Great Britain vs Ireland – do we care?
Sutherland loses out to DeGale in semi-final
Who’s side were you on early this morning? Did you care? Do you despise fighting sectarian battles through the innocent medium of the boxing ring and the athletics track? I care passionately for about ten minutes, welcome Ireland’s scrap of salvaged pride and dash to the Olympics table to see if “Great Britain and Northern Ireland” can cling on to third place. By next week I’ll have forgotten about that too.
My definition of an NI liberal incidentally is someone who wants the Republic (when it is the Republic only) to come in second and even sometimes first. An NI bigot is one who wants the Republic to come in last.
Next up, Kenny Egan or Tony Jeffries?? Recent odds:Kenny Egan 1/2
Tony Jeffries 6/4
No argument about the big one is there?
“West Belfast’s Paddy Barnes guaranteed himself a bronze medal after his quarter-final triumph in the light flyweight division.
He now faces China’s Zou Shiming, a home-grown favourite and a man who beat Paddy in the World Championships last year.
So no surprise to see Paddy Power offering 9-1 about Barnes taking gold and 7-2 to clinch a silver”.
Now that Roy Keane has signed David Healy we can all unite in wishing Sunderland well.
The greatest NI footballer of a generation united with the greatest Irish footballer of a generation.
Brian,
“My definition of an NI liberal incidentally is someone who wants the Republic (when it is the Republic only) to come in second and even sometimes first. An NI bigot is one who wants the Republic to come in last. ”
How would you define a Jew who always wanted the German’s to lose( Godwin’s law).
There was a brief rendition of “you’ll never beat the Irish” up until the first punch landed on Sutherland’s chops and was not heard after that. Far be it form me to politicise that song but it does have the merest hint of a suggestion of the long war of resistance against the Englezes.
The Irish Olympic story of course is not that Sutherland was outclassed but that there was outbreak of Father Teddery with the Irish horse with the jockey ( or whatever the term is ) stating “I’ve been rubbing that stuff in his back for years”.(Badwin’s Law). I heard some quare-horsey-wan on RTE Radio saying it was a “technical infringement” and although it may be unwise to rush to judgement the entire horse management committee should be dragged out and shot – and I’m not talking keecaps here.
Does anyone know who is the brilliant basketball commentator on RTE?
He sounds as if he’s simultaneously been possessed by Tom Waits, The Cookie Monster and Father Jack.
“My definition of an NI liberal incidentally is someone who wants the Republic (when it is the Republic only) to come in second and even sometimes first. An NI bigot is one who wants the Republic to come in last.“
Not bad definition. I suppose a nationalist bigot is someone who wants NI and/or England to come last.
DK,
I think Brian can allow himself a small clap on the back for eliciting the expected response – although he might be suprised it took almost 2 hours to arrive.
My definition of an NI liberal incidentally is someone who wants the Republic (when it is the Republic only) to come in second and even sometimes first. An NI bigot is one who wants the Republic to come in last.
If you’re a unionist talking about other unionists. I always want Ireland/the Republic to come first, not just ‘even sometimes’.
“You’ll never beat the Irish”
A great tune, which conveniently overlooks the fact we’ve been getting our arses whipped for 800 years haha.
Dosser,
Jesus yeah, by the sound of him he’s from Limerick
Effin’ Eddie Moroney has nothing on this guy
Jesus – just listened to the fight on radio UDA. Whilst I’m all for northerners declaring for Ireland – do we really want such foul, inarticulate, bitter, gauche, offensive little spides like this Barnes character appearing for us. Jesus he sounds like a revolting little shit. He gets his arse whipped by a vastly superior opponent and then when interviewed spouts the following (all of course delivered in an almost incomprehensible “see you jimmy”-style spidey patois) “the whole thing’s a joke like, the chinese shouldn’t even be allowed to host the olympics like, they can keep their medal, like”. Ah yes, the olympic spirit is alive and well, DeCoubertain would be thrilled. This little twat should be roundly booed when he arrives home. Place on the world stage the little fucker simply managed to confirm everyone’s prejudices about northerners – i.e. that they’re ungrateful, grumpy, self-obsessed, ill-mannered arseholes.
Bemused
Ignorant, moronic, sweeping stereotyping aside, Barnes was unlucky not to have scored a single point despite clearly connecting with his opponents jaw on 3 occasions (from what I saw at least). IIRC Roy Jones Jr was similarly unlucky to lift gold at Seoul.
Correction:
IIRC Roy Jones Jr* was similarly unlucky not to lift gold at Seoul.
* No direct comparisons should be inferred (before the usual mob gets going)
Ignorant, moronic, sweeping? How so Dec? Did you actually LISTEN to the little shit’s post-bout interview?
“Does anyone know who is the brilliant basketball commentator on RTE?”
Dosser, I think his name is Timmy McCarthy.
Disapointing about Sutherland as he had beaten his opponent in 4 out of 5 bouts. Good luck to DeGale in the final. Wasn’t expecting Barnes to win but hopefully Egan will do the business.
