Big shoes to fill for the beautiful game after olympic spectacle

ONE of the truly gratifying things to emerge from the recent games was the pure sportsmanship that prevailed throughout the whole experience. The wonderful feeling of human beings, vying against each other simply to bring out the highest achievements possible and all in the true spirit of mutual respect and honorable competition.
And then came football.
The day after this wonderfully refreshing and uplifting episode ended, I can quite honestly say my heart sank; there they all were again. All those magnificent sportsmen and women were suddenly replaced by a bunch of mercenary louts who have about as much in common with sport as Pol Pot had with human rights. Back they all were, with their designer haircuts and stubble, pontificating and prancing around the pitch, their inflated egos thrust upon us by a media, which frankly is not much better. Spitting, snarling and being generaly unpleasant, these overpaid uniformed yobs once again brought the game, that in the days of Sir Stanly Mathews and Billy Wright truly could be called a sport, down even below the level of professional wrestling. These extremely lucky young men have no more sense of sportsmanship than Vlad the impailer. They are all up for the highest bidder and, with very few exceptions, wouldn’t know loyalty if it punched them on the nose. The excuse that they are paid such exorbitant sums of money because their careers are so short, is total bull. Many of them are being paid ridiculous sums of money at sixteen years of age. By the time they are eighteen they can command hundreds of thousands a month and most of their playing careers can last twenty years or more. That’s about the length of the career of your average soldier or policeman. Do I need to add more? If I had my way I would put a cap on all professional footballers’ wages, worldwide. I would also cap all transfer fees, bonuses and numbers of foreign transfers. Contrary to how it may appear, I do actually like the game. To see it ruined by billionaire owners and money grabbing mercenaries, truly makes me both sad and extremely angry. Will any of this tirade make any difference? Of course it won’t. Money is still the God of the human race and the answer to it all? Blowing in the wind my friends. Blowing in the wind.
As a final matter of interest! I counted one hundred and thirty eight ‘amazing’s’ in the various interviews and commentary’s I watched during the Olympics – and now the X factor is back! Whatcha mean, get a life Leapy?
Thanks for all the mail. Keep em coming, I can take it.
Keep the faith.
Love Leapy.  Leapylee.2002@gmail.com