Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Rob Burrow & Javier Tebas
Every Monday we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.
HIT - ROB BURROW
It’s impossible not to be moved by the story of Rob Burrow.
As a star for Leeds Rhinos, he was key during their era of domination between 2004 and 2017, scoring 198 tries in 494 appearances as the team won eight Super League titles, two Challenge Cup crowns and three World Club Challenges.
Such is his legendary status, that the Rhinos recently announced plans to erect a statue of Burrow and his longstanding teammate Kevin Sinfield outside Headingley.
He also played 20 times for Great Britain and England. and announced himself on the international scene during the test series against New Zealand where he was one of the stars and finished as the top points scorer with 26.
But his life changed forever in December 2019 when he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Speaking at the time, he said: “I know I have a big challenge in front of me but knowing that I have the love and support of so many people will give me inspiration and strength. I am very positive about the situation and intend to battle the condition as I still feel fit and well.”
A month after his diagnosis, Burrows was fit enough to play for five minutes of a game staged in his honour.
More than 20,000 fans turned out to support Burrow, who was joined by former team-mates Sinfield, Danny McGuire and Jamie Peacock, who had come out of retirement to play together for one last time.
Eighteen months later, It would be impossible not to be moved by his emotional return to Headingly as the Rhinos beat Huddersfield Giants.
Burrows was accompanied to the stadium by his family and friends as he launched his autobiography ‘Too Many Reasons to Live.’
The situation for Burrows is dire. Confined to a wheelchair, he has to use an electronic device to communicate now that his speech has gone, and he can no longer eat solids as his muscles have deteriorated.
It’s to his credit that despite facing such an incredible challenge, Burrows remains upbeat.
He said recently: “I feel tremendously lucky. The other day, my wife, Lindsey, asked if I’d change anything about my life, if it meant not getting MND.
“I told her I wouldn’t change a thing. Lindsey found that comforting, powerful even, but I’m not sure she understood it. But how could I not feel lucky? I’ve achieved so much. I have a wonderful wife and three beautiful children.
“What more does a man need? By fighting as hard as I can, I hope others can find strength. I hope they can see that there are too many reasons to live.”
Despite his deteriorating condition, Burrows has actively campaigned to help raise awareness and raise funds in support of MND charities and last week announced that he would use his profile to support others suffering with MND by campaigning to raise £5m to build The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds.
He said: “Imprisoned in the brutality of MND, my vision is that people diagnosed with MND hear the news in a calming and tranquil sanctuary.
“I envisage a beautiful, welcoming building that is user and family friendly. A place where patients feel comfortable to bring family members into a safe and homely environment for them, with signs of hope and optimism.
“For carers of those with MND it is important to know that their loved ones are in the best possible place. Something every MND sufferer and their families deserve.'”
The Leeds Rhinos Foundation, official charity of the club, has been the first to pledge cash towards the appeal, with a donation of £50,000.
Esther Wakeman, Chief Executive of Leeds Hospitals Charity hopes the new centre will spark a change to MND care across the nation:
She said: “We recognised the need for a dedicated centre in Leeds, which we know will make a huge difference to many affected by this cruel disease. I can envisage our centre becoming a flagship in the UK and I hope that this will inspire others to replicate this up and down the country, offering thousands of MND sufferers the best quality of life and help us get closer to finding a cure one day.”
It’s a credit to Burrows’ courage and generosity that even with his own situation looking so gloomy, he still wants to help others - which will stand alongside his sporting endeavours as a testament to his legacy.
MISS – JAVIER TEBAS
For anyone in public office or a leadership role, it’s important to maintain dignity and be mindful of the responsibility that comes with your position.
As La Liga President, Javier Tebas is the spokesmen for one of the most exciting football leagues in the world, and one which at times has rivalled the English Premier League for box office appeal.
A decline in television deals and the high spending of its leading clubs have threatened a major income stream and its global competition status.
So it was sad to see a war of words break out when Tebas, accused Paris St Germain (PSG) of being “as dangerous as the Super League.”
Tebas is no stranger to controversy and has been an avid critic of clubs such as PSG and Manchester City, two clubs backed by Middle Eastern nation states which give them huge spending power and ultimately make them more competitive.
After losing Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, two of La Liga's most famous faces, to PSG, Tebas hit out at the club's transfer policy.
"PSG looks like the league of legends given the age of some players. La Liga has young players like Vinicius (Junior). The problem of PSG, we will solve it.
“We will continue to grow despite the departure of Messi. We will work against the club states.”
It is not the first time that the Liga president has taken aim at PSG, having previously accused the club and Manchester City of “economic doping” and of being state-controlled teams.
Given the problems Real Madrid and Barcelona face right now – the latter remember did not re-sign Messi because of their own financial mismanagement with reports that they are over €1billion in debt while Los Blancos were reportedly a mere €900million in debt earlier this year – the comments by Tebas seem to serve as nothing other than a distraction.
On top of that Both Madrid and Barca, along with Italian giants Juventus, remain in the European Super League despite the failure of the project to get off the ground earlier this year.
Barca and Madrid are also taking legal action against La Liga over a €2.7 billion investment deal with private equity firm CVC Partners that would give them a 10% stake in the league.
Madrid made a statement at the time, saying: "The Board of Directors of Real Madrid CF…has unanimously agreed to carry out both civil and criminal legal actions against the president of LaLiga, Mr. Javier Tebas Medrano, against Mr. Javier de Jaime Guijarro responsible of the CVC Fund and against the CVC Capital Partners SICAV-FIS Fund itself.
“Likewise, the Board of Directors has also decided to carry out legal actions of all kinds that are deemed appropriate to annul and nullify the possible agreements adopted by the La Liga Assembly, to be held on August 12, 2021, regarding the agreement between La Liga and the CVC Fund.”
It was no surprise that PSG responded as well, in a public letter,
PSG general secretary, Victoriano Melero said: “Time after time, you allow yourself to publicly attack the French League, our club, our players – together with players of other clubs – and the fans of French football; while constantly posting insulting and defamatory statements insinuating that we do not conform to the football financial regulations, amongst other unsubstantiated statements.
“The French League did not, like your league, wait until recent years to take actions and put in place strong financial regulations. It is now publicly-known that certain Spanish clubs and your League are facing unsustainable levels of debt after gross mismanagement, not to mention the way Spanish football has been financed over the past decade – including by the State.”
Melero said Tebas was “disrespectfully attacking the players, simply because they decided to leave your competition. I am quite surprised you are not focusing more of your attention on the two clubs in your League that remain steadfast focused on breaking up your League, and European football as a whole.
“We invite you to focus on solving your domestic issues, which you are responsible for, and to stop your transparent and repeated diversion attempts.”
Clearly La Liga is facing huge challenges.
Tebas would be better to focus on his own organisation rather than appear to express nothing but bitterness towards other clubs and organisations which undermines his credibility and the prestige Spanish football has so long enjoyed.
* Additional Reporting from Will McMurtrie