For many years I was taunted because of the epicanthic folds I have in my eyes that give me, a Yorkshire born , Scottish, Irish cross a slightly oriental look. I took the bullying badly as a child often reverting to violence but when I discovered I could bowl very fast I channeled that aggression wisely.
Now two things struck me about yesterday at the Olympics. One was the sad reflection of idiots attacking young Tom Daley with the kind of personal jibe that is unacceptable at any level of life. I wish Tom well and hope that he channels the anger he is now feeling and it helps him explode off the diving platform later in the competition.
The other refers to the title of this blog today and the debacle of the Japanese Silver Medal in the Gymnastics. Firstly let me say I hold no animosity against the gymnasts for they are all great performers and they behaved with honour on the podium as they refused to cheer or smile at the receiving of their medals. However the Japanese management in my book did not in appealing after the final whistle had gone.
What do I mean by that?
Well I was taught two things in sport. Firstly never argue with referees, umpires or judges. Accept their immediate decision as that is what they are there for and move on. They may be wrong but we are all human after all and we all make mistakes. Secondly once the whistle has blown and time has been called that is the end of the match and the result called stands. Had we been able to appeal the Frank Lampard goal the result in the last world cup may have been different, Had West Germany been able to appeal the third goal in 1966 the same may have applied, however both results, although somewhat dubious and debatable stand and are enshrined in sporting history. Yes I agree with my friend Steph who says that she would fight tooth and nail for a medal but on the field not after the whistle has gone and I think yesterday sport lost out and I am saddened.
Let us not take away the achievements of a Great Britain squad who performed out of their skins but I feel the colour of their medal should have been silver and I pity the Ukrainians who will lose funding because of their non medal. However the politics not the sport seemed to get in the way yesterday which is unfortunate.
I am sure that in years to come we will all have our opinion on this just as we have on other defining moments in sport yet for now I say well done the young Japanese gymnasts for the non triumphalism they showed and the dignity they had at the ceremony, congratulations to the wonderful performance of the Great Britain team and to the rest............................ Bah Humbug!
Monday, 30 July 2012
Monday, 23 July 2012
If is the word
Everyone knows the famous Rudyard Kipling poem and so I shall not lament upon it here but after what has happened at The Oval and subsequently on twitter I thought I would post a note on this blog.
The picture that you see at the corner of this blog is of a Huddersfield Team put together to join the Yorkshire League back in the 1980's. This was much against the hierarchy of the Huddersfield League who believed that this shouldn't happen. The home ground was Fartown and the Old Pavilion had graced many a famous Yorkshireman. The Rugby League team were still in residence in the old ground adjacent too.
Barry Wood was the Captain and Mansoor Ahktar the number 3 batsman. I was brought in to my first semi-professional role as opening bowler (I am the gorgeous one third left of Barry on the back row). Or so I thought.
The first match I turned up all decked out in my fine new blazer that was required for press call. Everything was going swimmingly and I was really excited. We ran out on to the field and I was asked to field a short leg. Odd I thought as I was the opening bowler I had hoped I would have the honour but the Captain had other ideas. In fact I didn't open the bowling, nor first nor second change. I was getting a little frustrated so I went up to the Captain and politely asked if he needed me to warm up. At which point he looked at me blankly then told me in no uncertain shades of blue that he was the boss now get back to where he had told me to field.
Well for once I held my temper, which was pretty good for me as I was fiery as so to speak. At the end of the match (we lost) I was packing my stuff away neatly into my bag to return to University as I had a match the following day. Everyone had left except me and the skipper so I thought this was a timely chance to have a word.
It was a bit like Ali versus Frazier without the actual punching and when I went out of the changing room I was non too sure as I wanted to carry on as I didn't like being paid for nothing. I saw it as I had a job to do, we'd lost and I hadn't felt able to contribute and so what was the point with such belligerence at the helm. Well on the way back to Liverpool my wonderful but long suffering girlfriend got me to calm down, especially as my driving was non too clever. I was still fuming though the following day when I went out to open the bowling for the Varsity.
