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Testimonials for individuals - in the GAA?

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Over half going to Charity. Kerry Co board and his Club getting a slice too. Which was a good thing for Cooper. Most players if given the chance would like to help or reward their Club or County. He is obviously making a bit, too between the testimonial and the book. FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2872 - 11/10/2017 14:47:32 2054692 Link
Replying To westkerry: "Sorry Demon my last post was a bit smart no need for it. I wouldn't begrudge any GAA player following Colms testimonial. The Coopers/Caravans/Brogans have earned it in my eyes, that's not the amateur ethos we grew up with but in my eyes the GAA went away from that principal many years ago and the players will eventually follow." "The Coopers/Caravans/Brogans have earned it in my eyes" There's an implication there that others haven't. I'd love to know the benchmark. Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 11/10/2017 15:29:24 2054714 Link
Replying To Breffni39: ""The Coopers/Caravans/Brogans have earned it in my eyes" There's an implication there that others haven't. I'd love to know the benchmark." Every player is entitled to hold a testimonial if they so wish, they are private citizens. The names above are marquee players who would attract a lot more interest than other players. A testimonial for a lad from Manchester Utd would obviously have more interest that a lad from Bray wanders. That's life. westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 11/10/2017 17:20:28 2054741 Link
Replying To westkerry: "Every player is entitled to hold a testimonial if they so wish, they are private citizens. The names above are marquee players who would attract a lot more interest than other players. A testimonial for a lad from Manchester Utd would obviously have more interest that a lad from Bray wanders. That's life." Well the comparisons with other sports are completely irrelevant. I guess it's just scoring forwards that deserve testimonials then. Everyone else's contributions are clearly not worthy enough. Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 12/10/2017 10:00:06 2054816 Link
People acting as if it's a one way street, that Gooch has done so much for the GAA and the GAA has done nothing for him in return. I think he's done okay for himself on and off the pitch. Book deal, job with the Examiner, a job with RTÉ, etc. And people seem to think that the GAA are slave labourers. There's no contracts, no one forces you to do anything, you don't have to get up at 5.30am to go training before work, you don't have to drive cross country after work to go training, you do it because you love it and if you don't, you don't have to. I personally don't agree with this testimonial because a) why demand so much money per table? It's for one guy. And who wants to pay €500 for a dinner exactly? Play a testimonial match or something. And b) It's like asking to be rewarded for playing an amateur sport. What should happen in my opinion is a team of a particular era, like the Kerry/Tyrone teams of the 00's, the 4 in a row Kilkenny team or the present day Dublin team, the Cork lady footballers, they should have some sort of testimonial to celebrate their achievements, as a team. But hey, that's just my two cents. ~ PHS Pope_has_spoken (Dublin) - Posts: 138 - 12/10/2017 11:47:13 2054833 Link
Replying To browncows: "Dis agree with you. Supporters go to support teams -not individuals The All - Ireland has always been a packed house. As a county in terms of earning revenue to the GAA coffers they would be well down the line as they only come out when their team gets top finals (no disrespect but they have been that used to winning). The current leading ones at present would be Dublin, Mayo, some Ulster teams and then some of the top hurling counties." and teams wouldnt get near croke park if it wasnt for those players alano12 (Dublin) - Posts: 2208 - 12/10/2017 11:49:57 2054835 Link
Replying To alano12: "and teams wouldnt get near croke park if it wasnt for those players" Alano12 your response makes no sense Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 12/10/2017 13:32:16 2054858 Link
Replying To Breffni39: "Well the comparisons with other sports are completely irrelevant. I guess it's just scoring forwards that deserve testimonials then. Everyone else's contributions are clearly not worthy enough." Keep picking holes to bolster an argument that you can't manage to make. Any player can hold a testimonial if he or she wishes not sure what part of that point wasn't clear. The comparison with soccer was to show that some people will have a higher interest /demand than others regardless of sport/profession etc again that was fairly self explanatory. Watch this space this will not be the first such event. westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 12/10/2017 13:56:09 2054862 Link
