What was the Stanford Superstars project. How did Allen Stanford’s $20 million cricket match unfold. Why did the ambitious cricket venture ultimately fail. What impact did the Stanford Superstars have on international cricket.
The Birth of the Stanford Superstars: A Billionaire’s Cricket Dream
In the world of cricket, few ventures have garnered as much attention and controversy as the Stanford Superstars project. Conceived by Texan billionaire Allen Stanford, this ambitious initiative aimed to revolutionize Twenty20 cricket with unprecedented prize money and star-studded matches. The project’s meteoric rise and spectacular fall left an indelible mark on the sport’s history.
The Stanford Superstars project emerged from the success of the Stanford 20/20, a domestic tournament featuring 19 Caribbean teams. Seeking to expand his cricket empire, Stanford set his sights on the international stage. While initial attempts to partner with India and South Africa fell through, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) proved more receptive to Stanford’s grandiose plans.
The $20 Million Match: A Game-Changing Proposition
At the heart of the Stanford Superstars project was a jaw-dropping proposition: a series of five Twenty20 matches over five years, each offering a staggering $20 million prize pool. This unprecedented sum dwarfed even the lucrative Indian Premier League, catching the attention of players, officials, and fans worldwide.
How was the prize money distributed? The winning team’s 11 players would each receive $1 million, with an additional million split among reserves and staff. The losing team would walk away empty-handed, while $7 million would be divided equally between the ECB and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
The Hype Machine: Helicopters, Cash Vaults, and Cricket Legends
Stanford’s marketing strategy was as extravagant as the prize money itself. The project’s launch featured a helicopter landing at Lord’s Cricket Ground, with Stanford accompanied by cricket luminaries. A vault containing $20 million in cash was prominently displayed, guarded by security personnel. Cricket legends Sir Ian Botham and Sir Viv Richards were enlisted as series ambassadors, lending their star power to the venture.
Did the hype match the reality? While the publicity machine worked overtime, cracks in the facade began to appear. Stanford’s comments about Test cricket being “boring” raised eyebrows among traditionalists. His focus on Twenty20 as “the future” and emphasis on money over cricket’s heritage foreshadowed the project’s eventual downfall.
Controversy Strikes: The WAGs Incident
The Stanford Superstars project faced its first major scandal during a promotional event. Stanford was filmed and photographed in compromising positions with the wives and girlfriends (WAGs) of England players, including Matt Prior’s pregnant wife. This incident, dubbed “WAG-gate” by the media, sparked outrage among the England team and tarnished Stanford’s reputation.
How did Stanford address the controversy? The billionaire issued personal apologies to England captain Kevin Pietersen and wicketkeeper Matt Prior. While the players accepted his apology, the incident left a sour taste and raised questions about Stanford’s professionalism and judgment.
The $20 Million Match: Anticlimax on the Field
After months of hype and controversy, the inaugural $20 million match between England and the Stanford Superstars took place in Antigua. The result was a crushing disappointment for England and a testament to the unpredictable nature of Twenty20 cricket.
England, batting first, managed a paltry 99 runs all out in 19.5 overs. The Stanford Superstars, led by openers Chris Gayle and Andre Fletcher, chased down the target without losing a wicket, securing a 10-wicket victory and the enormous prize purse.
Winners and Losers: The Financial Fallout
Who were the biggest winners of the $20 million match? Each member of the victorious Stanford Superstars team pocketed $1 million, including four players who neither batted nor bowled during the game. The England team, on the other hand, left empty-handed, their dreams of instant millionaire status shattered.
Did the match live up to expectations? Critics argued that the game itself was forgettable, overshadowed by the enormous prize money and pre-match controversies. The one-sided nature of the contest failed to deliver the thrilling spectacle many had anticipated.
The Unraveling: Stanford’s Legal Troubles and the Project’s Collapse
The Stanford Superstars project’s future was thrown into turmoil in February 2009 when Allen Stanford was charged with fraud by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The allegations centered around a massive Ponzi scheme involving Stanford’s financial companies.
How did the legal troubles impact the cricket project? The ECB quickly severed ties with Stanford, canceling all planned events and distancing itself from the disgraced billionaire. The promised five-year series of $20 million matches evaporated, leaving players, officials, and fans reeling from the sudden collapse of the high-profile venture.
