Rory McIlroy is declaring for Ireland

Felexicon · 10-09-2012 10:35AM

summerskin wrote: »

Absolute drivel. Did winning the Olympics in 2008 raise nadal's profile? no, winning the french open, wimbledon, Us open and Australian open did, as they are what is important in that sport.

Ennis, Hoy and Pendleton will never make as much money as McIlroy as his sport is truly global and does not need the olympics for publicity.

Didn't mention money pal. I was talking about sponsorship opportunity and profile.
Of course a world class golfer will earn more than athletes or cyclists.
And actually I would say yes, winning the olympics did raise Nadals profile on that side of the world.
I'm not trying to argue that the Olympics is a higher priority to any of the Slams for a tennis player, but then again I'm sure you noticed that but thought you'd get a rise out of me by calling my post' Aboslute drivel'

Felexicon · 10-09-2012 10:38AM

Beefy78 wrote: »

Ennis, Pendalton and Hoy compete in sports which have relatively low-profiles, as you acknowledge yourself.

The Olympic sports that Golf can be compared to would be football and (especially) tennis. Personally, I couldn't name you too many of the Mexican side who won the gold in football although maybe you can? I suspect that if Andy Murray wins the US Open today then that will do far more for his profile than winning the Olympic Gold did.

But only for people who follow tennis.
Winning an Olympic in London gave him instant nation exposure which could only possibly be matched by winning Wimbeldon.

maximoose · 10-09-2012 10:38AM

Felexicon wrote: »

Didn't mention money pal. I was talking about sponsorship opportunity and profile.

You are still wrong though. Olympics is not as important in golf as a lot of the other tournaments.

Felexicon · 10-09-2012 10:40AM

maximoose wrote: »

You are still wrong though. Olympics is not as important in golf as a lot of the other tournaments.

Good debating skills mate. Well done with the logic based reasons to back up your point.

I've never said I'm 100% right on this, it's just one way of looking at it and tbh is probably a bit off topic for this thread.

mike65 · 10-09-2012 10:40AM

I'm looking forward to Formula 1 for 2020

DubTony · 10-09-2012 10:44AM

Felexicon wrote: »

Didn't mention money pal. I was talking about sponsorship opportunity and profile.

Sponsorship is all about the money. Sports people don't have their managers and agents negotiate a deal because they like a particular brand, it's because they like a particular amount.

martingriff · 10-09-2012 10:45AM

summerskin wrote: »

You didn't need to, you made a ridiculous statement that I'd never read the sports pages or letters. How many people have never read the sports pages? How many would be posting on a thread about a golfer?

You were attempting to be the smart alec and belittle other posters while talking drivel about a subject you know nothing about (the whole "murray is scottish when he loses" thing) which is something only raised seriously in Ireland by people with a chip on their shoulder about the UK.

Not trying to be a smart alec or belittle anyone there I was answering you in all seriousness. I have an opinion and I made it. You dont agree with it and think its ridicolous then fine.

However it seems to me you are the one belittling people with your replies to people. You could have replied to me I do look at sports pages and letters and not go as a former sports journalist as thats means jack crap to this discussion. You dont like my opinion then fine.

RikkFlair · 10-09-2012 10:47AM

Good luck to him, always thought he would pick GB. Will be strange though if team Ireland are in contention and having to root against McIlroy for once :pac:

At least a spot on the team will be freed up for someone like Shane Lowry now, if he can stay competitive for the next 4 years.

Cienciano · 10-09-2012 10:49AM

Felexicon wrote: »

Good debating skills mate. Well done with the logic based reasons to back up your point.

I've never said I'm 100% right on this, it's just one way of looking at it and tbh is probably a bit off topic for this thread.

