Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

daithi7 wrote: »

Kimmage can be a great written journalist at times, but I have to say I find him painful on the radio. For me he is far too moany, and comes across as bitter, and balanced only cos he has a chip on both shoulders. He's a broken record on drugs, which I realise is a huge issue in many sports, but there's a lot of good going on in sport also without listening to a moany, bitter, ex journeyman drug taking professional cyclist constantly carping on about some perceived gripe, or other. Heaven spare us!! :-)

thats a bit harsh, if you understand cycling you would know he was a bit above 'journeyman' level

Dots1982 wrote: »

Was the Paddy Barnes Olympics tweet thing off-limits in the interview or was it deemed as not worthy of being asked about by Kimmage?

What was this?

price690 wrote: »

What was this?

He was sending tweets taking the mick out of Rory during the olympics.

seachto7 wrote: »

While I'm not a big golf fan, I think the interesting part here, possibly for a lot of non golf fans too, is Rory not lining himself up to the Irish or British flag. We like to claim him. I'm guessing the British do as well? But he sees himself as "Northern Irish". From a non sporting expression of identity, it's interesting to see he has come out and said it. But you'll still get some tit in a leprechaun suit throwing a tricolour at him in the future.

Seems to me that McIlroy changes his tune with the wind though. Now I don't for one second care about wherever he "pledges his allegiance".

If he sees himself as Irish, grand. If he sees himself as being more British than irish, grand.

This declaration of himself as "Northern Irish" definately fits the narrative however, but he has clearly stated in the past that he identifies more with being British rather than Irish.

His interview with Kimmage was excellent but there are a few untruths in it I feel and he still has one eye on not offending folks. Which is fair enough, I can totally see why. But Kimmage trying to portray this interview as being really brave for putting himself out there is a bit rich.

McIlroy has in essence taken the middle ground. I completely believe and understand him when he says he would have felt awkward standing on a podium with Amhrann na Bhfiann playing in Rio, that is 100% understandable. Everyone can surely understand that, even the keenest fan in his tall green hat looking to cheer on/bask in the slightest hint of a victory for the boys/girls in green.

He says wouldn't know the words. The untruth I think is applying the same logic as to why he wouldn't represent Britain. He mentions that he did his GCSE's and grew up in a predominantly protestant area, and has pride in his area. he mentions the British traits but then claims he doesn't know the words/would feel awkward standing to attention for god save the queen. He is regularly in attendance at Windsor Park cheering of the Northern Ireland football team who have always used God Save the queen so he must put on the earmuffs for that. It doesn't make sense. Now I know some Unionist leaning people in Belfast who do not like that GSTQ anthem for the football. Some feel they should be doing their own thing.But as ive said before, the crux of the matter is he is on record as saying he feels more British than Irish. And the backlash from those who felt "offended" saw him change his probable heartfelt honest position. If he was being really brave in the interview then these comments would be revisited and if he did speak from the heart it should be applauded.

For me that interview was just another chapter in the changing stories of Rory McIlroy. Which is absolutely fine, I get why he doesn't feel the need to nail his colours to the mast, its so much more nuanced for him. Identifying with one side more than the other (which he absolutely does) obviously alienates the other, and he doesn't need the aggro. Hes just doing what he has always done and admirably trying not to offend the morons on either side. But for Kimmage to jizz over his own piece claiming he dug deeper than anyone else on this issue, is just self publicitiy.

It wouldn't surprise me if McIlroy has another definitive reason for not going to Rio in another exclusive in a couple of months.

Quintis wrote: »

Grew up Catholic in a predominantly Protestant area. He may have gone to NI Soccer matches, they may sing God Save the Queen but he has also been to Irish Rugby matches where they sign Amhrán na bhFiann. To me, at least he is Northern Irish, it is a complex identify, not Irish, not British. I understand his decision and reasoning, I would disagree with the way he initially tried to handle the situation, if he came out initially with what he has said now I think people would be a lot more understanding

I am in total agreement with you on the last part, if he had said this in the very beginning it would absolutely resonate. Its the most plausible excuse in fairness.

My issue isn't with McIlroy at all, its entirely understandable why he feels he has to pander to people on both sides. He is in a very unique spot.

My issue is with Kimmage fawning over his own piece like he has done something others haven't and got Rory to give his side of things.

In reality this is just the 3rd different version we have heard, and i'd be more inclined to believe his true feelings on it were divulged in his very first statement (about feeling more British), and when he got a lashing over it (for being really brave in his honesty) then he back tracked and went about trying to please other people rather than stick to his guns and say to hell with what people think.

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Joe was rowing with Ewan MacKenna on twitter last night over their paper review yesterday. MacKenna basically saying it was an extended ad for the Sunday Indo as all they talked about for the hour was Kimmage's McIlroy interview.

The OTB crew are getting it in the neck from all sides these days.:D

Ewan McKenna was dead right in expressing that sentiment.

In fairness to Joe Molloy though I think the newspaper section yesterday was more a reflection of his love of Rory McIlroy and golf more than anything, that was his blindspot to the blatant product placement type carry on.

Clerkin in fairness called a halt to it, and said enough of the promoting of one newspaper.

I remember Brolly was on one morning and his swearing was highly offensive to Molloy, but Kimmage drops the f-bomb and few times and because it came from Rory's mouth its par for the course (jaysus i'm punning about golf now :mad:)