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

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,129 ✭✭✭deisedude


    If it was, I think we might have heard about it. I don't think he would sit quiet if he was being censored in that way.

    I wouldn't be surprised if it was an advertising thing. Lost of heavy hitting advertisers around sport and particularly rugby and I'm sure they wouldn't be too pleased with a negative light being shone on it.

    Somewhat similar with Ewan Mackenna who hasn't been near NT since he's head to head on OTB with Ruaidhri O'Connor about the Irish rugby team. Mackenna, unlike Kimmage, is very vocal about being alienated.

    To be fair to NewsTalk Mackenna is a libel lawsuit waiting to happen. Likely to talk about rumours he gets in a whatsapp group and present it as fact


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,957 ✭✭✭Dots1982


    deisedude wrote: »
    To be fair to NewsTalk Mackenna is a libel lawsuit waiting to happen. Likely to talk about rumours he gets in a whatsapp group and present it as fact

    Cant recall him saying anything remotely libelous on air?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,129 ✭✭✭deisedude


    Dots1982 wrote: »
    Cant recall him saying anything remotely libelous on air?

    I seem to recall him implying about a year ago on OTBAM that a member of the current Ireland team was on PEDs


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,468 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue



    Somewhat similar with Ewan Mackenna who hasn't been near NT since his head to head on OTB with Ruaidhri O'Connor about the Irish rugby team. Mackenna, unlike Kimmage, is very vocal about being alienated.

    How many times was he on OTB before this?

    What topics that he covers have we missed out on?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,510 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    How many times was he on OTB before this?

    What topics that he covers have we missed out on?

    I can remember him being on numerous times when he was living in Brazil.

    He doesn't cover a particular sport as such but he used to have a good take on topical pieces. Remember him covering the Chapecoense plane crash and also the impact of the World Cup being held in Brazil with White Elephant stadiums.

    He was very vocal on twitter and wrote a lot about the Dublin GAA funding which would have been an interesting topic to hear him discuss on OTB.


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  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,468 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    He was on a couple of times but I don't remember him being a regular or even on it regularly.

    As he's not a specialist in any one subject and doesn't cover the beat, like Dan McDonell or Ruaidhri O'Connor, there's not whole lot that he offers. Other than slagging off rugby which gets old very quickly. Even say with the election of Balsanaro in Brazil OTB had that English lad who lives in Brazil who covered it far better than MacKenna did in his various bits on it.

    OTB have covered the funding issue too so it's not like they ignored it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,510 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    He was on a couple of times but I don't remember him being a regular or even on it regularly.

    As he's not a specialist in any one subject and doesn't cover the beat, like Dan McDonell or Ruaidhri O'Connor, there's not whole lot that he offers. Other than slagging off rugby which gets old very quickly. Even say with the election of Balsanaro in Brazil OTB had that English lad who lives in Brazil who covered it far better than MacKenna did in his various bits on it.

    OTB have covered the funding issue too so it's not like they ignored it.

    I'm not sure what point you are making, the curious thing about it (for me) was how they stopped having him on after he was so vocal on the rugby team being over-hyped last autumn.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,468 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    Oh right, the point I was trying to make is that I didn't think he was on much before that interview so him not being on since isn't something noteworthy.

    Also I don't see much reason to have him on since that interview as what ever he does cover is covered better by others.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 937 ✭✭✭styron


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    He was on a couple of times but I don't remember him being a regular or even on it regularly.

    As he's not a specialist in any one subject and doesn't cover the beat, like Dan McDonell or Ruaidhri O'Connor, there's not whole lot that he offers. Other than slagging off rugby which gets old very quickly. Even say with the election of Balsanaro in Brazil OTB had that English lad who lives in Brazil who covered it far better than MacKenna did in his various bits on it.

    OTB have covered the funding issue too so it's not like they ignored it.


    You nicely dismantled a ludicrous fabrication of his on rugby finance bias at the Tribune, that those in the studio should have picked up on. ( ... four years ago!, time flies)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,510 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    styron wrote: »
    You nicely dismantled a ludicrous fabrication of his on rugby finance bias at the Tribune, that those in the studio should have picked up on. ( ... four years ago!, time flies)

    I thought MacKenna's argument on Rugby bias related to Neil Francis and his wife being sent to that 2007 World Cup because she actually typed his copy for him to fax it back and at the same time, the paper was struggling financially.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,510 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    Oh right, the point I was trying to make is that I didn't think he was on much before that interview so him not being on since isn't something noteworthy.

