If anyone wondering what Ollie Robinson posted to prompt the investigation, it's this lot, apparently: please log in to view this image Racist and Islamophobic, plus a couple that are debatably sexist. I'm not even sure if the top-right one is at all, to be honest.
They're pretty mild, aren't they? If you're in the public eye - even if just a young county cricketer - you're better off not making such remarks on social media, even if they are in jest. But what good does "investigating" a matter from 8-9 years ago when he was a teenager do? How is putting the comments back in the public domain of any benefit to anyone? Whilst it might make a point to display a zero tolerance attitude to such things, what it risks doing is creating barriers rather than breaking them down. I can't engage with you because if I make a comment about race, religion, gender, sexuality etc and it offends you, I'll be an outcast. So i won't; I won't risk offending you, I'll ignore you instead and keep my thoughts - however reaonable or unreasonable - to myself. You're x and I'm y. You do your thing, I'll do mine - just don't offend me and I won't offend you. It's not an approach that will help people to accept others who might be different to them, to learn about them, tolerate them and understand them. Root out hatred and deal with it effectively, but don't demonise everyone who says or does anything mildly offensive or inappropriate years ago when they were young. Don't young people do daft things - and a lot worse than a few mildly offensive remarks? They do it to poke fun, get a rise, because they're bored etc. He's 27 now - he's a lot more mature. it was a third of his life ago. What are they hoping to achieve? Apply some common sense - there's little evidence of that in Ollie Robinson's case. Missing the Test this week because of this, which not a proportionate response.
I have to agree with the consensus that the ECB have gone OTT by suspending Robinson for those tweets. I don't see any hatred or malicious intent in what he's said, they look like jokes to me. Clearly he should have engaged his brain before posting but he was a teenager and clearly impulse and lack of thought got the better of him. That happens with teenagers. He's never had any racist allegations against him in his professional or private life, until now. No more daft tweets, neither. I'd say he's went through the normal transitioning of maturing and left that kind of joking about behind him. He should have had a quick slap on the wrists, reminded about his responsibilities and that should have been the end of it. Dragging these tweets up from nearly a decade ago is bordering on silly, imo.
I think that they had to act because of the racist ones. Missing one test isn't the end of the world and they have to uphold some sort of standard. The problem with letting something like this go is that it would set a precedent. The next bloke might be a bit worse. Then what? You have to draw the line somewhere and it's probably best to do it in a nice, clear place.
I accept that the ECB have to do something rather than ignore the issue, but they could have said that it was being dealt with internally and that Robinson would be given whatever advice, education or even punishment was considered necessary. Treating it as if it was a recent misdemeanour (as they have done) and making it so public doesn't seem appropriate or proportionate. Withdrawing him from the Test punishes him before their investigation is even set in motion.
Don’t tweet racist or stupid things and then you don’t have to worry about them biting you on the arse down the line. Wasn’t he like 18 when he tweeted these things? Tough punishment but justified
For anyone watching he T20, I asked my son to look at Udana and give me the name of a footballer. Did you get the same footballer?
Why did somebody decide to paint the royal box on Centre Court gold all of a sudden? Not only is it surely going to be distracting as it's in the corner of the eye of the player who is facing it, but it makes it look like the LTA are such forelock tuggers that the next logical step is having thrones installed and courtiers bringing their lords and masters their strawberries & cream
The Manx Missile is one stage win from Eddie Merckx record , I honestly thought Cavendish's time was over after the last couple of years he's had I'm sure he can do it and what a way to get the record on the Champs Elysees
There are a few stages where you worry that he might be eliminated on time, but as long as he stays in the race, he’ll beat 34 by or in Paris. He’s still comfortably the best sprinter; Sagan and Griepel are nowhere these days. He has the best team too, who produced a perfect lead out today. He’s even got Alaphilippe working for him
I'd like to see Golovkin vs the Fox News journalist, to be honest. At least Canelo wouldn't be able to rig that.
