I spoke to a lad who was on the apartheid tour. He said he mightnât get the chance again to represent his country. I presume you and tracky are equally supportive of his decision.
Yeah, they were absolutely wrong to go on that tour, and the tour shouldnt have happened. But its not the same situation.
It doesnât suit your narrative. Thatâs the only difference.
No. He could have played 5 Nations in a few months. They would not have had that opportunity. Irish Rugby pandered to a racist Govt in their own country. Irish Basketball refused to play them in Ireland and were ordered to go to a neutral venue.
Iâm happy for you to believe what you wish, I have no requirement to change your mind, or even try.
And youâre not comparing like with like; mens rugby (one of the biggest teams in the country) travelling to apartheid South Africa vs womenâs basketball (fairly niche sport in Ireland) playing in a neutral venue.
No, he said he might not get picked.
Itâs exactly the same situation, but, like I said, it doesnât suit your narrative.
Irrelevant.
Its not and youâre smarter than this. But as I said, Iâve no requirement to explain apartheid to you.
Have a think about it overnight. It is in principle exactly the same.
Its not, but its ok for you to believe what you believe. Just dont try tell me to.
It is the same situation and it isnât. Rugby was a sport with nine countries playing at the top level in 1981, similar to cricket. Ireland had power in rugby and rugby in Ireland had power. It was an elective test series which Ireland could cancel without major sanction. They didnât cancel.
The basketball was part of an international competition. Basketball is a minority sport in Ireland, itâs run on a shoestring. Basketball is a more widely played sport internationally than rugby. The international governing body refuses to kick Israel out, because international governing bodies are in fear of their life because of the Israeli propaganda machine. That means the consequences fall on the Basketball Association of Ireland. And nobody would bail them out if they boycott. And a boycott, while significant symbolically, would likely not be copied.
Association football is the big one. I hope Ireland draw Israel in the World Cup. Weâll then see how serious people are about boycotts.
Robbie Keane should be getting it in the neck from all quarters. We should pull out of Eurovision if Israel is not kicked out. And we should boycott Israel if we draw them. Up to and including being expelled from the competition if necessary. That gesture would have power.
Ultimately, to start a boycott, somebody has to take the hit. The strikers in Dunnes Stores will be remembered forever because they took a stand and took a hit.
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This, from you 
Yeah look, its plain as day, but it is what it is. Iâm just glad the whole thing is over. I do feel for those girls, and the ones who didnt go. I hope it all moves on quickly now.
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The size off the sport is irrelevant. The impact of the gesture is irrelevant. Using these fig leaves renders all âgesturesâ irrelevant.
Sure Rosa Parks was just a seat on a bus.
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The people who should be most expected to boycott are the people that have power.
Ireland had power in 1981 to boycott South Africa for the rugby in a way that the basketball people donât. That had/has everything to do with the respective profiles of the sports and the effect of a boycott.
It would have been great had the basketball people boycotted, but I can see why they didnât. They would have had to stand alone and suffer, and nobody would have backed them up. Nobody.
Robbie Keane has no need to be in Israel.
Ireland would not suffer from boycotting Eurovision. Thus they have power to do it.
Ireland boycotting a World Cup qualifier against Israel would have way more power as a gesture because of the profile of the sport. Nobody cares about womenâs basketball outside those who play it. People care about football alright.
Itâs down to the people who have the power to make a powerful gesture to lead. You canât expect minnows to lead. If they do, more power to them, but the responsibility lies with those with the power and the profile.
Much more should be made of Bonoâs silence. He has visited Ukraine. He has been extremely vocal on Ukraine. Correctly so. But he has very much been found wanting on this and it is a big black mark against him and against U2.
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80k fine if they didnât play. A sizeable chunk of their budget I imagine.
Worse again than that
According to the rules of the competition, Ireland risk fines of up to âŹ180,000 for refusing to play and a five-year ban from international competition.
5 years is a bigger hit imo.
They would have raised multiples of the fine on Gofundme tonight if they had refused to play. I donât know how many games they would miss out on with a 5 year ban though, I suspect their schedule isnât all that busy.