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| Sport, Integrity and "Professionalism"; The Hand of Henry | |
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| Topic Started: Thursday, 19. November 2009, 22:12 (142 Views) | |
| Joseph | Thursday, 19. November 2009, 22:12 Post #1 |
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Commiserations to the Irish after last night's valiant Football World Cup performance in Paris. But I was really saddened by Thierry Henry's huge error. I am sure I am not alone in having held Henry in great esteem, not only as one of the best footballers in the world but also as a fine example of true sportsmanship in for the manner in which he has represented his country and his clubs at the highest level. If only he had simply gone over to the ref and admitted his error, all would have been forgiven, and probably the ref would have still allowed the goal to stand anyway. But now? Henry will be for ever branded by that one action, such a shame. He should certainly, in my opinion, be barred from playing any further part in that competition, but that really is not the point is it? Our TV's, radios, and newspapers are full of critical comments about the incident, but so many of the sports commentators seem to be simply brushing it of as a 'professional' act, and 'part of the game'. What an example it gives of 'the beautiful game' to all of us - especially the young. Can such an act really be just written off as irrelevant both inside the game and out? Or, being played out on the world stage, could it be much more significant than that? |
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| Joe Valente | Thursday, 19. November 2009, 22:30 Post #2 |
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It was a SOCCER match, what do you expext ? Maradonna done it, England got a World Cup Final goal with a ball that did not cross the line, men get a little touch, fall over and act as if they have been mortally wounded, others seem to be rehearsing for the diving competition at the Olympics etc etc etc etc. Ireland, whose unofficial anthem is "Doe's Your Granny Come From Ireland" would have seen the incident in a different light if Keane or Duff had done it. Anyhow serves them right for playing a foreign game. Look at the privilege and honour they have already received by being allowed to play in Croke Park, no World Cup could come near that privilege. 
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| What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul | |
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| Deacon Robert | Thursday, 19. November 2009, 22:43 Post #3 |
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Oh heck. As a player and coach of "The beautiful game". I can see both points. We all wish to see it clean, but we also, are willing to let those errors which benefit us stand. Chalk it up to "it's not our year." |
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| DannyD | Thursday, 19. November 2009, 23:04 Post #4 |
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As someone who considers himself a francophile, let's just say that my emotions were not running on those lines at 10.15pm last night! To paraphrase the great Oscar W, for the linesman (never can get used to referee's assistant) to miss one handball was unfortunate, to miss two of them is carelessness of the highest order... Joe - still bitter about the lifting of the ban on foreign sports in 1971?! :-) |
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| John Sweeney | Thursday, 19. November 2009, 23:13 Post #5 |
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Yes, I see both Joseph's point and Deacon Robert's. I think after the first pain and anger have subsided we shall be left with the memory of another amazing incident which will become part of the glorious, skilful, humorous, cheating,outrageous history of this greatest of sports. But it will hurt for a while yet! John |
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| Joe Valente | Friday, 20. November 2009, 06:52 Post #6 |
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,outrageous history of this greatest of sports. Greatest of sports ?  Joe - still bitter about the lifting of the ban on foreign sports in 1971?! :-) YES ! YES ! 
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| What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul | |
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| John Sweeney | Friday, 20. November 2009, 09:30 Post #7 |
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Here's an extract from the main address at Tyrone GAA's AGM 2008 "Discipline continues to be a major area of concern for our Association. I condemn the ugly scenes which marred this year’s county final. These incidents tarnish our games. A disciplinary system which allows serious offenders to continue playing or coaching until their right to a hearing is implemented does as much damage to the image of our games as the original offence. This is not the individual’s fault. The legalistic minds of the authors of our disciplinary procedures have placed the rights of the individual above the well being of our games. We have in place a system which encourages individuals to challenge sanctions through hearings, appeals and submissions to quasi judicial bodies. It is no longer about sportsmanship and taking your medicine. Appeal! Appeal! Appeal! is the new mantra. All of us need to take a step back and look ourselves." Seems the same problems affect all sports from time to time even those of the pure-blooded fair minded Gael! John |
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| Joe Valente | Friday, 20. November 2009, 09:38 Post #8 |
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Come on John, What is wrong with a good honest dig to your opponent's jaw or a slap across the head with a hurl ? Now you cannot call that cheating. Bending the rules, perhaps. But sure, standing on the terraces, we love it.
