What happened with those South African boys, this beatings business that was in the courts?

Anyhow, he is just a commentator, that giggle after he says most things annoys me.

I would like to see the ABC give someone else a go, we have plenty of decent commentators.

Maybe it is part of the ABC’s positive descrimination policy he gets a gig.

I often chuckle at his metaphors, but then I often shake my head at his articles and think what’s he up to now?

The guy coached me for 4 years at school (when his mind was on the job he was a very good coach) – he is a complex guy in many ways and has no small opinion of himself.

I should probably stop there.

He used to come out with some cracker one-liners though…

The other problem is usually wrong and what he says is not based in reality.

This is an example

he wrote about Dr Otto Nothling, and how exotic he was because he had German ancestry

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/lilylivered-lilywhites-have-held-cricket-back/2008/02/15/1202760601605.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

“……But Symonds is not the only cricketer of exotic origin to be making his mark Down Under. Moises Henriques has been staking his claim in NSW. He is the offspring of a Portuguese goalkeeper. A tall all-rounder blessed with lively pace and a bold batting style, he made his mark at under-19 level and in his state’s one-day line-up and now wants to establish himself in the four-day outfit.
Henriques is not the first European immigrant to succeed in cricket. The only time Don Bradman was dropped was in 1928, and he was replaced by Dr Otto Nothling, a gifted sportsman of European descent whose family had backed the wrong side in one of those periodic Prussian wars. Players from Italy, the Balkans have also prospered……….”

This is nonsensical. Otto Nothling was born in Queensland.
Langer, Lehman, Bichel and Rackerman are a few the other test cricketers with German sounding names. No one says they are exotic.
I grew up in South Australia there is nothing exotic about German names especially when you live near the Lutheran seminary and drink with them at the Wellington hotel on Wellington square.
Also, Shane Warnes Mum is German and I for the life of me can’t recall the last time Warnie was called exotic.

I also get the distinct impression that his analysis is too driven by emotion. He puts forth a mythical notion of the “true Australian way of cricket” which is frankly baffling. He’s essentially an Englishman who, like many Englishmen before him, was rather taken with the informality and gumption of the Australian way of life but rather baffled by those aspects of Australia which are less congenial to his outlook. Hence the bizarre oscillation in his writing between hagiography and outrage.

You can only understand his writing if you remember that he’s a romantic with a romantic notion of Australia. When reality clashes with that romantic vision (as it so often does) he completely loses the plot.

Take a look at the headlines from the First Test with NZ from the Age:

Pressure on Haddin

Veteran Hayden struggles for form

It’s survival, not revival

Pacemen pick up the pace

Test cricket (and the game) is struggling

NZ gain edge despite Katich defiance

Australian selectors ‘wrong, wrong, wrong’, says ex-Test spinner

Clarke keeps Australians from total peril

Hayden goes into bat over his remark on India

Australia a team on the wane

Kiwis bowl up a storm on back of Vettori’s daring

Clarke props up Australia

–> FROM these headlines you would think Australia LOST this test.

I also find Roebuck to be a HYPOCRITE. On the one hand he says standards have declined on and off the field, yet on the other hand he particpates in vigorous player bashing!

Rabid Roebuck and his fellow media are the real problems with cricket. They malign and degrade players in order to sensationalise. I find his type of reporting to lack any real depth or substance. Where is the insight?

As for PR being anti-Australian; how ridiculous. Does he have to slavishly worship at the altar of Aussie greatness in order to be accepted as an Australian ? Pretty poor show if that’s the case, and not an opinion I think most grown-ups have of their own country.

Which is not to say that Roebuck isn’t frequently thought-provoking, and regardless of how often and how vehemently you might disagree with him, there has to be room for someone like that.

Ponting and the Aussies reaction in the Sydney test was not ideal but consider:
- they had pulled a test victory out from a probable draw in the final overs
- they equalled the world record of consecutive test victories with that win
- the wasnt a lot of love lost on the Indians after a strong verbal and physical test series
- their own cricket association had deserted them.

There reaction is probably normal.

I’ve stopped reading his articles. There’s only so much garbage you can endure.

[Actually, memo to Zac and Zolton, can we see how many times a piece hace been veiwed alongside no. of comments?]

The thing I like about Peter Roebuck is that I don’t always agree with him, which means that he obviously writes from a balanced persepctive. I recall the series of artciles David mentions in his piece, and while I thought Roebuck was off his tree calling for Ponting’s head, his follow-up critique of the Indians left me thinking “but hang on, yesterday you…”

The way he comments on different perspective is seemingly peerless in Australian cricket circles (and definitely so in India!) And the way he stands by his opinion while actively refusing the spotlight should also be applauded..

If we don’t like your opinions and prefer reading someone elses then the law of supply and demand will soon see you off.

Why do people read these blogs (for instance) if they are not interested in hearing other peoples opinions?

I love to bag some of the English rugby journos… but I’d hate it if they went away. Then what would I do???

It would be nice if some other sports writers wrote similar articles about their own sportsmen. For example, Darren Lockyer should have been confronted after his joke about rape whilst Australian captain. At the very least he should have been demoted.

More strength to the arm of the true journalists and those that contribute rather than copy!