Roundy sports fans

1

I am first and foremost a gaa man having come from a gaa playing and supporting family and played and watched hurling and football all my life. I also played a huge amount of soccer as a young fella and have followed a prominent English team all my life, with the fervour of my support waning slightly as I get older.
Iā€™d say I have watched every Irish soccer international since the mid 80s and attended quite a few too.
Iā€™ve even been to a good few league of ireland games and while not growing up near a team obviously affects what I think of this league I certainly wouldnā€™t go around bashing it, knowing how good the players who play in it actually are compared to average hackers like myself.
I never played sports like rugby or golf yet I would watch all the big events in these and would have no hang ups about either of the sports.
Iā€™d say Iā€™ve watched almost every Irish rugby international on telly since the late 80s and the big Heineken Cup games and would watch the majors and Ryder Cup in golf.
I would also have a passing interest in tennis, snooker, darts, boxing and have attended all these sports live.
The only major sport I had no interest in as a young fella would have been horse racing but in recent years I would have develeoped a passing interest in this, especially around Cheltenham and would have nothing against it in any way.

A lot of fellas I know would be the same.

Seems a lot of people on here have a chip on their shoulder about something or other. ie hating league of ireland, the Irish rugby team, leinster/munster rugby, the premiership, celtic, the boggers in the gaa etc etc etc despite generally classing themselves as big sports fans.
I would have always presumed this was a more Dublin trait as they live their lives in a far more class segregated way than us country folk.

Am I the only perfectly rounded (not in a flano/bandage way) sporting ecumenumimimist who posts here?

2

[quote=ā€œgolaā€]I am first and foremost a gaa man having come from a gaa playing and supporting family and played and watched hurling and football all my life. I also played a huge amount of soccer as a young fella and have followed a prominent English team all my life, with the fervour of my support waning slightly as I get older.
Iā€™d say I have watched every Irish soccer international since the mid 80s and attended quite a few too.
Iā€™ve even been to a good few league of ireland games and while not growing up near a team obviously affects what I think of this league I certainly wouldnā€™t go around bashing it, knowing how good the players who play in it actually are compared to average hackers like myself.
I never played sports like rugby or golf yet I would watch all the big events in these and would have no hang ups about either of the sports.
Iā€™d say Iā€™ve watched almost every Irish rugby international on telly since the late 80s and the big Heineken Cup games and would watch the majors and Ryder Cup in golf.
I would also have a passing interest in tennis, snooker, darts, boxing and have attended all these sports live.
The only major sport I had no interest in as a young fella would have been horse racing but in recent years I would have develeoped a passing interest in this, especially around Cheltenham and would have nothing against it in any way.

A lot of fellas I know would be the same.

Seems a lot of people on here have a chip on their shoulder about something or other. ie hating league of ireland, the Irish rugby team, leinster/munster rugby, the premiership, celtic, the boggers in the gaa etc etc etc despite generally classing themselves as big sports fans.
I would have always presumed this was a more Dublin trait as they live their lives in a far more class segregated way than us country folk.

Am I the only perfectly rounded (not in a flano/bandage way) sporting ecumenumimimist who posts here?[/quote]

No Iā€™d be similar to you gola. Rugby, gaelic and soccer were sports I had most interest in primary school. Lost interest in gaelic after primary school. Followed Ireland in soccer and rugby and any other event where Irish people were doing well (with possible exception of Ken Doherty). Still do and also follow Celtic. Followed Celtic and Liverpool up til I was about eight but lost interest in Liverpool once I saw the disparity between the ethos of both clubs and now only follow Celtic and Ireland in football.

Like you though I would follow most sports. Wouldnā€™t have a great love for the EPL mind you though and itā€™s cultural impact on Ireland. Likewise certain things piss me off about rugby in Ireland where far too much emphasis is placed on schools rugby and hate the semi partionist nature of the FAI.
So all in all would class myself as a general sports fan with particular interest in Irish soccer and rugby teams, Irish Rugby Team, Ulster Rugby Team and Celtic.

