It appears that the alleged physical confrontation between Ian chappell and Ian Botham in the Adelaide Oval car park was not physsical but ‘just’ verbal. This correction is called for , according to Ian Chappell in the Sunday Mail, 12 December 2010. His “Memo,’ however, confirms how deep the rift is between the two. Further, reading betwen the lines one can surmise that Chappell shot a caustic remark at Botham who retaliated in four-letter kind. But what is most significant is the fact that a newspaper in England expanded on the character of the confrontation — in short embellished the tale and thus fabricated some details. It reveals to us how readers immoral and slanted some media reports can be as journalsits pursue the mighty dollar through scoops. Michael Roberts.
The Truth about beefy and me
Ian Chappell, in the Sunday Mail
Ian Botham and fairy tales are synonymous, like Hans Christian Andersen and children’s books. If he is not telling them, someone else is writing them about him. The most recent one about our altercation in the channel 9 compound at Adelaide oval was written by a guy in London’s Daily Mail who is well-versed in fairy tales. He regularly writes them for a living in his muck-raking column.
What actually happened was a verbal exchange between Ian botham and me. If blame for the incident si being apportioned its about fifty:fifty. Our verbal altercations over the years have generally taken the same route–I either make a reference to his long-distance relationship with the truth or an uncomplimentary remark about his intelligence. His response only varies, depending on his mood, to the preface he uses to the four letter word women hate.
Having seen the way it has been blown up out of all proportion this time, I’m hoping it does not happen again. The only way to put an end to the ongoing fairy tales is if we have absolutely no contact, which will suit me perfectly.
