Loading ...Submitted by Steve Woodhall
I got the impression that the Mail & Guardian had their knives into the IPL series, some of the blogs have been a bit … mean. I was suspending judgment but I’ve just watched the wonderful game between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at Kingsmead (May 14).
I’ve decided this IS sport. Dedication, athleticism … Yusuf Pathan putting his body on the line diving over the boundary to try and stop a 4. He knocked himself out hitting the advertising boards.
That’s commitment, not play-play cricket. Other good bits were watching the orchidaceous Shilpa Shetty praying, looking at her hands thinking … I will NOT bite my nails! Great stuff!
It was fun, entertaining and sends a huge message to the world that South Africa is a top-class sporting venue. All the doubting Thomases thinking 2010 is going to be a disaster should take note. This series was a great advertisement for South Africa. Sure, not everyone is happy but given the ultra-short lead up time, who’s surprised by that?
Woodhall is a cricket lover (did you see that 6 Kallis hit at the end of the Bangalore/Delhi game!) Liverpool fan (sob!) Bulls fan (no nails left) and ex-Joburger of pom origin living in Durban. Admirer of Zapiro and all at the Mail & Guardian who expose cant and hypocrisy wherever it grows
- None
Hummm … advertising South Africa? I thought the point of a sports team having the name of a city (or other geographical location) was that it was based in that place, and that loyalties were based, losely at least, on that area. Tru, Manchester United and Chelsea have fans all over the world, but they still play at least half of their games in there. Wimbledon moved and play in Milton Keynes, but by and large the names of Indian cities seem a little out of place here. Yes, it is mostly watched on television, so oyu could say it doesn’t matter if it is played here. Why not have a South African IPL - the Gauteng Outriders, the Wester Cape Crusaders? Or is is to do with money and bombs? Ah! I see!
An advertisement for South Africa. Of course. And what exactly are they adveritising? The ability of a country to organise world class sports events? What else?
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