Nicholas Tatham
Well I am not a very adventurous and outgoing person to be completely honest. So doing something remotely out of my comfort zone is ridiculous!
So for me outrageous could range from eating raw trout to maybe going to bed after 11 o clock in the evening. But I decided that this was all going to change and I went over the top completely. I decided that it was time for me to do something that I have never done before…. On Wednesday evening when I was at the Rat and Parrot having the usual couple of quiet pints – as one does, I decided that it was time for someone (initially I thought a couple of people would jump at the opportunity) to take the plunge and drink from the hallowed yard stick that sits snugly behind the bar. Who was going to do it? In the end I guess I was, we filled that long tube of goodness up and I don’t think I really knew what I had got myself into but hey tried my hardest to drink as much as I possibly could. There just seemed to more beer in there than humanly possible and I couldn’t take it anymore.
My masculinity seemed to be in question at the end of this but after realising that there are over four draughts of beer in there I really didn’t think that I had done too badly!
My word was that an experience. I think that it should be on every Rhodes students ‘to do’ list. It just looks so incredibly inviting and well I won’t lie when I say that I really am not too disappointed that I gave it a go!
Yours in drinking
Tucky
Friday, October 30, 2009
Abahlali blog for young journos!
I have been viewing and reading blog posts of young, energetic and professional journalists of Rhodes University. Their blog posts have been reconciling with their university slogan that says “Where leaders learn”. I was not just reading but I also learned a lot. Among these so many blogs the one that I kept on reading its posts since the whole term is Abahlali blog. Firstly I would like to comment on colours that have been used by the bloggers of this blog, even if I do not know the genders of group blog members, I can tell that it might be women because of the colours that are used, for example pink, usually pink is used by female members. Their colours are impressing, it looks beautiful and its look shows that it is dedicated to the young people.
One of the member’s mission statement says that, the blog will be concentrating on human interest stories, unfortunately on this blog post I found only one or two stories that are of human interest and I found by reading the lines that most of the blog posts are what blog posters are interested in not what humans are interested in. They write about everything, ranging from breaking news, entertainment, student life and political issues. This is a truly and open space nothing is hidden, it is very easy and enjoyable to read their posts. Their posts get straight to the point, they do not take readers’ lot of time without getting straight to the point but what I have noticed is that these posts do not have tags.
The experience of sitting at the back in lectures
Earlier on towards the beginning of this week, I simple told myself that let me sit at the back as I usually sit at the front. I was so excited since it was the last Monday that I will attend in 2009 lectures. Something unusual happened is that I couldn’t hear what my lecturers were saying during the first lecture. I was wondering wether I couldn’t hear from the distance or it is because I was excited because it’s towards the end of the term. I was sitting with my friends because the lecture was in a distance and I couldn’t here what both of my journalism lectures were saying we ended-up chatting about what was happening during the week-end.
What I realized is that some of the things about ourselves we do not know because we have not experienced them or proved them because it I was my last week in lectures and I haven’t knew that I couldn’t hear or concentrate on the lecture if I am in a distance.
Where should you put this Red Pencil?
A few days ago, I came across another Rhodes Student blog about being a journalism student. I had been reading a few of the other student’s blogs ever since we started them (not to check out the competition or anything). I found that in most of the blogs, at least one writer was shockingly bad. Either with terrible grammar and spelling, or they were dead boring. I was just about to give up and write a post about how disappointed I was when I stumbled into a blog that I actually found myself reading for longer than two minutes. In fact, I’m pretty sure I spent more time on this blog than the total time I’ve spent reading newspapers all year.
I justify the amount of time I’ve spent on this blog by assuring myself that I was reading articles that not only were well written, but entertaining, and therefore worth a portion of my life. This blog is unique because it’s writers not only have something to say, but they have a special way of saying it. They don’t always take themselves too seriously (like so many blogs floating around) and have a down-to-earth take on both the study of journalism and what is going on in the media. But don’t think that this blog is all flowers and fairies. They also have opinions and criticisms, which however controversial, are daring.
This blog is definitely a blog worth checking out if you want to hear what is going on in other journalism student’s bright little heads, after you’ve finished reading all our posts of course! Pour another glass of Vodka and Coke, you’re going to be in front of your computer for a while.
Oh, before I forget, the blog’s name is Blunt Red Pencil <-- clicky!
http://bluntredpencil.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Should they Really be Blogging?