“You’ll never beat the Irish”
I cringed when I heard this and the ubiquitous ‘ole, ole ole’ which is all a bit played out by now.
lt all started of course when Ireland won Eurovisions and were once reasonably ok at soccer.
But those days are gone!
But I reckon Kenny Egan will do much better against Tony Jeffries in the boxing. Egan looks a confident boxer! But then again one should never be so confident, as realistically anything can happen and it can go either way!
Paddy barnes definitely deserved some points but was beaten.To score zero was very unfair on Paddy.Show me a good loser and I will show you a loser.That may be a bit extreme but there is something in it.
“Does anyone know who is the brilliant basketball commentator on RTE?
He sounds as if he’s simultaneously been possessed by Tom Waits, The Cookie Monster and Father Jack.”
ha ha …I’ve heard this guy too, he’s hilarious!
He’s Tim McCarthy from Cork.
“The Irish Olympic story of course is not that Sutherland was outclassed but that there was outbreak of Father Teddery with the Irish horse with the jockey ( or whatever the term is ) stating “I’ve been rubbing that stuff in his back for years”……..”
ha ha,…. very true too!
Hilarious stuff again!
Ignorant, moronic, sweeping? How so Dec? Did you actually LISTEN to the little shit’s post-bout interview?
Ahem, I was actually referring to your comments:
“they’re (northerners) ungrateful, grumpy, self-obsessed, ill-mannered arseholes.”
It’a amazing what you read into a post-fight interview.
Don’t think you’re really following this Dec – let’s re-cap:-
1. Barnes gave a vile, un-sporting, petulant post-bout interview during the course of which he behaved like an arse.
2. I commented on this saying (a) that his comments were appalling and (b) that his behaviour tended to confirm various popular perceptions of northerners.
3. You then accused me of ignorant, moronic and sweeping stereo-typing.
Care to (a) actually READ my posts again, (b) actually LISTEN to Barnes’ post-bout rant and (c) reconsider your position?
I have little interest in which spide is better at beating another up.
Chekov
“I have little interest in which spide is better at beating another up.”
What a vile comment to make.
I haven’t heard Barnes’ post-match interview, but I have heard both Sutherland and Egan, and I’m happy to say they come across as fantastic young men that any country would be proud to have representing it.
“I haven’t heard Barnes’ post-match interview….” then the point of your post is what exactly?
“What a vile comment to make.”
Of course it is. Right up there with Holocaust denial.
I have little interest in which spide is better at beating another up.
Then why bother posting a comment about it?
Aye, but if he’d won, he’d have been OUR vile wee spide on his way to a Gold medal…always rooted for Alex Higgins back in the day and he would never have won any prizes for sportsmanship, charm or good manners…
Bemused
“I haven’t heard Barnes’ post-match interview….” then the point of your post is what exactly?
That the two others who I have seen interviewed are definately not ‘spides’. Sutherland and particularly Egan come across as very articulate, decent and intelligent people.
“Then why bother posting a comment about it?”
I felt moved to share my opinion that beating the head off another human being is a crap sport.
Bemused
One last try:
What you originally said was
Place on the world stage the little fucker simply managed to confirm everyone’s prejudices about northerners – i.e. that they’re ungrateful, grumpy, self-obsessed, ill-mannered arseholes.
Now, in most normal people’s book this is somewhat different from:
that his behaviour tended to confirm various popular perceptions of northerners.
Now I admire your Iris Robinson-esque attempts to dress up your original remarks and pretend it’s Hansard that has the problem, but they’re there for all to view on comment 9.
I therefore stand by my view that your original comments were ignorant, moronic and stereotyped.
I would be equally guilty of sweeping stereotyping if I claimed everyone from the Northside of Dublin had the morality of Crumlin- Drimnagh gang members.
As regards Barnes’ comments, you’re perfectly entitled to your view is perfectly valid however the context should not be overlooked – Barnes has trained for years for this fight and to not be awarded a single point despite clearly landing scoring punches, it’s understandable that, minutes after the fight, his comments may not have been as measured as he may later wish.
I’ll support any team with Cheerleaders – especially Chinese Cheerleaders.
“I would be equally guilty of sweeping stereotyping if I claimed everyone from the Northside of Dublin had the morality of Crumlin- Drimnagh gang members.”
Very sweeping stereotyping indeed; Crumlin and Drimnagh are both on the Southside.
Barnes needs a good boot up the arse, the ignorant little tosser.
If he was so concerned about China – “the worst country in the world” according to him – wtf was he doing there?
I would hate to hear his reaction if he’d gotten his ass whipped in London, we’d probably have been treated to the 800 years of oppression mopery as an excuse.
Time he jacked it in and concentrated on his true vocation, hod carrying.
Fionn
D’oh. I hear Crumlin-Drimnagh feud and I just think “Northside scum.” :]
Fair enough Dec – people who can actually read will read my posts and make up their own minds.
Egan wins 10-3
If any of you have reason to spit bile at anyone for singing Ole Ole Ole Ole, or You’ll never beat the Irish at the boxing then please feel free to aim in this direction.
