Quality article taking the *smile* of a bizarre PC world we now live as only Greg Baum can. ;D
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/not-the-messiah-hes-a-very-naughty-boy-20110317-1byxx.html
Not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy Greg Baum
March 18, 2011
RICKY Ponting picked his nose last night. It was an ugly incident, drawn-out, messy, devoid of all the style and grace Ponting used to display as a young nose-picker. Plainly, the Australian captain is not dealing at all well with his nose-picking decline.
It added to a litany of dereliction and disgrace. One day in Melbourne, Ponting argued with an umpire, unprecedented in cricket history. Another day in India, he flung his box after getting out, also a cricketing first.
I distinctly recall the day he only half-smiled at Mark Taylor at a post-match interview. It was one of the most egregious acts of only half-smiling ever seen. Also, the collar of his shirt sat at an odd angle. Clearly, the Australian captain is falling apart.
It has been a week of heinous offence. Jarryd Blair's finger gesture as Collingwood celebrated its pre-season premiership prompted indignant splutterings as soon as it was spotted nearly two weeks later, and after the rush to Wikipedia to what it was that so offended us, and why we deserved an apology. There was also Julia Gillard's giggle, which must soon disqualify her from office. Obviously, she is not dealing with it.
But Ponting, of course, had to outdo them all. Bumped by teammate Steve Smith while preparing to take a high catch in Australia's World Cup match against Canada, Ponting held the catch, but then flung the ball into the ground.
Brute. Monster.
The only problem for the ICC is to decide under which statute to charge him. Equipment abuse? Bringing the game into disrepute? Bringing all games into disrepute? Failing to sort out the Middle East? Or - most grevious of all - embarrassing adidas, because its name was on his shirt? Hard to see him playing again, this side of Armageddon. Also, he did not smile. Not even a rueful grin. Wilful, blatant, provocative non-grin.
Really, it is sad to see the Australian captain fraying at the seams like this. Tetchy, testy, a menace to mankind. All this follows hard on the heels of the Bourbon and Beefsteak incident in 1999. Any minute now, he will announce that he is going into rehab, as soon as there is room. Also, he's been getting out early a lot. But in cricket terms, that is beside the point.
A heretical alternative version of this incident has it that Ponting cares deeply about his post as Australian captain, takes team setbacks personally, was galled by Australia's Ashes forfeiture - for which he was held personally responsible - is tense about his own form, was irked by Australia's sloppy cricket early in this match, had time enough to see Smith out of the corner of his eye and feel alarm, time enough also to think of the embarrassment that would ensue if they botched the catch …
And that in those circumstances, his reaction scarcely deserves to be called a tantrum and was in fact an understandable, mild and even humanising venting of the moment's vortex of emotion, similar to Tasmanian captain George Bailey's reflexive action in kicking the ball away after dropping Phil Hughes in the Sheffield Shield final yesterday, as much a hanging offence as double parking. But Ponting is Australia's favourite whipping boy, and so all that matters is his punishment; the crime always must be made to fit it.
