Craig Foster wrote: “Colour-blind code shades the others for diversity” in yesterday’s Sydney Morning Herald. Just how many times is this bloke going to talk about the same issues and arguments nearly every week?
Surely there are more pressing matters to discuss in Australian soccer.
But as a rugby league fan I will take up this sport’s baton to declare Craig, you are dead wrong! You proudly boast: “In football we shake our heads when a player signs for less than $2 million a year in another sport and it’s big news.” Craig, I know a whole nation that has become more than a little tiresome of these so-called super paid prima donnas. This was exemplified by the national disgust in France following the antics of the French national football team during the South African World Cup.
It might surprise you that a friend of mine, a migrant from the southern part of England, will be followed the St George-Illawarra Dragons yesterday in the grand final. She recounts first seeing rugby league five years ago and saying to local people how amazing it was to watch ‘athletes’ putting their bodies on the line for such ‘little’ money.
She now has zero interest in the ‘big money’ race of the English Premier League where the fattest wallet seems to win a title for a limited number of teams. For her, sport is again about “the spirit not the big dollars mentality which pervades soccer”. For her ‘footy’ is rugby league and the Dragons! Less money doesn’t make the likes of Slater, Lockyer or Inglis someone you wouldn’t pay to watch or passionately follow. To us that is bargain value all the way to the ‘entertainment’ bank.
But my friend is not alone. Throughout the week, papers covering the grand final build up have splashed pictures of eager fans. Names like Mohamad Boussi and Apollini are as passionate as any. But wait; don’t these surnames suggest they come from nations that count soccer as their favourite past-time? TV cameras also panned excited groups of fans where one could see young Asian teens and adults chanting for the Roosters, or young Muslim women wearing their traditional headwear in the Dragon colours.
Then there is the diversity on the rugby league field. A South African migrant played in the grand final along with Kiwis and Pacific Islanders. Also don’t forget the thing that gels diversity in this country – Indigenous players aptly not mentioned. Overseas born players or first generation migrants running around the NRL come from all over the Pacific, Middle East, Europe, England, and New Zealand. In fact, all around Australia new immigrants are welcomed into the game.
The Toyota Cup grand final featured an Afghan refugee Omar Slaimankhal. The QLD Cup final had Zimbabwean refugee Gideon Mzembe score a try, and the Cambodian brothers Channerith and Channerath Ly featured in the NSW Cup.
But I don’t think Craig Foster represents the majority of former Socceroos or top players who think the way he does. People like Craig Johnston and Harry Kewell have come from areas such as Western Sydney, play the game that suits them, are happy with their achievements through Australian ‘football’ and still manage to follow rugby league.
Rugby league is the last sport to tell others what to do. You can even come from a famous league family and still be encouraged to follow your dreams regardless of your game. This is well exemplified by names currently running around the AFL, such as Bevan, Gilbert and Jack.
You’re right Craig Foster in one aspect. There were two teams out there yesterday worth the financial equivalent of one English Premier League player. But for the excitement levels these 34 athletes provided priceless entertainment, even beyond the value of your precious prima donnas.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
But it's a little bit embarrassing that in this article he is getting his rocks off over a crowd of 21,000.
punter
Guest
Fozz is always Factual.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
As time goes on, I'm seeing the truth of this - that those who defend the game the most, actually don't really know all that much about the game itself.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
At least he acknowledged that you can get 100,000 to an AFL game - that's an admission of sorts - footballers out on the ground can hear 100,000 fans, don't worry about that.
Golden Boy
Guest
Crashy that's because all else is really mediocre compared to football ... as Fozz says in Football; "We don't watch the game, we live it." Another great line by Fozz.
Titus
Guest
Did you have to facepalm at Peter Fitsimons "article" in which he expressed delight that the summer slumber was over and asks "did anything interesting happen in the a-league? Don't forget to tell your mum" Well yes Peter it did, Brisbane absolutely kicked it, and the Asian Cup was pretty cool as well.
Crashy
Guest
Still shaking my head at his 'article' today in the Herald. Rather than any sort of journalism, the stuff he trotts out is actually nonsensical to the point of farce. I cannot think for one second why Fairfax have his weekly column - it is utter tripe.
punter
Guest
I think you to suffer from the meaning of 'subjective'. You tell us about the diving & why 'MOST' Ausssies are turned off. I think your cred would have been better if you said you get turned off, not talking for most of Australians.
Titus
Guest
So you come on here to complain about Craig Foster deriding other sports and then you go on to say " At least three times in every game you see wild and ridiculous diving. Someones leg get brushed by an opponents boot as they run by each other and one of them will take a dramatic dive and, always, clutch their face in agony as if they’ve been shot. The ref gives a penalty, maybe sends the player from the field, and most Aussies are so frustrated they switch off" Soccer cops far worse from all sections of the media, so stop crying For what its worth, soccer IS the greatest sport in the world , that is why it is also the most popular sport in the world, and it DOES set the bench mark for atmosphere and passion.
