Many years ago I realised I wasn't going to be a star footballer.......I mean I did have talent, I was really good at NOT tackling and also really good at NOT breaking tackles, so the career was short lived. I then decided the best way to approach this setback was to channel all my energies into supporting the MIGHTY EELS.
Some many moons ago the EELS were leading Manly by 12 nil early in the game only to lose by 66-12.....If my ageing mind recounts correctly......But I rolled up to Winter Cricket training the following Tuesday to a rousing round of applause from my mates....Why? Because I had the courageto wear our colours after a flogging....No big deal....."I am a supporter, It's what we do"
On the birth of my first child I enntered the delivery room, size Zero Parramatta jersey in hand, alas the Doctor wouldn't let me deliver Bub into the jersey....But I tried"...."I am a supporter, It's what we do"
Best I keep the approach to my then to be Wife about a Blue and Gold Themed Wedding, Tuxedo and Wedding dress story short......It ended not well, the story and the marriage....life goes on...."I am a supporter, It's what we do.
Last year I put my hard earned on my beloved EELS when we were the juicy odds of 80/1.....Why? My friends said through their laughter......"I am a supporter, It's what we do"......NB Really impressed when I found out about the cheaters.
So don't despair about our lack of signings or our disorganized/Inexperienced halves.....We had them last year and made a Grand Final, only to lose to the team...that....well had calculation problems.
Yes our halves aren't "Little Generals" or "Playmakers" but thats what made our football last year unique and hard to shut down, other sides game plans involve shutting down Thurston, Prince, Lockyer, Marshall etc, we didn't and don't have that calibre of halves, so whom do they shut down? That said, our halves and Hayne go very well when we 2nd phase/offload, just look at State of Origin 3......2nd Half offloads and Hayne exploded.....Offloads equal disorganised and tired defence.
What we need to do is NOT OFFLOAD on our boys, but encourage them to OFFLOAD....Yep, encourage them....."I am a supporter, It's what we do"
Love to hear some Anecdotes from other supporters.
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There's another game that really sticks out in my mind and it's strange because it was another loss at Parra Stadium. This time against the Broncos in 1990 I think it was. That year we were mid table for most of it and a chance at getting in tot eh semi's for the first time since 1986. It was about 3/4's of the way through the season and we had to keep winning to make the semi's. Well we started like premiership winners that day. We were all over them. Parra had Sterling and Kenny in the halves and my old favourite Mark Laurie at Lock but apart from that they were no-names to be honest. The Broncos had the likes of Langer, Walters, Myles, Carne, Hancock, Matterson - a virtual QLD Origin side! Anyways, we were looking teh goods until about 15 minutes to go when we blew like a 14 point lead to end up losing by 2. But I remember the Broncos were helped by some very, very dodgy refereeing decisions on the day by Greg McCallum. It's probably why I remember the game so vividly because I was fuming by the end of the game - thinking to myself, if I see McCallum in the carpark after this game I'll spit on him! It basically ended our season. People who pay attention to any of my ramblings here know that I'm a pretty objective fan so for me to say that the referee cost us that day means that he was particularly bad. I just felt so sorry for the likes of Sterling and Laurie that day, they had absolutely busted their guts in that game and came away with nothing except confirmation they wouldn't be in the semi's yet again. But we renewed our season tickets for the following year. We're supporters, it's what we do!
Hey, a week after the 2001 Grand Final I wore my Parra jersey in public. You just can't stop supporting Parra :)
in the early 90's just after he'd retired and shaking his hand and thanking him for the great footballing memories, then running off like a wild man down the street shouting "Kenny, kennny yes he can shut the gates they won't catch him" to the bemused looks of shoppers etc, funny stuff Indeed I am a supporter it's what we do.
Weren't the inhabitants of Jonestown heard to say "I'm a supporter, It's what we do" right before they drank the Kool-Aid??