our great sporting moments remembered - Melbourne Cricket Club

Munich. She wore it everywhereincluding the medal ceremonies. It washer safety blanket, her good luck charm,so much so that she wore it when shegave birth to her children.Then there’s the quirky that elicit asmile. Tony Greig’s weather watchboard, the famous indicator of that mostmystical measurement – the PlayerComfort Index.There’s Dennis Lillee’s aluminium bat.Greg Norman’s wooden woods. JackBrabham’s championship-winningRepco car.And then there’s Jimmy Caruthers’1952 Bantamweight Championship belt.Beyond all else this is the item that mostaffected me. I’ve pondered why this wasso. I’ll confess to not being overlyfamiliar with the Caruthers story and Ihave little affection for boxing.But what you might recognise in thisglass case is purity.Whatever Caruthers sacrificed orovercame to achieve his ambitions,whatever commitment and obsession ittook, it is represented by this slightlyfaded, mildly tarnished belt.When he buckled it around his waistafter knocking out his South Africanopponent Vic Toweel, it identified himas the world’s best. To be sure, it wasabout the sport and not the spoils.AFL is well catered for. Plaster duckfootballers – the small, medium andlarge that might’ve hung over themantelpiece. The jumpers of the extinct– University, South Melbourne, Fitzroyand the Brisbane Bears, and one of onlytwo prototype guernseys made for thenever-combined Fitzroy Bulldogs.Richmond Super Team toilet paper –still relevant today. Carji Greeves’Brownlow. Kevin Murray’s back brace.Bruce Doull’s headband. WarwickCapper’s boots – and they’ll make youlaugh out loud.There are hours to be lost in this placeand homage to be paid.And if this is the temple down theroad then this is its most sacred corner.Corner isn’t quite right. It is the rotundsanctuary. A place that doesn’t demandsilence, so much as inspire it.As if an ancient tribe was beinghonoured through its ceremonialheaddress, the Baggy Green exhibit isgently lit to enhance the mystique thatstarches the air.Don Tallon’s moth-eaten cap. Thepristine felt of Hugh Thurlow’s cap,which he sported in just the one Test.Woodfull, Border, Marsh and Benaud.And the most revered of all – Bradman’sfrom 1948.My wish is that every youngsportsman or woman would come hereat the beginning of his or her career. Tounderstand what they are entering intoand what they could be a part of.To recognise it’s not about the richesof the Indian Premier League or theprivilege of fame athletic ability nowgrants. It’s about the sport. Thecovenant between an audience and acompetitor, the shared dream of anation in the many games it plays.The National Sports Museum is a truecredit to all who contributed to itsestablishment. I heartily commend it toyou and offer my congratulations to theMelbourne Cricket Club.The highest compliment I can offer isthis: It truly belongs at the MCG.JULY 2008MCC NEWS 13