In pro football, I imagine representing your country is one of the undoubted highlights of a career, because so long as you're putting on your national colors, someone from a different ethnicity, of a different religion and background, will pine for your success; for one-and-a-half hours at least. This is all imaginary of course, but I believe footballically, something trumps playing for your country: coaching your national team. My imagination isn't wide of the mark according to the words of Sam Allardyce when he was appointed as the manager of the Three Lions:
Sam Allardyce, a veteran of English football, has consistently decried the supposed lack of chances afforded coaches of English descent at getting top, top jobs. After years of championing allegations of reverse-xenophobia in England, Allardyce was given the England job after Roy Hodgson's woeful failure at #Euro2016. A man's recurring dream had finally come true - - as he was tasked with taking his country to the 2018 World cup in Russia & beyond.
To the surprise of many, a two-year mandate ended after only 67 days as Allardyce was fired after a sting operation by an English newspaper had brutally exposed him giving advice on how to circumvent some FA laws, mocking his predecessor, speaking unguardedly about England's royalty and generally being crass.
Now, it must be pointed out that money is never enough, but Big Sam was on an annual salary of £3million and he was already a multimillionaire. Still, being caught on camera in a restaurant, eating like a wolf and looking inebriated while making reckless remarks about your employers isn't exactly the hallmark of a man who just got his dream job. Big Sam fucked this one up and this time, reverse-xenophobia can't be blamed -- only his unwitting crassness cost him.
In 'The Dark Knight', one of the movies by a criminally underrated writer/director in Hollywood, the villain; 'The Joker' said: "..do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I’m a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do with one if I caught it..."
Now, to extrapolate a football analogy into real life. You'll probably deserve it when resilience, or excellence, or persistent hard work, or luck (or anything you believe in) presents you with a coveted, lofty opportunity. Big Sam's mistake, our lesson! What happens after your dream comes true? Don't fuck it up.
Just because you've been wanting something for a long, long time doesn't mean you know what to do with it when it drops in your lap. You're not The Joker, you must have a plan to handle prosperity. Are you really ready for progress; with all the increased scrutiny and schadenfreude that comes with it? Big Sam wasn't.
You better be.
Watch yourself.
--CAPTAINCUE (...is a freelance writer taking on gigs for unridiculous money. Send me a direct message on Twitter @Captaincue or send me a mail with your writing needs at kaptaincue@gmail.com)
“As a youngster you start and you dream of playing football, and, when you finally make it, your next dream has to be what is the next level for you. You dream of being a manager, you achieve it and you work your way through the ranks and you look for the ultimate goal. If you strive for the ultimate goal you might never get there but if you keep going and keep being successful ultimately you will. So for me it is a privileged position to now get to the top of the tree, the top of the ladder and this job couldn’t be bigger. No job is bigger than this for me.”
Sam Allardyce, a veteran of English football, has consistently decried the supposed lack of chances afforded coaches of English descent at getting top, top jobs. After years of championing allegations of reverse-xenophobia in England, Allardyce was given the England job after Roy Hodgson's woeful failure at #Euro2016. A man's recurring dream had finally come true - - as he was tasked with taking his country to the 2018 World cup in Russia & beyond.
To the surprise of many, a two-year mandate ended after only 67 days as Allardyce was fired after a sting operation by an English newspaper had brutally exposed him giving advice on how to circumvent some FA laws, mocking his predecessor, speaking unguardedly about England's royalty and generally being crass.
Now, it must be pointed out that money is never enough, but Big Sam was on an annual salary of £3million and he was already a multimillionaire. Still, being caught on camera in a restaurant, eating like a wolf and looking inebriated while making reckless remarks about your employers isn't exactly the hallmark of a man who just got his dream job. Big Sam fucked this one up and this time, reverse-xenophobia can't be blamed -- only his unwitting crassness cost him.
In 'The Dark Knight', one of the movies by a criminally underrated writer/director in Hollywood, the villain; 'The Joker' said: "..do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I’m a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do with one if I caught it..."
Now, to extrapolate a football analogy into real life. You'll probably deserve it when resilience, or excellence, or persistent hard work, or luck (or anything you believe in) presents you with a coveted, lofty opportunity. Big Sam's mistake, our lesson! What happens after your dream comes true? Don't fuck it up.
Just because you've been wanting something for a long, long time doesn't mean you know what to do with it when it drops in your lap. You're not The Joker, you must have a plan to handle prosperity. Are you really ready for progress; with all the increased scrutiny and schadenfreude that comes with it? Big Sam wasn't.
You better be.
Watch yourself.
--CAPTAINCUE (...is a freelance writer taking on gigs for unridiculous money. Send me a direct message on Twitter @Captaincue or send me a mail with your writing needs at kaptaincue@gmail.com)
Another nice one blogs. You never disappoint
ReplyDeleteQuality is not a problem, consistency is. You never cease to read! Thanks
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