Aussies Being too Broad-Minded?

In the long stretch of time leading up to this Ashes series—two entire months—it has been apparent that one of Australia’s tactics was to get inside Stuart Broad’s head, and use his now-infamous “not walking” episode from the previous Ashes series as a point of attack. A way to get under his skin. They felt his fiery temper was a weak spot where they could get to him and lessen his effectiveness.

                       

This told me a couple of things. First of all, it said to me that the Australians feared the impact of Stuart Broad as a bowler. Secondly, it told me that they really didn’t think very hard about it.

Had they perhaps thought about it a bit harder, they would have realized that attacking him and calling him a cheat, among other things, would actually serve to, more than anything else, inspire him. I think that sort of thing is meat and drink to a player like Broad, and has inspired many others in the past. Events of day one in Brisbane showed the folly of the tactic; it really backfired. Broad slashed through the Aussie top order, ending up with five wickets on the first day. Of course, there was every possibility this tactic might work. It has in the past. Sledging has long been a part of the Aussie arsenal (and by stating that I am not saying it’s bad). The Aussies just made a couple of mistakes in implementing this strategy. First, they picked the wrong player. Maybe they should have gone after Joe Root or Michael Carberry, as the members of the England side with the least amount of international experience. Second, they assumed that they are still a good enough team to capitalize on it should the tactic work. This Australian team is pretty good, but it is nowhere near the quality of past teams. Even an Australia Ashes victory wouldn’t change that fact.

So for day two, maybe the Aussies should be less fiery and “creative,” and take more of a lead from Brad Haddin, the only batsman who stood tall as the rest of the team fell in ruins.

Ashes to Ashes, or Do I Smell Something Burning?

Well, my American friends, it’s almost Ashes time again! It seems like it’s only been a few months since … oh … wait.

Anyway, for the next few weeks, you are likely to see my blog, Twitter, and Facebook blowing up with news from “The Ashes,” and I realize that when I say “The Ashes” is almost here, you are probably wondering what I’ve been burning. But “The Ashes” has nothing to do with burning. Well, it does, sort of, but …. Well …. Um …. So I guess I ought to take a brief moment to explain “The Ashes” to any Americans (or others) not sure what talk of cricket and Ashes is all about.

                                    

The Ashes is the name of an ongoing cricket series between England and Australia. It is what is called a Test series (that means it is the longest form of the game—five days per match—played between countries that are full top-tier members of the International Cricket Council). The Ashes is like the Superbowl or World Series, except every two years instead of every year, and always between these same two countries.

It all started back in 1882, when a team from Australia defeated England in a cricket for the ever on English soil. A newspaper article took aim at the debacle with an obituary for English cricket, stating that “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” During a return visit by England to Australia in 1882-83, the effort to win was called an attempt to “regain the ashes” of English cricket. During their trip to Australia, the English team was presented with a small urn with what is supposedly the ashes of a burned wooden bail—little pieces that go on top of the stumps (those sticks stuck in the ground behind the batsman).

Traditionally, this series is played every couple of years. So, since the last series wrapped up just about two months ago, then it’s time for the next Ashes series. HAH! Confused again? Well, this quick turnaround is thanks to the crazy scheduling rampant in international cricket.

I personally blame Barack Obama. Thanks, Obama!

If you want to learn more, you can check the Wikipedia entry here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes

38 Not Out, or Sachin's Last Stand

As of the time of this writing, Sachin Tendulkar is 38 not out. By the time I am finished and it is posted, he may be out, or he may have a century.

Neither one of those possibilities would matter in the least to what I have to say on the subject of Sachin's retirement after this match.

Many more knowledgable and respected writers than I (or, is that me?) have written on the legend and phenomenon that is Sachin Tendulkar. His career and impact have been dissected ad nauseum. So I will make my little contribution the discussion rather short.

