The older I get, the less I understand the culture I am part of. She is a sports reporter and he is a world class cricketer. In the middle of the interview, he asks the reporter if she would like to join him for a coffee. A hanging offence apparently: Chris Gayle faces Cricket Australia sanctions over controversial interview with Channel 10s Mel McLaughlin.

CHRIS Gayle has apologised for his comments to Channel 10 presenter Mel McLaughlin during last night’s Big Bash League match.

Speaking at Melbourne Airport this morning after touching down with his Melbourne Renegades teammates, Gayle said he didn’t mean to offend McLaughlin and his comments, which have drawn criticism from across the globe, were simply a joke.

“It seemed to be blown out of proportion. There wasn’t anything at all meant to be disrespectful to Mel,” Gayle said.

“It was a simple comment, a simple joke.

“If she felt that way, I’m really sorry for that. There wasn’t any harm meant in that particular way, to harm any particular person in any particular way like that. It was a simple joke … I don’t know how it reached this far, to be honest. It is one of those things.”

At the link, in answer to the question, “Should Chris Gayle be sanctioned for his comments to Mel McLaughlin?” the replies are (at 3:00 pm):

No 70.98%
Yes 29.02%

Life is a never-ending mystery.