The Morning According to Us

The cricket team that went to the top.

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Ready to head to Coors Field, Nepal.

Earlier this week, a courageous and charitable-minded contingent of 50 cricket enthusiasts completed their quest of playing a match at the base camp of the redoubtable Mount Everest.

"Top of the cricket world, Ma!"

The undaunted expedition trekked to 16,945 feet with one real purpose in mind: To see if a cricket ball hit at this high altitude can actually travel farther than the Rawlings flying out at the new Yankee Stadium. Nah, we kid. Actually, to raise 250,000 pounds for at-risk UK youths and impoverished Himalayans, and set the record for the highest-ever sports match. Mission accomplished.

The two teams, named after Everest climbing legends Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, literally played for a higher purpose, risking body, health and mind in order to promote the welfare of those less fortunate and build strong social programs in underdeveloped lands. Sure, there's an air of braggadocio -- albeit really thin air -- involved in claiming the high altitude playing record, but the intentions were essentially selfless and truly honorable.

The international cricket world is decidedly teeming with fans of pride and deep passion. As evidence of this, hundreds of Calcutta prisoners staged a hunger strike this week, demanding the right to view Indian Premier League matches on TV. You think Sox Nation would forego Fenway Franks if NESN was blocked? Nooo!

As it happened, Team Hillary won the match by 36 runs with six balls waiting. The crowd was sparse, given the harsh climate, but still much more packed than the lower box suite sections in that new stadium in the Bronx.

Elsewhere…

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A British cop and hooligan enthusiast writes on Facebook that what he'd really like to do is "bash some long-haired hippies."

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