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Sports cheats

R

Refuge

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http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricke...l/news-story/766365369ad0b6b19d0895f826957c85

We elevate sport in our society. It's entertainment, it's the stuff of 'role' models.

Aussies know how to sledge but we are supposed to play fair. By the way ...

Sledge: Sledging is a term used in cricket to describe the practice whereby some players seek to gain an advantage by insulting or verbally intimidating the opposing player. The purpose is to try to weaken the opponent's concentration, thereby causing him/her to make mistakes or underperform.

I got to admit I'm bloody ashamed! Is it an overreaction to be disillusioned by sport's cheats?
 
Due to the sports-related nature of the thread, and after discussing this with the OP, I am going to move this thread to the Sports & Fitness forum.
 
That explains years worth of Ashes results.......

No, I think you are fair to be outraged. It's no surprise in modern sports where the pressure to win and perform is sky high, where international performances showcase the abilities of players who stand to make or lose obscene amounts in club earnings, but absolutely you are right the whole point of professional sports is to be better than this.

It's not dissimilar to the way it took people so long to realise the scale of the steroid and doping cultures in athletics and cycling.
 
Spot261 said:
That explains years worth of Ashes results.......

No, I think you are fair to be outraged. It's no surprise in modern sports where the pressure to win and perform is sky high, where international performances showcase the abilities of players who stand to make or lose obscene amounts in club earnings, but absolutely you are right the whole point of professional sports is to be better than this.

It's not dissimilar to the way it took people so long to realise the scale of the steroid and doping cultures in athletics and cycling.
Click to expand...
Full disclosure. I suspect quietly here in the Sports and Fitness forum (who knew it existed) I can say this. I know what sledging is about, lol. It's part of our culture here and maybe not a good part. I don't admire it in others.

There is no excuse to cheat and man to get caught out playing the South Africans!!! How could we? We pay these guys too much and idolise them too much. They don't mind the glory so it is time to pay the price for cheating.
 
I'm not going to try to defend the actions of the people involved in this crap in South Africa. It's inexcusable and pathetic. I cannot believe anyone even thought it was worth attempting, never mind deciding to go through with it. I can't believe no one stood up and told whoever came up with the idea to sod off. I can't believe they were stupid / arrogant enough to imagine they could get away with it. The whole thing beggars belief. It exhibits a degree of arrogance, stupidity, naivete, ignorance, disassociation from reality, or some combination of those, that is simply incredible. Those responsible should be named and face significant consequences.

Having stated the obvious... The sanctimony and overreaction to it is almost as bad. These people apparently believed winning a Test was more important than anything. But to describe it as some sort of national disgrace is absurd. There are any number of far more disgraceful things going on in this country than some cricketers behaving like imbeciles. Things that are genuinely worth being ashamed of. It isn't as though so-called ball tampering is unknown in cricket (Atherton, Rahul Dravid of all people, the England team in the 2005 Ashes series, Shahid Afridi, Philander, du Plessis - twice - to name a few from recent times). That doesn't make these actions acceptable in any way, shape or form. Nothing does. But some people are carrying on as though this is something new and unprecedented. It really isn't, and the holier-than-thou preaching about it all from some elements is completely ridiculous.

Spot261 said:
That explains years worth of Ashes results.......
Click to expand...
I assume you're being facetious. If not, Trescothick's admission about England's activities during the 2005 Ashes series has to be included in the "years worth of results".
 
Not saying it is justifies cheating but do we as those who support these people whatever the sport but them under real or perceived pressure to win at all cost?

Whilst I don't really follow cricket I am aware of this instance of cheating, in this case if it were up to me I would strip the captain of his captaincy and exclude him from ever representing the country again and anyone else involved would also forfeit the privilege to represent the country.
 
^ This. I don't expect some absurd public flogging but when you represent your country, are sponsored as a sport's role model and let's be honest here any Australians, we have been first in line to point the finger at other cheats. Our credibility takes a collective hit. I don't want someone representing Australia who thinks he or she can only win by cheating. I don't care if everyone does it.

Whether there is an over reaction out there, probably.
 
My position on cheating in sports is. Yes, in the greater picture of the atrocities of the whole world, it's not a big deal. Of course, I'm far more offended by people being murdered than I am by cheating at sports.

But, confined within the world of sports, yeah, it's a big relative deal. The whole reason sports is exciting is the idea that the better player or better team wins. That's the whole motivation to get excited about sports. If players are cheating there's no reason to care who wins. And if nobody cares who wins, I lose my best male bonding outlet, which would make me sad.
 
The one thing that I liked - is how CA has punished these players. The punishment is fine. Especially compared to other incidents from other matches. Other cricket nations need have similar punishments for their players (if something happens - hope it doesn't).
 
Those press conferences made for excruciating viewing. Smith and Bancroft are either the two finest actors who ever lived or they're genuinely remorseful. They stuffed up and they're going to pay heavily for it. Contrast their actions with the other bloke. No fronting up, no owning up - just a half-arsed pseudo-statement on so-called "social" media. Like all bullies, he's gutless.

Rather than go with the puerile pile-on attitude it would be good to see the Australian public act with maturity for once and move on from this. I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen, though. Holier-than-thou vitriol and sanctimony is easy; forgiveness is much harder.
 
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