When best and fairest isn’t
THE STATE OF CRICKET
AS a parent I have repeatedly observed a sad phenomenon which is likely to have contributed to the current cricket scandal. I refer to children with excellent physical skills being awarded titles such as “Best and Fairest” in a team, when they are merely the best. Our community talks about teaching and honouring sportsmanship, but I fear this has too often been overlooked for the “sake of the team” and ultimately, winning. not what has happened but how to foster a spirit of sportsmanship when mere mortals are treated as gods. When these superheroes fall from grace it seems cataclysmic to their followers. Perhaps it’s time to check out the Greek myths and find not all gods behaved perfectly. There was usually a consequence for their actions and a moral to be learned. That, not condemnation, should be conclusion of any inquiry. captain and colleagues “cheat” to win what is, in reality, an inconsequential game of cricket. While many Australian leaders demonstrate better behaviours, there are way too many who adopt the simple mantra: “whatever it takes”.
Last drinks
EMBARRASSED to be Australian. How can any self respecting Aussie cricket fan now support the national team after the latest debacle in South Africa? Smith must be immediately sacked and Bancroft consigned to serving drinks in perpetuity.
McEnroe looking good
I DON’T recall either Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe ever being accused of cheating, but the media described them as “spoilt brats”. The Australian cricketers make Connors and McEnroe look like paragons of sporting virtue.
Bulldozing ideas
TO fully understand the impacts of their ideas, perhaps all armchair road builders should be required to offer their homes for bulldozing first in any new road they propose.
Toilet fix needed
IT’S a pity Sue Hickey’s toilet brush couldn’t have been extended a little further north to St Peters Pass toilets. Stopped there on Monday, no water for flushing or handwashing and in a filthy state.
Crucified
I KNOW it is Easter but do we as a nation have to crucify Smith, Warner and Bancroft?
Pressure building
TWENTY-NINE Newspoll shockers in a row. One more to go.
Gordon hydro scheme
FORGET the talk of a second Bass Strait cable, we need the Gordon-below-Franklin hydro-electric scheme right now. It’s far more reliable than wind and sun power and certainly more important than the few canoeists who use the Franklin for their own amusement or the comparatively few trees that would be affected by its construction.