People who are still comparing footballers to Olympians

[Spuds]

Simple really; why?

[GoldenMerc]

Both athletes?

[Spuds]

Both athletes?

No, I'm talking deeper than that. Here's a piece I knocked together a few weeks ago -

Don’t compare footballers to Olympians

Team GB appear to be the nation’s new favourites; sporting, humble, and honest. Whereas Premiership footballers have taken on the role of the big bad wolf; unsporting, greedy, and arrogant. The backlash against footballers started before the Olympic closing ceremony and has become more vicious since the start of the footballing season.

The structure of football isn’t built around higher education; university graduates are rare in football. The majority of footballers come from hard backgrounds, they’ve had a tough upbringing and football is their saviour. Due to this, many part-time sporting enthusiasts believe that Olympians are ‘better’ people than footballers. Olympians are hardworking, courageous and sacrifice themselves for the love of their sport.

Olympians commitment cannot be knocked however don’t forget, footballers also make sacrifices. It’s well accepted that the ages before 11 are the most important to any footballer; it’s the years where the basics are learnt. Many football clubs now have specific setups to coach the basics from the early years up until 9 years old when they can then officially join a club academy.

Yet another criticism of footballers is the lack of normality, according to many they live in a different world compared to Olympians. Many people however seem to miss the point, with the exception of a couple of Olympians, many of the athletes won’t be heard of by the general public until the next major athletic event (the Olympics isn’t the only athletic event). We admire Olympians because they compete in sports we’ve never attempted; their sports, on the whole, are not mainstream. They don’t command the billboard space.

Football is the national sport – it commands the billboard space, along with prime-time coverage, front page news – the public can’t get enough of footballers. It’s like a relationship, the longer you’re with someone the more you see their flaws; don’t think for a minute that if athletes commanded the same attention, we wouldn’t see bigger egos and dislikeable characters.

How is it possible for footballers to become more humble overnight when they’re being followed daily by the paparazzi? Mention this of course and then it’s instantly to the feigning of injuries and berating of the referee by footballers however I’m sure those same people weren’t complaining when Team GB’s men’s rowing team made sure their boat was broken.

Finally, let’s not forget that many see football as more than a game; many consider football as an outlet. Stresses, strains, tensions and anger can all be released within those precious 90 minutes. We have two families here; the Olympians who take part and the footballers who win at all costs. Diving, cheating, abusing authority, tribal feelings – it’s all part of what makes the game tick.

Without controversy football wouldn’t be football, it would be an Olympic sport.

[Ardemax]

No, I'm talking deeper than that. Here's a piece I knocked together a few weeks ago...

I think that the article is suggesting that everyone in the UK watches football or gives a damn about it and pays no attention to other sports.

Rugby is on just as much as football and no way can you say that footballers and rugby players are the same. As the saying goes, football is a gentlemen's game played by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen. I know you'll disagree with me but, for me, there appears to be a moral divide in the two sports.

On the Olympics in general, no way can you call what footballers do compared to Olympians a "sacrifice", especially Paralympians. I think it's funny that the article (or whatever it is) has mentioned that.

I know I'm being harsh but the feeling of witnessing pure brilliance and amazing human achievement for two weeks (and then another 2 or so weeks) and then coming back to see the same-old premiership headlines would be a let-down for anybody. I also know there are good guys in football and not all of them are like the wonderful Joey Barton /sarcasm.

[Futz]

why would you compare the two, they're both the best at their chosen sport

[lawrawrrr]

I swear like over half the team was premier league footballers anyway :/

No point not comparing them really, it's the same sport? It's like saying you can't compare World Athletics champions to olympic Athletic champions...

[Barkseh]

Olympians are puffs.

[FlyingJesus]

Rugby is on just as much as football and no way can you say that footballers and rugby players are the same. As the saying goes, football is a gentlemen's game played by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen. I know you'll disagree with me but, for me, there appears to be a moral divide in the two sports.

I feel you're missing the entire point of the article - rugby might be on a lot but it's not anywhere near as high-profile a sport as football, the wages are not comparable and neither is the media representation or overall following. Rugby coverage might be closer to that of football than athletics, but what you're saying here is that because 6 is closer to 10 than 1, 6 and 10 are the same thing

[Spuds]

I swear like over half the team was premier league footballers anyway :/

No point not comparing them really, it's the same sport? It's like saying you can't compare World Athletics champions to olympic Athletic champions...

We're not comparing the Olympic football team to Premiership players, we're on about people who say: "I hope footballers learn to be as humble and appreciative as all the athletes in these Olympics...". It's also wrong for people to say: "You've got to admit the silly tantrums and rolling around feigning injury of footballers seems even less manly after the Olympics!".

why would you compare the two, they're both the best at their chosen sport

See above.

I think that the article is suggesting that everyone in the UK watches football or gives a damn about it and pays no attention to other sports.

Rugby is on just as much as football and no way can you say that footballers and rugby players are the same. As the saying goes, football is a gentlemen's game played by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen. I know you'll disagree with me but, for me, there appears to be a moral divide in the two sports.

On the Olympics in general, no way can you call what footballers do compared to Olympians a "sacrifice", especially Paralympians. I think it's funny that the article (or whatever it is) has mentioned that.

I know I'm being harsh but the feeling of witnessing pure brilliance and amazing human achievement for two weeks (and then another 2 or so weeks) and then coming back to see the same-old premiership headlines would be a let-down for anybody. I also know there are good guys in football and not all of them are like the wonderful Joey Barton /sarcasm.

Football commands so much more coverage than rugby; more than 600,000,000 watched Manchester City beat Manchester United 1:0 last season. Rugby isn’t as clean as you make out; let’s not forget 2^nd April 2009 or of course, when players of Harlequins and Bath were involved in a bar fight. The bar fight blew the lid on a culture of drink and drugs within rugby.

[Ardemax]

Football commands so much more coverage than rugby; more than 600,000,000 watched Manchester City beat Manchester United 1:0 last season. Rugby isn’t as clean as you make out; let’s not forget 2^nd April 2009 or of course, when players of Harlequins and Bath were involved in a bar fight. The bar fight blew the lid on a culture of drink and drugs within rugby.

Obviously football commands more coverage than rugby, I wasn't saying it didn't, but should it be a reason for a lot of premiership footballers to act in such a way that makes you fill up with a bit of rage?

I admit it's not all of them, but pigs like John Terry make me wonder why people would spend hundreds of pounds to see people like him kick a ball around in the hope he kicks it in the right direction.