Sport has evolved and changed a great deal since God was a young man. Here are some memorable sporting quirks that have sadly died out over the last few years.
1. Goalkeepers who wear tracksuit bottoms
2. Lads throwing up the ball and fisting points from 30 yards
A magnificent resource that players rarely fall back on now. When a player is boxed with little room for manoeuvre he can toss the ball up in the air, and let a furious punch of the ball goalwards.
3. Serve and volleying
4. Par 5s that aren't reachable in 2
5. Widespread confusion as to whether someone's been sent off or not
"Is he after putting him off, he is?" "No he hasn't at all, oh wait he has... Is he gone off the pitch, he is?"
Red cards stopped all that.
6. The small goals that they used to use for camogie finals
They weren't patronising at all...
7. Priests throwing in the ball
The ceasing of the practice of a cleric throwing a ball in at GAA matches was, in many ways, the first blow struck for liberal Ireland
8. Aonghus McAnally introducing sporting events
Live from Goffs
9. Goalposts that vary from ground to ground
Now, they all have the same regulation look
10. Darts matches without that song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00-H0cHaazQ
11. Myles Dungan sitting in front of a blue screen introducing the American coverage of the US Masters and then appearing about four hours later to say Goodbye.
12. One handed line-out throws
Technically awkward looking. Why were hookers needlessly handcapping themselves? There's a few of them here
13. Diving scrum half passes
Back in the day, the slight lads who played rugby union needed to use every ounce of strength to heave the ball in the direction of the outhalf. The diving scrum half pass has fallen violently out of fashion recently.
- Picture credit; Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
14. Building work that's still in progress during the Premiership season
The Taylor report asked a lot. Cranes and building machinery were an ever present at grounds during the 1992/93 season
15. Grass banks behind GAA goals rather than terraces
The old Casement Park
16. Centre backs who double as centre forwards
Not just Gary Doherty. Chris Sutton too...
17. Mixed sports TV shows
18. Player-Managers
One witnesses the steady winding down of a player's career as he manages the team, picking himself frequently at first, then, as he gets deeper and deeper into the managerial game he became an extremely irregular cameo figure
19. Defenders taking kick-outs
Usually if the goalkeeper was injured, but sometimes if the defender had a big kick
Have you any other suggestions? Let us know.
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