JMS 1 is a cut throat business; you are always fighting to keep ahead or in some cases to just keep up. So with this in mind and me having to review a few other blogs I think I have a little room to be rather critical.
The first blog that I reviewed was "Grahamstown Diaries" . It is an interesting title and after receiving a little inside information I discovered that it is a play on the "Bridget Jones' Diaries" series of films. On to more pressing issues, I enjoyed their wide range of commentary; they covered stories from the Somali pirates to the re-launch of the AWB. The stories that they chose were relevant to us as student journalists and the writing too was well thought out and delivered. I think it is a really good read.
The second blog that I reviewed was "Digest this 24" . To start I thought the title was interesting, original and it is quick and easy to say. In terms of news coverage, I was impressed by their wide range of coverage but I felt that at the same time they didn't seem to make it too appealing. They lacked a few catchy titles that would draw the reader in. Although I did enjoy a couple of the stories it felt that I really had to make an effort to read them.
These blogs and ours have been a great way for us as student journalists to voice our opinions and to test ourselves by putting what we think out there to the people. I think that after reviewing these blogs, we have come through with flying colours!
Yours
Tucky
The first blog that I reviewed was "Grahamstown Diaries" . It is an interesting title and after receiving a little inside information I discovered that it is a play on the "Bridget Jones' Diaries" series of films. On to more pressing issues, I enjoyed their wide range of commentary; they covered stories from the Somali pirates to the re-launch of the AWB. The stories that they chose were relevant to us as student journalists and the writing too was well thought out and delivered. I think it is a really good read.
The second blog that I reviewed was "Digest this 24" . To start I thought the title was interesting, original and it is quick and easy to say. In terms of news coverage, I was impressed by their wide range of coverage but I felt that at the same time they didn't seem to make it too appealing. They lacked a few catchy titles that would draw the reader in. Although I did enjoy a couple of the stories it felt that I really had to make an effort to read them.
These blogs and ours have been a great way for us as student journalists to voice our opinions and to test ourselves by putting what we think out there to the people. I think that after reviewing these blogs, we have come through with flying colours!
Yours
Tucky
Put Your Game Face On
After only a week at pilot school, my boyfriend, Braam, started flying. He enjoyed it, and all was fine and dandy. Until... he started asking me to sit in on one of his lessons. 1500 feet in the air. With a boy that has only been flying for a couple of weeks and is yet to get his drivers licence for a car. Thus began the battle between my survival instincts and my supportive girlfriend instincts. Naturally, I put it off as long as I could. But with this project on my plate, I realised it was a good time to force myself into the metal bird and hold my hands over my eyes for an hour, until we were safely on land (if that even happened). So for the benefit of Mr.Kite, and the readers of our blog, I put my life in danger.
By the time I was in the plane, I realised that I wasn’t quite sure how I got there. I hoped it didn’t involve me kicking and screaming. But nevertheless I was strapped down and kitted with a pair of dorky headphones before I knew what I was doing. At that point, I remembered everything I wanted to do with my life. I haven’t been to Venice or Paris or New York yet. I remembered how I hadn’t even phoned my mother to tell her I loved her that day. And then the ground beneath the plane began to slip away and soon we were in the air.
While Braam and his instructor fiddled with some knobs and levers, I looked out the window to see the trees shrink. Just as I began to feel comfortable in the air, we descended. After the rocky landing (he’s only learning afterall), I let out the breath I was holding only to ascend again. We did that a couple of times, and soon it got pretty old. Braam assured me that circuits were irritating but next time (yeah right) I’d have more fun.
Eventually we landed, and stayed there. Like a true lady, I pulled myself together and gracefully slid out the plane. On the outside, I was thrilled. Inwardly, I was happy to have all my limbs.
So I hope you’re all happy. I almost died.
By the time I was in the plane, I realised that I wasn’t quite sure how I got there. I hoped it didn’t involve me kicking and screaming. But nevertheless I was strapped down and kitted with a pair of dorky headphones before I knew what I was doing. At that point, I remembered everything I wanted to do with my life. I haven’t been to Venice or Paris or New York yet. I remembered how I hadn’t even phoned my mother to tell her I loved her that day. And then the ground beneath the plane began to slip away and soon we were in the air.
While Braam and his instructor fiddled with some knobs and levers, I looked out the window to see the trees shrink. Just as I began to feel comfortable in the air, we descended. After the rocky landing (he’s only learning afterall), I let out the breath I was holding only to ascend again. We did that a couple of times, and soon it got pretty old. Braam assured me that circuits were irritating but next time (yeah right) I’d have more fun.
