Friday 9 October 2009

Before the big game, a word on egg chasing


Alright folks,

I was going to do a blog on tomorrow’s game, with my selection for the side but I forgot that Il Trap likes to get in his selections early. So, while I will blog on the game tomorrow I thought I’d throw open the floor to a psychological question today, and one that doesn’t have anything really to do with football. However, it’s a subject that I think most of you will have an opinion on.

The big question. What is it that makes some Leinster fans so utterly, utterly annoying? I emphasise the word ‘some’ here as many aren’t horrendous individuals. Not many, but some. They play London Irish this evening and I don’t wish defeat upon them but I wish infernal pain among some of the number.

I’m from Dublin, and in general I like a lot of the players who play for Leinster due to their exploits with Ireland and whenever I’ve heard of anyone meeting fellas like Shane Horgan, Luke Fitzgerald and Brian O’Driscoll, they’ve apparently been absolute gentlemen. But the fans…

There’s something about the fans that just makes me think sport as a whole would be better if this entire Leinster franchise – and if there’s one sport that deserves the word franchise it’s rugby considering that it is a game that has evolved into a professional one in an era that is all about marketability, kit sales and Sky Sports deals – would just limp off into the distance supping Maximuscle Viper Energy Drink.

Walking through south Dublin city in the last week I’ve spotted people that, in the manner of many a Leinster fan, just strike me as folk who don’t actually like sport. It’s never sat well with them. Hurling and gaelic football were sports to be patronised during the summer. Soccer is just the thing on in the background of the pub until there’s an actual bandwagon to jump on (2002 for instance).

But rugby sits well with them. Or rather, Leinster rugby does.

The home stadium backs onto the disco where they all got drunk as 14 year olds, the players speak in the same accent as them and there’s now a successful team there. Sure, there were crowds in D4 years ago but nothing like the last two seasons when the side began to flourish.

But, all in all, I feel that a lot of Leinster fans just don’t get sport as whole. They wouldn’t watch aussie rules, NFL, the Olympics and any form of soccer because they just don’t like sport. They like a specific team in a specific sport at a specific time – it’s a scene more than a sport. Some would say there’s nothing wrong with that, but despite this just take the accent, the ignorance and Johnny Come Lately ‘lifetime’ fans and that’s enough for me to pass judgement.

And while we’re on the subject – be you someone from Leinster, Munster or anywhere else there’s another phenomenon that has to be addressed. One that proves rugby to be an inferior sport to soccer for one, and inferior to many others as well.

Throwing rugby balls to each other – and you see blokes of all ages doing this in some parks around Dublin – what in the name of greek buggery is that all about? You’re a grown man. A grown man playing catch. I don’t care if you put spin on the ball. You’re playing catch, a game mastered by every four year old known to man. You’re just holding up a sign saying ‘I know my rugby’ and it’s an odious sight.

In essence then, some Leinster fans… you never needed sport before, sport doesn’t need you, let’s hope this whole mad love affair comes ripping apart one way or the other soon. Your thoughts folks?

Yours in rant,
JJ

6 comments:

Jamie Casey said...

i live in leeds and how you describe leinster fans in dublin is pretty much the same as leeds rhinos fans this time of year. The super league final is tomorrow before the ireland game so i'll be forced to go to a not-so-irish o'neills in town bar to watch the trap and co. just to avoid the idiotic meatheads about headingley

JJ said...

Rugby league has a huge difficulty in that the BBC commentator on it is impossible to listen to. Once he gets his p45 I might give it more of a chance but generally it looks like a pretty bad game.

Sounds like an interesting Saturday in Leeds anyway, I don’t know if older rhinos fans are quite as annoying as leinster fans of above 40, the biggest set of bandwagon jumpers since middle age witch trails. Thank fuck they’re all broke after anglo went bust though.

Mal said...

Interesting article JJ. But are the Leinster fans any different to GAA fans down the country when their county does well? I've seen quite a few bandwagoners in my time.

JJ said...

