Editorial: Boy’s Own story goes off the rails on Home Services

Mar

Editorial: Boy’s Own story goes off the rails

posted by admin in Window Cleaning

With him standing tall at one end and Brendon McCullum laying waste at the other, the Black Caps defeat the visiting English 3-1 in a series few gave them a chance of winning. But then Jesse Ryder goes out drinking with his new teammates, rips his hand to shreds trying to get into a locked toilet at a Christchurch bar at 5.30am, abuses hospital staff and demands preferential treatment. Exit the swashbuckling hero with the modest grin; enter the swaggering, petulant brat.
Sadly its a story were all too familiar with. Professional sport is littered with extraordinarily talented athletes who cannot handle the fame, adulation and money that comes their way because of their ability to strike a ball more cleanly, run faster or leap higher than their peers.
But in this case its a story that could have been avoided. To put it bluntly, Ryder, who apologised yesterday for his actions but denied he has a drinking problem, has form with the bottle. Despite his exceptional talent, his career at Central Districts lasted just eight matches. Tellingly, the regions administrators did not try to retain him when Wellington came knocking on the door. In the capital he has not done justice to his talent, but, with new Firebirds coach Anthony Stuart and his Naenae Old Boys clubmates keeping a close eye on him, there were signs the party boy was growing up.
But all that seems to have gone out the window with the national team.
Not only did Ryder incapacitate himself for three months celebrating after the Black Caps clinched the one-day series, it has now been revealed that - unknown to team management - he was drinking at another Christchurch bar till 1.30am the day of the final match.
At the age of 23, Ryder should not need a babysitter but, given his past history, it beggars belief that NZ Cricket did not detail someone to keep a close eye on him during his first international series.
On the field, Ryder, with his power and uncomplicated approach, is worth his weight in gold to a Black Caps team short of class and excitement. Off it, he is an accident waiting to happen, as was illustrated by the banner flourished by his Wairarapa mates during his first game for New Zealand - %26quot;Jesse Ryder - favourite shot tequila%26quot;.
In the end, only Ryder can change his behaviour.
Stories like his do not always end well. Look atthe sad decline of former England footballing hero Paul Gascoigne, sectioned last week under the Mental Health Act after going on a two-month bender at a succession of British hotels. But NZ Cricket should be doing all in its power to ensure this weeks events are just one chapter in the Jesse Ryder story, not the beginning of the end.
Sport needs its heroes and, in this case, a fragile talent needs more support from his sport than he got during his first taste of the big time.