As I said above, what he does in this final Test match matters very little to me, although it seems like the world is willing him to make one final century. But, what if he falls short? What if he is out on, say, 38? Will it make us respect him more? Detract from his accomplishments? Make him any any less Sachin? Did Bradman's final innings duck make him any less a legend and hero?

To me Sachin's final appearance is a bit of an anti-climax. Because his impact is above one innings. He has defied the gravity of the cricketing universe, much as Michael Jordan did with the NBA. Jordan has famously said he failed more than he succeeded...missed many more shots that he made. Sachin has failed many times and may fail when he strides out again in this final match. But the impact will still be there. The records. The inspiration to more than one generation of fans. The impact on other cricketers.

In fact, it might be fitting if Sachin either does fail, or perhaps retires when he gets to his century and strides off into the sunset, head held high. Because, althugh in one sense he has eclipsed the game of cricket, really he is not bigger than cricket. What a fitting tribute to the sport he has loved and done so much for if, after elegantly cover-driving his way to a century, he lifts his helmet and retires not out.

But even if he is out first ball on this new day, in my mind he will still be retiring not out.

Because among all the other accomplishments and strengths, the one which has my utmost respect is this: He is a sportsman and a gentleman who always has—for me, at least—epitomized the spirit of cricket. In this day and age, that says something.

In fact, if he had accomplished half of what he has, I'd still respect and honor him because of that.

Regardless of stats, we need more like him.

We Suck Sometimes

One of those "not about cricket" posts I promised.

I love my dog. That sounds like a silly, maybe even redneck thing to say. But I do. I love her like a family member. Which is the way it should be.

And yet I daily read articles, Facebook posts, blogs, and tweets about animals being mistreated, abandoned, abused, euthanized, and given up at high kill shelters for various reasons. My Friday started off with tears as I read one such story about a dog in Arizona. Only a year and a half old, the poor boy was given up by his owners because they found themselves without room for him. It was a high-kill shelter; within two days he was dead. Dead. Killed in a violent world for no other reason than convenience.

Here is a photo of our beloved Star Morgan.

If she looks a little unfamiliar, it’s because she is a Carolina Dog. Carolina Dogs are actually the only dog breed known to be indigenous to the United States—they weren’t brought here from Europe. They are in fact still running wild, mostly in the southeastern United States. She has many behaviors that are unlike other breeds. You can Google that for yourself. She has been my friend and companion for seven of her 11 years on this Earth and I owe her more could ever possibly be repaid with a couple of meals per day, some treats, and a walk every night. She is a member of our family. My wife and little girl feel the same.

When she was spooked by fireworks last year, got over our five-foot fence, and was gone for a week, we were panicked. We searched for her every day, everywhere we could think of. When we got her back, it was such a relief to all of us. I even wrote a message to deliver at my Friends (Quaker) Meeting (church) about it. I will share that as a post sometime, perhaps.

So when I read this morning that this dog in Arizona had been euthanized, it struck me, as such stories always do, hard. I railed in my mind, I cursed, a cried a bit.

Before you get all upset and comment that “they’re just animals, they don’t know what family is and can’t have feelings or know what is happening,” let me say this: I know that dogs (and cats) are just animals. But they do know what family is, and they do have feelings. Anyone who has ever had a dog or cat for an extended period of time knows this. And they know about “family.” My experience is with dogs, so I will talk about them. Dogs are pack animals; they function best in a setting where there are others around, depending on the dog and that the dog depends on. I believe they also can feel … maybe not love quite as we know it exactly but very similar. I know because I’ve seen it in action, and felt it personally.

So then why do people think it’s OK to take a dog to a high kill shelter? They are suddenly bereft of the pack that gives their life its meaning and its context. They are in a strange world of scary noises and the smell of death, and soon they, too, will probably be dead. Can you imagine feeling that way yourself? You might very well say that sometimes sacrifices need to be made. When it comes down to survival, the choice between the family pet and being able to eat or have a roof over your head must be made. But why is the death sentence of a living, loving being part of the equation at all? What if the dog had a vote, and chose YOU to be the one to go to death row?

