What was so special about Hookes?

[The Spornstar]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What was so special about Hookes?

Originally posted by Dry Rot

Anyway, you live in NSW so what's the problem?

Exactly that my friend.

Seriously I'm having a good time living here but there are some bad sides to Sydney people that remind me (oh so slightly) of the Yanks.

 

[Squeak]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What was so special about Hookes?

Originally posted by The Spornstar
Exactly that my friend.

Seriously I'm having a good time living here but there are some bad sides to Sydney people that remind me (oh so slightly) of the Yanks.

Insularity is underrated. At least that's what NSWelshman tell me.

 

[PJK]

My favourite David Hookes story.

He had his hotel room broken into on one occasion and had his wallet stolen. He said he was going to get his credit cards cancelled, but noticed that the thieves were spending less than his wife, so it was better to let them keep them.

Not politically correct, but shows his sense of humour.

 

[EagleBlue]

Originally posted by PJK
My favourite David Hookes story.

He had his hotel room broken into on one occasion and had his wallet stolen. He said he was going to get his credit cards cancelled, but noticed that the thieves were spending less than his wife, so it was better to let them keep them.

Not politically correct, but shows his sense of humour.

Hadnt heard that one

My funniest story came out of his autobiography when captaining SA against Qld at Adelaide Oval one day. After winning the toss on a 38 degree day and a flat wicket he said to (Greg Ritchie of all people !!!) you can bat .............

AFTER US

Classic !!!!! Did the same thing myself to another captain a few years later (unfortunately unlike Ritchie, he did NOT see the funny side)

 

[red+black]

link to only match where Hookesy captained Australia

 

[Dry Rot]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What was so special about Hookes?

Originally posted by The Spornstar
Exactly that my friend.

Seriously I'm having a good time living here but there are some bad sides to Sydney people that remind me (oh so slightly) of the Yanks.

You're from Melbourne?

I think you're being rude to the Yanks - Sydney is a rat colony with some very nasty rats all squabbling over some cheese near the harbour.

Most Sydney folk, excluding ourselves of course, are appalling real estate obsessed rodents.

 

[carn_the_nmfc]

He was and still will be known as a legend. He played test cricket for Australia from 1977 til 1982 (16 tests) and was the first player to make the fastest fifty whilst playing in the Sheffield Shield (as it was known then).

 

[ThePope]

Originally posted by red+black
link to only match where Hookesy captained Australia

Here is another. Was only a tour match, but interestingly (unless cricinfo just put the * in the wrong spot), Greg Chappell was also in the team.

 

[ThePope]

Originally posted by goaldrush
He was and still will be known as a legend. He played test cricket for Australia from 1977 til 1982 (16 tests) and was the first player to make the fastest fifty whilst playing in the Sheffield Shield (as it was known then).

Actually it was 23 tests, last one was in 85/86 and it was the fastest century (34 balls), not just a fifty.

 

[understudy]

Got a good laugh out of this thread.

In Sydney where you dont really know sport wouldnt expect you guys to understand.

Hookes was a valued part of the Melbourne sporting community and a high profile identity, to lose him in such circumstances has resulted in shock and horror to all who follow sport.

Maybe there was nothing 'special' about him but we all knew him and are outraged and saddened by his loss.

Thousands of people die every day, but who cares anyway hey?

 

[sherb]

Originally posted by understudy

In Sydney where you dont really know sport wouldnt expect you guys to understand.

Steady on, we are not all sporting dummies up here!

Hell, some of us even know quite a bit about footy as well as cricket!

 

[Dry Rot]

Originally posted by understudy
Got a good laugh out of this thread.

In Sydney where you dont really know sport wouldnt expect you guys to understand.

Got a good laugh out of this post.

You've both missed the point but answered the key question this thread asked.

Funny enough, Sydney people like me saw Hookes in his Test and Shield days and his death is regarded as a senseless tragedy up here.

But the point of this thread was that I wondered why he seemed to be mourned far more in Melbourne than the level of grief up here if say Geoff Lawson suddenly died in similar circumstances.

Hookes was a valued part of the Melbourne sporting community and a high profile identity, to lose him in such circumstances has resulted in shock and horror to all who follow sport.

