Sooks in sport

[manfredvijars]

... I do bum slapping for free but only in house calls.
Bob

Errr, Right. I've got this mate who would really like that.
I'll PM you his address and let him know you're coming ...

[Dave Smith]

I'm old enough to remember that to be HAPPY and GAY was a good thing.
Fair Dinkum Mate I dunno.

TTFM

[Stephen Whiteside]

Bring me back the good old days, when men were always men,
And only kicked the dog or beat the wife up now and then;
Who shared a slab of tinnies with the fellas at the club,
And every other day continued ditto at the pub.

Bring me back the good old days, when feelings were taboo,
And hearts grew ever tighter at the turning of the screw;
When fears were never passed around, nor fast receding hope,
With stories' ends' found swinging at the bottom of a rope.

Bring me back the good old days, when speeding cars and utes
Always had a steady line of willing, green recruits;
When trucks crashed into gum tree trunks, by accident or not;
When pain was palliated by a self-inflicted shot.

Bring me back the good old days. I cannot get enough.
I do not like this pampering, this sissy stuff, this fluff.
It used to be a manly test to down ten pots, then drive.
Of course, a lot of young blokes now, they might just stay alive...

[Stephen Whiteside]

In recent times, Bob, as I am sure you are aware, there has been a push to make men less determined to solve all their problems by themselves, alone, and an encouragement for them to share their feelings - both positive and negative, but especially negative - with others. This has been in an attempt to try to curb the high rates of domestic violence, alcohol abuse and suicide that we see throughout all of Australia, but especially in the rural and regional areas. The bond between country football clubs and alcohol is especially strong and longstanding.

My hypothesis - and I could be entirely wrong - is that the increasing 'feminisation' of the behaviour of men is a spin-off of this, a side effect. If so, then it is one I am more than happy to put up with, if it is helping to keep men (and their wives, girlfriends, children and pets) healthier and happier - and alive.

As I say, I could be barking up the wrong tree entirely.

[Neville Briggs]

an encouragement for them to share their feelings - both positive and negative

Isn't that what we do in the poetry mob.

[Stephen Whiteside]

I guess so, but I'm not sure that's quite the same thing...

[warooa]

Yes, now it is apparently entirely appropriate to call someone a "girly-man". It must be some sort of term of endearment for those that have come over from the dark side and embraced their feminine side. On that "dark side" - yes alcohol is an insidious drug that does far more damage to our social fabric that any illegal substance, but to make passing reference to Country Footy Clubs, drink and domestic violence is a bit of a stretch, as if the boys go out and play Saturday arvo, get on the turps, then go home and give the Missus a touch up. I'd suggest there is much more upside to Local Footy Clubs and what they offer to their communities than any downside.

The neanderthal caveman in us blokes may lay dormant, but will never be totally feminised out of us, no matter how many beauty and grooming products they tell us we need, how much they encourage an "intervention" and talk-fest over every little blip of an issue that may arrive in life, how much low carb, fat free, boojwaar light beer they shove down our throats, nor how much they try to minimise the tough and brutal physical contact we enjoy in our sports.

Cheers, Marty

[Neville Briggs]

There you go, Marty shares his feelings.

[Bob Pacey]

I think I agree with Marty, If I could understand what he said ?

Yes the family side of Rugby league is great once you get to the grass roots it is all about the kids an having fun.


I do not however agree with the everyone wins a prize mentality that seems to be the norm now.


Bob

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, it's all very complicated, and we are talking about so many issues.

I know that country footy is a very powerful social glue, but I also know that it tends to go hand in hand with alcohol, and I know that causes a great deal of damage - not all the time, of course, but often.

On the question of violence in sport, I don't know much about rugby league, but I do follow the AFL closely. I love violence in sport as much as anybody - probably more so. AFL has changed enormously in the past thirty years. The whack behind the play has been virtually eliminated. The head has become sacrosanct. You cannot hit the head under (almost) any circumstances. On the other hand, the game is so much faster now than it was, it is inherently more dangerous.

We are learning a lot more about the danger of head injuries and concussion in later life. American football is leading the way here, with hard data coming through on the incidence of permanent brain damage and suicide in later life. The issue is starting to bite at AFL level.

By the way, it was Ross, wasn't it, not Bob, that wrote the poem. Sorry about that, Ross.