Packer vs Murdoch

[Bismark]

Watching the Howzat! mini series last night, I can't help but feel that Kerry Packer is being painted as a hero, someone who really changed cricket and fought against the reluctance of the existing cricket boards.

This is EXACTLY what Murdoch attempted, but failed, to do.

Do you think that what Murdoch did was good for NRL, or did it ruin the game? Look what Packer did for cricket, seeing he was allowed to win.

 

[Tigersmurf]

Murdoch absolutely ruined the game with that pri%# John Ribot!

The difference is that Packer was happy to let the respective governing bodies run the game - he only wanted the TV rights and only for One Day Cricket. I was amazed that they knocked this back as I thought his offer was overly generous!

Murdoch caused traditional clubs like Norths to fail at the expense of new clubs like Melbourne. Then there were clubs that had only just come into the comp and then jumped ship straight across to Super League at the expense of foundation clubs. Norths, Wests, Balmain, Souths were all disadvantaged for staying loyal. Then a basket case club like Cronulla can stay because they jumped ship.

It will always leave a very sour taste in my mouth and I will never respect clubs like Canberra, Penrith and Canterbury again! It did give me a new respect for Newcastle (where I now live), as they stayed solid and loyal when the money was being thrown at them from everywhere.

 

[happy_tiger]

Watching the Howzat! mini series last night, I can't help but feel that Kerry Packer is being painted as a hero, someone who really changed cricket and fought against the reluctance of the existing cricket boards.

This is EXACTLY what Murdoch attempted, but failed, to do.

Do you think that what Murdoch did was good for NRL, or did it ruin the game? Look what Packer did for cricket, seeing he was allowed to win.

Have to disagree Bismarck

Packer was trying to pull the game out of the dark ages and making changes the would in a sense save the game with true International One Day Cricket which has now lead to Twenty 20 cricket which with its money and infrastructure has helped the smaller nations of the time

Murdoch was concerned with getting the rights of the game and basically only listening to the teams that were only concerned with themselves and not the benefits of the game

If Super League when the game came back together had control the game would be totally different and their would be no Wests Tigers in my opinion

 

[tigerbenji]

Tigersmurf you are 100% correct, go to the top of the class.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Your wrong… Packer is the only reason we had the ARL War as he attempted the same bully boy tactics with the ARL back in February 1995.

Sadely, due to the ARL rolling over and giving Packer what he wanted, we ended up with the game torn apart!

 

[Yossarian]

2 very different scenarios. Top grade league players were hardly being underpaid even before the Super League War. Murdoch wanted to tell the league what sort of competition he wanted and then when he didn't get his own way he rooted the game.

Packer was more annoyed that there was no competitive tender to grant TV rights to cricket. The poor treatment of the players was the catalyst for them to become involved.

I'm by no means a defender of Packer but his actions were IMO to the great benefit of cricket. Murdoch's actions by contast were to the great detriment of league. Packer wanted a fair go and was prepared to compromise and preserve the basic structure of cricket; Murdoch wanted things his way and would not give ground. Packer seemed to be a fan of the game (cricket) and believed it was being sold short by its administrators; Murdoch IMO couldn't care less about RL aside from making money. Packer delivered on most of his promises/ideas (Night games, improved coverage, better promotion, better player conditions) Murdoch delivered on little of his promises (still no demand for RL in Beijing at last report_.

 

[Tigersmurf]

Your wrong… Packer is the only reason we had the ARL War as he attempted the same bully boy tactics with the ARL back in February 1995.

Sadely, due to the ARL rolling over and giving Packer what he wanted, we ended up with the game torn apart!

I don't know that this is accurate Watto. Players like Laurie Daley jumped ship because they believed that the league were not listening to their opinions and they were being dictated to. News siezed the opportunity to sign them up to a rebel league.

Packer only became involved when he could see the threat to Channel 9, and then he needed to join forces with Optus before he could sign the loyal clubs and players to upgraded contracts to stay. I think Packers role was more a defensive one.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Packer was there before the war erupted… Pay TV was a threat to Nine!

The players became a porn in a very big and large grab for money and were told great stories to get them across the line to sign for A or B.

 

[Yossarian]

Packer was there before the war erupted… Pay TV was a threat to Nine!

**The players became a porn in a very big and large grab for money** and were told great stories to get them across the line to sign for A or B.

Hope you mean a pawn might! I don't remember things being that ugly!!! In any case I recall it was more about Optus v Foxtel rather than Ch 9… Even $uper League had games on FTA.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Packer was there before the war erupted… Pay TV was a threat to Nine!