I was at the quarter finals when the young Belfast lad overcame expectations and secured a medal place. He came up to the stands to watch the Egan fight later and he was well received and seemed suitably overcome by the whole experience.
I’m afraid I didn’t make it to the Gym tonight but from what I saw in the quarter finals I thought Barnes would do well to come close. A local victory never seemed in doubt.
As for the vexed question of the scoring of the tie and any subsequent reaction, perhaps this could be put down to part of the maturing process that the young fella came out to Beijing to go through.
And if it’s any consolation to those offended by any of the above then I hope they may be mollified by the fact that the very interesting Tony Jeffries was the recipient of applause for well done from the Irish contingent while his compatriots were spread out across the city, and indeed country, watching other medal winners.
“And if it’s any consolation to those offended by any of the above then I hope they may be mollified by the fact that the very interesting Tony Jeffries was the recipient of applause for well done from the Irish contingent while his compatriots were spread out across the city, and indeed country, watching other medal winners.”
What an utterly mean spirited, borderline xenophobic statement. Why not just write “us Irish were dead nice to the boring english boxer, whose own people didn’t even want to see him”. You would just sound like a twat then, instead of a pretentious twat.
Boxers don’t have a choice who they box for surely.
I thought the deal was that all Northern Irish boxers represented Norn Iron at the Commonwealth Games and then pulled on the green vest for the Olympics.
“Aye, but if he’d won, he’d have been OUR vile wee spide on his way to a Gold medal…always rooted for Alex Higgins back in the day and he would never have won any prizes for sportsmanship, charm or good manners… ”
Point very well made.
hmm… the captcha word for my last comment was “england” and then I had to press “submit” – that felt wrong somehow
Glad to see the disgusting, traitorous little scumbag got what was coming to him.
Should it be for an Englishman to decide if an Irishman should compete for Ireland at the olympics? Don’t think so really, just a blow hard with an opinion showing himself up I’d say. Why then is the xenophobic, metrosexually challenged Mr. McCann sticking his oar in we wonder?
Andrew! It’s been so long! We’ve missed you and your valuable analysis. Don’t leave it so long next time.
DK,
“What an utterly mean spirited, borderline xenophobic statement.”
It struck me as interesting that Tony Jeffries had a food stand outside the Stadium of Light and sold it to further his boxing career, and the fact that he has been known to write poetry.
If finding a poetic pugilist who seeks glory for the sake of glory above and beyond the tawdry commercial concerns of many Olympic athletes interesting is now grounds for condemning someone as a xenophobe then I stand guilty as charged.
“Why not just write “us Irish were dead nice to the boring english boxer, whose own people didn’t even want to see him”.”
Actually, that was meant to be a reference to the fact that so many British athletes are doing so well all over the place the British supporters could never hope to be in all places at once. There were several fans, all in Sunderland tops, at the quarter finals cheering him on. The Irish fans were applauding a fight won well and cleanly.
“You would just sound like a twat then, instead of a pretentious twat.”
We are all guilty of hearing what we want to hear on occasion. I sneer not, for I am as guilty any other.
Glad to see the disgusting, traitorous little scumbag got what was coming to him.
Anybody who makes such a comment shouldn’t bother crawling out of the dark hole he or she resides in. Unless they really want a call from Mr Barnes’ laywer…
Like many sports people, Barnes said it like he saw it though he did come across as a bit immature. We all try to learn from our mistakes. His interview certainly added a bit of spice to the fight though!
Maith é, and all the other athletes from our island.
To wild Rover – I totally misunderstood then, my apologies to you. I rather like you now.
To Andrew McCann, and Eoghan,
As i posted,
Boxers don’t have a choice.
Most boxing clubs in NI are from nationalist backgrounds….. the sport is organised on an All Ireland basis…… so if it was left to choice, we wouldn’t have much of a Commonwealth Games squad…. afaik, the arrangement is Commonwealth Games – NI, Olympics – Ireland.
Paddy Barnes will regret his comments in time and will probably laugh at them. No shame in getting a bronze at the Olympics and I think there’s zero chance of him not accepting the medal! Think his real problem was not receiving a single point for his efforts from the judges rather than losing as he accepted that the Chinese guy outclassed him.
Thought Sutherland would do better against the English guy as he’d beaten him a few times before.
Good luck to Ken Egan on Sunday. Home advantage for the Chinese boxer but Egan looks class.
”Glad to see the disgusting, traitorous little scumbag got what was coming to him.”
Glad to see that you are paving the way to another prolonged sojourn from Slugger.
This issue of national sporting heroes has always puzzled me. Why do people show blanket support for someone who is obviously extremely unpleasant and who they would never ever associate with in their own life?
Alex Higgins had a tad more charisma than Barnes, no?
Have to agree with you on that one. Barnes obviously lacks charisma. He has yet to be caught p*ssing into a flower pot after a major tournament and has yet to threaten to kill a fellow competitor. Boring fellow obviously.