- Joined
- Jan 27, 2014
I think that the best athletes can be that way. We call it "white line fever". They can be lovely and sweet and all things nice off the ice/field, and once they get on it...well, it's like Plushenko, isn't it? Cocky and confident on the ice, but off the ice, happily worshipping young skaters and signing autographs and being a general sweetheart.
There was an Australian fast bowler, the greatest ever, Mr Glenn McGrath. Off the field, he was a lovely, wonderful man, a caring family man, a darling. On the field, he was a snarling, spitting, sledging, snorting, roaring quick who wanted nothing more than to take wickets by whatever means was necessary.
Thanks for telling us that! It's interesting, and as a translator it's always useful to learn new phrases. Wonder if it's an Aussie saying only?
Mr McGrath brought to mind USMNT's goalkeeper Tim Howard. He's a family man and by all accounts a lovely person. He's also very religious but not in an in-yer-face-Tebow style. When he was asked, he said that yes he screams and shouts and curses on the field, but that is part of the game and outside of football he's a different person. His lovely character off-field was evident at least once on-field, when he scored a goal for Everton by booting the ball all the way from his end to Bolton's net (with the help of some winds). I think he was the 4th man to do this in the Premier League. His reaction after the goal is so precious: he is obviously trying not to smile and while his teammates are jumping and cheering, he refuses to. Afterwards he explained that he refused to celebrate because he felt for Bolton's keeper and knew how "unfair" and embarrassing that goal would have felt if he'd been at the receiving end.