The low levels of morality in cricket and sports

[The Outsider]

With a similar discussion going on, perhaps people might want to read an older one on similar lines.

[99.94]

What's wrong with sledging? If you get in someone's ear and let them doubt their ability to handle pressure/handle bouncers/handle spin, why is it such a big deal?

[thevortex]

What's wrong with sledging? If you get in someone's ear and let them doubt their ability to handle pressure/handle bouncers/handle spin' date=' why is it such a big deal?[/quote'] There is something called the 'spirit of the game', 99.94. I am sure you forgot about that. What Mcgrath did is called abusing. Not sledging.

[99.94]

There is something called the 'spirit of the game', 99.94. I am sure you forgot about that. What Mcgrath did is called abusing. Not sledging.

When did I ever defend what McGrath did? How is telling someone 'you're not good enough' or 'how are you going to handle leather coming at your head at 150 kilometres' against the spirit of the game?

[thevortex]

When did I ever defend what McGrath did? How is telling someone 'you're not good enough' or 'how are you going to handle leather coming at your head at 150 kilometres' against the spirit of the game?

That is not what Mcgrath said. But if you are not talking about Mcgrath and in general if you are talking about questions of the type that you have mentioned in this post, then that is fine. However, we have to keep in mind that the deadliest quick attack in the history of the game (the Windies, who else!) never had to speak a single word. A look in the general direction of the batsman and then their bowling - that is all they ever needed. There is surely a lesson in there somewhere.

[99.94]

How can you be sure the West Indies never sledged. Although I wasn't alive and never watched them play I doubt they were silent on the pitch, I'm sure they got into the opposition pretty hard verbally when they needed to.

[thevortex]

How can you be sure the West Indies never sledged. Although I wasn't alive and never watched them play I doubt they were silent on the pitch' date=' I'm sure they got into the opposition pretty hard verbally when they needed to.[/quote'] I am not old enough to have watched the Windies famed quartet match after match. But I have seen a few matches and I have read the informed opinions of people who have watched them in action. Gavaskar has said this time and again actually. They did not need to sledge. That is how good they were.

[straight.drive]

A hypothetical example - There is a research scientist job opening at a top university and by some fluke I am among the 2 shortlisted candidates who have been called to give a seminar. My rival is really good but I feel I can "mentally disintegrate" him. So when he is in the middle of his lecture, I ask him, "Hey, how does your thesis advisor's d!ck taste like". After that the university hires me because I managed to mentally unsettle my rival during his talk, never mind that he was more deserving. If modern cricket has to move towards true professionalism, it has to move against amateur and backyard notions like sledging and abusing. That's the mantra of the professional world, the job description is to play cricket and showcase your skills for which you are getting paid, not for treating your fellow professionals with contempt. Sadly, abuse and sledging are robbing us and deflecting attention from a lot of cricket.

As far as you have human beings, who are inherently imperfect, and until there is the concept of "survival of the fittest", there will be sledging and abuse in sport. It is the same for any competitive profession, just that it takes a different tone for other professions.

[Lord]

i have always felt that there should be card system in cricket too.if it goes out of hand.bang off u go n the team is left with 10 players

[thevortex]

As far as you have human beings' date=' who are inherently imperfect, and until there is the concept of "survival of the fittest", there will be sledging and abuse in sport. It is the same for any competitive profession, just that it takes a different tone for other professions.[/quote'] That difference in tone you mention is what separates good natured banter or even just banter from becoming abuse.

[The Outsider]

As far as you have human beings' date=' who are inherently imperfect, and until there is the concept of "survival of the fittest", there will be sledging and abuse in sport. It is the same for any competitive profession, just that it takes a different tone for other professions.[/quote'] In case you have failed to notice, this thread was about the tone and language of the said abuse and sledging. Tell me, how many people in chess, golf, or tennis have asked their opponent how someone dick tastes like? Why not try to emulate them rather than the boorishness and crassness of the abusive sports in cricket?

[EnterTheVoid]

Shwetabh, I don't understand why you keep asking everyone what someone else' di.ck tastes like, I mean, we heard you the first time but if you are implying boorishness and crassness is limited only to cricket, well than, believe what you want to believe. Name me every major sport and I'd name you at least one player who degraded the nature of the sport, only to come back and re offend again and again. Now that you have beaten this issue to a pulp, lets see you extend this blow - job analogy of yours to other sports.

[The Outsider]

Shwetabh, I don't understand why you keep asking everyone what someone else' di.ck tastes like, I mean, we heard you the first time but if you are implying boorishness and crassness is limited only to cricket, well than, believe what you want to believe. Name me every major sport and I'd name you at least one player who degraded the nature of the sport, only to come back and re offend again and again. Now that you have beaten this issue to a pulp, lets see you extend this blow - job analogy of yours to other sports.

Tens and tens of sports like swimming, track and field, golf, squash, tennis, chess etc. etc.

[EnterTheVoid]

Boorishness and crassness boss, thats what you are lamenting over isn't it, FFS, you find that in every major sport but your rants only seem to be limited to cricket. In principle, your notions of ethics and morality I agree with but in the time since this thread was created, you seem to only selectively advocate for those players you like. So tell me, how seriously should your argument be taken if it is to be taken seriously at all ?

[The Outsider]

Boorishness and crassness boss, thats what you are lamenting over isn't it, FFS, you find that in every major sport but your rants only seem to be limited to cricket. In principle, your notions of ethics and morality I agree with but in the time since this thread was created, you seem to only selectively advocate for those players you like. So tell me, how seriously should your argument be taken if it is to be taken seriously at all ?

Huh? I just gave you a list of sports where you don't find the kind behavior that McGrath exhibited and you had said you would find me multiple instances of such behavior in all of them. Not only did McGrath do it, but he has rabid supporters like you for it who justify it in the garb that it happens in every other sport - well here is news, it does not.

[EnterTheVoid]

Well, if you are being super pedantic and ask me to find example of a competitor that said what McGrath said word for word, I will concede I can't but I can find several examples where the crassness / boorishness is as comparable if not worse.

[The Outsider]

Well' date=' if you are being super pedantic and ask me to find example of a competitor that said what McGrath said word for word, I will concede I can't but I can find several examples where the crassness / boorishness is as comparable if not worse.[/quote'] In golf, squash, chess, vast majority of Olympic sports etc.? Go right ahead - I'd be interested in finding out too.

[EnterTheVoid]

In golf' date=' squash, chess, vast majority of Olympic sports etc.? Go right ahead - I'd be interested in finding out too.[/quote'] Convince me the effort exerted in finding these examples won't be spoilt by your customary U - Turn.

[zubinpepsi]

Convince me the effort exerted in finding these examples won't be spoilt by your customary U - Turn.

:hysterical::hysterical: man ur a genius....

[The Outsider]

Convince me the effort exerted in finding these examples won't be spoilt by your customary U - Turn.

If it takes you effort to dig up some obscure examples, my point would stand proven. It would be blatantly obvious to anyone that sports like chess, golf, squash, and a lot of Olympic sports are renowned for their sportsmanship, but I admire your efforts to give a clean chit to your fellow Aussie in the garb of everyone does it.