(I feel sad posting this article. I know flashblade would have disagreed with my conclusions leading to “a healthy discussion” on this Forum) Has racism been transformed into a powerful political weapon where its repugnant quintessence is lost? [Some may suggest this is old news given that the Russian invasion of Ukraine distracts the public away from all other pressing world events]
Aside from the primary racist-slant to the ongoing Yorkshire CCC story, another angle has resurfaced. The past hostility towards former ECB/Yorkshire Chairman and Club financier, Colin Graves, from cricket journalist George Dobell.
In recent years, Dobell's career at
Cricinfo had stagnated. First, he spoilt his copybook with an almost obsessive animosity at the impending 100 Tournament which spilt over to a persistent tirade towards the then ECB Chairman, Graves, whom he blamed, it seemed, for all of England’s cricketing ills. This did not go down well with ESPN, the owner of Cricinfo, particularly when the ECB/Graves threatened to sue Dobell for defamation in 2018.
The Cricketer Magazine seeking an opportunity to enhance its readership, finally wooed the controversial journalist to join its publication last November. Therefore, it is of no surprise to see Dobell back on his hobbyhorse, criticising Colin Graves in a January article under the guise of Yorkshire racism.
The headline paves the way with “Return of international cricket to Yorkshire contingent on ending Colin Graves influence.” Dobell then writes, “A commitment to ridding the club of the influence of Colin Graves is one of the ECB's key conditions in lifting its suspension of Yorkshire hosting international cricket.” The inference being that Graves’ influence via his Family Trusts which saved Yorkshire from bankruptcy is hindering the change of racial attitudes at the Club and is the roadblock for the ECB to threaten and then take away International matches at Headingly.
Yet, back in mid-January, the
Yorkshire Post, who has covered the Club’s racism troubles more than any other media outlet, published a story headlined: “Colin Graves exclusive: My Trusts have no influence over Yorkshire CCC decision-making and are no roadblock to international cricket at Headingley.”
Julian Knight MP, chair of the Digital Culture Media and Sport began the Graves attacks by calling his Trusts a “pernicious element” in Yorkshire cricket which must be “resolved” while suggesting Roger Hutton, the former club Chairman’s, contention that “the trusts vetoed his attempt to remove key personnel he felt “partially to blame” for the racist crisis.
Hutton had told Knight’s committee last November that “he wanted to oust chief executive Mark Arthur and director of cricket Martyn Moxon, both of whom enjoyed significant support from within the club, along with HR chief Liz Neto, but was prevented from doing so by trust officials.”
Colin GravesGraves retorts this was “completely incorrect” and blamed Hutton for “mucking up the handling of the crisis from start to finish”, adding that he “didn’t know what he was doing, didn’t understand the club and didn’t understand cricket”.
Not content with that broadside, Graves quickly shoots a second salvo by saying “only one side of the story has been told” in relation to the overall saga and revealed that he was not even interviewed alongside other integral club staff by the committee Hutton set-up. He follows this by describing the inquiry as “a waste of space, a waste of paper”, adding that “you can’t have a thorough inquiry into something as serious as that and not talk to the people in charge”.
Graves is adamant that what Hutton said about the Trust influence and power over club decision-making “was incorrect” and went on, “The trusts have no actual power over who the chairman or the board hires or fires. They don’t get involved in the running of the club. Never have done. Never will. Don’t want to.”
And continues, “The person who created all this mess, Roger Hutton, has walked away and nobody’s said anything about him. If what he said (is true) then how come (new chairman, Lord) Kamlesh Patel walked in and within two weeks had removed both the chief exec and the director of cricket?”
Graves carries on, “The trusts have never used or done anything to stop the club running the business as a business. They’ve never got involved in it, and they don’t want to. Basically, Roger Hutton could have hired and fired who he wanted at any time. I don’t know what conversations he had with trustees, but he certainly wouldn’t have had to ask such questions of them because the board and chairman have the power to hire and fire whoever they want.”
Graves continues: “Without the trusts, the club wouldn’t be here. That is sheer fact. Because the banks, everybody else, wouldn’t give all the funding Yorkshire needed to get out of the mess it was in and develop the ground, the trusts act as a commercial lender – simple as that. They don’t put any constraints on the board whatsoever.”
Julian KnightleyYet, Graves comments haven’t stopped the ECB wanting “amendments to club rules relating to the appointment and operation of the board, including removal of Graves Trust powers”, to be addressed by March 31st before international matches can be hosted. i.e the ECB is threatening Yorkshire CCC, even after Graves has categorically stated their accusations are false. That means that, if Yorkshire members do not back these reforms at forthcoming meetings, the suspensions could remain.
Dobell crows, “The ECB have insisted that any hint of his influence must be removed. Although the club still owe the Trust in excess of £15m, it is a move which is likely to end Colin Graves' direct links with the professional game.”
The Yorkshire Post Article:www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/cricket/colin-graves-exclusive-my-trusts-have-no-influence-over-yorkshire-ccc-decision-making-and-are-no-roadblock-to-international-cricket-at-headingley-3531230So, there you have it. Today, the racist card is being deployed as the primary political weapon. By inferring that Colin Graves is racist because his Trusts are ‘allegedly’ stopping the necessary changes to racial attitudes is utterly disgraceful. Yet, look who benefits from the general Yorkshire CCC slurs.
: The ECB has the opportunity to curb Graves influence and power at Yorkshire - the club he saved from bankruptcy - the club that has been his life - by blackmailing Members to accept the Board’s own political motives.
: The left and far left can push their racist agenda by using Yorkshire CCC as yet another example of its ongoing propaganda war.
: Julian Knight adds further brownie woke points towards his burgeoning political career.
: George Dobell continues his personal grudge against Colin Graves while cementing his position at the Cricketer Magazine.
: Roger Hutton finds a scapegoat (Graves) for his Chairmanship failures.
And all because of a 30 year-old Pakistan-born, right-arm off-spinner, called Azeem Rafiq, whose unmemorable first-class career (2008-2017) spanned 156 matches (over 3 formats) and who took 208 wickets. This is the same man who admitted to sending a series of anti-semite tweets, wrote lewd text messages to a 16 year-old girl, and was financially helped by the ECB to overcome an alcohol addiction.
The repugnant quintessence of racism is appalling and should never, ever, be condoned. To repeat, “should never, ever be condoned.” Yet, racism in the 21st century has transformed into a powerful political weapon, primarily used and abused by the left, to kowtow the general public through curbing free speech, rational thought and debate, allowing the Cabal/Elites (their puppet-masters), to control humanity even further through the ammunition of fear, lies and deception.
Isn’t that how Fascism, Marxism and Communism attains its political power?
Full Article:www.thecricketer.com/Topics/england/return_international_cricket_yorkshire_contingent_ending_colin_graves_influence.htmlMeanwhile, the fightback begins:
www.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/former_essex_chair_john_faragher_denies_using_racist_phrase_resigning_board.htmlwww.thecricketer.com/Topics/countycricket/ecb_charge_essex_bringing_game_into_disrepute_over_historic_racism_allegation.htmlEpilogueHow humiliating for Michael Vaughan. The ‘Woke Mob’ has him “by the balls” and can destroy a media career just like that. Either kowtow or be delivered to the scrapheap. Awful! Read the link below. Becoming aware of racism, surely, is about common sense, reason and respecting your fellow man (oops, should that be person?) It is not about being sent to a “re-education camp” on fear of losing your career and livelihood. That is Marxist/Communist behaviour, surely?
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2022/02/25/thought-dont-need-educated-race-good-guy/?utm_content=sport&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1645825674