The next time you or someone you know is getting rid of a dog or cat, do NOT take it to a shelter that kills animals. And if you do, check back on it daily and make sure it doesn’t get into the schedule for being euthanized. Google. Talk to friends. Talk to the shelter. Find out where the area rescue groups are. If you can’t find one locally, expand your search. There are many groups out there (and even if it is a breed-specific group, your dog doesn’t have to be pure-bred for most of them to take them in). It may wind up costing you some gas money and time. But isn’t a life worth that? Even if it is “just a dog (or cat)?”

Please, spare a thought for an animal today. Go to your shelter and adopt a dog or cat (make sure they are spayed or neutered, by the way). Donate. Volunteer. Lobby your local government to make your local shelter a “no-kill” shelter. Please. Do it today.

Knowingly dooming a life that has the intelligence level of a five-year-old human just isn’t cricket.

Return of the Jedi, or, where the heck have you been?

I’ve not been on this blog for some time. There have been several reasons for my neglect, none of which has anything to do with my love for cricket, or my desire for Americans to learn about and support cricket.

First of all, my reasoning has been, with so many excellent writers and exponents of the sport already blogging, what can I have to offer? What is different, more insightful, or more entertaining about me than, say, the most excellent Limited Overs (to name but one example).

Second, I have a little girl who is now five and the apple of my eye, as the saying goes. She and my wife come before all else.

Third, I am a Quaker and at the present time happen to be the clerk of my Monthly Meeting. I won’t explain too much about that right now—maybe I will talk about this in a later post. Meanwhile, you can Google “Quakers” or “Society of Friends” and “Monthly Meeting Clerk” if you want to know what that entails.

Finally, as a writer I need something to kick me in the pants and get me to pour something out. I cannot sit for “X” number of minutes or hours a day and write. Whatever is going to eventually come out of me has to percolate inside until it is ready. This is how most of my writing goes. The pieces in my collection of short stories, “Dry Fly Gospel,” were all that way, as were the short stories in my upcoming juvenile mystery collection, “Camille Miles, Private Eye.” So, even though I have still be listening, watching, reading, and thinking about cricket, there was nothing much poking at the sides of my head, trying to get out—at least related to cricket.

I am here today writing again because some things have been poking at the sides of my head, trying to get out. There are some cricket-related things, but there are many other topics as well. So I have decided that I will resume a somewhat normal blogging schedule, but with a difference: While this blog will still be entitled, “American ArmChair Cricketer,” because that’s what I am, the sole topic will not be cricket. I will also write about other things that are rattling my cage at the time. That could be fly fishing, books, music, kids, Quakers, dogs, the suckiness of humanity, or whatever. But cricket will still figure predominantly in the mix.

So, with all of that said, my next post will probably be a combination of the topics of dogs and the general suckiness of humanity, because that is what is grinding my gears today. Other upcoming topics will be thoughts on the Ashes series, US cricket, Quakers and cricket, and much more. Stay tuned!

Harrison Named CEO of American Cricket Federation

There was a big announcement today in the world of cricket in the United States. Jamie Harrison, the President of the United States Youth Cricket Association, was named Chief Executive Officer of the American Cricket Federation.

This is a big announcement because the ACF has come together to try and move US cricket ahead, apart from the bungling national governing body which is officially recognized by the ICC. Harrison could really lead this group, and American cricket, somewhere good. He has a track record of success with the USYCA, and, although I do not know him personally, from my observations he is passionate about cricket and is well organized.

Below is the press release announcing the move.

Good luck, Jamie!

American Cricket Federation Media Release

The Steering Committee of the American Cricket Federation (ACF) is delighted to announce today the selection of Jamie L. Harrison as its first Chief Executive Officer.

