Heroes to Zeroes

Can't help feeling pity for Lee Chong Wei.

Just came back to Bolehland from Beijing, smashed to smithereens( Rizal's words) by Lin Dan, now he is in limelight for all the wrong reasons. Just check NST's Vijesh Rai take on him today...you'll get what i mean. Sigh...

Phew...he only got a silver medal, mind you. Who remembers 2ND placing after all? ....and now a Datukship from Penang? That's too much OK...ain't 300K and a lifelong monthly pension of 3K not enough for now?

Sure, you can grant him Datukship later after he has retired but now? I don't know but tend to agree to the notion of political gamesmanship....and the cheque presentation will be done at Bukit Mertajam where Permatang Pauh by-election will be contested on Aug 26. What does that tell you?

Chong Wei is not Penang born. He was born in Perak, a state now governed by PR. His family migrated to Penang when he was already a teenager.

Guess, that conferment of Datuk to Nicol David earlier has set a precedence, a bad one though.

Now, whoever it was who mooted the idea ought to be seen as fair thus the same award to Chong Wei. That begs a question for another Penangite Esther Cheah for she too won international accolades, why no Datuk for her?

I'm not against rewarding athletes with monetary perks or even Datukship for that matter but the timing is wrong. Award him or her or him/her when they retire ala Mokhtar, Ghani Minhat or Boon Bee. Not now....but LATER.

And please, don't hold any thanksgiving dinners, kenduris and what not for him. Look at what happened to doubles pair KKK-TBH. Where are they now in world rankings?

Touted as gold medal prospect after winning All England, were they not feted like kings and queens when they touched down at KLIA? Those kenduris and all...

All those beras siam do make them FAT and I foresee Chong Wei to be there in London as well, the back up players not forthcoming. So do not spoil him, PLEASE!