Diary of a Dub
Life is a game of inches and
so is football…
The year is 2167. Scientists have announced a breakthrough in their quest to understand and map the human psyche. They claim to have made the breakthrough following a decade of extensive studies and research into a sporting team called ‘The Dubs’ from back in early 21st century. Oh dear, we could have saved them a lot of time, effort and money…..they claim to now understand the difference between greatness and ordinary.......we knew it back then.
And so, we are here. The now and the present. ‘Tis
the eve of an All-Ireland final. Been here before, but being here be 1st
time or anew, changes nothing. The most special of eve’s, like a child who looks
forward to that Christmas of mornings, a GAA fan doth suffer the giddiness of
childhood all over again on eve’s like these ones.
Rituals and Superstitions, Prayers and Promises.
All made, all complete. Little else to do now, other than see out the passing
of time over the next few hours, but it’s almost here, the day of reckoning.
And a reckoning it is. A 3 in a row with a Mayo
team trying to put a 66 year curse to bed. Sure. If you’re going to make
History, you don’t want to be getting it handy. Well wishes pouring in from all
over the globe for Mayo. To be expected. Roll it with. Part and parcel of being
successful. We had our 17 years in the abyss, so understand it I can. But
sentiment in these words, are spared on for all things Blue and all things
great. And it’s there, we shall stay.
It’s not long ago that we didn’t have what we
have today. 17 years in darkness. We have been in the light for the last 6
years. These are special days. And tomorrow will be the most special if we can
see it through and make history. Tomorrow is tell your Grandchildren stuff. ‘I was
there’. 2017, September 17th. 3. In. a. Row. 95 years since last
seen in Dublin. 31 years since last seen in Gaelic Football. A new team of
Legends step forward. No more talk of teams of the likes of the ‘80s Kerry or ‘70’s
Dubs. And Legends made they shall be with 5 all-Irelands in 7 years and 3 in a
Row. Undeniable. Undisputable. Unbelievable.
And whilst most of the
country will turn Green and Red Tomorrow, this Dub and many’s a more like him
will stay focused, celebrate all things Dublin and head off in hope, and belief
on the road to Croke Park and the promised land.
Dublin to me is a truly
special place. Full of Character, spirit, attitude. People of substance,
meaning and purpose. Its people is where you will find the embodiment of all
things great and wonderful. Social classes exist not when this Dublin team goes.
Binding and bringing us all together, it is a family. It is a movement, a
revolution, it’s a faith. And born into you may be, and if so, yours is truly a
blessing for as long as your life may be. The goose-bump. Hill 16. Jones Road. Your
local, your quick one stop before Croker. To be there is an experience that is
truly unique to this country and county. For more than 30 years, it’s been in my
life, and it never stops being special. From North to South, East to West, this
county has meaning, purpose and of course, an abundance of spirit. True grit, steel
and passion. A love for its own and more. Its people are now long spread across
the globe but the saying is as true as they say it is ‘ You can take the Dub
out of Dublin, but you cannot take the Dublin out of a Dub’. I know it because I
am one of those. And I am not alone.
Dublin may be a
changing, but its people don’t. Its specialness shall never be lost whilst she
has her people. Buildings and landscapes don’t make a place, its people and its
experiences do. Dublin, to me, gives you this and more. So when people write and
talk of not wanting to be in Dublin, that’s their prerogative. It’s not
compulsory. And if it was so bad, why do almost 1.4m people live in city and
county. Life is about choice. To those who are there, it is home, to those who
are not, it is where they want to be. And on a 3rd Sunday in
September with Dublin playing, it’s like half the world wants in.
Tomorrow. History in
the making. I doubt there has ever been a more important game. This is up there
with 2011 in its importance. History books aren’t written often. Records are
hard to break. Tomorrow offers the opportunity to take your own little piece of
history with you, whether you’re lucky enough to be inside Croke Park or not.
Did we ever think we would be here? Honestly, no. The darkness of those 17
years is still so recent, you would be foolish to think this would come and
come so soon. We didn’t see it coming, we had lost in 2012 and 2014, a
proverbial see-saw of only winning in odd ending years. That run was banished
last year as we went back to back. To those who witnessed every painful and excruciating
year in the darkness, winning one was good enough, ending that run. Everything thereafter
a bonus. But the feeling after last year was always going to be about going for
the 3 in a row.
As controversial as
this is, I don’t believe this Dublin team gets enough credit for its
achievements due to the fact the Mayo story of a 66 year wait seems to be a
better one with more romance. Those who do talk of Dublin as the team of a
generation are pilloried. The world seems blind to the fact that team has not
lost in 3 years in championship football. Has won 4 out of 6, and is already
the team of the decade. This team has won more in this decade then Heffo’s team
of the 70’s won, yet needs a 3 in a row to put clear space between them. And
we as supporters, we seem bought into that notion. In time, and only in time,
will this team be judged accurately. Greatness, it seems, cannot be granted in
the present. For me though it’s not about the plaudits, it’s about the trophy
cabinet. I do believe, in time, History will reflect accurately on this truly
special team. It’s often said, what you have now is never truly appreciated
until it’s gone. And like anything, we must enjoy what we have now, for we won’t
always have it our way.
