the grafters hall of fame: an occasional series

well, as previously mentioned, i had another regular feature in the works - and it is this, the grafters hall of fame. (punctuation alert: do i use an apostrophe in grafters? hmmm.)

basically, i love grafters, the players they don't really have much talent but work their socks off; the embodiment of a basic professionalism that is almost extinct. nowadays players are praised for working hard - "they never gave up"; "their effort was commendable"; "their flair was no match for the grit and determination of their opponents" - when this shouldn't be remarkable. playing hard should be a basic expectation for anyone paid to compete on a football field; it is almost like me being credited with replying to my client emails in an appraisal at work. but obviously, with the way many footballers are indulged - and let us not forget, premier league footballers are generally young men of average intelligence from average (or below average) backgrounds) who are lavished with millions before their 25th birthdays, so indulgence is often a fundamental part of the lifestyle - genuinely hard-work is optional. the best, as in every facet of life, can get away with jogging half the time as opposed to sprinting, but that nonchalence has trickled down into the median level as well. when jonathan woodgate tells the media that the spurs team needs a kick up the arse & needs to work harder, people - me included - see it as indictment of the manager; clearly, someone hasn't been able to make them work hard. as in every job, motivation by senior management undoubtedly impacts the level of work produced, but there also needs to be a recognition that sometimes players themselves need to do a better job of self-motivation. without wanting to sound too much like a sun editorial, you can't help but think that this mini generation of young millionaires are probably a little too spoiled.

this is where the grafters hall of fame comes in. it is recognition, in the most minor way possible, of those that have succeeded more due to hard-work and commitment - running the channels for 90 minutes, pressing, harrassing, maintaining your disclipline, staying in position, tracking back, never giving up.

i salute you all.