We are back with another show and as usual some interesting topics under discussion.
Our guest on this show is former international water polo goalkeeper Tomaz Lasic who has just published his first book, “The Love of Goalkeeping.” The book is not a coaching manual but looks at what it takes to become a goalkeeper, not just the physical attributes, but the many other aspects that make this position so unique. Tomaz looks at the similarity in the skills needed to fill the position in a number of sports and how there is a crossover in the coaching. For those who wish to purchase a copy visit the website The Love of Goalkeeping.
In our topics under discussion John looks at the passing of football great Maradona and asks whether his legacy would have been very different if he had admitted that he had punched the ball past England’s Peter Shilton. Clearly he was a genius on the pitch and had his flaws away from it. Should we judge him by those flaws or solely on his football? The debate as to whether he was the greatest will continue to rage, and for those too young to have seen Pele, he will always hold that position. For the record the documentary mentioned was “In The Hands of The Gods.”
Following the discussion on Maradona and also the interview with Tomaz, Ashley looks at whether players are now being selected more due to their height or physical attributes rather than for their ability. Will we ever see the likes of Maradona and Messi again, as will those identifying talent select them or dismiss them for being too small? At the current time there is not a single goalkeeper in the English Premier League under 6ft (182cm). The average height of a Premier League goalkeeper is currently 6 ft 3 in, or 193cm. This is not just happening in football, in Tennis the last player under 6ft to win one of the four major tournaments was Gaston Gaudio in 2004. Certainly people are getting taller but from 1960-1980 there were only five players over 6ft to win Wimbledon, since 1980 there have only been five under 6ft to win Wimbledon! The same is also happening in golf where the average age of players on The Tour has gone down but their height up. Here was a sport that used to be for all body types but now size and strength are having a part to play as much as the equipment. All of the top players are now over 6ft, so do those under that height have a chance, or are they too being cut out of the sport? Is this discrimination? Or is it just proof that many sports are not as diverse as they used to be?
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