Tony Cozier slams Lara

[C_C]

"beat the #$#@ outta his girlfriend ala Lara" have you got any evidence to prove this statement? ive never heard that, and if it is true, i am not condoning it and it was wrong but you cant make a statement on some ones character like that when arguing bout cricket matters!"

Search BBC- This was in 99 when Lara was going out with the British model chick and beat her to a pulp.
And no, i am NOT talking cricket here- the entire focus of Cozier's article, incase you missed it, is not debating cricketing ability or nuous but conduct and behaviour.
Which is precisely what i am commenting on.

 

[Benny2k1]

Lara is easily the most sporting cricketer I have seen. Sure, he had a turbulent time for a couple of years in the mid 90s with him not seeing eye to eye with Richie Richardson and Courtney Walsh but since 99, he has been easily one of the best behaved cricketers around. He does retaliate when provoked, while Sachin sometimes keeps low but that is hardly a fault. It is not like Sachin didn't have his problems with the then captain Azharuddin. I agree that Sachin did well to never publicly comment on those things like Lara did, but there is also the matter of different cultures there. Like I said, I do think Sachin, overall, has been a better behaved cricketer than Lara, but really, Lara is no spoilt brat and Sachin is not as good as CC and some others here claim.

Laras had his problems but so has Sachin, I agree with that comment there is a view with all of sachins fans that he is untouchable,

After searching 1999 as you said C_C i came up with these headlines

Lara smashes second fastest ODI hundred (Oct 9, 1999)
Lara's genius as West Indies take the series (Oct 9, 1999)
Lara's Player Of The Year (16 June 1999) (Jun 16, 1999)
Greatness follows when Lara gets mind-set right (1 May 1999) (May 1, 1999)
Lara's rating highest for 90s (4 April 1999) (Apr 4, 1999)

So unlesss youve got proof, and i have asked alot of people with a good knowlage of the game bout this i think you should leave laras girlfreind beating comment out of this.

As you said tho C_C yes i have read his comments and all of them are to do with Cricket! not to do with his personal life Some people look up to Lara just as much as you do Sachin.

 

[viktor]

Sachin complained abt the pitches for a year after he first took over the captaincy. And trust me, if I have a team with 4 medium pacers playing India in a decider of a test series and I get a pitch that turns a mile the first time a spinner bowls on it, I would be peeved too.

I did not compare Lara with anybody. Lara's actions, on their own, are bad enough. To be honest, I've lost a bit of respect for Lara this series, what with the Dhoni incident and then, this gesture to the groundsmen. Lara might have the best of WI at heart and might be trying to prevent the team from getting a raw deal from anyone, but the way he has gone about it is extremely tasteless.
And I repeat, these are comments on Lara's actions per se, not in comparison with Sachin or anybody else.

 

[Sanz]

For *** sake, i dont worship Sachin- i consider him as the second best batsman ever and the template on good behaviour both on and off the field.
So far, he hasnt walked off mid tour ala Lara, dissed the sport that earned him his name, ala Lara, beat the #$#@ outta his girlfriend ala Lara, been a condescending **** with the umpires ala Lara, openly instigated confrontations in the middle ala Lara, openly mocked the groundsmen/board ala Lara (despite facing similar troubles), etc etc. And he's been a superstar from a far younger age than Lara to boot, dealing with an infinitely more intrusive media and popular pressure.
All in all, i consider Tendulkar as a template for 'how to behave on and off the field for a superstar' and Lara as a template for 'how NOT to behave on and off the field for a superstar'.

And Lara is yet to Tamper with the ball.

 

[silentstriker]

And Lara is yet to Tamper with the ball.

That we know about. He probably whined so much that the umpires just let him get away with it.

 

[Benny2k1]

I did not compare Lara with anybody. Lara's actions, on their own, are bad enough. To be honest, I've lost a bit of respect for Lara this series, what with the Dhoni incident and then, this gesture to the groundsmen. Lara might have the best of WI at heart and might be trying to prevent the team from getting a raw deal from anyone, but the way he has gone about it is extremely tasteless.
And I repeat, these are comments on Lara's actions per se, not in comparison with Sachin or anybody else.

Some people mite say that Dhoni should of walked and taken the fielders word?

 

[R_D]

Even though fielder says he's not sure whether he touched the boundary or not ?

 

[Dasa]

Some people mite say that Dhoni should of walked and taken the fielders word?

If the fielder says he isn't sure, why would the batsman walk?

...and it's should have.

