Gideon Haigh snags a flag – at last

by Jim Young (author of the brilliant book Any Old Eleven)

 

I was watching “Offsiders” on Sunday morning, and the final moment of the program was (as promised the previous Sunday) given over to celebration of a premiership for the Yarras and a triumph for our old mate Gideon.

Gerard Whateley was as enthusiastic in his praise as he should have been, and the screen was blazoned with images of Haigh Triumphant.

However, I was deeply disturbed by the second of these depicting Haigh and a team mate.  Gerard chose to concentrate on Gideon consenting to be included in a selfie and wondered if it was conceivable he might even appear on Facebook and Twitter.  What struck me about the photograph, however, was that Gideon was clearly holding in hand an open bottle of Heineken.

If Haigh has started to hit the piss, what hope is there for the future of cricket reporting?

 

WATCH SUNDAY’S EDITION of OFFSIDERS and decide for yourself (Gideon at 28min: 48sec).

 

Comments

  1. Congrats Gideon and am a massive fan. Re-read ‘Mystery Spinner’ over the summer (3rd read now) and Jesus it’s a keeper … loved it even more this time round.

  2. Bob Speechley says

    “Hitting the piss” (so to speak) is not necessarily detrimental to the writer’s ability to craft readable stories. A good case in point is “Any Old Eleven” which is a wonderful, albeit slanderous contribution, to writing on Cricket. Furthermore I’m also reliably informed that “Nugget” Miller filed many of his daily reportage to his paper/s on Test matches he was covering even though he had spent his day playing darts whilst replenishing his unquenchable thirst! I say go for it Gideon you can’t be a “Yatra” forever.

  3. Luke Reynolds says

    Very happy for the great man Gideon and the Yarras. “The Vincibles” is a wonderful read, would love to read a premiership part 2. And totally with T-Bone on ‘Mystery Spinner’. One of the best cricket books ever.

  4. Gideon Haigh says

    Thanks for your good wishes, colleagues. That I’d have a beer if I won a flag has been a long-standing Yarras joke – one to which it seemed for a long time there would be no punchline. But folks don’t forget: a coldie was thrust into my hand within a minute of our win.
    Currently feeling a deep and abiding love for my fellow man, and looking forward to John Harms’ debut season in 2015-16.

  5. E.regnans says

    Congratulations Gideon.
    You’ve probably now got a twenty year reunion to anticipate.

  6. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Well done Gideon.

    Tell us about the execution of your run out near the death. Your mob knocked over the last 6 wickets in a hurry.

  7. Malcolm Ashwood says

    Great stuff Gideon well played you

  8. Gideon Haigh says

    Yes, Swish, I executed my skill set. Accidents will happen.

  9. Polythene Pam says

    Well done, Gideon – but that copy of The Vincibles I bought all those years ago – how will I be able read it again (it is my required reading October each year).

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