Well I ended up taking only 22 wickets that week including 2 seven fors. And I went back to the changing room at York (we were away) and walked in all ready to stuff one up Mr Woods pipe and say that's why I'm here.
He beat me too it as as soon as I walked in he immediately asked for silence (I was the last to arrive wanting some kind of youthful dramatic entry). And then he said "Gentleman I am proud to reveal that one of your teammates the young Mr Senior here has just been picked to play for English Universities and BUSF. He is the first player from his University to gain this achievement and would you all congratulate him"
Wind, sails well you have got to see my predicament. After the noise had got less he quietly put his arm around me and said "So are you going to punch me or are you going to use that aggression wisely and win us this match?"
I learned a powerful lesson that day and was to become a better cricketer for it. But what has it to do with today?
Well we lost, plain and simple. South Africa were a better team, they played better cricket. It happens. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose. That's how life works. But the game goes on and life goes on. At the end of the day if you did all you could do then no one can fault you.
So for all those who think it's fun to be a twitter troll I say to you , get a life, grow up and get real. It's OK to be disappointed but this is sport.
If you can treat victory and defeat...............
The picture that you see at the corner of this blog is of a Huddersfield Team put together to join the Yorkshire League back in the 1980's. This was much against the hierarchy of the Huddersfield League who believed that this shouldn't happen. The home ground was Fartown and the Old Pavilion had graced many a famous Yorkshireman. The Rugby League team were still in residence in the old ground adjacent too.
Barry Wood was the Captain and Mansoor Ahktar the number 3 batsman. I was brought in to my first semi-professional role as opening bowler (I am the gorgeous one third left of Barry on the back row). Or so I thought.
The first match I turned up all decked out in my fine new blazer that was required for press call. Everything was going swimmingly and I was really excited. We ran out on to the field and I was asked to field a short leg. Odd I thought as I was the opening bowler I had hoped I would have the honour but the Captain had other ideas. In fact I didn't open the bowling, nor first nor second change. I was getting a little frustrated so I went up to the Captain and politely asked if he needed me to warm up. At which point he looked at me blankly then told me in no uncertain shades of blue that he was the boss now get back to where he had told me to field.
Well for once I held my temper, which was pretty good for me as I was fiery as so to speak. At the end of the match (we lost) I was packing my stuff away neatly into my bag to return to University as I had a match the following day. Everyone had left except me and the skipper so I thought this was a timely chance to have a word.
It was a bit like Ali versus Frazier without the actual punching and when I went out of the changing room I was non too sure as I wanted to carry on as I didn't like being paid for nothing. I saw it as I had a job to do, we'd lost and I hadn't felt able to contribute and so what was the point with such belligerence at the helm. Well on the way back to Liverpool my wonderful but long suffering girlfriend got me to calm down, especially as my driving was non too clever. I was still fuming though the following day when I went out to open the bowling for the Varsity.
Well I ended up taking only 22 wickets that week including 2 seven fors. And I went back to the changing room at York (we were away) and walked in all ready to stuff one up Mr Woods pipe and say that's why I'm here.
He beat me too it as as soon as I walked in he immediately asked for silence (I was the last to arrive wanting some kind of youthful dramatic entry). And then he said "Gentleman I am proud to reveal that one of your teammates the young Mr Senior here has just been picked to play for English Universities and BUSF. He is the first player from his University to gain this achievement and would you all congratulate him"
Wind, sails well you have got to see my predicament. After the noise had got less he quietly put his arm around me and said "So are you going to punch me or are you going to use that aggression wisely and win us this match?"
I learned a powerful lesson that day and was to become a better cricketer for it. But what has it to do with today?
Well we lost, plain and simple. South Africa were a better team, they played better cricket. It happens. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose. That's how life works. But the game goes on and life goes on. At the end of the day if you did all you could do then no one can fault you.
So for all those who think it's fun to be a twitter troll I say to you , get a life, grow up and get real. It's OK to be disappointed but this is sport.
If you can treat victory and defeat...............
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)