Mickey Harte joins the Irish News

[pintsofguinness]

maybe if an asshole like afs would have a little respect he would learn something

and you were "calling" on the mods to ban ME for a week 

AFS. in to the naughty corner with you, hang your head in shame, don't you know saint mickey is perfect. 

[corn02]

criticise mickeys writing all he want guys as far as I care but leave the some dead Gael talk out of it

Ah right I thought you were saying it because he questioned the main article. Fair enough.

[Minder]

Ulster leads the way in rejecting Rules future Mickey Harte
By Mickey Harte
06/03/09
IT was with much delight that I read of the decision by the Ulster Convention to endorse the long overdue motion to Congress, initiated by Kildress Wolfe Tones club, to cease all formal relationships with the Australian Football League.

On the floor of Congress is where all major decisions affecting the GAA are thoroughly discussed and a democratic decision is reached.

For far too long, this hybrid non-entity of a game was foisted upon us as the only way to give Gaelic games an international

outlet.

As I have stated in a previous column, far from advancing the internationalising of our games, this compromise engagement, only serves to diminish the possibility of that very goal.

To be fair, I have to applaud the excellent marketing (propaganda) machine that has driven the 'popularity' of this mediocre game to a significant level.

It is worth remembering that these so-called Tests didn't always attract large attendances. Indeed, it wasn't unusual to have less than 25,000 attending soon after the series was resurrected following a period of inaction.

However, with the obvious attraction for the ever-increasing media circle (three weeks in Australia every second year at a time when the autumn chill was beginning to bite at home), it was easy to understand how the phenomenon would find almost universal favour with sports journalists throughout the land.

To really kickstart the interest, the promotional machine introduced a powerful advertising campaign, not unlike a Sky TV fight-night promotion, where the emphasis was on confrontation, with the key punchline being: 'No

Compromise'.

This, allied to the fact that the numbers attending were much enhanced by the nominal entrance fee for children created by the erroneous notion that this was a 'must see' product.

Soon this clever double-edged promotional campaign was to hit 'rocky' ground (no pun intended) when the violence took precedence over skill.

A serious contradiction had arisen – the prospect of nasty encounters on the field had a certain base lure to it, yet the cheap seats (the children) shouldn't have to witness this ultra-aggressive behaviour.

This conundrum was solved when the aggressive nature of such marketing, having aroused sufficient interest, became much more tempered, even to the point of re-naming it the 'International Rules'.

Interestingly enough, this did not solve the potential for violence within the exchanges – something which caused most grief for those determined to prolong the engagement.

As has been well-documented, it was the violent nature of the play in 2006 which led to the 2007

series being postponed.

A more sanitised version of the game was conjured up for 2008, Ireland win in Australia and all is well again. Not really.

You see, this was never an argument about the violence, or lack of it, in this engagement.

It was about whether or not we were serving the promotion of our games; giving them an

international dimension or not.

Unfortunately, on both counts, the answer is a resounding no.

We have arguably the best field team games available anywhere on this planet in terms of

continuous action, flow, skill levels and spectator

entertainment value, yet some would have us believe that to showcase our products to the wider world, we have to compromise them.

If we, who are entrusted with the promotion of our games, limit our thinking to maintaining the status quo, then we are doing a disservice to those whose vision created what we now have.

Our sporting colleagues in the world of Rugby Union are continuously developing their sport (uncompromised) into non-traditional rugby nations.

Even the current recognition of Italy as a significant force in the Six Nations tournament would have been unthinkable in the Willie John McBride and Mike Gibson era of Irish international rugby.

Those dedicated band of journalists who enjoy the trip Down Under every second year,  and report on all matters

pertaining to the 'tests,' are key players in the continuation of this affair.

It provides the opportunity for many column inches, at a time when things begin to quieten down after all the excitement of the All-Ireland football and hurling finals.

Indeed, the lead up to the series and the reflection (aftermath) of it might even supply those hard- pressed professionals with seven or eight weeks material.

I have often wondered (for about 0.1 of a second) if an AFL type of game was played in Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, or Glasgow, would we be taking three weeks out of the GAA calender to engage in such exercises?

The formal contact which currently exists with the AFL only serves to create a warm environment for agents, scouts, pillagers – call them what you will – to plunder our best young talent.

I was always of the opinion that the senior competition was merely a smokescreen by the AFL to create an awareness of the possibilities for our younger developing players to embrace their sport.

They weren't particularly interested in our adult players (unless they were in their early 20s), but needed them to create a platform for the commercial viability of the project.

There was never going to be any reciprocal flow from the professional ranks back to the GAA.

The age-old quip 'at least Dick Turpin wore a mask' appears to ring true.



Remembering two Red Hand greats

I COULDN'T let this week pass without acknowledging two Tyrone sportsmen of immense stature.

Firstly, as is well known throughout the GAA world, last Monday marked the fifth anniversary of the late Cormac McAnallen (pictured left).

Few young sportsmen have made such a positive impact on their contemporaries.

