Greatest Irish Sportsperson of all time

[old git]

I know this vote is over, but I read the thread just to see some opinions on it. Most of which have been intelligent (barring the UK, Irish stuff) but Old Git are you being serious? Brian O'Driscoll is widely rated as one of the best players not only in the world now but as one of the greatest players ever to play the game. To suggest it is media hype is just daft, he, and to a lesser extent, Johnny Wilkinson are the only players from the northern hemisphere that the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks would openly admit to wanting on their sides, the emergence of Dan Carter and decline of Wilkinson has lessened their appreciation of the Englishman. O'Driscoll continues to perform at the very highest level and is still the player opposition fear and admire most. I agree Keith wood was fantastic, I also agree that Rugby is a team sport but when O'Driscoll emerged we were a very ordinary side, he inspired confidence in the players around him, Hickey (who had an awful start to his career) Horgan O'Gara and Stringer all blossomed because they knew O'Driscoll was in the same backline as them not to mention the turnaround in Rob Henderson. Wood's only fault was that he tried to do it all himself, he did not inspire the same confidence in those around him as O'Driscoll does, thats why Wood never won a Heineken Cup or a Grand slam, he was a good player and a good leader. O'Driscoll is a great player and a great leader media or no media. This is one of those rare occasions where I will say the player carried the team forward, not the other way around. Leinster have been average for years, O'Driscoll is the inspiration for their brilliant young players Sexton, Fitzgerald and Carney, all will admit that, without O'Driscoll to idolise they would probably be playing other sports. O'Driscoll is the reason coaches and players want to go to Leinster, they know once they have him in the side, anything is possible.He is the player that has been putting in the hard yards while rugby was unpopular. Players are attracted to Munster because of Thomond Park, the history of the club and its fantastic success, their marquee players don't have a patch on O'Driscoll (BTW I say all this as a munster fan) In fact O'Driscoll is such an important figure that the new Melbourne super 16 Francise is belived to be prepared to offer him $1m for one season after the word cup in 2011 when he will be 33 and coming to the end of his career. I know you said you are not a big rugby fan but surely you can't really believe he is all hype?
He deserved 2nd only because rugby is not as globally popular as golf.

he is not all hype .. but hype has played a huge part in his recent popularity/fame .. and unfortunatly alot of other great rugby players have been conviently forgoten when they were putting in the hard yards when rugby was unpopular ... again i will state i always thought rugby was a team game played by 15 players and without these 15 players you don't win grand slams / heneiken cups and even with 15 players some great irish rugby players have never won these trophies .

[old git]

I know this vote is over, but I read the thread just to see some opinions on it. Most of which have been intelligent (barring the UK, Irish stuff) but Old Git are you being serious? Brian O'Driscoll is widely rated as one of the best players not only in the world now but as one of the greatest players ever to play the game. To suggest it is media hype is just daft, he, and to a lesser extent, Johnny Wilkinson are the only players from the northern hemisphere that the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks would openly admit to wanting on their sides, the emergence of Dan Carter and decline of Wilkinson has lessened their appreciation of the Englishman. O'Driscoll continues to perform at the very highest level and is still the player opposition fear and admire most. I agree Keith wood was fantastic, I also agree that Rugby is a team sport but when O'Driscoll emerged we were a very ordinary side, he inspired confidence in the players around him, Hickey (who had an awful start to his career) Horgan O'Gara and Stringer all blossomed because they knew O'Driscoll was in the same backline as them not to mention the turnaround in Rob Henderson. Wood's only fault was that he tried to do it all himself, he did not inspire the same confidence in those around him as O'Driscoll does, thats why Wood never won a Heineken Cup or a Grand slam, he was a good player and a good leader. O'Driscoll is a great player and a great leader media or no media. This is one of those rare occasions where I will say the player carried the team forward, not the other way around. Leinster have been average for years, O'Driscoll is the inspiration for their brilliant young players Sexton, Fitzgerald and Carney, all will admit that, without O'Driscoll to idolise they would probably be playing other sports. O'Driscoll is the reason coaches and players want to go to Leinster, they know once they have him in the side, anything is possible.He is the player that has been putting in the hard yards while rugby was unpopular. Players are attracted to Munster because of Thomond Park, the history of the club and its fantastic success, their marquee players don't have a patch on O'Driscoll (BTW I say all this as a munster fan) In fact O'Driscoll is such an important figure that the new Melbourne super 16 Francise is belived to be prepared to offer him $1m for one season after the word cup in 2011 when he will be 33 and coming to the end of his career. I know you said you are not a big rugby fan but surely you can't really believe he is all hype?
He deserved 2nd only because rugby is not as globally popular as golf.

he is not all hype .. but hype has played a huge part in his recent popularity/fame .. and unfortunatly alot of other great rugby players have been conviently forgoten when they were putting in the hard yards when rugby was unpopular ... again i will state i always thought rugby was a team game played by 15 players and without these 15 players you don't win grand slams / heneiken cups and even with 15 players some great irish rugby players have never won these trophies or been included in votes for irelands greatest sportsperson