Translation: "I actually realise I'm wrong here, but I don't want to admit it or argue it any further" :pac:
There's no shame in admitting you're wrong

fishy fishy · 10-09-2012 10:54AM

really, who cares?

let him do what he wants - it won't affect the majority of people either way. :rolleyes:

suicide_circus · 10-09-2012 10:55AM

Can't blame him tbh

MakeEmLaugh · 10-09-2012 10:58AM

Anyone find it slightly bemusing that McIlroy - a Catholic from Northern Ireland - should identify himself as "more British than Irish", whereas Eddie Irvine - a Protestant from Northern Ireland - says, "at the end of the day, I'm Irish... if you're from Ireland, north or south, you're Irish. And 'British' is... such a nondescript thing"?

maximoose · 10-09-2012 11:03AM

MakeEmLaugh wrote: »

Anyone find it slightly bemusing that McIlroy - a Catholic from Northern Ireland - should identify himself as "more British than Irish", whereas Eddie Irvine - a Protestant from Northern Ireland - says, "at the end of the day, I'm Irish... if you're from Ireland, north or south, you're Irish. And 'British' is... such a nondescript thing"?

No, I find it bemusing that people care.

Seaneh · 10-09-2012 11:03AM

More funding, more team spaces,etc, etc, etc.

There were a few Irish people who live/train in the UK who have decided to compete for GB in future after missing out on selection for the Irish olympic team this time round because they feel they could make the GB team easier.

Female cyclist who's name I forget is one.

RossyG · 10-09-2012 11:11AM

MakeEmLaugh wrote: »

Anyone find it slightly bemusing that McIlroy - a Catholic from Northern Ireland - should identify himself as "more British than Irish", whereas Eddie Irvine - a Protestant from Northern Ireland - says, "at the end of the day, I'm Irish... if you're from Ireland, north or south, you're Irish. And 'British' is... such a nondescript thing"?

Leaving aside Irvine's minor swipe at Britishness, I'd say it was a good thing. It shows that sectarian divides are beginning to break down in NI and people can choose what's best for themselves rather than what their 'tradition' is.

Felexicon · 10-09-2012 11:11AM

Cienciano wrote: »

Translation: "I actually realise I'm wrong here, but I don't want to admit it or argue it any further" :pac:
There's no shame in admitting you're wrong

No not at all. If someone can offer conclusive evidence that winning an Olympic title would have no affect on the profile of a golfer I'll happily admit I'm wrong.

I just don't see how people come to the conclusion that winning a medal at the largest sporting event in the world would'nt increase the exposure of a sports person no matter what the sport

Monty Burnz · 10-09-2012 11:14AM

This story gives the lie to the notion that 'Catholic' in NI means 'nationalist'. It seems likely that even if and when the demographics mean that there is a Catholic majority there, there's no reason to think that there still won't be a large unionist majority.

And to be honest, considering how badly we run the show down here, who could blame them?

fionnsda · 10-09-2012 11:15AM

Seaneh wrote: »

More funding, more team spaces,etc, etc, etc.

There were a few Irish people who live/train in the UK who have decided to compete for GB in future after missing out on selection for the Irish olympic team this time round because they feel they could make the GB team easier.

Female cyclist who's name I forget is one.

He does not need and will not get funding, as for team places, i don't think it has been decided how many players per team!

i blame the parents for not playing wolfe tones at home, from a early age:)

pickarooney · 10-09-2012 11:19AM

Felexicon wrote: »

No not at all. If someone can offer conclusive evidence that winning an Olympic title would have no affect on the profile of a golfer I'll happily admit I'm wrong.

I just don't see how people come to the conclusion that winning a medal at the largest sporting event in the world would'nt increase the exposure of a sports person no matter what the sport

The best way to check it would probably be to find out the total sponsorship earnings for Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and see is there a pattern. It's a bit tricky as they both won a load of Grand Slams in the period as well and both are out earned in sponsorship by more 'attractive' players.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 10-09-2012 11:20AM

As far as I know, and I could be wrong, only 2 golfers from each country can be put forward for the Olympics, unless you have multiple players in top 15, you can have 4. So, if G-Mac and Rory were to declare for Ireland chances are that would be it. No Harrington, no anybody else.

I'd assume Rory would be first choice for whichever country he chose to represent but GB would have a lot more options than we have for alternative players. If he declares for GB that leaves one spot for quite a few golfers.

Basically, I think he'll be annoying other golfers more than he annoys the general public. I think Harrington publicly encouraged him to choose GB, so he could make the Irish team

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 10-09-2012 11:23AM

Monty Burnz wrote: »

This story gives the lie to the notion that 'Catholic' in NI means 'nationalist'. It seems likely that even if and when the demographics mean that there is a Catholic majority there, there's no reason to think that there still won't be a large unionist majority.

