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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21 Feb 2013, 14:48 pm
‘Non-stop fighting’ at Pistorius house
2013-02-20 11:00
Pretoria – The State will submit a witness statement that there was non-stop fighting at athlete Oscar Pistorius’s home on the morning his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.
“The accused’s actions and phone calls on the night is part of pre-planning,” State prosecutor Gerrie Nel said in Pistorius’s bail application.
21 Feb 2013, 14:49 pm
@ryecatcher-950:
Your like a teenager again.
You remind me of Blue from Old School.
We won’t take you KY wrestling with Dawn though in the interests of your health.
Regards
Gunther
21 Feb 2013, 14:49 pm
@Angostura: Unitas af Xanadu?
21 Feb 2013, 14:51 pm
12.49pm GMT
Nair has a few questions.
12.49pm GMT
Roux concludes that the interests of
justice permit Pistorius’s release.
— Barry Bateman
(@barrybateman)
February 21, 2013
#OscarPistorius Roux: he has given
his full version, it makes sense,
there is nothing to refute it – why
should he still be jailed? BB
21 Feb 2013, 14:52 pm
@David-946: Hate to defer to a Stormer but you are right David.
21 Feb 2013, 14:53 pm
Pretoria – The investigating officer in the Oscar Pistorius murder case said on Thursday attempted murder charges against him stem from his pursuit of a murder suspect.
Hilton Botha is facing seven charges of attempted murder for allegedly firing shots at a minibus taxi carrying seven occupants. It has also been claimed that Botha was drunk at the time of the incident.
But on Thursday morning, the officer told eNCA that the incident was as a result of his investigation into the murder of Denise Stratford, whose body was stuffed into a drain.
“My blood was never tested for alcohol in the aftermath of the shooting. I wasn’t drunk,” Botha said.
He said shots were fired at the taxi after it “tried to push us off the road”. Botha says he was pursuing a suspect for Stratford’s murder.
21 Feb 2013, 14:57 pm
Fish Hoek shark nets get green light
Cape Town – The City of Cape Town has been issued a permit to install shark nets at Fish Hoek beach for a trial period, it was reported on Thursday.
The Cape Times reported that the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries department approved the permit, which would allow the nets to be in place until January 2014.
The city’s environmental resources head Gregg Oelofse said the nets would be deployed depending on the weather patterns in the next few weeks.
They would be deployed in the morning before sunrise and taken out of the sea at sunset.
21 Feb 2013, 14:58 pm
You all KNOW I’m bored.
21 Feb 2013, 15:00 pm
@ryecatcher-955: Confused it with
Deneys Reitz book.Joined Boer army at age of 17.
If you ever go to Spienkop battlefield/cemetery you will notice(Apart from the
criminal neglect of our heritage)just how young some of the boer soldiers
were.
21 Feb 2013, 15:00 pm
@Dawn-957:
Sounds good.
As long as they don’t get Captain Cunteye to make it.
When he hears fishnets he’ll start scrabbling in his underwear drawer.
21 Feb 2013, 15:04 pm
1.01pm GMT
The hearing is adjourned for 10
minutes.
1.01pm GMT
Roux says there is public outrage on
both sides.
He says he thinks there might be shock
if Pistorius is not released.
1.00pm GMT
Oscar Pistorius in court today.
Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
Nair asks Roux if releasing Pistorius on
bail would lead to a sense of outrage in
the community.
It depends, says Roux.
Updated at 1.00pm GMT
21 Feb 2013, 15:04 pm
What a tragedy for Reeva’s family and loved ones.
My opinion.
If you wake up and suspect a intruder the first reaction is to see if yor gf/wife or bf if you are a male stormers supporter is still lying next to you and are safe.
He says he shouted at the intruder before firing,why did she not answer him and stop him from firing.
He has 2 dogs including a pitbull,why did they not raise the alarm.
Why was the toiletdoor locked?
Why did he not warn the intruder that he is armed and if he/they try and exit the toilet he will shoot them and then call the estate security?Looking at the houseplans if he did this he had far superior angles of fire onto the door as oppossed to the intruder rushing out to try and shoot him.
So many talking points,1 certainty.
a young bright woman with great noble aspirations are dead.
So sad indeed.
21 Feb 2013, 15:05 pm
@gunther-952: Had to google it.Sounds like good movie.See that lead actor died aged 86.
21 Feb 2013, 15:12 pm
@ryecatcher-963:
Don’t worry we won’t make you wrestle Dawn in pool of KY jelly.
21 Feb 2013, 15:12 pm
“This Means War” is a good movie
21 Feb 2013, 15:13 pm
@David-945:
I am.
21 Feb 2013, 15:13 pm
@gunther-952:
You’re my boy, blue!
21 Feb 2013, 15:15 pm
@gunther-952: “you’re my boy Blue’
21 Feb 2013, 15:15 pm
Happy Feet jnr found in New Zealand
Wellington – A penguin dubbed Happy Feet junior has been found stranded 2 000km from home in New Zealand, reviving memories of another wayward penguin that washed up in 2011.
The latest wandering stray was discovered close to death on the coast south of Wellington over the weekend and taken to the capital’s zoo suffering from malnutrition and kidney failure.
Wellington Zoo veterinary surgeon Lisa Argilla said it was a juvenile royal penguin, which had drifted far from a breeding colony in sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island and was believed to be the first ever seen in the North Island.
21 Feb 2013, 15:18 pm
Los Angeles – Jennifer Lawrence’s breasts have a “life of their own”.
The 22-year-old actress is amused by her “bouncing” assets and she thinks people are interested in her boobs because they are 100 percent real.
