Questionable heroes

They're calling it the beautiful summer. Australian commentators are running out of superlatives in their attempts to describe the recently completed test and one day series. The Australians reinvented the concept of success as they thrashed all comers. In beating a lack luster West Indies 5 - 0 in the test match-up and winning all 10 limited over fixtures in the triangular series, this team has rewritten the record books. The fans should be happy. After all, sporting excellence is a measure of worth in this country. It is a mark of identity and culture. Yes, we should be proud. This team has played superb cricket and we should be satisfied. But lurking beneath the praise is a niggling feeling that the lads aren't worthy of our total congratulations. Good sport does not always produce good sportsmen. There have been numerous unfortunate incidents this summer involving Australian players. They are seen as role models, yet some of their on-field behavior has been far from exemplary. In fact, we'd be disgusted if our children acted in a similar way. The most recent episode involved Shane Warne yelling expletives during a limited over game against Zimbabwe. Thanks to stump microphones, his outburst was heard by an estimated viewing audience of 30 million and the broadcasting television station was inundated with complaints. Warne blamed; "the frustrations of the moment" for his actions, but let's face it; stump microphones are nothing new, and only an attitude of extreme arrogance would claim naivety in this regard. In a radio talk back discussion on the incident, former fast bowler Merv Hughes dismissed it saying: " Kids want to bowl like Shane Warne. They don't care what he says." Fine, so we're expected to understand that Warnie is human, but we still have cause to wonder. Don't these players get paid handsomely to display an honorable public profile? Don't they all too often blame the intrusion of the media rather than taking personal responsibility for their actions? Don't they, as representatives of their country, have a duty to behave well? When Shane Warne swears like a trooper, or Ricky Ponting screams petulantly at an umpire, the fans aren't altogether happy. When Glen McGrath spits in the direction of a batsman, or Stuart MacGill shoulders an opposing player on the way to the dressing room, we aren't completely proud. When top cricketers act like thugs, we aren't at all satisfied. It may have been a beautiful summer, but it was also the season of the ugly Australian.