DONAL ÓG CUSACK disagrees that professionalism is on the cards in the GAA despite former All-Ireland winning boss Eugene McGee predicting this week that pay for play is on the way ‘in about 10-15 years’.
GPA chairman Cusack, who was speaking at a discussion on ‘Amateur Ethos in a Professional Game’ at the 2014 Web Summit today in the RDS, revealed that his views on playing professionally have changed during his career.
“When I was a younger man, 19-20, I would have loved to have been paid for playing my game. But the more I went through the career and now when I’m looking back, I’m happy that I wasn’t a professional. I think it’s actually a more wholesome model that we have in the association.
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“The danger with it for me, and it was interesting to see some experienced commentators this week in Ireland speaking about the inevitability about the game going professional. I would disagree with that and the concern I would have is that you take a young kid from Dublin, Monaghan, Cork or wherever, you put him in to a professional setup.
The Dublin senior football team before this year's All-Ireland semi-final.
“We all know that the lifespan of professional sports people is shortening, it’s the same in our games. He’d maybe make a full time salary out of it but then when he gets injured or is finished playing or is no more good to the team he’s playing with, he’s dropped back out of that system again and hasn’t had the life experience that the current inter county player gets.”
Transfers
Cusack also reckons that a transfer system could be potentially introduced in the GAA if professionalism was brought in.
“I think the big thing if the game did go professional would be the transfer system would have to be looked at and the whole ethos of our game is that our players are totally connected to the communities in which they grew up.
Donal Óg Cusack and Patrick Steenberge with Oisin Langan Web SummitWeb Summit
“Yes, they go away and play sport at a very high level and it’s a fantastic experience and everything should be done to facilitate that almost Olympian spirit that they possess.
“But the key thing is that in most situations, they go back in to their communities post their playing days. That whole model that’s been driven by the modern day players and we speak to players every day of the week and the desire is not there for the game to go professional. But what desire does exist is that players should benefit in other parts of their lives.”
While I think GAA players definitely deserve a professional setup for the work they put in, the hardships they endure and the thrills they give us all, what DOg says is spot on. Transfers, dropouts and the inevitable diving would all creep in slowly due to money’s involvement and the whole ethos of the GAA game could go pear shaped.
The money is simply is not there to support 32 teams in both codes. The money is far better off spent on club facilities & coaching around the country. If it’s too much effort for lads they can just drop off the county panel & allow someone who wants to play county have a chance.
completely agree. definitely players should be entitled to take any endorsement deals that might be available. But direct pay for play hopefully will never happen.
Maurice diving doesn’t come instantly with professionalism. Sounds like you’re suggesting that pro games are so important that cheating such as diving becomes worthwhile and prevalent. I think gaa matches are much more important than most pro sports. It’s parish against parish, place against place, it’s a place in history each and every year. No pro sport can get close to replicating that. Hence win at all costs cynicism is as prevalent in gaa as any sport. And like most people i don’t think there’s enough of a market for pay for play. But there’s plenty of money to make sure players are well looked after. That means travelling and medical expenses and education. I know this happens to a certain degree but it’s very haphazard
I can’t see the likes of Carlow, Waterford or any division 4 team going semi pro if the standard doesn’t improve. Heavy defeats and players not wanting to play football for there respective counties doesn’t look good for the future of football in these counties. I’ve seen this in my home County of Carlow. Went to all three of there games this year and the highlight was a first win in a couple of years against Waterford but really brutally heavy defeats to Meath and Clare put a dampner on that win. Too much money being pumped into the big counties (e.g. Dublin) which is very unfair. This should not be going on because smaller counties can’t compete with this!
The gaa is a quintessentially irish entity. It defies all labelling. It’s wrapped up in our national existence and psyche and reflects our society. Labels such as amateur and professional are redundant. You certainly couldn’t call it amateur. It has amateurish elements to it. But the last time I checked there’s a fee at the gate, there’s advertising and people are being paid. I do think though that ethically players need to be better looked after at all levels. But I can’t see that happening any time soon. Because it would mean sacrificing the “common good” of the organisation to some degree, in terms of infrastructure, officialdom etc. Like ” official” irish society generally the odd cute hoor on the inside will benefit, such as the local pub owner who trains the team and gets everyone back to his bar etc. I love playing sport for sports sake. But there is a commitment in the modern world in terms of time away from work and family and a few are benefitting off of the effort of many
For example, Donal og is benefitting nicely himself from his gaa career, and fair play to him. He’s articulate and driven. However what about the likes of Ken mcgrath, an absolute legend of the game, a guy who left blood sweat and tears on the pitch but is now physically a shell of a man. He’s knees and heart are quite literally fu*ked, he’s only a young man and yet he’s had to rely on the charity of others to fund his basic health care. Surely we can look after our players better than this
So its back to the very same guys that shed blood, sweat and tears with him on the pitch having to pick up the tab. How about the organisation that Ken served so well stepping up to the plate. And Ken is such a high profile example, what about the countless others less well known, who gave as much to the game and won’t be receiving charity from others any time soon. Because It would mean sacrificing resources that goes to bricks and mortar, paying coaches, paying administrators etc
To me Gaa will go semi pro in 10 to 15yrs with Tv money been the main reason and issue the Gaa can easily finance its self now since Croker death has been paid off, that’s why there looking at other project to invest our/there money into the structures of the Gaa, I do agree with it it’s the natural progression of any sport and sportsman to be professional, but I do hope we set a program in place like the AFL that all income goes to a central pot to be distribute equally to all county boards to run there county teams and then set out money rewards for how far u progress in the All-Ireland for the bonus for county boards.