The Aftermath: Consequences for Cricket
What were the long-term effects of the Stanford Superstars project on cricket? The scandal exposed the risks of relying on wealthy individual backers and raised questions about the sport’s governance. The ECB faced criticism for its association with Stanford, leading to calls for greater due diligence in future partnerships.
Did any positives emerge from the project? Despite its ignominious end, the Stanford Superstars project highlighted the growing popularity and commercial potential of Twenty20 cricket. It also sparked discussions about player compensation and the balance between traditional and shorter formats of the game.
Legacy and Lessons: What Cricket Can Learn from the Stanford Saga
The rise and fall of the Stanford Superstars project offers valuable lessons for cricket administrators, players, and fans. The allure of big money and flashy marketing must be balanced against the sport’s integrity and long-term sustainability.
Financial Responsibility and Governance
How can cricket organizations protect themselves from similar scandals? Implementing stricter vetting processes for potential partners and diversifying revenue streams can help mitigate risks. Greater transparency in financial dealings and stronger governance structures are essential to maintain public trust in the sport.
Balancing Tradition and Innovation
What role should Twenty20 cricket play in the sport’s future? While the Stanford project’s approach was ultimately flawed, it highlighted the format’s potential to attract new fans and generate revenue. Finding a balance between preserving cricket’s traditions and embracing innovation remains a key challenge for the sport’s leaders.
The Players’ Perspective: Reflections on the Stanford Experience
For the players involved in the Stanford Superstars project, the experience was a rollercoaster of emotions. From the initial excitement of potential million-dollar paydays to the disappointment and embarrassment of the project’s collapse, many were left with mixed feelings about their participation.
Career Impact and Financial Consequences
How did the Stanford project affect players’ careers? For some West Indian players, the windfall from the $20 million match provided financial security and opportunities for investment. However, the project’s association with fraud and its sudden demise cast a shadow over their involvement.
English players, while spared the financial fallout of winning the match, faced criticism for their participation and poor performance. The experience served as a wake-up call about the potential pitfalls of chasing quick riches in cricket.
Lessons in Professionalism and Due Diligence
What can current and future cricketers learn from the Stanford saga? The importance of carefully vetting opportunities and considering long-term consequences cannot be overstated. Players must balance the pursuit of financial rewards with maintaining their professional integrity and the sport’s reputation.
The Future of Cricket Sponsorship: Beyond the Stanford Model
The collapse of the Stanford Superstars project prompted a reevaluation of cricket sponsorship and investment models. While the allure of big-money backers remains, there’s a growing emphasis on sustainable partnerships and diverse revenue streams.
Corporate Partnerships and League-Based Models
How has cricket sponsorship evolved since the Stanford era? Many cricket boards have shifted towards partnerships with established corporations and media companies, reducing reliance on individual benefactors. The success of league-based models, such as the Indian Premier League, has provided a template for sustainable Twenty20 competitions.
Balancing Commercial Interests and Sporting Integrity
What challenges does cricket face in attracting investment while maintaining its integrity? Striking the right balance between commercial success and preserving the sport’s values remains an ongoing challenge. Transparent governance, strong anti-corruption measures, and a focus on long-term sustainability are crucial elements in cricket’s evolving business model.
The Stanford Superstars project, while ultimately a cautionary tale, played a significant role in shaping modern cricket’s approach to Twenty20 competitions and sponsorship. Its legacy serves as a reminder of the sport’s potential for innovation and the importance of responsible stewardship in guiding cricket’s future.
Remembering the Shambles That Was the Stanford Superstars Project | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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Chris Bradshaw@@BradshawCDTwitter LogoFeatured ColumnistNovember 1, 2014
Remembering the Shambles That Was the Stanford Superstars Project
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- Andres Leighton/Associated Press
With a Texan billionaire, helicopters full of cash and a glamorous Caribbean setting, the Stanford Super Series seemed more like a reality TV show than a cricket contest.
Sadly for cricket lovers in the West Indies, the series proved to be more fantasy than reality following the arrest and later jailing of benefactor Allen Stanford.
Six years on, we take a look back at one of the most controversial incidents in modern cricket.
The Big Idea
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- LEFTERIS PITARAKIS/Associated Press
After organizing the Stanford 20/20, a domestic tournament series that featured 19 teams from throughout the Caribbean, the next step for Allen Stanford was to take his Antigua-based competition to an international audience.
