IT seems to be a pastime of some of those in politics or sporting power to take pot shots at the media for what they consider negative reporting.They'd rather see stories on the first page detailing the annual flower show or various tea parties.Forget about brutal killings, horrific crashes and the national debt . . . let's stick those stories inside, let's forget about the real world we live in.There's one particular politician who has assumed the position of chief media basher, taking great joy in launching a broadside whenever he/she believes this newspaper hasn't satisfied he or she's whacky philosophy on how the country should be run.To whom am I referring? Take a wild guess.But there are those in the sporting arena who also believe they are specifically targeted by the media, whinging and whining every time they come under fire, ignoring the hundreds of column inches devoted to their sport in a positive manner, week in, week out.On this score, Bermuda Cricket Board are top of the class.In the last couple of months they've released lengthy statements, no doubt time-consuming, to rebuff articles that have appeared in these sports pages.As yet, we haven't received a statement expressing thanks for our coverage of every overseas tour, every league match, every press conference, every honour bestowed on those recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and an album of photos that would fill City Hall.Guess that release is still in the making.Instead they've huddled together to find the most effective way of convincing the cricket public that they are a most responsible and respectable governing body.Two articles that seem to have ruffled their feathers included speculation that they no longer have the funds to maintain a rather large complement of full-time staff.Any suggestion on those lines was, in their words, “utter nonsense”.Despite the fact that Government have slashed cricket's annual grant, that the ICC are no longer handing over any cash following the national team's continuing demise, culminating with relegation to Division Three of the World Cricket League (just about the lowest rung on the international ladder), no income is forthcoming from the turnstiles, and sponsors aren't exactly clamouring to get on board, they insist money is the last of their worries.There's no danger that two of their most highly paid staff, chief executive Neil Speight and national coach David Moore, both raking in more than $100,000 per annum, would be released.In fact, there's been no intention to relieve any of their full-time employees of their duties.Maybe their money has been stashed away for a rainy day.Well, the rain continues to fall and they've yet to explain how they intend to finance overseas tours and continue the national team programme.Perhaps, they're also still working on that statement.In the meantime, they're ranting over any suggestion that the international career of St. David's player Delyone Borden might be over.“Utter nonsense”, a favourite phrase used by the BCB whenever under attack, was their response.But it's speculation that might not be too far off the mark.Borden has yet to attend a national team training session this year and has made himself unavailable, not for the first time, for an upcoming tournament, in Florida.He hasn't even made himself available for regular league play this season, on more than one occasion.Does coach Moore really want to persevere with a player who at the moment doesn't seem too interested in the sport, at the expense of the young guns who are showing plenty of talent and commitment?We'll see.But it's strange that BCB would go out of their way to take exception to such a suggestion.Haven't they got better things to do. Such as putting the brakes on cricket's spiralling decline in popularity.* * * *IN the last few years, cycling has grown into one of Bermuda's leading sports.The recent Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race on May 24 attracted more riders than ever before, and in the Bermuda Cycling Association's criterium and road races that followed the field was bigger than in any previous year.Early mornings and early evenings and particularly on Sundays the roads have become almost congested by the pedal pushers.That's great credit to the BBA, but much like amateur cycling clubs all over the world, they must be dismayed by the fact that at a professional level the sport has been torn apart by what appears to be irreparable damage.The Tour De France which gets underway in two weeks' time, won't determine the world's best cyclist, only the sport's worst drug cheat.ADRIAN ROBSON