Geoffrey Boycott Blows His Chance At Receiving A Knighthood?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4811018/Geoffrey-Boycott-needs-black-knighthood.html

Perhaps not the correct way to go about it, but is this any different to those who complain there are not enough black actors etc, or there are too many white football managers etc?

[andy-hughes]

danny - //The epitome of a blunt Yorkshireman. //

Indeed, but being 'blunt' is not carte blanche to of offensive.

From my experience, people who like to aggrandise themselves with comments like "I believe in plain speaking ..." are simply oafish people with no manners who like to be rude to people without considering the effects of running off at the mouth.

Credit to Sir Geoff, he has appreciated that what he said was crass and stupid, he has apologised, let's draw a line.

[youngmafbog]

if he feels it why should he be silenced by the right-on brigade.

It's not being blunt it is clearly how he feels.

One day there is going to be an almighty backlash to all this 'being offended'

[jim360]

"if he feels it why should he be silenced by the right-on brigade.

It's not being blunt it is clearly how he feels. "

Sure -- but the trick is not to say it in public. That's what I mean by "know your audience". He cracked this attempt at a joke at some public Q&A session, it went down like a lead balloon (obviously), and he's now apologised. As far as I'm concerned there's an end to the matter, although I shouldn't be too surprised to see calls for his resignation mount shortly.

[youngmafbog]

//although I shouldn't be too surprised to see calls for his resignation mount shortly. //

Ah yes, the right-on offended. Probably all white professional and Volvo drivers.

I do agree with the "know your audience" bit though it's a shame one has to continually look over ones shoulder for fear of offending someone somewhere.

[Mamyalynne]

At 76 I doubt he's going to change and stop putting his foot in his mouth now.

[jim360]

"I do agree with the "know your audience" bit though it's a shame one has to continually look over ones shoulder for fear of offending someone somewhere."

I don't think you have to do it continually: just make a point of getting to know what your friends find funny and what they don't find funny.

I know one guy you can make jokes about pretty much anything you like with and the challenge is still to find something that is "too far"; I know other people I wouldn't dream of joking about anything so much as chickens crossing roads. And I know plenty of people in between. It's not difficult to have some about of situational awareness about what is and isn't appropriate. I had thought it was just a natural part of social skills.

[Denton]

Totally agree,ymb,won't be able to speak soon,in case it offends someone. P.C. gone mad.

[mikey4444]

Boycott appears to have opened his mouth, and put both feet in it....daft man.

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

Please answer my question mikey, "Is this any different ............."?

[mikey4444]

AOG....OK....willing to have a go at that !

As far as I am aware, Knighthoods and other gongs are not awarded on a racial basis, but on merit. The Queen doesn't make a white person a Knight and then look around for a black person to award the next one to.

There are lots of white Sports people that haven't been awarded any sort of gong...after all, if every Sportsman or Sportswoman received a Knighthood, there would be a permanent queue up the Mall, day in day out.

Perhaps a more pertinent question is why hasn't Boycott been award a Knighthood over the many years that he has been active in the sport ?

[-Talbot-]

Volvo drivers eh ...slowly but surely I am getting the full picture.

[THECORBYLOON]

Is the number of England and West Indies Knights not about 50/50?

[jno]

about that, TCH, and there are more countries in the West Indies than the two represented by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

But apparently Boycott and his fanboys think he's entitled to be regarded as being on the same level as Richards, Sobers, Weekes and Walcott, all of whom had higher averages. So did Lara, of course, and I don't hear him moaning he should white-up to get a knighthood.

[jno]

apologies - TCL...

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444
Thanks all the same Mikey, but you still haven't answered the question, not in the way it was asked anyway.

You explained:

/// As far as I am aware, Knighthoods and other gongs are not awarded on a racial basis, but on merit. The Queen doesn't make a white person a Knight and then look around for a black person to award the next one to. ///

I wasn't specifically referring to gongs etc, but just asking, is what he said any different to a black person asking why there are not enough black actors or black football managers?

But to go down your road they might equally say, why are there not many black persons given gongs or am I not given a gong because I am black?

Can you see where I am coming from, a black person could get away with it, but Boycott's hasn't.

[hereIam]

He's a bit like Prince Philip in a way really, says what he thinks !

[andy-hughes]

hereIam - // He's a bit like Prince Philip in a way really, says what he thinks ! //

Indeed he is - Prince Philip is an over-privileged, thoughtless, ignorant, racist boor as well!

[anotheoldgit]

/// Prince Philip is an over-privileged, thoughtless, ignorant, racist boor as well! ///

I don't suppose he thinks very highly of you too, but he is too much of a gentleman to say the same.

[hereIam]

Ha ha aog ...

[Garaman]

I was going to post something similar to AOG (that's a first, and how on earth can you describe Boycott as over-privileged? He worked hard to get to the top of his profession, and hasn't stopped working.