3

[quote=ā€œgolaā€]I am first and foremost a gaa man having come from a gaa playing and supporting family and played and watched hurling and football all my life. I also played a huge amount of soccer as a young fella and have followed a prominent English team all my life, with the fervour of my support waning slightly as I get older.
Iā€™d say I have watched every Irish soccer international since the mid 80s and attended quite a few too.
Iā€™ve even been to a good few league of ireland games and while not growing up near a team obviously affects what I think of this league I certainly wouldnā€™t go around bashing it, knowing how good the players who play in it actually are compared to average hackers like myself.
I never played sports like rugby or golf yet I would watch all the big events in these and would have no hang ups about either of the sports.
Iā€™d say Iā€™ve watched almost every Irish rugby international on telly since the late 80s and the big Heineken Cup games and would watch the majors and Ryder Cup in golf.
I would also have a passing interest in tennis, snooker, darts, boxing and have attended all these sports live.
The only major sport I had no interest in as a young fella would have been horse racing but in recent years I would have develeoped a passing interest in this, especially around Cheltenham and would have nothing against it in any way.

A lot of fellas I know would be the same.

Seems a lot of people on here have a chip on their shoulder about something or other. ie hating league of ireland, the Irish rugby team, leinster/munster rugby, the premiership, celtic, the boggers in the gaa etc etc etc despite generally classing themselves as big sports fans.
I would have always presumed this was a more Dublin trait as they live their lives in a far more class segregated way than us country folk.

Am I the only perfectly rounded (not in a flano/bandage way) sporting ecumenumimimist who posts here?[/quote]

you clearly arenā€™t Irish and of Irish Parents who can trace their lineage to the Fir Bolg

Pick a side, live it breath it and die with it.

Pro Treaty Anti Treaty
Pro Keane Anti Mick Mc
Pro 08 Anti CCB
Paulā€™o or DripyDicko
Mulliance or Alliancissy
Cooper or Mycro
Cummins or Oā€™Neills
Brown or Red
Smig or Brolly
Strike or Cross the Picket

take a side.

4

Whatā€™s wrong with Kendo larry?! surely as salt of the earth a lad you could meet.

Not a drop of foreign blood in me MGG. Donā€™t know whatā€™s wrong with me to be honestā€¦

5

[quote=ā€œgolaā€]Whatā€™s wrong with Kendo larry?! surely as salt of the earth a lad you could meet.

[/quote]

Boring boring man. Wouldnā€™t hate him or anything just wouldnā€™t support him with near as much passion as other Irish sports people.

6

I like loads of sports, sportsmen and teams. On the other hand, I despise loads of sports, sportsmen and teams.

7

Heā€™s actually a funny enough cunt. Fierce laid back and doesnā€™t take himself too seriously. Met him a few times when I lived in Ranelagh years ago.

8

Same as yourself I would be a GAA man above all else. Iā€™d play and watch football and hurling until the cows come home. While at times football isnā€™t the greatest game to watch, itā€™s a great game to play. Next would come soccer, I still play that as well, and from 19-21 it took up a huge amount of time and as a result I kinda lost interest in watching/supporting teams as after the training in the evenings the last thing I wanted to do was watch more soccer. Would watch it on a more regular basis now though, a lot of the games are muck though. Despite the impression Iā€™d give on here I have a lot of time for the LOI and would love to see a good well run league thrive in this country, but I honestly think the blanket EPL coverage has put paid to that.

Horse racing (and dogs) would be next and I mean actually going to race meetings/point to points around the country as opposed to watching it on the tele and betting on line. Very hard to beat the buzz of landing a good well researched winner.

