In the context of the discussion about professionalism in sport, 1968 is fairly recent.
Some of your colleagues are banging on about the damage that the Vichy regime in France did to your code...............they were gone in 1945.
Yes. And in Australia, and many other countries, amateurism prevailed.
I am simply pointing out the facts of history, not defending them.
Apparenty the "idiot sons" were good enough to play county cricket, and Test cricket?
There is no evidence that I am aware of that professionals were discriminated against in selection, other than that they could not captain the MCC (England).
The "old union mates" are doing pretty well around the world since the game went professional, aren't they?
As far as I know, there is still a distinction maintained within golf between amateurs and professionals, particularly at the elite level. I do not claim to understand the intricacies of it.
GM, I do not know what your particular problems in life are. You seem to be a particularly sad person. All I have done in this thread is to point out the facts of sporting history. Amateurism was the norm in British sports until quite recently. I did not make that happen. As a rugby person, amateurism, and the loss of good players to league on a regular basis throughout my lifetime caused me a fair bit of pain.
League has done well in Australia, mainly because it was professional. It has struggled elsewhere. That is undeniable. Perhaps you could address your anger and your energy towards working out just why that is?
