gweeds
December 22nd, 2004, 04:22 PM
You may have read the latest tirade about 'soccer' by the writer Richard Hinds (http://www.theage.com.au/news/Richard-Hinds/The-dreaded-s-word/2004/12/18/1103312784897.html?oneclick=true) Here are some of his observations.....
That "rest of the world" line has become the favoured retort of those who argue that soccer will one day be the dominant football code in Australia. But while the boast is not entirely without foundation, the assumption soccer will take over here merely because it is the supreme footballing being in other parts of the planet is both defensive and underestimates the strength and quality of the home-grown codes. It also presumes, incorrectly, that Australians have not yet been exposed to soccer and given their verdict.......
But, given a choice, we still think our own brand of footy is better. Perhaps that is partly because it is what we grew up with. It might be because it has the crowds and atmosphere and passion that local soccer so far has lacked.
It might also be that, regardless of the fact it is played in Tunisia or the Faroe Islands, our game is better. Just more entertaining. And bragging that Harry Kewell earns 10 times more than Nathan Buckley or Andrew Johns won't change our minds.
Yes...a big yawn. But the reason why I am quoting him here, is because the arguments put forward by the so called 'football loving' forumites that are disrupting this forum with their stupid 'anti-Victory' posts and people like Hinds and Price etc. are basically saying the same thing which is this:
That Australians who are from an English-speaking background don't like soccer, and it is a waste of time to attract them to the game.
Both come from an argument of 'superiority'. See how Hinds basically say that Rugby Union and AFL are 'better'. While the anti Victory brigade say that they (with an 'ethnic' background) are the only one who can understand the superior game of football.
Both hint that the A-League will be a failure. And in fact this would be a desired outcome as it would preserve their perception of the status quo, and a validation of their prejudices and a feeling that they were right and those who hoped for a successfull Melbourne football team in a successful Australian league just deluded fools.
Well count me in the 'deluded fool' category. I hope that in five years time both of these knockers will be either contented with their little teams on one camp, and begrudgingly acknowledge that football has a place in the Australian sport scene on the other.
That "rest of the world" line has become the favoured retort of those who argue that soccer will one day be the dominant football code in Australia. But while the boast is not entirely without foundation, the assumption soccer will take over here merely because it is the supreme footballing being in other parts of the planet is both defensive and underestimates the strength and quality of the home-grown codes. It also presumes, incorrectly, that Australians have not yet been exposed to soccer and given their verdict.......
But, given a choice, we still think our own brand of footy is better. Perhaps that is partly because it is what we grew up with. It might be because it has the crowds and atmosphere and passion that local soccer so far has lacked.
It might also be that, regardless of the fact it is played in Tunisia or the Faroe Islands, our game is better. Just more entertaining. And bragging that Harry Kewell earns 10 times more than Nathan Buckley or Andrew Johns won't change our minds.
Yes...a big yawn. But the reason why I am quoting him here, is because the arguments put forward by the so called 'football loving' forumites that are disrupting this forum with their stupid 'anti-Victory' posts and people like Hinds and Price etc. are basically saying the same thing which is this:
That Australians who are from an English-speaking background don't like soccer, and it is a waste of time to attract them to the game.
Both come from an argument of 'superiority'. See how Hinds basically say that Rugby Union and AFL are 'better'. While the anti Victory brigade say that they (with an 'ethnic' background) are the only one who can understand the superior game of football.
Both hint that the A-League will be a failure. And in fact this would be a desired outcome as it would preserve their perception of the status quo, and a validation of their prejudices and a feeling that they were right and those who hoped for a successfull Melbourne football team in a successful Australian league just deluded fools.
Well count me in the 'deluded fool' category. I hope that in five years time both of these knockers will be either contented with their little teams on one camp, and begrudgingly acknowledge that football has a place in the Australian sport scene on the other.