I know a lot of people who live in the North, some family, all Catholic, and when push comes to shove they'd be happier staying in the UK. It's one thing waving your tricolour but quite another when it comes to health care, education, jobs etc. etc.

Pegasus Galactica · 10-09-2012 11:23AM

Everyone is going to have a different opinion. Either way, there is no doubt he will lose fans but it is confusing to be me that he would say he feels more British than Irish, when he has played under the Irish team at underage. I also thought he played GAA as a child?

Felexicon · 10-09-2012 11:25AM

Pegasus Galactica wrote: »

Everyone is going to have a different opinion. Either way, there is no doubt he will lose fans but it is confusing to be me that he would say he feels more British than Irish, when he has played under the Irish team at underage. I also thought he played GAA as a child?

I'd still support him and hope he did well if he was representing Britain at the Olympics.
Do you mean lose fans in general or specifically for the Olympics?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 10-09-2012 11:25AM

pickarooney wrote: »

The best way to check it would probably be to find out the total sponsorship earnings for Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and see is there a pattern. It's a bit tricky as they both won a load of Grand Slams in the period as well and both are out earned in sponsorship by more 'attractive' players.

As far as tennis goes the Olympics don't mean much in terms of marketability. Slams are what make you marketable, or being World #1. It means a lot to the players, a whole lot, but as far as raising your profile, or getting you new deals and all that, it's not much.

ShaunC · 10-09-2012 11:27AM

fionnsda wrote: »

He does not need and will not get funding, as for team places, i don't think it has been decided how many players per team!

i blame the parents for not playing wolfe tones at home, from a early age:)

They did, but he was on a golf course somewhere.

qwert2 · 10-09-2012 11:28AM

Either way he's still a very very boring man

summerskin · 10-09-2012 11:28AM

Seaneh wrote: »

More funding, more team spaces,etc, etc, etc.

There were a few Irish people who live/train in the UK who have decided to compete for GB in future after missing out on selection for the Irish olympic team this time round because they feel they could make the GB team easier.

Female cyclist who's name I forget is one.

Yes because it'd be far easier to catch the GB cycling team, which won more golds than any other nation in the velodrome, and for which Chris Hoy could not get a place for the men's sprint(Jason Kenny got the only place), than it would be to catch the Irish team that won zero cycling medals.

Does your love of Ireland blind you to the facts?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 10-09-2012 11:29AM

Pegasus Galactica wrote: »

Everyone is going to have a different opinion. Either way, there is no doubt he will lose fans but it is confusing to be me that he would say he feels more British than Irish, when he has played under the Irish team at underage. I also thought he played GAA as a child?

Golf in Ireland is organised on an "all Ireland" basis, so just like the rugby, if you play, you play for Ireland. Under that understanding he really should be declaring for Ireland, but the Olympics is a different kettle of fish entirely. Loads of NI athletes represented GB in the Olympics this year, and loads represented Ireland. If he feels more comfortable going under the GB flag, he should be left to it.

I am confused though as to how they actually get to fly under the NI flag at tournaments. If it is on an all Ireland basis, shouldn't they be under the Irish flag?

Mint Sauce · 10-09-2012 11:30AM

He's well intitled to play for Team GB or Team Ireland, in the same way as i'm entitled apply for a GB and NI Passport, or an Irish Passport. The only difference is though because he's in the limelight as a Sportstar.

The only other two comments I have to make are, 1. If he loses the BBC will still call him Irish/NI and British if he wins, and 2. By the time Rio comes around there will probably be some rule which makes him ineligible to play either due to age, similar to the football competition, or due to ranking.

Felexicon · 10-09-2012 11:31AM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Golf in Ireland is organised on an "all Ireland" basis, so just like the rugby, if you play, you play for Ireland. Under that understanding he really should be declaring for Ireland, but the Olympics is a different kettle of fish entirely. Loads of NI athletes represented GB in the Olympics this year, and loads represented Ireland. If he feels more comfortable going under the GB flag, he should be left to it.

I am confused though as to how they actually get to fly under the NI flag at tournaments. If it is on an all Ireland basis, shouldn't they be under the Irish flag?

Can this be set to flash up on screen before someone posts in this thread as it's about the 10th time it's been explained now

Rory McIlroy is declaring for Ireland

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