What was the Stanford Superstars Project. How did it impact cricket. Why did the $20 million cricket match fail. Who was Allen Stanford and what happened to him. How did the England Cricket Board get involved. What were the long-term consequences for West Indies cricket. Why was the Stanford Super Series considered a shambles.
The Genesis of the Stanford Superstars Project
In the world of cricket, few events have sparked as much controversy and intrigue as the Stanford Superstars Project. Conceived by Texan billionaire Allen Stanford, this ambitious venture aimed to revolutionize Twenty20 cricket and bring unprecedented wealth to the sport. The project’s centerpiece was a series of high-stakes matches between England and a team of Caribbean all-stars, with a staggering $20 million prize pool for each game.
The idea emerged following the success of Stanford’s domestic tournament, the Stanford 20/20, which featured 19 teams from across the Caribbean. Seeking to expand his cricket empire, Stanford set his sights on an international audience. While cricket powerhouses like India and South Africa declined involvement, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) saw an opportunity too lucrative to pass up.
The Landmark Agreement
In June 2008, Stanford, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), and the ECB announced a groundbreaking partnership. The plan included a five-match T20 series between England and the Stanford Superstars, spread over five years. Each game would offer a $20 million prize pool, dwarfing even the lucrative Indian Premier League payouts.
Giles Clarke of the ECB hailed the agreement, stating, “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.”
The Extravagant Build-Up to the Super Series
The lead-up to the first Stanford Super Series match was a spectacle in itself, blending sports with showmanship in a way cricket had never seen before. Stanford’s promotional efforts were nothing short of extraordinary, designed to capture global attention and emphasize the unprecedented scale of the event.
- A helicopter landing at Lord’s Cricket Ground, carrying Stanford and cricket legends
- A display of $20 million in cash, guarded by security personnel
- Recruitment of cricketing icons Sir Ian Botham and Sir Viv Richards as series ambassadors
The Eye-Watering Prize Structure
The financial stakes of the Stanford Super Series were astronomical, far exceeding anything previously seen in cricket:
- $1 million for each of the 11 players on the winning side
- $1 million to be shared among the winning team’s reserves
- $1 million for the victorious team’s backroom and management staff
- $7 million split equally between the ECB and the WICB
- $0 for the losing team
These figures raised eyebrows and sparked debates about the potential impact on player motivation and the spirit of the game. Could such vast sums of money fundamentally alter the nature of cricket competition?
Controversy and Criticism: The Stanford Project Under Fire
Despite the initial excitement, the Stanford Super Series quickly became embroiled in controversy. Stanford’s approach and comments began to raise concerns among cricket purists and officials alike.
Stanford’s Controversial Remarks
During a promotional visit to Lord’s, Stanford made statements that alarmed many cricket traditionalists. He declared Test cricket “boring” and proclaimed, “Twenty20 cricket is the future. That’s where the money is.” These comments sparked debate about the future direction of cricket and the potential threat to its traditional formats.
The WAG Incident
Perhaps the most infamous moment of the build-up came during a warm-up game between England and Middlesex. Stanford was filmed and photographed in compromising situations with the wives and girlfriends of England players, including an image of Matt Prior’s pregnant wife sitting on Stanford’s lap.
This incident, dubbed “WAG-gate” by the media, caused significant discomfort among the England team. An 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 was forced to issue personal apologies to Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior, but the damage to his reputation and the project’s credibility was already done.
The $20 Million Match: Anticlimax and Disappointment
After months of hype and controversy, the inaugural $20 million match between England and the Stanford Superstars took place on November 1, 2008. Despite the enormous prize at stake, the game itself proved to be a disappointment for both spectators and the England team.
A One-Sided Affair
England, batting first, collapsed to a meager 99 all out in 19.5 overs. The Stanford Superstars, led by Chris Gayle and Andre Fletcher, chased down the target with ease, securing a comprehensive 10-wicket victory in less than an hour.
