Comments on: The Appeal of Hating a Great Footballer http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:57:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dan http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151546 Dan Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:17:06 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151546 I think a lot of the antipathy towards players like Ronaldo can be chalked up to the commercial intrusion on the game that their celebrity status creates. From the point of view of the people who hope to make money off of these players, simply appreciating skills isn't enough; you need to consume the whole package, which means buy the nike shoes and the Manchester United, wait, Real Madrid shirts, and so on. We'll see the same thing with the Brazil national team when the world cup gets closer. I think it's natural to have a backlash. I think a lot of the antipathy towards players like Ronaldo can be chalked up to the commercial intrusion on the game that their celebrity status creates.

From the point of view of the people who hope to make money off of these players, simply appreciating skills isn’t enough; you need to consume the whole package, which means buy the nike shoes and the Manchester United, wait, Real Madrid shirts, and so on.

We’ll see the same thing with the Brazil national team when the world cup gets closer.

I think it’s natural to have a backlash.

]]> By: Luka http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151489 Luka Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:35:22 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151489 People hate Ronaldo because he gives us reasons to hate him! Who can sit here and say they hate players like Messie or Xavi, or Ronaldinho at any point before 2006? Unlike local rivalries, where the hate comes from absolutely nowhere, the world is in unison when it comes to their hatred of the skinny Ronaldo. People hate Ronaldo because he gives us reasons to hate him! Who can sit here and say they hate players like Messie or Xavi, or Ronaldinho at any point before 2006? Unlike local rivalries, where the hate comes from absolutely nowhere, the world is in unison when it comes to their hatred of the skinny Ronaldo.

]]> By: MoMONEY http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151484 MoMONEY Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:13:42 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151484 Sure but I think with Ronaldo people hate the stuff he does on the pitch- Maradona was all off the pitch stuff. And with Ronaldo his style isnt that appealing to many. Run fast and shoot hard- he hardly ever plays a good ball to a teammate or pulls a magical move to free up the goal for someone else. He just runs hard shoots hard and jumps high. Good player yes but I think he is overrated on so so many levels. I know I have said this before but think of it this way. Is Ronaldo seen as good is John Terry makes that pk? I think the answer is No and that he would be seen as selfish and a choker- like he was until that final. Remember he missed the penalty before Terry as well... Sure but I think with Ronaldo people hate the stuff he does on the pitch- Maradona was all off the pitch stuff. And with Ronaldo his style isnt that appealing to many. Run fast and shoot hard- he hardly ever plays a good ball to a teammate or pulls a magical move to free up the goal for someone else. He just runs hard shoots hard and jumps high. Good player yes but I think he is overrated on so so many levels.

I know I have said this before but think of it this way. Is Ronaldo seen as good is John Terry makes that pk? I think the answer is No and that he would be seen as selfish and a choker- like he was until that final. Remember he missed the penalty before Terry as well…

]]> By: Rob http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151483 Rob Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:02:26 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151483 Yeah, alessio, i'm with you on that one as well, I can't imagine a world without the local rival to hate! Yeah, alessio, i’m with you on that one as well, I can’t imagine a world without the local rival to hate!

]]> By: alessio http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151463 alessio Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:51:52 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151463 Great post, Rob, you're right on. Similarly, what do you think about the existence of a rival club? If it went bankrupt and disappeared, you'd probably delight for the first few months, but later miss that team you loved to hate. Great post, Rob, you’re right on. Similarly, what do you think about the existence of a rival club? If it went bankrupt and disappeared, you’d probably delight for the first few months, but later miss that team you loved to hate.

]]> By: Adam http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151461 Adam Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:32:12 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151461 Great post. I hated his persona even when he played for my team, but, for me, his skill and physicality make him the best in the world right now. Great post. I hated his persona even when he played for my team, but, for me, his skill and physicality make him the best in the world right now.

]]> By: laurie http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151458 laurie Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:17:19 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151458 I just had a discussion on a similar topic with both Chris and Daryl on whether or not Zidane would have been number 1 in your "top players of the decade" poll if not for the anger in him that culminated with the headbutt. Daryl says yes. I say probably. But I don't think there's much question that his amazing skill combined with his volatitility made him even more memorable than he would have been as a plain vanilla but really good player. Interesting vid that kind of catches the split personality. In French, but you can get the gist from the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tikIo3kaDcM&mode=related&search= I just had a discussion on a similar topic with both Chris and Daryl on whether or not Zidane would have been number 1 in your “top players of the decade” poll if not for the anger in him that culminated with the headbutt. Daryl says yes. I say probably. But I don’t think there’s much question that his amazing skill combined with his volatitility made him even more memorable than he would have been as a plain vanilla but really good player.

Interesting vid that kind of catches the split personality. In French, but you can get the gist from the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tikIo3kaDcM&mode=related&search=

]]> By: Francesco http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151457 Francesco Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:10:24 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151457 It's true, you may hate a player for his personality and overall character, but when you're good, you're good. It’s true, you may hate a player for his personality and overall character, but when you’re good, you’re good.

]]> By: andersen http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html/comment-page-1#comment-151453 andersen Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:26:22 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-appeal-of-hating-a-great-footballer.html#comment-151453 wow, great post. You executed the theme well. wow, great post. You executed the theme well.

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