Lies, Deceit and Sportsmanship

I've never been wholly competitive. Since I've been old enough to appreciate it, I've always been a gracious loser. My main aim in playing sport is to enjoy it whatever the result. I am the protagonist of the phrase, "It's the taking part that counts". At the level of sport I play at, there is no point in getting over competitive. The result of the match does not decide your level of pay for the next week. The result of the match does not decide whether you keep your job or not. It is not life or death. It is sport. And it is better and more fun, with a smile across your face, whether winning or losing. (Time to go to sleep, Billie).

Cricket is a sport that SHOULD encapsulate the above paragraph. How can you get over competitive on a cricket pitch? I don't see how you can. How can there be scuffles and confrontations on a cricket pitch? I don't really understand how it happens at international level, where the players are being paid for it, but in the Bedfordshire League? It shouldn't happen.

I've just had a dicussion with another fellow on whether you should, "walk", when playing cricket. The act of "walking" is practically giving yourself out. Knowing that you've edged a ball to the wicket keeper or close fielder, and acknowledging that fact, and walking off before the umpire has made his mind up. The last couple of seasons, I have tried to make a habit of doing it. (Walking, that is. Not getting myself out on purpose!) As most cricketing-acquaintances know, I edge the ball an amazing amount of times. I've even got my own shot, The Mitten Cut, which is the edging of a ball through the slip cordon for 4. However, sometimes I don't get it right, (Yeah, like I mean to play it on purpose!), and I nick it through to the keeper. I've done it lots of times, and I can only think of one time where I stood still and didn't walk, and I felt a bit guilty for it. Ever since then, I always do. Some people think I'm stupid, but I don't think so.

It is called 'The Spirit of Cricket' and on a Sunday afternoon, where your international future is most definitely not at stake, I feel more people can do more to capture the real meaning of the game. I take 2 things into account when "walking". 1) If I were the bowler, and I knew that the batsman had nicked it, I wouldn't be too cheery. You've already got him out, why are you still bowling to him? And 2) If I went on to make 50 or 100, knowing I should of been out when I was on 10, I'd feel like I've cheated myself. Like I didn't deserve it. And where's the fun in that? Your opponents hate you, and you feel like an idiot. I "walked" today. I glanced one down the leg side, saw the keeper take a fantastic catch, and despite only the bowler appealing, I knew I'd hit it, so went on my way. I got a "well done" from a few players for being a good sportsman, and everyone was happy. Ok, I was a bit annoyed for getting out for 13, but at the drinks break, their captain and the keeper came up to me and shook my hand for being a good sport and I felt good about myself. The atmosphere was cheery and it made the whole occasion just that little more happy. Exactly how it should be.

Also, I was umpiring later in the day, and the bowler wasn't happy with one of my LBW decisions. He seemed to think it was out, but I disagreed saying it was too high. It was my honest opinion, and despite the bowler not being happy, everyone knew I wasn't a cheat because of what I had done earlier, and it calmed down instantly. If I had given that not out, and had not walked earlier, I'd of been disliked. And who wants to be disliked? It makes the game a bit ... sour, and to spend the whole day in an atmosphere where you're disliked is my idea of Hell.

I base my life around being a popular person and to be a person who is a laugh to be around and doesn't get angry at everything. A person who always keeps a level head around others. And I think I take that on to any sports field.

I think that's why I have taken a dislike to football in recent years. Football is the opposite end of the spectrum to cricket. High octane, competitive, very zealous and it's just not my idea of fun anymore. I hate being confrontational and getting into arguments with players over something that really isn't worth the hassle. Again, we play every game on a hard, bumpy park pitch somewhere. Why does everyone feel that winning is everything?

And another thing, lying. I made the bad mistake of lying to a friend last year, (I think), over money and ended up spending that on alcohol. I paid the price and learnt the hard way, and since then I have made an effort to just be honest and up-front, even if it is a daunting prospect at the time. On Saturday morning, (it is Monday now after all), I got a text from a player who was supposed to be playing, saying his Grandad was seriously ill, and he couldn't play. My thinking was, "Obviously, family first. That's fine." I wished him well, and worked to find a late replacement. Today, I found out he went off to play for another team and completely lied. To lie in the first place was bad enough, but I'm not sure if many people would stoop so low as to use the excuse he did, and that annoyed me somewhat. I don't understand why people do it. I honestly wouldn't mind if he rang, 15 minutes before the start, and said, "Look mate, I'm stupidly hungover, (this guy wasn't), I don't fancy it and I'm just gonna feel worse, sorry". I wouldn't mind. It would be frustrating, but at least he was honest. Honesty really is the best policy.

And, after learning this lesson with one of my best friends and in my first ever job, I have realised that lying gets you nowhere. Liars always get found out, and it's good practice to take the honesty policy on to any sports pitch, because it will only help you out when your job really is on the line.