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

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    #6692
    diusmr8a504cvk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,959 ✭✭✭diusmr8a504cvk


    applehunter wrote: »
    You forgot hurling.

    Soccer may be strong at local club level but it has not established itself like a Cork City or a Sligo Rovers in terms of importance in the region.
    Nevertheless, I'm telling you here and now that soccer is king in Limerick regardless of how good, bad or otherwise Limerick FC are doing.

    The reason that Limerick FC aren't doing well is because Junior soccer is so strong. Junior players refuse to play for Limerick.


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    #6693
    Tell me how
    Registered Users Posts: 21,517 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    Brayan Chilly Shoplifter wrote: »
    Nevertheless, I'm telling you here and now that soccer is king in Limerick regardless of how good, bad or otherwise Limerick FC are doing.

    The reason that Limerick FC aren't doing well is because Junior soccer is so strong. Junior players refuse to play for Limerick.

    There are 6 Rugby clubs in Limerick which play competitions on a national level. That in itself is an indication of a fair amount of interest for a city of its size.

    Maybe junior soccer is more popular but the original point still stands that rugby is popular in a non-elite area such as limerick city. (And I say that with absolutely no intent to be derogatory to Limerick. I lived there myself for years and still shop and socialise there from time to time).

    Good to see all sports whether hurling, rugby or junior soccer doing well. Kudos to JP McManus for any part his sporting limerick initiative played in this.


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    #6694
    Jayesdiem
    Registered Users Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Jayesdiem


    I hate this battle of the sports thing. There are so many measures of a sports popularity that anyone can claim to be the most popular on a given metric. Rugby doesn’t, and never will, have large playing numbers here because you get your arse kicked around once a week and if you are a plumber who needs his hands for work and has two mouths to feed at home, one leg in a cast isn’t going to pay the bills. Soccer is more sensible in that case and numbers reflect it. Bums on seats tell a different story. Irish soccer is on its knees while tickets for the rugby change hands for thousands for the big matches. GAA remains part of the national DNA but the EPL is omnipresent. Anyone can make a viable claim but who really gives a ****? Seriously? Jesus Christ.


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    #6695
    DEFTLEFTHAND
    Registered Users Posts: 16,500 ✭✭✭✭DEFTLEFTHAND


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    I think rugby can be compared to the NFL in America in that they're both watched a lot more than they're played.

    Football and Gaelic Football are by the far the two most played, and popular, sports in Ireland.

    When you look at the most watched shows in Ireland though rugby games regularly make the top 20.

    Last year's top 20 watched on TV were

    000f33fe-614.jpg?ratio=2.33

    With American Football though it's impossible to play into adulthood as an amateur. Most careers end at 18 after High School.

    Rugby has a host of different playing levels available to people.


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    #6696
    Jayesdiem
    Registered Users Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Jayesdiem


    I finally deleted all OTB podcasts from my phone today, the paper review being the last remaining show I’d dare listen too before today. Half way through, I just couldn’t listen to any more. The faux, unwarranted, concern for players who love playing the very physical sport of rugby, the fascination with the mundane details of useless interviews.....it’s just become too much and is not entertaining. What’s also crept in is an element reminiscent of a journal union AGM. Weekly, hacks complain about lack of access to athletes for interviews and lack of space to write x thousand word pieces and other industry-specific complaints that hold no interest for the sports fan. This has become a show by journalists for journalists and is absolute pants.


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    #6697
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users Posts: 3,021 ✭✭✭mr_edge_to_you


    Patww79 wrote: »
    How do you sack that man though?

    RTE did.


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    #6698
    diusmr8a504cvk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,959 ✭✭✭diusmr8a504cvk


    Ger Gilroy could write his knowledge of Sport on the back of a postcard.

    https://twitter.com/offtheball/status/1075792695149412352?s=19


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    #6699
    Christy Browne
    Registered Users Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭Christy Browne


    Brayan Chilly Shoplifter wrote: »
    Ger Gilroy could write his knowledge of Sport on the back of a postcard, D4 prat.

    https://twitter.com/offtheball/status/1075792695149412352?s=19

    Jesus Christ on a bike that’s bad. Actually embarrassingly bad, and they thought it was a good idea to tweet this as a way of promoting the show?


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    #6700
    applehunter
    Registered Users Posts: 6,020 ✭✭✭applehunter


    Ger is the quintessential modern Irish broadcaster.