 

[Anil]

Some people mite say that Dhoni should of walked and taken the fielders word?

are you seriously blaming dhoni for that fracas? ...and you claim to be unbiased!

 

[SJS]

are you seriously blaming dhoni for that fracas? ...and you claim to be unbiased!

I think Dhoni and the other batsman (whoever it was) were quite respectful to Lara in the sense that they appeared to be listening to him intently as he was trying to make a point. They seemed to be giving him all the respect that he deserves as a senior cricketer.

In fact, I was quite impressed by the way, inspite of the disagreement, the way the players on both sides did not create a scene or shouted at each other or anything like that.

 

[Sanz]

That response, by no stretch of immagination was outside the realms of politeness and graciousness. He was asked a pointed personal question and answered it as such.
You seriously cannot compare Tendulkar's conduct off and on the field to Lara's.

I notice how conveniently you ignored the post where he was mouthing off to Mcgrath.
I notice how conveniently you almost never mention the Ball Tampering issue by Tendulkar.

Anyways what personal question was asked of him ?? I have watched the game 100 times and Tendulkar's response "We have beaten them four times in World Cup matches now -- that should prove the point." was immature and stupid kind of rubbing salt at wounds.

 

[viktor]

Some people mite say that Dhoni should of walked and taken the fielders word?

Maybe he should have, may be not.
That does not change the fact that Lara was arguing with the umpires and asking Dhoni to walk off. That is a violation of ICC rules (Spirit of cricket) and definitely not something you would expect from someone of Lara's stature.

 

[marc71178]

Search BBC- This was in 99 when Lara was going out with the British model chick and beat her to a pulp.
And no, i am NOT talking cricket here- the entire focus of Cozier's article, incase you missed it, is not debating cricketing ability or nuous but conduct and behaviour.
Which is precisely what i am commenting on.

Well isn't that a turn up for the books.

Never seen C_C make an allegation about someone then when asked for proof refuse to show it, but just say the other person has to search for it...

 

[silentstriker]

I notice how conveniently you ignored the post where he was mouthing off to Mcgrath.
I notice how conveniently you almost never mention the Ball Tampering issue by Tendulkar.

Anyways what personal question was asked of him ?? I have watched the game 100 times and Tendulkar's response "We have beaten them four times in World Cup matches now -- that should prove the point." was immature and stupid kind of rubbing salt at wounds.

What about taking off your pants and mooning them? That would have been awesome.

 

[silentstriker]

Well isn't that a turn up for the books.

Never seen C_C make an allegation about someone then when asked for proof refuse to show it, but just say the other person has to search for it...

You changed your icon. I am so confused that I can't pay attention to your posts anymore. If you were going to change your icon, I am deeply offended that you did not choose our Lord and Savior Ajit Agarkar. So I have to change my icon in protest.

 

[C_C]

Well isn't that a turn up for the books.

Never seen C_C make an allegation about someone then when asked for proof refuse to show it, but just say the other person has to search for it...

Because i am not going to do your homework for you. I told you where to find it, now go find it if you want to.

 

[C_C]

And Lara is yet to Tamper with the ball.

Cleaning the seam isnt balltampering, which is why Tendulkar was exonerated from it.

"We have beaten them four times in World Cup matches now -- that should prove the point." was immature and stupid kind of rubbing salt at wounds.

Not really. I consider that response well within realms of a proper response.

As i said- i consider Tendulkar's conduct and behaviour to be exemplary of a role model while Lara's behaviour is not.

 

[Sanz]

What about taking off your pants and mooning them? That would have been awesome.

I am sure you have nothing to say hence the personal attack.

 

[silentstriker]

I am sure you have nothing to say hence the personal attack.

What? I said I would find it funny if a captain mooned the other team, who am I exactly attacking personally?

 

[Sanz]

Cleaning the seam isnt balltampering, which is why Tendulkar was exonerated from it.

Exonerated by whom, YOU ? Tendulkar Found guilty

Not really. I consider that response well within realms of a proper response.

And I dont.

As i said- i consider Tendulkar's conduct and behaviour to be exemplary of a role model while Lara's behaviour is not.

You can say it a million times and it wont change the truth that Tendulkar's conduct and behavior isn't as exemplary as some of his fanatics keep harping about. I have watched Tendulkar mouthing off obscene words, showing dissent, questioning the pitches, questioning the selectors, staying mum when he should have spoken, unethically trying to evade import duty on his Ferrari, making a hue and cry over missing out a double ton, favoring pathetic mumbai players and what not.