Crio’s Question: Living (and loving?) the dream

Justin Koschitzke is a fortunate and wealthy young man. He’s lived his (and millions of others’) dream. This will be his footy epitaph.

“I can’t remember the last time I ran out and enjoyed playing a game of footy.
“Even when we were playing well and winning (it wasn’t fun).”
Andre Agassi had it all…..Grand Slams, fame and fortune. Yet in “Open”, his acclaimed autobiography, he confessed: “I play tennis for a living even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion and always have.”
What is the problem?
They are getting paid to play sport!
Fortunately I can think of some who buck the trend.
Lee Trevino seemed to embrace his fortune.
Brad Hogg is another who seems to savour every moment.
It is perplexing – even upsetting.
What has happened to the “Sport is fun” mantra – and who does or doesn’t subscribe?

Comments

  1. mickey randall says

    I truly hope that Watto isn’t enjoying his day job.

  2. Is it the money or the fame that becomes addictive do you think Crio?

    Or is it the elevated adrenaline levels of playing? Playing and winning?

    The Long Suffering Junction Oval Faithful would be more qualified to put this, but from what I saw of Kossy on the field, he never really seemed at home out there. Never appeared to be ‘comfortable’ with bis own physicality for some reason. Almost like he never really had control of what was going to happen next. He had natural skills that just sort of ‘happened’, and it was great when they did. But then sometimes they just didn’t, and he’d get a blast from across the fence and a spray from opponents. Maybe the anxiety of it all got to him.

  3. Sidebottom at Collingwood always plays with a smile on his dial. He looks like he’s loving every minute of it. Corey Enright at Geelong is similar.

    Sadly Liam Jurrah used to play a completely exuberant style of football, until he fought the law and the law won.

  4. NicNait is a joy to watch whether he is playing well or not. He is always smiling on or off the field, and always gives a 100% of what his body and skill allows.
    I think he just decided to be grateful for every opportunity that life and footy gave him. David Wirrpunda was very similar.
    Maybe they got it from their coach???

  5. Unlike Andre Agassi, Pat Rafter always eemed to enjoy himself on the tennis court.

    Glen!

  6. It is an honour to play a game at its highest level. If you’re not interested then get out of the way and let another more interested player take your place. What a sad old disposition one must have to have such opportunities and still be unsatisfied. With only 80 odd years on this semi permanent wonderland called earth why would you spend roughly 25% of that time embittered by doing something you don’t really want to do.

    I am reminded of a Springsteen quote about his good fortune: I’ll keep doing this as long as I can look into the audience and see myself and the audience can look at the band and see themselves.

    Cheers

  7. Miguel Angel Jimenez absolutely enjoys his craft: This article explains why
    http://espn.go.com/golf/theopen/story/_/id/9492729/miguel-jimenez-lives-good-life

    If you haven’t seen his warm up routine, consult You Tube.

  8. Great get Jock….he fair dinkum lives the dream.

  9. Crio, it’s like a man who fell out of love with is wife.
    No matter how good the relationship seems on the outside, only those inside truly understand.
    Kosi fell out of love with footy. Agassi hated tennis. Unfortunately, both men were good at their sport.
    Being good at something doesn’t mean one must love it. How many people are good at their jobs but hate them? Some men are exceptional at mowing lawns, but they’d hate it.
    Certainly they made a good living from their sport, but it’s just a job right, and some people hate their jobs…

  10. Peter Fuller says

    A good question, Crio, which has stimulated some excellent responses. Matt W. is spot on in his reference to the general world of work. Many people decide on a trade-off between their material needs and a job they love; or they accommodate the less agreeable aspects of their job with the more satisfying features.
    Kaney, I would think that most of the performing arts (including sports performance, but especially music, ballet, live theatre) have a heightened potential for job satisfaction – the instantaneous response, and the possibility of approaching flawless rendition.
    Dips, Steele Sidebottom is a fine example. Patrick Dangerfield also seems to enjoy playing, remarked on by Mike Sheahan during the Fox i/view last night.
    Brad Johnson is a famous recent past example. From another sport Stephen Baster always seemed to have a smile on his dial, when returning to scale – win or lose. I don’t know if he maintained that cheeky grin during races.
    The contrary case is the player for whom the game doesn’t come easily. I normally don’t sit near the fence at the football. However, I was in the 2nd row at the G, when a journeyman player made his debut for the Blues. When he was standing the mark his face was contorted, and his brow furrowed with the effort of intense concentration demanded. I’d previously seen this in students during tough exams.

  11. Tiger Woods hasn’t looked like he has enjoyed golf for many years now. I think it comes with the almost unattainable expectations he has of himself (on the golf course).

    Darren Clark, on the other hand, looks like he is having a ball!

    Brett Lee, in the beginning, always looked like it was fun but injuries left him without the ability to bowl at express pace and, though he was still a good bowler, it looked more of a chore to him as the years wore on.

    Doug Walters always had a “sunny disposition” as did David Gower.

  12. Stan the Man says

    Guys like Garry McIntosh (Norwood) and Tony Lockett (St Kilda/ Swans) hardly smiled when they played. Gee when I played in the Ammos many years ago if your opponent smiled it usually meant you where about to cop one !!! Gilbert McAdam was a classic. He looked like he was gonna cry with his sad face when he played ….. but now he as got to be one of the funniest guys on TV now with his cheeky smile and mannerisms. PLUS you got to love Ashton Agar for his smile and just the way he went about enjoying the moment when he got his chance in the first Test.

Leave a Comment

*