Sport

A newspaper leading- headline , declaring something like''Price of Tomatoes to Increase'', would seem to be a little over the top , but a headline in todays newspaper , which reads ''Rugby Player Injured in Rugby Match'', would appear to be in the same category,and the sub-heading,''For the Second Time '',makes the article even worse.

What has happened to our sportsmen since professional sport became big business?The greater the money involved the more 'wimpish'these players are becoming.Of course we are all learning , as usual, from the Americans. American Football seems to consist of men (at least I think they are men) ,dressed in head-to-toe protection gear, running after or with a ball before taking a 'breather'following all the exertion

I played hurling once and I can still remember this big fellow from the opposing team charging towards me with his hurley raised above his head (now illegal),the tin re-inforcement,wrapped around the shank ,glinting in the sun and his frightening gap-toothed grin......yes I played hurling once.Of course it was dangerous but it was also fun and the best team usually won and if not there was always a next time.
Professionalism and the litigation-culture, that goes with it, is killing sport from the participants point of view.We will eventually get to a point where sportsmen will be togged out in the equivelant of medieval suits-of-armour,clanking arount the playing fields and crying out in fear if an opponent approaches them with a tin opener.
As for Roy Keane,and his comments on the wives and girlfriends of his players,and where they should do their shopping,he is not and never will be an example of what a real sportsman should be ...its great that Sunderland is doing so well and we can also hope that the newly-Irish-acquired Peter borough United (POSH) ,bought for £1,will do as well, (it's shield includes the crossed -keys of St.Peter and its slogan is 'on this rock'.......not a lot of people know that...