Football and sport in fact... the most important thing is that it is
ultimately a human thing. An exchange of ideas, the feeling of unity and
belonging, being part of a group. It is something that is a by-product of social evolution. Ultimately winning and losing means
nothing and the pursuit of victory in place of everything else is entirely
pointless. I think the most important thing is the part where you come
together and enjoy being part of something positive that is bigger than
just yourself. A shared journey. And part of that is respect. Di Matteo
was not respected. The fans have not been respected. Relentless winning
at the cost of all of the above would just erode the soul. Do you think Suarez diving is a great thing or that the Shakhtar players' conduct
in Denmark is justified? They won after all, eh? Competition is great,
but it isn't life or death. A sense of fairness, togetherness and
sportsmanship is what stops sport from being entirely pointless.
I can understand a professional player placing a bigger importance on winning
than I do. It is their livelihood after all. But I cannot understand a
supporters who places it above everything else. I am very suspicious of
those types of people. The ones who require validation via the proxy of
people they've never met who happen to wear the same kit. The reflected
glory to fill some hole in their psyche. I think people with that
mentality are quite tragic. Childlike in a way even some call them "glory hunters"...
