertiser censored* lying down. Skelt admitted: "They don't want to see the game lose its composure for the want of a gimmicky name. If you're over in China and you get introduced as the Black *advertiser censored*, it raises some issues."
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/15/nz_badminton_kerfuffle/