Those of us fortunate to share some of his journey through life have much to treasure.

On a less poignant note, we in the Errigal Ciaran club had the great pleasure of sharing a night of celebration in honour of one of the best players ever to play the game.

Friends and family gathered to recall and appreciate the sheer class that Peter Canavan
possessed.

The numerous video clips highlighted the huge repertoire of skills Peter had within his armoury.

A word of congratulations to Tommy Trainor and his organising committee on a job well done, and to MC for the night, Martin McCarron, who revelled in the role.

[ONeill]

OK, I can't defend that one. That's a wee bit of a broken record now. It's well written and coherently analysed, but it's the same old. Also, the Tyrone bias is a tad obvious in the filler articles every week.

So what else can he write about?

Tactics? Bygone matches, managers and players?

I'd like to hear about some of the stories from in the inside during his tenure but I suppose that's all for the memoirs in 2016.

[Maguire01]

2 things:

In the paper, at the end of the IR column, it says "To be continued..." Whoop-e-doo!

Also...

A serious contradiction had arisen – the prospect of nasty encounters on the field had a certain base lure to it, yet the cheap seats (the children) shouldn't have to witness this ultra-aggressive behaviour.

But it's okay that the children in the cheap seats at Omagh see a bit of ball juggling?!

[saffron sam2]

A third thing:

The overuse of the snide aside in brackets thing (wally).

[mountainboii]

The most disappointing thing is that there are loads of topics that he could write about that we'd all love to read.

How do you deal with disruptive players?
How do you tell a player coming to the end of his career that he's no longer needed?
How do you help a young player that's just been added to the panel for the first time?
How do you motivate the team after a shock/big defeat?
How do you keep the players' feet on the ground after a big win?
How do you deal with under preforming players?
How do you tell a player that he's dropped for a big match?
How do you go about assessing whether a new player is worthy of a place on the panel?
etc, etc, etc....

These are all topics only a manager could write about with any authority, and since Harte is the most high profile manager about at the minute it would be fascinating to hear his take on these issues. He doesn't even really have to refer to specific players if he feels uncomfortable about it.

[Zapatista]

The most disappointing thing is that there are loads of topics that he could write about that we'd all love to read.

How do you deal with disruptive players?
How do you tell a player coming to the end of his career that he's no longer needed?
How do you help a young player that's just been added to the panel for the first time?
How do you motivate the team after a shock/big defeat?
How do you keep the players' feet on the ground after a big win?
How do you deal with under preforming players?
How do you tell a player that he's dropped for a big match?
How do you go about assessing whether a new player is worthy of a place on the panel?
etc, etc, etc....

These are all topics only a manager could write about with any authority, and since Harte is the most high profile manager about at the minute it would be fascinating to hear his take on these issues. He doesn't even really have to refer to specific players if he feels uncomfortable about it.

What would he have left to boast about in his 'end of career' Book?

[Minder]

The most disappointing thing is that there are loads of topics that he could write about that we'd all love to read.

How do you deal with disruptive players?
How do you tell a player coming to the end of his career that he's no longer needed?
How do you help a young player that's just been added to the panel for the first time?
How do you motivate the team after a shock/big defeat?
How do you keep the players' feet on the ground after a big win?
How do you deal with under preforming players?
How do you tell a player that he's dropped for a big match?
How do you go about assessing whether a new player is worthy of a place on the panel?
etc, etc, etc....

These are all topics only a manager could write about with any authority, and since Harte is the most high profile manager about at the minute it would be fascinating to hear his take on these issues. He doesn't even really have to refer to specific players if he feels uncomfortable about it.

What would he have left to boast about in his 'end of career' Book?

What is the point of his column then if, as seems likely, he is saving content for an autobiography?

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

What is the point of his column then if, as seems likely, he is saving content for an autobiography?

The Tyrone brilliance doesn't grow on trees, you know! 

[Minder]

Harte mixes it up this week on a subject he has yet to touch on in his column.............




No Room For Compromise



While reflecting on last week's column, and my intimation that the media had a huge influence on the perceived popularity of the Compromise Rules, I was about to cut some slack towards this group of professionals, when one of their own, writing in a daily journal emanating from the capital, reinforced my original view.

This strongly opinionated scribe – regrettably often blinkered – decided that, at the first hint of a proper debate with regard to the continuation of this non-entity of a sport, mis-representation was in order.

The essence of his argument was that since this initiative originated from our province, it was another case of 'Ulster says NO'.

The argument was so full of assumption, we all might as well assume that two plus two makes five.

The key substance to his conclusion was that, because at an earlier consideration at Central Council, Tyrone were the only county to oppose the continuation of the Rules series, the current decision of the Ulster Convention to back the Kildress proposal was merely a reaction to the so-called second test not being hosted in Casement. How ridiculous is that!

It wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that this was an attempt to distort the real facts that many gaels throughout the length and breadth of this island see no value in this exercise.

Additionally, if it could be portrayed merely as an "Ulster" campaign, then that might dissuade other counties from aligning with this particular stance.

