From: MH on


Futbolmetrix wrote:
> "DavidW" <no(a)email.provided> wrote in message
> news:XuSBm.10142$cL1.122(a)newsfe20.iad...
>
>>So you approve of diving, or are you actually claiming that all those
>>histrionics we see are genuine pain?
>
>
> Why do you call that "diving?" The behavior described in the original
> article has got nothing to do with "diving". If you want to have a debate
> about this, at the very least you should start by using clear definitions of
> what it is that bothers you, not throwing everything under the blanket
> definition of "diving".
>
> Diving != Faking injury != embellishing contact != seeking contact != other
> forms of unsportsmanlike behavior/gamesmanship.

All very true. What the author of the article is complaining about comes
under some categories of "simulation" , I would suggest.

Partly faking (or exaggerating the magnitude of) injuries. This has two
main goals 1) delaying the game and opponents attacks' and 2) convincing
the ref to give a foul and maybe a card.

Partly embellishing contact. Again to influence the ref.

From a Canadian perspective I didn't mind this article at all. He puts
his finger on a problem people who are used to hockey and gridiron
football can identify with, and what he describes is a real reflection
of a prevalent attitude.

You don't need to agree with him, but calling him an idiot (as some here
have) is unreasonable, because he is describing a legitimate and
widespread point of view in some countries where soccer is not the major
sport. He is also doing it while avoiding some of the excesses of
similar articles written by reporters among our neighbours to the south
- who always manage to suggest that soccer is an effete sport for the
effeminate etc.

>
> D
>
>

From: William Clark on
In article
<15fc7037-5edb-4f40-a5b4-c084169ebf32(a)b25g2000prb.googlegroups.com>,
Abubakr <deltarasha(a)gmail.com> wrote:

> On Oct 17, 12:19�am, ben <bennysant...(a)y7mail.com> wrote:
> > On 16 Oct, 13:51, Abubakr <deltara...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Oct 16, 9:59�pm, "DavidW" <n...(a)email.provided> wrote:
> >
> > > > Abubakr wrote:
> > > > > Funny he should mention cricket in this context, a sport replete with
> > > > > gamesmanship, and Australians, in particular, are masters of such
> > > > > arts. Play-acting in football is akin to sledging, appealing like
> > > > > your
> > > > > life depended on it even when you know the man's not out, not walking
> > > > > when you've nicked it, or underarming with one ball to go.
> >
> > > > None of these examples is analogous to reacting like a wimp. He's not
> > > > claiming
> > > > that our cricketers are saints. In fact, he chose a West Indian as his
> > > > prime
> > > > example.
> >
> > > > > If
> > > > > anything, the Socceroos are simply carrying on the great Aussie
> > > > > traditions of gamesmanship in their own sport.
> >
> > > > It's more than just gamesmanship. It's whiny and pathetic. The game is
> > > > damaged
> > > > when players behave like sooks.
> >
> > > It's all just gamesmanship.
> >
> > > > > So so I approve of gamesmanship? No. But I understand why players do
> > > > > it. And I also understand that it's something Australian sportsmen in
> > > > > all sports take to with relish.
> >
> > > > And he'd be one of the first to acknowledge that. He doesn't hold back
> > > > criticizing Australians for anything when he thinks they deserve it.
> > > > But his
> > > > article is not about gamesmanship in general, but a particular kind.
> >
> > > Of course he doesn't see or doesn't want want to make out that play
> > > acting is simply a form of gamesmanship because he has an agenda as
> > > anti football propagandist. It's a simple matter, if getting struck by
> > > the ball would cause thompson or Lillee to the pavalion for the rest
> > > of the match, the great IVA Richards would have gone down like sack of
> > > patatos. Have no illusions.- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > > - Show quoted text -
> >
> > I very much doubt that.
> >
> > For Richards, it was a matter of pride as much as anything else.
> > He deliberately didn't use a helmet. He went out to intimidate his
> > opponents.
> >
> > Bit difficult to do that if you're crying foul every second over and
> > rolling around on the floor as soon as a ball strikes you
> Because cricket is a different game. It allows the bowler to aim to
> hit the batsman and richard response was appropriate for that
> dynamic.

