Ignorance is bliss...

Part of what makes sports journalism so important to me is the mutual respect between player and reporter. Every week, Alex Ferguson will say "well done!” to Sky Sports reporter Geoff Shreeves after his pre match interviews are complete. In 2002, Roy Keane sought after Tom Humphreys and Paul Kimmage to document the Irish team's unprofessional approach to World Cup preparations in Saipan. Journalists build up a relationship with the stars; achieve an understanding, and sometimes friendships with their subjects

But what happens when a journalist tries to break into the clique? The likes of Tom Humphreys, Paul Kimmage, Vincent Hogan or James Lawton can criticise players, teams and managers each week, and their opinions are highly respected and taken on board by the sports professionals. To break into the sports journalism clique you need to work for your jersey, not just have a regular column.

On Tuesday, in the wake of Ireland's humbling defeat in Paris, Kevin Myers launched a scathing attack on both Declan Kidney and Ronan O'Gara. He called into question Kidneys honesty. His lack of rugby knowledge was clear with each word, he called last season's Six Nations Grand Slam (arguably the greatest Irish sporting moment) an aberration and displayed all the smugness and condescending clichés of an armchair "fan".

He felt the need to explain to us who the great Brendan Mullen was, something a real fan wouldn’t feel the need to do. He told us in his infinite wisdom how teams target Ronan O'Gara's defensive frailties by running directly at his fly-half channel, without recognising how he regularly has the highest tackle count in each game he plays. He may be small, but his bravery cannot be questioned.

He slated Declan Kidney’s selection of O’Gara, and how the Irish team “did not want to win.” He told us about how we Irish have a longing for failure, and even a man as decorated as Kidney could not stay away from its allure. He insulted Jerry Flannery. Although his kick was shameful and crucial in the context of the game, much worse happens on the pith week in week out, and is in the lower category of offences one can commit. Certainly not worth omission from the Irish squad for two years, as Mr Myers would suggest.

Ronan called him on it. He didn’t seek a different journalist to aesthetically piece together his feelings. He didn’t deflect blame away from himself, or from the team. He went directly to Kevin and the public, with a Letter to the Editor. He questioned the balance of the article, and of how the editor would allow something so ignorant to the facts go to print.

O’Gara said that he himself is his harshest critic, and also said that Ireland was indeed well beaten by the French. But he refused to be made a scapegoat by Myers, who he labelled a self appointed rugby expert.

If Myers is indeed a rugby expert, would it be more appropriate for him to write in the sports section? Although entitled to his own opinion, Myers has insulted the most successful Irish team of all time, who until last week had not lost a match for almost eighteen months, and has in turn demonstrated his ignorance to the facts.

If what Myers had said was true, then why did Tony Ward, Hugh Farrelly and Gerry Thornley, the true experts, all put it down to a poor team performance, as well as a stunning French display? It seems Myers is on a sporting throne much higher than all the rest, who simply don’t have his expertise, class and most importantly, cunning skills of observation.

In demonstrating his need for attention, Myers has shown the two fingers to sports journalists everywhere. Who needs to build a relationship with their sporting subjects, when you have a daily column and the freedom to insult who you want?

He writes about sport because he needs to tell us how much he knows. I do it because sport matters.

NT

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/ogara-letter-to-editor-why-i-refuse-to--be-scapegoated-by-kevin-myers-2070434.html

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-its-an-irish-characteristic-we-are-comfortable--with-failure-its-a-familiar-condition-and-it-suits-us-2064681.html