While India and South Africa balked, the American businessman found a willing partner in the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
In June 2008, Stanford, the West Indies Cricket Board and the ECB announced plans to host a new five-match T20 series between England and the Stanford Superstars. Spread over five years, each game would feature a massive $20 million prize pool. Take that, Indian Premier League!
Amid much fanfare, Giles Clarke of the ECB proclaimed at the launch that “These matches will offer a chance for not only international cricketers but cricket at all levels—both here and in the Caribbean—to benefit. It is a hugely exciting time for cricket and particularly Twenty20 cricket.”
Plans were also afoot for a potential quadrangular international series hosted in England. There was even talk of a Stanford team taking part in a soon to be created English Premier League. All backed up by promises of extraordinary sums of cash.
What could possibly go wrong?
The Build Up
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- Tom Shaw/Getty Images
There was no shortage of hype in the run-up to the first contest.
A helicopter containing Stanford and luminaries such as Sir Garfield Sobers landed at the Nursery Ground at Lord’s. Security men stood guard over a vault packed with $20 million. Cricketing legends Sir Ian Botham and Sir Viv Richards were signed up as series ambassadors. The publicity machine, with apologies to Spinal Tap, was turned up to 11.
When the terms of the contest were revealed, the numbers might have made even the richest Premier League footballer blush.
The 11 players on the winning side would each pocket a cool $1 million. The reserves from the winning side would share a further million, as would the backroom and management staff. For the losing team, a big fat zero.
The remainder of the spoils, $7 million, would go equally to the ECB and the WICB.
Alarm bells started to tinkle if not exactly blare on a promotional trip to Lord’s. As reported by the Daily Mail, Stanford revealed that he thought Test cricket was “boring,” before adding, “Test cricket is the foundation of the game, that’s where cricket came from, but Twenty20 cricket is the future.
That’s where the money is.”
And this game would be all about the money.
The WAGs
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Stanford was filmed cavorting with the wives and girlfriends of the players during a warm-up game between England and Middlesex. Matt Prior’s pregnant wife was snapped sitting on Stanford’s lap.
Understandably, the England players were less than impressed with the Texan’s antics. One unnamed player told the Daily Mail, “If that was my wife he’d put on his lap I would have wanted to punch him.”
Stanford duly apologized for his flirty behaviour.
“He understood that the players were not particularly pleased with the incident,” a Stanford spokesman told the Daily Mirror. “He called both Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior personally and they have accepted his apology.”
As it turned out, WAG-gate proved far more memorable than the multi-million dollar game itself.
The $20m Game
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- Tom Shaw/Getty Images
After all the hype, the game was a complete dud, totally forgettable without the inflated prize fund.
After winning the toss, England batted first and made a paltry 99 all out from 19.5 overs. Less than an hour after stepping out into the middle, openers Chris Gayle and Andre Fletcher had chased down England’s sorry total to give the Stanford Superstars a 10-wicket victory.
Each member of the Stanford Superstars pocketed a seven-figure score. Four of them, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sylvester Joseph and Dave Mohammed managed to do so without either batting or bowling. Nice work for a fresh-air game.
England coach Peter Moores was succinct in his judgment about his side’s performance. He told a post-match press conference reported by The Guardian that his players had “learned a very expensive lesson.”
The Aftermath
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- Pat Sullivan/Associated Press
It didn’t take long for Stanford’s supposed golden future to sink without trace. Just months after the ill-fated game took place, Stanford was arrested on suspicion of a massive investment fraud.
The ECB was quick to cuts its ties with the alleged fraudster. In a press release, the Board’s David Collier confirmed that it was terminating its relationship with the Stanford group.
The ECB was shocked by the charges filed against the Stanford organization and personnel earlier this week by the SEC (the United States Securities and Exchange Commission). Within minutes of the announcement, the ECB determined to suspend any further discussions with Stanford and the board has now agreed to terminate the ECB’s agreements with Stanford.
The man once described by Forbes magazine as America’s 239th richest man was convicted in 2012 of running a $7 billion Ponzi scheme and sentenced to 110 years in jail. In October of this year, Stanford launched an appeal against his conviction.
While the ECB were left red-faced following the affair, the repercussions were far more serious for many of Stanford’s investors. According to CNBC, many are still penniless after their investments went south.