[old git]

I know this vote is over, but I read the thread just to see some opinions on it. Most of which have been intelligent (barring the UK, Irish stuff) but Old Git are you being serious? Brian O'Driscoll is widely rated as one of the best players not only in the world now but as one of the greatest players ever to play the game. To suggest it is media hype is just daft, he, and to a lesser extent, Johnny Wilkinson are the only players from the northern hemisphere that the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks would openly admit to wanting on their sides, the emergence of Dan Carter and decline of Wilkinson has lessened their appreciation of the Englishman. O'Driscoll continues to perform at the very highest level and is still the player opposition fear and admire most. I agree Keith wood was fantastic, I also agree that Rugby is a team sport but when O'Driscoll emerged we were a very ordinary side, he inspired confidence in the players around him, Hickey (who had an awful start to his career) Horgan O'Gara and Stringer all blossomed because they knew O'Driscoll was in the same backline as them not to mention the turnaround in Rob Henderson. Wood's only fault was that he tried to do it all himself, he did not inspire the same confidence in those around him as O'Driscoll does, thats why Wood never won a Heineken Cup or a Grand slam, he was a good player and a good leader. O'Driscoll is a great player and a great leader media or no media. This is one of those rare occasions where I will say the player carried the team forward, not the other way around. Leinster have been average for years, O'Driscoll is the inspiration for their brilliant young players Sexton, Fitzgerald and Carney, all will admit that, without O'Driscoll to idolise they would probably be playing other sports. O'Driscoll is the reason coaches and players want to go to Leinster, they know once they have him in the side, anything is possible.He is the player that has been putting in the hard yards while rugby was unpopular. Players are attracted to Munster because of Thomond Park, the history of the club and its fantastic success, their marquee players don't have a patch on O'Driscoll (BTW I say all this as a munster fan) In fact O'Driscoll is such an important figure that the new Melbourne super 16 Francise is belived to be prepared to offer him $1m for one season after the word cup in 2011 when he will be 33 and coming to the end of his career. I know you said you are not a big rugby fan but surely you can't really believe he is all hype?
He deserved 2nd only because rugby is not as globally popular as golf.

he is not all hype .. but hype has played a huge part in his recent popularity/fame .. and unfortunatly alot of other great rugby players have been conviently forgoten when they were putting in the hard yards when rugby was unpopular ... again i will state i always thought rugby was a team game played by 15 players and without these 15 players you don't win grand slams / heneiken cups and even with 15 players some great irish rugby players have never won these trophies or been included in votes for irelands greatest sportsperson

[old git]

he is not all hype .. but hype has played a huge part in his recent popularity/fame .. and unfortunatly alot of other great rugby players have been conviently forgoten when they were putting in the hard yards when rugby was unpopular ... again i will state i always thought rugby was a team game played by 15 players and without these 15 players you don't win grand slams / heneiken cups and even with 15 players some great irish rugby players have never won these trophies or been included in votes for irelands greatest sportsperson

oh i forgot to mention if he has such a worldwide megastar status
why the hell is he starring in a s**te advertiesment for the credit union :confused::p

[SilkCut]

oh i forgot to mention if he has such a worldwide megastar status
why the hell is he starring in a s**te advertiesment for the credit union :confused::p


Ha Ha like I said rugby is not a global sport, that's why I can accept he came second. Although that said has'nt Harrington done some dodgy adds? Flora? and who could forget Stephen Roches Cheese adds, Sean Kelly's milk ads. The list is endless, could be a new thread. Especially with Paul O'Connells effort which I saw when home recently, good God Irish sports people pick some random endorsements. Could you imagine Beckham "Supporting my local dairy farmers"?

[Acornvilla]

my mother was part of the irish tug of war european championships winning team in 1993 i think it was.. i was a bit young at the time :) i think they deserve a mention. no bad mother jokes involving tugging please :D

[old git]

Ha Ha like I said rugby is not a global sport, that's why I can accept he came second. Although that said has'nt Harrington done some dodgy adds? Flora? and who could forget Stephen Roches Cheese adds, Sean Kelly's milk ads. The list is endless, could be a new thread. Especially with Paul O'Connells effort which I saw when home recently, good God Irish sports people pick some random endorsements. Could you imagine Beckham "Supporting my local dairy farmers"?

in fairness our sportspeople have appeared in some terrible adds, they want to get new agents or p.r people :D

could you see o'driscoll / o'connell posing in armani jocks ... :D

[SilkCut]

my mother was part of the irish tug of war european championships winning team in 1993 i think it was.. i was a bit young at the time :) i think they deserve a mention. no bad mother jokes involving tugging please :D

Did she do any dairy ad's?

[Acornvilla]

Did she do any dairy ad's?
well my dads a dairy farmer if thats any addition?

[SilkCut]

He must be happy to have big Paul O'Connell's support. That big f##ker must drink a whole lot of milk. You should see if your dad could get him on an exclusive deal. Irish sports people will sign up to anything! Eh does your Mum do the milking?????