Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.

A True Sportsman

 I waited for the game between West Indies and India on Sunday night with a lot of excitement. This was to be another cracker of a match. The commentator said that the grounds would erupt with thunderous  applause when India’s favourite son Sachin Tendulkar would walk in. They did when he walked in with his batting partner. But the fans were stunned into silence when he "walked" even though the umpire shook his head after he had just made two runs. The wicket keeper may have heard the nick to the bat and caught the ball and screamed in triumph. Sachin didn’t even wait for the umpire, he just walked off. And we saw the umpire shaking his head. But Sachin walked. Whew. Silence fell over the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

“It was brilliant on his part,” West Indies captain Darren Sammy said. “It shows the measure of the man… A true gentleman,” he added.

There are very little true sportsmen like that around, but thank you Sachin, you brought honesty to another level.