It's hard to believe it's the same sport I fell in love with all those years ago.
I can't help feeling that if everyone just played by the rules we wouldn't need so many officials. Me, living in cloud cuckoo land.
I have been listening to all the frantic noise from both camps this week. It's not been fun. But less fun was contemplating what messages we are sending the kids coming up in any sport. What behaviour are they seeing? Not only from the players, coaches and the officials, but also the behaviour of spectators, family and friends?
- Do they think they should win at all costs?
- Do they learn to bend the rules?
- Do they learn that its ok to break a rule if no-one sees you?
- Do they think there is no pride in losing?
- Do they learn that doing your best, is not good enough?
- Do they learn graciousness and humility?
What values do we want our youngsters to hold onto in sport, and in life? Do we model them in what we say and how we act? Because watching this tour so far, I am disappointed in both camps for different reasons, and I can't really see many values that I would want to teach my child in it. Not compared to the game 40 years ago. Yes, sport evolves, but obeying rules, etiquette, common decency, they don't evolve.
I can't help wondering how the Lions & Bok players are affected by the war of words & media ugliness. They are the players but there is all this "noise" going on around them. Like an irritating mosquito.
This was my FB post before the game, I was so excited to celebrate and now I'm not even sure I want to watch the rest of this tour. It's been so tampered with by coaches, refs and media, that I will be suspicious of any outcome, even if it's positive for us.
It's not a game anymore. It's a circus. I have never liked a circus. I don't think they're fun. So I just don't go.
I wish both teams would have a secret meeting and say "Screw everything, let's just ditch alllll the officials, meet at some unknown stadium or better still, a beach, and let's go and play rugby, and have fun doing it!"
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| I could add more.... but these will do for this post. |
