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NormSport: Offering Hope in Times of Need
February 20th 2009 00:22
Over the past two weeks we have been, unfortunately, witnesses to the greatest natural disaster in this country's history. Images of fire-ravaged communities have been plastered across our screens, interspersed with quotes by grieving families and solemn celebrities. Obviously, you know things are serious when Larry Emdur halts his usual "who, me?" posturing on Channel Seven's "Morning Show" in favour of a permanent hang-dog expression.
There have been moments of levity; indeed, sport can provide an outlet during a crisis. SportingMind can recall several moments in history when sport offered a beacon of light - indeed, hope - to a futile situation.
1) Donald Bradman, 1929-30.
At the height of the Great Depression, Bradman served as a symbol for both hope and prosperity. As long as Bradman was striking the ball sweetly, one could forget the salient need for basic food stuffs. The situation of 80 years ago is echoed today in the form of Bryce MacGain. As we embark upon the Great Depression II, Bryce MacGain will serve as a symbol for all that can be achieved. A redundant stockbroker can take solace from the fact that, at the ripe age of 36, MacGain was able to force his way into the Australian test side by doing little more than just being available for selection. For years, Shane Warne had a monopoly on the leg-spin market; now that our stocks are low, MacGain has bought in at the appropriate time. Generation Y, flicking through the Wisden Almanac in 60 years time, will look back and see Bryce MacGain in the same way that thousands of hopeful Australians once saw Don Bradman. The saviour of a generation.
2) Sudan, 2004.
During a difficult time for Darfurians in particular, who were/are facing a rather oppressive government led by the incomparable Omar al-Bashir, an unlikely saviour came in the form of a national rugby league competition. Arguably al-Bashir's most humane gesture to date, the SRL (Sudanese Rugby League) was spawned out of tough times, making it a true "working class game". The new competition took the genocide off the front pages of the Sudan Daily (at the insistance of editor Omar al-Bashir) and unearthed many champion footballers. A young man, Alex Narabi, showed glimpses of a young Wendell Sailor circa-1997, with his massive frame and fleet of foot. Interestingly, he refused to wear football boots when playing, attributing his athleticism to years of fleeing armed government forces.
K.J.I: "Boys night in!, A few beers and some Saturday night footy?"
3) North Korea, Kim Jong-il.
Although North Korea does vie with Sudan for the title of World's Most Oppressive Dictatorship, one positive story has arisen out of this insular, Stalinist hell-hole. The "Dear Leader" got wind of a knockabout sport that was "doing the rounds" in Australia, namely, the AFL. As an opponent of all Western influences, Kim Jong il claimed to have invented a new game, "Kim Jong il's Fabulous New Sporting Extravaganza", effectively a carbon copy of AFL. Andrew Demetriou, the United Nations and Kim Jong il are currently in disscussion over a possible "International Rules" series to be played later this year, replacing the Ireland v Australia hybrid-game series. The Dear Leader recently stated that he will relax his nuclear proliferation aims if the series, to be played in October, is held at the MCG. Apparently, he has always wanted to step onto the hallowed turf of the "G".
4) Australian Election, November 2007, John Winston Howard.
One undocumented story that came out of the recent federal election was the whereabouts of J.W. Howard the day after his crushing loss to tail-ender Kevin Rudd. Howard spent the next week in lock down at Kingsgrove Cricket Centre surrounded by top quality English willow, only occasionally stepping out for a net session with his fellow ex-Cabinet ministers. Whilst many of his friendships were under fire, Howard and Costello buried the hatchet with a lengthy ball-machine session, in which Costello eventually worked out how to close the massive gap between his bat and pad when facing a left arm swing bowler. This technical flaw had stemmed from 1996 when Peter Reith bowled Costello "through the gate", marking Reith as Liberal Party "swing king". With a few well-directed pointers from J.W., Costello emerged a greater batsman and, arguably, a greater person for the experience. It was a poignant moment, given that Howard had greatly enjoyed ten years of nipping his offies back between Costello's bat and pad.
