Category: OLYMPICS
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Barr hits the net regarding double standard hypocricy
There are certain observations, often long-held, which you can’t publicly utter until you’ve stepped away from the situation to which they are related. Now read on… Believe me, by the time my 11th season as P.R.O. and/or Asst. P.R.O. of St Peter’s GAA Club in Dunboyne that there were a cohort – God knows how…
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And the band played some NKOTB but the Golden Oldie stole the show
“For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs, no more Waltzing Matilda for me”. The resonance of the above lyrics with yours truly scarcely requires any further elaboration. Their aptness felt most keenly regarding areas such as participation in sport and the inability to board and/or drive any vehicle other than the…
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From Minor to Major
Ben Johnson’s now disgraced victory notwitstanding, the only proper memory of the Seoul Olympics in 1988 probably stems from the basketball. Yes, the fascination had taken hold back then. By ’92 in Barcelona, the Dream Team were a huge takeaway from the games for me, but there was also Michael Carruth and Wayne McCullough in…
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Last vestiges of decency lost in pit of squaller
There are certain things in life where, generally speaking, there’s no allowance for middle ground. The most obvious example of that being party politics. Largely speaking, you were either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael and there were very clear lines in the sand pertaining to same and they weren’t for crossing. Though in truth there…
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In some cases there’s no need for grading
Ah, the Olympics, the great mind wrestle for those of us invested in sport. How much of what you see do you believe? Do you trust the athletes? Same question, but even more pointed with regard to the coaches? Now, maybe I’m an idiot at worst, or a sporting romantic at best, but, matters tend…
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Phelps says what we all think amid more Chinese whispers
Such was the Irish efficiency on the global athletics stage when I was growing up that seeing the likes of Sonia O’Sullivan or Catherina McKiernan or Rob Heffernan or Derval O’Rourke feature prominently at major televised events was almost nonchalantly taken as a given. That’s not arrogance, just faith and confidence. Until that one occasion…
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Strokes of artists on a river laden with Gold
Over the course of a lifetime, it is a sad reality that dreams very seldom do come true. Best laid plans come unstuck. If it looks too good to be true, it generally is. But then, there are those who don’t read the script. Or peruse it and choose to ignore it. How else to…
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Class is often non-conformist
In a sporting context, Colm O’Rourke’s final salvo against Dublin is easily recalled. Indeed, his entire farewell season was outstanding – as were most of the 19 which preceded it! I can still remember feeling totally dismayed when Sean Boylan left him out for the opening joust of that 1995 campaign against Offaly.