Cir Eric
Guest
There's nothing anyone can say to defend Craig Foster. He is utterly ridiculous. He constantly derides all other sports except soccer. He truly believes soccer is the best sport in the world, and has the greatest fans in the world, more diversity in the teams and among the fans than any other sport, and that soccer fans are more passionate than anyone else. He believes it to be the only sport which is founded on passion. He never, ever ceases to amaze me with how arrogant he is. He completely fails to realise that he's only giving his opinion. He talks as if all these things are facts. He goes so far as to say most soccer fans in Australia are afraid to support soccer, that they have to pretend to like AFL, Union or League (which he constantly calls "thuggery") for fear of being ridiculed by the community for daring to follow soccer. His arrogance knows no bounds. And because he has such a tightly closed mind he refuses to admit to the numerous examples of passion and diversity mentioned in this article, examples which are on display week in week out in League, Union and AFL. He was angry a few weeks ago when NRL and AFL stars went to the flood damaged towns in Queensland. He stated his ridiculous belief that more Australians follow soccer than any other sport and that it would have meant more for the people in those towns to have met Socceroos, like Kevin Muscat. He claimed millions of Aussie kids look up to people like Muscat. The very next week Muscat committed one of the worst tackles ever seen in the sport and Foster had no comment. He was suspended for 8 weeks and Foster had no comment. I played soccer for 12 yrs and i followed the EPL as much as i could without pay TV, but i could never truly get into it, because it's not very fair. At least three times in every game you see wild and ridiculous diving. Someones leg get brushed by an opponents boot as they run by each other and one of them will take a dramatic dive and, always, clutch their face in agony as if they've been shot. The ref gives a penalty, maybe sends the player from the field, and most Aussies are so frustrated they switch off. That so many games are won and lost by a multi-millionaire taking a dive that wouldn't even get them cast in a F- grade horror movie is unacceptable. During the 2010 World Cup Foster said something to the effect that this is just part of the art form of the game, and that Australians should actually learn the "art" of diving, or, cheating, as anyone with common sense knows it is. He is an elitist who looks down his nose at anyone who doesn't think like him or have the passion for soccer that he does. I think he actually views himself as being on some sort of crusade, trying to make Australians realise that soccer is the be all and end all. He acts like it's only a matter of time before we all realise this. Almost as if he views himself as a Christ like figure. But as i said, his ultimate failure is that he belives he sees the truth and everyone else is blind. I don't think the man knows the meaning of the word 'subjective'.
zach
Guest
Is this guy for real, or is he really just The Chaser guys. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/celebrate-our-proud-history-with-a-new-gardiner-cup-20101016-16o92.html
JR
Guest
I think you're right, but if he ever grows up he could be very useful. With all respect, he needs to get his teeth into something serious rather than just ranting on TV.
Shahsan
Guest
Ben wrote: It is unfortunate that association football requires some sophistication and “study” to truly understand, this by itself potentially disadvantages would be converts to the sport as it requires effort and the watching of hundreds of games to fully embrace its subtleties, tacitcs and differing gamestyles. (with greater reward). Er, Ben. one thing you should never do to try to win a soccer debate is to mention intelligence and soccer players in the same sentence.
Kermit is a frog
Roar Pro
It is unfortunate that association football requires some sophistication and “study” to truly understand, this by itself potentially disadvantages would be converts to the sport as it requires effort and the watching of hundreds of games to fully embrace its subtleties, tacitcs and differing gamestyles. (with greater reward). The Melbourne code for example requires little tactical and strategical knowledge to play or understand, it’s a simpleton’s sport. a pretty lame statement really. Went to the same school as Foster perhaps?
Kermit is a frog
Roar Pro
Can't afford to pay them less though, can they. After all - who went out and poached John O'Neill, and Ben Buckley, and Archie Fraser Suddenly market value of good people goes up. What's your problem about that? btw - Demetriou is a former player - who therefore gives current players an aspirational role model - you too could oneday aspire to head the league. Demetriou came through the players association.
Art Sapphire
Guest
This is thread is about Foz not me, he's the one you should be scared of :)
Realist
Guest
Listen champ I dont know what peverse agenda you have nor why for some reason you think that I post alleged abusive comments on a website I have never been to or heard from. Seriously dude you are scaring me.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Don't worry realist, you are not the first to say this during my time on this site. The only reason why I have not pasted the quote directly from TWG is because an 11 year old with basic English comprehension skills would work it out. Its easier just to change your name :)
Realist
Guest
Sorry champ - never seen that site in my life. The only state of denial I am in is that my waistline is not expanding!
Art Sapphire
Guest
Yes it was from you. No point living in denial. Go to the last page of the comments on this link. As Allan commented - "you sound like a chippy rugby fan" :) http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/les-murray/blog/1022863/Where-the-buck-stops#comments