Last night I got my first "real" journalism gig: covering the Pulse (Wellington's ANZ Championship netball team).

I had my laptop, but I was the only journalist there without pen and a notebook, BUT I was the only one who was twittering!

I'm still writing up my account of the game (for Public Address) but until then here are my realtime thoughts on the game (you need to read them in reverse order).

Although I question the timing of the article [Cleveland teams doing badly? Really?] cracked.com has a story up today about '6 Insane... Curses' and although they're all mainstream, the Cubs and Socceroos ones are always good. Steve Bartman is probably my favourite baseball fan ever.

But thinking about New Zealand teams, do we have any curses? The closest opportunity we've had for a curse is Robbie Deans heading off to the Western Isles. Yet we managed to shake that hoodoo in convincing fashion.

I'd argue the Suzuki Pulse are cursed from the very beginning, after losing every match of their first season and not looking like improving this season. Not surprising if you look at the form of their predecessors, the Capital Shakers. Heres a hint: There were only eight teams in the National Bank Cup.

Or could we call the Hurricanes cursed? Despite an All Black producing history [Cullen, Lomu, Umaga, Nonu, Bull, Tiatia etc] we're yet to win the Super 12/14. Worse than that, of 12 seasons we've made the top 4 5 times. We've only made the final once, and that was more like a scene from Pirates of the Carribean. Four of the five times we've made the playoffs we've been knocked out by the Crusaders [the fifth was the Brumbies]. Oh, and there was the fact Wellington won the 2000 NPC and finished 9th in the 2001 Super 12.

Or how about the fact the Wellington Lions have finished 2nd in every season of the Air New Zealand Cup since its inception in 2006? And every year it has been won by a different team.

In fact, it's been some very lean years for rugby and netball fans in the capital. I'm not suggesting we run out and start sacrificing lambs and kissing people's jewellery, but what I would suggest is that you follow my lead and support the Century City Saints, one of our most consistent national sports teams - except when it comes to updating their website, apparently. [the Wellington Firebirds are the other constant, but recent form doesn't suggest as much].

Now all we need to do is think up a story about how Christian Cullen's great-grandad once stole a horse which was tethered on IRB property and rode it across a netball court during a championship game and we can explain it all away...

The Central Pulse

FAQs 

So who is on the team?

Just going by the website it's Sonia Mkoloma...... and some other girls.

Actually, looking at those photos of Sonia you've got on your website, it kinda looks like the ones she had done for the Brunel Hurricanes back in England.

I don't know what you're getting at? 

Yeah they are, you just airbrushed out the logos on her uniform! In fact you can still see the logo on the ball

...look, are you going to ask serious questions or not?

So why are you going to win?

Duh, Sonia Mkoloma!

Why might you lose?

Well we are a bit weak at Goal Shoot and Wing Defense....

...oh, and Wing Attack. And Goal Attack and Centre and Goal Defence.

Don't you think it's a little ironic calling yourselves the Pulse when the previous franchise (the Shakers) was almost dead?

This interview is over!

The Pulse's first game is against the Vixens on April 5th in Wellington.