One wonders what historic moments in rugby and football (soccer) will emerge over the next 50 years (although difficult to imagine, if you’re over 50!). What magical moments of wizardry and wonderful moments of sportsmanship will emerge?

Leinster v Ulster was the first (16 Dec 1876) and last (31 Dec 2006) game of rugby played at the old Lansdowne Road stadium. The first international match was played way back in Victorian times in 1878 (when Ireland was under British rule). When the Republic of Ireland was eventually established, both the Republic and the North Of Ireland still united, every year, to wear the green shirt and take on the world’s best rugby teams. Football does not do this, except once, in 1973 a United Ireland team* took on the World champions, Brazil. The venue? Lansdowne Road. For 128 years Lansdowne Road was an international venue, much loved by anyone who visited. It then closed its doors for a moment (three and a half years in the greater scheme of things) and moved its rugby and football events to the hidden jewel in Ireland’s crown, the 82,500 Croke Park, HQ of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association)*.

What historic events and wonderful sportsmanship moments will emerge in this, the newest stadium in the oldest venue? Perhaps it is the oldest international sports venue in the world – can someone enlighten me?

* See the full stories of the 1973 moment when Ireland united in football and also the 2007 moment when ‘God saved Croke Park’ in the Great Moments Of Sportsmanship collection of published short stories.

In 1999, Palermo made international headlines when he missed three penalties for Argentina. They lost 3-0 to Columbia in the Copa America.

Next day Palermo gave interviews and promised to get on with his career. Three days later, he scored in the 2-0 win over Uruguay.

He scored from his own half against Independiente something even Pele failed to do in the 1970 World Cup.

His 200^th goal for Boca Juniors was a 40 yard header to win the game 3-2 against Velez Sarsfield.

In the lashing rain, last October, he scored the last minute goal against Peru to propel Argentina into the 2010 World Cup. Listen to the commentator roar ‘goaaaal’.

Although he’s stuck on the bench behind Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero he loves being part of the team. “Diego will decide when I get on the pitch, and it will be when he considers it beneficial for the team. I value greatly being where I am.”

“The problem is that we are talking about a team in which every player is more of a superstar than the one before, in the best way. I am surrounded by monsters!” the Boca Juniors legend joked with Ole on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile Palermo does not rule out a last minute goal in a crucial game like the final! “That would be one hell of a film ending no?! Something incredible. Whatever is coming my way, bring it on. Meanwhile I’ll enjoy this time like nobody else.”

The MFA is said to have developed into an outlet and symbol of the prisoners’ passion and commitment to discipline. ‘More Than Just A  Game’ is a ‘true story’ feature film,  whose synopsis describes the MFA as a “training ground not only for the body but for the political soul, where the principles of negotiation and dialogue [were] practiced and entrenched.”

In a sense, this brotherhood of football gave the players a code. As Michael Okeowo beautiful piece stated “political prisoners defied apartheid rules, but adhered strictly to the FIFA’s rules”.

One former prison player explained at the end of the short BBC documentary, how playing football helped them to survive their oppression because: ‘We knew we were part of the universe of footballers.’

This film  reminds footballers of the joy of playing football, which is sometimes forgotten amidst epic battles, jangling nerves, passion to win, and, the sheer excitement of the World Cup.

One moving story emerged last night on BBC TV as they did a short piece on South Africa’s Robben Island prisoners’ football league. Despite the racist authority’s initial refusal, the apartheid prisoners negotiated their rights to play the beautiful game in the stone quarry.

An internal football league was formed and the Makana Football Association was born with team names like ‘Hotspurs’, ‘Gunners’, ‘Rangers’ and ‘Ditshitshidi’.

Politicians and leading figures who played in MFA include  Minister of Defence ‘Terror’ Lekota, the Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa Dikgang Moseneke, ANC President Jacob Zuma and business leader Tokyo Sexwale. Some prisoners, like Nelson Mandela, never played as they were kept in isolation. But they said he used to cheer them on from his prison cell window.

They made a film about it. Part 2 reveals how football helped the prisoners transcend their dire circumstances. So no moaning nor whining from today’s multi millionaire footballers as they play the game we all love.

[Part 2]

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Who remembers Bobby Moore and Pele swapping shirts and embracing each other after their epic battle in the opening rounds in the 1970 World Cup? *

Or France 1998 when USA played Iran (despite having cut off diplomatic relations) – the players exchanged gifts, helped each other up off the ground and secretly arranged to play a 3 game friendly series without either government knowing.*

Or the magical moment in Germany 2006 just before kick off when the Iranian goalkeeper gave a bouquet of flowers to, the still grieving, Mexican goalkeeper, Sanchez, who had just flown back from Guadalajara after burying his father.*

Will players be allowed to swap shirts? Who will demonstrate sportsmanship? So that kids everywhere see how cool sportsmanship can be when opposing players do battle and embrace afterwards? Why do players play? Because they love it. Let’s see who will show their unbridled joy?  Who will fully embrace the magic of the brotherhood of football? Send me your stories, observations and thoughts as it all unfolds and I’ll publish them here.