In terms of the cricketing impact of Stanford, the last word should go to Stephen Brenkley. Writing in the Independent on Sunday, Brenkley summed up precisely what was wrong with the Stanford Super Series.
Of all the short-form matches currently being organized, the conclusion is easily reached that Stanford Superstars v England is the most offensive. It has no context as a proper sporting competition, it is neither country versus country, club versus club or invitation XI versus invitation XI. It is a rococo hybrid. It has money but nothing else going for it.
And for a game to mean anything there must be something more important than money on the line.
AJGA Junior All-Star at Stanford
AJGA Junior All-Star at Stanford
Stanford Golf Course
Stanford, CA
Classification
Ninja® Junior All-Star Series
Division
Boys and Girls, ages 12 – 15
Field Size
78
Format
54 Holes, Stroke Play
Tournament Fee
$295.
00
Actual Yardage
BOYS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
Par | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 71 |
Yardage | 520 | 418 | 192 | 167 | 385 | 403 | 536 | 186 | 364 | 3171 | 401 | 360 | 474 | 403 | 188 | 363 | 505 | 196 | 420 | 3310 | 6481 |
GIRLS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
Par | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 71 |
Yardage | 480 | 348 | 134 | 120 | 346 | 324 | 447 | 145 | 350 | 2694 | 338 | 345 | 442 | 352 | 136 | 322 | 442 | 145 | 358 | 2880 | 5574 |
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RMA-Silicon Trip, Day 1.
Stanford, usability and news from the Apple Store / Sudo Null IT News
Our journey deep into Silicon Valley has begun! Arriving in Palo Alto, settling into a hotel and enjoying the palm trees and squirrels on the streets, we went to Stanford University.
So what do we know about Stanford? Not only the founding fathers of IT corporations Google, Yahoo!, Cisco, HP studied here, but also such politicians as Alexander Kerensky (yes, the same one!), President Herbert Hoover and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
IT was born here, in the form in which it is now. It was the Stanford Industrial Park that in the 1950s gave impetus to the development of knowledge-intensive industries and high-tech companies in the Valley. ALL “stars” of business give lectures here – from Bill Gates to Guy Kawasaki. Stanford serves as the main base for the recruitment of young talent companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and Twitter.
Stanford we saw bright and joyful.
This is how a real American university has always seemed – beautiful buildings, spacious classrooms, joyful and, at the same time, proud students.
Stanford classrooms are very different from the classic college classrooms
Even small coffee shops are proud of their Twitter feed!
We couldn’t come empty-handed:
Stanford’s church is common to all Christian denominations. Twice, as a result of strong earthquakes, it was almost completely destroyed. However, Stanford has many sponsors and friends who help quickly resolve such troubles, restoring the status quo.
Stanford has over 20 libraries. The one in the photo is the main one. Despite the Saturday morning of the summer season, there were students studying in the library.
By the way, the cost of studying at Stanford is $45k per year. For comparison, in the domestic Skolkovo, a year of education will cost about $60k.
In general, a feature of Stanford is that the emphasis in education is not only on technology, but also on the business component, as well as creativity.
This is the way of Silicon Valley – not to stamp standard solutions, but to introduce real innovations, build new businesses, implement crazy projects, say no to traditional management.
Forest Glick, director of technology and design education, has spoken extensively about how the startup spirit is nurtured at Stanford. One example he cites is that of teacher Tina Seelig.
So, during the practice, Tina distributed an envelope with money to two teams, setting, at the same time, a prerequisite: after opening the envelope, determine within two hours how to invest this money and make a profit. Upon opening the envelope, the students found $5 in it. Time has gone.
“If you fail with your first startup, that’s okay. Now you know what not to do, you know the strengths and weaknesses of the idea, you have gained experience and, as a result, you can create a really strong business.” This is the motto of the Valley and it is this approach that underlies most successful startups.
Jeff Johnson, CEO of UI Wizards and author of books on usability and interface design, talks about how the human brain affects the perception of interfaces. And how it is necessary to take into account these features to develop the ideal UI.
Here are the main dogmas that define the characteristics of human perception:
– human color vision is limited;
– peripheral vision of a person is limited;
– a person cannot keep his attention on one thing for a long time;
– human memory is imperfect;
People tend to see what they want to see
– human vision looks for structure in various objects;
People tend to focus on their goals rather than the tools to achieve them.