Give it up - you are just making yourself look more ridiculous by the
minute.
From: Deeppe on
On Oct 16, 7:35 am, MH <nos...(a)ucalgary.ca> wrote:
> All very true. What the author of the article is complaining about comes
> under some categories of "simulation" , I would suggest.
>
> Partly faking (or exaggerating the magnitude of) injuries. This has two
> main goals 1) delaying the game and opponents attacks' and 2) convincing
> the ref to give a foul and maybe a card.
>
> Partly embellishing contact. Again to influence the ref.

Has everyone here forgotten the last WC when "Magic Spray" became a
two word joke?



From: Abubakr on
On Oct 17, 1:35 am, MH <nos...(a)ucalgary.ca> wrote:
> Futbolmetrix wrote:
> > "DavidW" <n...(a)email.provided> wrote in message
> >news:XuSBm.10142$cL1.122(a)newsfe20.iad...
>
> >>So you approve of diving, or are you actually claiming that all those
> >>histrionics we see are genuine pain?
>
> > Why do you call that "diving?" The behavior described in the original
> > article has got nothing to do with "diving". If you want to have a debate
> > about this, at the very least you should start by using clear definitions of
> > what it is that bothers you, not throwing everything under the blanket
> > definition of "diving".
>
> > Diving != Faking injury != embellishing contact != seeking contact != other
> > forms of unsportsmanlike behavior/gamesmanship.
>
> All very true. What the author of the article is complaining about comes
> under some categories of "simulation" , I would suggest.
>
> Partly faking (or exaggerating the magnitude of) injuries. This has two
> main goals 1) delaying the game and opponents attacks' and 2) convincing
> the ref to give a foul and maybe a card.
>
> Partly embellishing contact. Again to influence the ref.
>
>  From a Canadian perspective I didn't mind this article at all.  He puts
> his finger on a problem people who are used to hockey and gridiron
> football can identify with, and what he describes is a real reflection
> of a prevalent attitude.
>
> You don't need to agree with him, but calling him an idiot (as some here
> have) is unreasonable, because he is describing a legitimate and
> widespread point of view in some countries where soccer is not the major
> sport.  He is also doing it while avoiding some of the excesses of
> similar articles written by reporters among our neighbours to the south
> - who always manage to suggest that soccer is an effete sport for the
> effeminate etc.
>
>
>
> > D

You are not familiar with the context the likes of this Gaum write in.
There's an all out media war by the other codes to vilify football in
this country. In Melbourne it's the Aussie Rules establishment and in
NSW and Queensland we have the rugby heads who never tire of telling
whoever reads their articles how football is 'un-Australian'.

They are jealous and protecting their interests through propaganda.
They know that in the heart of their next season the focus of the
nation will be on the NT in South Africa and football's growing
popularity is a major threat to their codes' hegemony.

