"I was fooled by a googly"

[on-ramp]

it just keeps getting better and better. man, u just gotta love the guy for all the great laughs.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060304/ts_nm/bush_pakistan_cricket_dc
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Bush hit by bouncer and fooled by googly in Pakistan

Sat Mar 4, 12:44 PM ET

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - After all the security concerns surrounding
President George W. Bush's visit to Pakistan on Saturday, he was first hit by a bouncer then fooled by a googly.
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But there was no call for worry, it all happened when Bush tried his hand at cricket -- a hugely popular sport in parts of the old British Empire, and nowhere more so than in South Asia.

Bush, an avid baseball fan, batted and bowled several times on a practice cricket pitch set up in the grounds of the U.S. embassy in the capital of cricket-mad Pakistan.

Students from the Islamabad College for Boys and the private school Schola Nova, who included girls, looked on.

He got a quick lesson on how to hold the bat from Shaharyar Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"He's telling me the difference between baseball and cricket," said Bush, a former owner of a Texas baseball team.

Then the president was coached while batting at the wicket by Salman Butt, a member of Pakistan's cricket team, with Inzamam-ul-Haq, the team captain, nearby to also lend his expertise.

Bush needed some help.

One ball pitched short, a bouncer in cricket terminology, kicked up off the turf to strike the president on the shoulder.

Luckily, he was playing with tennis balls, much softer than rock-hard cricket balls.

Bush was bamboozled again.

"I was fooled by a googly," he joked later at a state dinner on Saturday evening.

The googly is a ball bowled across the batter, but which turns back in toward him after it bounces.

Bush saved the best until last, walloping the ball high into some trees.

"Not bad for a first time," one boy said.

Bush, in Pakistan on the last leg of a tour of South Asia, was modest about his cricket debut.

"Haven't quite got the skills yet," said Bush, the sleeves on his blue shirt rolled up.

Pakistan's most famous-ever cricketer, former captain-turned-politician Imran Khan, spent Saturday confined to his home where authorities detained him to thwart his plan to lead a march to protest against Bush's visit.

[on-ramp]

ouch. looks like it hurts.

[bigchillcar]

i thought cricket thingys have wooden cylinder-shaped pieces on the end of the handle to strike with? that thing looks like a paddle?
ryan

[DaveE]

It sorta looks like he's trying to play golf with that thing.

[kach22i]

Luckily, he was playing with tennis balls, much softer than rock-hard cricket balls.

Awe Shucks!

[Overpaid Slacker]

Cricket is difficult to begin with; add on having been conditioned to playing baseball since you were a kid, and it is next to impossible to re-coordinate yourself to do. See how I know below.
Batting (along the line insted of across it) or Bowling (do not bend your elbow, or "chuck") are not "batting" or "pitching" as baseball fans know it. I'd rather watch cricket than baseball any day of the week.

Kach -- you're in "awe"? Or do you mean "aww", and it is simply your lack of command of the English language, which you so enjoy needling Bush about, that is the source of your fault?

JP
Lesotho National Cricket Team 1992-1993
Pace bowler, middle batsman
S.U. Cricket team 1993
Univ. of Mich Cricket Team 1994

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
Kach -- you're in "awe"? Or do you mean "aww", and it is simply your lack of command of the English language, which you so enjoy needling Bush about, that is the source of your fault?

I'm not sure what dictionary you are using Poindexter, mine says awe or aw, not aww.

Next time you try to act superior and correct someone, try your best to be right. For that matter, try to be in the right, much more important.