From knuckle balls to knuckle sandwiches: apparently Adam Hollioake has a new hobby
A couple of weeks ago we speculated that the only careers available to ex cricketers were media gigs or ‘proper jobs’ i.e. mundane office affairs that involve number crunching and clerical chores. Only charismatic supermen like Michael Vaughan and Shane Warne had any other option i.e. advertising Advanced Hair Hats. However, Adam Hollioake has proved otherwise. There’s plenty of opportunities and adventure out there for washed-up up former cricketers – especially if one is willing to have the living daylights kicked out of oneself in order to entertain an audience of red necks.
In case you haven’t heard, Hollioake is the latest idiot to try out cage fighting. He isn’t going pro quite yet – apparently his wife has a few reservations after watching his first bout – but the former Surrey and England cult hero reckons the thrill he gets from beating up someone he’s never met (whilst simultaneously being beaten to a pulp himself) is greater than anything he experienced in cricket. He obviously didn’t play at Grace Road in early April then.
We’ve got to say that we’re a little surprised by Hollioake’s bizarre taste in entertainment. We expected something like this from Steve Kirby or Andre Nel – blokes who routinely start fights with their own reflections – but Hollioake always seemed like a sensible bloke. What possessed a former Surrey and England ODI captain to take up a sport that makes WWE wrestling look cerebral?
It will be interesting to see if Hollioake turns out to be a trend setter. What other insane pursuits might former cricketers try? How long before we hear that Alan Igglesden is now a professional lion tamer; or Ian Austin a synchronised swimmer? After all, Darren Gough is now a football pundit on TalkSport and as for Lance Cairns … well, we know all about his penchant for packing and selling fudge.
James Morgan
If you thought Hollioake was sensible then you haven’t read any autobiographies that cover the West Indies tour of 97/98 that he was on. When England were batting on the highly dangerous pitch at Sabina Park before the match was abandoned the only lunatic that wanted to bat was Hollioake. I remember the description from Tufnell’s book essentially said that he was a headcase!
Talk about a total change of career, at bit risky at 40 but good luck to him!
Adam and I fought on the same card together, he is no ‘idiot’ as you put us, he was fantastic to everyone that spoke to him afterwards and a gentleman to his opponent like we all are after a Mixed Martial Arts contest. You will never meet better people in any sport. Adam has a background in boxing as well if you had actually looked into it. Also our audience are not all ‘red necks’ as you put it if I remember correctly some of the Queensland Reds Rugby team were there to watch as well as normal everyday business men. At least have something constructive to say about us ‘idiots’ or look into what ‘cage fighting’ really is before you write that rubbish again.
Red Necks on the Gold Coast? Now I have heard it all. Clearly someone didn’t do their research hahaha. Complete and total rubbish this piece is.
I know a lot of Victorians who would call people on the Gold Coast rednecks ;-)
Seriously guys, get a sense of humour. This is a tongue in cheek article and harmless banter. Hollioake himself has a sense of humour about his love of extreme sports, so why you guys don’t I can only guess. Maybe because the sport you love has a misunderstood reputation as being violent and senseless. I’m not saying I think it is – but that’s the public perception, so people are going to joke about it. Just like people (yourselves included I Imagine) joke about politicians being weak and spineless etc, even though they’re highly intelligent and driven people who have to be strong to survive in the careers they’ve chosen.
For people who love fighting, I’m surprised you haven’t got thicker skins. Next week we might write about ex-cricketers who love sky-diving – and jest they’re mad. Do you think we’ll be inundated with comments from angry sky-divers anxious to prove that they’re actually sane (and the nicest people you’d ever likely to meet)??? Somehow I think not.
Here’s a link to Hollioake’s website by the way. http://bit.ly/HN5bci What a character! You can see why he was such a gutsy cricketer. A little bit nuts? Well, maybe. Have a read and make your own minds up.
He jokes that he might be ‘a bit of a thug’ because he prefers fighting to golf, and talks about how he severely injured one opponent and moved his orbital bone 5mm – thus devastating his wife, who doesn’t approve of his new hobby. However, you’ve got to respect that fact that the guy is totally honest, and brave enough to do what he loves doing. People will say he’s crazy for taking part in a sport he calls ‘licensed unlicensed fighting’ with no rules etc, but it’s a free world, right?!
Just watched cage fighting on sky for the first time. I was absolutely disgusted. I’m willing to give most things a try, and I generally have a live and let live attitude (I actually quite like boxing) but what I saw was human nature at its worst. People are going to get seriously hurt regularly. It’s basically violent brawling. It’s illegal on the streets, so why is it legal in a cage with people watching? There is little protection on the hands (unlike boxing gloves I suppose) and the sound effects as bone whacks bone is sickening. Sky should be ashamed for screening it, and the government should ban it asap. As for the sport’s fans, I suggest you stick to tekken on PlayStation. I seriously fear there’s something wrong with you. Sure you’ll revel in your beloved subculture, but the bottom line is that it’s barbaric. Civilization should be moving forwards not backwards.