But we don't care to turn people to our game. If they choose to follow
it, they choose to follow it on its own terms, not on Rugby's, Aussie
Rule's or cricket's. And if they don't find something appealing in our
game, they are quite welcome to keep throwing their eggballs around
till kingdom come.
From: Jellore on
On Oct 16, 3:09 pm, Abubakr <deltara...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> On 16 Oct, 14:48, "DavidW" <n...(a)email.provided> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Good article by an Australian sports writer (whose background is not in soccer).
> > All teams could take note, not just Australia.
>
> >http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/time-to-vote-with-the-feet...
>
> > Time to vote with the feet - and keep them
> > Greg Baum
> > 16 October 2009
>
> > ONE DAY at the MCG, many years ago, the great West Indian Viv Richards hooked at
> > a bouncer from Australia's Rodney Hogg, missed and was struck a fearful-looking
> > blow to the head. It was unprotected, except for a cloth cap. The crowd gasped.
> > Richards did not flinch, did not reach for the traumatised spot, did not even
> > shake his head, but took block again. The next ball, another bouncer, he clouted
> > for six.
>
> > That was chalk. Cheese was Wednesday night's soccer international at Etihad
> > Stadium, in which - all too familiarly - a physically affronted player would
> > spin, crumple and then lie prone, as if picked off from the grassy mound,
> > bringing play to a screeching halt. Mostly, long before the ambulance and the
> > police escort could be arranged, he would make a Lazarus-like recovery.
>
> > The Omanis were more prone, so to speak, provoking an apparently intemperate
> > outburst from Australian team manager Garry Moretti to Oman coach Claude Le Roy
> > at half-time. The trouble for Moretti was that Australia was standing not so
> > much on high moral ground as thin ice. When necessary, Australians can roll,
> > twist and writhe as well as any other. At one point, Josh Kennedy needed only a
> > cross to turn Etihad Stadium into Calvary at sunset.
>
> > Australians admired Richards, and were inspired by him, too. In most sporting
> > endeavours, it is something of a proud Australian tradition not to betray even
> > acute pain. A batsman, when struck, will not rub the sore spot. A heavily
> > tackled footballer will gasp for a moment, then stoically carry on. A tennis
> > player will not call for the trainer until his leg begins to detach.
>
> > The thinking is not necessarily profound. It's about machismo, about the mental
> > battle, about projecting a sense of indestructibility, about not admitting to
> > your opponent that he has had even a moral victory. It is probably more reckless
> > than it is wise. But it is us.
>
> > And it is why many Australians who have warmed to soccer in this, its first
> > golden age in this country, still are bemused by - even contemptuous of - the
> > apparent frailty of so many soccer players, including Socceroos. They see it as
> > antithetical to their idea of sport.
>
> > They cannot dispel the suspicion that some of these apparent axe murders are no
> > more than elaborate but tired tactical ploys, meant either to slow down the game
> > or draw a sanction for an opponent. And they cannot help but think that all
> > these boys crying wolf cruel it for the player who is genuinely injured..
>
> > Here, the Socceroos have the chance to make a virtue of a vice. They could
> > establish themselves as the team that plays the game, but not games. They could
> > as a matter of policy make light of glancing slights and blows. They could,
> > uniquely among soccer-playing nations, resolve to get on with the game.
>
> > It would not be easy. No one doubts that an ankle clipped at pace hurts as if
> > stabbed. No one doubts that sliding studs can inflict eye-watering pain.. No one
> > doubts a rough body check can have the effect of a rugby tackle.
>
> > What they do doubt is that minutes later, the pain is still so unrelievedly
> > excruciating that the victim is lying inert on the turf, hair arranged just so,
> > or else clutching for several body parts at once, as if unable to remember which
> > was supposed nearly to have been severed, meantime wincing dramatically, but
> > with a half-open eye cocked towards the referee to make sure that he is
> > watching.
>
> > What they do doubt is that some of these clashes hurt any more than, for
> > instance, the ball does when a defender blocks a thumping shot at close range,
> > or heads it out of the skies. On Wednesday night, Omani goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi
> > made a save when the ball struck him in the head. Though he must have seen
> > stars, he did not even wince, let alone collapse for the camera; there was still
> > a goal to be saved.
>
> > Critics doubtlessly will say that I do not understand the game. They ought to
> > consider this: much as the Socceroos are striving to impress the world, they are
> > still tasked with trying to impress Australia. Much ground has been gained, but
> > much has still to be made; the barely passable crowd on Wednesday night says as
> > much. Australia is an earnest and honest team, but despite the yellow shirts, it
> > is not like watching Brazil, not yet.
>
> > It is not enough to say Australia must accustom itself to the world game; the
> > world game must also adapt to Australia. It must be a game with which all
> > Australian can identify. It has shown a willingness already, for instance, in
> > the format of the A-League, which meshes league and knock-out competitions in a
> > way would be a curio elsewhere in the world, but makes sense here.
>
> > Mostly, Australians prefer their sporting representatives to be hard, robust,
> > impervious to pain. The Socceroos have a chance to take a stance. Upright.
>
> A typical myopic view from a writer from the egg-ball brigade. First
> understand the game then you'll be in position to complain about
> players' behavior. Until then, pieces like this are nothing but the
> work of a lowlife propagandist. Football fans downunder are NOT
> interested.

For once I agree with you. Another fool who shouts his mouth off in
the Australian press is Peter Fitzsimons.