The cricket Saga

I know I am late to the party in writing this, and for a long time and didn’t really know what to say.

I have been a loyal supporter of the Australian Cricket Team and Cricket Australia in general which makes things like this incredibly hard for me to write.

Its not just the ball tampering scandal that has me worried and taken back it’s a lot of choices of late that I am concerned about.

I honestly still don’t really know what to say about the whole thing I was in shock when I read what had happened and I am still in the same boat.

Let’s start with the ball tampering, had someone told me at the start of the year that David and Steve would be caught doing something like that, I would have told them they were dreaming. I know there has been a lot of hate going around them by fans and a lot of other things been writing about them, to them and their families and I am not about to unleash, what I will say is I don’t hate them for it I am disappointed but my love for them hasn’t just gone out the window just because of one mistake.

Yep one mistake, I know Australia is sports loving country that puts a lot of pressure on all our athletes and we try to make to sure our reputation is at world class levels. But posting vial comments about them and their loved ones and sending trash to them and their families doesn’t make you a better person it makes you worse than that mistake that will follow them for the rest of their lives.

Honestly would you want that backlash at your front door every time you have made a mistake? I know I wouldn’t. They all took full responsibility for their actions, stood up and said yes, we did it. That takes real courage. Its incredibly hard seeing grown men break down in front of everyone and admit their mistake and ask for forgiveness. Seeing it made me upset and wanting to hug them. 

I will be the first to admit I don’t condone their actions but its takes a real man to do what they did after the game and days after. I really hope the media stops focusing on them, so they can get on with the bans and move on.

A loyal fan is a fan that stands by them no matter what, even if they have done something wrong. Yes, you can be upset and disappointed in them but at the end of the day you should still support them. Ride that rollercoaster with them and support them through the bad times be and enjoy the great times. 

Many athletes say that they aren’t heroes, I tend to agree real heroes are first responders, armed forces and those who save lives. But I also know that these athletes inspire so many younger generations and many love and adore them. At the end of the day it’s a privilege to represent your country, state or sport, privileges can be taken off you. You go out on the field, ground, or where your sport is played. you are representing not only yourself, but a whole army of people supporting you, sponsors, endorsements, clubs, coaches, teammates and your friends and family.

I have honestly had enough of athletes thinking they are untouchable and only get slaps on the wrist punishments. I completely understand why Cricket Australia took a massive stand on their punishments, they need to make an example out of them and make sure this never happens again.

The one hundred hours of community within the cricket community should ultimately be spent with grass roots cricket, after all these are the kids that are asking for their parents to take them to the games, they are our future Australian cricketers we should be making sure they all learn from their mistakes and its not just the grass roots all crickets around the country and the world should be taking in the bans and learning that this wont be acceptable. If I was Steve, David or Cameron I would be getting in touch with teams in the East Asia – Pacific countries like PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu and Soma and asking them if they would like some clinics with them so we can continue to grow the cricket community.

I have worked with PNG at the under 19 cricket world cup in 2012 and I have continued to see them grown and they are well on their way to getting a chance to compete at 50 over and 20/20 world cups. Not only will it sit well with the ICC but also make a case for those players once the bans have been lifted.

The other reason I am writing this is the new media deal that Cricket Australia have just made with channel 7 and Foxtel and taking the Big Bash from channel ten. The decision taking big bash from ten I feel is a bad idea, in saying that I am willing to eat my words. Ten has done an amazing showcasing the series with incredible viewing numbers and outstanding team in the commentary box and behind the scenes which I feel sorry for those involved they have all done a brilliant job.

I don’t have pay tv and many other Australia also don’t have it. Which means I will no longer be able to watch the Australian teams play ODI’s and the Twenty 20 games during the Australian summer. This really upsets me that a part of my summer has now gone, and I am not the only fan that has been made to feel neglected.

I honestly don’t know how the summer is going to be with attendance at the games a lot of fans are angry and disappointed in not only the players but with everything else.

Appointing Justin Langer as coach is a great choice, new blood that can get the guys back into shape, not saying Darren was bad coach I am a fan of his, just think getting someone new in will freshen things up.