Quiz Question: Who is England’s best ever goal scorer (goals to games ratio)? Very few English fans know it. Post your answer. I’ll also give full answer in my next post.

Footnote * indicates the full two minute story is in the Great Moments Of Sportsmanship book.

He had come runner up four times, and after years of dedication his moment seemed to arrive. The dream was crystal clear as he stepped up to play the18th hole again in a ‘Sudden Death’ play-off against the 49 times PGA tournament winner and Ryder Cup golfer, Furyk.

With the light fading over the beautiful harbour and the greens, both players safely reached the fairway from their tee shots. Davis’s second shot ran across the green, over the edge, bounced off some rocks below and finally settled on nicely packed sand with some reeds behind it. However, he successfully chipped up onto the green with his third shot. Now here’s the magic.

No one saw this happen except Davis. As he played his third shot he thought he might have barely touched ‘a loose impediment’ (a loose reed/bit of straw) which is a penalty. “It was one of those things I thought I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. And I thought we’d check on TV, and indeed there was movement,” Davis said.

He immediately called for the tournament referee, Slugger White, and told him what had happened. It was so subtle that the crowd didn’t see it and the TV cameras didn’t see it.

He felt honour-bound to tell the referee, who checked with the TV slow motion replays and duly imposed a two shot penalty for ‘making contact with a loose impediment in a greenside hazard’ (rule 13.4: moving a loose impediment during a takeaway). Davis’s dream was over.

However, his actions on the 18th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links course, will be remembered by many for a long time to come. You can see this magical sportsmanship moment. Slugger White later said: “He’s class, first class”. Brian Davis has since received floods of congratulation cards, letters, emails from people all over America and in particular from parents who said they told their children this is how you play sport and this is how you live life.

Davis proves that nice guys are winners. In his own words, here’s how good it actually felt after the high tension game was over. “It’s probably the first time in my career, or in any golfer’s, where [you] lost in a play-off and actually drove home more positive than when you left,” he said. “It has been a good experience for me, and it has been great for the game of golf that we do call rules infractions on ourselves. It’s just part of the game.”

Note: Thanks to Ollie Campbell for alerting me about this story.

Dr. Sharon Kay Stoll on why golfers call their own penalties

Whilst most of our Welsh friends the week before forecasted Ireland to win by 10 points. You have to admire the fire that burns deep in  the Scottish bellies.

The wonderful Scottish character in the middle of the montage, when asked for his feelings about the game, before the game, during a video interview, proudly announced his mobile number on camera and asked ‘Dublin Girls to call him without delay.’

As the last game of international rugby in Croke Park (The Hidden Jewel In Ireland’s Crown) drew to a close a couple of kilted Scottish fans told me what a privilege it was to visit Croke Park as it was a ‘sacred venue’  – a rare and never to happen again event , unless they came back to watch some Gaelic Games – Ireland’s national sport.

A touching moment of sportsmanship was shared with me by one of Ireland’s great out-halves, Ollie Campbell.  He told me that after the game, the Irish,  fly-half who struggled with his kicking and who was subsequently  substituted, Johnny Sexton, went into the Scottish dressing room  and gave his precious Irish shirt (he has only a handful of caps) to his opposite number, Dan Parks. When Parks offered his Scottish shirt in return, Sexton thanked him but refused as he felt that since Parks had won the  ‘Man Of The Match’ award  it was therefore a special game for him and he should keep his shirt in memory of  his outstanding performance.  This was from a young man who had just lost the chance of achieving one of his dreams – winning  his first Triple Crown.  Our dream was over but, like Johnny Sexton, we’ll rise again.

…to be held in hidden jewel in the crown which the rest of the rest of the world never knew about, the GAA’s wonderful Croke Park. And once again, our Welsh friends shone. They came in droves. Thousands of red shirts worn proudly and distant Welsh voices singing beautifully in pubs across Dublin. How come the Welsh are such great singers? If anyone knows, please inform me. Even the biggest ugliest, most savage prop forwards quietly, yet proudly, stand up and sing beautifully when called upon. Ireland won and the Welsh celebrated with us. Irish captain, Brian O’Driscoll won his 100th cap.

Their final game before moving back to the world’s oldest international rugby venue, Lansdowne Road. A really sizzling new stadium, in the same old location, opens in the Autumn. But meanwhile, we’ve got one more trip to ‘Croker’ to see Ireland take on the Scots and maybe win a Triple Crown. A great day of sportsmanship is coming as Irish men, women and children cheer on auld England to beat France on Saturday to give Ireland a chance of winning the 6 Nations Championship outright.