Maybe there was nothing 'special' about him but we all knew him and are outraged and saddened by his loss.

Thanks, clearly he was a much loved Melbourne broadcasting & sporting identity but not up here, so don't confuse whether Sydney people know sport with whether we know your local media personalities.

 

[The Rewboy]

Originally posted by PJK
My favourite David Hookes story.

He had his hotel room broken into on one occasion and had his wallet stolen. He said he was going to get his credit cards cancelled, but noticed that the thieves were spending less than his wife, so it was better to let them keep them.

Not politically correct, but shows his sense of humour.

Ahhh, brilliant.........we will miss you, Hookesy.

 

[The Rewboy]

Dry rot, you are sadly missing the point.....

Basically, they are:

1) The amazing and positive transformation of Victorian cricket

2) He was probably the biggest radio personality on Melbourne's most powerful radio station

3) The circumastances in which he was taken. Cruel, and i still cant figure out why.

 

[McAlmanac]

Originally posted by Dry Rot
But the point of this thread was that I wondered why he seemed to be mourned far more in Melbourne than the level of grief up here if say Geoff Lawson suddenly died in similar circumstances.

Having grown up in Adelaide with Hookesy dominating for SA, and living in Melbourne now, I can only imagine the level of grief in my home town. In Hookesy's day, the last session of Sheffield Shield games was shown live on Channel 9. I would race home from school/uni to see him plunder an attack; city workers would flock to the ground after work if they knew he was in. Now that international players rarely play domestic cricket, this doesn't happen any longer.

 

[Dry Rot]

Originally posted by The Rewboy
Dry rot, you are sadly missing the point.....

Basically, they are:

1) The amazing and positive transformation of Victorian cricket

2) He was probably the biggest radio personality on Melbourne's most powerful radio station

3) The circumastances in which he was taken. Cruel, and i still cant figure out why.

What bit don't you get?

Most Australians anywhere agree with your #3, but surprisingly quite a few Australians live outside Melbourne.

And people in Sydney don't know your #2 at all and have little interest in #1, so that's why I originally asked why so many of you thought he was so special.

I do get the point, I can see why he was very special to many of you, but not to everyone.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Originally posted by McAlmanac
Having grown up in Adelaide with Hookesy dominating for SA, and living in Melbourne now, I can only imagine the level of grief in my home town. In Hookesy's day, the last session of Sheffield Shield games was shown live on Channel 9. I would race home from school/uni to see him plunder an attack; city workers would flock to the ground after work if they knew he was in. Now that international players rarely play domestic cricket, this doesn't happen any longer.

It was always funny to see all those blokes in suits running down King William Road to get to the Oval once Hookes was in! I loved it when you got home from school, flicked on the box and Hooksey was at the crease. I wouldn't move from in front of the set until the close or he was out. Just a couple more great memories of one of SA's greatest sons.

 

[slyolddog]

Originally posted by The Rewboy
2) He was probably the biggest radio personality on Melbourne's most powerful radio station

Do you want to break that news to Rex?

 

[EssJayW]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What was so special about Hookes?

Originally posted by The Spornstar
Yes, NSW - Australia's answer to America.

Yes I agree, but you left out the South before the America.

bluddy Mexicans.

 

[understudy]

Originally posted by Dry Rot
What bit don't you get?

Most Australians anywhere agree with your #3, but surprisingly quite a few Australians live outside Melbourne.

And people in Sydney don't know your #2 at all and have little interest in #1, so that's why I originally asked why so many of you thought he was so special.

I do get the point, I can see why he was very special to many of you, but not to everyone.

Doubt Sydney would ever grieve for a sporting person like the town of Melbourne. Sydney just doesnt know and embrace sport like Melbourne does. 3AW sports today rates its socks off, doubt many in Sydney have even heard of 2UE's sports today. The response is a reflection of the difference between the two towns imo.

 

[moomba]

I'm sorry for bringing this thread back up to the top, but I feel that I should say something about David Hookes, certainly in the time I have been away from Australia hearing this news has been the first time I have really felt homesick.

