Tuesday, January 20, 2009

If Obama Played Cricket

In November 2005 the South African cricket team arrived in Australia to play a 3 Test series against our boys. Their captain, Graeme Smith made some very brave and eventually foolish statements about how the South Africans were going to defeat the Aussies and that our genius bowler, Shane Warne wasn't really that much of a threat. Australia defeated them 2-0 and a month later went over to South Africa and thrashed them 3 out of 3.

This year the South Africans again came over to play. This time their captain (Smith again), didn't say much except that they were feeling that if they played well, they had a chance of winning. There was no trash talk. Instead a just a calm and confident statement of how things were shaping. They won 2-1 and now look good for more victories at home when Australia visits next month.

Compare this to Obama. He's made a lot of statements about hope, unifying the country, taking on the economic meltdown and implementing change. That's a lot of brave talk. If he were just about to embark on a cricket tour we'd be asking big questions about Obama backing up the talk when he walked onto the field. Is he going to be the Graeme Smith of 2005 or 2008? His talk so far has been the Smith 2005 vintage. Rhetoric to win elections and gee up the population is expected. Follow up action is problematic.

Let's hope for the sake of our American friends that there is substance behind the verbals.

10 comments:

  1. That's the problem with politics, the one that talks the best game gets voted in.

    Words speak louder than actions in politics, you just have to hope you elected someone that can do the actions bit as well.

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  2. Ah, the country will plod along, most likely. But my own post states the rest of my views, as you know.

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  3. A wonderful analogy - yet another reason why cricket is the most excellent of sports!

    And best wishes to the US

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  4. Yep it's time to walk the walk..

    i hope he really wanted to be president as there's no way out now!

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  5. YD - was good oratory at the ceremony, imprssive parade, now its time to work.
    Lermy - me and one of my guys here at the bureau use cricket analogies all the time. I'm at the SCG on Friday - yeah!
    Chaz - he's gonna need to be very smart about it. Let's hope.

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  6. Obama isn't as top-hand dominant as Smithy. Plays more in the V. Smithy leads with the chin more, but then again he has to.

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  7. Have fun tomorrow - v jealous. Great win last Sunday - unfortunately I was on the plane listening to it and the fucking safety demo came on! I mean who gives a fuck if half the plane dies - I want to know if we beat the dirty boks.

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  8. Lermy - there's a time and place for safety. The broadcast of a one-dayer certainly ain't it. The problem with the SCG is that its light beer only (except for the Members). I guess that's why God created hip flasks.

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  9. Dr Yobbo - yeah you'd be wanting a strengthened slips cordon for Obama as he tends to get edges when driving at outswingers off a good length. With Smith, you just need to injure him.

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  10. I should say Smithy's not usually as top-hand dominant as he was in his last knock, for obvious reasons.

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