by CHRIS DEHRING

I have read with interest various articles on the chronology of the hosting of the Cricket World Cup. Please allow me to summarise the facts for you.

In 1998, with the full knowledge and encouragement of the CARICOM Heads of Government, the WICB bid for, and won the right to host the 2007 Cricket World Cup. That negotiating team was lead by the Hon. Pat Rousseau, O.J. The WICB’s prime purpose was to use the Event to generate revenues for the redevelopment of the sport in the region, while ostensibly Governments were keen to leverage the Event for its wider benefits including media exposure and tourism enhancement. No contractual terms were yet known or available.
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Chris, you have done a good job.

In reply to Yadi
The WC has been a disaster and one can not in good conscience say that Chris has done a good job in total. I believe that Chris and Gordon must take the majority of the blame for the disaster.

I place no blame on the governments as I did not expect much from them.

Chris and Gordon sold a package and promised windfall profits - US$100 million, which was later revised to US$10 million.....and they did not deliver. They must take responsibility!! If they had delivered they would be basking in all the glory!!!

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Could u now address Branker's issues in chronological order as well?

In reply to Yadi

u kind sir r an ass tuh suggest such

In reply to SamlordPirate Don't know why yuh say that but the Brackner issue and the argument here are really two different kettle os fish.

Still, Dehring is disingenuous here. I am pretty sure his position was one of optimism wrt to the payoff to the region. It was on that basis that the WC was sold to the region and most of the Govt. in the region bought it the way he sold it. To now come with that argument is downright disgraceful.

In reply to Rastaman
I agree with you - we should shoot his rass with shite. Fugging disgrace, did he go to Campion like JohnBull also?

In reply to Rastaman

Of course, Dehring's estimates were optimistic and overly so. His point is that everyone went into this deal with their eyes open. But these estimates are ALWAYS overly optimistic for these type events. Witness whats happening with the London Olympics estimates.
My guess is that EVERYONE knew the estimates were unrealistic, but they so wanted the prestige of holding the WC and that there governments wilfully closed their eyes and went ahead. Realistically, they should have refused to even hold the event, but they weren't going to do that.
Has ANY WC ever turned a profit for the host country? I bet the answer is no.

In reply to carib
Not sure what your response meant....is it that Chris should not be held responsible? Is it that since the Gov'ts were irresponsible we should give him a bligh because he got the government people to sign off on something that made no sense?

Carib, you live in the US and you know the wages of failure is you get your ass handed to you. This is what I call unmitigated disaster - not what resulted when Shiv lead the team to Sri Lanka (take note Dukes). Dehring should take the brunt of the blame and KG should be battered too.

There is simply no way Chris should walk away from this with his good name still in tact.

When he was running around giving BS speeches he should have spent some time talking about the revenue sharing agreement or lack thereof.......but alas he is only a party to a group that RAPED the Caribbean people .....without grease!!!

In reply to HumbleCalf

Held responsible for what? Giving overly optimistic estimates? STEUUPS!

My guess is that EVERYONE knew the estimates were unrealistic, but they went ahead anyway. What was the alternative? Pulling out of the WC?
well, THAT wasnt going to happen.

In reply to carib

You amaze me.

Do you know what happens when a CEO goes to the Board meeting and gives overly optimistic projections and convinces himself and the rest of the Board that the projections are doable......and then when the numbers are announced they fall short? Do you know what happens then?

Have you ever done any SEC work?

It is thinking like yours why we will find it difficult to lift ourselves from the gutter we find ourselves. Oh boy!!!

Hmmm.... Wonder what kind of UZI Chris was holding to the heads of the PMs when thy bought into the concept?

To quote several second guess proverbs

- Faint heart never won fair lady
- High reward comes from taking high risks
- Beware of Greeks bearing gifts
- Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die

There is plenty of blame to go around for all that is wrong and the price that has to be paid for the errors...

Like my ancestors said over and over, if you fall off the bicycle, get back up and start pedalling and if you get handed lemons, make lemonade.

I think we should start cussing and start pedalling and stirring!!

I dont see why we are blaming CD. Who was he working for..the Caricom Gov'ts? I think not. So as a representative of ICC? he made a presentation to Caricom. They could have said no thank you, this is ti rich for my blood, Instead the wanted the opportunity to grandstand so they gobbled up with out due diligence. So why blame Chris?

Nobody will be held accountable for not attaining the goals set for this WC, with regard to financial returns. After this WC is over, Dehring will no longer have any WC titles or responsibilities, so "firing" him would be moot. Gordon will plead his usual innoncence and cite being absent from the initial negotiations to host the WC. Frankly, this man Gordon should respect his age, resign and go play draughts and ludo with his contemporaries, as he is simply not up to the task. Like Lara, he and his apologists continue to live in the past to mask present failures.

On the brighter side, the WC forced the construction of several new sporting facilities as well as the rehabilitation of several existing ones. With proper management and planning, these facilities could be used for not only the rennaissance of Windies cricket but also to generate significant revenues for the various countries. I would strongly recommend that the applicable Caribbean governments study the subsequent utilization of the "2003 WC" facilities in South Africa.