I have read many articles on this but never have seen such a comprehensive article... Too Good....This article should be published and sent to Robert and other English journalists who feels that India should lie down and take all the decisions
I fully agree with Prem Panicker on his rebuttal of the charges of World cricket domination by India by sheer money power. Also Mr. Buchanan has made it clear that the term monkey has no racial connotations even from the Auistralian angle. But then one thing every one conveniently forgets is that the issue is very similar to the Zhou Zhou Zidane and that Italian idiot Mataraziin the World cup football incident. It was a very clear case of provocation from Marazi and poor Zhou Zhou had to retire and go out of World Football with a ban against his name. Everyone talks about what Harbaja said to Symonds. But no one asks the question what in hell was Symonds telling Bhajji immediately before that. It is not for the Australians to talk holier than thou when it comes to calling names. Ask Murali or Monty Panesar and you will get bags full.Even Lou Vincent a New Zealander had gone on record how impossible it is to discipline the Australian Cricketers of today.Crown it all with what Hogg had called Anil Kumble and Dhoni. Kumble, as anyone who has played his game with him will vouch for, definitely would not have provoked Hogg like Symonds normally does. The slip cordon around the bat is usually a curse and swear mill in the Australian game. It is no excuse that they play there game in their domestic cricket also. If ICC does want to avoid such embarassment in furutre any personal conversation of this type on field should be banned and it should be closely monitored and enforced.
RE:The Monkey business
by Michael Mammen on Jan 14, 2008 04:04 PM
Something you may be unaware of:
Before every international series, each country provides the other with a list of "banned" words/phrases/sledges that must not be used (to allow for cultural differences).
I was actually joking when I suggested this a few days ago, but there you go!
Monkey appears on the list. Based on the current facts, Harbhajan must be cleared as there is no actual evidence beyond any reasonable doubt that he said it.
The B word does NOT appear on the list - the BCCI did not nominate it as a banned word.
That said, the simplest way to deal with it is to ban all sledging and let the bat/ball do the talking.
RE:The Monkey business
by raj on Jan 18, 2008 02:30 AM
absolutely! ban sledging. I think as far as the banned words list is concerned, its about racism, not abuses. abusing is not yet dealt by the ICC. they seem to agree with OZ folks that sledging is "gamesmanship". australia will not phase sledging out of their gameplan anytime soon. thats for sure.
That was an extremely well thought out, articulate statement of facts that should quieten all the paranoid Englishmen and their Australian Counterparts. These guys are reflective of their cricket team, just used to dishing it out but not used to listening. Well friends Prem here has got the cornered nice and fine. I just want to make sure that these guys actually read this article, particularly one Mr.Ponting
That was simply fantastic, Mr. Prem 'Jethmalani' Panicker...as you said, we can all keep on haggling about the true meaning of 'monkey'....as far as I am concerned, it's really nice to see Robert cringe like a scared, defensive child, mouthing anger in a fashion that is so sickeningly reminiscent of the British Raj....cheers to India...
Prem - This is one of the best counterarguments i have come across in all my debating experience. Excellent structuring, fluid coherence, clarity and sheer class. Keep it going ! Warm Regards, Abhishek
Prem - we love you man. You have the command of language and ability to put it, which resonates with the thought of a billion people. We, the billion - are burning with anger and we have reached a tipping point. I wonder why "they" don't get it that we have been patient enough.
Thank you again - as always, look forward to more articles from you.
Sydney: Former Australian coach John Buchanan asked whether "monkey", the term allegedly used by Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to address Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, is racist.
"When I was growing up as a young fella, 'you little monkey' was a common colloquial reference for all children due to our ability to be a bit cheeky at times," Buchanan wrote in his column on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) website on Wednesday.
"Now, it is a racist term. How the world changes - still that is not really the issue."
RE:This is the view of an Aussie on the word 'Monkey'
by raj on Jan 18, 2008 02:40 AM
well, monkeying around is being silly. thats a universal phrase, and more often used in india. however, if bhajji used that word, he'd be guilty - cos that's his second time he'd be doing it. procter's guilty as hell, cos he went by one party's evidence, rather, one party's claims. and he even qualified it by saying he's got a rather sound understanding of racism. he doesnt mind that he's emboldening the aussie blokes who dont have any credibility (as like ponting and clarke, claiming dubious catches, and later repeatedly say they have had it clean) to possibly create another such situation in the future, where an aussie player can merely claim he was abused, and people who wouldnt be in earshot can testify! its pretty amazing what a run of luck and confidence they seem to earn from some conducive ICC support staff oh, i meant the umpires and refrees.
matters would have come to a rest until symonds, the wise guy, chose to infuriate the indians - stoke the fire even more- by repeating that he wouldnt mind getting racialy abused by friends but not by opponents, or whatever steaming pile of dung that he meant. he didnt do any favours for the situation. he made it worse, the ICC kept quiet about it. he desperately wanted to show that he could have the cake and eat it too - that he can create and situation and engineer however and whatever ways he wants to.
prem! i liked what i read and you have pointed out some real hard hitting points. But how do i know that Craddock got to see what you wrote. I am vary interested to find out his reactions to what you said in this article.
