The Good Old Days.

G'day Tragics,

Last week one of the boys at work generously bestowed upon me an old sporting book.  It is called "Great moments in Australian Sport" and contains the legendary feats of hero's such as: Bradman, Lionel Rose, Herb Elliot and Peter Thompson just to name a few. 

It got me thinking about how different these blokes of yesteryear were compared to the sports stars of today.  I wasn't around when these champions were at their peak, but the grainy black and white footage shown on sporting doco's has allowed my imagination to create a portrait of what these guys were possibly like.

I wouldn't imagine that Walter Lindrum, the billiards genius would have sported too many tattoos, or John Landy the distance runner would pop a diamond stud in his ear once his race was run and I certainly don't think that Alex Jesaulenko, the Carlton great would have gave the fans the "handcuffs" gesture after slotting one from the boundary.

Sure it's a different time and a different age.  There's media and there's money.  The two most potent factors that shape today's sporting heroes.  The fame has turned so many hyper skilled athletes into petulant, narcissistic brats that will never secure our respect like the gentleman of the past.

In the black and white days, sports stars were working class, just like everyone else.  Their talent wasn't as refined as today's stock, but it was raw, tough and passionate.  There were no multi-million dollar contracts, no sponsorship deals and no T.V. rights. 

Hairy chests and moustaches were as outrageous as the fashion got and the vintage pros expressed themselves through their craft and not with their mouths.  There was so much to love about sport pre 90's.  Sports people were more humble and money mattered less.  You could tell they loved their sport and any benefits were purely bonus extras.

I miss those days.  Each year there seems to be more strikes by players wanting "their fair share".  Just quietly, doctors earn less than England's best darts player.  You commonly see rookies acting like they own the joint these days, rather than watching and learning from the pros.  The thing that shits me the most is how sports people put more effort into their celebrations, than thanking the team-mates that made them look good.

I really feel that the majority of today's stars know how to play their sport, but know very little about the history or even the heart of the game that pays their bills.  They too often forget about the low income fans that part with their hard earned to watch and cheer for them each week.

I think every sport on the planet should develop a programme in which its professional stars sit down with a legend from the past and hear about how it used to be.  Maybe then some of that old school charm could blend in with the electrifying talent and brashness that forms the fabric of so many modern day sports stars.

Ah the good old days....Tragic.