Heckles is not the problem
Published:Tuesday | May 17, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Hilarious Heckles was wrong to equate Christopher Gayle to Dudus.
I know. Just the word 'don', with the regrettably violent connotations, was inappropriate. I know. But let's not get carried away with recriminations, however enjoyable or fulfilling of talk show time. Hilarious has neither played nor coached a game of West Indies cricket. He's not selected one player. He's not the problem.
Regardless of your job's framework; how oppressive your emp-loyers; how one-rous the task of collecting hefty US$ cheques; if you, as a professional cricketer, accept appointment to a team, it's first and foremost YOUR responsibility to make it a winning team.
Cricketers can't blame losses on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). That's our job. The WICB (formerly WICBC) has never been a paragon of enlightenment or efficiency. It's the same WICBC which delayed Frank Worrell's appointment as captain for 10 years after it was merited. His 261 at Trent Bridge in 1950 (tour Test average of 89+) was the highest by a West Indian in England
The same WICBC ... ended Roy Gilchrist's career for differing with his captain on the efficacy of intimidatory bowling and disobeying the skipper's orders to pamper a former Cambridge schoolmate, Swaranjit Singh, delayed the selection of Alvin Kallicharran and Lawrence Rowe to the team for years and forced Brian Lara to waste too much time carrying water and towels for inferior players before graciously allowing him to play pursued intimidatory selection policies against Maurice Foster, ensuring he could never develop any confidence as a Test batsman, while carrying repeated failure. Gus Logie for years banned the West Indies' Dream Team for daring to sign with Kerry Packer and discourteously aborted the careers of Jeffrey Dujon, Andy Roberts and many others.
inherent discrimination
The WICBC hasn't changed. But, despite the manufactured adversities, there was a time players performed without perennially crying about the board. Great players perform regardless of adversity. Today's players need to get over themselves. Our poor results are mainly their fault. Period.
What's intriguing about Heckles' perspective on Gayle is the inherent discrimination. It says lots more about Heckles than Gayle. Heckles calls Worrell 'Father of the Nation'. But wasn't it Worrell who refused to tour India in 1948-49 because the WICBC wouldn't pay what he considered a reasonable stipend? His request was considered impertinence. Now, he's 'Father' and Gayle 'Don'?
Heckles calls Sobers 'King'. But didn't he captain a 'Rest of the World' team, including banned South Africans, against England and Australia during the apartheid era? Didn't he play cricket in Rhodesia while its racist government was sanctioned by the United Nations? He's 'King' and Gayle 'Don'?
Heckles calls Lloyd 'Statesman'. But didn't he lead the Packer revolt to seek better pay for cricketers, including himself? He's 'Statesman' and Gayle 'Don'?
Heckles calls Richards 'General of the Army'. But didn't General Viv abandon his army on the battlefield to fight in the press box? He's 'General' and Gayle 'Don'?
Finally, Heckles calls Lara 'Prince'. But didn't Lara pull a last-minute 'strike' from a South African tour over fees?
Why is Gayle the only don when all were seeking maximum respect for cricketers?
Hilarious Heckles needs to wake up and smell the linseed. Money is the name of this new professional sporting game. The WICB must apply corporate principles and promote all parties' corporate needs. The future lies in incentive-based contracts with incentives kicking in only when the team wins. Chris Gayle lost my respect as a West Indies cricketer (and hasn't regained it, although I'd never call him a don) in 2004 at The Oval when we were asked to follow on during the third day, 318 runs behind. Gayle responded with 105 in 133 minutes. Unfortunately, his team needed him to bat for two days and score 50 not out.
Appreciation for the maxim 'There's no I in team' was shown by men like Desmond Haynes (debuted with the nickname 'Hammer' for his hard-hitting style but adjusted to being a sheet anchor the team needed) and Roy Fredericks. Chris Gayle hasn't shown me the same comprehension.
Heckles is guilty only of educational intemperance, exposing deeper inter-regional dysfunction. There are more urgent problems to fix, including a WICB disconnected from modern reality and players with attitudes inimical to the team.
Peace and love.
Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.