Was never a big fan of rugby in my younger days although used go along to odd Shannon match with the father. A couple of rugby players moved in with me in the college then and I got a better understanding of the game and enjoyed Jonah Lomu on the PS1. Iā€™d say Iā€™ve been to 10 live rugby matches in recent years, about half of them Super 12 games in Oz, a few 3rds games, a couple of games in the Lions tour 05 and the Munster v All Blacks game. So Iā€™m a total event junkie! Wouldnā€™t even think about trying to discuss rugby in a serious manner though as I just donā€™t know enough about it and will freely admit that. I do think a lot of shit goes with rugby as well, and Iā€™m taking this more from the social side of things after matches and from just going out drinking with rugby players in general.

Would watch the Darts, tennis and golf as well. Very few sports I would refuse to watch as long as I had a decent understanding of the rules!

So I suppose I would have a decent overall interest in sport but wouldnā€™t have an indept knowledge of too many of them.

9

Most rural Irish people would be GAA above all else. Not just for local tradition but more than anything else it gives a sense of community to areas that wouldnā€™t have one otherwise. Thatā€™s where the roots of the gaa lie, itā€™s not stylish or well marketed, but it taps into the sense of place and belonging that everyone wants to feel.

Beyond that, people will take an interest in most sports that are marketed to them, purely because the things that make one sport entertaining viewing are common to all sports. The choosing of one side or another to support, is really just replicating that feeling of association or belonging that you automatically feel with a team from your own place, and as such gives you some sort of emotional investment that makes the sport all the better to watch.

Iā€™m never bothered by what sports people are into because I watch all of them myself. As per people having a ā€˜chip on their shouldersā€™ Iā€™d simply suggest that it would get quiet around here very quickly if people didnā€™t find things to disagree about.

10

coming from a gaa family i was reared in the association and still an active member of the home club playing with the ladies teams and supportings the mens and underageā€¦ in school also played alot of basketball and won many community games titles and freshers title while in collegeā€¦ would always watch Irish, Leinster and Munster rugby matches on tvā€¦ and happened to go to magners league game of leinster a while agoā€¦ also played a few games for the ladies rugby team this year when they were stuckā€¦ as for soccer i used to watch all international games and utd champions league mainlyā€¦ ill watch the ryder cup and races during the likes of cheltleteham and grand nationals etcā€¦
one thing that annoys me is ā€¦ how in limerick they go mental if your from anywhere outside the 6 counties of munster and say your supporting of munster rugbyā€¦ been from south wexford not a rugby stronghold by far many people tend to support munster unless there playing leinster but limerick rugby people dont get people supporting the game like this

but to add i for one arent roundy like some of you folk may think and suggest

11

[quote=ā€œThe Runtā€]Same as yourself I would be a GAA man above all else. Iā€™d play and watch football and hurling until the cows come home. While at times football isnā€™t the greatest game to watch, itā€™s a great game to play. Next would come soccer, I still play that as well, and from 19-21 it took up a huge amount of time and as a result I kinda lost interest in watching/supporting teams as after the training in the evenings the last thing I wanted to do was watch more soccer. Would watch it on a more regular basis now though, a lot of the games are muck though. Despite the impression Iā€™d give on here I have a lot of time for the LOI and would love to see a good well run league thrive in this country, but I honestly think the blanket EPL coverage has put paid to that.

Horse racing (and dogs) would be next and I mean actually going to race meetings/point to points around the country as opposed to watching it on the tele and betting on line. Very hard to beat the buzz of landing a good well researched winner.

Was never a big fan of rugby in my younger days although used go along to odd Shannon match with the father. A couple of rugby players moved in with me in the college then and I got a better understanding of the game and enjoyed Jonah Lomu on the PS1. Iā€™d say Iā€™ve been to 10 live rugby matches in recent years, about half of them Super 12 games in Oz, a few 3rds games, a couple of games in the Lions tour 05 and the Munster v All Blacks game. So Iā€™m a total event junkie! Wouldnā€™t even think about trying to discuss rugby in a serious manner though as I just donā€™t know enough about it and will freely admit that. I do think a lot of shit goes with rugby as well, and Iā€™m taking this more from the social side of things after matches and from just going out drinking with rugby players in general.