Can’t agree at all Glenn. As soon as you start paying lads a sport changes entirely and becomes all about generating money for the elite handful of players to the detriment of the grassroots. Club rugby in ireland is a shambles because the provinces have sucked all the attention away from them & the cash as well. There are big traditional rugby clubs in danger of going to the wall. Look at the money swilling around on England & France and the douche bags involved. Do we really want counties to have this mullarky? No thanks. If playing for pride & passion isn’t enough then step aside and let someone else play.
The money just isn’t there to go fully pro. A hodge podge sort of semi pro exists already at inter county level and that is adversely affectin clubs as is. The tv money isn’t that big and I def don’t want tv dictating access to games any more than they already do.
With his position as chairman of the GPA, Donal Óg Cusack shouldn’t be in a position to also act as a talking head on all matters hurling. In my opinion, he has been compromising his position for a long time. GPA or pundit. Not both. Wouldn’t happen in other sports.
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While I think GAA players definitely deserve a professional setup for the work they put in, the hardships they endure and the thrills they give us all, what DOg says is spot on. Transfers, dropouts and the inevitable diving would all creep in slowly due to money’s involvement and the whole ethos of the GAA game could go pear shaped.
The money is simply is not there to support 32 teams in both codes. The money is far better off spent on club facilities & coaching around the country. If it’s too much effort for lads they can just drop off the county panel & allow someone who wants to play county have a chance.
completely agree. definitely players should be entitled to take any endorsement deals that might be available. But direct pay for play hopefully will never happen.
Maurice diving doesn’t come instantly with professionalism. Sounds like you’re suggesting that pro games are so important that cheating such as diving becomes worthwhile and prevalent. I think gaa matches are much more important than most pro sports. It’s parish against parish, place against place, it’s a place in history each and every year. No pro sport can get close to replicating that. Hence win at all costs cynicism is as prevalent in gaa as any sport. And like most people i don’t think there’s enough of a market for pay for play. But there’s plenty of money to make sure players are well looked after. That means travelling and medical expenses and education. I know this happens to a certain degree but it’s very haphazard
GPA a joke
And not forgetting hooliganism.
I can’t see the likes of Carlow, Waterford or any division 4 team going semi pro if the standard doesn’t improve. Heavy defeats and players not wanting to play football for there respective counties doesn’t look good for the future of football in these counties. I’ve seen this in my home County of Carlow. Went to all three of there games this year and the highlight was a first win in a couple of years against Waterford but really brutally heavy defeats to Meath and Clare put a dampner on that win. Too much money being pumped into the big counties (e.g. Dublin) which is very unfair. This should not be going on because smaller counties can’t compete with this!
The gaa is a quintessentially irish entity. It defies all labelling. It’s wrapped up in our national existence and psyche and reflects our society. Labels such as amateur and professional are redundant. You certainly couldn’t call it amateur. It has amateurish elements to it. But the last time I checked there’s a fee at the gate, there’s advertising and people are being paid. I do think though that ethically players need to be better looked after at all levels. But I can’t see that happening any time soon. Because it would mean sacrificing the “common good” of the organisation to some degree, in terms of infrastructure, officialdom etc. Like ” official” irish society generally the odd cute hoor on the inside will benefit, such as the local pub owner who trains the team and gets everyone back to his bar etc. I love playing sport for sports sake. But there is a commitment in the modern world in terms of time away from work and family and a few are benefitting off of the effort of many
For example, Donal og is benefitting nicely himself from his gaa career, and fair play to him. He’s articulate and driven. However what about the likes of Ken mcgrath, an absolute legend of the game, a guy who left blood sweat and tears on the pitch but is now physically a shell of a man. He’s knees and heart are quite literally fu*ked, he’s only a young man and yet he’s had to rely on the charity of others to fund his basic health care. Surely we can look after our players better than this
The charity of his fellow GAA members, see how this works, no?
So its back to the very same guys that shed blood, sweat and tears with him on the pitch having to pick up the tab. How about the organisation that Ken served so well stepping up to the plate. And Ken is such a high profile example, what about the countless others less well known, who gave as much to the game and won’t be receiving charity from others any time soon. Because It would mean sacrificing resources that goes to bricks and mortar, paying coaches, paying administrators etc
This the fella who retired with his one man protest against the wearing of helmets?
To me Gaa will go semi pro in 10 to 15yrs with Tv money been the main reason and issue the Gaa can easily finance its self now since Croker death has been paid off, that’s why there looking at other project to invest our/there money into the structures of the Gaa, I do agree with it it’s the natural progression of any sport and sportsman to be professional, but I do hope we set a program in place like the AFL that all income goes to a central pot to be distribute equally to all county boards to run there county teams and then set out money rewards for how far u progress in the All-Ireland for the bonus for county boards.
Can’t agree at all Glenn. As soon as you start paying lads a sport changes entirely and becomes all about generating money for the elite handful of players to the detriment of the grassroots. Club rugby in ireland is a shambles because the provinces have sucked all the attention away from them & the cash as well. There are big traditional rugby clubs in danger of going to the wall. Look at the money swilling around on England & France and the douche bags involved. Do we really want counties to have this mullarky? No thanks. If playing for pride & passion isn’t enough then step aside and let someone else play.
The money just isn’t there to go fully pro. A hodge podge sort of semi pro exists already at inter county level and that is adversely affectin clubs as is. The tv money isn’t that big and I def don’t want tv dictating access to games any more than they already do.
With his position as chairman of the GPA, Donal Óg Cusack shouldn’t be in a position to also act as a talking head on all matters hurling. In my opinion, he has been compromising his position for a long time. GPA or pundit. Not both. Wouldn’t happen in other sports.
Calls a spade a spade.
Doesn’t pussyfoot. Around big issues. .A grand ould. Fellow.did he lend Cody a dickibow. For All star’s dance