Second Captains Part II

SC has gone to shìte over the past six months. I’ve let my subscription lapse, maybe I’ll come back in the future but I’m not missing it to be honest

I had a good aul listen to this piece as the general idea (an indoor multipurpose sports arena) isn't a bad thing. The model of how it is funded and how the "community" uses it is probably key.

Now, he raised this point himself, although not as directly as I am about to. Horse Racing Ireland, and the Greyhounds get significant amounts of funding on an annual basis from the Irish tax payer. Two essentially "niche" sports. Granted there are numbers of people employed in the areas and several spin off benefits but if you want to make the link between public funding and "community benefit" I think it's worth noting that public funding goes towards many things that you could argue aren't necessarily good for the "community" as a whole.

If this venue costs 300 mill to develop (and there's a clear plan and access rights - even if paid for) by community sporting organisations etc, then I don't particularily see the issue if the state were to pony up 80 or 100 million on a one off basis to get it developed, provided the right legal safeguards and frameworks are in place. I'd generally see this as much better value that some of the same amounts of spend go today.

Anyway, it is unlikely to ever happen.

I'd agree.

The money that goes into these sports could go into many other "community" iniatives.

The question then needs to be asked, where the legal frameworks for use and ownership agreeable, would the money that goes into these sports be better going into projects such as this. Basicilly a 100 million euro a year into something else with a potentially better community focus.

You wouldn't be too long part funding at least one indoor venue every year for the 1.8 billion (100 odd million a year) thats been put into greyhound and horse racing over the past 25 years.

If this kind of conversation shines a light on the use of public money to fund community sports facilities, thats not a bad thing.

Until such time that the boxing and athletics programs are properly funded those lads can feck right off with the ice hockey cap in hand shíte. It’s not even a high level of the sport.

Not even the remotest hint of an Irish accent off Daniel Whelan.

Ive zero interest in NFL but I enjoyed the interview

NFL for beginners and Daniel would put Father Stone to sleep. An interview and interviewee so boring that it's almost must-listen content to be able to grasp how dull he is.

Seriously the content over last 10 days mainly when ken absent has been poor and/or boring. I've no interest in rugby and definitely not in some ice hockey stadium or NFL.

seconds captains is at its best when covering football.

Second Captains is at its best when it covers niche topics. Their football coverage is grand and I enjoy it for Ken but some of their best stuff is obscure stuff e.g. the Christina McMahon interview in 2016.

Its pretty odd for someone to say and complain: "I've no interest in rugby and definitely not in some ice hockey stadium or NFL" - they've 6 pods a week. Its going to cover stuff outside of football. I don't want or need a daily football pod from them.

Ken is absolutely the best of the 3 and is the reason to subscribe.

I don't agree that they're at their best with football. Their best is niche topics but they pop up once every few months and don't form the podcast. The football pod is the one I listen too the most. I'd have GAA/Rugby/NFL on when I'm not really listening and is more background noise. That's just me.

I agree Ken is definitely what brings the pod its X factor but its the interactions between the three that really do it for me. Ken on his own wouldnt be as good and the show without Ken would be fairly dry i reckon. All in all its a cracking pods and i'm thankful for all of them…yes even Murph :-)

Even Brano has grown on me

I don't mind him, knows his stuff and gives some decent insights. Works better with someone to bounce off though

He's not too dissimilar from Shane Horgan I guess. Hes not going to convert you if you've no interest

Personally I wish they covered league of ireland more. They do a bit but not enough IMO.

Their coverage of athletics is also half hearted and only for example 400m women relay are doing well so let's interview them. Id prefer if they got a athletics journalist on a bit more to cover middle long distance, sprint whatever and a bit less ice hockey and nfl as who cares about those (imo !)

2 rugby pods in one week and no Friday podcast