Jeff talked in detail about how exactly these aspects should be taken into account when designing user interfaces, giving examples of how upgrading the interface to the features of perception increases sales, increases the number of registrations, and shortens the user’s path from entering to completing the target action.
In general, summing up the impressions of Stanford, I would like to say that the atmosphere of this place strongly motivates you to study and infects you with the “startup spirit”. All conditions for development are created here: laboratories, some of the best teachers in the world, opportunities for networking with employers and investors.
The Apple Store in Palo Alto is traditionally beautiful and simple. Of course, it is not as huge and transparent as a store on 5th Avenue in New York, but all the other Apple branded features are available here: a large assortment of equipment, high-quality interior design, friendly staff and smart technical support at the Genius Bar.
The iPhone 4 is very popular (which is not surprising) and, as a result, it is not on sale yet, but we managed to use a demo copy to our heart’s content. But there were no problems with the iPad, many of our team bought it for themselves.
P.P.S. One of the Stanford teachers laughed delightedly when he learned that in Russia SIM cards are cut with scissors to insert into the iPad.
Stanford, usability and news from the Apple Store
Bill Gates lectures, the Silicon Valley journey and the spirit of startups, the benefits of modernizing interfaces and a visit to the Apple Store – in the report from the first day of the internship for students of the specialization “Management in the field of Internet Technologies” RMA in Silicon Valley.
Arriving in Palo Alto, settling into a hotel and enjoying the palm trees and squirrels on the streets, we went to Stanford University.
So what do we know about Stanford? Not only the founding fathers of IT corporations Google, Yahoo!, Cisco, HP studied here, but also such politicians as Alexander Kerensky (yes, the same one), President Herbert Hoover and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
IT was born here, in the form in which it is now. It was the Stanford Industrial Park that gave impetus to the development of science-intensive industries and high-tech companies in the Valley in the 50s.
All “stars” of business give lectures here – from Bill Gates to Guy Kawasaki. Stanford serves as the main base for the recruitment of young talent companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and Twitter.
Stanford we saw bright and joyful. This is how a real American university has always been presented – beautiful buildings, spacious classrooms, joyful and, at the same time, proud students.
Stanford Church is common to all Christian denominations. Twice as a result of strong earthquakes it was almost completely destroyed. However, Stanford has many sponsors and friends who help quickly resolve such troubles, restoring the status quo.
Stanford has over 20 libraries. Despite the Saturday morning of the summer season, there were students studying in the main library.
By the way, the cost of studying at Stanford is 45 thousand dollars a year. For comparison, in the domestic Skolkovo, a year of education will cost about 60 thousand.
In general, a feature of Stanford is that the emphasis in education is not only on technology, but also on the business component, as well as creativity.
This is the way of Silicon Valley – not to churn out standard solutions, but to introduce real innovations, build new businesses, implement crazy projects, say “no” to traditional management.
Forest Glick, director of technology and design education, has spoken extensively about how Stanford is fostering a startup spirit. One example he cites is that of teacher Tina Seelig.
So, during the practice, Tina distributed envelopes with money to two teams, setting an obligatory condition: after opening the envelope, within two hours, determine how to invest this money and make a profit. Upon opening the envelope, the students found $5 inside. Time has gone.
“If you failed with your first startup, it’s okay. Now you know what not to do, you know the strengths and weaknesses of the idea, gained experience, and as a result you can create a really strong business” – this is the motto of the Valley, and it is this approach that underlies most successful startups.
Jeff Johnson, CEO of UI Wizards and author of books on usability and interface design, talks about how the human brain affects the way interfaces are perceived.
Here are the main dogmas that define the characteristics of human perception:
- human color vision is limited
- human peripheral vision is limited
- a person cannot focus on one thing for a long time
- human memory is imperfect
- people tend to see what they want to see
- human vision looks for structure in various objects
- people tend to focus on their tasks rather than on the tools to achieve them
Jeff talked in detail about how exactly these aspects should be taken into account when designing user interfaces and gave examples of how updating the interface for perceptual features increases sales, increases the number of registrations, and shortens the user’s path from entering to completing the target action.
Summarizing my impressions of Stanford, I would like to say that the atmosphere of this place strongly motivates you to study and infects you with the “startup spirit”.
