Why winning isn’t everything
20 Feb 2013
MARK KEOHANE, in his Business Day Sport Monthly column, says we live in a miracle country and it’s time we started appreciating the miracle of sport.
Sport is entertainment and it is also about effort. A fixation with just the result is going to lead to a lot of heartache.
It wasn’t that long ago when South Africa wasn’t allowed to compete internationally. Familiarity breeds contempt and irrationally so.
Feel good about the joy of indulging in the performance of South Africans, who are among the best ever produced in their respective codes.
We put huge pressure on our performers to produce every time, but the fans and the media have as much of a responsibility in their performance post match.
We also need to grow up and show some perspective to the effort of the individual or team and give credit to the quality of the opposition. There are times when they just are better and they actually win and we actually lose.
For those who are inspired to live in this country only when South Africa wins, take some responsibility for your own emotions. Similarly, don’t blame a poor SA performance for your depression. No player is losing deliberately and no national player should be subjected to the hate and vitriol published on Twitter.
It sickens me that people can actually feel a justification in the abuse and believe they are owed something by the player and that the player has a responsibility to ensure their happiness. The abuse is disgusting and can never be justified. There is so much to applaud and there is a generation of South African performer that is the best ever produced in this country. What a privilege it is to watch them at their peak.
Look beyond the need for a winning result and imagine South Africa being in sporting isolation. It is pathetic how fans think players are there to instil nationalism. Go do that yourself and start enjoying the sport and keep perspective.
There is life the next day and sport always gives your team or the individual a chance to get it right or to flop.
It is an honour to play for one’s country, but it is not a crime to lose and supporters need to take their insecurity and deal with it.
In the days of isolation we never played anyone and never lost. So we allowed ourselves to believe we were the best in everything. The reality is we are not the best in all things sport and that does not deserve the crassness I read on Twitter.
I get irritated with a lot of our sports media coverage, especially in newsprint. It is always all or nothing, as if every win defines the miracle of this country and defeat brings the possibility of doom. Inspire me with a solution instead of repeating what I saw on television 24 hours earlier and what I have read on the Internet a day earlier.
The media is more guilty than the fans in the buzz and the blowout. I have been as guilty as anyone at times of my career so I certainly don’t preach from a pedestal of purity, but rather from a place of apology.
The daily sports media though need to get a grip and invest in some perspective.
An example was the Proteas ODI series defeat against New Zealand. The Proteas did not play well but the game was apparently in crisis after the series defeat and the euphoria of being the best Test team in the world a few days earlier was an afterthought.
The hysteria was excessive, just like the condemnation and ridicule of New Zealand’s tour only a few days earlier. Appreciate the players and the fact that it’s not you out there on days when all is failing save the potency of the opponent.
There’s an added spice when you know you are watching a performer unrivalled in their field and at the peak of their performance.
The South African bowling attack gives me that sense of awe. Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis evoke a similar emotion and Graeme Smith is just never going to get the reward for his effort. No other Test captain in the history of the game has achieved as much.
Smith, having gone past 100 Test matches as captain, still has his doubters. Give him a break. There is a serious projection of insecurity and delusion among many of the South African fans in the way they react to the players.
A guy like Smith must be judged on how he plays and not for how his gum chewing may irk you. It is massive what he has achieved yet there are so many who burden him with not wearing enough flags on his T-shirt and not being proudly South African.
This is sport. Nationalism looks after itself and it can’t be all taken from the player’s performance. We owe the player the simple courtesy of a dignified interaction that does not start with an attack on his mother’s hair colour and outright abuse.
Grow up you trolls or inspire with your cleverness.
Oh, and one last thing, why the obsession with having to feel the need to retire great players at the start of a season because they are supposedly blocking the path of a 21-year-old?
Give the more mature form players the necessary respect. They’ve earned the right through performance to a bit of loyalty. Our rugby players offer the promise of silverware in Super Rugby but the enjoyment must also be in the performance.
Bafana, in African soccer’s big bi-annual one, were brave and belligerent in a tournament I hoped they could win but never quite had the conviction to believe it was possible. They lost in the quarter-finals on penalties, which was a cruel yet also a dignified exit for the hosts. Dignified in it allowed us to dream of what could have been without confronting the reality of what would most likely have been had they advanced to the semi-final or final.
Bafana played with passion and the support of a nation was a boost, but there are limitations to the current side and the desire to associate with success should also not be confused with the expectation that if they don’t win a tournament they have failed.
Equally our Super Rugby teams.
– This article first appeared in the March issue of Business Day Sport Monthly, which is distributed FREE with the newspaper on the second last Friday of every month.
1,128 Comments
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20 Feb 2013, 15:16 pm
@Transformation-496:
Yeah, the Mayor called Oscar “a danger to society.”
How does she know that? Hearsay? Newspaper articles?
20 Feb 2013, 15:20 pm
@victoriabok-13: Nice one
Cheeky Watson, the anti-apartheid activist and father of Luke, will not be supporting the Boks at the World Cup.
