If Lance Armstrong, Miguel Indurain or any other Tour de France winners visited Perth, I’d make sure that I was there to see them and hear what they had to say. Their abilities are amazing and I would consider it an honour to see them in person.
However, if a yellow jersey that they had worn made it’s way to Perth, I’d probably give it a miss. Sure it’s a piece of sporting history but it’s not quite the same as seeing a great sportsperson in the flesh and hearing their story.
That’s pretty much how I feel about today’s news that soccer’s World Cup trophy will be making it’s way to Sydney and is expected to be viewed by around 10 000 Aussies. The trophy is embarking on a 31 city, round the world tour which will take in 29 countries.
While I’m not a soccer fan, I can imagine those who enjoy the round ball game would love to turn up to see some world class players; but queuing up to see a hunk of metal? Come on, the trophy isn’t a star. Surely the players are the stars.
The trophy is only a symbolic prize. While it might be precious in itself, it’s not the real reason that players, coaches and teams spend endless hours training and improving their skills. They put in all that hard work for a chance to be recognised as the best in the world at their chosen sport. The World Cup trophy is held high by the winning team not because it is the prize but because it is symbolic of the prize.
When held in the air by the captain of the winning team it says, “This team is the best in the world.” On it’s own, it’s nothing.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Technorati Tags: Soccer – World Cup – Football – Cycling
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It has about as much value as the brownlow medal won last year has at the moment 🙂
Ah yes, nothing like kicking someone when they’re down.
Cousins did a very foolish thing and it’s not the first time. While I value moral integrity higher than sporting prowess it is still painfully clear that he is a 1st class footballer.
I cannot find anything to celebrate in the Cousins situation. In the same way, I didn’t find anything to smile about earlier this year when a high profile Dockers player was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, obstructing police officers and assaulting a public officer.
What these men have done is obviously unacceptable and they need to be dealt with through the proper channels, but I won’t be gloating over anyone’s fall from grace.
We are getting a new race here in California–it should be big.
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/
Coming back to topic, I wonder if this is a type of modern day idol worship?