Kerry Packer

[Blaze]

Passed away overnight.

 

[GotSpin]

Just heard about it, RIP

 

[aussie]

sad to hear

 

[BoyBrumby]

I presume that's why The Aussie players are wearing black armbands today?

RIP. Controversial force in cricket, but he finally dragged the game screaming & kicking into the 20th century with WSC.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Whatever people say, IMO WSC was absolutely vital for a game in financial decline. RIP.

 

[GotSpin]

Whatever people say, IMO WSC was absolutely vital for a game in financial decline. RIP.

Yep, second that

 

[parttimer]

A great man. RIP

 

[LongHopCassidy]

RIP. Arguably the instigator of cricket as it's played today. Also voted the most influential man in Australian sport.

Any idea who's leading his media empire now?

 

[parttimer]

His son James

 

[archie mac]

I presume that's why The Aussie players are wearing black armbands today?

Yep that is the reason. A story of the great man I heard:

In a casino in the USA there was a loud mouthed person making a lot of noise in the high rollers room. Packer said 'Shut up' The fellow replied in a raised voice "do you know who I am?"

"Don't worry about who you are, how much are you worth" inquired Packer

"I am worth 140 million dollars" said the other fellow still yelling

Kerry Packer picked up a chip and said "Lets flip for it"

 

[masterblaster]

RIP Kerry Packer, a true pioneer and I'm sure his legacy will live on for many a generation.

 

[Craig]

RIP, if it weren't him where would cricket be?

 

[Deja moo]

RIP, if it weren't him where would cricket be?

Healthy still.

 

[Jono]

One must respect what he did for our great game. It takes an adventurous man to do what he did, and it worked.

RIP.

 

[Nate]

He did a lot for cricket. I`ll leave it there.

 

[JASON]

IMO his major contribution was in the development of ODI cricket as it is played today and in turning it into an entity that can be consumed or appreciated by the General Public and TV audiences alike, thus generating great revenue for the sport .

 

[luckyeddie]

It's worth pointing out that the only reason WSC came along was that the ACB turned down his offer of 1.5 million dollars a year to broadcast the tests and Shield cricket on Channel 9.

There was no hidden, philanthropic reason - just a desire to show cricket on his channel and he did that in a fit of pique.

The benefits were many though, and out-weigh the reasons.

As a by-product, the players received up to 10 times their normal fees to go over to WSC, and that plus the coloured clothing, white balls and floodlights went a long way to giving a lease of life to a dying game.

 

[archie mac]

It's worth pointing out that the only reason WSC came along was that the ACB turned down his offer of 1.5 million dollars a year to broadcast the tests and Shield cricket on Channel 9.

There was no hidden, philanthropic reason - just a desire to show cricket on his channel and he did that in a fit of pique.

The benefits were many though, and out-weigh the reasons.

As a by-product, the players received up to 10 times their normal fees to go over to WSC, and that plus the coloured clothing, white balls and floodlights went a long way to giving a lease of life to a dying game.

Not so sure about the dying game, the 1974/75 and 1975/76 tours of Aust. were played in front of pack houses, not to mention the centenery Test. Also the WC had started in England in 1975. So I imagine he wanted the TV rights because the Cricket was a high rater. And not just because it gave him the min. amount of locally produced Aust. TV required by law.

 

[social]

Not so sure about the dying game, the 1974/75 and 1975/76 tours of Aust. were played in front of pack houses, not to mention the centenery Test. Also the WC had started in England in 1975. So I imagine he wanted the TV rights because the Cricket was a high rater. And not just because it gave him the min. amount of locally produced Aust. TV required by law.

As Richie Benaud said today, "If Packer had not come along, cricket would eventually have reached the the stage where it's at today, just 10 - 20 years later."

Interesting story told about him today by Ian Chappell.

In '79, Aus WSC toured WI.

Players from both countries signed contracts based on daily rate.

Bean counter then demanded that players take pay cut as tour was financially unviable otherwise.

Despite grumblings, both sets of players agreed as they would still be handsomely remunerated (more than 10 * what ACB-backed tourists had been paid to tour WI previous season)

Packer met players on arrival in WI and asked if there were any problems.

One player said he was disappointed that original contract terms had to be renegotiated but was all for the best as tour could now go ahead.

Packer exploded, sacked the bean-counter and fulfiled players contracts to the tune of an additional $580,000.

When asked by Ian Chappell why he felt the need to pay when players had agreed to revised terms, Packer responded.

"$580,000 wont bankrupt company but a failure to fulfil its' obligations will."

Imagine the ICC taking that stance?

 

[archie mac]

As Richie Benaud said today, "If Packer had not come along, cricket would eventually have reached the the stage where it's at today, just 10 - 20 years later."

Interesting story told about him today by Ian Chappell.

In '79, Aus WSC toured WI.

Players from both countries signed contracts based on daily rate.

Bean counter then demanded that players take pay cut as tour was financially unviable otherwise.

Despite grumblings, both sets of players agreed as they would still be handsomely remunerated (more than 10 * what ACB-backed tourists had been paid to tour WI previous season)

Packer met players on arrival in WI and asked if there were any problems.

One player said he was disappointed that original contract terms had to be renegotiated but was all for the best as tour could now go ahead.

Packer exploded, sacked the bean-counter and fulfiled players contracts to the tune of an additional $580,000.

When asked by Ian Chappell why he felt the need to pay when players had agreed to revised terms, Packer responded.

"$580,000 wont bankrupt company but a failure to fulfil its' obligations will."

Imagine the ICC taking that stance?

I read that in Chappelli's latest book, a good friend to have but a bad enemy I should think.