Its the cricket World Cup and the competition is fierce in St Lucia. England is not doing well having just been beaten by New Zealand and a crucial qualifier beckons in just over a day's time when disaster strikes! Freddie Flintoff, the hero of England's Ashes win and vice -captain of the England team is suspended by the management and stripped of his vice-captaincy after he was found to have been out partying with team-mates well into the small hours of the morning. He was so drunk he fell out of a pedalo and had to be rescued by hotel staff!
Of course there was the normal hue and cry in the media - rantings about what it means to be a professional sportsman, the privilege of representing one's country and the sad role models we have for our children nowadays.
The ECB (or whatever 'powers that be' on the tour) handled the whole nasty episode brilliantly. They acted quickly and strongly: They took action immediately and even called a press conference the next day to put the ashamed Flintoff in front of the media to explain himself. He was clearly well groomed for the appearance (without his big diamond studs and hair smoothed down so that he looked like a disgraced schoolboy). Clearly he had been media trained: He stayed 'on message' giving a humble apology and repeated his messages over and over again. A masterful performance that can be seen here.
This was a lesson in damage limitation. Without such decisive action there would undoubtedly have been more of a broohaha. I for one think Freddie has been singled out as the whipping boy. Yes he did a stupid thing. Yes he is probably a bit arrogant, overpaid and definitely naive but he handled the media attention admirably and with dignity and never once referred to all of his other team-mates who were only punished with fines. Indeed the genius of holding the media conference distracted the media away from some of the more worrying facts about the night..that the coaches were out boozing too...the very people who are supposed to be the arbiters!
So will Freddie suffer ultimately from this? I think not. He has gathered quite a lot of sympathy since his appearance on our screens yesterday. And actually, when it comes to being a role model, he's not so bad! He (like David Beckham after the notorious sending off in the World Cup when he received death threats as a result of the negative media) has taken his punishment like a man, admitted he was wrong and pledged to be better in future. I hope he can.
David Beckham has just announced his football academy website and he is making a great contribution by trying to give all kids some healthy and safe pursuits and an alternative to hanging out in gangs on street corners.
It is always heartening for all of us imperfect people to see someone take themselves by the scruff of the neck, moderate their behaviour and change for the better. Beckham did it by curbing his temper, focussing on his career and now by giving back. If one knife-wielding youngster follows Freddie's example, seeing that even if you do go wrong that you can make it right, I think that would be a good thing.
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