Who'll care if he's left holding the cup?
Feb0420105:17 p.m.
When is a private life not private? Usually it's when you are a huge public figure and it's splashed all over the tabloids.
The latest to have his cheating ways picked over is English football's own captain John Terry, but you have to wonder whether his bedroom antics are anyway related to his ability to captain England.
On the pitch, Terry is the embodiment of the what a captain should be - a brave blood and guts leader, an inspiration - so does this change because he got his leg over someone who allegedly has done around a full XI of Chelsea players past and present?
Gone are the days when football captains were whiter than white and in the mould of model pros like Bobby Moore. Fact is, today's players are overpaid spoilt stars, the majority of whom had it all far too quickly and at far too early an age. Terry is no different to many of his fellow pros, and I'm sure there's many more quaking at the thought of what other revelations might come out.
What goes on privately is Terry's business, much like it was when Tiger was caught pants down too. Their punishment comes when all the endorsements fall away, or if their wives leave them, so leave it at that. Sure, he'll get some stick off opposition fans, and maybe some of his fellow pros, but he never signed up to be a moral guardian and example for the nation.
Terry is a big enough man to ride this out, and if he's left holding the World Cup this summer, who's going to give a stuff that he was a dirty little boy. It's not like he did a Glenn Hoddle is it?
UPDATE: Now that Terry has had the boot, vote in the poll (on the left) for who you think should replace him as England captain?
Post views 894
Comments (8)
jamieB 'Terry is a good captain on the pitch and that's where it matters. Yes, his activities off the pitch are questionable and he supports the view by many that footballers are just a bunch of knobs where anything goes (a bit like some of the Union players in the news last year and like Tiger). But you make a good point - does it matter? It's his private life although I wouldn't want to work with someone who had done this to me. In some ways it is very good that all of us, including the press, are suddenly realising that we have a moral compass and maybe we are returning to old values. However, I don't need the press or a footballer to set my moral agenda. The thing that saddens me, and it did before this all happened, that people compare him to Moore. Never in a million years will he be like Moore because it's a different time, he hasn't got his class and he will never be in our hearts like Bobby Moore. I mean, imagine if Terry had beaten cancer before lifting the cup like Moore did? It would be everywhere, not like Moore who let his play, style and the way he carried himself earn our respect and got on with things... It's everywhere though Doyley - sportsmen hitting meltdown: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/02/04/sumo.wrestling.asashoryu.japan/index.html?eref=edition_sport&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_sport+%28RSS%3A+Sport%29 Terry has just gone! I feel sorry for him in a way - 12 minutes to change things. I feel sorry for Bridge - he wasn't even first choice with his missus....' added 5th Feb 2010
Report as inappropriate
Simon_Doyle 'Now that Terry has been stripped of the captaincy, you have to wonder how this will impact on his performances for England, if indeed he is picked. And will injury prone Rio be next to step into the postion or could it be the injury prone Steven Gerrard instead? Like Terry, Fabio has a lot to think about, but I'm sure the England boss won't be losing much sleep about it. Terry will probably go onn to pick up Prem/Champs League double just to prove that (love) cheats do sometimes prosper.' added 5th Feb 2010
Report as inappropriate
Johnf 'Just caught the news that he is out. The problem is so few of them can actually hold their heads up high and put themselves forward as role models. Ferdinand looks as though he has got it, banned for missing drugs tests, could it be Gerrard, cleared recently in Crown Court for a serious affray, ok not guilty in the eyes of the law but what is he doing getting involved. I see on Sue's blog she was talking about Defoe being a teetotaller, but it hasn't stopped him driving like a lunatic and getting a bad, Ashley Cole was a recent drink driver I think. And how many more. So where are the role models, not the 4 MPs about to go to court. What is happening to this country? Probably nothing different from what has happened ever, its just that you, Jamie and me can discuss news so instantly, we don't know each other, we don't know where we are in the country, yet we know the second something happens and can give opinions. Lets just hope we keep a good squad together for the World Cup. ' added 5th Feb 2010
Report as inappropriate
jamieB 'It is a shame because he's played very well under extreme pressure for the last couple of matches - which is what you want isn't it from a captain? Seems like the press are trying a different approach this World Cup year - knock em down, don't build them up. I hear there are several top players on the hit list of a couple of red tops at the moment in an effort to "expose the underbelly of deviant behaviour in our national game"... But did you know JT has scored 28 times at the Bridge? Nah, nor did Wayne. He'll do well out of it - JT has signed up to star in a new TV show. It's called Other Footballers' Wives... Seriously, I hope it makes him play harder or better although I'd understand if he retired to concentrate on his club career... ' added 5th Feb 2010
Report as inappropriate
jamieB 'JohnF - I've got my role models but I would advise anyone looking to a role model to look at the dedication, drive and commitment of some of the runners, cyclists and swimmers on this site - that is what the country needs more of. In lots of ways I admire many of the people who write blogs here rather than some of the Footballer, Rugby players and golfers we've heard about recently. Especially those who give their time training to help others - that's the sort of person we need... Fabio should get the team together for a traditional Sunday roast at a pub or something... Next step? Realbuzz political party - lots of running and exercise, a bit social(ist), a bit conservative but always the right answers or at least always happy to talk about it..' added 5th Feb 2010
Report as inappropriate
jamieB 'Sorry for not letting this go but I just want to make it clear that not all footballers are like this. Look at Lee Dixon - great bloke, great pro and now on here! Also I was really impressed by Anna the Tennis player's first post - what a star and fighter! I picked her up - not a taxi driver - a while back when she started winning a couple of matches. These are the sort of people we need more of!' added 5th Feb 2010
Report as inappropriate
Johnf 'Agree on a lot of those points Jamie, some of the people on here are quite inspirational and for many of course its the love of the sport that is the reason rather than the pay packet at the end of the month. I've said before, how many top class sports people carry on playing once they stop winning. I'm not sure I have role models as such, I think that could be my age, it was not a term ever used when I was at school, so to an extent all that I want from an England footballer is 100% on the pitch, and that can be jeopardised by behaviour, drink, drugs etc, and I guess the media as it is today means that their personal behaviour is going to be known to all of us and will put pressure on them, some will shrug it off but for some it may pinch a few% of their game. Sorry for pinching your blog Simon, see what you started!' added 6th Feb 2010
Report as inappropriate
Simon_Doyle 'Happy to see my blog become a hotbed of hot topical sporting debate. There is such a moral decay in society as a whole that we can't really expect sporting heroes to be the bastions of virtue, good manners, and set the example for others.' added 8th Feb 2010
Report as inappropriate