Posted by Geoff Boycott’s comments about Mike Yardy have attracted a lot of criticism. When told that Yardy was being forced to go home because of depression, Boycott said:
“I’m surprised, very surprised. But he must have been reading my comments about his bowling, it must have upset him.
“Obviously it was too much for him at this level. If any blame is attached it’s partly to the selectors because I’m sorry, he’s not good enough at this level.”
That sounds very heartless, but the truth is that it betrays Boycott’s unusually narrowly focused interaction with the world rather than any actual callousness on his part, as is shown by his later comments when it is pointed out to him that Yardy is suffering from an illness:
“It’s obviously very sad, but I’m not a medical man, so I can’t tell you what it’s like to be depressed. I’ve been lucky, I’ve been good enough … until you’ve had depression I don’t think you’re qualified to talk about it.”
For Geoffrey Boycott, everything in life revolves around how good you are at cricket. Every success, every problem – all of it derives from cricketing ability or lack thereof. Boycott is not a cold-hearted man. He is just someone who struggles to see the world as other people do.
Tell Geoff Boycott that Mike Yardy is suffering from depression and he simply can’t imagine how Yardy might be feeling. His immediate response is to imagine Geoff Boycott in that same position and deduce what might have happened based on that.
the guy is a fucking arsehole. a complete, extended edition, total and utter cunt. i hope there is a hell for people like boycott, jeremy kyle and sepp blatter. i hope they suffer.
Come on mate, use better language than that and put your point across better please !!
Agreed. But Boycott should know better. He said what he said on 5Live in the morning, which is doubtless listened to by thousands of people with limited knowledge of either depression or cricket. Boycott has done neither any favours. He is not cold-hearted or callous but he is a narrow-minded, self-centred idiot.
Just emphasises the Botham theorum that a great cricketer does not equal a great commentator.
All the best Yardy.
Asking Geoff Boycott to coment on mental health issues is like asking a clouded leopard to keep wicket.
As someone from a family with a history of depression (scattered among the descendants of a great-grandmother who had a nervous breakdown) who didn’t get help until her early 30s, may I say (with some understatement) that Boycotts comments are unhelpful. I’m fortunate in that others in the extended family were open about their illness, and as a result some caring relatives urged me to get help as well.
I sometimes get angry about having an illness I wouldn’t even wish on the toxic co-worker who made my life a living hell. People understand and can see “bricks and mortar” illnesses. They often don’t do so well understanding “invisible” illnesses.
You don’t kick a man when he is down, uncalled for comments from Boycott.
So does this mean Ian Austin is defo going to get called up?
For me personally, the irony is that I enjoy listening to Boycott talking about cricket matters.
But KC, you’ve summed him up well. His comments demonstrate his complete lack of empathy with others.
There’s opinion and informed opinion. Boycott fails miserably to know the difference.
As a minor point of correction, Boycott’s inability to empathise with another human being is the actual definition of callousness and a lack of heart. It is also the definition of being a twat and a wanker.
Indeed an “invisible” illness generally diagnosed by questionnaire not medical process. Well said Geoff – it’s just another modern day excuse to avoid taking personal responsibility. Probably got ME too!
I suppose I could have myself killed during one of the many times I have (irrationally, I know, but it can’t be overcome by mere “positive thinking”, or cognitive behavioural therapy) wanted to die, have my brain removed, and the serotonin levels in it examined. Would that satisfy you?
I am not a medical man, but I would like to know what he is depressed about. Not sure if he has had a major family bereavement. But he plays a sport for his country that I assume he enjoys and has a reasonable lifestyle. There are millions of people in this country who have it worse as I have met some, and far more globally. But I am not dismissing his problems glibly as I am not a psychologist.