Messages

The Sigerson is an absolute joke. Kevin McGourty playing for UCD? Last I heard he was helping organize Fianna Fail in Down. Brian Cullen in DCU? How long has Johnston been at DCU?

[aye but that's about it.]

I find it very hard to believe that any man on this board, or in Ireland for that matter, would not be taken aback and disappointed if they found out their son was gay. If you say it wouldn't annoy you in the slightest then I'd call you a liar.

I would have no problems whatsoever with any of my sons taking home woman of any colour.

I think taken aback would be a reasonable enough emotion?  Disapointed?  I can say with certainty I wouldn't be disappointed.  I still don't understand what exactly yous are disappointed about.

No grandchildren for one.

aye but that's about it.

They could adopt or buy a kid in africa like Madonna

That brings up a separate issue. Are you homophobic if you disagree with homosexual couples raising children? I know I don't agree with it, yet I don't consider myself homophobic and happen to have several gay friends.

we've been through this on the board before and I've yet to hear one good reason why they shouldn't. 
In fact every argument used would have been used against single parent families 20 years ago.

You asked why someone would be disappointed and I gave you a reason that you apparently find acceptable/understandable. Where's the issue? Ideally I would like my sons to grow up receiving a good education, form a loving relationship with a good woman and raise a fine family I could be proud of.

They could adopt or buy a kid in africa like Madonna

That brings up a separate issue. Are you homophobic if you disagree with homosexual couples raising children? I know I don't agree with it, yet I don't consider myself homophobic and happen to have several gay friends.

I find it very hard to believe that any man on this board, or in Ireland for that matter, would not be taken aback and disappointed if they found out their son was gay. If you say it wouldn't annoy you in the slightest then I'd call you a liar.

I would have no problems whatsoever with any of my sons taking home woman of any colour.

I think taken aback would be a reasonable enough emotion?  Disapointed?  I can say with certainty I wouldn't be disappointed.  I still don't understand what exactly yous are disappointed about.

No grandchildren for one.

[. As long as we're not talking about gangbangers or drug dealers or the like.]

This Olly chap appears to be something of a sanctimonious ****. Read into that what you will. It's not personal abuse if you don't know what it says. 

Wouldn't care in the slightest if kids came home with boyfriends or girlfriends of a different skin colour. As long as we're not talking about gangbangers or drug dealers or the like.

If a son or daughter was gay would I feel disappointed? Yes. Would it mean I loved the any less? No.

Top quality bit of non-racism there! 

Nothing racist about being realistic. For example, if I lived in LA and my daughter came home with a black man, I'd much prefer him to be Barack Obama than Boyz in the Hood.

Of course you can't help it if they're not naturally intelligent, but would you not hope that they would grow up to be intelligent and successful?

There's a difference between being disappointed in the child and disappointed that they didn't manage to fulfil all your hopes and dreams.

That's why I said I've been disappointed if they are stupid because they are a waster.

But what if they worked hard and tried their very best but were unfortunately just naturally limited? Surely you'd prefer it otherwise, no?

Of course you can't help it if they're not naturally intelligent, but would you not hope that they would grow up to be intelligent and successful?

There's a difference between being disappointed in the child and disappointed that they didn't manage to fulfil all your hopes and dreams.

All those statements are true, those are just things I would prefer him not to be. Am I a bigot? If I left out the first one am I a bigot?

I'd only be disappointed if he was a waster. I'd be disappointed if he was stupid, because he was a waster. Other than that, I wouldn't be disappointed.

You wouldn't be disappointed if your child was stupid? Come on Zig! You wouldn't prefer your child to be intelligent?

As I said before, disappointment does not equate with a lack of love.

This Olly chap appears to be something of a sanctimonious ****. Read into that what you will. It's not personal abuse if you don't know what it says. 

Wouldn't care in the slightest if kids came home with boyfriends or girlfriends of a different skin colour. As long as we're not talking about gangbangers or drug dealers or the like.

If a son or daughter was gay would I feel disappointed? Yes. Would it mean I loved the any less? No.

The Herminator was my favourite.

Didn't catch this but wanted to. No sign of it on iPlayer, anyone any idea why?

Well, for one - you say your own club has suffered from Galls lifting players from them - who exactly?

I'm not naming underage kids to you no way not on a forum. What are the rest of the questions?

Did someone mention that this boy is a St. Brigid's man? Chris McCann anyone?

I'm young enough to know where most of St. Galls underage players from maybe U16 up come from and I don't think there's a single St. Brigid's man among them.

Anyway, back on topic. Anyone ho makes any sort of attempt to say that someone forcing a four year old's head underwater is being over-hyped due to his profession is a complete and utter clown

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8505376.stm

What. The. f**k?

As a neutral, I see no reason why any of gallsman's four are in any way more deserving of the 'legend' title than Nallen.  In fact, I'd rate Nallen higher than any of them - and that's no disrespect to any of them; fine sportsmen to a man.

Tony Browne was deemed the hurler of the year in 1998, in a very good Waterford team that was never going to win an All-Ireland. Over the following ten years he shone in a team that was filled with average or slightly better than average players alongside their 4/5 top class hurlers and was consistently amongst the best midfielders/wing backs in the country.

