Cricket monkey business

7th January 2008

Categories : Sport |

Race abuse costs Harbhajan three-Test ban

Is it just me, or does Andrew Symonds and the Australian team seem a bit soft for complaining about being called a “monkey”? I certainly think a 3 match ban for Harbhajan is overkill, although I’m sure Ricky Ponting will be breathing a bit easier - might actually be able to score some more runs in the next Tests.

But really, is calling someone a “monkey” serious racism or just a harmless taunt? And to be totally honest, take a look at Symonds and you can kind of see how the Indians came up with the monkey image… Either way, it was good to see the Aussies equal the record for the longest ever winning streak (though they might as well give Steve Bucknor an honorary baggy green for his contribution) - let’s hope they can put all this acrimony behind them and go one better in the Perth Test.

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1 On March 3rd, 2008, Allan Mitchell said:

Monkey Business

I don’t know how this silly row
Developed into rage,
But it appears that sportsmen’s tears
Are seen on every page.

From tennis courts and many sorts
Of sporting venues flashy
Comes gripe and growl and language foul
From famous folk quite trashy.

A silly word someone’s now heard
From one, subcontinental,
A word so snide that wounded pride
Caused retort temperamental.

An uttered term has made some squirm
And all across the nation
Newspapers write that this is quite
The ultimate sensation.

What’s retorted gets reported
More than what was scored.
But childish ploys of silly boys
Have left us all quite bored.

So we’d implore all to ignore
That silly little name.
Don’t frown and hiss, just blow a kiss
And get on with the game.

Don’t sulk and mope and lose all hope
If Monkey Boy is shouted,
For in a Test we judge you best
By how the ball is clouted.

And just recall our sportsmen all
At one time used to snigger,
Make silly jokes, call darker folks
A name that rhymes with bigger.

We really think that such a stink
Sportsfellows shouldn’t raise -
Don’t act so rash, just spend the cash
And revel in the praise.

So sportsmen please just hear our pleas
And step up to the wicket;
At balls take swipes and stop your gripes -
Just play some bloody cricket.

Allan Mitchell, Armidale, NSW

(Allan Mitchell

67751122)

2 On July 5th, 2008, Indian Cricket said:

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