**The players became a porn in a very big and large grab for money** and were told great stories to get them across the line to sign for A or B.

Hope you mean a pawn might! I don't remember things being that ugly!!! In any case I recall it was more about Optus v Foxtel rather than Ch 9… Even $uper League had games on FTA.

:laughing: yep, pawn… As you can see I wasnt very properly edumacated :wink:

 

[The_Tooth]

Long term I think Ben will be a better player then Russell :slight_smile:
Thought we must have signed Russel Packer when I read the thread title.

Good show though I enjoyed it.

 

[Marshall_magic]

I am too young to know much about World Series cricket and only can go off what my dad tells me (who has an incredible memory), but from what I've been told, Packer never wanted to control the game, he just wanted TV rights which was the big difference between him and Murdoch. Word is there may be a Super League War miniseries in the works, which I'd love to see. It would be more biased than Howzat though, with many key players from those events are currently employed by 9.

As for Packer's portrayal on the show, I found his character to be an arrogant, chauvinistic bully and hardly a hero.

 

[Flippedy]

I am too young to know much about World Series cricket and only can go off what my dad tells me (who has an incredible memory), but from what I've been told, Packer never wanted to control the game, he just wanted TV rights which was the big difference between him and Murdoch. Word is there may be a Super League War miniseries in the works, which I'd love to see. It would be more biased than Howzat though, with many key players from those events are currently employed by 9.

**As for Packer's portrayal on the show, I found his character to be an arrogant, chauvinistic bully and hardly a hero.**

****
Yeah his dad was the same, treated young Kerry like crap at times. Guess that's why he turned out like him.

 

[stryker]

As for Packer's portrayal on the show, I found his character to be an arrogant, chauvinistic bully and hardly a hero.

Do a bit of research on him mate. He was a hardarse business man - no doubt but he also had a heart of gold. What he did with WSC was amazing and showed enormous balls and incredible passion. He was a bloke who got things done. I dont know if you have met many people with true power…they are not the most courtious characters on earth but I for one respect them for who they are and what they do....the world needs them.

 

[happy_tiger]

I am too young to know much about World Series cricket and only can go off what my dad tells me (who has an incredible memory), but from what I've been told, Packer never wanted to control the game, he just wanted TV rights which was the big difference between him and Murdoch. Word is there may be a Super League War miniseries in the works, which I'd love to see. It would be more biased than Howzat though, with many key players from those events are currently employed by 9.

As for Packer's portrayal on the show, I found his character to be an arrogant, chauvinistic bully and hardly a hero.

Yes he was like that , but look at the mongrels he was dealing with

The ACB had people like Bradman who were as bad with his arrogance and petulance towards the then current players
(The players in the years previous were trying to organize a superannuation plan to keep the long serving Sheffield Shield players in the game longer as many sacrificed their working careers to continue playing cricket ,and Bradman basically laughed at them when they produced the idea, according to Ian Chappell )

The members of the ICC especially the English would of treated someone from a penal colony with utter disdain

And the English press who would of attacked him like a pack of wolves on a wounded lamb

As anyone in business will tell you , unfortunately you will have to be a prick sometimes to get the results you want , as long as you personally praise them once achieved thats OK

 

[Marshall_magic]

As for Packer's portrayal on the show, I found his character to be an arrogant, chauvinistic bully and hardly a hero.

Do a bit of research on him mate. He was a hardarse business man - no doubt but he also had a heart of gold. What he did with WSC was amazing and showed enormous balls and incredible passion. He was a bloke who got things done. I dont know if you have met many people with true power…they are not the most courtious characters on earth but I for one respect them for who they are and what they do....the world needs them.

I was responding to the OP who said the show painted him out to be a hero, I didn't feel the show made him look that way. What was he really like? I don't know, the majority of his professional dealing took place either before I was born or when I was too young to notice.

 

[stryker]

It is pretty close to the mark from what I have been told. He didnt muck around in his dealings. The bloke playing him in the tele series has done a great job.

Remember hearing many stories of him as a young bloke…stuff like flying to Vegas for the night and winning millions on the high roller tables. A classic story is him sitting at one of these tables and a brash Texan oil-man was big noting himself. Packer told him to shut up to which he replied along the lines of dont you know who I am? I am worth a hundred odd million. Kerry looked at him and said 'I'll flip you for it'.

There are also many stories of him donating millions to charities and hospitals. He was known for providing christmas gifts to employees of hampers and it didnt matter whether you were a CEO or a janitor - everyone got the same gift....He was a gruff bugger who roared like a lion and would have been a true bastard to work for....but was also a great Australian.