Sporting Cruelty

[stevecaution]

During my time as a betting shop manager I had a call from a rather posh sounding lady who wanted to complain about Fox Hunting. As our number was ex-directory, I was rather surprised how she obtained it, particularly as she was hundreds of miles away in deepest Englandshire. We had a pleasant enough conversation and she accepted that I had no direct connection with the event. A few years later however, one of my staff was threatened by one of the archetypal Animal Rights "Soldiers" who claimed my cashier was "whoring" herself at the expense of exploited animals.

Anyways, that is just a backdrop to what is surely one of the most misjudged claims of sporting cruelty I ever experienced. This occured during a quiet racing spell where Head Office wanted us to push advertising on golf tournaments. Back then we still had to have the windows covered by boards and we used to place posters on the back of the boards facing out onto the street. Prices were duly posted for a golf skins tournament hosted by Greg Norman at his own course. The tournament was catchily called "The Great Shark Shootout"

All was well until an elderly woman came in asking for the manager.

"How can I help you", I enquired.

"I want to make a complaint" she replied.

"What about?" I said rather perplexed.

"It’s about the poster in the window, it’s the most sickening thing I have ever seen in my life" she roared.

"In what way?" I blurted, totally bemused.

"Betting on people shooting sharks, it’s a disgusting sport and you should be ashamed of yourself!!"

A little while later she had been familiarised with Greg Norman’s nickname and the golfing format of Skins. She apologised and left quietly, never to return.

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

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