Howard later likened his Cabinet net session to the famous WWI cricket match between the diggers at Shell Green, Gallipoli, marking it as a testament to mateship. To not do so, he said, would be un-Australian.
-SportingMind
There have been moments of levity; indeed, sport can provide an outlet during a crisis. SportingMind can recall several moments in history when sport offered a beacon of light - indeed, hope - to a futile situation.
Bryce: positively Bradman-esque
1) Donald Bradman, 1929-30.
At the height of the Great Depression, Bradman served as a symbol for both hope and prosperity. As long as Bradman was striking the ball sweetly, one could forget the salient need for basic food stuffs. The situation of 80 years ago is echoed today in the form of Bryce MacGain. As we embark upon the Great Depression II, Bryce MacGain will serve as a symbol for all that can be achieved. A redundant stockbroker can take solace from the fact that, at the ripe age of 36, MacGain was able to force his way into the Australian test side by doing little more than just being available for selection. For years, Shane Warne had a monopoly on the leg-spin market; now that our stocks are low, MacGain has bought in at the appropriate time. Generation Y, flicking through the Wisden Almanac in 60 years time, will look back and see Bryce MacGain in the same way that thousands of hopeful Australians once saw Don Bradman. The saviour of a generation.
Omar al-Bashir: "I love watching footy at Brookvale Oval.."
2) Sudan, 2004.
During a difficult time for Darfurians in particular, who were/are facing a rather oppressive government led by the incomparable Omar al-Bashir, an unlikely saviour came in the form of a national rugby league competition. Arguably al-Bashir's most humane gesture to date, the SRL (Sudanese Rugby League) was spawned out of tough times, making it a true "working class game". The new competition took the genocide off the front pages of the Sudan Daily (at the insistance of editor Omar al-Bashir) and unearthed many champion footballers. A young man, Alex Narabi, showed glimpses of a young Wendell Sailor circa-1997, with his massive frame and fleet of foot. Interestingly, he refused to wear football boots when playing, attributing his athleticism to years of fleeing armed government forces.
K.J.I: "Boys night in!, A few beers and some Saturday night footy?"
3) North Korea, Kim Jong-il.
Although North Korea does vie with Sudan for the title of World's Most Oppressive Dictatorship, one positive story has arisen out of this insular, Stalinist hell-hole. The "Dear Leader" got wind of a knockabout sport that was "doing the rounds" in Australia, namely, the AFL. As an opponent of all Western influences, Kim Jong il claimed to have invented a new game, "Kim Jong il's Fabulous New Sporting Extravaganza", effectively a carbon copy of AFL. Andrew Demetriou, the United Nations and Kim Jong il are currently in disscussion over a possible "International Rules" series to be played later this year, replacing the Ireland v Australia hybrid-game series. The Dear Leader recently stated that he will relax his nuclear proliferation aims if the series, to be played in October, is held at the MCG. Apparently, he has always wanted to step onto the hallowed turf of the "G".
Howard" "My greatest failure was my inability to squeeze the word 'mateship' into the preamble"
4) Australian Election, November 2007, John Winston Howard.
One undocumented story that came out of the recent federal election was the whereabouts of J.W. Howard the day after his crushing loss to tail-ender Kevin Rudd. Howard spent the next week in lock down at Kingsgrove Cricket Centre surrounded by top quality English willow, only occasionally stepping out for a net session with his fellow ex-Cabinet ministers. Whilst many of his friendships were under fire, Howard and Costello buried the hatchet with a lengthy ball-machine session, in which Costello eventually worked out how to close the massive gap between his bat and pad when facing a left arm swing bowler. This technical flaw had stemmed from 1996 when Peter Reith bowled Costello "through the gate", marking Reith as Liberal Party "swing king". With a few well-directed pointers from J.W., Costello emerged a greater batsman and, arguably, a greater person for the experience. It was a poignant moment, given that Howard had greatly enjoyed ten years of nipping his offies back between Costello's bat and pad.
Howard later likened his Cabinet net session to the famous WWI cricket match between the diggers at Shell Green, Gallipoli, marking it as a testament to mateship. To not do so, he said, would be un-Australian.
-SportingMind
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