    Also I don't see much reason to have him on since that interview as what ever he does cover is covered better by others.

    Well, I think, given his stance on the rugby and how people reacted to it, he would have been in pole position to discuss the actual performance in the world cup and how we allow ourselves to fall in to a trap of blind confidence time and again.
    But, partly because of how he would really rub it in that he was right and also because no one really wants to hear the players and management team being ridiculed, he didn't get the opportunity to.

    Also, just because something is covered by others, does not mean it is covered in the same way.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,468 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    His stance on rugby is that he hates, which isn't a great starting point for a good discussion.

    Actually going into this World Cup the team was playing well so all the hype from last November was well and truly gone. There was no blind confidence.

    Depends on how you mean by being ridiculed? Calling them losers and other personal insults I've no time for, actually discussing their abilities and how they performed was covered by others on the show.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,510 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    His stance on rugby is that he hates, which isn't a great starting point for a good discussion.

    Actually going into this World Cup the team was playing well so all the hype from last November was well and truly gone. There was no blind confidence.

    Depends on how you mean by being ridiculed? Calling them losers and other personal insults I've no time for, actually discussing their abilities and how they performed was covered by others on the show.

    I agree with not ridiculing players/managers but I think some do fall on the side of not calling out poor performances when they are happening in front of everyone.

    I've said before I think Mackenna has a valid source point on a lot of his arguments but he no longer defends them well. I've also said I think that he is now talking himself out of work/money with his attitude which seems like a very naive thing to do for a journalist.

    (BTW Have you a typo in your post? I'm not sure it can be said the team was playing well going in to the WC. Poor 6 nations, hiding by England in warm up was not playing well.)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Jayesdiem


    That's just not true. You are happy with people using drugs in sport, many, if not most people have a problem with that.

    If you had a kid, and they showed some promise playing rugby at 16, would you want a coach suggesting they take growth hormone or testosterone boosters to increase their performance even though there will very likely be some unexpected side affects to this?

    Did you hear about the athlete who was coached by Alberto Salazar and who must not now take thyroid medication for the rest of their life after being mistreated by the coach. Would you be happy if that was your child?

    No I wouldn’t agree with any of that. But I do believe in personal agency and that PEDs are not the horror they are made out to be. Rather than go after drug users, why doesn’t Kimmage expose child abusers in sport? At least then his outrage could be justified. He’s just.so.ANGRY at something that, at most, we as a public just aren’t bothered about.

    As for Ewan McKenna, he’s a bigot. A sports sociologist, not a sports journalist.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,510 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    Jayesdiem wrote: »
    No I wouldn’t agree with any of that. But I do believe in personal agency and that PEDs are not the horror they are made out to be. Rather than go after drug users, why doesn’t Kimmage expose child abusers in sport? At least then his outrage could be justified. He’s just.so.ANGRY at something that, at most, we as a public just aren’t bothered about.

    As for Ewan McKenna, he’s a bigot. A sports sociologist, not a sports journalist.

    He wrote in depth articles, including follow up pieces, on the treatment of minors in Athenry GAA Club and also a Clare soccer club in the last 18 months or so.
    There are many sports journalists out there, Kimmage shouldn't be the only one having to write the difficult pieces.

    You and I are on different pages in terms of PED, I think Kimmage is to be applauded for his continued efforts in highlighting it. My issue is that if it is accepted at any level then the boundary will always be pushed as some seek an extra advantage thus meaning people (and children) will be put in harms way.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,468 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    I agree with not ridiculing players/managers but I think some do fall on the side of not calling out poor performances when they are happening in front of everyone.

    I've said before I think Mackenna has a valid source point on a lot of his arguments but he no longer defends them well. I've also said I think that he is now talking himself out of work/money with his attitude which seems like a very naive thing to do for a journalist.

    (BTW Have you a typo in your post? I'm not sure it can be said the team was playing well going in to the WC. Poor 6 nations, hiding by England in warm up was not playing well.)

