BWitcher

Not to kids there isn't. You don't choose role models for them, they choose themselves. wjm, I'm not suggesting that the riders 'have to' act like role models, but kids do view them as such.. its how kids are. Although, this is speedway, so there aren't that many kids who even know who he is

I don't think you are quite grasping it. Role models/heroes are not chosen by the parents. They are chosen by the kids. I'm not saying it's right that they are viewed as such, but they are. I was waiting for someone to bring up the Moran brothers. Perfect examples. Most say they are 2 of the most naturally talented riders to ever race, Kelly especially. Kelly got by on his natural talent but he only ever reached a certain level. Had he had the professionalism of a Nielsen, who knows what he could have done. I agree that back then they were called 'characters' though. Darcy isn't getting rubbish just because of this incident, we have seen 3 very recent occasions that have shown, Ward + alcohol = bad things happen. His own promoter Matt Ford has said he has a problem. Yet barely weeks into the season there's already another incident regarding Ward + alcohol. That's why there's lots of comments on it.

Then most kids in the world are 'off their nut'. The vast majority have heroes, idols that they look up too.

Might be time to revisit this post.

Many thanks for this Neil. My order is already in with you (via Fourentee)

So we have been led to believe...

Correct, Michael Lee was just as bad, that is the whole point. Folk don't want Ward to end up like Michael Lee and throw his career away! The absolute best thing anyone who 'hates' Ward can do is just.. Let him get on with it.

Once again, it isn't. You will see 'some' people pissing in doorways, fighting and getting thrown out of clubs.. and you will see hundreds/thousands of others having a good night out who don't get thrown out of clubs/pubs. If you think that is 'normal' behaviour it says more about you than anything else. Disorderly behaviour, urinating in the street... that IS breaking the law. What you fail to realise is, if there happened to be any police around at the time of the incident who took it the wrong way he could quite easily find himself being charged YET AGAIN. Despite a number of warnings, scrapes with the law he continues to put himselves in positions where things can go very wrong. That is foolish. Again, I refer to the words of Matt Ford after his previous incident in Australia. Perhaps he is a Darcy hater too? I don't hate Ward, I think he's a brilliant rider who has won me over with his natural ability on a bike. What I don't want to see is him throw it away.

Actually it doesn't. The majority of people, including youngsters can go out, have a good time without getting involved in fights and being thrown out of places. What some of you are forgetting are the words of Matt Ford who identified Ward had a problem. An alcohol problem. Quite clearly, he still does. It is EXTREMELY foolish of Ward to get himself into such a situation again so shortly after his last incidents.

What it shows is that Ward is continuing to place himself in situations where he is liable to get himself into a heap of trouble.

Personally, if something doesn't interest me, be it a book, a film, a newspaper or perhaps a topic on a discussion forum, I don't open it up and read it!

Yes its ridiculous to understand and know more about the sport you are watching....

Which is why, right from the beginning they should have been getting crowds in and ensuring it looked like the place to be on TV. Sadly they've blown it.

You are illustrating what I have been saying. Most people have pre conceived ideas. If the sport was marketed correctly you would be surprised how many can be converted. Look at fashion.. Clothes, hairstyles etc. they change constantly, not because people suddenly don't like certain clothes anymore but because they are, to all intents and purposes, told they don't like them anymore as its not 'cool'. Of course there will be folk who simply aren't going to be interested as its not their thing, but there are thousands who could be.

Err.. surely the facts have come out as he has been banned for 6 months and admitted to the two offences?

What would be embarrassing about watching a speedway meeting in a massive crowd?

Completely irrelevant in the context of what I said. The point is, if you broadcast the sport to the nation with nobody there, nobody is going to feel they are 'missing out'. Broadcast it and the place is packed out.. folk will want to go. Its the sheep mentality. Read the above.. the racing is no different to how it's always been. Plus, there are tracks in this country that produce consistently better racing than others, but they don't attract better crowds.

I don't think it matters very much at all how good the racing is. If your average punter doesn't believe its 'cool' or the 'in' thing to attend speedway, they won't. That's all there is to it. The perception of the sport has to be changed before it has any chance to grow. This is why they have wasted the 10 years+ of Sky meetings. Every meeting they show in front of a half empty (and below) stadium re-enforces the perception that speedway is not the place 'to be'. They should have been giving out tickets, reduced admission etc for TV meetings right from the off. Had they done so, the sport would be in a FAR healthier shape that it is now. I always refer to the growth of the WWF/E under Vince McMahon, one of the most key things he achieved was a: obtain a National tv deal.. and then b: Ensure that the tv coverage showed a packed out crowd every time.. most of them in the early days were free tickets dished out to ensure it was full. The rest is history.

Not saying that at all.. It's the attitude of couldn't care less.. would you care if he'd crashed into your car and drove off?

Middleditch was right about some youngsters of today clearly...

But I'm in your gang aren't I? Oh.. now I'm confused. I agree with where you are coming from with regards presentation.

Same here, I've posted this before, but its relevant here. My formative years were mid-late 80's, early 90's watching the sport. My memory tells me how fantastic this period was racing wise. The videos and Dvd's I have of ALL the matches then tell me a completely different story.

Sorry Oldace, I totally disagree. Marketing and perception has everything to do with it. There are hundreds of thousands of people who 'like' things because its the 'cool thing to like' or the 'popular thing to like'. Look at the arguments against speedway... 'no passing, follow the leader etc'.. yet many of the folk who make these arguments will sit watching a F1 race for 90 mins that is often even more strung out and follow the leader. Why do they do that? Because F1 is the cool, hyped sport that they feel comfortable being a fan off. Darts.. go back 15-20 years, most 20-30 year old males wouldn't have dreamed of going to a Darts event.. now, through marketing and a change of presentation it's suddenly 'cool' and the crowds flock in. The game hasn't changed.

So you thought you would waste your own time and clog up the forum by posting about something that you have no interest in... rather strange. I hope you've emailed the newspaper who reported the offence, perhaps even got in touch with the court involved to let them know that it's pathetic and not worthy of attention.

He did wrong, end of story... until some fool starts with the old 'it wasn't that bad a crime' line.