Published Date:
02 November 2007
SUNDAY 8AM: Time was when our sporting icons had the good grace to wait until their career was over or at least coming to an end before telling us the thrills and spills of their jetset life.
That is when they felt they had something worth writing about. Now it seems publishing companies are tripping over themselves to sign up the latest sensation to a five-book deal before his or her first season is out.
Shortly before Formula One wunderkid Lewis Hamilton announced he was moving to a Swiss tax haven, he released his life story after just one season in the spotlight. Going at this rate he could bring out more books than laps in a grand prix before retirement.
Then there's the dirt. Brian Ashton's ears must have been burning after players Catt and Dallaglio chose to use their ill-timed autobiographies to belittle the England head coach's World Cup leadership.
Can we now really believe the about-turn apologies from two men who have shown such a depressing lack of loyalty.
The situation was reversed in the circus-like England cricket arena when former coach Duncan Fletcher revealed all about Andrew Flintoff's alcohol-fuelled exploits.
Tell us something we didn't know Duncan. It is commonly acknowledged Flintoff's behaviour was an inexcusable dereliction of duty coming while leading his country during their most disastrous ever Ashes debacle and a limping World Cup campaign.
But for Fletcher to reveal this to shift more copies of his hardback is cheap. Coaches are a team's lynchpin and as such are often trusted confidantes to their players.
In an age where sportsmanship appears an increasingly unwanted relic from some bygone era, such unashamed selling out is not surprising. It's just saddening.
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Last Updated:
04 November 2007 8:23 AM
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Source:
Melton Times
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Location:
Melton