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    #6701
    Christy Browne
    Registered Users Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭Christy Browne


    applehunter wrote: »
    Ger is the quintessential modern Irish broadcaster.

    The other two are just as bad for not calling him out on it even though they clearly disagree. What a trio of spineless twats.


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    #6702
    sightband
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 670 ✭✭✭sightband


    Christy Browne wrote: »
    The other two are just as bad for not calling him out on it even though they clearly disagree. What a trio of spineless twats.

    Jesus Christ, what to call them “jobsworth”? “The help”? “Uncle Tommin’ Motherf*ckers”? Pathetic doesn’t even come close.

    That was excruciating to watch and listen to.


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    #6703
    Christy Browne
    Registered Users Posts: 1,160 ✭✭✭Christy Browne


    sightband wrote: »
    Jesus Christ, what to call them “jobsworth”? “The help”? “Uncle Tommin’ Motherf*ckers”? Pathetic doesn’t even come close.

    That was excruciating to watch and listen to.

    It just makes absolutely zero sense. I suppose everyone that goes to the darts in Dublin is a Brexiteer as well? :confused:

    Or the dozens of players from around Europe?


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    #6704
    jeremyj1968
    Registered Users Posts: 2,331 ✭✭✭jeremyj1968


    Brayan Chilly Shoplifter wrote: »
    Ger Gilroy could write his knowledge of Sport on the back of a postcard, D4 prat.

    https://twitter.com/offtheball/status/1075792695149412352?s=19

    God that is pathetic. Who does Gilroy think he is looking his nose at working class people. And laughing about how overweight the proposing guy will be in five years, when he is currently lighter than Gilroy himself. Somebody should text in and ask him if his condescending opinions on darts also hold for women's darts as well. All that reversing would do Gilroy good as he needs the exercise.

    I'm with Jay at this stage. Unsubscribe to all OTB. And pretty much all of Newstalk tbh.


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    #6705
    Blanco100
    Registered Users Posts: 1,933 ✭✭✭Blanco100


    Jesus thats poor form. is he drunk or what? looks wretched.

    Not like Gilroy to criticise anything that isnt low hanging fruit, would love to see him try and interview a big player now and for his production team to run the audio of that little outburst.

    In fairness, it was only the goon with the paul weller 1990s haircut who laughed, the other bloke called him on it, but Gilroy knows hes their boss.

    That "splendido crappy quiz" takes the biscuit on fridays. Gilroy sitting around trying to be funny getting jokes in about his staff essentially, id say if any of them made joke at his expense there'd be dead air.


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    #6706
    NIMAN
    Registered Users Posts: 32,987 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    I would have heard these guys on the radio but never knew what they look like.

    Guy on left looks like he's trying to act annoying. But since I've listened to him before, I know he's not acting.

    Guy in the middle, the 90s wants it's haircut back.

    At least the guy on right calls out the fool on the left.


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    #6707
    Utopia Parkway
    Registered Users Posts: 17,313 ✭✭✭✭Utopia Parkway


    Brayan Chilly Shoplifter wrote: »
    Ger Gilroy could write his knowledge of Sport on the back of a postcard, D4 prat.

    https://twitter.com/offtheball/status/1075792695149412352?s=19

    Gilroy is the boss so the rest have to awkwardly agree with him or suffer expulsion. Including the Charlatans reject and the Kerry butcher boy.


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    #6708
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Utopia Parkway wrote: »
    Gilroy is the boss so the rest have to awkwardly agree with him or suffer expulsion. Including the Charlatans reject and the Kerry butcher boy.

    Gilroy comes across as a man child who is trying desperately to be cool and to impress the other, younger contributors. He's painful to listen to. What he is good at is doing proper interviews which require lots of research and tough questions. His current role as host of the morning show is totally unsuited to him.