Would watch the Darts, tennis and golf as well. Very few sports I would refuse to watch as long as I had a decent understanding of the rules!

So I suppose I would have a decent overall interest in sport but wouldnā€™t have an indept knowledge of too many of them.[/quote]

You wonā€™t like this (Runt), but iā€™m very like you.
I wouold say soccer to me is very like what you say about football, i love playing it, but watching it can be hard alot of the time.
Iā€™d love a decent LOI as well, but thats not happening soon, and i donā€™t think the will is there for it anyway.

Iā€™d add in American Football as something iā€™d watch, but Baseball i absolutely love, watching it almost every night when i lived there. Iā€™d put it up there with Rugby for me, a tight 3rd & 4th behind the GAA sports. Boxing next then.
Played GAA, Soccer, Boxed and took them seriously at different times. Played rugby but never gave it 100% and left before end of both seasons due to GAA.

12

[quote=ā€œcaoimhaoinā€]You wonā€™t like this (Runt), but iā€™m very like you.
I wouold say soccer to me is very like what you say about football, i love playing it, but watching it can be hard alot of the time.
Iā€™d love a decent LOI as well, but thats not happening soon, and i donā€™t think the will is there for it anyway.

Iā€™d add in American Football as something iā€™d watch, but Baseball i absolutely love, watching it almost every night when i lived there. Iā€™d put it up there with Rugby for me, a tight 3rd & 4th behind the GAA sports. Boxing next then.
Played GAA, Soccer, Boxed and took them seriously at different times. Played rugby but never gave it 100% and left before end of both seasons due to GAA.[/quote]

People with tempers like you shouldnā€™t be allowed to learn to box :smiley:

Iā€™d be the same with soccer. Love playing it and would be my strongest sport but it just donā€™t have the same appeal to me as the GAA does.

13

[quote=ā€œThe Runtā€]People with tempers like you shouldnā€™t be allowed to learn to box :smiley:

Iā€™d be the same with soccer. Love playing it and would be my strongest sport but it just donā€™t have the same appeal to me as the GAA does.[/quote]

The gum shield stopped me mouthing off!:smiley:

14

For watching, my order would be, hurling first, rugby, football, soccer, boxing, tennis, odd bit of American football, NBA, darts.
The one sport I hate is baseball (or overarm rounders). IMO itā€™s such a shit game.

15

[quote=ā€œPikemanā€]For watching, my order would be, hurling first, rugby, football, soccer, boxing, tennis, odd bit of American football, NBA, darts.
The one sport I hate is baseball (or overarm rounders). IMO itā€™s such a shit game.[/quote]

:smiley:

16

Not getting at you there actually Kev. Donā€™t get baseball at all at all.

17

In terms of watching sports my order would be hurling, rugby union, soccer, horse racing and boxingā€¦Would dip in and out of the rest, wouldnā€™t have too much interest in sitting down and watching a gaelic football match apart from the business end of the championship, but would read the majority of the reports in teh paper on a mondayā€¦

Used to watch a serious amount of cricket from the age of about 11-15 when I would be at home during the summer, this was probably down to the fact it would have been on sky sports everydayā€¦Same with the tennisā€¦

Love to play a game of darts but would have little or no interest in watching itā€¦

18

GAA is the main one. Football followed by hurling.

Then soccer. Used to have much more interest in it, particularly the European and South American leagues, but not as much now.

Like snooker, darts, golf and tennis as well. Rugby is alright too at times I suppose.

I would have varying interests in other sports but I have no interest in horse racing whatsoever.

19

Ya, i can understand people being like that, its just i started watching shit loads and got addicted, people talk about it in Boston much the same way people talk about hurling in the hurling areas of Ireland. Great betting on it as well.

20

Rugby League is a fairly shit game. I donā€™t think it has half the skill or facets as union.