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In Whitman’s classic poem a Captain manages to bring his ship to berth at the cost of his life. Thinking about the South African cricket team the opposite is true. The team has foundered again and again while its Captain has escaped unscathed.
The team’s performance last night against India was truly disappointing. We came in strong and committed error after error. Not taking anything away from the superb Indian team, who are playing like champions at the moment, the game was ours to lose not theirs to win.
I know the blame cannot be laid completely on Smith’s shoulders, but Smith has proven time and time again he is not up to the responsiblities of leadership.
He is barely a capable player at the moment. During the original world cup and the T20 tournament Smith has seemed incapable of posting any kind of respectable score. This is just not good enough for an opening batsman. When he bowls he might take a wicket or two but he is so expensive it becomes a real question of ‘is it worth it?’
Leadership was thrust upon too early and he has failed to live up to his promise. perhaps if he had been given time to consolidate his skills as a player without the burden of leading the team he would have developed into a world-class player. At the moment there is no reason why he should even be in the team.
It is difficult when there does not seem to be another option for Captain in the team. But that should be sorted out by the selectors. Let Smith concentrate on his cricket.
Its about time the South African team put their reputation for choking behind them. We have world class players, they just need the leadership to prove it.
Well Manto certainly has manged to stir things up in the South African media landscape. She has received very little support from the South African media. This post is not to comment on what I think of Dr Beetroot, as she’s been affectionately termed, but rather to showcase how she has been dealt with in the media.
The battle between Manto and the Sunday Times was ended with a resounding draw in which the Times were forced to hand back her medical records but were still allowed to report on her escapades in a certain Cape Town hospital.
The Times, Sunday Times new media offspring, has constructed a time-line which details their coverage of the Manto saga. This is the first stop for any new comer to the story. The time-line ends with the court order handed to the Sunday Times.
Robert Brand, media ethics lecturer, discusses issues in press freedom using the manto case as an example in his blog hosted by the Mail and Guardian website. His conclusion notes “Measured criticism of the media, based on an understanding of the fundamental importance of media freedom, is an essential part of the democratic debate. A bit more introspection in the media would not be bad thing either.”
For M&G’s own coverage of Manto visit their website and do a search for Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
Another media blog, from Andrew Trench - deputy editor of the Daily Dispatch, the paper that drew attention to problems at Frere hospital in East London – raises questions of muzzling in parliament regarding the treatment of DA MP Mike Waters. Waters was ejected from parliament after he tabled a question asking whether Health Minister Manto-Tshabalala-Msimang had been convicted of theft in Botswana and whether this had been disclosed prior to her appointment.
The Harbinger , Anton Harber’s blog, challenges the minister of health to provide evidence against theft charges in Botswana. Although this is little out of date since Mbeki aknowledged the ANC knew about the theft charges.
To wrap up, and provide a few smiles, take a look at Trashmedia’s caustic post about Manto’s ‘alleged’ drinking habits.
Footskating 101 review
I went to watch Footskating at midday on public holiday. The multiplex was packed, kids running around, long queues to get drinks and popcorn. When I sat down in the cinema it dawned on me that whatever movie everybody else had gone to see it wasn’t this one.
Vince Muldoon (Rob van Vuuren) is the son of a poor miner living in a dorp in the middle of nowhere. He harbours an ambition which burns brighter than his father’s (Andrew Buckland) hate of sport, to be a pro-skateboarder. Vince faces serious obstacles in that he is poor, and dumb, as dirt.
Vince’s father wants him to go work in the mine as the family is facing bankruptcy. Added to this are his granny’s failing lungs and an unstable mineral threatening to blow the dorp to hemel. Now Vince needs to come up with a way to get the R100 00 needed to save his family, save his granny and save his town.
Luckily there happens to be a skating competition with just enough prize money to save everybody. With no skateboard and oversized feet, Vince is forced to invent a new extreme sport of footskating, which is skateboarding with out a skateboard.
The good news about Footskating is that it easily surpasses writer-director-actor Brendan Jack’s previous movie, Straight Outta Benoni, however that is not a difficult accomplishment. Benoni felt like a slapdash movie with flat gags and little commercial success and Footskating is a definite improvement in terms of production.
Unfortunately the movie’s plot is a carbon copy of many American movie made in the same genre. Clichés from teen and sports movies are taken used relentlessly. From the dysfunctional team to the weird guru who takes the team under their wing. The jokes and setups in the movie might be South African but there is not a hint of originality in the entire plot. This is an ineffective satire at best.
This is a pity as the cast is a very talented bunch. Rob van Vuuren has made a name for himself playing one half of clown duo Corne and Twakkie. He is also an accomplished thespian and a regular at the Grahamstown Festival. Physical theatre stalwart Andrew Buckland makes the best of his role as Vince’s father but there is little he can do with the weak script.
