If you read any of the Conor McGregor-curious op-eds in broadsheet Irish papers circa late 2015 and early 2016, you'll have read a recurring adjective: unapologetic.
This seemed to be at the heart of McGregor's incongruities: what's this, an Irishman being brash about money and profligate with self-praise? It's not very Irish.
Sorry Canada, but we almost certainly have the highest ratio of apologies per capita in the world. (This is not founded on any detailed research, so we apologise to any offended parties if we are being inaccurate).
We won't indulge in amateur sociology any further on this, but at some stage down the years, the hand of history left our shoulder and compelled us to hold it on a door for up to ninety, agonising seconds so strangers who would rather have it slammed in their face are forced to quicken their pace out of politeness in the Larry David-scripted dystopia that is called Daily Life.
This compulsion also manifests itself in our desire to be the last through the door, signified by the outstretched arm and the humble half-bow. But the problem is, if everybody does this, then nobody goes anywhere. This soon becomes a ludicrously intense game of chicken: who is weak enough to go first? And in a bid to escape the awkwardness, cede the moral high ground?
Such an awkward standoff surfaced ahead of today's league clash between Kilkenny and Waterford, between two exceptionally strong characters: Dan Shanahan and Brian Cody.
After a standoff not out of place at the OK Corral, Cody eventually won. As if the result as ever in doubt.
Next time you cross my path, you might not be so lucky Dan ? @DeiseHurling @LiveGaelicScore @Kilkenny_GAA @CatsKilkenny @irishsportshour pic.twitter.com/TxxjkwhBzc
— Brian Cody (@Darth_Cody) February 12, 2017
No backward step. The principle is not dissimilar to that of Ger Loughnane, on the morning of the 1995 All-Ireland final.Coming out of the team hotel, the Clare team bus were confronted by a locked gate. Just as the bus driver was ready to double back and find another exit, Loughnane intervened, saying "No, we'll take no backward steps today", and proceeded to hop out and, along with the management team, lift the gate off its hinges.
Jamsie O'Connor did later wonder whether Loughnane had planted the gate, and staged the whole thing.
No doubting Cody, though.
That said, Waterford did win in Nowlan Park, so perhaps we can't read too much into it...
