Do we allow GAA stars their indiscretions? Monday Blog

Tiger Woods is an example of a sports star who the fans have forgiven for past indiscressions

By Ronan Scott

PERHAPS it is the recent accusations about Jimmy Savile which contaminated the news of late, but I spent much of Monday morning thinking about celebrity and the effect it has upon us as individuals.

Namely, how much bad behaviour are the rich and famous, in particular sports people, allowed to get away with, for the simple reason that they bring us joy.

As autumn arrives, so do the club championship finals, where titles are won and legends are made.
Those clubs so fortunate to win a championship will have players on those teams who will be lauded for the hard work and effort they have put in all through the year.

Those players will also be afforded certain status, where many of us will become reverential towards them. By that I mean we might overlook some of their bad habits because they lifted the Championship trophy and ended the hurt of however many years of pain.

Maybe they’ll get a few free pints in the local, or they’ll get a free fish supper from the local chippy.
In the bigger arenas though, this preferential treatment is magnified, and the stars tend to act like they are untouchable. Soccer is a prime example where fans tend to overlook the indiscretions of their heroes.

At the same time, it is fair to say that whatever goes on in the privacy of a millionaire’s home should remain private. Unless of course it is illegal.

Though perhaps the assertion that Super stars get preferential treatment only arises because they are in the public spotlight.

Perhaps many local stars are getting up to no good, because they know they are away from prying eyes.

I like to think that in the GAA, with its local community ideals, that such primadonna behaviour doesn’t exist. Though we all hear stories. But should we be shocked, or should we try to understand. If a county player is adored all his life, wins endless trophies, and is made to feel that he is special then perhaps his behaviour is a product of his society.

Yet, at the same time, for us mere mortals, the thought of a county footballer abusing his position whether it be for financial, personal or romantic gain is one that is quite hard to swallow.