    Yeah that was a typo, we weren't playing well. No one was saying we were though and there was almost panic in the media during the warm up games for the World Cup.

    There are some who don't call out stuff but plenty others who do. After the Japan game the papers were full of articles giving out about the team.

    He has a point in some of his articles but he goes so far overboard with stuff that when you check it isn't either true or not how he's portraying it that the whole article falls down.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,183 ✭✭✭✭Beechwoodspark


    Although I’d have issues with both of them on various opinions they have I find both mckenna and kimmage “good listening”. They would enhance the OTB offer.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,415 ✭✭✭generalgerry


    Although I’d have issues with both of them on various opinions they have I find both mckenna and kimmage “good listening”. They would enhance the OTB offer.

    Yeah I'd be the same. Far too often on the airwaves there is nothing but group think, and everybody slapping each other on the back. At least these two have an opinion that you know is what they believe, and not something that they are saying to make their employers or sponsors happy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,834 ✭✭✭robo


    Yeah I'd be the same. Far too often on the airwaves there is nothing but group think, and everybody slapping each other on the back. At least these two have an opinion that you know is what they believe, and not something that they are saying to make their employers or sponsors happy.

    I'd agree on that somewhat sometimes but when OTB have Kenny Cunningham on, he is not just agreeing with everyone, he gives good insights and will say when he thinks that something is stupid. I do like him but he has been missing from their broadcasts lately.

    Kimmage can come across as sanctimonious but he probes at things that others don't like to and does his homework.
    McKenna - he can sometimes be his own worst enemy in his delivery but he is not afraid to say what others might be thinking or not thinking.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,903 ✭✭✭Eire-Dearg


    Is the Off The Ball Open in Abu Dhabi still going ahead? Seems to have gone silent after all the ads and mentions online.


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  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 13,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭Say Your Number


    F-bomb from Giles :eek:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,510 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    Eire-Dearg wrote: »
    Is the Off The Ball Open in Abu Dhabi still going ahead? Seems to have gone silent after all the ads and mentions online.

    Think it's not happening.
    Someone mentioned here not so long ago that it was removed from the travel companies website.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,903 ✭✭✭Eire-Dearg


    Think it's not happening.
    Someone mentioned here not so long ago that it was removed from the travel companies website.
    Have they been called out on it? Seemed quite dodgy at the time and I can't imagine there'd have been much if any interest in playing golf in Abu Dhabi with Conor Sketches and Kevin Kilbane.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,874 ✭✭✭dr.kenneth noisewater


    Seemed a crazy idea to me at the start, real Celtic tiger idea with matching prices. Why not do one in Spain/Portugal first and see how it goes before organising a junket out to Abu Dabai


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 23,510 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    Eire-Dearg wrote: »
    Have they been called out on it? Seemed quite dodgy at the time and I can't imagine there'd have been much if any interest in playing golf in Abu Dhabi with Conor Sketches and Kevin Kilbane.

    What do you mean called out on it?

    They tried to make money with an I'll conceived plan, and it seems it was rejected by the potential customers. That's the best type of calling out.
    Cant fault them for trying to make money, but they learnt some sort of a lesson there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,567 ✭✭✭JoeA3


    F-bomb from Giles :eek:

    Heard that on the podcast today. Ooops, I knew the host would sh1t his kacks and apologise to the offended. Poor John.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,468 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    no paper review today, looks like that slot might be gone now as there was none last week either.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,834 ✭✭✭robo


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    no paper review today, looks like that slot might be gone now as there was none last week either.

    That's a shame if it is gone - or is it a case they don't have room for it with the premiership live games? Do they now broadcast 2 games on a Sunday? Even before when they ran out of time for the Newspaper review, they'd podcast it & also have it on their live YouTube channel.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,552 ✭✭✭rrs


    Joe Molloy hasn't been on off the ball in a while. On holidays?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,874 ✭✭✭dr.kenneth noisewater


    rrs wrote:
    Joe Molloy hasn't been on off the ball in a while. On holidays?


    Honeymoon I think they said one evening, hopefully the paper review returns when he's back


This discussion has been closed.
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