Elitism in the G.A.A

[bloodybreakball]

seen a muppet push a fella of the edge of the concrete barrier fence, right enough he shouldnt have been there but you should have seen the way he went down a clatter, holy fu*k, there are talking abt claims and then you have a muppet doing that it was proper dangerous and the steward standing there looked like a real stupid tube. made me angry, i wonder how much all them  stewards cost

[Farrandeelin]

haranguerer, I could go into much more detail but I'm not going to bother. Seen s this is a sports section and all.

[thewobbler]

Justme, I think one of the things you fail to recognise is that while GAA teams used to get stripped on the side of the road, so to did soccer and rugby teams.

While there are loons in our organisation just like you who cling to some romantic notion that things were better when we played 'kick it long' when farmers were good enough to lend us hayfields, thankfully the majority have realised that embracing change and using it to your advantage is the best way to keep our games in good health.

You might have a theory that our games will suffer for bowing to sponsors, but I know for a fact that it would be in a perilous state without them.

[justme]

thewobbler, you obviously never read my post. Who said anything about not wanting facilities. Facilities are there tio serve the gaels not for the gaels to serve the facilities- or those who provide them. If we must serve those that provide them and we have a choice of a sponsor ho wants treated like a king them I would rather not have the facility.

Lets go back to the start. There is nothing wrong with the sponsors but there is something wrong with treating them differently. Give them a reward a ticket or two and a thankyou letter and send to all the members a notice taht they have kindly sponsored. However dont start making special sections and tea houses just for them. Its the wrong approach.

The fact that you speak in a defending manner probably means you have been one of these instigators of elitism. Spit it out - since you believe it then tell us what you have done to the great sponsors?

Oh by the way how many great sponsors bought ballyhollands land for them ?

[thewobbler]

I read your post 100% right justme. Put simply, you have an egalitarian view on how the GAA should be administered. Equality of opportunity isn't enough for you, it has to be equality of outcome too.

Which is wonderful in concept but completely unfeasible in reality.

Some people earn distinction from the rest. For some of these it might be through playing feats, for others sheer time given to the cause, for others it's the sacrifices they've put up with as family members, and then there's the money men. But they've all earned distinction.



For the record I've nothing to do with these seats and have never knowingly sat in them. I don't care that they're reserved, for that still leaves 3500 covered seats for me.

[justme]

Sorry you missed the last part of the question?

[thewobbler]

I've no idea, I wasn't even being considered for this world at that time.

I do know though that the stand I sit in, the ballstoppers I kick into and the Tarmac I walk on would be a mound, an empty space and a potholed yard if it wasn't for our invaluable sponsors.

[Eamonnca1]

Didn't the Hogan Stand always have a VIP section?  You'd hardly put the President and the Taoiseach on the hill now, would you?

And didn't the sale of corporate boxes in Croke Park pay for the majority of the work done in rebuilding the stadium?

As for sponsors, why shouldn't you give them a few perks like preferential seating at the games?  God forbid if we ever have to go back to standing on muddy hills and urinating up against the nearest wall at half time because the stinking jacks aren't big enough. That's what we'd be doing if it wasn't for sponsors. It just makes good business sense to take care of the boys that take care of us.

[RadioGAAGAA]

You'd hardly put the President and the Taoiseach on the hill now, would you?

Maybe they should go onto the hill.

You'd soon see Furher Cooney's fence come down.

[Farrandeelin]

You'd hardly put the President and the Taoiseach on the hill now, would you?

Maybe they should go onto the hill.

You'd soon see Furher Cooney's fence come down.

  It'd be funny alright!

[J OGorman]

You'd hardly put the President and the Taoiseach on the hill now, would you?

Maybe they should go onto the hill.

You'd soon see Furher Cooney's fence come down.

Fantastish! Fantastish! 

[johnneycool]

Some people earn distinction from the rest. For some of these it might be through playing feats, for others sheer time given to the cause, for others it's the sacrifices they've put up with as family members, and then there's the money men. But they've all earned distinction.

I agree with the above comment to an extent but why is it only the money men we see fit to court and make a distinction of?

I understand the whole sponsorship/corporate entertainment aspect of keeping the financial wheels of the GAA and Down County going but surely there's a balance to be struck where ex players and referee's in particular get more recogniton for their work and deeds throughout the years.

Only recently I spoke to a former Down footballer who had represented the county for 10 odd years and he wasn't sure of whether he'd get a ticket for the final or not. I'm almost sure he dips into his pocket every time he goes to the Marshes as well.