It's Just Not Cricket

[ma61_turbo]

So, apparently Harbhajan Singh isn't a racist, and never has been, nor has any other Indian player. Also, Andrew Symonds, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke are all liars, along with Mike Proctor, the match referee. At least, that's essentially the conclusion after yesterday's appeal hearing.

Yet again, the spineless leadership of

Comments

[falcadore]

Seems to be the week for it.

Just what precisely is wrong with standing behind your guy? Is this the reputation CA wants, that they can be walked all over?

Remeber how long it took before CA took a position on Zimbabwe?

While yes there are commercial pressures involved, how many times can you cite commercial pressures before you look like someone who will bend for anybodies dollar?

Maybe there are some lessons CA should not have learnt too well from big tobacco.

[dragontail]

The latest according to the TV news (which I watched, being at home today and all) is that Symonds started it by calling Harbhajan "a vulgar slur" than could not be repeated. The judge said there was doubt Harbhajan actually used the words "big monkey" due to "cultural, language and ethnic barriers".

What comes of all that? Reasonable doubt, that wonderful concept that governs guilt and innocence in the western world. The judge cannot be satisfied, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Harbhajan started it - nor can he be satisfied anyone was called a monkey. The stump mic didn't pick it up... in the absence of evidence, how can you go ahead?

Knowing the world was watching, the judge did the reasonable thing: he changed the punishment. He's not saying Harbhajan is innocent, or that he acted properly. Indeed, he's saying quite the opposite. But because no one can prove Harbhajan said anything of a simian nature, he's removed the harsh penalty previously imposed

[falcadore]

I understand what your saying, and maybe because of other incidents I've jumped in.

Did I hear right in that India has called for punitive punishment for the Australians involved. Corrrect me if I'm wrong, but not quilty is not to be confused with innocent.

[dragontail]

Precisely.

And yes, the Indians are not calling for retribution.

[doggypanter]

Actually, it's not only the $millions that CA were afraid of losing, it's the $billions that the ICC is worried about behind India. The 20/20 comp that is starting up is proof that there can be another World Series type incident if the correct ego's are not stroked in India...

[ma61_turbo]

So the money is more important than anything else then.

Had they stood up to India, the Indians may have gone home to have a sulk for a while, but they would have come back when they realised that there isn't anyone else they can play with. Then they would have come back, tails between their legs and this kind of thing wouldn't happen again.

[falcadore]

After reading this it was the second time this week that race and sport came to mind but until just now I couldn't remember why.

There was a story this morning that North Queensland Cowboys (rugby league) halfback Jonathan Thurston was locked up in a Townsville watch house. Apparently after a night out on the town he locked himself out of his own house and decided to sleep it off on the front steps.

Somebody saw him sleeping there and rang the cops. The cops took him in because of being drunk in public.

And because Thurston is aboriginal it leaves me thinking all kinds of questions. Cowboys management were very quick to downplay, they were all over the radio this morning with various senior club officials.

Hope it wasn't something else, but it is Queensland...

[ma61_turbo]

Sleeping on the front steps of his house is counted as being drunk in public? That sounds pretty laughable to me. But still...it is Queensland ;)