The awful incident at White Hart Lane on Saturday has brought a massive wave of goodwill and prayers for Fabrice Muamba and rightly so. With professional footballers often hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons, here was a footballer who everyone could cite as the model professional, someone who ticks all the right boxes in the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch and a credit to the game. Everyone is hoping he will make a full recovery but he has a very long way to go and we all await whatever news there is of him hoping for the best. It leaves us asking that perennial question, 'why does it always happen to the nice guys?' With that question in mind and human nature as it is, I wonder what would have been the universal reaction if that had not been Fabrice Muamba on Saturday, but say one of the universally despised characters? Perhaps if it had been John Terry? El Hadji Diouf? Marlon King? Lee Hughes? Would the feeling be that perhaps divine retribution had taken place? What would your reaction have been?
That is an excellent and really tough question mate. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone and I’d like to think my reaction would have been the same regardless of who the player or total stranger on the street was, but let’s hope never to find out.
Wow, that is a really deep question mate and has got me thinking........ Speaking personally i don't think i could find the same sympathy for JT, Diouf or King as i felt for Muamba BUT i would like to think i could at least find some sympathy and look at them as another human being. Great question
I think you could add Joey Barton to that list there Sooper. The fact is we don't know if he was a nice guy or not. Maybe he was an ass-hole in his private life. Maybe he was a Saint. Fact is it doesn't matter. He has a dicky heart that's all. My reaction would be the very same if it was any of those other characters, IE a guy I don't know is ill. Wish him the best but I've far bigger things to worry about.
Bottom line I doubt if any of us wished real harm when faced with it. What I take issue with is the reporting and the reaction ... From players know calling for heart tests to questions why players are so fit .... Only in England By Christ we have lost our way and it will be interesting to see how this is sustained . The Terry incident noes seems daft does it not? Yet we wanted him to suffer a worse fate than death I ask you all all to watch the Utter **** the BBC in particular produces I will also go as far as to say again that we will also have to fight against public opinion for relegation as the UK wants Bolton to stay up for Fabreze While as Chelsea progress in Europe as the only Brits I predict the case will be thrown out and the sympathy shown to poor old Anton will blow away like dust BBC news tonight reported that Fabrice is showing signs of improvement BUT they can't resist talking about the fact that he was very very very sick at the time The drama is overpowering ... I have noticed its getting worse daily and possibly the reason why we are all now a nation of mongers Coming back from France you noticed it more ... When you ate in it you don't notice it ... Tomorrows weather ... It's bright and sunny ... God we could do with some rain The state of the nation and lemmings that live in it
Its doesnt always happen to the nice guys. See Steve Jobs. The guy was a prick of the highest order all his life. I wouldnt have any sympathy for those listed (especially Hughes) but Id have sympathy for people I didnt know who are seriously ill or grieving.
I have been holding off crafting a similar post, as I don't want it to seem irreverent or disrespectful. But I find myself coming to a similar conclusion, especially in regard to the round of applause before the matches yesterday. I see it as a bit contrived, but nonetheless I do accept it is a lovely and sincere way of showing support. The problem is that I can't help but think back to the last time when there was applause, for Gary Speed. And that's where I have a problem in getting my head around it all.
Good point and as to Gary Speed I am afraid he committed suicide which was sad of course as he was a footballer but it's ultimately the most selfish thing anyone can do ... Was he mentally ill? Who judges that? I have not forgiven my best mate and that's 17 years ago
What a ridiculous thing to say. How in the hell would you know how fu*ked up Speed's mind was? There but for the grace of God go I. I'm disappointed in you Oddball. Extremely so.
Agree FJ. We applaud Speed for his great skill and athleticism and overlook the selfishness of his actions. In both instances - during the applause for Muamba and Speed - choosing not to applaud, would be seen as disrespectful or churlish. But say for example, you're thinking, I wish a speedy and full recovery for Muamba, but I don't feel compelled to show this in an overt way. You're no less caring, but if you were spotted not clapping it would be frowned upon. It's an odd one. As I said earlier, just can't quite square each off in my mind.
