Ohio Irish American News: A Story from this Month’s Issue: Owens Sports
Owens Sports
Golf – A New Number One
As I write this I am watching a wee bit of history being made, Irishman Rory McIlroy has just made his final putt at the 2012 Honda Classic, to not only win yet another tournament in his short career, but more importantly, to fulfill a lifelong ambition in becoming the number one ranked golfer in the world. Well done young man, well done indeed.
Rory McIlroy
It has been quite amazing to watch ‘the new Tiger’ progress through the ranks of the PGA Tour over the past few years. How many times in sport do we hear about the new Tiger, the new Beckham or the new Jordan? It seems the media loves to put these potential megastars up on a pedestal to soak up their new found glory, yet at the same time, they relish coming back to say ‘I guess he did not have it in him’ when those they built up fail to reach the heights of glory expected.
Rory t has handled himself and the expectations of the media over the years with nothing but professionalism. In a time when golf has needed a new nice guy to like, the recent success of the young Irishman has been nothing short of a magical story for the golfing world. Watching his interviews, he is easy to like, watching him play, you can do nothing but admire him.
Since making his pro debut in America in 2009, at the Match Play Championship at the age of nineteen, McIlroy has made quite a first impression, despite some ups and downs in success. He plays without an apparent care in the world.
This was very apparent in his recent victory at the Honda Classic, when he didn’t flinch when Tiger Woods went birdie-eagle for a 62, his best final round ever, and nearly nine shots better than the average score on the final Sunday of the tournament. McIlroy could surely hear the roar from a mile away, but gathered himself and rolled in a birdie putt of his own. He followed with three par saves over the last five holes for a two-shot victory, elevating him to No. 1 in the world. What a finish, and what a joy it was to watch it.
Football – The 2012 Euro’s
The 2012 European Championships are fast approaching. Before we know it, we’ll be crowded around a TV in our favorite watering hole with a pint in hand shouting ‘come on Ireland’ and ‘get into them Ireland’. The Irish team has been warming up, not just on the field, but in the recording studio, where they got in to help record the ‘official’ song for the upcoming Euro’s.
Ireland’s Official Euro 2012 Song, Rocky Road to Poland, was recorded in February at Dublin’s Windmill Lane Studios by Damien Dempsey, Bressie, The Coronas’ Danny O’Reilly and The Dubliners, who, incidentally, will be in Cleveland later this summer.
Listeners to the Ray D’Arcy Show on Irish radio show Today FM were tasked with rewriting the lyrics to The Rocky Road to Dublin for the track, with winning lines chosen by Dempsey and producer John Reynolds for inclusion in the song, which will be released in April by EMI Music Ireland. D’Arcy said: “Rocky Road to Poland – this is what soccer anthems are made of: soul, passion and an inflatable hammer. Having the old and new guard of Irish music on the song is a real treat.
With only a few months to go until the 1st match against Croatia, this is a good time for all to get familiar with the lyrics. Who knows – maybe we’ll have an IANOhio reader’s party where we all get together and give it a lash!
Rocky Road to Poland
T’was in the merry month of June, from our home we started, Left old Eireann’s Isle, to Poland we departed, Hope within our hearts, we can win the trophy, We are all a part of Trapattoni’s army, Get behind the team, hear the Irish scream, C’mon you boys in green, Ireland’s bouncing back again, We have got our Trap, the cat is in the sack, We’ll not forget you Jack, On the rocky road to Poland.
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Irish eyes are smiling, Let your voices ring Trapattoni’s army, everybody sing.
You’ll never beat the Irish x 4
Make your mother proud, inflate your plastic hammer, Bate your bodhrán loud and learn your Polish grammar, Credit Union loan, sold the Opel Corsa, Hired a camper van, picked it up in Warsaw, Been so close before, hopes slammed in the door, Now we’re back for more, we can win the battle, C’mon you boys in green, never have we seen, Such a fearless team, on the rocky road to Poland.
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Irish eyes are smiling, Let your voices ring Trapattoni’s army, Everybody sing.
You’ll never beat the Irish x 4
Ireland Abú. We love.
Trivia
First last month’s question: The Republic of Ireland last qualified and played at the European Football Championships in 1988, but when did they make their first appearance in the competition? 1988; which is the same year they made their 1st appearance at the European Football Championships. This month’s question: Which famous Irish folk singer wrote a song about an Irish fan going to watch his beloved Irish play at the 1988 European Championship’s in West Germany?
*Mark Owens is originally from Derry City, Ireland and has resided in the Cleveland area since 2001, where he is employed by State Farm Insurance Companies, having previously spent time studying at John Carroll University. Send questions, comments or suggestions for future articles to Mark at: markowens@ireland.com.
Comment, and share your story with me; thank you for allowing me to share mine with you. Follow me, where I go:
www.songsandstories.net www.facebook.com/OhioIrishAmericanNews www.twitter.com/jobjr