Tom Waterhouse has driven me to this.
The scion of the Waterhouse racing family appearing far too often on my television to declare that while he possessed no actual talent he would happily part me with my money was – as they say – the last straw.
Watching the Wallabies get smashed by the Kiwis in the World Cup was hard enough without watching Waterhouse continually pop up on my screen asking for cash like some transient beggar.
Fascinating also that while he had mum Gai on the ad, dad Robbie was nowhere to be seen. Why would that be?
So this year, for the first time since I was about 10 years old, I will not be betting on the Melbourne Cup. In the era of the mass protest, this is my micro protest. I feel confident the TAB will survive without my $50 contribution but nonetheless it will make me feel a little better.
It pains me to take this step. By no means am I a punter. In fact horse racing bores me rigid, but the Melbourne Cup is something else again.
There is something about it that is quintessentially Australian. It involves a long lunch, quite a few beers and cheering like mad for some dumb animal. It’s a day that brings the country together for a common purpose, even if it is to get pissed and bunk off from work.
My first memory of the Cup was as a recently arrived 10 year-old immigrant from Scotland. There I was sitting in my classroom when the teacher stopped everything and switched on the radio and we all listened to the Cup. I was completely flummoxed but hooked.
But this year I must withdraw myself from the field.
It feels like we are standing in a deluge of betting with no umbrella. It is forced down our throats, forced up our bums and any other orifice you care to contemplate. It feels like time to take a stand, no matter how futile.
Betting ads have infiltrated our football games, our cricket games. Rugby league appears to be more interested in betting than sport. Then we have sports betting websites, the TAB, Sportsbet, Centrebet, Betfair. Enough already.
Then there is Clubs Australia and its campaign against pokie laws. Here’s a tip. Anybody that uses the term “It’s un-Australian” has no moral or intellectual argument of any note. It’s a term popular with the truly stupid.
Part of this rant is provoked by a concern that betting on sport is likely to corrupt the sport in some fashion. Betting scandals in horse racing have always been part of the scene. Now they have spread to AFL, league and cricket. Match fixing in soccer cannot be ruled out as well.
But most of it stems from just being increasingly sick of being implored by various types to part with my hard earned while just trying to watch a decent game of footy.
Perhaps I am just a prude. Perhaps I am a boring fart, maybe even a wowser. So be it. This year I will watch the Cup as always. But only as a disinterested spectator. It will be an unusual experience.
Maybe next year I won’t be quite so grumpy. Hopefully Waterhouse will have gone out of business and I can have another punt.
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
Most commented