Post by SamuelE on Sept 7, 2006 21:41:23 GMT
mm2 said:
Not sure I follow, "8". Is it a reference to forgiving a rider involved in the accident?That's horrific Rob, I'm surprised you ever became a fan.
I was only 11 at the time, so I don't think the impact really hit me until much later on, and then I realised what a tragedy it really was. Even my dislike of Alan Grahame, for his role in the incident, came much later, long after the event itself had faded.
I was hooked on speedway from the smell of the bikes, even before the first race, and I think (especially when you're younger) that the thrill of the spills is something else that draws you in. It's only later that you realise that much as you like the spectacle of a good crash, you really want to see the riders get up straightaway, uninjured.
Nowadays, I wince when I see the big pile-ups.
For any Oxford "fan" (I use the word very lightly) to make such a statement shows a total lack of understanding of the psyche of sport and its social purpose and, as Martin says, is 'despicable'. It also belittles the efforts of real supporters who see 'beyond' the minutiae of heat details, winning times, scores, and who understand what these riders risk, every time they go out on the track, in the name of 'our' entertainment.
Maybe, with all seriousness, that's how we should view Monday and Wednesday...as they say, "at least no one died".
