Why Aussie cricket legend should regret using a one-word insult to attack rival star - even though it used to be a compliment down under
Aussie cricket legend Ian Healy is eating his words following his astonishing attack on West Indies paceman Shamar Joseph ahead of the first Test where he declared the quick 'isn't Curtly Ambrose' - then called him 'champ'.
Speaking on SEN Radio, a fired-up Healy responded to Joseph warning Aussie Sam Konstas to 'look out' in Barbados.
'OK Shamar, well you've delivered crap all year,' Healy said on Tuesday.
'So he better improve, that's what I'm saying.
'You're not Curtly Ambrose, champ.'
Joseph left Healy red-faced after snaring four wickets in the first innings, including the scalps of Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green and all-rounder Beau Webster - then backing that up by clean-bowling Konstas in his second stint at the crease.
The Guyanese star earlier described Aussie young gun Konstas as a 'stylish player'.
As many Aussies will attest to, being labelled 'champ' is an insult these days - although it used to be a compliment.
In a recent TikTok video, a staff member from the Manly NRL team playfully labelled a number of footy stars 'champ' at the end of a conversation to gauge their reaction.
'What do you mean?,' forward Jazz Tevaga demanded.
'Why are you calling me 'champ' for?'
Others, including Ben Trbojevic, Tommy Talau and Lachlan Croker, also got their backs up after hearing the word.
NRL players aren't the only ones objecting to its use, with American-born AFL star Mason Cox also noticing it in his line of work.
'You want to know the one word in the Australian language that will upset anyone?' he asked in TikTok video.
'The word starts with a C - you might think I've used it before, but the word is "champ".'
Healy's attack came after Joseph said he admired the teenager's fearlessness at the crease during his Test debut last December at the MCG against India.
Asked if he thought Konstas would produce his trademark ramp shots in the Caribbean, Joseph responded with: 'Well, that's up to him. I will do my part.'
Joseph, 25, announced himself to the cricket world in stunning fashion last January.
In just his second Test, Joseph finished with six wickets in an incredible 10-over spell as Australia failed to chase down 216 in Brisbane.
He finished with figures of 7-68 as the visitors won by eight runs at the Gabba, in what was their first victory on Australian soil in 27 years.
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