She told website Heatworld: “I think people are fascinated with breasts that bounce. They are so used to seeing [fake ones].
“People are confused [that mine bounce]! My breasts have a life of their own.”
21 Feb 2013, 15:18 pm
@Dawn-969:
Lucky he didn’t end up in Caners poitje.
21 Feb 2013, 15:20 pm
@gunther-971: Mitch Martin: True love is hard to find,
sometimes you think you have true love
and then you catch the early flight home
from San Diego and a couple of nude
people jump out of your bathroom
blindfolded like a goddamn magic show
ready to double team your girlfriend…
21 Feb 2013, 15:21 pm
“Winning isn’t everything” hey Keo?
Starting early with your Kings PR spin doctoring I see…
21 Feb 2013, 15:22 pm
@ryecatcher-950: Be proud, mate!
21 Feb 2013, 15:23 pm
@gunther-971:
Or in Hore’s.
21 Feb 2013, 15:24 pm
Please hold
Am viewing Kim Kardashian’s baby bump photo shoot
21 Feb 2013, 15:24 pm
@Dawn-970: you have just sent google images into overdrive..
(nice lungs on that girl by the way
)
21 Feb 2013, 15:25 pm
@gunther-964: I ‘submit” very easily
21 Feb 2013, 15:25 pm
@Transformation-972:
“Anything? Well, uh I guess I, deep down, am feeling a little confused. I mean, suddenly, you get married, and you’re supposed to be this entirely different guy. I don’t feel different. I mean, take yesterday for example. We were out at the Olive Garden for dinner, which was lovely. And uh, I happen to look over at a certain point during the meal and see a waitress taking an order, and I found myself wondering what color her underpants might be. Her panties. Uh, odds are they are probably basic white, cotton, underpants. But I sort of think well maybe they’re silk panties, maybe it’s a thong. Maybe it’s something really cool that I don’t even know about. You know, and uh, and I started feeling… what? what I thought we were in the trust tree in the nest, were we not?”
21 Feb 2013, 15:26 pm
@WP-Forever-975: yeah Horey shoots them for *****& giggles.
21 Feb 2013, 15:26 pm
Well that was a whole lot of nothing
21 Feb 2013, 15:28 pm
@gunther-964: Probably does me credit
that I dont know.But what is KY jelly.?I have lived a sheltered life.
21 Feb 2013, 15:28 pm
@gunther-979: bwahahahaha
21 Feb 2013, 15:29 pm
Murderers plot to kill Justin Bieber?!
The Never Say Never singer was recently the target of an assassination. Now, audio tapes containing the chilling details of the unsuccessful plan have been released.
In the audio, convict and co-conspirator Dana Martin is heard explaining his plan to castrate Justin with his partner in crime Tanner Ruane.
Martin, who has a picture of the Biebs tattooed onto his leg, and is obsessed with Justin is currently in a New Mexican prison for the rape and murder of a teenage girl.
Among other gruesome discussions entertaining Justin’s demise is Martin and Ruane speaking about using hedge clippers on the singer before suffocating him with a paisley scarf.
21 Feb 2013, 15:30 pm
@ryecatcher-982:
Personal lubrication.
If you plan to visit your ladies tradesman’s entrance.
#brownwings
21 Feb 2013, 15:31 pm
Nel tearing Odawg a new one.
21 Feb 2013, 15:32 pm
Crying again.
21 Feb 2013, 15:34 pm
At the losie now and the Bulls have there captians run
21 Feb 2013, 15:35 pm
@Atlas-988:
In which direction is Spies running?
21 Feb 2013, 15:35 pm
@gunther-985: lo very loud
21 Feb 2013, 15:35 pm
@Transformation-953: Transie
I was a founder member (father?) of that “pleasure dome”, Xanadu; I did not select the name, but voted for it from a range of alternatives; we had a helluva problem getting it approved by the very verkrampte, Broederbond controlled Varsity Council; they had all sorts of objections; I can still remember that one prof objected on the grounds that in some region of the USA brothels are referred to as Xanadu; that cracked us up, wondering how he had such intimate knowledge of foreign brothels; fortunately the Council seemingly did not realise that this poem by ST Coleridge was composed one night after he experienced an opium induced dream of Xanadu, Kublai Khan’s summer palace. And that was the colourful conception & painful birth of Xanadu, UPE, a residence miraculously risen amidst scandalous conjecture of brothels, & exciting visions of Abyssinian damsels, pleasure domes, caverns, waves, rivers & sea – all opium induced, of course
“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree :
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
…
The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!
…
A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight ‘twould win me,
That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice! ”
Viva, Xanadu!
**
PS: If I carry on like this, I might just as well publish my name & address, ne?
21 Feb 2013, 15:36 pm
@Atlas-988: spies looking fit as ever, neh?
21 Feb 2013, 15:38 pm
Spies needs to spend a season in France.
21 Feb 2013, 15:38 pm
@John Galt-993:
Playing rugby that is.
Not swanning about.
21 Feb 2013, 15:39 pm
@gunther-989: you won’t believe me but forward. See Krusty on defending side ?
21 Feb 2013, 15:40 pm
@Transformation-992:
Isn’t it time for you to go and spy on the force’s captains run?
Try not to lose your broeks this time.
#iamthebulletinthechamber
21 Feb 2013, 15:41 pm
Funny gun this that shoots in the dark and hits its target no problem…
Ah, modern technology.
21 Feb 2013, 15:41 pm
Nope back on attacking side. Hougies’ kicks still not on
21 Feb 2013, 15:42 pm
@gunther-996:
21 Feb 2013, 15:42 pm
Is this a Hore in the making?
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