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    #6709
    Jayesdiem
    Registered Users Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Jayesdiem


    All I can say is I’m looking mighty forward to catching up on the darts over the next few days and not listening to anything that falls under the OTB banner (ever again). Soccer and rugby are in full swing, loads of podcast options there and I’m sure Woolly will be banging out the content with the GAA season (unbelievably) not far off either. For lovers of other sports such as golf etc, I’m sure there is no shortage of options. I love an oul podcast as I walk the dog but no longer will those walks be marred by:

    -Forced equality in sport
    -Forced tokenism in sport
    -Tremendous outrage about safe, politically correct topics
    -Witch hunts of former dopers who have served their punishments
    -Dopers in general - they aren’t murderers or rapists
    -Paul Kimmage’s “crusade du jour”
    -Paul Kimmage in general
    -Zealous fascination with mundane elements’ of athletes’ lives
    -Complaining about the changing landscape occupied by the print journalist - tough sh1t, find a way to remain relevant
    -Pretentious double standards
    -Tone deafness

    This is a new year’s resolution of sorts - there will be things I’ll miss. Declan Lynch’s sneering, sarcastic style wont be everyone’s cup of tea but is mana from heaven for a cynic such as myself. I love his style. Ross Tucker is a little bit of a goody-two-shoes but generally deals in facts only. Dave McIntyre’s frantic commentary style is great but at least I’ll still hear him on the GAA.

    Happy Christmas, one and all. Even OTB - you aren’t evil guys, just an absolute battle to keep listening to.


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    #6710
    Tell me how
    Registered Users Posts: 21,517 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    ^^^^

    Might be an idea to delete the subscription to the thread once you get through all the radio presets, apps, podcasts that you're never ever ever going to listen to again.

    Best wishes for 2019.


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    #6711
    Jayesdiem
    Registered Users Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Jayesdiem


    Tell me how wrote: »
    ^^^^

    Might be an idea to delete the subscription to the thread once you get through all the radio presets, apps, podcasts that you're never ever ever going to listen to again.

    Best wishes for 2019.

    Maybe you can take some of my suggestions on board and make such changes to the show next year.


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    #6712
    Faugheen
    Site Banned Posts: 12,341 ✭✭✭✭Faugheen


    Jayesdiem wrote: »
    Maybe you can take some of my suggestions on board and make such changes to the show next year.

    He has a point.

    Stop talking about how you no longer listen to OTB. Nobody cares.

    I still enjoy it most of the time. I don't have a problem with the women's sport segments like you clearly have such a dislike for.

    You don't need to keep posting in here about how you don't listen to or like the show. Be on your merry way into the sunset and let us who listen to the show critique it without trying to sound like we're edgy and cool if we don't listen to it.

    Happy Christmas.


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    #6713
    Muscles Schultz
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 302 ✭✭Muscles Schultz


    jeremyj1968 wrote: »
    God that is pathetic. Who does Gilroy think he is looking his nose at working class people. And laughing about how overweight the proposing guy will be in five years, when he is currently lighter than Gilroy himself. Somebody should text in and ask him if his condescending opinions on darts also hold for women's darts as well. All that reversing would do Gilroy good as he needs the exercise.

    I'm with Jay at this stage. Unsubscribe to all OTB. And pretty much all of Newstalk tbh.

    Gilroy really is King Dweeb


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    #6714
    Jayesdiem
    Registered Users Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Jayesdiem


    Faugheen wrote: »
    He has a point.

    Stop talking about how you no longer listen to OTB. Nobody cares.

    I still enjoy it most of the time. I don't have a problem with the women's sport segments like you clearly have such a dislike for.

    You don't need to keep posting in here about how you don't listen to or like the show. Be on your merry way into the sunset and let us who listen to the show critique it without trying to sound like we're edgy and cool if we don't listen to it.

    Happy Christmas.

    That just wouldn’t be any fun. I love a good rant when something pisses me off.


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    #6715
    KERSPLAT!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31,152 ✭✭✭✭KERSPLAT!


    Jayesdiem wrote: »
    That just wouldn’t be any fun. I love a good rant when something pisses me off.

    What's to rant about if you no longer listen?


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    #6716
    Faugheen
    Site Banned Posts: 12,341 ✭✭✭✭Faugheen


    Jayesdiem wrote: »
    That just wouldn’t be any fun. I love a good rant when something pisses me off.

    But you don't listen, so what are you ranting about?

    You just come in to tell us that you don't listen and explain again and again why you don't.

    I have no issue with you not listening. That's your choice. Just stop polluting this thread.


