Paul McGrath on Newstalk

[Schumi]

Then another second, then another second, then another second. These guys spend their lives being harrassed by people looking for their autographs. I was beside the Serbian players seating position in the stand on Saturday and Vidic was there. The amount of hassle he was getting from people looking for his autograph when he was just trying to watch the game. Easy for us to say "it just takes a second" but people are entitled to some privacy.

This was in a private area after the game where three mascots were brought in., they're well enough paid to take a few seconds out to do that. If they were out shopping with their family or something I could understand it being annoying but this was in the ground just after the game, it's not much to ask.

[ifk101]

This was in a private area after the game where three mascots were brought in., they're well enough paid to take a few seconds out to do that. If they were out shopping with their family or something I could understand it being annoying but this was in the ground just after the game, it's not much to ask.

Exactly. A few seconds is all it takes and you've given a few kids a memory for life. A bit of manners goes a long way.

[lionelhutz]

A friend of mine was in a bar in Limerick Sunday night with all the Munster rugby team and he was amazed at how each of them mingled with every1 in the bar. He watched Paul O'Connell for a while and he worked through almost the entire bar taking photos with fans, signed autographs and generally chatted with them.

I know they may not be as well known as the Irish soccer team but I think it shows the contrasts in the charcter of some people.

[geysir]

Who is talking to Kerr? Can't believe he is close to any of the current squad. It has to be a journo.

That makes sense, as
no one respects a snitch.
But it's an acceptable journalistic moral to snitch.

[shakermaker1982]

I'm surprised we haven't started a witch hunt yet on who the culprits might be!!!

[Duggie]

A friend of mine was in a bar in Limerick Sunday night with all the Munster rugby team and he was amazed at how each of them mingled with every1 in the bar. He watched Paul O'Connell for a while and he worked through almost the entire bar taking photos with fans, signed autographs and generally chatted with them.

I know they may not be as well known as the Irish soccer team but I think it shows the contrasts in the charcter of some people.

i met ken doherty at a snooker tournament in dublin few years ago and he never stopped signing autographs and taking pics. he also went over to a kid in a wheelchair and spent ages with him. i know this hasnt anything got to do with football but same thing.

[Greenforever]

Anyone else hear him? 2 senior and he was at pains to emphasise senior Irish players (oh who oh who could he mean ) refused to sign autographs for 3 under 10 lads he has brought into the players lounge as a present afer being mascots I think he said. These two honourable Irishmen straight up blanked and refused them.
This wasnt on the side of the street, this wasnt at traffic lights, it was in the players lounge after the match and they were guests of Paul McGraths.
DISGRACE
what fu*king heros

From reading the posts noone else heard it. Can anyone verify if this is true or not?

I find it very hard to believe that this is true, certainly would not be Keane, Duff or Dunne's form, remember after Basle 1 Robbie posed for photos with loads of people in the Hilton after the game and all the players were apologetic for letting the fans down.

[tetsujin1979]

McGrath isn't one to just say something that wasn't true, if he said it, I'd believe it happened. He has nothing to gain from it, so why lie?

[Greenforever]

McGrath isn't one to just say something that wasn't true, if he said it, I'd believe it happened. He has nothing to gain from it, so why lie?

Im not saying that, Im saying did anyone else here him say this? No one has confirmed they actually heard this.

[stojkovic]

Im not saying that, Im saying did anyone else here him say this? No one has confirmed they actually heard this.

Its in tonights Herald.
But then again they probably robbed it off here

[beepbeep]

i dunno what happened but just wanna point out. theres always 2 sides to every story.

[tetsujin1979]

Im not saying that, Im saying did anyone else here him say this? No one has confirmed they actually heard this.

I heard it, Paul's slot started after the headlines at 8, was over before 8:30

[zenokelly]

Im not saying that, Im saying did anyone else here him say this? No one has confirmed they actually heard this.

I presume you didn't read any of the papers today, because it was all over them.

[Greenforever]

I heard it, Paul's slot started after the headlines at 8, was over before 8:30

Thanks, and no i hadnt read any of the papers yesterday, i'd ;ove to know who it was because it stinks.

My clearest childhood memory was bumping into Don Revie as a 10yr old in a hotel toilet, and my dad asking him for an autograph for me, Don asked where we were from, and brought me up to meet all the Leeds team,

how any player could ignore a kid in circumstances as described by McGrath, is disgusting and really shows off the players ignorance.

i'd hope whoever it was cops on to themselves and goes and visits the kids and apologises for their behaviour.

[seanfhear]

paul mcgrath is the greatest irish player of all time in terms of achievment for the national team ie;qualifying for and performing at major tournaments.he also had some shortcomings that have been well documented.Ibelieve that he was trying to make us aware of the behaviour of some of our socalled stars of today to try to bring them back closer to the supporters

[jbyrne]

it could be nothing really. i witnessed one of our high profile rugby players refuse a photo once as he was talking to someone at the time and this lad came over and more or less expected him to drop everything else to allow the photo to be taken. thought it was fair enough as the fans behaviour amounted to hassle in my eyes. would be shocked if one of our players point blankly refused a kid an autograph

mcgrath is a legend but to be honest much of his punditary is poor

[bennocelt]

Then another second, then another second, then another second. These guys spend their lives being harrassed by people looking for their autographs. I was beside the Serbian players seating position in the stand on Saturday and Vidic was there. The amount of hassle he was getting from people looking for his autograph when he was just trying to watch the game. Easy for us to say "it just takes a second" but people are entitled to some privacy.

Much ado about nothing.

yeah i think so
I mean people can be so rude these days, taking photos without even asking and shoving pens and paper into peoples faces , "heh sign this!

I met robbie keane before and thought he was sound enough, not snobby at all

[ShamrockIreland]

I've met Damien Duff a few times around and I'd really be shocked if he was one off those players. He still goes into De La Salle College Churchtown to see his old teachers etc a very down to earth lad. A school friend of mine who's brother was in the same class with Duffer and both are still great mates went over to stay in his place last season. Robbie Keane and Dunne cannot see either of them, but McGrath should have at least told us who they were. By senior he could mean Kiely?

[SilkCut]

I've met Damien Duff a few times around and I'd really be shocked if he was one off those players. He still goes into De La Salle College Churchtown to see his old teachers etc a very down to earth lad. A school friend of mine who's brother was in the same class with Duffer and both are still great mates went over to stay in his place last season. Robbie Keane and Dunne cannot see either of them, but McGrath should have at least told us who they were. By senior he could mean Kiely?

No chance, Kiely dedicates a lot of his free time to educational programmes for underprivilaged kids and people with learning disabilities in the midlands. There was a doco on BBC about the programme. Met him during the Special olympics in Dublin and he was incredible with the athletes. Top bloke our Dean!!!

[Paddy Garcia]

mcgrath is a legend but to be honest much of his punditary is poor

I don't think this is in the least relevant.

If McGrath asked them to stick a rose up their arse and run around the stadium naked they should have thanked him for the opportunity.