Welcome to a guest post by part-time gonzo journalist Dennis McRoss...
I'm writing this on St.Patrick's Day, when everyone pretends
to be Irish and gets drunk. It's also the last day of my free 2 week
MUTV trial. Didn't ask for it but Sky insisted so who was I to refuse?
And it's actually good, just not worth paying for (a bit like Michael
Owen...). Obviously if you don't like United and can't stomach Paddy
Crerrard then it's a non-starter, but even as a United fan I was
dubious. Amongst the usual "Classic games" and "all the goals by..."
there was a great programme about one of my first football heroes -
Norman Whiteside. A touching show (at times anyway) and also very
insightful (he nearly went to Ipswich instead of United) it did a lot to
debunk the drinking culture myth that surrounded the club in the 80's.
But that's not the show that spurred me to write this...err...rant(?!)
A
couple of years ago John Terry was filmed on Sky or BBC Sport giving an
interview at his home. Part of the show included him taking the
presenter around his "Trophy Room", a lavish, specially constructed part
of the house made up to look like an exhibition or museum. Having gone
through all the trophies and England caps on display (no newspaper
cuttings surprisingly) he then pointed to a Chelsea shirt framed on the
wall. It was his 2008 Champions league final shirt and, as he says
himself, it's "...the shirt I wore when I missed that penalty. It's
there as a daily reminder to me of what I'm striving for". As I
recall the presenter seemed bemused by this OTT act of martyrdom. Terry,
as always, was lost in his own self-obsessed ignorance.
What
reminded me of that was a documentary about Nicky Butt on MUTV the other
night, including a bit where he shows the presenter around his home.
After answering some questions about his playing days he is badgered in
to taking the presenter to see his collection of memorabilia from his
career.
Now Nicky did alright financially as a player, so you can
imagine his home is a fair old size. But the collection was housed, not
in a giant extension but in a tiny room in his loft. His shirts all hang
up inside a small wardrobe (save for the treble shirts which are framed
and leaning against the arm of a sofa). And he didn't even mention the
medals. After picking out one or two shirts of significance (first FA
Cup win, World Cup 2002 shirt) they reconvened downstairs. He then
started to talk about his wife and 2 kids, how much they meant to him
and how proud he was of them. This was when he really sounded the most
enthusiastic, to be fair.
Two players, two England Internationals and yet a gulf of difference.
There is a banner at Stamford Bridge which reads "John Terry: leader captain legend"
I have a better one:
"John
Terry - missed a penalty that cost his team the European Cup in 2008
then swore to keep the shirt as a reminder to never let his team or fans
down again. Then got himself needlessly sent off in the 2012 European
Cup semi-final and let his team and fans down again. Then celebrated
like a "full kit wanker" when they won it without him. Fucks his team
mate's missus, taunts Americans about 9/11, banned for racially abusing
the brother of his international team mate and even once got done for
parking his car in a disabled bay"
You have to work hard to earn trophies but you also have to work hard to earn respect, Terry only has it half right*.
Hwyl,
Dennis.McRoss
* - for
the record Butt has twice as many league titles winners medals and also
the small matter of 1 Champions league medal over Terry.