Replying To westkerry: "Keep picking holes to bolster an argument that you can't manage to make. Any player can hold a testimonial if he or she wishes not sure what part of that point wasn't clear. The comparison with soccer was to show that some people will have a higher interest /demand than others regardless of sport/profession etc again that was fairly self explanatory. Watch this space this will not be the first such event." Well your argument seems to amount to just: "That's life". Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 12/10/2017 14:51:06 2054873 Link
link No doubt the legal advice will be "yerra that's life". Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 12/10/2017 16:32:52 2054894 Link
A good article in todays Irish Independent by Pat Spillane in which he is critical of the testimonial. fainleog (Limerick) - Posts: 602 - 12/10/2017 16:34:52 2054895 Link
Replying To Breffni39: "link No doubt the legal advice will be "yerra that's life"." Is that the best argument you can come up with? Private citizens can hold a testimonial if they wish it's nobody's business. I wonder how you'd feel if one of your favorite Dublin players held one. westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 12/10/2017 17:06:38 2054900 Link
Replying To westkerry: " Replying To Breffni39: "link No doubt the legal advice will be "yerra that's life"." Is that the best argument you can come up with? Private citizens can hold a testimonial if they wish it's nobody's business. I wonder how you'd feel if one of your favorite Dublin players held one." Yawn, it's got nothing to with whose testimonial it is. Sure I could just as easily ask the same thing of you. Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 12/10/2017 17:14:05 2054902 Link
Replying To Breffni39: " Replying To westkerry: "[quote=Breffni39: "link No doubt the legal advice will be "yerra that's life"." Is that the best argument you can come up with? Private citizens can hold a testimonial if they wish it's nobody's business. I wonder how you'd feel if one of your favorite Dublin players held one." Yawn, it's got nothing to with whose testimonial it is. Sure I could just as easily ask the same thing of you."]He's not doing anything wrong or against the rules. That's facts simple and that's my argument. This point can not be disputed. Those holding on to an ethos that is simply gone and the hypocrisy of the it would make you laugh. TV Deals, sponsoring by private companies like supermarkets, cars, concerts, American football, managers being paid, players being brought to America.. will I go on? But it's important to our ethos we don't have a testimonial. westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 12/10/2017 17:33:35 2054905 Link
I'm all for keeping the GAA amateur ethos but there's a serious case of hypocrisy from the GAA here and particular Padraig Duffy in his comments today. So based on the GAA's attitude and measure of response to matters related to earning money or receiving any form of benefit in kind from involvement in the association, the following seems be the case: Receiving endorsements from sports drinks or clothing companies = OK Driving a GAA corporate sponsor provided car = OK Charging Club Teams €100+ a night to coach/manage them based on your profile = OK Pocketing the proceeds of an auto-biography based mainly on your GAA profile = OK Getting a lucrative newspaper column or TV punditry gig off your GAA profile = OK Making money off a corporate dinner = "against the ethos of the GAA" Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 158 - 12/10/2017 17:49:49 2054907 Link
Leave the Gooch alone, let's celebrate him! realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8740 - 12/10/2017 21:33:15 2054938 Link
Replying To fainleog: "A good article in todays Irish Independent by Pat Spillane in which he is critical of the testimonial." I wonder was anyone critical when the Kerry team were advertising washing machines 'Only Bendix could whitewash this lot'. http://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/living-on-the-edge-of-old-rules-about-commercialism-26327565.html golfcar (Roscommon) - Posts: 60 - 12/10/2017 22:18:57 2054946 Link
What exactly is the issue Players are making bucket loads now off the pitch Any decent Inter county hurler/footballer has the profile these days to easily make a high five to six figure sum for themselves off the pitch Brand ambassadors, personal appearances, guest speakers, openings etc etc Big bucks to be made. They may not get anything for the physical act of playing but off the pitch.. Plenty of money for the lads/lasses jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 12/10/2017 23:00:54 2054956 Link
Most people like the fact that GAA players don't get paid for playing the game, it definitely means they are much closer to their community. Cooper has put himself outside this with this do (testimonials is a payoff at the end of your career). It will defiantly diminish his standing compared to other top players in GAA peoples eyes. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1413 - 13/10/2017 10:16:49 2054995 Link
The pity is that the Gooch is taking the flak for what is a worthwhile debate to be had regardless. I put it to the lads on here simple would you pay from your pocket to attend if it was one of your own. I wouldn't pay a cent that's just me. Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 13/10/2017 10:53:31 2055008 Link