Who wants to go a knight rider?

My IPL team, the Kolkata Rebel Alliance, has been officially named, and I was quite disappointed that none of my most excellent and, dare I say it, super suggestions were taken on board. The Kolkata Knight Riders. This name, even though it doesn't sound as lame as the Super Kings, is actually quite embarrassing.

Someone was undoubtedly paid millions to come up with this name and all they did was choose something that'll be interpreted in a smutty context. Another example of why I should be in charge of these matters. I would have been quick to jump on this knight rider and ensure sense was seen! Hark!

Knights would be a cool name, not too common, not too weird, just right really. Night riders would even be a pretty decent, different sort of name. It sounds like something from the gaming world, something maybe a little bit elusive and enviable.

But no, the Kolkatese have gone for a different context entirely. Knight riders.
"Ricky Ponting is a knight rider."
"Oh really, which one?"
"Sir Guy of Gisborne I heard."

Actually I just need a moment to pause and reflect on that thought... mmm.

Anyway. I wonder if they have do a preference. Sir Richard Branson? Sir Elton John? Sir Paul McCartney (better watch out for gold-digging tarts in that case)? Sir Peter Jackson? Sir Charles Gairdner? Sir Ian McKellan? Sir Hiss? What would their logo look like? And they couldn't have a mascot, it would be far too offensive.

Those crazy Indians. They will still be the Rebel Alliance to me.

India and South Africa will be competing soon. A while ago I made a list of who the worst teams to lose to, and while I stand by my comment that it's worse to lose to South Africa than India (only just, though), I hope South Africa kick India's arse all the way to Peru. Why Peru? Why not.

Also, there's a quote on cricinfo that Shane Warne apparently said in reference to his immortalisation in plastic, and the dialogue he recorded for it... "I wanted it to say 'Chuck us a VB, Murali'." I haven't got VB Warney but I've got Boony and Beefy (why did I just type Beeny? Or was it Boofy?) and occasionally they do say rather funny things. That comment of Warney's that would have been funny.

Finally, visit here and then go here and join. Soon there will be a Facebook group dedicated to counting down the days until we see young Suave in the t-shirt he was born to wear.

My rant

As Dave Hughes said on the Glass House, I'm angry. Thanks to Straight Point for directing me here.

I don't even know where to start. How dare someone throw an egg in someone's face. It's more than just unacceptable, it's utterly degrading and derogatory. Maybe I'm naive, but I just don't understand what would possess someone to do this. Who do they think they are and what gives them the right to treat someone so maliciously?

Whoever did this should be publicly named and shamed. Although after the debacle with Corey Delaney, such shaming might actually turn into celebration, which is sickening. However they should be banned for life from all sporting events, be prosecuted, and be made to apologise publicly to Murali. At the very least.

Only last night I was beaming with pride at being an Aussie, this makes me ashamed. There are some feral people in the world, and a fair portion of them live here. There are people in this country who are an embarrassment to the rest of us (they are probably from the families of people who voted 'no' in the 1967 referendum). These morons ruin things for everyone, and worst of all they do it in the name of being Australian. I'll spare you all a history of racism in this country, but our past is wrought with it.

It's no wonder we're getting (already have?) a reputation for being a bunch of rednecks. If there's anyone out there who wonders if we're all like this, we aren't. But unfortunately, there are a growing number of people who behave in this manner, and a growing culture of racial intolerance. I find it inexplicable. And it's not good enough.