In what has always been somewhat cyclic the balance of power always comes back to De La Salle. Other clubs have at times held the balance of power for short periods but De La always comes back over the top. Gymea was probably the most recent to have some power, they still have a little. Cronulla Caringbah, on and off, held a lot of power.
Most of you people would have no idea of the De La versus the rest battles that used to go on in Junior League. I myself wasn't even allowed to play for them because my old man hated the politics of it and was actually heavily involved with the old Taren Point. This despite me going to De La for school. Now there's nothing religionist about that as old Dad was himself a product of the catholic education system being from the famous Marcellin Bros Randwick school. He just didn't like the politics of it and still doesn't. Despite some 20 years in the CSDJRLFC he never became a Sharks fan. Couldn't ever do it. Even now he sits and watches a game and marvels at how NOTHING has apparently changed with the Sharks.
De La have money, numbers and power. A significant proportion of the club itself are not even Catholics. You don't need to be anymore. They accept players from anywhere and kids in the school only have to meet the qualifications, one of which is NO LONGER being a tyke. There are also strong De La ties from the executive Committee of the CSDJRLFC and the board of the Sharks. Long serving President of the Junior League, Bob Gorick passed away recently, it's entirely possible the next President will come from De La Salle - thus strengthening that bond again.
So it's not strictly a religion thing. It's more about power and money. Of course the age old argument about the Catholics being rich can be inserted here at any time and probably will be.
None of that is designed to defend. The reason is that I think the district club is in a very unhealthy position. When you have this sort of near monopoly in a club you virtually have a whole lot of "yes" men. Very few differing idealogies. Very little input from other areas and an enhanced feeling of power amongst the chosen due to the unmitigated support from having peers fishing off the same jetty.
That's not easy to bust up.
It's fine if it works. At the Sharks it doesn't. At the 'Dogs under Bullfrog it did. But Bullfrog and B Pierce are not comparable individuals.
Now onto the "Christians". I am another that finds it intriguing that they have to self publicise so much. What's the insecurity with that? Who are they telling, the poor bored ears that are listening or themsleves?
Our jails are full of "Christians". They are no different to anyone else despite so often taking the high moral ground. To me the vocal ones, the ones who "ram it down people's throats" are no less fanatical than the Muslims or any other extreme group. They may be ideaologically different but so many of them still seem to want everyone to be like them.
I agree with reefy about Stevo. I think Simmo will follow the same path. I've rarely seen Stevo get angry on the footy field. The one time that sticks out was when Simmo was dropped on his head. Why? We've had others dropped on their heads that haven't seen the big man get as riled.
Simmo is patently too soft. Is that his basic makeup or is that a result of his Christianity?
They are not the only ones. Galloway is in there - another seen as soft. The Samoans we have.
Christianity or character?
Combination?
Neither?
I favour the concept that it is a combo. I think one potentiates the other. If you are already a soft gentle person Christianity may well make those traits more apparent and vice versa.
I think having too big a group like that is detrimental. I think the much publicised prayer session is detrimental. Why does everyone have to even know about that?
Is this actually splitting? One group off for a prayer and the other eating raw meat? Must be hard for a club to truly promote unity when one group brazenly takes itself out of the mainstream. We have one group fit to kill and the other wishing goodwill on all men. One lot fighting back, the other turning the other cheek.
Is there room for the Christians in the team? Of course there is. But it should be tempered and they should be footballers who are Christians NOT Christians who are footballers. Simmo's article still sickens me from a footballers perspective. You can't win comps with attitudes like his.
