You know, in life, there are days when sportsmen rise above their peers and become leaders.
The footballer with a bloodied head, rallying his teammates to victory. The Ryder Cup golfer, seven iron in hand, caressing the ball fully 180 yards, to within inches of the flag. The rugby prop, scrummaging, rucking, and pummelling his way to the line when all hope is apparently lost. The middle-distance runner, kicking for home in an Olympic cauldron. The chairman of a village cricket team putting club before personal ambition.
Remember these names. Butcher. Poulter. Johnson. Farah. Lethaby.
That’s right, stepping down is just what Bob Lethaby has done this weekend after an emotional WhatsApp exchange with skipper, Jack Brundle. Yes, Bob has made the painstaking but noble decision to stand down as the number eight batsmen in the second team, allowing youngster, Will Rabley, to play instead.
Bob’s critics might say that to suggest this was an act of greatness, is a needlessly grandiose statement, and they could be right. Others may conclude that this was purely an act of opportunistic narcissism upon seeing the weekend weather forecast. Again, impossible to rule out.
However, history will be the judge of this maverick character, because the fact is, Bob is missing a game tomorrow to allow an emerging star an opportunity to shine. That, ladies, and gentlemen, is the difference between men and mere mortals.
In the words of Tina Turner….Bob, “You’re simply the best, better than all the rest”.