Wilder made great sacrifice in skipping the Ashes
Only in sport are fans ‘happy’ to turn their backs on witnessing history, writes James Corrigan
It is the one occasion when you will feel stupid and elated at the same time
We have now reached that stage in the legend of the comeback when stories emerge of those who spurned the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness sporting history.
But as much as tales titillate of fans deciding that last Sunday would be better off spent at B&Q searching for a new lawnmower rather than at Headingley hunting a miracle, celebrity dictates that Chris Wilder takes centre stage in such folklore.
On Monday, the Sheffield United manager promised “the sack” for any member of his staff at the club mentioning Ben Stokes and the cricket. Wilder was due to attend the fourth day of the third Test, but elected otherwise and, as the Ashes were resurrected,
so his mates texted him pictures of his empty seat at the Leeds ground.
Wilder is in good company. George Best left the 1999 European Cup final when Manchester United were 1-0 down going into injury-time, emulating a phenomena observed up and down the land every Saturday. Supporters are indeed curious beings who, in this regard, fit into three categories.
The Wise Before The Event
On Saturday night at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Chicago, I ran into an elderly couple who were golf-mad friends of my father.
On the hotel bar’s big screen, the highlights showed Ian Poulter birdieing the last five holes to afford Europe at least a gasp of life and David Feherty boomed: “This game is tied at 10-6!”
“Not a chance,” the old boy sniffed to me. “We aren’t bothering with the singles tomorrow. We’re off to the Chicago Institute of Art instead.”
Late the next night, when the laptop had run out of “Miracle of Medinahs”, I spotted them back in the bar, the husband’s head slumped over a large bourbon.
“But we did get to see Picasso’s The Old Guitarist and it was worth flying over from Wales just for that,” his wife told me. “B------- to Picasso,” he replied.
The Rash and Entitled
A few minutes to go, your team are 2-0 to the bad and in a pathetic attempt to prove you are, in fact, in control of your weekend’s destiny, you storm out, throwing hands up in disgust.
And then, 200 metres down the road, you hear a roar and then – just as the fob clicks the car door – you hear another. It is the one occasion in your life when you will feel both stupid and elated at exactly the same time.
The Miami Heat faithful have a reputation for this. In the 2013 NBA play-off Finals, thousands departed with the team five points down in the final minute of Game 6. Within seconds, Lebron James was doing his thing and hundreds of defectors were trying desperately to get back in.
“They were banging on the glass doors, like those zombies in Dawn of the Dead,” an observer told The Miami Herald. “The police were called and kept them locked out. They deserved it.”
The True Supporter But wait, is not there a time when it is permissible to leave or stay away, because you know your presence will affect the result?
That feeling can run ever so deep. For instance, Saturday afternoon listening to Cardiff City away on Radio Wales is not complete until I have switched it on and off five times, screaming: “They never score when I’m listening – especially if Rob Phillips is commentating.”
At the 2017 Super Bowl, Zak Kornbliet whispered to his father: “We have to go.” It was only the third quarter, but New England were 28-3 down to Atlanta and Dad understood.
“That was the Patriots’ seventh Super Bowl in 16 years and the only two they’d lost were the only two times we’d been there,” Joe told ESPN. “Zak was certain we were cursed.”
The Kornbliets split and New England duly launched gridiron’s greatest fightback. “Friends say I must regret leaving, but not one bit,” Zak said. “Because it wasn’t Tom Brady who did that – it was me.”
Entirely irrational, but Zak gave up his own experience for his team. The ultimate fan sacrifice.
And perhaps Wilder falls into this gallant camp, and perhaps he did not go to Headingley because he was sure Australia would prevail if he was there. If he starts skipping Sheffield United matches when they are six points off safety, we will know he is one of us.