Something that always gets my hackles up is when, on reality talent shows, judges often say such things as "You were very brave to choose that song" or "You were brave in going on first" when they had no real option. For me, that doesn't come close to bravery.
Bravery is courage in the face of danger. Rescuing someone from peril, or the sort displayed on a daily basis by our armed forces, as well as that shown by people in the face of serious illness. That, my friends, is courage.
Yet there is another kind. That shown by those who become aware that someone they know, maybe love, has done something wrong. I'm thinking of parents who informed the police when their children's faces showed up in riot footage, or they knew they were involved in another serious crime.
I'm also thinking of Tony Palladino. As highlighted in the Daily Mail on January 12, Derbyshire's seam bowler, then at Essex, became aware that his friend and team mate Mervyn Westfield had done something that went against the code, morals and ethics of the game. It would have been very easy for him to keep quiet and do nothing and no one knows the moral dilemma and mental wranglings that the player went through.
That he chose the path he did speaks volumes for him as a man. Until Mervyn Westfield pleaded guilty, Palladino was set to be the main witness for the prosecution, a task he was thankfully spared. This isn't the time to be passing comment on the player whose career was effectively ruined for the sake of £6,000 but it is appropriate to say that Tony Palladino, in speaking out, showed himself a man of real character and integrity. Were any of us in the same position, forced to choose between a friend and what they know is right - the integrity of their profession - I'd like to think that we would do the same. Would we? Until placed in that invidious position, no one knows for sure.
Tony Palladino should be seen as a hero in the eyes of cricketers and cricket fans, a man big enough to stand up and say that something was wrong to protect the game that he loves and the things he believes in. At a time when tales of corruption in the game are too regular an occurrence, his stand is worthy of recognition and he should be rightly saluted.
Wonder if this was one of the reasons he left Essex. He did the right thing. Corruption in all sport has to be eradicated. Easier said than done,particularly as those found guilty are often given lienient sentences and then welcolmed back to their respective sport with open arms. For those involved it is not a spur of the moment occurance,but a calculated action designed to meet their own financial greed. Until life bans are introduced and it is made clear there will be no second chances this is a problem that will continue to rear it,s ugly head.
ReplyDeleteOn another subject (ive been away for a few days)the proposed changes to cricket from 2014 are the usual make a fast buck shambles. Im always suspicious of grey haired men in grey suits and David Morgan is no exception.
ReplyDeleteThe notion that returning to 50 over format will somehow make the national team more competetive is about as far from reality as you can get. People dont want it in domestic cricket,it,s as simple as that. More T20 is also unwelcome. I enjoy the format but not to the virtual exclusion of other forms of cricket. Spreading T20 over the season would be a positive step,but the reduction in 4 day games is not.
I have to smile when people talk about modernisation and then appoint some geriatric to oversee it. He comes from the right background though,doesn,t he!.
Good comment Marc. Of course, the issue with having T20 over a season is that overseas players won't want to be here for months! Right now you can get some to come over for the 4-6 weeks that it lasts, but few will fancy kicking around for 3 months with a 20 over game once a week or so to keep them amused...
ReplyDeleteFair point Peakfan but everyone would be in the same boat with regard to overseas players. I personally would spread it over an 8-10 week period and obviously include other fixtures during that period. The Championship should be evenly spread throughout the season. I sympathise with players such as Redfern,Borrington,Lineker etc who,in all likelyhood, will only feature in 4 day games. The stop start nature can do little for form and confidence.
ReplyDeleteWell done Tony Palladino - that would have been a tough call to have made, perhaps the most difficult decision in his life so far - but he got it right.
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