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| What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul | |
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| SeanJ | Friday, 20. November 2009, 10:27 Post #9 |
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Moderator
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Soccer is not a "Beautiful Game." It is a gentlemen's game played by hooligans. Sean |
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| OsullivanB | Friday, 20. November 2009, 11:41 Post #10 |
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Professional soccer is a girl's game played by overpaid prima donnas disguised as men. Discuss.
Edited by OsullivanB, Friday, 20. November 2009, 11:42.
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| DannyD | Friday, 20. November 2009, 13:20 Post #11 |
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Joe, Just so that you know where I'm coming from, if I was to rank my sporting preferences it would be:- 1. Cork winning a hurling All-Ireland 2. Cork winning a football All-Ireland 3. Munster winning the Heineken Cup 4. Ireland qualifying and playing in a World Cup Finals I am too young to remember the Ban, but I have certainly read and heard all the stories of it in its heyday e.g attending a rugby club dance would get you drummed out of your GAA club...Ireland has a great sporting history, especially for its size, and I think it sad that such narrow-mindedness could lead to such division...The GAA should rightly be proud of its history and heritage, but it should have had sufficient confidence to allow members to watch and play any sport as they see fit..... Am still boycotting French cheeses though - at least until Christmas! Don't think that I will bother with this campaign - would need something of the Holy Spirit to overrule Platini and Blatter! http://www.irishexaminer.com/home/play-it-again-sepp-106028.html |
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| Joseph | Friday, 20. November 2009, 13:51 Post #12 |
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Using the terminology John Sweeney used above "after the first pain and anger have subsided.." I hope that we can come around to addressing the real issue raised by the title of this thread "Sport, Integrity and "Professionalism." Henry must be seen by thousands if not millions of young lads around the world as a role model, just as others are, such as Christiano Ronaldo (the diver), in a sport that has unparallelled coverage at all levels and in most countries - why they are even aware of it now in The States  Pundits and managers on TV often make suggestions such as "he should have gone down in the penalty area, to make it easy for the referee" and praise for "earning" a penalty in that way is widespread. The game seems to be corrupt at all levels, but not even the vast sums of money in the game can be totally blamed for that - cheating is apparently just as rife in amateur and schoolboy levels too. I'm afraid I don't go along with the apparent majority that claim "dishonesty and cheating are just a part of the game and always have been" and see that as reason enough for it to continue and be seen as acceptable. It is not - and nothing will convince me otherwise. How can it be acceptable in a sports and not elsewhere? Or is dishonesty acceptable everywhere now perhaps? A few months ago I read that the Vatican is now running a football team committed to playing the game honestly - does it stand any chance of doing so? Do most Catholic football teams generally make a point of playing the game in that way - or is that a silly question? Is dishonesty not sinful any more, or is there a dispensation for it if only used in sport? Edited by Joseph, Friday, 20. November 2009, 13:53.
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| John Sweeney | Friday, 20. November 2009, 15:32 Post #13 |
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Joseph If the Vatican team is anything like the semminary team I played against in my youth , they will be renowned as the dirtiest team around. I see your point entirely about role models but I do think the impact on young people is exaggerated. For example. tv pundits and media will scream in outrage at diving and slow motion replays will show the offence clearly and the miscreant will be decried and even mocked. Maradona ( perfectly good goal, I thought!) and Henry have been pilloried for cheating which is surely exactly the right message to give to youngsters? In years to come Irish veteran fans will regale their young listeners of how they were there ( crowd will have swollen to about 500,000 by then) when Thierry Henry hooked the ball back with his hand from the terracing behind the goal and cheated Ireland out of World Cup glory. All part of the game's and life's rich tapestry and youngsters will have not been influenced one iota. John |
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| Derekap | Friday, 20. November 2009, 16:34 Post #14 |
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Was the famous soccer match Ordinary Form or Extraordinary Form? |
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| OsullivanB | Friday, 20. November 2009, 17:05 Post #15 |
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Neither - it was a Laying On of Hands. |
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10:33 AM Nov 25