Dublin has a new
generation of Heroes in this team. Tomorrow, Heroes can become Legends. We will
remember names of 1-15 and perhaps then, those yet to be sprung from the bench
if the game is in the balance. Depth there. Dermo is there. As is Bernard
Brogan. Eoghan O’Gara, McCauley, and of course…Kevin Mc. The winning of this
game, as it always is, will be coming down ‘the Stretch’. The moment that clock
hits 60 minutes, heart rates start to spike, nails become knuckles, eyes are
closed, prayers are said, and arses are kissed goodbye. In the bench we trust. All Ireland winning medals
all over it, none on the Mayo bench. Will it be the difference? Might very well
be as it has been for us before, so don’t be surprised if you find your heart racing
again tomorrow.
And as this team prepares, do you wonder? What will Jim
say? The ever so softly spoken Jim that we know in his public persona, and the
Commander-in-Chief in the dressing room. I often wondered what Joe Kernan said
to his team at half time in the 2002 final when they were 4 points down at half
time and came back to win by a single point.
“Joe came in then and he changed our physical and
emotional state by what he said. He showed us his loser’s plaque and asked us
did we want to be renowned for the rest of our lives as losers? Or did we want
to be remembered as winners? He got the plaque and he shattered it very
dramatically against the shower wall. Once that happened it broke our negative
state into a strong mental state.”
I have always been
intrigued by those who can motivate, those who can change someone’s belief,
fire them up and make them go through a brick wall literally in order to
achieve. I guess I always will. The question here with regard to tomorrow, is
this. Does this Dublin team want to be remembered as the team that lost to
Mayo? I doubt it. Not tomorrow and come what may, Jim will find a way.
As much as the Joe Kernan half-time speech is legendary,
there is none better than 4 and half minutes of Al Pacino in ‘Any Given Sunday’.
For me, the greatest sporting speech bar none. I remember when I first saw it,
and it struck me as so powerful. It may be a movie, but I yet to hear or see anything
said or written that even comes close. Look at these words….
You know when you get old in life, things get taken from
you. That's, that's part of life.
But, you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out that life is just a game of inches.
So is football.
Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small.
I mean, one half step too late or too early, you don't quite make it.
One half second too slow or too fast, and you don't quite catch it.
The inches we need are everywhere around us.
They are in every break of the game, every minute, every second.
On this team, we fight for that inch
On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us to pieces for that inch.
We CLAW with our finger nails for that inch.
Cause we know, when we add up all those inches
that's going to make the fucking difference
between WINNING and LOSING
between LIVING and DYING.
I'll tell you this. In any fight
it is the guy who is willing to die, who is going to win that inch.
And I know, if I am going to have any life anymore
it is because, I am still willing to fight, and die for that inch
because that is what LIVING is.
The six inches in front of your face.
Now I can't make you do it.
You gotta look at the guy next to you.
Look into his eyes.
Now I think you are going to see a guy who will go that inch with you.
You are going to see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team
because he knows when it comes down to it, you are gonna do the same thing for him.
That's a team, gentlemen, and either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals.
That's football guys.
That's all it is.
Now, whattaya gonna do?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ku3E7NPRuEBut, you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out that life is just a game of inches.
So is football.
Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small.
I mean, one half step too late or too early, you don't quite make it.
One half second too slow or too fast, and you don't quite catch it.
The inches we need are everywhere around us.
They are in every break of the game, every minute, every second.
On this team, we fight for that inch
On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us to pieces for that inch.
We CLAW with our finger nails for that inch.
Cause we know, when we add up all those inches
that's going to make the fucking difference
between WINNING and LOSING
between LIVING and DYING.
I'll tell you this. In any fight
it is the guy who is willing to die, who is going to win that inch.
And I know, if I am going to have any life anymore
it is because, I am still willing to fight, and die for that inch
because that is what LIVING is.
The six inches in front of your face.
Now I can't make you do it.
You gotta look at the guy next to you.
Look into his eyes.
Now I think you are going to see a guy who will go that inch with you.
You are going to see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team
because he knows when it comes down to it, you are gonna do the same thing for him.
That's a team, gentlemen, and either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals.
That's football guys.
That's all it is.
Now, whattaya gonna do?
And so, I leave you with, as is customary from the Diary on
the eve of an All-Ireland, as Gaelige.
Ná bíodh eagla ort ort. Tá cuid acu a rugadh mór, cuid acu a bhaint amach
mór, agus tá daoine eile ag súgradh orthu.
Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born
great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them
And of tomorrow,
just remember this…..
Life is a game of
inches and so is football…may those inches be ours. Up the dubs.
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