Andrew Symonds Monkey Controversy - Racial?
Andrew Symonds was he called monkey by Harbhajan?
Andrew Symonds says yes he was called, whereas Harbhajan denies.
Inconclusive, since except Andrew Symonds no one knows that. Neutral.
What evidence is there regarding the abuse?
Sure, the video shows them (Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh) having a friendly chat, and there was no anger on Andrew Symond’s face. The video is the only evidence as nobody could have heard the personal friendly discussion they were having. Sachin Tendulkar denies it while Matthew Hayden says he heard it. So, it’s one’s word against another. So no evidence. Neutral.
Is monkey a racial abuse?
Mostly, No! Well it matter about what we think about our forefathers - monkeys. I think here we would need a dictionary of racist words since a lot of words are confusing. Is Gay a racist word? What is racist? Is bastard (uttered by Brad Hogg for the Captain Anil Kumble) racist? Well, one thing is certain. Monkey may be abusive to some extent, but ranks way below Bastard and F***er. Thumbs Down.
Is there a resemblance between Andrew Symonds and Hanuman - the monkey God?
Hanuman is the monkey God, and the paint on the face of Andrew Symonds 
strikingly resembles the way Indians drew their God. And that said, the image that comes to every Indian’s mind on seeing these images is the same. You check out these images yourself and decide. So, it is same as calling Inzamam an “Aloo” potato, or Harbhajan a “Turbanator” - hats off to Inzamam and Harbhajan since they grin and bear it! 
Thumbs Up.
Is the punishment justified?
Well, since there is no evidence of an abuse, and there is a debate on the word being a racial abuse, a maximum of verbal reprimand or a 10% match fees is the maximum they could have gone just to send a strong message. Racial abuse is a strong charge, and surely different from abuse, and cannot be made without strong evidence. Thumbs Down.
Are the issues (of bad umpiring decisions and racial abuse charge) linked?
Well they are getting linked by media and the crowds. A lot of people see it as a attention diverting tactic which is expected to move the focus from the bad umpiring to the racial abuse event, at least temporarily till the hurt of being cheated settles down. Bad tactic. Thumbs Down.
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June 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
New UK Cricket Rules and Regulations - June 2008
Any Cricket Players / Supporters check this…
Just been reading the new cricket regulations that come out, one new regulation in particular that stands out to me, stating the English cricket board are basically putting a cap on UK twenty20 players earnings per game and within season???… u think this is right??? I don’t!… wont this just encourage cricket players to play outside the UK? out the way of an out of touch and outdated English cricket Board?? Twenty20 Cricket is a new style of game which has taken the cricketing world by storm. It is a whole new ball game, an enhancement of the one day game to make the game fast, furious and instant. It has had the effect of brining a new audience to the sport. It is full of action and appealing to the younger crowd. The purists of the game don’t like it, but if it brings large crowds in to watch cricket, it has to be good for the game! Paying cricket players large salaries is needed to fit cricket into a modern era of sport. co. along siding the success of UK football. Reflecting on footballers wages, why cant cricket players get paid the same to via twenty20?? It Seems to me the ecb are scared of this change in cricket hense these new regulations.
There are some other new regulations that also seem a little odd to me?… check um out for yourself… Quite an interesting read some of these new cricket rules!.. Click on the Website link below for full listings of all the new Cricket Regulations…
http://www.rulescricket.co.uk
June 21st, 2008 at 5:43 am
You surely have a point Nicholas. Regulating the earning is not the key. The centrestage anyway has moved from players to franchisees and sponsors. However, players do gain since now the payment is as per performance, and they have to leave the security of their national team where something called “reputation” was also part of the security package.
It’s going to be exciting, though nostalgically we may miss the inter country challenges in times to come.