There are definitely bandwagoners around the nation alright but that certain crop of Leinster fans – and again I emphasise it’s only a certain percentage - are my particular gripe as I live in their vicinity, hence the blog. Were I a Mayo man who has to endure people getting excited post Connaught final only to come over all knowing once they get knocked out in that year’s quarter or semi finals then I’m sure they’d be the ones I’d be after.

I think one thing that gets me is the fact that (what with rugby being a reasonably complex game to understand fully) a lot of people seem to talk a lot of nonsense about it, generally repeating sentences that Gerry Thornley wrote in that morning’s Times (ex. “they lost it in the ruck I’d say”). There will have been plenty at the game last night who questioned Rob Kearney’s omission for one thing but were they actually asked why he’s been left out; the bandwagoners almost certainly wouldn’t have a notion of the reasoning behind Michael Cheika’s decision, or indeed any valid reason why Kearney should’ve started instead. They don't understand the game the game they're 'mad about'.

Overall, it’s probably that when it comes to supporting any sport I feel people should suffer before enjoying the good times. Being a Pool and Ireland fan I’ve gotten familiar with ultimate failure and even my standards of ‘ultimate failure’ (which in fairness has been punctuated by occasional highs, cup wins and pretty much all of Robbie Fowler’s first few years with the club) barely touch the agony that most football supporters, or indeed long term GAA or rugby fans have had to endure in their years supporting their sides.

Getting on board a bandwagon once the winning begins, with plenty I’m sure choosing to jump away once the wheels begin to come off, is just a hugely irritating form of human behaviour. If they stick it out for the next 20-odd years through good times and bad and eventually learn to speak about their sport in a vaguely knowledgeable way then I’ll know I was wrong about them. I can’t see that happening though.

JJ said...

There are definitely bandwagoners around the nation alright but that certain crop of Leinster fans – and again I emphasise it’s only a certain percentage - are my particular gripe as I live in their vicinity, hence the blog. Were I a Mayo man who has to endure people getting excited post Connaught final only to come over all knowing once they get knocked out in that year’s quarter or semi finals then I’m sure they’d be the ones I’d be after.

I think one thing that gets me is the fact that (what with rugby being a reasonably complex game to understand fully) a lot of people seem to talk a lot of nonsense about it, generally repeating sentences that Gerry Thornley wrote in that morning’s Times (ex. “they lost it in the ruck I’d say”). There will have been plenty at the game last night who questioned Rob Kearney’s omission for one thing but were they actually asked why he’s been left out; the bandwagoners almost certainly wouldn’t have a notion of the reasoning behind Michael Cheika’s decision, or indeed any valid reason why Kearney should’ve started instead. They don't understand the game the game they're 'mad about'.

Overall, it’s probably that when it comes to supporting any sport I feel people should suffer before enjoying the good times. Being a Pool and Ireland fan I’ve gotten familiar with ultimate failure and even my standards of ‘ultimate failure’ (which in fairness has been punctuated by occasional highs, cup wins and pretty much all of Robbie Fowler’s first few years with the club) barely touch the agony that most football supporters, or indeed long term GAA or rugby fans have had to endure in their years supporting their sides.

Getting on board a bandwagon once the winning begins, with plenty I’m sure choosing to jump away once the wheels begin to come off, is just a hugely irritating form of human behaviour. If they stick it out for the next 20-odd years through good times and bad and eventually learn to speak about their sport in a vaguely knowledgeable way then I’ll know I was wrong about them. I can’t see that happening though.

soupnazi said...

Totally agree about tossing a rugby ball about, usually goes hand in hand with a popped collar, just so sad. Even juggling and keepie uppies, tho' having little to do with football at least have a degree of skill and a joy of just knocking a ball about. Dunno tho' sneering at bandwagonism can get a bit sanctimonious and the holier than thou martyrdom of fans like Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and even Liverpool is almost as irritating. United fans too will tell you about the 25 lean years and won't mention they were an exciting team to watch under Atkinson,the big old cuddly racist. Hardly suffering lads! Mind you I'm usually on top of any bandwagon going and hey any wagon after a few..boom boom. Isn't that a part of just liking sport too? Adopt a team/individual then drop the hoors again then once they start losing or the tournament is over it'll save ye a lot of grey hairs lads.