Eventually we landed, and stayed there. Like a true lady, I pulled myself together and gracefully slid out the plane. On the outside, I was thrilled. Inwardly, I was happy to have all my limbs.
So I hope you’re all happy. I almost died.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Macs are for big people. I don’t wanna be big yet...
Maybe when I grow up, I will own a Mac. One of those sexy ones that has the machine built into its screen, with the paper-thin keyboard and fancy mouse. The Mac is pretty enough to almost entice me into buying it last year before coming to university. My mom and I had decided that it would be an investment for a student journalist.
With that in mind I found myself trying to be responsible. I took into account how Macs don’t have viruses (so I’ve been told). Why that is, I have no idea (maybe “Apple-Lovers” are just happy people). Whereas Pc users tend to have a love-hate relationship with Microsoft, Apple has a love-love relationship. And besides the lack of pesky Trojan horses, Mac powers up really fast (really, really fast) and in seconds, Photoshop can open and you’ll be ready to meet your deadline.
Despite all the small perks, I think considering to buy a Mac can be compared to considering joining a cult. Was I ready to give my life over to efficiency and productivity? Where’s the excitement in that? Most importantly, was I ready to give my wallet over to the cult?
As reliable as a Mac is, without a salary or a hefty inheritance, its a financial burden.
The keyboard alone costs between R500 and R1000, and because Mac’s piracy protection is iron-clad, you’ll be forking out thousands for programs. Yes, piracy is wrong, but I’d rather skip finding a way to pirate because I can’t afford to use my computer. Of course it will be different when I decide to grow up and marry rich. Then I could afford both a pc and a Mac.
Why both pc and Mac? Because I don’t think its fair asking someone to grow up enough to stop playing games. No one should be doomed to an existence where they struggle to find a Mac-friendly version of a game they’ve been anticipating. This I refuse to budge on.
On the other hand, I’d be happy knowing that I work on a machine that was built with my work in mind. But right now, I have a student’s budget; I’ll settle for a machine that entertains and provides space to work. It might take longer to finish the work, but that’s a small price to pay. People should back up and format their computers regularly anyway, which takes care of the virus issue. So until I’m ready, I won’t allow myself to give in to the siren song of Mac.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Everyone's business-smoking
Smoking has been seen as a lifestyle in our daily basis but the fact is it has a very big effect on someone’s health. It may not be the problem for too long you do it but finally there will be a problem. Yes smoking is a right for someone who is 18 years and above and if you are doing so you can simple tell yourself that it’s your own business but only to find is that it’s everyone’s business. As we all know that rights goes together with responsibilities, someone has to smoke at the right place and out of ten people who are smoking only three of them smoke in the right places and according to StatsSA someone who is not smoking has a big chance of being affected by smoking. Someone can argue that smoking has such a very big role in our economy but the thing is the money that is generated by economy by producing cigarettes is also used by the department of health to cure those people who have diseases because of smoking.
The Cast(er) Away.
Nicholas Tatham
Caster, Caster, Caster. I am very sure that everyone has heard more than enough about this whole issue and I couldn’t agree more. But yesterday I was browsing through the Times website and I came across a Zapirio comic, that for me summed up the whole issue. He showed in the comic that the people in charge of the whole issue seemed to look at Semenya not as a human but as something without feelings or anything else. Athletics South Africa looked at the whole issue from their perspective and nothing else because they saw a gold medal opportunity and nothing else. I am sure that they were fully aware of the consequences that were going to arise from the whole issue yet they still didn’t take that into consideration and went ahead with allowing her to compete. The reaction from the IAAF and the ‘western society’ was also outrageous. I couldn’t believe their reaction to the whole issue and they seemed to show a complete disregard for the competitor herself and for how she might react to the whole issue. And then finally I actually wasn’t that surprised actually when Julias Malema got his dirty nose involved and made the despicable comment that the word ‘hermaphrodite’ doesn’t exist in his native tongue so therefore the condition doesn’t exist! Throughout this whole issue no one seems to realise that a career has been destroyed even before it started, a bright young star is unable to compete. People should have realised this a long time ago and actually let her know before she had a taste of professional competition.
Yours in Sport
Tucky
Link:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/article39508.ece
Tweet:
Let’s put it to bed, Caster you still a hero in our eyes!
