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Rod McPhee: Why Terry should never have gone
BEWILDERINGLY, the departure of John Terry has, it seems, arisen partly as a result of the old assertion that: "He's a role model, whether he likes it or not."
It's an odd notion when you think about it. Absolute and unqualified, it suggests someone should just inherit the mantle and live up to it, regardless of whether they've actually coveted it.
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So, by allegedly having an affair with his teammate's ex-girlfriend, Terry has, in the minds of many, conducted himself in a manner unbefitting the England squad's skipper – and ultimately that led to him going.
But why?
Why, do we think that any high profile job automatically means that an individual should mould themselves as some sort of example-setting icon?
Leader
Short of committing a heinous wrong which could impact on anyone beyond his nearest and dearest, surely the only criteria a captain should meet is (1) that they be white hot at football and (2) they're a leader of men.
As for this notion that it could have impacted on the England team's spirit, that's something of a distraction. This past week's mini-crisis need not have dismantled the dynamic of the squad, not if it were handled well.
Besides, hasn't he just done what other modern-day footballers have done and behaved like a rock star? (who are contractually obliged to sleep around).
I can understand adopting such an unforgiving attitude when we're talking about politicians or priests who might well be telling us how we should and shouldn't live our lives.
But footballers? No.
Admittedly it's far from an ideal situation but, ultimately, it comes down to this: I'd rather have a captain whose soccer skills, if not his morals, are unquestionable. And, here's a crazy idea, if we find John Terry's private affairs so unpalatable we could always stop sticking our collective beaks into his personal life.
But it's too late now, sadly.
In the future if we're really genuine about maintaining the integrity of role models we should not lose sight of what brings someone fame in the first place. If we want young people to excel they should be inspired by the best of the best, not sanctimonious wannabes.
Even if we try to steer the next generation in the right moral direction let's make sure they know that, if they make mistakes, they will be treated with the leniency that all flawed humans deserve.
And that's just how we should have viewed John Terry. After all, he's human too – whether we like it or not.
Give it a rest now Pete
IT'S bad enough that Peter Andre is overshadowed by love rival Alex Reid winning Celebrity Big Brother, even worse that he should be eclipsed by Jordan marrying him in Las Vegas.
But then he goes and plunges himself into the abyss by releasing, wait for it, Unconditional: Peter Andre Love Songs. It includes such gems as I Can't Make You love Me, She's Outta My Life and All Cried Out.
Yeah, we've got it Pete, you and Katie = tragic love affair. Not quite Edward and Mrs Simpson or Jackie and JFK, was it though? Enough already.
Meanwhile this CD has blatantly been released in time for Valentines Day, but it's probably best you don't use it as a tool for seducing the one you love. It will, however, make a great gift for someone you really hate.
Special thanks to...
THE wonderfully magnanimous Hare Krishna monk who contacted me this week after I wrote about him in Notes from the City last year. You may (or probably may not) recall I was ambushed by one of the orange-robed missionaries while walking down the gauntlet that is now Briggate.
Cornered between the ice cream van and someone selling cheap hats he made me, embarrassingly, shout "Gouranga!" in the middle of a thronging city centre.
"We are always endeavouring to be ambassadors of good will and sometimes our enthusiasm may overtake our politeness," he explained in a very civil hand-penned letter to me. "But you must understand that we have to be a little bit cheeky in order to achieve our aim of distributing spiritual literature."
Fair enough, I thought, but I'll continue to try and dodge them outside the Carphone Warehouse on a Saturday afternoon. It's a task made harder, he informed me, during the winter months when they are usually disguised in ski trousers and warm jackets. Sneaky.
"But come spring," he continued. "I will don my orange saffron robes once again – see you on Briggate!"
Not if I see him first.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
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