Bradman and Bart. How could you split them?
The master horseman despised the comparison. Raise it with him and he suddenly struggled to find the signature one-liner to take the sting out of the question.
So there's Bart over there, in the mounting yard at Flemington on Derby Day a few years ago. Go on. Go over and talk to him. Ask him something.
Reporters are supposed to have front, but when it came to Mr Cummings the hands trembled, sweat moustaches formed, minds went blank.
Still, you nervously edge through the moshpit of people and nudge in close to the most famous eyebrows in the country.
After Viewed won the 2008 Melbourne Cup, Cummings' long-time stable foreman, Reg Fleming, said: "There's Bradman and there's Bart."
Bart loathed the comparison, let alone any debate about who left a deeper impression on the country. Bradman or Bart? It's as helpful as ranking The Three Tenors.
But you ask him about it anyway.
"Well, I hope he [Fleming] is a good judge," Bart says. "I don't like commenting on that. He's not the only one who has said it, but I don't like talking about that one."
But then this, just to dissolve any tension in the air: "I wasn't bad at cricket – but I wasn't as good as Bradman."
Mr Cummings promptly shuffles on, wanting to shift the conversation away from himself.
When he's gone, AAP turf reporter Caryl Williamson, who has witnessed the exchange, tells you: "Bart doesn't understand that he's famous."
Since Cummings' passing on Sunday morning at the age of 87, that statement resonates loudest.
A first among equals in the mounting yard, he seemingly considered himself no different or better than the desperate in general admission.
The great Les Carlyon this week wrote that Cummings was "unknowable", and he seemed to know him better than just about anyone.
What was never in dispute was Bart's standing.
About a decade ago, this column found its way into the Crystal Club lounge, on Level 33 of Crown Towers in Melbourne, the day before the Cup.
High society and captains of industry drained expensive champagne, with one eye on each other and the other eye on the mirror. The richest man in the country at the time, James Packer, and his former wife Erica walked into the room. Barely anyone noticed.
Then Bart appeared.
He was dressed in an immaculate blue pinstripe suit, pink shirt and a light blue tie knotted in a double Windsor as thick as a football. The silver mane was swept back, like a rising wave about to break.
The room fell silent. "Look," someone quietly gushed from the back of the room. "It's Bart."
The humble horseman brought the snobs to heel. It was beautiful.
In recent years, his deteriorating health added to the mystery of the man. Two years ago, I asked him how he was. Everyone wanted to just know if he was doing okay.
"Mate," he deadpanned. "I'm 86."
He even had a one-liner when it came to his own mortality.
Asked how many more Melbourne Cups he intended to see as a trainer, he shot back with this: "I won't be seeing anything when I'm six-foot under, will I? Would I ever think about retiring? I wouldn't think so, no."
Taylor going nowhere
'Rock solid': Wests Tigers will stand firm behind coach Jason Taylor over the Robbie Farah affair. Photo: Anna Warr
Ignore the growing talk that coach Jason Taylor will be flicked over the Robbie Farah affair that's gripped the Wests Tigers.
As one director told us: "We are rock solid behind the coach".
Full support of the board? Oh dear … although we can't see the Tigers sacking and then paying out another coach.
Taylor is persona non grata with some elements of the Tigers faithful. So much so he couldn't go near the playing surface before last Sunday's clash against the Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium.
But let's get some perspective here, please.
Taylor told Farah's manager, Sam Ayoub, six weeks ago that the captain wasn't wanted. Hardly an ambush.
It's not Taylor's fault if Ayoub hasn't told his client about the situation.
Hayne Plane grounded
Humble: Jarryd Hayne's old Parramatta mates are keeping his feet on the ground. Photo: Getty Images
Jarryd Hayne's ego is being kept in check by those closest to him.
The Hayne Plane remains firmly on the tarmac (see what we did there?) by former teammates Krisnan Inu, Tim Mannah, Tony Williams, among others.
"We've got a WhatsApp group happening," Inu explained. "We're always honest with him. If he stuffs up, or he does something good, we're the first ones to tell him. He knows we're real honest about it. We don't build him up too much.
"We ask him, 'Which Kardashian girl is going to chase you now?' We just give it to him, and he's good about it. He knows we're honest with him. Keeping him grounded."
Indeed, Kim Kardashian, who needs a Kanye when you can have a Hayne Plane?
Postecoglou in doghouse
This column deeply respects Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou, but what was he thinking when he bit the hand that feeds him - the FFA - in launching a stinging attack over the pay dispute bubbling along this week?
We understand FFA boss David Gallop tore strips off the national coach, prompting a hasty retraction from Postecoglou.
Seriously, it's a bit rich for the well-paid Socceroos to breeze into the country a couple of times a year, and ask for more cabbage. Meanwhile, the very bullish PFA is demanding more cash despite several A-League clubs struggling financially.
A Wolverine, a dog, and a Bozo
Manly tragic: Hugh Jackman was on hand to watch the Sea Eagles' thrashing at the hands of the Roosters. Photo: Getty Images
As Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman watched the Roosters slice through his beloved Sea Eagles from a corporate box at Brookvale Oval last Friday night, the faithful on the hill had a blunt message for owner Scott Penn.
Read one banner: "Scott Penn: go to hell and take that clown Bozo [Bob Fulton] with you." Read another: "Trent Barrett is not Manly."
We reckon Penn and Fulton are taking the club in the right direction, but watching a favourite son in coach Geoff Toovey get the sack has been hard for some to swallow.
Not so the overpriced hot dogs on sale underneath the main grandstand.
Your humble correspondent was waiting in line shortly after kick-off when he observed a frankfurt fall out of the hot dog that a Sea Eagles fan had just purchased.
Without giving it a second thought, the fan picked up the frankfurt, blew off the dirt and pebbles, shoved it back in the bun, and took a big bite, before racing back to the game.
Play on!
Tribute to Arthur Morris
Next Tuesday, the SCG will open the Arthur Morris Gates for the first time since their unveiling last month as part of a a public memorial service for the legendary left-handed opener.
The former Test captain and SCG Trustee died on August 22 at 93.
He scored back-to-back centuries in his first-class debut at the SCG and holds a special place in the history of the ground.
The gates, which look over the SCG's practice wickets, will open at 10am and the service will start in the Members Pavilion at 11am.
A who's who of the cricket world is expected to turn out, including Neil Harvey who played alongside Morris in that 1948 undefeated tour of England.
The Week
THE QUOTE
"It's a litmus test of catastrophic failure." – Broadcasting giant Alan Jones comes out swinging over the crisis gripping the Wests Tigers. We're not entirely sure what that means, but it's a cracking line.
THUMBS UP - James Saunders has been a superstar for the Sydney Convicts - Australia's first gay rugby club - for a decade. Apart from being part of four winning Bingham Cup teams, he has been a tireless voice for equality. He played his last match for them last weekend. Well played.
THUMBS DOWN
We love Wally Masur but he needs to take a cold shower following some of his commentary for Fox Sports at the US Open. "He loves it. He just loves it. This how he expresses himself," Masur said after Andy Murray dug out a Nick Kyrgios drop shot. Deep. Very deep.
It's a big weekend for … Penrith and Newcastle as they play each other in a straight out death fight to avoid the wooden spoon. They play at Pepper Stadium at 3pm on Saturday.
It's an even bigger weekend for … the Wallabies, who take on the USA Eagles at Chicago's Soldier Field, the oldest NFL stadium in the US on Sunday morning. It's Australia's first match on US soil in 40 years.
