General Chat

Fishing?

Isn't that a leisure activity where fish grow bigger every time you tell someone what you caught? ;-)

As a bloke with no sporting talent whatsoever, I have always hated most of them. Kicking a heavy leather football around in the rain and mud was never my idea of fun. I have played squash, volleyball and one or two others, but only for fun.I think part of my problem is that I have no competitive spirit, I have never wanted to prove that I can do something better than the next person. (Note the non gender specific there). And when was fishing turned in to a competitive sport?

Rollo, I am aware of the dichotomy between talent and training in sport.

One of my children was a gold standard athlete who represented England in home internationals and who rarely missed training daily. She began that sport quite late - at age 11. During her last couple of years at school she was allowed to spend her sports lessons training away from school. She quit in the blink of an eye while doing her A levels.

My other child was a state junior squash champion and received free training from the state. He quit at the same time in his life as his sister did in hers.

Both were natural athletes who gained a lot from training but both wanted more out of life and both aimed for more.

I'd say that while they still enjoy sport, neither would think it was essential during lockdown - their children's activities have proved that. Rowing has been given a miss but they have played football and cricket when it was safe to do so and at the moment it is not on. They don't seem to whinge half as much as adults do!

Not missed at all by some of us Rollo! I like some sports but certain ones just dominate everything! If they are so essential and crucial to the economy, then why do they and their fans behave so irresponsibly? My OH loves football and these days attends non league matches as he has an interest in grounds too. When football was last allowed, he was astonished at how many players and fans were still shaking hands and hugging!! He was well away from everyone himself, but said no social distance was observed with the fans and children were racing around acting the same as the adults. Why should sport continue with such irresponsible behaviour? These players were mixing with different teams every week and behaving just the same.

If people don't spend money watching sports, they will spend it elsewhere on something else and surely that helps the economy too.

Sorry but since when has been performing arts, cricket and other sports been essential in the covid crisis?
What is essential is staying away from others to reduce the spread of the virus.
So it's more important and ok to be allowed to travel 12000 miles to play tennis but not so to travel say 20 miles to see your family!!
Some how I think the priorities are all wrong.

Florence in the Hebrides

What is that saying about a Scotsman with a grievance?

I always think that, training apart, natural athletes have God-given gifts.

Unfortunately, some athletes, no matter how skilled or unskilled, think they have God-given rights.

I am surprised that some think they perform essential services - reveals their character somewhat. I believe that they're entertainers when it boils down to it. We watch their performances.

It is about time spitting on football field was banned.

They all live in their own little worlds.

Unfortunately their own little worlds are not proper bubbles.

"Crucify Him" - the crowd yelled. :-P

Florence, I also read about Andy Murray was 'fuming' but not directly about being unable to travel.

He was having a go at organisers of a training venue, I think it was, where strict Covid precautions were not practiced and as a consequence he developed the disease. He full accepted that due to his positive test that he was unable to travel to Australia.

Incidentally, a Spanish player who travelled here to play was complaining about the conditions of her quarantine as she had been in close contact on the plane to Australia with a positive case.

She tested positive a few days later, and then complained of being treated as a 'criminal as she was escorted to a more secure hotel by police.

I can also assure you that a majority of Australians are also questioning why sports teams can seem to come and go with ease when there are so many Aussies stuck overseas.

Some of these teams have also suggested that their players and staff receive the Covid vaccine in the first wave as they are providing an 'essential' service.

Try telling that to the front-line workers :-|

Needless to say, the request fell on deaf ears.

I was reading today an article about Andy Murray who is fuming that because he tested positive for the virus, he was prevented from travelling to Australia to take part in a competition.
Well i am fuming that he thinks he should be allowed to travel outwith his area and go abroad.
There are plenty of folk who haven't seen their families for months. I haven't been able to travel for 2 years to see my family! There are people on here who can't even go to visit family in care home because of lockdown either.

So when I read that he is fuming, that made me so mad.
I personally think if us ordinary folk cannot travel out of our areas to do things then why are sports people allowed to do it? Why haven't they banned football players as well from travelling all over and abroad.
You only have to see them hugging each other to know they risk spreading or catching the virus.

I know there are people who will say but tennis football etc is their job and they can't work from home so yes they should be allowed to carry on playing and earning huge sums of money too, yet the local people who can't open their businesses have to stay at home!!

Apparently the local Australians say because of this, they will not be supporting the tennis this year as some people are desperate to get back to their homes in Australia but are not allowed to travel because of the restrictions unless of course you are a professional sports person!

just slightly off topic, I was watching the news a few days ago from india somewhere. The reporter, a lady ,was wearing a mask but for the thousands of people walking all around her, not a mask in sight!

Florence in the hebrides