Harold Wilson’s somewhat adapted phrase has been very apt in a week where tragedy has finally put into perspective seven disastrous days for English Rugby.
The RFU continue their search into who is responsible for the leak releasing their so called confidential document explaining the World Cup debacle, but everyone cares far more about its contents than its circulation.
The issue has now moved beyond the players onto the shadowy backwaters of the RFU, a bureaucratic oligarchy in the same vein as other notorious sporting organisations.
Rob Andrew has been called “England’s Sepp Blatter”, but unlike the seemingly indestructible Swiss, he is unlikely to survive the coalition of attacks from press, ex-pros and the public alike.
Yet while the planning and strategy of the RFU seems shambolic, the conduct of the players must not be overlooked. The report focuses on the extremes but much of the contents defy comprehension.
Their dwarf-throwing, chambermaid abusing, ferry jumping antics have revealed that Rugby’s elite is really little different to the game at the grassroots, where drinking games and ‘banter’ rule the roost as much as performance on the pitch.
Call me old-fashioned, or rather modern-day, but World Cup touring parties are ambassadors for their sport and country. Whether drinking full stop should be condoned is questionable but drinking games should certainly be outlawed.
Rugby is in danger of succumbing to the same professional depths as football, and England’s World Cup campaign resembles the oval-balled flops to Germany and South Africa far more than the triumph of 2003. The players and management are jointly responsible.
Speaking of the beautiful game, it is a mark of change that of our Champions League entrants it is Arsenal who are pacesetters. After their midweek snap together, Robin Van Persie’s performances are beginning to resemble Ferderesque proportions, and while an injury to RVP could mean RIP to Arsenal’s season, spirit and quality across the board is appearing.
‘Villas-Goas’ was my favourite headline of the week and while victory over Wolves has eased problems partly fabricated by the tabloids, Chelsea do have problems and lack the youth and unity of yesterday-year.
City also received a reality check this week, and have Joe Hart to thank for an Anfield point, while no amount of ref-blaming by Fergie can disguise United’s fragility in the absence of key players. The Premier League remains wide open, and Tottenham, Liverpool and even Newcastle still all pose a threat in a season of irregularity.
Formula One has been only too regular in 2011 and Red Bull hegemony continued in Brazil, despite it being Webber not Vettel leading the way.
Novak Djokovic has enjoyed similar domination in Tennis but even he struggled as Roger Federer rolled back the years with victory at the O2 as he prepared to end his Grand Slam hoodoo next year. The London woes of Djokovic, Nadal and Murray personify problems within the Tour. There are simply too many matchers and the players, particularly these three defensive sluggers, cannot cope.
Political wrangles have also dominated the sporting agenda elsewhere. The NBA lockout has finally ended, the WADA v BOA drugs ban-battle has further escalated, while a potential Olympic boycott is rumoured (surely the first of many such speculations?) by the Indian team.
On a lighter level it has been a week for the underdog. The American Samoan football team registered their first ever victory while the Great Britain Women’s Handball edged out African champions Angola. Not bad for a team which was only set up in 2007.
Yet it is Gary Speed who must have the final say. One of the Premier League’s greatest players and poised to be a great manager as well.
Circumstances will eventually emerge but his death is a tragic reminder that beyond the political, financial and RFU related turmoil, some things are just that bit more important.
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