Caster, Caster, Caster. I am very sure that everyone has heard more than enough about this whole issue and I couldn’t agree more. But yesterday I was browsing through the Times website and I came across a Zapirio comic, that for me summed up the whole issue. He showed in the comic that the people in charge of the whole issue seemed to look at Semenya not as a human but as something without feelings or anything else. Athletics South Africa looked at the whole issue from their perspective and nothing else because they saw a gold medal opportunity and nothing else. I am sure that they were fully aware of the consequences that were going to arise from the whole issue yet they still didn’t take that into consideration and went ahead with allowing her to compete. The reaction from the IAAF and the ‘western society’ was also outrageous. I couldn’t believe their reaction to the whole issue and they seemed to show a complete disregard for the competitor herself and for how she might react to the whole issue. And then finally I actually wasn’t that surprised actually when Julias Malema got his dirty nose involved and made the despicable comment that the word ‘hermaphrodite’ doesn’t exist in his native tongue so therefore the condition doesn’t exist! Throughout this whole issue no one seems to realise that a career has been destroyed even before it started, a bright young star is unable to compete. People should have realised this a long time ago and actually let her know before she had a taste of professional competition.
Yours in Sport
Tucky
Link:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/article39508.ece
Tweet:
Let’s put it to bed, Caster you still a hero in our eyes!
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Controversy!
Nicholas Tatham
Good Morning Sports Fans
What a weekend! There was so much on the go I really didn't know were to starts. But I think I picked the most controversial sporting moment of the weekend. Liverpool versus Sunderland from the Stadium of Light. Five minutes into the game, the in form Sunderland sriker Darren Bent found his seemingly harmless deflection ricochet off A BEACHBALL and find it's way into the back of the net! Reading Supersports take on it this morning, referee Mike Jones has been slandered by former referees for allowing the goal to stand. I feel that he should not be the only one that is taking the flack - there are 3 other officials that saw the incident and could have intervened. The Daily Telegraph have also reflected on how shocking the decision was but have snubbed out rumours that the game will be replayed and they too feel that although the goal should have been disallowed the score will stand.
Now that it is my blog I can say what I want! I completely agree with this and the goal should stand. It is not like Darren Bent thought to himself that the beachball would be a great help to him and made a conscious effort to use it as an obstacle for Pepe Reina! It is still early in the season and if Liverpool are the top quality side that they claim they are then this should just be a minor glitch although it has resulted in their third successive defeat in the league.
Yours in Sport
Tucky
Links:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/article156438.ece
http://www.supersport.com/football/article.aspx?id=320052&headline=Ref%20slammed%20for%20allowing%20beach-ball%20goal
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6371884/Beach-ball-match-will-not-be-replayed-while-referee-Mike-Jones-faces-axe.html
Tweet:
I couldnt be happier seeing Liverpool on the recieving end of a little bad luck. Dry your eyes!
Good Morning Sports Fans
What a weekend! There was so much on the go I really didn't know were to starts. But I think I picked the most controversial sporting moment of the weekend. Liverpool versus Sunderland from the Stadium of Light. Five minutes into the game, the in form Sunderland sriker Darren Bent found his seemingly harmless deflection ricochet off A BEACHBALL and find it's way into the back of the net! Reading Supersports take on it this morning, referee Mike Jones has been slandered by former referees for allowing the goal to stand. I feel that he should not be the only one that is taking the flack - there are 3 other officials that saw the incident and could have intervened. The Daily Telegraph have also reflected on how shocking the decision was but have snubbed out rumours that the game will be replayed and they too feel that although the goal should have been disallowed the score will stand.
Now that it is my blog I can say what I want! I completely agree with this and the goal should stand. It is not like Darren Bent thought to himself that the beachball would be a great help to him and made a conscious effort to use it as an obstacle for Pepe Reina! It is still early in the season and if Liverpool are the top quality side that they claim they are then this should just be a minor glitch although it has resulted in their third successive defeat in the league.
Yours in Sport
Tucky
Links:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/article156438.ece
http://www.supersport.com/football/article.aspx?id=320052&headline=Ref%20slammed%20for%20allowing%20beach-ball%20goal
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6371884/Beach-ball-match-will-not-be-replayed-while-referee-Mike-Jones-faces-axe.html
Tweet:
I couldnt be happier seeing Liverpool on the recieving end of a little bad luck. Dry your eyes!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Really?
You know we all have those celebrities that we’ll stick by. Even when their cd’s stop selling and their hoo-ha’s are all over the tabloids? Its the kind of loyalty that only an epic song, amazing television series or great red-carpet moments can buy. Such is my loyalty to Kristen Bell, the pretty blonde with the killer one-liners in Veronica Mars.