When asked if he would back the team in France, Watson told the Cape Argus: “I’m answering diplomatically: I’d rather not comment on that issue.” When asked if he supported John Smit as captain, he simply said: “no comment”.
Watson said he would have liked to have seen a team sent to the World Cup that is more representative of South Africa and that there should be six players of colour in the Bok starting XV. He added that while white players are given plenty of chances to prove themselves, a black player is dropped after the first bad game he has.
When asked if he believed the current Boks supported democracy, Watson said: “The majority of the players who stand up there are holding on to the Bok emblem as if it’s their life blood. I don’t know if they’d hold the flag with the same passion.”
While Watson refused to call the Boks racist he said they took the “least line of resistance most of the time. There’s not a culture for standing up for what is right and wrong. It’s all about rugby and not about social and rugby issues.”
Watson insisted he would not like Luke to be playing at this World Cup, but he would shout his son’s selection “from the roof tops” if it was a transformed team.
20 Feb 2013, 15:21 pm
@nama1-499: Intent to kill is intent to kill. Doesn’t matter who it was behind the door. The question comes in: was the killing (which was intentional) unlawful.
@Sheriff-488: No – fuckall to do with nerves. His investigation was sloppy and shoddy. Even a twat on the street knows (from watching CSI in most cases…) that you preserve the integrity of the crime scene at all costs. This moron walked it without covering his shoes…….transference, trampling all over fucknows what and dropping off bits of sand from the park down the road as he walked into the bathroom etc? The defence has already put it out there….and going to trial, this could be huge. They can (and no doubt will) question each and every piece of physical evidence collected and processed. Huge fuckup IMHO.
Contaminating a crime scene……
Apart from that, he seems clueless in basic investigation. Didn’t check for other phones? WTF? Didn’t do this…didn’t do that…. Didn’t know the name of what ‘drugs’ he seized, or what it was?
No, amateur hour it seems.
20 Feb 2013, 15:21 pm
Sharif likes pretty people
20 Feb 2013, 15:22 pm
@Atlas-502: One can’t blame people for not supporting the Kings then.
20 Feb 2013, 15:22 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-498: no breathlysers in SA?
20 Feb 2013, 15:24 pm
@willievz-505: yup
20 Feb 2013, 15:24 pm
@Transformation-497:
Yes, that is a part of this drama that is not articulated but it is an extra dimension.
She was indeed pretty and subconsciously people look at her pics and say to themselves: No man, Oscar…
People take this trial personally.
So as irrational as it may sound it may trigger (no pun intended) someone to do something irrational if they bump into him. As it is, as a society we are bombarded with images of violence and people are angry and frustrated.
20 Feb 2013, 15:25 pm
@the curse-506: Boet, with all the brandy & coke we drink they can’t make one strong enough to register a reading…
20 Feb 2013, 15:28 pm
@the curse-506: we have breathalysers – but they not acceptable proof of blood/alcohol content in a court law – police use breathalysers as a guide as to who to arrest & then subject to a blood test
20 Feb 2013, 15:30 pm
From now on when somebody ask me if I support the Kings against overseas teams, my answer will start with “I’m answering diplomatically: I’d rather not comment on that issue.”
I like
20 Feb 2013, 15:30 pm
@Mr Black-480:
I wasn’t aware of that.
20 Feb 2013, 15:31 pm
@Dawn-504: that would explain his near-obsessive liking of you then
20 Feb 2013, 15:31 pm
@Sheriff-508: Nope, this the RSA – you’re talkin about the USA
20 Feb 2013, 15:32 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-509:
@Angostura-510: here they have the roadside ones, then if positive you are taken back to the station and are tested on another machine..if you refuse the machine they will take blood, but the machine at the station is acceptable proof of being over the limit.. or so Im told
20 Feb 2013, 15:33 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-503:
I hear you.
What do you think his brother knows?
Interesting: His full names are Oscar Leonard CARL Pistorius and his brother also CARL
20 Feb 2013, 15:34 pm
@the curse-515: We have roadside anti-breathalysers here…they’re called ATMs.
20 Feb 2013, 15:37 pm
@the curse-515: I think I’ve read our authorities are also testing breathalysers with a view to finding one that will be regarded as acceptable proof.
It will greatly speed up drunk driving trials if they do so.
20 Feb 2013, 15:38 pm
@the curse-506: Asked and answered by Agostura above
@Sheriff-508: I take it personally (as I do many crimes in which women fall victim), because as a woman I am utterly fed up with the ease in which so many menfolk manage to evade any sort of justice. Our system caters for slaps on the wrist or less. Those supposed to be fighting in the corner of the victim (in this case Reeva’s) have already let her down……and the sad thing? It’s not that unexpected.
I have money and can afford the best defence money can buy.
The fact that Dewani chose SA to execute his masterplan, says it all.
We should all be fed up, for the right reasons.
