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Criticism isn't cricket Taking sporting lessons from Kapil Dev
Posted: Tuesday March 28, 2000 02:47 PM
Off-field criticism of a rival just isn't cricket. So on a day when Brazilian soccer teammates Romario and Edmundo were once again shown to be the most bitter of enemies, even in a time of pleasing success for their side, it was reassuring to see the boys of cricket uphold the more gentlemanly aspects of sport.
West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh, a 37-year-old veteran of 114 tests, broke Kapil Dev's all-time record of 434 test victims on his home ground in Kingston, Jamaica by claiming three wickets against Zimbabwe. Indian great Kapil was among the first to congratulate him. In fact he was so well prepared, he'd sent four bottles of champagne to Walsh to celebrate the occasion, saying he expected the fast bowler to break his record on home turf. What foresight. Kapil also said he hoped Walsh would continue playing for many more years because he's a fine example to young players. One class act complimenting another. What sportsmanship.
It was most refreshing having read the infantile comments of the Brazilian brat Edmundo on that very same day. He and Romario, enemies from way back when but curiously playing alongside each other at Vasco da Gama in Brazil, have scored nine of Vasco's 12 goals this season as they have won their first four games to top the Rio De Janeiro Championship. But they hate each other with such a passion that they refuse to congratulate each other after goals. Edmundo says that kind of thing "has to come from the heart" and, as he has no place in his heart for Romario, he chooses not to bother. Romario's clearly not much better. Together they make kindergarten kids appear positively mature. It's the kind of rivalry that makes headlines, but the kind of behavior young fans could do without. What fabulous footballers. What rotten role models. What a contrast to Walsh and Kapil. Phil Jones is a co-host of "World Sport," the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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