Hard not to feel sorry for golfer Rory McIlroy over Olympic flap -- Whoever he declares for he will face fierce criticism and scrutiny
By: Daithí Ó Sé | Published Thursday, December 20, 2012, 11:57 AM | Updated Thursday, December 20, 2012, 11:57 AM
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| Rory McIlroy |
One man who has had huge success in recent years is the world’s best golfer, Rory Mcllroy. He is bound for the Olympics in 2016, but nobody knows who he will play for-- and therby hangs a tale.
Rory is caught in the middle of an argument that hasn’t even happened yet and I feel sorry for him. We all know that athletes from the North can play and be part of Team Ireland or Team GB.
In Rory’s case, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. We all know also that it doesn’t take much too up-set people on both sides of the divided and until now Rory has kept everybody happy, which he should get a gold medal for in itself!
Rory says he is Northern Irish, which falls between two stools when it comes to the Olympic Games; he has neither nailed a flag to his pole or painted colours on his wall. He is a golfer and that is that! How come it can’t be just as simple as that?
Well, because he is the top man in the golfing world and we all want him.
For example I have an American passport but nobody called upon my services when I was in full bloom! The fact is that, if Rory was an ordinary golfer or athlete there would be no noise about this at all.
For Rory though there is another issue other than where his loyalties are. On the international scene for instance I think he is seen as being more Irish, now I could be wrong but it just seems that way. I hear one commentator saying that he has "the luck of the Irish," he also has the look of the Irish! Haha.
This could affect his brand and all his sponsorships, not to mind the big Irish following he has in the States and all around the world. Would they still follow him if he togs out for Team GB? I think they will, but will still be disappointed that he didn’t play for Ireland.
What if he does play for us, the English, Scottish and Welsh might not miss him in the huge trawl they’ll have going to Brazil. The same can’t be said for the red, white and blue in the North.
Rory’s ex-girlfriend has even added her spake! She says she always knew that he felt more British. There is no way she should have been stuck in this; she is only clinging onto whatever very small bit of fame she had. Then again paper doesn’t refuse ink, not even mine! I doubt the tennis pro took any notice, more like plenty of no notice I’d say.
It’s a pity that sport can’t always elevate itself above politics and the like. In most normal circumstances it’s the connection between athlete and country that gets us going and puts fire under our emotions, but in places like the North where tensions are still high in some areas it’s not that simple.
The Irish rugby team plays as an island and is supported by all sides on the island and there is no problem. It’s a shame the same can’t be said about soccer, we might have a half decent team if North and South came together and both sets of people might understand each other better.
By the way I read in the paper today that McIIroy is an Ulster rugby supporter and also follows the Irish team.
Now you can all make up our own minds, but to me all Rory Mcllory wants to do is play golf and doesn’t want make any big statements about whether he is orange or green, in fact he is the white between them!
15 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Lynchy | Sep 19, 2012, 12:28 PM EDT
he doesn´t need anything from any country now, he plays an individual sport. I presume the payment to play at British events is greater than at Irish events and if he declares himself as British he will be instantly welcomed as was the formerly Scottish Andy Murray.
misneac | Sep 19, 2012, 08:23 AM EDT
Seamus60 .To what does the term "Free State " refer ? By "football" I presume you mean soccer . Despite the wall to wall coverage by the media ,the average sports fan in the Republic of Ireland has no more than a passing interest in the social welfare class chanting moronic oles ,and overpaid little prats who could not hit a barn door from the inside ! Do us a favour and keep them in Norn Ireland .
Happyhippo | Sep 19, 2012, 06:28 AM EDT
I have no intention of feeling sorry for Rory,if anything he should be sorry for the rest of us we don't have his talent,come to think of it he probably does.
citizen69 | Sep 18, 2012, 02:56 PM EDT
@WoundedKNee: Yes of course they are!... Up Donegal! @Misneac: As the Golfing Union Of Ireland has already stated, many of their programs are financed by people who consider themselves British as well as Irish (mainly in the Ulster branch). Some of you guys need to understand that's just how a lot of people in the North feel. The GUI fully accept that Northern Irish golfers are entitled to compete for either Ireland or GB&NI. Many golf clubs in the North have 'Royal' in their title. (as well as in Dublin). The Golfing Union of Ireland was the first golfing union in the world and it was established in Belfast (all the founding clubs were in Ulster) and is affiliated with the Royal & Ancient in the UK. @Mousemess: Rory didn't shove any Irish flag aside. Someone threw it at him, it hit him and fell away.
Mousemess | Sep 18, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT
golf = galfaire in Irish Is galfaire Ruairi. Rory is a golfer.
Mousemess | Sep 18, 2012, 11:41 AM EDT
An Eireannach Ruairi Mac Giolla Ruaidh eisean? Not when he shoves the Irish flag aside that some proud Irish supporter of his brings up to him. Is fear suarach lofa eisean. Rory McIlroy = Ruari Mac Giolla Ruaidh
warrenpoint00 | Sep 18, 2012, 10:57 AM EDT
I agree with you ancavker 100% and come Sunday 23rd Donegal the champions of Ulster will be crowned champions of All Ireland when they beat Mayo at Croke Park.The people of Donegal and Ulster dont have the same identity crisis that poor oul Rory has.
ancavker | Sep 17, 2012, 03:46 PM EDT
warren: You cannot get more Ulster than Donegal!!
seamus60 | Sep 17, 2012, 02:46 PM EDT
Miseac. Turn that on its head as who has subsidised the football players from the North who have now signed up to play for the Free State.
misneac | Sep 17, 2012, 12:39 PM EDT
Everybody keeps missing the point . 1.Ulster is not a country . 2.McIlroy represented Ireland already in the World Cup . 3.McIlroy was heavily subsidised by the Golfing Union of Ireland in his development as a golfer . 4.Let him declare for Britain and play for them in the Olympics ,World Cup ,Dunhill Cup etc. ,but dont again come running back to "Ireland " when he wants to get in to these tournaments and make more money !
warrenpoint00 | Sep 17, 2012, 10:46 AM EDT
Ulster is a province of Ireland all nine counties of it.Is Rory claiming to be Irish then?.The partition of Ireland left a lot of people confused as to what their identity was, except of course for true Irish nationals.Truth is there is still a very strong british influence in all 32 counties of Ireland.
WoundedKnee | Sep 17, 2012, 01:38 AM EDT
citizen: "a proud Ulsterman"... I note that Donegal are playing in the All of Ireland football final this coming Sunday. Are folks from Donegal Ulstermen too?
like2tweet | Sep 16, 2012, 11:58 AM EDT
Rory was nurtured by the IGA and played for ireland.first A gold medal for ireland so much more valuable in terms of what it means than one for England -- what can he be thinking?
citizen69 | Sep 16, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT
Rory IS Irish! He is also a British citizen as he was born in Northern Ireland. I think you'll find this whole argument is a bigger deal amongst the Irish diaspora (like the countless amount of spiteful articles about him here on IC) than it is in Ulster. Whoever he competes for, he is always going to be a proud Ulsterman, and that is good enough me.
DavyOMalley | Sep 16, 2012, 09:54 AM EDT
I don't think most golf fans care one way or the other. Especially in America. I understand the history, but it's unfortunate that a few people have to drag politics into golf. Reminds me of the followers of the likes of Rush Limbaugh or Rachel Maddow: everything in the world to them is about partisan politcs. What's funny is that, in the world of golf, no one gives a darn about the Olympics. It's like tennis where a player would give up ten Olympic medals for a Wimbledon win. They can't come right out and say this, but it's obviously true.