The one-sided nature of the contest left many questioning the value of such high-stakes matches. Four members of the winning team—Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sylvester Joseph, and Dave Mohammed—earned their million-dollar payouts without batting or bowling a single ball.
Reaction and Reflection
England coach Peter Moores summed up the team’s disappointment succinctly, reflecting the anticlimax felt by many. The match, intended to be a showcase of exciting Twenty20 cricket, had instead highlighted the potential pitfalls of placing such enormous financial pressure on a single game.
The Downfall of Allen Stanford and His Cricket Empire
The Stanford Super Series’ troubles were far from over. In February 2009, just months after the inaugural $20 million match, the project came crashing down in spectacular fashion.
FBI Investigation and Arrest
Allen Stanford became the subject of an FBI investigation into alleged fraud related to his Stanford Financial Group. On February 17, 2009, Stanford was charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with multiple violations, including massive ongoing fraud involving $8 billion in certificates of deposit.
The allegations sent shockwaves through the cricket world. The ECB quickly moved to suspend all negotiations with Stanford, effectively ending the Super Series after just one match.
Legal Proceedings and Conviction
Stanford was arrested on June 18, 2009, and subsequently stood trial for 21 criminal felonies, including fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. On March 6, 2012, he was found guilty on all charges except one. On June 14, 2012, Stanford was sentenced to 110 years in federal prison.
The conviction marked the definitive end of Stanford’s involvement in cricket and left a trail of financial and reputational damage in its wake.
Impact on West Indies Cricket and Global Perceptions
The collapse of the Stanford project had far-reaching consequences for cricket, particularly in the West Indies. The promise of substantial investment in Caribbean cricket infrastructure and development programs evaporated overnight.
Financial Fallout
Many West Indian cricketers who had won significant sums from the inaugural match found their winnings frozen as part of the investigation into Stanford’s finances. The WICB, which had been counting on Stanford’s investment to revitalize the sport in the region, was left in a precarious financial position.
Reputational Damage
The affair tarnished the reputation of West Indies cricket on the global stage. Questions were raised about the judgment of cricket administrators who had embraced Stanford’s project so enthusiastically. The incident highlighted the potential dangers of allowing wealthy individuals with limited cricket background to wield significant influence over the sport.
Lessons Learned: Cricket’s Reckoning with Commercialization
The Stanford Superstars Project serves as a cautionary tale for cricket administrators and players alike. It prompted a period of reflection on the sport’s relationship with money and the potential pitfalls of prioritizing short-term financial gains over long-term stability and integrity.
Governance and Due Diligence
The scandal underscored the importance of thorough due diligence when entering into partnerships, especially those involving significant financial commitments. Cricket boards worldwide were forced to reassess their vetting processes for potential investors and commercial partners.
Balancing Tradition and Innovation
The Stanford project’s failure did not spell the end of Twenty20 cricket’s rise, but it did prompt discussions about how to balance innovation and commercialization with respect for the sport’s traditions and values. Subsequent Twenty20 leagues, such as the Indian Premier League, have sought to learn from the Stanford experience, implementing more sustainable business models and governance structures.
Legacy of the Stanford Superstars Project
Today, the Stanford Superstars Project is remembered as one of the most controversial episodes in modern cricket history. Its legacy continues to influence discussions about cricket’s future direction and the role of money in the sport.
Cautionary Tale
The project serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with rapid commercialization and the importance of maintaining integrity in sports administration. It has become a reference point for cricket officials when considering new ventures or partnerships.
Ongoing Debates
The questions raised by the Stanford affair—about the balance between different formats of the game, the influence of wealthy individuals in sport, and the ethical considerations of high-stakes matches—remain relevant in cricket discussions today.
As cricket continues to evolve and embrace new formats and commercial opportunities, the lessons of the Stanford Superstars Project serve as both a warning and a guide. The sport’s challenge lies in harnessing the potential of innovation and investment while staying true to its core values and traditions.
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”.
