MVREALLY ??? We have arrived at that time of year when we feel an unstoppable urge to look beyond the league tables and bestow laurels on the heads of players who stand out. It seems to me to be easier to look at a single and pick out the “Man of Match”. He will be the player who’s input had the biggest influence on the game – simply put the best player. Cut and dry and only those who see the game can really have a valid opinion. However a league MVP is a different kettle of fish. For one thing we don’t see all that we base our decision upon. SBC Games are not broadcast and therefore we can’t. If we are involved in A team then we see all of those games and have somewhat skewed perspective on who we think is the best. I am not saying it is right or wrong. If you are on the field and see a team mate beasting opponents over the course of a season who can argue with that? Not enough neutrals attend our games, officials are mostly team provided these days. There was a “scheme” introduced a few years back where the Coaches of each team would select the MVP from their opponent after each game. Theoretically the player who amassed the most nominations could have been fairly deemed to be the MVP of the league. But the scheme was not adhered to, like many of the “lesser” rules it was simply not bothered with. Pity as given the upswing in Media (Blog) coverage that would have gone down a treat! But we are where we are. Double Coverage have taken a step further than their excellent scoring charts and have invited us to vote in an open poll for the SBC MVP from a list of candidates they have chosen following consultation with people on the ground in our game, but not me? Never the less the list of players is an impressive one. All of whom were surely MVP in at least one game this season and could easily carry the title of SBC MVP or DC SBC MVP to give the full title! On the site were are invited to vote AND comment. And folks this is where the system breaks down. It seems people don’t want to be critical BUT. You see when it comes to something that is based on opinion , well then all opinions count. While the DC poll is new – this is not a new concept to us. A poll was run on IAFS Forums previously where folks could nominate MVP’s and top 4 or so were entered into a poll. The same debates would rage. Playing nice some folks would vote for players from other teams and perhaps some were more partisan. But in the end you could not argue with choice. Quality always stands rises to the top. The Poll element of the MVP award seems to be mirroring the seasons rushing title with Messrs Mackey & Colvin once again thrashing all before them and setting off on a head to head contest. But the folks at DC no doubt are aware that numbers games can be somewhat tainted, lessons learned from Block Voting at Eurovision no doubt. After all of the voting and getting granny to sign up to Facebook to vote and signing great granny up from the grave to vote twice, it will be the writers from Double Coverage who will decide in the end. And as is always the case their choice will be equally hailed as the rightful winner and called not as good as someone else! But come season’s end there will be only winner! The team who’ll raise the Shamrock Bowl aloft on July 20th in Tallaght. You see this is a team sport. And while we rightly recognize the efforts of everyone and of course the herculean efforts of the few ( I was going to say Trojan effort, but held back) the only true barometer for success in our sport is the scoreboard. It is pure and equal. It is never wrong (barring certain websites – my own included, but you get the point). On Shamrock Bowl Morning the score board will read 00 00 and it will be ONLY the efforts of those on the turf who can change those numbers for better or for worse. Just as it was the efforts of those players all season long that got them to the Bowl Game. Even selecting an MVP on that day can be contentious. Opinions again! And the thing about opinions is – everyone has them including myself. However I am unable to express them as I voted for other – comments when all I wanted to do was see what “other comments” was! Proving there is no fair way to pick an MVP after all! As my 85 year old boss often says “ what about the poor bastard with no laptop”? Sadly, as I found out, voting for an MVP is a young man’s game. My boss and I will watch this one from the sideline now and wait for the next local election where common sense and the pencil are all powerful. Meanwhile best of luck to all involved in this – even if I don’t agree with MVP’s in team sports it will be an impressive achievement for you and in the absence of a NATIONAL TEAM the least our community can do to highlight your excellence. facebook/questions/584595081562970/ Did you know that despite defense winning championships since 1957 when Jim Brown won the first NFL MVP only two defensive players won the honour. Alan Page in 72 was not only a defensive player but defensive Lineman! Laurence Taylor won it in ’86.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:04:41 +0000
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