Hi all
I think that given the way the Test series is playing out, we have all be remarkably well restrained and measured here (despite the frustration and anger at the teams' performance). However, in light of what I have recently been reading on another forum (which I am sure some of us use/visit) and on Newspaper internet sites, I can no longer hold my tongue.
I have had enough, absolutely bloody enough, of the gutless, faceless, ill-informed, baseless, personal attacks on individuals within the Australian team. Take a handful of these as an example (re-posted exactly as written, spelling and grammar errors included):
"Ponting is an idiot - and an arrogan one at that - he should be out - that is the opinion of all cricket fans..."
"Only Hussey should be safe. Drop Watson down the order also. The rest of the batting line up can say adios! Thanks and dont come back. Sorry punter, you included. If Clarke is made Capt, the public will revolt against the side. Nobody likes him, he is a spoiled brat. Sack them all."
"This is the weakest Australian team since World Series. No ability, no talent, and even less heart. Our first generation of cricketers who thru-out their insipid lives so far, have had it "to easy"."
"On your bike Ponting, go and make some more commercials mate, and give someone who wants to play cricket a go."
I could post pages and pages more, but why give these people any more than their 5 minutes of anonymous fame?
A constant criticism of modern sporting teams is that they are far too insular, and not "fan friendly" enough. My view, having read much of the above, is that we, as fans, are damn lucky to get what we get from them, given the circumstances.
A final thought, thanks to Theodore Roosevelt:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.â€
Thanks for reading, guys and gals
I think that given the way the Test series is playing out, we have all be remarkably well restrained and measured here (despite the frustration and anger at the teams' performance). However, in light of what I have recently been reading on another forum (which I am sure some of us use/visit) and on Newspaper internet sites, I can no longer hold my tongue.
I have had enough, absolutely bloody enough, of the gutless, faceless, ill-informed, baseless, personal attacks on individuals within the Australian team. Take a handful of these as an example (re-posted exactly as written, spelling and grammar errors included):
"Ponting is an idiot - and an arrogan one at that - he should be out - that is the opinion of all cricket fans..."
"Only Hussey should be safe. Drop Watson down the order also. The rest of the batting line up can say adios! Thanks and dont come back. Sorry punter, you included. If Clarke is made Capt, the public will revolt against the side. Nobody likes him, he is a spoiled brat. Sack them all."
"This is the weakest Australian team since World Series. No ability, no talent, and even less heart. Our first generation of cricketers who thru-out their insipid lives so far, have had it "to easy"."
"On your bike Ponting, go and make some more commercials mate, and give someone who wants to play cricket a go."
I could post pages and pages more, but why give these people any more than their 5 minutes of anonymous fame?
A constant criticism of modern sporting teams is that they are far too insular, and not "fan friendly" enough. My view, having read much of the above, is that we, as fans, are damn lucky to get what we get from them, given the circumstances.
A final thought, thanks to Theodore Roosevelt:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.â€
Thanks for reading, guys and gals