Seems alot of Americans have adopted Team NZ as their own and we appear to have more support than the Americans have for their own America's Cup boat .
A US billionaire flying the New Zealand flag from his superyacht berthed in the America's Cup village says he has been asked by an associate of Sir Russell Coutts to take it down.
Disgusted by the cheating scandal that enveloped Oracle Team USA, Jim Clark has been proudly flying the New Zealand ensign and Team NZ supporters flag from his 90ft superyacht, Athena, for the past week - apparently much to the disapproval of Sir Russell, chief executive of the US team.
The American media also seem to have turned on Oracle, some even accusing them of "bad sportsmanship" for using their postponement card, and implying changes are imminent in the crew's afterguard.
The teams have a lay-day today and while Team New Zealand enjoyed a sleep-in on the back of their commanding 4-1 lead, Oracle awoke to some harsh criticism in the local media.
The San Francisco Chronicle couldn't understand why the card was played when there was no a structural damage to the boat or unfavourable winds to justify it.
"Oracle just wanted to take its ball and go home . . . it sure felt like bad sportsmanship," the paper said.
I 'm guessing the exposure NZ is getting due to our a kicking Americas Cup performance has led to calls for a match between the All Blacks and one of their Rugby Championship rivals. Ideal for the Giants baseball franchise, who are keen to host a game in San Francisco.
Giants and NZRU mangement have met both in New Zealand and in the US, to to discuss ideas around a possible match.
The Giants were initially put in touch and met with Grant Fox.
Giants Enterprises vice president Sara Hunt says they'd love to host the All Blacks first and foremost.
"The US might not be the best opponent, because we really want to give people here an opportunity to see groups that they don't alays get to see. So Ideally for us we'd have one of those marquee match-ups with the NZRU and one of their main opponents."
But Ms Hunt says they could also have the Maori All Blacks or a Barbarians style match.