But, to my horror I saw an article on News24 called “Bell Disappointed in Aus Trip”. The article spoke about how Kristen Bell arrived at Sydney airport and expected to be greeted and hugged by kangaroos. Really? I’m pretty sure Kristen was joking, or was at least only half serious (as you sometimes are).
Despite the pretty quotation marks, I somehow don’t trust the objectivity of this news article. Firstly, they describe her as “the 29-year-old blonde”. Surely there are better words to describe Bell. Maybe the 29-year-old actress? Star? Beauty?
But somehow, they chose the word “blonde”. Does that not reinforce stereotypes of blondes being stupid? Not only did the article violate the “thou shalt not stereotype” commandment of journalism, but it also gives the “thou shalt proofread thy article” a good dose of disrespect. Example: “Bell...said the gaps in her marsupial knowledge were cleared up a trip to Sydney’s zoo”. Can something really be cleared up a trip? Then again, I might be wrong. Maybe we only learn that in second year.
Another thing, I found no other sources online of Kristen saying anything of the sort. Surely it would have made more news than one article?
Whether or not Kristen actually thought that kangaroos would hug her at the airport, she’s still on my list. I still believe you’re awesome Kristen.
Anyway, give the article (and the actress’ silly moment) a good chuckle.
Nice chatting, peace.
http://www.news24.com/Content/Entertainment/CelebNews/1048/21e4889d1eef4b46bd60011933a6a5f5/15-10-2009-07-10/Bell_disappointed_on_Aus_trip
But, to my horror I saw an article on News24 called “Bell Disappointed in Aus Trip”. The article spoke about how Kristen Bell arrived at Sydney airport and expected to be greeted and hugged by kangaroos. Really? I’m pretty sure Kristen was joking, or was at least only half serious (as you sometimes are).
Despite the pretty quotation marks, I somehow don’t trust the objectivity of this news article. Firstly, they describe her as “the 29-year-old blonde”. Surely there are better words to describe Bell. Maybe the 29-year-old actress? Star? Beauty?
But somehow, they chose the word “blonde”. Does that not reinforce stereotypes of blondes being stupid? Not only did the article violate the “thou shalt not stereotype” commandment of journalism, but it also gives the “thou shalt proofread thy article” a good dose of disrespect. Example: “Bell...said the gaps in her marsupial knowledge were cleared up a trip to Sydney’s zoo”. Can something really be cleared up a trip? Then again, I might be wrong. Maybe we only learn that in second year.
Another thing, I found no other sources online of Kristen saying anything of the sort. Surely it would have made more news than one article?
Whether or not Kristen actually thought that kangaroos would hug her at the airport, she’s still on my list. I still believe you’re awesome Kristen.
Anyway, give the article (and the actress’ silly moment) a good chuckle.
Nice chatting, peace.
http://www.news24.com/Content/Entertainment/CelebNews/1048/21e4889d1eef4b46bd60011933a6a5f5/15-10-2009-07-10/Bell_disappointed_on_Aus_trip
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Malema’s disrespectfulness, ooogghh!
Sinikiwe Mqadi
Malema’s disrespectfulness, ooogghh!
On the The Times 2009 October 14 and 15 edition, Malema was calling the leader of the IFP Mangosuthu Buthelezi a ‘factory fault’ because his political party was involved in violence between 1980s and 1990s. I don’t understand why he keeps on telling South Africans about what was happening in the past; we can read history books if we are interested. Whether Buthelezi’s party did that or not we are not interested this is a new South Africa. What I can tell Malema is that native Africans respect their elders.
The Times April 2009, Malema said the former President Thabo Mbeki is a bad example to South Africans. Out of everything that Mbeki did for South Africans and Africans then that’s how the ANC appreciates him, I don’t understand why ANC leaders don’t discipline Malema for his disrespectfulness.
On SABC news 2009 May 1, Malema called Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille a racist girl in celebrations of workers’ day in Shabalala stadium in the north of Durban. Just imagine he was talking rubbish to workers, people who have minds and they are professional and above that all he is getting paid by tax payers’ money (workers), but he was spoon-feeding them with insults terms.
I wonder what lesson he is trying to emphasise to South African youth. Instead of making the lives of South African Youth better he is talking rubbish. I don’t understand the whole point of Malema’s speeches. He must always remember that ‘Umuntu Umuntu ngabantu.’