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    #6717
    jeremyj1968
    Registered Users Posts: 2,331 ✭✭✭jeremyj1968


    Jayesdiem wrote: »
    -Forced equality in sport
    -Forced tokenism in sport
    -Tremendous outrage about safe, politically correct topics

    Yeah these are the three reasons that I find it difficult to listen to them as well. And if I could add one more thing it would be the Cora Staunton story. Immediately on hearing the story, without even asking the Mayo management team to comment, they had already judged that the Mayo management were completely wrong. And their basis for this seemed to be a combination of a) Cora Staunton being a woman and b) Cora Staunton having been a contributor to the show. They let their own biases dictate their narrative for the story. And you would hope that they have learned a lesson from this. But I'd doubt it.

    I think their new year's resolution should be to reassess this virtue signalling policy of theirs. When Sonia O'Sullivan ran in the Atlanta Olympics, every person in Ireland was watching. Why? Because she was our most talented athlete. People wanted to watch her because she was a star - not because the radio station told us that if we didn't we weren't supporting women's sports. True equality is watching whatever damned sport you want because you WANT to watch it, not because the contributors are one sex or another.

    And to Jay, I hope you and all your "BREXIT down the pub" friends enjoy the darts and have and happy "Little Englander" Christmas and xenophobic new year. :pac:


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    #6718
    Jayesdiem
    Registered Users Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Jayesdiem


    jeremyj1968 wrote: »
    Yeah these are the three reasons that I find it difficult to listen to them as well. And if I could add one more thing it would be the Cora Staunton story. Immediately on hearing the story, without even asking the Mayo management team to comment, they had already judged that the Mayo management were completely wrong. And their basis for this seemed to be a combination of a) Cora Staunton being a woman and b) Cora Staunton having been a contributor to the show. They let their own biases dictate their narrative for the story. And you would hope that they have learned a lesson from this. But I'd doubt it.

    I think their new year's resolution should be to reassess this virtue signalling policy of theirs. When Sonia O'Sullivan ran in the Atlanta Olympics, every person in Ireland was watching. Why? Because she was our most talented athlete. People wanted to watch her because she was a star - not because the radio station told us that if we didn't we weren't supporting women's sports. True equality is watching whatever damned sport you want because you WANT to watch it, not because the contributors are one sex or another.

    And to Jay, I hope you and all your "BREXIT down the pub" friends enjoy the darts and have and happy "Little Englander" Christmas and xenophobic new year. :pac:

    Same to you my friend. I’ll add that Sonia’s success came two decades ago demonstrating that even back then, we were enlightened to the importance of women’s sport as and when attention was warranted.


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    #6719
    Jayesdiem
    Registered Users Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Jayesdiem


    Faugheen wrote: »
    But you don't listen, so what are you ranting about?

    You just come in to tell us that you don't listen and explain again and again why you don't.

    I have no issue with you not listening. That's your choice. Just stop polluting this thread.

    To be fair now, my not listening was a staged process and I held on for the paper review for quite a while after stopping listening to all the other shows. I did say this was a “new year’s resolution”, indicating that total abstinence from OTB is actually just a recent thing. I’ll not unsubscribe from the thread either because I’d like a return to the old days when OTB was must-listen radio. This thread will be my temperature gauge for that and I’ll continue to be as negative or positive as I please, within the rules.


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    #6720
    jeremyj1968
    Registered Users Posts: 2,331 ✭✭✭jeremyj1968


    It just doesn't make any sense either. NT and OTB usually never dare say a word against any minority, be that Muslim, gay, Traveller or poor. But as with all of these things, it matters WHO says it. There was really no mention of this on any of the mainstream media. I'm thinking that if George Hook had said something similarly disparaging of the working classes, the media reaction would have been hugely different.


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    #6721
    jeremyj1968
    Registered Users Posts: 2,331 ✭✭✭jeremyj1968


    Very strange interview with Jason Quigley the other day. (Not sure if it was pre-record from earlier in the year or taken with Quigley while he was home for the Chrittmas, but certainly took place recently). Quigley was certainly forgiving of stable mate Billy Joe Saunders failing his drugs test because of a nasal spray, and pretty much mocked the stringent criteria that are in place for the boxer's to meet. He then went on to make excuses for Canelo and his mexican beef scandal. Now I was expecting a big backlash from the moral guardians of sport that OTB like to see themselves as, and given the collective opinions that they all have on Canelo's excuses for failing the drugs test.

    But then as we discovered last year, when they took on board Boyle Sports as their sponsor having lectured us all for years on the dangers of gambling, the sport that OTB are most expert on is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds


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