“This is a momentous step in ACF’s short history,” commented Professor Gangaram Singh on behalf of the ACF Steering Committee, “not only as it fulfills a pressing need, but it does so with a candidate of exemplary qualification for the future of American cricket.”

Singh said, “The ACF have laid a solid foundation of vision and principle, enshrined in its Constitution, by the enormously hard work of the many volunteers dedicated to the belief that American cricket deserves an altruistic national management that represents all U.S. cricket stakeholders. Such is the steadily growing support for these ideals in the nation, the need to focus operations has become rapidly paramount.”

“Given Jamie’s selfless track record as a home-grown American dedicated to the development of U.S. cricket, we have every confidence that he will bring an exciting new dimension to ACF’s future progress,” said Singh.

Harrison's innumerable achievements with United States Youth Cricket Association (USYCA) and the Maryland Youth Cricket Association, which he also founded, have brought him well-deserved recognition from the American cricket community.

In December of 2011, Harrison became the first recipient of the Shekhar Aravind Award for Spirit of Cricket, announced by DreamCricket.com. In March of 2012 he was honored by the C.C. Morris Cricket Library Association with the prestigious Comfort Award, given to individuals whose activities, both on and off the field of play, represent the highest levels of sportsmanship and personal character long associated with the sport of cricket. Later that year, Harrison was inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame in Hartford, Connecticut. In 2011, the International Cricket Council's Americas Region named USYCA as the "Best Junior Participation Initiative" for 2010.

Harrison will continue to serve as the president of the USYCA, an organization he helped to found in 2010. USYCA has donated over 1,500 cricket sets to American schools and, in cooperation with local youth programs, has now begun funding the construction of dedicated youth pitches.

Harrison said, “I cannot express how honored and humbled I am to have been entrusted with this important position by the leadership of the American Cricket Federation, especially at this critical moment for American cricket’s public opinion.”

“I have long been impressed with the spirit of altruism and transparency with which the ACF has conducted itself, and am equally impressed with the collection of gifted administrators who have come together under its banner. Such a gathering of talent gives me great confidence, as I know that my colleagues at ACF are more than prepared for the challenges ahead of us, and I eagerly look forward to working with them to meet those challenges,” said Harrison. 

Projection Screens, CEDIA, and…Cricket?

I don't talk a lot about my "day" job when I get around to writing posts for this blog. But today I'm making an exception.

To pay the bills, I work as a technical writer/media relations person for Draper, a manufacturer of projection screens; motorized lifts for projectors, cameras and other AV equipment; window shades; video conferencing solutions; and gymnasium equipment.

As part of my media relations duties, I applied for and was accepted to participate in a social media effort to promote the annual CEDIA Expo taking place in September in Denver, Colorado. CEDIA is a trade association which basically promotes the design and installation of electronic systems-mostly for the home. That is perhaps an oversimplification, but you get the idea.

As part of my role as a #CEDIATweep (yes that is what they call us), I tweet on behalf of CEDIA using one of my company's twitter handles (@DraperAV). I also write the occasional blog.

Recently I produced a blog which used cricket to talk about the need for continual innovation, and how it is there sometimes even when we don't see it. The post starts like this:

"If you ask my friends and family what I really love, probably the first thing that will pop out of their mouths is “cricket!” This will no doubt be accompanied by massive eye-rolling and head-shaking on a scale not seen since I came home from college with an earring, zipper-front Michael-Jackson-style shirt, and parachute pants.

"Because, frankly, I think and talk about it a lot. In an obsessive-compulsive kind of way. Cricket is to me like baseball is to many other people: full of action, excitement, strategy, and metaphors. Metaphors for everything: life, work, kids, and yes, even projection screens and CEDIA."

If you want to read more, follow the below link. If you have any thoughts or comments, leave them on the CEDIA-hosted blog post, rather than this blog!

The rest of the blog: http://www.cedia.net/blog/projection-screens-cedia-andcricket/#