I grew up in country SA and David Hookes was THE legend of cricket in those parts (and Peter Sleep, some might know wher in county SA I am from). I remember my dad getting a video of the 100 in 34 balls (or whatever) sent down from a mate in Adelaide and being mesmerised by his strokeplay, his attacking nature and his amazing ability stood out. I was quickly on the Hookes bandwagon, and consider myself privelidged to see him bat at his home.

I remember listening to the 5AA drive time show with KG and Hookesy each night on the way home from work. I rarely agreed with what they had to say but every night I was tuned in. David would say what he felt, whether that would win or lose him friends and I greatly respected that.

I wasnt following him around (honest), but I then remember listening to him on the 3AW show with Gerard Healy after my move to Melbourne, and he demonstrated the same honesty, sporting knowledge and ability to entertain as he had at 5AA.

I will always remember him as a great entertainer, on and off the field, and as someone who I feel has made a positive impact on my life.

There is no emoticon I can find that represents the way I feel about his death so all I can say is RIP David Hookes

Moomba

 

[hotpie]

Originally posted by Black JuJu
On ABC radio shortly after his death had been announced, the news update named him as an "Australian test cricketing legend" (or something similar, either way "legend").

I'm saddened by Hookes terrible death, but wouldn't really consider the man a legendary cricketer (I'm a West Aussie btw) - perhaps at times like this it just seems the right thing to say? - it does tend to happen when a famous person is taken from us all too early (especially sporting stars).

There's a slight difference between a "test cricketing legend" and a "legendary cricketer". He is a legend in that he is remembered for his feats, eg, the Centenary Test, his reckless attitude (especially hooking), breaking his jaw, being the first player to wear a motorcycle helmet on the field etc. He is a legend to many kids who were teenagers in the 70's.

But no, he is not a legend in the "Hall Of Fame" sense of the word, although he is a legend in the Sheffield Shield.

 

[Dogwatcher]

To put it into perspective for you Sydneysiders....
Just imagine, if you will, that Michael Slater (current illness aside) were to get past his petulance and prove himself to be a very intelligent and passionate radio sporting commentator.
While his career was a little longer than Hookesy's - both of the players will be remembered for their flamboyant approach to the game and for not taking a backward step on the field. Sometimes we agreed with him, sometimes we didn't.
Just imagine that if you add the fiction and the fact together and all of a sudden the New South Welshman died - that feeling of loss that Hookesy's fans are feeling will be experienced by you.

Maybe this is a long bow to draw - but it's a way of explaining to you why Hookesy's death is so sad to so many of us.

 

[EagleBlue]

Originally posted by Dogwatcher
To put it into perspective for you Sydneysiders....
Just imagine, if you will, that Michael Slater (current illness aside) were to get past his petulance and prove himself to be a very intelligent and passionate radio sporting commentator.
While his career was a little longer than Hookesy's - both of the players will be remembered for their flamboyant approach to the game and for not taking a backward step on the field. Sometimes we agreed with him, sometimes we didn't.
Just imagine that if you add the fiction and the fact together and all of a sudden the New South Welshman died - that feeling of loss that Hookesy's fans are feeling will be experienced by you.

Maybe this is a long bow to draw - but it's a way of explaining to you why Hookesy's death is so sad to so many of us.

Hookesy had this flamboyance, that intimidating factor, respect (grudgingly at times) from his peers, not to mention a respect for the values of the game, what he believed in, and captained a State side that for most of his career was average at best. Read in his autobiography how he got SA to the Shield in 81-82 after they had finished bottom the year before, basically by believing his team could do the job if they had the same belief. ( Some 20 years later he instilled that same belief in an underachieving Victorian team) He not only commentated on the game that he loved BUT also managed to commentate on Footy (in SA AND at the highest level) with great poise. He is not only remembered for his cricket feats on and off the field, he is also remembered for his radio/TV work. As Ravi Shastri put it ( the only contact he would have had with Hooksey was the Indian tour of 2001), he was the consumate all-round professional.

Michael Slater (as much as I admired him, loved the way he played and felt for him, the way he was ****ed around by the selectors) his comparison is a very poor one indeed. If you are going to compare Hookesy with a New South Welshman (or similar credentials) in the same era, Geoff Lawson would be your man, or Mike Whitney to a lesser extent