20 Feb 2013, 15:40 pm
@willievz-505: ” One can’t blame people for not
supporting the Kings then.”
us Kings supporters have beseeched nobody to support our team, it has been more the so-called “honest rugby supporters” (read verkrampte) who have been screamin to anyone who can listen that THEY won’t support the kings
like who fcking asked you?
20 Feb 2013, 15:41 pm
@Transformation-513:
So you’re using me to hit on Dawn?
It would seem that OP has a clear preference for blondes
20 Feb 2013, 15:42 pm
@Transformation-513:
20 Feb 2013, 15:42 pm
So, which teams for S15 Round 2, other than the usual suspect, have not yet been selected?
Anyone?
20 Feb 2013, 15:42 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-517:
20 Feb 2013, 15:42 pm
@Angostura-523: selected = announced (I meant)
20 Feb 2013, 15:43 pm
@Transformation-513:
How hot is Dawn on a scale of 1 – 10.
1 being Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and 10 being Thandi Newton.
20 Feb 2013, 15:43 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-519:
I cannot disagree with you.
20 Feb 2013, 15:45 pm
@Transformation-520:
Calm down
Sheeky (KING_01EP) said it was the right thing to do in your quote.
Anyone with integrity would support them he said.
20 Feb 2013, 15:46 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-519: agree on your point to Sheriff, its the way the world is unfortunately…
@Angostura-518: thanks, would have thought theyd all be similar anyways
20 Feb 2013, 15:46 pm
@blue and white stripes-526: lol
20 Feb 2013, 15:46 pm
@Transformation-520: ” Kings supporters have beseeched nobody to support our team, it has been more the so-called “honest rugby supporters” (read verkrampte) who have been screamin to anyone who can listen that THEY won’t support the kings”
I’m Screamin
20 Feb 2013, 15:47 pm
@blue and white stripes-526:
she’s a 12 being Selena Gomez
20 Feb 2013, 15:47 pm
@blue and white stripes-526:
She is HOT?NOT!
20 Feb 2013, 15:49 pm
@gunther-528: I keep seeing KING_01EP? Is that Cheeky’s registration?
20 Feb 2013, 15:50 pm
@Sheriff-533:
Your online persona makes you come across as a HOT?NOT!
20 Feb 2013, 15:50 pm
@Sheriff-533:
NOT THAT I CAN RECALL…
But I digress, it seems T is using me as a vehicle to achieve his own personal goals, eish
20 Feb 2013, 15:52 pm
Bottomline is that its bullshit that someone gets gunned down in their own toilet, got nothing to do with male female, pretty or lelik, whether he’s legless or not – it’s bullshit end of. I don’t think he can fry cos SA don’t have frying no longer, but there’s a life been taken that needs to be accounted for and that’s the whole point.
20 Feb 2013, 15:53 pm
@Transformation-520: You know that I will be supporting the Kings, a team representing SA, in the S15.
I merely pointed out that Cheeky should not kick up a fuss if my neighbour does not follow suit.
20 Feb 2013, 15:53 pm
@Sheriff-536: from transformation to manipulation, you say?
20 Feb 2013, 15:54 pm
@blue and white stripes-535:
You hardly know me and you insult me.
I don’t believe we’ve met…hi, I am Sheriff
20 Feb 2013, 15:55 pm
@Atlas-502: I am glad Luke doesn’t support the Springboks. We dont want c*nts supporting us.
20 Feb 2013, 15:55 pm
@Sheriff-540:
I’ve read your post in the past.
You the creepy one.
20 Feb 2013, 15:56 pm
The Sharks
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Craig Burden
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Anton Bresler
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Jacques Botes
7. Marcell Coetzee
8. Ryan Kankowski
9. Cobus Reinach
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Francois Steyn (Captain)
13. Paul Jordaan
14. JP Pietersen
15. Louis Ludik
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Wiehahn Herbst
18. Pieter-Steph du Toit
19. Jean Deysel
20. Charl McLeod
21. Meyer Bosman
22. Odwa Ndungane
20 Feb 2013, 15:57 pm
@Angostura-539:
But give credit to the person for spotting the opportunity
20 Feb 2013, 15:57 pm
@Dusky-541: Agree 100%
20 Feb 2013, 15:59 pm
@blue and white stripes-542:
Is that so? Sorry if I offended you.
We must not be over sensitive.
In a nutshell: what do you make of the Oscar case?
20 Feb 2013, 16:00 pm
@John Galt-543: thx – yay, Cobus Reinach! – rest as expected
20 Feb 2013, 16:02 pm
@Angostura-547:
Yeah, expect Reinach and Mcleod to be rotated heavily this season.
Plum “We’ve picked a side that has the most experience for the occasion. Scrumhalf was a horses for courses selection in terms of the strengths I require for the day.”
20 Feb 2013, 16:03 pm
@gunther-528: he was referring to PE/EC people of integrity
certainly not gautengers…
20 Feb 2013, 16:03 pm
@blue and white stripes-542:
What I meant to say is: if you could formulate a legal opinion of the matter thus far, what would you say?
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