"Rory is...on the brink of making a profoundly brave and inherently progressive political statement."
Conor Nagle posts a thoughtful analysis of Rory McIlroy's plight in light of history and comments made to the Daily Mail about which country the World No. 1 might represent if he qualifies for the 2016 Olympics.
In other words, in the wake of McIlroy's clarifying letter posted Monday, Nagle offers a pretty even-handed look at the minefield McIlroy must navigate.
He is part of the first generation to self-identify as Northern Irish (a trend touched upon in this recent feature) and, in demonstrating a willingness, however tentative, to chart a course independent of the ideologies that have determined life in the six counties for nigh-on a century, he’s emerged an improbable spokesperson for a nascent political, or “post-political”, identity.
Precariously balanced between two contrasting identities, McIlroy has repeatedly asserted his right to a third option: a Northern-ness that supersedes all else, of which being British is a logical consequence rather than a matter of faith.
Yes, he’s availed of opportunities afforded him as a teenager by the Golfing Union of Ireland, but the issue of national allegiance, when forced, will hardly be decided by so trivial a matter as junior funding.
Brian Keogh with extensive comments from Ireland's Des Smyth. The gist:
“I don’t see how we can lay claim to people from Northern Ireland,” said Smyth, a highly repected Irish player and one of Ian Woosnam’s Ryder Cup vice captains at the K Club in 2006. “They are part of the United Kingdom.
“Jimmy Heggarty was my travelling buddy on tour for many years. He was from Ulster, part of the United Kingdom and I never had a problem with that.
Rory appears to have been helped, at least temporarily, by Andy Murray's triumphant U.S. Open win. Still, the various UK papers reported on McIlory's letter in Tuesday's editions.
Kevin Garside in The Independent declared that McIlroy "should be celebrating the best form of his career" but "finds himself caught on the horns of an uncomfortable dilemma."
The Guardian's "staff and agencies" report suggested McIlroy's letter "hinted that he may choose to play for Great Britain" in Rio.
The Daily Mail says the Rory clarification letter was issued because McIlroy "suffered abuse from a significant number of his 1.25 million Twitter followers as well as criticism from established broadcasters on Irish TV."
In Ireland, Phillip Reid offers an interesting solution for McIlroy: take a pass on Rio 2016.
Give it a miss! Save yourself the trouble and strife of having to declare allegiance one way or another! Focus on the Majors; for, truly, they are the defining moments in any player’s career! Be yourself!
There. I’ve said it.
The pulling and dragging over McIlroy’s nationality or otherwise is most unseemly and something of an irrelevance given that virtually week-in and week-out he is playing very much as an individual.
If he were to bypass the Olympics, the kernel of this issue, it would certainly present an easier way out – and avoid the hassle – for the player, especially given the over-the-top response to the comment that he felt “more British than Irish”.
Monday, September 10, 2012 at 11:39 PM
Reader Comments (21)
Unfortunately, for a while this is going to follow him and he'll be asked about his comments at a lot of interviews. It does seem like he has disappointed more people by (effectively) choosing GB over ROI than would have been the case had he done the opposite.
It also raises a wider point about how golf fans see golfers. Golf is an individual sport and except on a few rare occasions we don't identify golfers according to nationality. Naturally, we all want our 'own' to win but a lot of times we just want to see good golf whoever is playing, American, European, Aussie etc. For example, Tiger and Phil are popular all over the world and people of all nations pull for them. Similarly, Rory, Padraig's, Luke etc are all extremely popular in the USA. The Olympic question is now forcing golfers to define themselves by something other than their individualism, and in McIlroy's unfortunate case it is going to become divisive and damaging just for the sake of one little gold medal.
One related observation: There were quite a few Union Jacks fluttering around the course at this year's Irish Open...
honestly, the concept of "international" competition has become so blurry with international atheletes living/training/playing college sports in the US, its rendered the games insignificant
he avoids all controversy playing ryder cup, and still gets his "us vs. europe" groove on
Cutting to the heart of the matter I think some people in the Republic have an issue with a northern Catholic declaring an affinity with Britain. This may have been a forgivable bias in the past but most of us have moved on. Nobody (outside of a loony minority) gets upset if an English footballer with negligible links to Ireland suddenly pulls on the green shirt, nobody loses it when Belfast boxers decide to fight for Ireland in the Olympics and I cannot see any Brit being too bothered if Irish sportsmen choose to train in Britain. We live in a world where loans from Westminster are used by Dublin to keep the meltdown from the door, not because any leverage is sought but because it makes sense to do so.
Personally I think Rory’s made an error in speaking now and leaning towards “Team GB & NI” and perhaps he’s being a little too honest on an issue that really isn’t anybody else’s business. Most Britons would recognise his dilemma and be happy enough to see him playing for Ireland (call us perverse but we like seeing Irish, Welsh and Scottish success). However I think the sneering comments from RTE broadcasters betrays their own crassness rather than any on Mr McIlroy’s part.
Actually I've come to the conclusion he should compete and make his own personal one finger salute to all the lunatics giving him grief on this.
Here's how: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Olympians_at_the_Olympic_Games
I thought that was Tiger's forte? [roll-eyes]
Rory is the new order
Nail on head Mark!
I take my hat off to Rory for 'coming out' on this subject. As a catholic, I feel he's done a great service to Northern Ireland in declaring his wholehearted allegiance to the country of his birth. I just wish he had waited until after the Ryder Cup!
He reveals what's in his heart and that's refreshing.
The Unwise:
He's going to lose fans over the comment ---- In America where golf fans of Irish descent have felt at least a bit of kinship with him and supported him --- some of that is going to be gone now.
The Practical result:
A loss of fans means a loss of popularity which could result in a bit of lower sponsorship revenue for Rory as his star will not be quite as bright now.
My thoughts:
Hopefully most people who don't like his recent comments will, at the same time be mature enough to realize it's his life and what he feels, he feels, -- and he does nothing wrong by letting people know it.
The one thing Rory McIlroy doesn't need in his life are bigoted fans so, no loss there. I think it's also a bit of a stretch to believe he could lose sponsorship revenue over this. The only way that will happen is if his golf goes south!
Scotland will be voting for independence in next year or so. Current polls suggest that support for this has dropped to 30%. The Scottish National Party, currently in power, are so desperate to turn things around that they've even suggested they might reduce the voting age to 16!
There has always been a rivarly (mostly friendly - sometimes not) between Scotland and England. I doubt that will ever change but I think most scots and I'd like to think, most english (and welsh) would prefer if we continued to stand together under a british flag. I think one of the main reasons for this is that we do not define ourselves by any religion.
No-one is forcing Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom but until it reaches a point whereby it doesn't define itself by what religion you are then it's likely the northern irish will continue to seek the protection of a british government. This is why I believe Rory did a great service in declaring for Northern Ireland. Hopefully, more northern irish catholics will follow his example. Time to put the extremists from both sides out with the rubbish.
"Time to put the extremists from both sides out with the rubbish.." ---- I agree one hundred percent.
Bluewolf