No surprise as his name was being bandied about on the internet for days and indeed had made the front cover of Scotland's Sunday Herald.
But in the longer context of the issue, it is a surprise. As I mentioned in my blog post yesterday, I wanted to say a few words on release of his name, to show my dismay at what is an unexpected turn of events.
This is my sorry explanation...
"The Ultimate Football Professional - Ryan Giggs"
These were my own words - the words that I used in a blog post written here back in October to contrast against what I saw as the shameful attitude of Wayne Rooney towards his employees Manchester United.
I wanted to demonstrate that Rooney could well take a leaf out of Giggs' book in how to be a model professional.
I must guote the piece in full...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Ryan Giggs has played his entire career for one club - the same Manchester United as Wayne Rooney. An unprecedented near 850 appearances over 20 years. He was won more league titles than any other in the history of the game, two European Cups and countless other domestic trophies.
"Yet, off the pitch, he has been an exemplar of good behaviour. Now married with a young family, you'll only see him on the back pages for his exploits on the pitch, not on the front pages of the tabloids for his exploits in a club or in someone's bed.
"For any aspiring young footballer, for dedication and commitment on the pitch and for a level-headedness off it, they need look no further than Ryan Giggs".
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well, what can I say?! I'm absolutely stunned and flabergasted that I was proven to be wholly incorrect.
Innocent until proven guilty of course but in this case, it would seem that where there's smoke, there's fire. I have no reason to disbelieve Imogen Thomas when she states that she and Giggs had had a 7 month affair and stories here of his previous indiscretions adds to the liklihood that she's telling the truth. Also, the way in which he has tried to smother the affair with the superinjunction and with his crass and incredulous attack on Twitter users leaves a lot to be desired. It is a PR disaster on his part but more importantly, it is a moral tragedy and one which I had not expected. I find it deeply saddening that he could apparently do such a thing to his wife and the mother of his children.
Giggs is a world class player and I hope that he can help lead Manchester United to another European Cup triumph against Barcelona this weekend. I still regard him in the higher most echelon of footballing playing talent that this country has ever witnessed. Nothing will change that. But he has badly tarnished what was otherwise, a brilliant reputation as a footballer and as a role model through these actions.
It makes me wince when I re-read what I confidently wrote of him back in October.
Through his actions, he has in my opinion, blackened the image that was projected to young and aspiring football players as a model to follow. This is possibly the greatest tragedy of all.
How could I have been so wrong?
No comments:
Post a Comment