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Muckross that post is short sighted to say the least. So instead of enjoying what essentially is a hobby, seeing as there are no financial rewards and the opportunities to be successful are unattainable for a large swathe of those competing. County players should be a bunch of masochists who flog themselves till they drop because inter county football is supposedly the pinaacle of their sporting aspirations. I dont agree, its simple psychology, to endure the physical hardships, there has to be some kind of reward and if that reward is enjoyment so be it but your statement sums up everything that is wrong with how GAA is going and how the players are an ever increasingly expendable commodity and the attitude of, if they dont like it they can f**k off is all too prevalent when the GAA should be trying to broaden its appeal not becoming ever elitist. duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 01/06/2016 12:49:46 1860491 Link 1 |
I think the issue may be that you are erroneously equating enjoyment with fun
greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 01/06/2016 13:16:58 1860503 Link 0 |
It's fun and a lot easier when you are winning, hard work but there is enjoyment when a team is doing well. TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 01/06/2016 13:19:41 1860505 Link 0 |
Why anyone would imagine that county championship football should be "fun" is beyond me. Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 01/06/2016 13:21:11 1860506 Link 0 |
Jesus duckula, talk about misrepresenting. 1. I never said anything about GAA not being enjoyable, I took issue with the word "fun". 2. I never said anything about county players "flogging" themselves. 3. I never said that a player should "f..k off" As for your statement that "my statement represents everything that is wrong in the GAA", all I can say is, utter nonsense. All I said is that players have to make an informed choice as to whether the sacrifices involved in playing county football are worth it for them. If not then don't do it. I think that is a perfectly reasonable point of view. One of our club players Michael Hegarty called time on his county career long before his time because he wasn't in a position to commit to the effort involved. He has continued to play club football & in his late thirties, is playing great stuff & is enjoying himself. MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 01/06/2016 14:04:56 1860526 Link 1 |
Now now now Damien ..i thought i was talking waffle..- Do You Concur? http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/bernard-brogan-gaa-players-regularly-putting-their-sport-before-their-careers-1.2063476 WhyTheLongFace (Meath) - Posts: 876 - 01/06/2016 14:32:42 1860540 Link 0 |
Muckross, apologies if I offended it wasn't the intention but if we are delving into semantics what would be the difference between 'fun' and 'enjoyable' there wont be a kick in the backside between them in my view and some athletes do describe their training as fun (http://triblive.com/sports/otherlocal/8690460-74/race-santucci-denham) whereas I am sure others will describe it as the seventh circle of hell but thats down to the individual and what they hope to get out of it. The issue I have is the prevailing attitude, that the supporters, media and the GAA, expect amateurs to not only behave as professionals, probably more professional than some of the pro's in other sports. You are right you didn't say some of the things but again it is the prevailing attitude I criticize not simply your post. How many entertainment industries and make no mistake that is what the GAA aspires to be, treat the 'talent' so poorly and leave the shelf life of an intercounty player decreasing year on year and whilst you might not have said anything regarding players being told to sling their hook many, many will have been told to do so by managers of teams. GAA is not professional, you cant carve a career as a player so it is a hobby, a past time and by definition you should be attaining some satisfaction or enjoyment from those activities. The op might not be greatly titled but 'fun' 'enjoyment', 2 sides of the same coin. Players do have a choice to opt out but then the criticism of not having the stomach or fight comes in so for the player you are damned if you do and damned if you dont and the longer we ignore the demands on the players the less attractive it will be to play IC football for all but a select few. duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 01/06/2016 14:43:17 1860545 Link 0 |
Replying To Damothedub: "Why the long face Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 01/06/2016 15:44:12 1860565 Link 0 |
The vast majority of posts about the topic is regarding intercounty which goes to show you what posters know about club matches. The club is ruined with the fixtures and never ending amount of intercounty matches. A lot of former big clubs are struggling for numbers for their senior panels . If you were a sub, why would you train for 4 months with no match and not a guaranteed start when it is played? A lot have just walked away and who can blame them... tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 01/06/2016 16:56:44 1860606 Link 0 |
tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts:1450 - 01/06/2016 16:56:44 Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 01/06/2016 17:22:29 1860621 Link 0 |
Absolutely - why does every single Gaelic Football discussion focus on the Intercounty scene!? Every debate, every news column, every former player/manager & current player/manager, every expert, every GPA statement...it's ALWAYS ALWAYS focused on Intercounty! And yet only a tiny tiny % of the playing and coaching members of the association are involved with that elite part of the game! The 99.9% of the rest of us are strung along every single year while the 0.1% get to play in the sunshine, and we start our championships as Autumn closes in. Weeks and weeks in the summer every year without a game, a lot of clubs struggling financially, a lot of referees not up to any decent standard... .....and yet the GAA peddle the same rubbish about the club being at the heart/foundation of the GAA! Any serious discussion about the state/future of Gaelic Football nationally should involve more people from a club background than intercounty background. About 99:1 would be a fair ratio. no.14 (Louth) - Posts: 106 - 01/06/2016 17:34:32 1860626 Link 1 |
Muckross, apologies if I offended it wasn't the intention but if we are delving into semantics what would be the difference between 'fun' and 'enjoyable' there wont be a kick in the backside between them in my view and some athletes do describe their training as fun (http://triblive.com/sports/otherlocal/8690460-74/race-santucci-denham) whereas I am sure others will describe it as the seventh circle of hell but thats down to the individual and what they hope to get out of it. MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 01/06/2016 18:10:22 1860638 Link 1 |
Completely agree Muckross. It's the PC brigade there are doing as much damage the GAA. There are always going to be sacrifices at the top level off any sport. If you can't commit to inter county play club. There are many many examples of players doing this. If you ask any all Ireland winner they will tell you they would prefer to win a club championship so aim for that instead.....no one will flog you you if you decide you can't commit to county football. Everyone has a choice.
The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 01/06/2016 18:45:05 1860642 Link 0 |
spot on...
bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 01/06/2016 21:14:57 1860694 Link 0 |