Originally Posted by
dcfcsteve
Firstly - there's a huge difference with individual team sports like Motor Racing, athletics, Boxing etc, as people there are viewed as representing their country when they play in those sports. Just think Barry McGuigan, Damon Hill, Tim Henman etc.
Secondly - I would have no problem wanting Seamus O'Flaherty to do well playing for Ireland, as that is what patriotic people do. They support people when they are representing their country, - as is considered the case with Alonso in motor sports, Ken Doherty in snooker etc.
But to then demand that that obvious patriotism be slavishly transfered over to team players when they are not representing their country, and particularly when they are operating at a sub-optimal level in their sport, is what is peculiar. Does that now mean that you should support Alonso or Doherty when they take part in the annual parents race in their kid's school sports day, for example ?? I mean - it'd be unpatriotic not to do so... !
I don't see what is supposedly so patriotic about being unduly concerned about the proverbial Seamus O'Flaherty when he's playing club football for a second rate English team. Yeah - I'd prefer he did well than badly, but overall I wouldn't really care either way. Patriotism would then rightly kick-in when he played for his country.
As with Duff - he's a joy to watch, no matter what nationality he is. The fact that he's Irish, is a key player for the national squad, and plys his clubs trade at the very top of the footballing tree makes it much more sensible to take an interestv in his progress thna Seamus O'Flaherty's latest transfer to Leyton Orient.