MJ Clarke reaches the pinnacle

Heroes & Flannelled Fools,

Amid all the brou-ha-ha surrounding the Olympics and the fevered frenzy in the build-up to the football finals, it was easy to overlook the fact that, in a complete surprise to everyone, MJ Clarke has reached the very pinnacle - Honorary Life Membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club.
That is way, way better than a knighthood; it's more akin to being admitted to the life peerage - you have to wait until someone dies before you get in.
Pup is certainly in rarified air up there at the summit, with MCC Honorary Life Membership currently numbering just 36 persons.
30 former cricketers [including one Lady cricketer], one former Umpire, one former British Prime Minister and four members of the Royal Family - Phil The Greek being principal among them, the Queen couldn't give-a-fuck.
However, always found it odd that Membership of the MCC is so prestige and so coveted and sought after [current waiting list for Full Ordinary Membership is 27 years], when Lords has always been known as a sunny place for shady people, and a drinking club with a cricket problem.
The MCC Membership is chock full of shysters, conmen, hucksters, outcasts, shonks, cads and bounders.
Just look at Thomas Lord, who made his fortune from gambling on cricket, and schemed and cheated his way to thieving control of the game off the Hambledon CC, back in the day.
[In stark contrast, Kennington Oval - the Prince of Wales' Own Ground - he happens to own the land which he leases to Surrey CCC - attracts a much more knowledgable crowd of cricket punters and has a decent respectable Membership].
But, suppose everyone wants in, because the MCC has clout.
They have clout because they make The Laws.
A power closely and jealously guarded by the club even in these days of the ICC.
No one does nothing in the game without the say-so of the MCC.
As the great man enters the Pavilion the doorman will say "Good afternoon, Mr Clarke", but he'll be greeted in the Long Room with "G'day Pup! Good to see yas cobber, my dear old chap. What's been shakin', mon? A G&T perhaps, Clarkey?"
Also, from a crippled person's personal point of view, very pleasing to see that Clarkey has also taken on chronic pain as a cause, recently being appointed an Honorary Ambassador for Pain Australia.
He now admits that he's been suffering from Shagger's Back since he was 17 [started early] and has come to realise that over the past six months or so he's needed help in retirement, as there is simply no point in grinning and bearing it, because it is eminently treatable.
Don't get me started about the sheer agony of just putting your shoes and socks on of a morning.
After 40 years experience, probably should give him a ring and let him and the chronic pain folks know that about 2 grams of Cannabis Sativa per day pretty much does the trick - bugger the opioids and all that shit.
But since Pup's been down to the clinic, he will likely be right into it.
The bloke has always been on drugs, without even knowing that all you need is the herb superb.
Sir Vivian Richards can't be wrong.
Bong or scoob on, and yes, you too, can live a normal life.
Onya, Pup.