The greatest

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Sadly in addition to "reality" tv the other thing media folk have discovered is really cheap to produce hours and hours of is stuff you used to talk about in the pub with your mates - who's the best ever punk band or could Spiderman "take" Batman or was de Valera a better leader than Julius Caesar. Now we have the best song ever or the Greatest Canadian (a knockoff of yet another disease spawned in England, like Pop Idol (of which more later) and the Weakest Link). The CBC thinks that Tommy Douglas was voted greatest Canadian because of medicare but really he got votes because he's related to Kiefer.

Anyway, Paige responded to my post on Sonia O'Sullivan, mentioning her post on Roy Keane's selection as greatest Irish sports star ever. Due to Roy's involvement in seven of the eight Premiership titles Manchester United have won since Liverpool last won an English League title, Dunner was naturally quick off the mark in joining Paige in condemning Roy as a disgrace etc. Firstly, you'd think Gerry Ryan would have figured he's not cut out for TV but god bless him he's still trying. Any show helmed by him is going to go for a selection not intended for sober nodding of the head but fierce partisan argument.

Not every country can have a Gretzky, a guy who combines an impeccable on field temperament, an all time leading scoring record and a steadily improving coaching record to the point where he is a favourite of aficionados and advertisers like. Most countries' heros have deep flaws - think of Maradona. As for Sonia - she attracts more respect than love methinks.

My response is that I think the selection of Roy as greatest sports star ever is a load of crap - not because Roy is not a legend (he is - the Stadio dell'Alpi vs Juventus in 99 is to him what Wembley vs Benfica was to Best in 68) but these competitions are crap - they are all skewed to recent people or events because people know them best.

Anyway, the greatest Irish sports star ever was Cúchulainn. Or maybe Shergar. So there.

Comments

dunner74 said…
Please allow me to clarify a point. In my opinion Roy as a footballer has no equal in the history of the game with those who came from our shores. It is all the other baggage he has that leads me to lose a lot of respect for him. The biggest one being the whole Saipan incident. But as a footballer there is no denying his talent. However I think the greatest ever sports star if going to be chosen should be based on skill at the chosen sport, accomplishments at the chosen sport and how the individual carried themself throughout their carreer. But I will agree with you by saying 2 things, greatest ever selections are a load of bollox and Gerry Ryan should stick to Radio, preferably somewhere in the Antartic region as the midnight to 6am host.

Oh and Mark, just to let you know the United game at the weekend in the Cup is on Pay Per View, $14.99 I believe is the price.
Thu Jan 26, 05:54:00 pm GMT-5
Fiona de Londras said…
Oh God you're so right about Gerry Ryan....
Fri Jan 27, 01:23:00 am GMT-5
Emma in Canada said…
Hmmm...I don't think that Tommy Douglas won the Greatest Canadian because he's related to Keifer Sutherland (though it may have added a few teenage girl votes.)If young girls had such power, Avril Lavigne would have made it into the top 10. I was shocked that she made it into the top 50 at all, but what do I know really?

I voted for him myself, but it was purely for his healthcare platform. I think I knew who Tommy Douglas was before I knew who Keifer was.
Sat Jan 28, 11:59:00 pm GMT-5
Mark Dowling said…
Emma

Naturally I spoke in jest regarding Kiefer :) Although I do note that Tommy D's son will be voicing "The Wild", the new Toronto-made Disney animated film, with William Shatner (no.57 on the list of the Greatest Canadians), as well as Donald S. Cherry (no. 7) as a penguin. Beauteee!
Sun Jan 29, 10:39:00 pm GMT-5
Mark Dowling said…
oops - meant grandson not son, obviously...
Sun Jan 29, 10:40:00 pm GMT-5
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