HAYDEN RETIRES

[Dogwatcher]

Hondo, I understand your anger at that satirical yarn up above.

However, what is your problem with questioning form?

My anger is not just at the yarn, it's also at people blogging on the newspaper web-sites and the callers into 5AA (some of them). Vitriolic, unbalanced character assassinations like Haydos has tortured their dog or kidnapped their kids.

I don't understand where all the anger comes from? Is it his sledging? If so, Warney and McGrath were the masters of it yet we think they are legends. What do you think is driving it? (Serious question I respect your opinions).

As to your question I've got no problem with questioning form. My issue this summer has been that we've zeroed in on one player and let others off, because they happen to be 3 years younger or because the fans love them. For example, Roy had off-field issues on top of poor on-field form yet barely a comment was raised. The Huss snuck through the summer hiding in Haydos' poor form shadow. I think we wanted a scape-goat for our poor results, and Haydos was it, because he's 37 and because he's never been the most popular player with the fans, for whatever reason.

Well said hondo. It has astounded me seeing the lack of respect shown to Hayden. He really has been singled out as you have said and i just can't figure out why. What has he ever done to deserve the bashings he has received from the media and general public this summer?

It's the human cycle.
We live in a charismatic based society.
A person's position in our society, whether they be sportsman, politician, entertainer, is dependent upon their charisma - whether that be personality or form (in the case of sport).
We watch and enjoy their rise and then when we've had enough of them, we watch as they gracefully, or not, fall back to a 'normal' position where they become one of us. We like to feel like we know something about the thing we invest our time in (in this example - cricket) and so we all like to predict what we think is going to happen - those that are paid to do it have a public forum and so build up momentum for their POV.
We look for any reason to distance ourselves from the subject of our previous affection.
Look through history, it's not a new thing. It's just that it's more intense now due to our ever present mass communications methods.

[Rik E Boy]

i think it is a load of crap and not funny in the slightest. It labels Hayden a racist which i think is extremely unfair.

Australian 'tryhard' humour at it's worst written by a bunch of nuffys. We haven't had good comedy writers in this country for years.

regards,

REB

[wycbloods]

"Racist, selfish, sledger, geriatric, arthritic, flat track bully, dodged the world's best bowlers, over-rated"

All descriptions of Hayden I have heard over the last few months, now reaching a crescendo as his knockers feel vindicated

He's even been criticised for his retirement press conference and one caller to 5AA said he avoided the new ball ( )

We have sportspeople who intentionally have let themselves and their team-mates down in various ways in recent years yet they seem to have more support out there than this quiet, stable family man from QLD who loved playing cricket for his country, and did it to a very high level of performance.

Hayden's treatment over the last few months has been a disgrace. I said it before in this thread and I'll say it again.

That one caller is obviously a well informed very knowledgeable person

[stan]

"Racist, selfish, sledger, geriatric, arthritic, flat track bully, dodged the world's best bowlers, over-rated"

All descriptions of Hayden I have heard over the last few months, now reaching a crescendo as his knockers feel vindicated

He's even been criticised for his retirement press conference and one caller to 5AA said he avoided the new ball ( )

We have sportspeople who intentionally have let themselves and their team-mates down in various ways in recent years yet they seem to have more support out there than this quiet, stable family man from QLD who loved playing cricket for his country, and did it to a very high level of performance.

Hayden's treatment over the last few months has been a disgrace. I said it before in this thread and I'll say it again.

That one caller is obviously a well informed very knowledgeable person

I agree with Hondo about this. Some comments are terrible, one guy actually said Hayden at his best still wont be missed. I mean what a bunch of knobs!

[Dogwatcher]

No accounting for stupidity.

[Hondo]

Good replies DW (as usual), it's helped put some of the anti-Hayden sentiment in perspective. Not that I still fully understand it. Sentiment seems to sweep so fast these days with all the instant means of communication.

For the record:

- today's posts weren't directed at you personally
- yes, it's probably a vocal minority getting my goat
- I don't think Hussey should go, I was just trying to make a point
- I didn't actually know Hayden was a christian
- yes, there's no accounting for stupidity!

[Dogwatcher]

I'm aware you weren't directing your comments at me mate.
I was just responding to your questions.
Glad my responses made some sense, I was thinking they were a little too academic.

[Lightning McQueen]

I'm aware you weren't directing your comments at me mate.
I was just responding to your questions.
Glad my responses made some sense, I was thinking they were a little too academic.

You're the Dr. Phil of this forum DW, love your work.

[Gozu]

Who is Walter Slurry?

I'm pretty sure it's an alias for one of the Crikey writers. Not sure if it's the same guy but they also have a "Charlie Happell" who does sport too.

[McAlmanac]

Who is Walter Slurry?

I'm pretty sure it's an alias for one of the Crikey writers. Not sure if it's the same guy but they also have a "Charlie Happell" who does sport too.

Charles Happell is the former sports editor of The Age. He is ghosting Wayne Carey's autobiography, which should be interesting.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I heard one caller on SEN describe Hayden as the greatest flat track bully in the history of the game and he (the caller) was glad Hayden was finally out of the game.

I swear, why people like this are even remotely interested in cricket when it's clear they have no aptitude nor understanding of the game is totally beyond my comprehension.

Thanks to a vitriolic media, we are now creating a whole new breed of cricket "supporter" whose sole enjoyment of the game is to carry on like an idiot at 20/20 matches and hate the Australian cricketers with a passion, even though they are representing the country in which they live.

[Rik E Boy]

I heard one caller on SEN describe Hayden as the greatest flat track bully in the history of the game and he (the caller) was glad Hayden was finally out of the game.

I swear, why people like this are even remotely interested in cricket when it's clear they have no aptitude nor understanding of the game is totally beyond my comprehension.

Thanks to a vitriolic media, we are now creating a whole new breed of cricket "supporter" whose sole enjoyment of the game is to carry on like an idiot at 20/20 matches and hate the Australian cricketers with a passion, even though they are representing the country in which they live.

Well said. Hayden's average stacks up well against every opponent home and away in the toughest gig going around and that is opening the batting.

regards,

REB

[RoosterMarty]

Averaging over 50 as an opener just shows how good he is.

[spell_check]

So his series in India c.2001 is also flat track bully status? That caller and the writers of that "comedic strip" have proven there are worse out there than Beccy Wilson.

[McAlmanac]

An altenative view.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/cricket/poms-farewell-aussie-they-loved-to-hate/2009/01/16/1231608937151.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1