Some contrast.
GAA players are often afraid of saying too much in an interview for fear of being accused of being “big headed” as Cork camogie star Ashling Thompson puts it.
There are exceptions to the rule. Take Westmeath’s John Heslin, take Limerick’s Shane Dowling, but for the most part, they’ll do their best to say a lot without saying too much.
That makes them the polar opposite to boxers behind the microphone.
Donegal’s Jason Quigley is a successful boxer. He made a name for himself in the amateur ranks, winning three European Championships at youth, under-23 and at senior level.
Since turning professional in 2014, the 26-year-old’s progress has been similarly impressive, winning 13 out of his 13 fights. This distinguished record gives him the confidence to unflinchingly tell a SportsJOE Live audience that he’s going to bring “the first ever Golden Boy Promotions pay-per-view show to Ireland.”
Cockiness and confidence is everything in the fight game. It’s one-on-one, to win you have to beat one man, and half the battle there is showing your that you’re a stronger character than they are.
Quigley has no problems with trash-talking. He’s blessed with the gift of the gab as his SportsJOE Live appearance showed, but he understands GAA players being so contrastingly tame and placid when they’re in the public eye.
When it’s one on one, it’s different.
“I think it’s a little bit different when you’re one on one with somebody. When it’s just the two of you, you’ve a better chance of talking him out of it than 14 other players along with him.
“As well, you don’t want to start a fight with a whole team. At least if you start a fight with the boy you’re fighting you’ve only one man to deal with it.
“Every sport is different. They all have their own ways of psychology, but at the end of the day, it’s all the same,” said the Donegal man.
Ashling Thompson agreed with Quigley, but also feels that the pitfalls of social media are to blame.
“I think when you’re involved in a team environment, and whatever it is with the GAA, social media has a lot to do with it. If you talk yourself up, you get a lot of stick. If you’re in an individual sport, you have to talk yourself up.
Great stuff from @AshlingThompson #SportsJOELive https://t.co/h0NpZPMX0J
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 14, 2017
That’s why GAA players are wary in interviews. With the paralysis by analysis tendencies of social media, they worry that anything out of the ordinary they might say will be taken up the wrong way.
“Sometimes you just feel you can’t fully be yourself, because you’re opening the door to too many people commenting and criticising, and sometimes you feel you have to shut that door and concentrate on your sport and nothing else, because you don’t want people to feel, ‘Oh she’s big headed, she’s above anyone else,” added the Cork camogie star.
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