In recent years I feel that the team has lost a certain spark and I’m not sure what it is, but something is missing. And maybe a mighty duck inspired bonding session will help. Knowing that Justin is now with the team I am sure he will inspire them all.

Lets all make cricket great again and continue supporting the players and turn out to the games when they start back up at the end of the year and if you can go out and support the grass roots games after all they are the future.

The importance of Mental Health

We need to talk about the importance of mental health.

People go to their doctors regularly about their health concerns and check-ups but are less likely to do so when it comes to their mental health. Its just as important, the mind and the brain are what controls and coordinates it all. The brain empowers the body.  We all go to the dentist to look after our teeth, shouldn’t we look after the brain and mind?

There is a stigma about mental health and some people find it difficult to talk about their own or loved one’s mental issues. The only way to break down the stigma is encouraging people to speak up or encourage people to speak up or seek assistance.

There are people that think depression, anxiety and other things are not real and its all-in people heads (well it is in people’s heads, but it isn’t fake)

A lot of people have depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, they self-harm themselves, these conditions can take over your life make things hard to live for some. We need to be able to work on making our conditions better or work out effective ways for it not to interfere with our lives.

I say we because I suffer from anxiety ( the type of anxiety I have is social anxiety and it all stems from being judged and bullied from a younger age, I also have is a medical one but it comes from having a fear that my hip and back will go out while I am out, I don’t have control of my body and that does scare me. ) and It can make everyday living a little hard when you have these fears and phobias that can come into play and then those negative thoughts that play in your head it can stop you from doing things that you would like to be doing. Being bullied a lot of my childhood has given me those fears and thinking that people are talking about me behind my back and or laughing at me. And then getting slightly depressed.

Let me explain more about how being bullied can affect someone, it can give you mental scars, I have so many of them. It can give you negative thoughts and I have them and you can never really get rid of them they will always be lingering around in the background. I know that everyone is beautiful but there are those days that those voices make an appearance and for that slight second you believe them, and for some people those voices make people do drastic things.

Let’s talk about depression, it can make you do some crazy things. Or just make you feel like you want to be alone. I have been depressed but I am not always depressed I am always a happy, cheerful person but there are times when you feel alone and not wanting to do anything. With having an illness like cancer, autoimmune disease, depression is something you need to look out for and recommended on having a professional to talk to. 

Here’s the kicker no one that is mentally sane would point a gun at a person and take innocent lives and or their own life. I am talking mass shootings and or their own life. My feeling on guns and gun control is a whole other issue but there is one thing we all need to be aware of is that having no gun control and being so easy to buy guns in some countries makes them available to anyone, even if they have mental issues.

There is also a stigma about seeing a councilor / psychologist thinking that you are weak but let me tell you. you are not weak, you are incredibly smart by seeing someone that can help you overcome and work on the problems you are facing. so, let’s start to talk these things out with someone and help see things in different light or help navigate through it all. 

How can we stop the depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts and or even talking our own lives?

Well firstly combat bullying in schools, the workplace and in the homes and stop cyberbullying.

Secondly, seeking help by talking to your doctors, seeing a professional or talk to someone. These people can put you on medication, give you advice, listen to you, give you helpful strategies to guide you when you are having an anxiety attack. Most doctors have care plans that can get you into seeing someone, next time you are at the doctors ask them about it.

Start a diary and write your thoughts down

Making sure our children know that no matter the circumstance or problem they can come to you for advice, help, forgiveness and understanding without judgement. They need to know that there are people around them like the police, teachers, friend’s parents, friends, priests, doctors and many more that they can approach and talk to. A lot of kids and adults feel the need to do it alone or think they have no-one to turn to. No matter what is going on you need to speak up. This counts for adults as well we all need to know that there are people out there for you.

I am writing this because we all need to be aware of our triggers, and that we all need to keep our mental health in check because it is so important. I know what its like to lose some body because of it and its incredibly hard to comprehend and get through. I know the struggles of dealing with my own anxiety.

If this can help anyone or started people talking about this, then I am extremely happy that my ripple can start to make waves and get rid of the stigma.