Labels have always existed but they’ re thereto be broken
WE’RE QUICK TO PIGEON-HOLE SOMEONE INTO A ROLE WE BELIEVE THEY FIT. WHAT’S EXCITING ABOUT SPORT, THOUGH, IS HOW SUCH LABELS CAN BECOME UNSTUCK.....
PEOPLE like to label things; it gives us a sense of comfort knowing that everything has its place. Labels are our way of identifying people too, however these labels can sometimes be restrictive or inaccurate. We need to understand that people in particular can outgrow labels. However, forgive the pun, but labels can stick.
There is a negative spotlight shining on Irish sport at the moment. The Olympic ticket fiasco has become the elephant in the room in all sport related conversations. It cannot be addressed as the investigation is ongoing, but the potential corruption is eating away at the very core of what sport represents in our country. So last weekend’s action served to reinforce why sport is good for the soul. There is a feel good factor associated with seeing people push themselves to their perceived limits and then surpass them.
It was refreshing to finally watch a classic football game this season; hard and tough, just like the old days apparently. Overall it was attacking football; tactical and fierce, intense and adrenalin pumping. There were many men who exuded the necessary credentials to earn the player of the match award last Sunday but despite being a mere 5f 10’’, Kevin McManamon stood higher than the rest. His performance epitomised that of a leader. “Do as I do, not as I say”.
His honesty of effort was a joy to watch. And what about Paul O’ Donovan winning the gold at the World Rowing Championships in Rotterdam? Not content with just having an Olympic silver medal with his brother, he pushed on again, growing in stature by three, four or five times compared to when he first set foot on the plane to Rio. He is half of a double act that makes you realise authenticity still reigns supreme above all else. Labels can become a permanent tag formed from a temporary situation. Let’s take Kevin McManamon as an example. This guy has this All-Ireland titles to his name. Known to many as a supersub, last weekend he broke the mould and firmly showed the entire country – and Jim Gavin – that he is worthy of a regular starting 15 spot moving forward.
He was named in the starting team earlier in the week but still donned the number 24 jersey proudly on his back. This is the same number he wore back in the 2011 All-Ireland Final, when his 64th minute goal broke Kerry hearts. Ironically, while that was his most famous moment in a Dublin jersey, it’s also the moment that solidified his role as a supersub for the Dubs.
He has been trying to shrug that label ever since.
In 2013, yet again, his introduction to the field of play resulted in a goal against Kerry in the All-Ireland Semi Final. In 2015, versus Mayo, he duly obliged with another ‘ three pointer’ after springing from the bench. The Number 24 jersey became synonymous with his name for the past few seasons. What is no longer synonymous with Kevin Mac is the supersub tag. But he still wears the jersey as a reminder of the label he fought so hard to defy. His hard work has finally allowed him to leave that pigeon-hole behind once and for all.
And then we have the O’Donovan brothers. Their one liners and West Cork cheeky grins are uplifting to say the least. When people think of Olympian they think of supremely disciplined athletes who have dedicated their lives to their sport. They are intensely focused and have spent four years developing endless strategies for their competitive battles on what is the biggest stage in the world.
What do the boys do? They pull like a dog, from A to B as fast as they can. They are shrude, intelligent and unequivocally brilliant at what they do, but these are two unassuming men from Skibbereen that talk about their granny’s brown cake as being the secret to their success.
People have welcomed them into their hearts because they continue to be who they are, whether on shore or on the water.
Labels exist in the world. But they can be broken. Ultimately you can be whatever you want to be if you stay true to who you are and work like a dog. Now I’m off to have some of my mam’s brown cake. Hopefully it might make me an Olympian in four years.
IT WAS REFRESHING TO FINALLY WATCH A CLASSIC FOOTBALL GAME THIS SEASON, HARD AND TOUGH LABELS CAN BECOME A PERMANENT TAG FORMED FROM A TEMPORARY SITUATION