Friday, October 9, 2009
There's Hope Afterall
Dude! I just recieved the best news I've had all week (besides finding a new series starring Mischa Barton. She is beautiful, I don't care what you say. You know who you are.). Okay well, let me start at the beginning.
If you look at the photograph I posted of the ROAR members marching, you'd know that this week was animal anti-cruelty week at Rhodes University. And with that, they had a photo-expo up at one of our lecture venues, Eden Grove. See, I'm the kind of person who, as an animal lover, refuses to be ignorant to what these people have to say (plus I tend to be a little self-destructive). Naturally I looked at the photographs of horrible things that people do to animals. Among many of the things, I feel most strongly about animal testing. And so the photographs of the terrible experiments they do on animals had the biggest affect on me. Thing is, it kills me to think that one of my animals might ever be abused like that (the picture above is my baby Aliaah). Essentially, the only thing separating your bunny Mr.Sparkles and test subject 30042 is...luck. If you have a pet, or have ever loved an animal, you should care that when you buy certain products, you are supporting companies which torture animals so that they can have bigger profits.
But before you declare the world a dark place and retreat to a badly lit room and an eternity of Dashboard Confessional and Death Cab for Cutie... there is hope. Certain organisations have compiled lists of compassionate companies with cruelty-free products. I recommend the PETA list, mostly cos it doesn't only have tree-hugging and completely unnknown brands. Its the brands you know, the ones you love. So the main reason I am so elated, is because I found out that my favourite cosmetics brand, Clinique, is on Peta's list of compassionate companies. This is definately a victory for women all over the world that care.
Here is the linky: http://search.caringconsumer.com/search_list_icons.aspx?Donottest=-1&Product=Sub_93&Dotest=-1.
Now you have something to be excited about too. Anyway, how was your week?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Show Some Skin, in the Good Way
Rhodes University's animal rights organisation, ROAR, held a protest march on the 5th of October against fur and leather as a part of their animal rights awareness week at the university.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Cricket: It gives me grey hairs!
Evening all
Now as I have learnt in this terms studies of Blogs and so on, that this is a space were I can voice my opinions and if you feel comfortable enough you can voice yours back. So here goes as I take the baby steps into what could be an elustrious career as a 'blogger'.
Firstly I would just like to say congratulations to Australia for their wictory last night over the Kiwis in the Champions Trophy and I feel that they were the deserved winners. As for us South Africans we were sent tails between our legs scampering out of their before the semi-finals. As an avid fan reason number 1 that I came up with for our poor performance was that we had a side that was completely underdone before the tournament even started. You can't expect to go into a tournament like that prepared by playing one warm up game against a mediocre West Indies side. Reason 2 is that we were far too predictable in our matches. All the sides knew what our game plan was going to be because it worked against Australia and they played to counter that, so across the cricketing world they all knew what to expect from us. The last reason that I could think of was our lack of big match players - but more importantly players who could take responsibility in those crucial must win situations. Grame Smith was the only player who stood up against it when we needed someone to pull us through and no one was there with him!
South african cricket is arguably the strongest in the world so I feel that people must stop taking such a negative attitude towards this failure but instead look at how we can learn and improve and ultimately become that force that we know we can be!!!
Yours in Sport
Tucky
Now as I have learnt in this terms studies of Blogs and so on, that this is a space were I can voice my opinions and if you feel comfortable enough you can voice yours back. So here goes as I take the baby steps into what could be an elustrious career as a 'blogger'.
Firstly I would just like to say congratulations to Australia for their wictory last night over the Kiwis in the Champions Trophy and I feel that they were the deserved winners. As for us South Africans we were sent tails between our legs scampering out of their before the semi-finals. As an avid fan reason number 1 that I came up with for our poor performance was that we had a side that was completely underdone before the tournament even started. You can't expect to go into a tournament like that prepared by playing one warm up game against a mediocre West Indies side. Reason 2 is that we were far too predictable in our matches. All the sides knew what our game plan was going to be because it worked against Australia and they played to counter that, so across the cricketing world they all knew what to expect from us. The last reason that I could think of was our lack of big match players - but more importantly players who could take responsibility in those crucial must win situations. Grame Smith was the only player who stood up against it when we needed someone to pull us through and no one was there with him!
South african cricket is arguably the strongest in the world so I feel that people must stop taking such a negative attitude towards this failure but instead look at how we can learn and improve and ultimately become that force that we know we can be!!!
Yours in Sport
Tucky
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