Sport and politics are the perfect mix
SOME SAY that sport and politics don’t, and shouldn’t, mix, but given that the weather was as rough as a haggard of pigs over the weekend, there was plenty of opportunity to get the teeth firmly into the latter.
The Irish political landscape may be changing dramatically and, although many would have you believe differently, what goes on on the playing fields can have a major impact on that social transformation.
Take for example the feel-good factor that began to bloom from Ireland’s fine showing at Euro ’88, further blossoming two years later at the World Cup in Italy, and kick-starting the purr that would later turn into the roar of the Celtic Tiger.
There’s no doubting that those tournaments played their part in giving the whole country a lift and reinvigorating the economy, although the poor souls that spent their last bean following the Boys in Green may have been paying the price with threadbare pockets for a good while afterwards.
When most normal folk take their place in the stand for their sport of choice, it goes without saying that they want a break from harsh realities, and talk of Trump, Brexit and the housing crisis and the like should be left outside the turnstiles.
However, sports stars are in a privileged position where they can use their fame to shine a light on the burning issues, and athletes in all codes have the power to wield huge influence over culture and politics, whether it be to the detriment or betterment of society.
Muhammad Ali being sentenced to five years in prison for refusing to be inducted into the armed forces when the United States were at war in Vietnam certainly made the world sit up and take notice.
Similarly, the performances of Jesse Owens as he won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics in Munich will be forever engrained in the social conscience, as he silenced Adolf Hitler’s ridiculous claims of a German master race.
Billie Jean King landed a massive blow for women’s tennis as she helped to create a players’ union, and she’ll be forever remembered for beating Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’.
When Roy Keane lambasted the FAI for putting the suited brigade’s comfort ahead of the players during the Saipan affair, he was criticised by many for being a contrary so and so, but from what’s come to light in recent months it’s a shame more didn’t take a stand against the powers-that-be.
That said, players shouldn’t have to worry about the financial repercussions, they should be able to turn up to play in the best possible environment, and given that Keane took on the role of assistant manager with John Delaney still in the hot seat, it suggests that the Cork man had no idea of the true extent of the problem.
For those yearning for a bit more sport on a Sunday that was riddled with postponements, the election coverage provided a more than able replacement.
Exit polls, tallies and the announcement of who has taken seats has all the excitement and drama of a large sporting spectacle.
Undoubtedly the big story is Sinn Féin, who have done a bit of a Leicester City on it, going from scrapping it out to avoid relegation, to not only mixing with, but bettering, the big boys.
A bit like the Irish rugby team, who overpowered Wales in a much-improved performance and are now primed for a mouth-watering clash with England in a battle of the heavyweights.
For other politicians it was a case of how the mighty have fallen, with the likes of Joan Burton and bumbling Minister for Sport Shane Ross losing their seats and slumping like Manchester United, as they’re left to look on from the sidelines shell-shocked, wondering where it all went wrong.
Some of the triumphalism from the public on social media as long-standing public representatives bite the dust may be as harsh as David Clifford’s red card but that’s the world we live in now, where everything is a free-for-all, similar to the fisticuffs in the 1996 All-Ireland Senior football final.
Verona Murphy managed to upset the status quo in Wexford, while her footballing namesakes Hellas Verona also rattled the big guns by beating Juventus on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo is just one goal short of matching a Serie A record after scoring in his tenth successive league game when converting a penalty in the 65th minute, but ex-Liverpool and Sunderland striker Fabio Borini equalised before Giampaola Pazzini scored a late spot-kick as Verona sprang a surprise.
In the English Championship, Leeds United are continuing to slip and slide and are becoming the Labour Party of football, desperately seeking a return to the top table, but they seem to be continually punished for their misdemeanours of the past.
If only they could unearth some of the fighting spirit that runs like blue blood through the veins of the Dublin footballers, a trait they showed once again as they fought back to salvage a draw against Monaghan.
You need skill, heart, courage and the ability to dodge tackles if you want to make it to the top in the world of sport.
Skin as thick as a rhino’s hide goes a hell of a long way as well.
A bit like politics.