Listen to the full interview via the podcast.
Ten days ago GAA pundit Joe Brolly delivered the keynote speech at the GAA’s annual Games Development Conference in which he eloquently rebuked the perceived win-at-all-costs society that we live in.
Brolly, who has been very outspoken about the issue of cynical fouling, is adamant that winning is not everything and tonight he chatted to Off The Ball about his philosophy.
"I think this American idea that second place means you're a loser and you're consigned to oblivion is a totally dishonorable idea. It would mean that for 99.9 per cent of us, the game is pointless. The reality is that it is a dishonorable philosophy. Unfortunately it has been gaining traction," said Brolly who then drew on his own experiences.
"You hear people say it's a results-driven business. It's not a results-driven business, it never has been. Winning isn't everything. I gained so much enjoyment whenever I came to play in St Brigid's in Division in 4 of the Antrim all-county league and I was getting a slap in the back of the head before the match, saying 'I'll show you your f**king All Stars Brolly. I got as much enjoyment busting my gut for a Division 4 team. It was never about the winning. Life's an anti-climax. The day after [Derry] won the All Ireland, when I was in the showers, I thought is this it? What was all that for? Life's an anti-climax for everybody and winning is not a guarantee of anything."
He then moved onto the issue of cynical fouling and ultra-defensive play, focusing on Donegal's tactics and Jose Mourinho's assertion that it easier to defend than to attack.
"Jose Mourinho sums it up beautifully. You can have 15 robots on the field who are labouring soullessly and they may grind out a result here and there. Their half forward line will play in the defence and you'll rarely see their good forwards on the ball. It stinks. You might as well lose than stink up the game like that," said Brolly.
"Do you want to play the game the way Donegal played it or do we want to play the game the way Dublin and Kerry are playing it now?
"There's an important point. Players hate it themselves. I'm telling you this for a fact, the Donegal boys - it was great to win an All Ireland - were bored out of their wits by this. Individual expression's at a minimum. I spoke to a crowd of the Dublin boys, but the way those guys play is just so enjoyable for footballers."
Joe Brolly addresses the 2013 GAA Conference ©INPHO/Presseye/Lorcan Doherty