Ultimately, what reflects worst of all on this interpretation of the proposal is that it is actually the case of Ulster saying YES to the promotion of Gaelic Games, rather than the convenient (trip retention) negative connotation implied.

It has always been somewhat of a mystery to me that the soundbites emanating from a number of high ranking officials – both paid and ambassadorial – encourage a diminution of the very sport, whose development and promotion they are entrusted with, on behalf of all GAA members.

Can you imagine high-ranking business executives speaking in more glowing terms of a company producing a rival product?

If the CEO and other senior management were more inclined to wax lyrical on their opponents' appeal and virtually redesign their market brand – nurtured 125 years – in return for a false and unsustainable alternative, would they be likely to retain their position in the company?

Worse still, what if your rivals came into your workplace and began to enlist your best young talent to experiment with the manufacture of their product and use your premise to do so?

Also, if the reaction of your organisation spokesperson was to suggest that nothing can be done about this – in fact if we don't continue our partnership with these people, they might become even more demanding – would you see that as an effective stewardship of your company?

Is there anything we can do? Lots. Firstly, as the proposal that is on its way to Congress suggests, cease all official ties with the AFL (obviously to include the end of the so called

Compromise series).

No hard feelings towards the Australians and their efforts to promote their sport, but we have plenty to be getting on with here in the promotion of Gaelic Games.

Secondly, we should develop an information resource bank stating clearly all the relevant

implications for our sportsmen who might be encouraged to move to the professional ranks of the AFL.

This should be a thoroughly researched document with all the pros and cons clearly stated in a balanced way, as opposed to the current portrayal of a Bondai Beach paradise opportunity.

An accurate record of the numbers of young players who have made the transition and a definitive assessment of what life was like for them should be made available.

The acknowledgement of the small percentage rate of those who make a successful transition ought to be precisely defined and easily accessible.

The average salary for rookies – and what that translates into in our money, not disguised and

exaggerated in terms of Aussie dollars – ought to keep in context how success in this particular sport might be measured.

The whole area of medical care and the cost of this provision would create an awareness for

our young sportsmen and their families of just some of the potential pitfalls beneath the apparent glamour of such a move. What happens if long-term injury prevents participation?

What about the potential for career development outside of this professional sporting path? What exactly does the working week of an AFL player involve?

In essence, tell it as it is – a job – no longer a hobby.

Comparative figures for Premiership soccer careers and professional rugby union players might give some context for this "dream" opportunity.

Indeed, the athletes from these more lucrative professional career paths have to plan for life after their playing career ends.

The difference is that they usually earn much more on average, and the longevity of their playing career is much superior, to the estimated four and two-thirds years of an AFL athlete.

This reflection is by no means exhaustive, and an organisation that is serious about looking after its most promising emerging

talent ought to be about the business of warding off these marauders from Down Under by creating and supporting quality information and alternatives.

(The recently developed degree programme in Gaelic Games now available in Carlow IT being a case in point.)

The time has come to be totally proactive in the delivery of a real alternative, rather than the

helplessness, often currently portrayed, that there is nothing we can do.

Without entering the debate as to whether the best Gaelic footballers make up the entirety of the Irish team (a certain mix of horses for courses is always apparent), or the fact that this exercise is afforded a fixed date in the calendar, well in advance of the event (no such luxury for the Railway Cup), or the acceptance that this year's opponents were little more than an Australian B team, it's difficult to find an

objective case for the continuation of this engagement.

Rules, rules and more rules

Consistency in the interpretation of the rules by match officials was always, and still is, a point of much debate.

Only those who have performed the task, particularly at a high level, can fully appreciate the difficulty of making accurate calls in live time.

Those who deliberate on sanctions that ought to apply (if any) as a result of the man in black's report are not burdened by such instantaneous calls. Inconsistency on their part is not acceptable.

Ryan McMenamin recently received an eight-week suspension over an incident between himself and Paul Galvin.

Amidst the hysteria, well fuelled by the entire media spectrum, the acceptance of his wrong-doing, and subsequent apology, attracted scant recognition.

Even though this was a classic case of trial by television (with no small help from the rest of the media), no-one in Tyrone made any attempt to condone the incident.

However, when there were clear precedents, arguably of a much more severe nature (by a Donegal footballer and a Cork hurler), which attracted a four-week ban, one has reason to doubt the fairness of Ryan's ban. Indeed, a representative of the CHC openly admitted that the fact the game was televised made the incident more grave!

Have we now got three different sets of rules – the Official Guide, the experimental rules and the rules for televised games? (Almost forgot the fourth set – those that apply to Ricey!)

[muppet]

This strongly opinionated scribe – regrettably often blinkered

Maybe this will be in the auto-biography!

In all seriousness though someone call victim support for poor Mickey. 

[The GAA]

Jesus mickey, change the record

[T O Hare]

I agree, once i seen it was about the aussie rules i blanked it, come on Mickey, you have so many good stories about the GAA

[rootthemout]

the mans obsessed!