A while back I posted a subject about the Victorian government rorting us for a said sum of about $388000 and it receive little comment as apparently few are interested. Rather disappointing I thought.

Well what about the cheating cricketeers? This has received much press coverge so some may be interested. I presume everyone knows about it.

I've been thinking about the publicity and the sanctimonious outrage wasted on ball tampering compared with political rorts, Banjo. The shock/horror about the former is still running, while Daniels and other important examples of our crook politicians seem to last no more than day or so. Cheating in sport is of no interest to me; rogue politicians are of great interest.

Joe Hilderbrandes rant on this link is a pretty good reflection on the cheating scandal...

http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/mark-waugh-offers-spirited-defence-of-balltampering-trio/news-story/e6273b668758d4a8037bbf89ea991650

Enjoy!

Just a reflection on a corrupt society. Ball tampering is nothing compared to vulgar sledging and arrogance. Just feel sorry for the 3 the sanc timorous press choose to beat up. Imagine the corrupt tax funded abc was held to any true accountability or the Labour /Greens or Liberal party was held to account for flooded this country with muslims against the will of the people.

Dear Banjo,

Does winning justify cheating? I was raised with the notion
that the spirit of cricket was about fair play. So what's
happened to that? Perhaps we do need to take a closer look
at today's society and is it breeding a "winning at all
costs" attitude. As one commentator wrote on the web - "In a
world of fake news, politicians who lie, bankers who fleece
customers - why do we still expect athletes to be defenders
of our collective morality?. Sport is a reflection of us."

And in that case, its rather sad isn't it?

The three have just signed a lucrative six figure contract with a leading sandpaper company. Soon, like old Rugby League players and Lowes, you will see Steve Smith on the telly flogging his favorite sandpaper.

"Hi, I'm Steve Smith, want to take the shine off your balls, I use and recommend Bongo sandpaper. You can't get a wicket? A quick rub with Bongo will do the trick!"

Paul,

+1.

How's zat for a one-liner?

Foxy,
Notjust sad, it makes me angry. Political candidates defrauding us and getting off scot free. I recall Pauline being jailed in Qld on trumped up fraud charges and they threatened to take her home if she did not pay the money back (which she did) and ,after her aquital, they still owe her the money she repaid and has not received any compensation for wrongful jailing. The Victorian Candidates should be charged and the labor party pay the government the million they spent on legal fees to try and stop the investigation.

As for the cricketers, well they should get a life ban from all cricket. instead of a slap on the wrist. That is if cricket Australia is serious about cheating. Now there is talk about the players appealing their soft penalties and some saying they are 'good blokes.

They cannot be cheats and good blokes. Good blokes do NOT cheat.

Dear Banjo,

The news on TV is so depressing at the moment.

What about those six police officers involved in
the bashing of the disabled pensioner - and these
officers still have their jobs while an investigation
is going on? What is going on here?

Foxy,

"What about those six police officers involved in
the bashing of the disabled pensioner "

Well, for one thing, they are not defending the public.

Is Mise,

Do tell!

good to see the Australians embracing not just the spirit but history of cricket. W.G. Grace was well known for his 'gamesmanship' - a public school term for cheating.

"Gamesmanship" is not cheating, for every move in gamesmanship there is usually a counter.

So when WG Grace bullied both the umpire and bowler in a match in allowing him to bat on even though he had been caught by saying to them "look sonnies they have come to see me not you." that gamesmanship is not cheating? Gamesmanship as practiced in English public schools is basically pushing the boundaries and as long as you don't get caught it is fine. Cricketers have been engaged in ball tampering for a long time, but they rarely get caught. The real crime here was that they got caught and that it was clearly planned.

I am disappointed that athletes who represent our nation cheated. However, I am more disappointed that the media thought this was a bigger story than wars, floods and famines. Can we please move on?

Baygon,

"So when WG Grace bullied both the umpire and bowler in a match in allowing him to bat on even though he had been caught by saying to them "look sonnies they have come to see me not you." that gamesmanship is not cheating? "

That was not Gamesmanship but pure bullying and a bit of gutlessness on the part of those bullied.

they went...they played....and they cheated....did I miss something?....silly me, of course I did!....they got caught!
Australia went from mediocrity to stupid in one easy lesson....can't point the finger at the Indians any more......