Did anybody see Freddie Flintoff's program on the Beeb last week, The Hidden Side of Sport? It was quite a moving program with top sportsmen like Freddie, Steve Harmison, Barry McGuigan and Ricky Hatton talking about their battles with depression. Even our own Vinnie Jones talked about how he went to the woods with a shot gun intending to end it all.
It certainly made me think. We don't know why Speedo did what he did but clearly he felt he had nowhere to turn. The program gave the impression that these days there is a great deal more understanding about this kind of thing at clubs, in sport and in society in general. Years ago nobody talked about it, but managers and other staff now realise getting the best out of their players requires them to be mentally fit aswell as physically. But is that really true? If that were the case and a current player went to his manager and pleaded to be left out of the side because his head wasn't right, wouldn't you expect the manager to understand and give the guy time to recover? Especially if that manager's extra curricular activities might be largely responsible for the desperation the guy feels. You certainly wouldn't expect that manager to force the guy to play and then criticise him publically when he can't manage it again. Wouldn't that be pushing the guy too far? What if the player were to try and do something stupid? How upset would his mates be? How could they continue to do well for a manager who treats their mate so badly? If you believe the program we live in more enlightened times and it is hard to imagine how that could happen. We think sportsmen and women are living the dream but the programme made you realise it's not that simple. I still want to be a footballer when I grow up mind. In other news, we are playing appallingly again by all accounts. Eddie Gray has just said "the players are playing pass the buck, nobody wants to try anything" and "it's been very poor, we've not played at all". We know the players are capable of more, they were playing much better earlier in the season. It seems to me they do not want to play for the manager. This can and should only end one way, with Grayson out. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