Meet Ron McCarten (photo), who told me that he actually played on the wing for Ireland against England in Lansdowne Road in 1961 (the other Irish winger that day was Tony O’Reilly). Irish hero Tom Kiernan made his debut that day with Ireland going on to win 11-8 in another dramatic match. I will post up a video interview of Ron later. Crystal clear memories almost half a century later.

Ron McCarten enjoys the drama of  Ireland versus England.                                 

Meanwhile, I heard a nice story about the English coach, Martin Johnson, which I am going to ask for help in finishing the story. Here’s the start. When England came to town in 2003, Johnson and his team stood at the Irish end before the national anthems – forcing the Irish team to stand further down the pitch on the grass (beyond the red carpet) and thereby forcing the Irish President McAleese to soil her shoes as she had to walk on the grass. Despite being asked to move, Johnson refused. England had failed at the final hurdle during the previous three seasons. This time both Ireland and England were going for the Grand Slam. England stuffed Ireland 42-6 and went on to win the World Cup that year. Half the country hated Johnson for insulting the Irish president and half the country (including the Irish captain, O’Driscoll) quietly admired his determination not to be bossed by anyone that day.

A few seasons later, an Irish rugby character sent Johnson a red carpet with the following message: ‘For sale, one red carpet, unused, almost new‘. Johnson took the carpet to a charity auction in his club Leicester. He sold it and sent the money to Ireland with the cheque made out to the Irish character’s local rugby club, with a photograph of Johnson holding the carpet. If anyone has a copy of this photograph or the name of the rugby club – please let me know. Or perhaps get Martin Johnson to give me  a call to clarify.

*For the record, yesterday, Ireland won 20-16.

Alumnus football
Grantland Rice

Bill Jones had been the shining star upon his college team.
His tackling was ferocious and his bucking was a dream.
When husky William took the ball beneath his brawny arm
They had two extra men to ring the ambulance alarm.

Bill hit the line and ran the ends like some mad bull amuck.
The other team would shiver when they saw him start to buck.
And when some rival tackler tried to block his dashing pace,
On waking up, he’d ask, “Who drove that truck across my face?”

Bill had the speed-Bill had the weight-Bill never bucked in vain;
From goal to goal he whizzed along while fragments, strewed the plain,
And there had been a standing bet, which no one tried to call,
That he could make his distance through a ten-foot granite wall.

When he wound up his college course each student’s heart was sore.
They wept to think bull-throated Bill would sock the line no more.
Not so with William – in his dreams he saw the Field of Fame,
Where he would buck to glory in the swirl of Life’s big game.

Sweet are the dreams of college life, before our faith is nicked-
The world is but a cherry tree that’s waiting to be picked;
The world is but an open road-until we find, one day,
How far away the goal posts are that called us to the play.

So, with the sheepskin tucked beneath his arm in football style,
Bill put on steam and dashed into the thickest of the pile;
With eyes ablaze he sprinted where the laureled highway led-
When Bill woke up his scalp hung loose and knots adorned his head.

He tried to run the ends of life, but with rib-crushing toss
A rent collector tackled him and threw him for a loss.
And when he switched his course again and dashed into the line
The massive Guard named Failure did a toddle on his spine.

Bill tried to punt out of the rut, but ere he turned the trick
Right Tackle Competition scuttled through and blocked the kick.
And when he tackled at Success in one long, vicious prod
The Fullback Disappointment steered his features in sod.

Bill was no quitter, so he tried a buck in higher gear,
But Left Guard Envy broke it up and stood him on his ear.
Whereat he aimed a forward pass, but in two vicious bounds
Big Center Greed slipped through a hole and rammed him out of bounds.

But one day, when across the Field of Fame the goal seemed dim,
The wise old coach, Experience, came up and spoke to him.
“Oh Boy,” he said, “the main point now before you win your bout
Is keep on bucking Failure till you’ve worn the piker out!”

“And, kid, cut out this fancy stuff – go in there, low and hard;
Just keep your eye upon the ball and plug on, yard by yard,
And more than all, when you are thrown or tumbled with a crack,
Don’t sit there whining-hustle up and keep on coming back;

“Keep coming back with all you’ve got, without an alibi,
If Competition trips you up or lands upon your eye,
Until at last above the din you hear this sentence spilled:
‘We might as well let this bird through before we all get killed.’

“You’ll find the road is long and rough, with soft spots far apart,
Where only those can make the grade who have the Uphill Heart.
And when they stop you with a thud or halt you with a crack,
Let Courage call the signals as you keep on coming back.

“Keep coming back, and though the world may romp across your spine,
Let every game’s end find you still upon the battling line;
For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes – not that you won or lost – but how you played the Game.