I don't consider commending a man for fifteen years service faint praise in the slightest. For his service, I have nothing but admiration for James Nallen. I admire his consistency, his dedication and his devotion to both football and his county.

However, this thread started with it being mentioned that the word "legend" is "bandied about" too often these days when applied to our national sports. I would throw James Nallen, despite his numerous admirable qualities, into this bracket.

Another way to judge a player and his "legendary" status is to consider how he fares against the best of his contemporaries to play the same position. In Nallen's case these players would be McGeeney and Moynihan. Do I think he compares favourably to either of them when it comes to talent and ability? No, I don't.

Normally I apologise when I offend people Iolar, but in these circumstances I don't think I will, as I simply don't agree with you.

[More to it than the medals, like.]

Great servant to Mayo and a good footballer.

He's no legend though.

Can you define legend Gallsman? Just so we're sure.

Can you?

My idea of legend would include names such as Jack O'Shea, Pat Spillane, Sean O'Neill, Colm O'Rourke or Peter Canavan.

Would you honestly place James Nallen in that kind of company?

I can, yes. My idea of a legend is at odds with your own.

A legend was well defined by a friend of mine from Roscommon who told me about what it was like when his father would bend down to him as a child and say "that's Harry Keegan across the road." Harry Keegan didn't win as many All-Ireland medals as the lads you name, but whenever my friend saw that man around the town he'd involuntarily throw back the shoulders and straighten his back.

So I would define a legend as being the man that fathers point out to their sons as examplars of all that's good and great and worth aspiring too. It casts a wider net, of course, but I'm happy enough with it, and very happy to include James Nallen among that number.

BTW, it's interesting that you name two Kerrymen in there with seven and eight All-Irelands each. One thing that's always interested me about Kerry is that their two most legendary figures, Mick O'Connell and Maurice Fitzgerald, were men who were on relatively unsuccessful Kerry teams. Obviously, that's a qualification that only Kerry can afford to make, but still. It's interesting to see how they define it. More to it than the medals, like.

Canavan only has the two and I mentioned him. I'd also mention someone like Kieran McGeeney who only has one. I gave a few brief examples. If you want a detailed list of every player I consider a legend from 1884 on, I'll get back to you in a few days.

That's not the point I was trying to make Gallsman. Canavan has as many All-Ireland medals as any other Tyroneman, living or dead. In Kerry, you can have a fist of them and still be considered nothing special. Everyone on your list has an All-Ireland medal so I'm just wondering if this is how you judge a player. Are there any players to whom you would accord legendary status who haven't won an All-Ireland senior medal?

Colin Corkery
Anthony Lynch
Ciaran Barr
Tony Browne

Cheers Gallsman, fantastic. Great players all. And one them even a hurler.

So, if you can tell me why each of those is a legend and James Nallen isn't, why those fellas cross the line for you and James Nallen doesn't, we'll finally have settled the issue.

What exactly is that supposed to mean? Besides. either you can't count or you don't know your national sports as well as you think you do, because two of them are hurlers...

I could name a lot more hurlers than footballers I believe deserving of the title.

Like I said earlier, it's my opinion. To put a point on it, I think each of the players I mentioned are/were far superior in their respective sports than James Nallen ever was. The whole thing is subjective. What's the big f**king deal if I don't think he's a legend. Does it offend you for some reason?

[More to it than the medals, like.]

Great servant to Mayo and a good footballer.

He's no legend though.

Can you define legend Gallsman? Just so we're sure.

Can you?

My idea of legend would include names such as Jack O'Shea, Pat Spillane, Sean O'Neill, Colm O'Rourke or Peter Canavan.

Would you honestly place James Nallen in that kind of company?

I can, yes. My idea of a legend is at odds with your own.

A legend was well defined by a friend of mine from Roscommon who told me about what it was like when his father would bend down to him as a child and say "that's Harry Keegan across the road." Harry Keegan didn't win as many All-Ireland medals as the lads you name, but whenever my friend saw that man around the town he'd involuntarily throw back the shoulders and straighten his back.

So I would define a legend as being the man that fathers point out to their sons as examplars of all that's good and great and worth aspiring too. It casts a wider net, of course, but I'm happy enough with it, and very happy to include James Nallen among that number.

BTW, it's interesting that you name two Kerrymen in there with seven and eight All-Irelands each. One thing that's always interested me about Kerry is that their two most legendary figures, Mick O'Connell and Maurice Fitzgerald, were men who were on relatively unsuccessful Kerry teams. Obviously, that's a qualification that only Kerry can afford to make, but still. It's interesting to see how they define it. More to it than the medals, like.

Canavan only has the two and I mentioned him. I'd also mention someone like Kieran McGeeney who only has one. I gave a few brief examples. If you want a detailed list of every player I consider a legend from 1884 on, I'll get back to you in a few days.

That's not the point I was trying to make Gallsman. Canavan has as many All-Ireland medals as any other Tyroneman, living or dead. In Kerry, you can have a fist of them and still be considered nothing special. Everyone on your list has an All-Ireland medal so I'm just wondering if this is how you judge a player. Are there any players to whom you would accord legendary status who haven't won an All-Ireland senior medal?

Colin Corkery
Anthony Lynch
Ciaran Barr
Tony Browne