John Harms Appreciation Thread

[bulletproof]

Absolutely loved 'Loose Men Everywhere.' Easily the best football book I have read hands down.

Buy Fever Pitch for heavens sake.

 

[cat in sydney]

Ahem.

That he gets a column in a major Australian daily is an embarrassment to the talent of Australian writers. He writes absolute sentimental garbage, that has no humour, insight or relevance. The Age has slipped below the Herald Sun in terms of Editorial quality, amazing stuff. Harms is mostly to blame but old Flanagan, Bob Murphy and the others who write whimsical rubbish are all guilty.

If you want to read sports journalism log onto the www.guardian.co.uk and daily there will be ten articles of superior quality than the best of the Age. Or buy Hornby or Hunter S Thompson.

He offends me as a writer, an Australian and a Geelong Supporter.

Sounds like you're either jealous, or a snob. Neither of which are we, so therefore we enjoy his columns.

 

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

Buy Fever Pitch for heavens sake.

Read it. And I meant best football in terms of AFL.

But yes, Fever Pitch is the best sports book I have read.

 

[Selwood07]

If anyone has a copy of this that they don't need, or knows where to find it, let me know - my online searches have been futile. I would definitely like to get a hold of a copy.

Contact Mary Martin Bookstore, Bourke Street. (03) 9663 9633. They used to do mail orders.

 

[Partridge]

That he gets a column in a major Australian daily is an embarrassment to the talent of Australian writers. He writes absolute sentimental garbage, that has no humour, insight or relevance. The Age has slipped below the Herald Sun in terms of Editorial quality, amazing stuff. Harms is mostly to blame but old Flanagan, Bob Murphy and the others who write whimsical rubbish are all guilty.

He offends me as a writer, an Australian and a Geelong Supporter.

He doesn't offend me, but I certainly disagree with some of what he writes.

I read "Loose Men Everywhere", and it was ok, but when he wrote he was glad Geelong did NOT win the 1989 Grand Final I lost all respect. Then when we thrashed Brisbane in round 1 last year, and he said how sorry he felt for Brisbane, I really started to wonder where he'd been for the previous decade. Trust me after personally witnessing 8 losing Grand Finals sorrow never enters my mind. And never will.

I get the impression sometimes his idea of football is a fun day out with your mates, a few beers, and if Geelong win good, but if they lose you laugh about it. Which I couldn't disagree with more.

And Fever Pitch is definitely the best book written about football, of any code. It is so relevant to being a Geelong supporter.

 

[SJ]

He doesn't offend me, but I certainly disagree with some of what he writes.

I read "Loose Men Everywhere", and it was ok, but when he wrote he was glad Geelong did NOT win the 1989 Grand Final I lost all respect. Then when we thrashed Brisbane in round 1 last year, and he said how sorry he felt for Brisbane, I really started to wonder where he'd been for the previous decade. Trust me after personally witnessing 8 losing Grand Finals sorrow never enters my mind. And never will.

I get the impression sometimes his idea of football is a fun day out with your mates, a few beers, and if Geelong win good, but if they lose you laugh about it. Which I couldn't disagree with more.

And Fever Pitch is definitely the best book written about football, of any code. It is so relevant to being a Geelong supporter.

Yeah I agree with you regarding what he said about the 1989 Grand Final. But I think it needs to be taken in context.

I don't think it is that he did not want us to win. But I think he felt at the time (which doesn't mean he feels it now, or even a week into October 1989) that Geelong went about it the wrong way. That we forgot about what we did to get there, and made mistakes. And with all mistakes comes consequences. That perhaps we didn't deserve it.

I'm sure if you asked him now if you wish Geelong had won the 1989 Grand Final, he wouldn't be able to say "yes" fast enough.

 

[Selwood07]

That's the way I read it too, S-J

 

[Stripey PJs]

Ahem.

I wondered if we'd be hearing from you.

Gnoleeg, I've actually got (but foolishly lent) Play On, which is an omnibus of Loose Men Everywhere, Memoirs of a Mug Punter and Confessions of a Thirteenth Man (the book alluded to by RussellEbert). It's only a few extra bucks, so try grabbing that if you're into cricket or horse-racing. If Play On's out of stock, like LEM, then maybe nosing through a few second-hand bookshops is your best bet.

Then when we thrashed Brisbane in round 1 last year, and he said how sorry he felt for Brisbane, I really started to wonder where he'd been for the previous decade.

Brisbane.

 

[scooter75]

Have to say I have had many a tear in the eye after reading Harms' articles, some happy tears some sad. Big fan of his work, i think he captures the essence of being a Cats fan very well. Easy to relate to if you are remote from Vic as I have been for the last 10 years.

 

[Prismall]

I remember Harms using the words "poise and balance" to describe Brent Prismall in about his 7th game, he would be well pleased with the love-fest that this board enjoys with the number 32

 

[thegerman]

Ahem.

That he gets a column in a major Australian daily is an embarrassment to the talent of Australian writers. He writes absolute sentimental garbage, that has no humour, insight or relevance. The Age has slipped below the Herald Sun in terms of Editorial quality, amazing stuff. Harms is mostly to blame but old Flanagan, Bob Murphy and the others who write whimsical rubbish are all guilty.

If you want to read sports journalism log onto the www.guardian.co.uk and daily there will be ten articles of superior quality than the best of the Age. Or buy Hornby or Hunter S Thompson.

He offends me as a writer, an Australian and a Geelong Supporter.

Totally disagree with you there, you see there is the difference between a simple sports journo, even a political one at that. They often try to overhype themselves and the story for their own gain, the extra 100 or so readers.

John on the other hand portrays the simplicity of life, the fantasy of acceptance of himself and his friends, their love of the game itself.

If his writing is so offensive to you, I'd suggest you look beyond the journo tag, read more into what he is portraying, not what you believe is sports writing. I smirk knowing that what you have written about the Age vs HS, then you spruke out the guardian stuff. The Herald Sun is not up to any standard, I don't know where you are getting that tripe from. Do you work for them ? Editorial quality from the HS. Please.

There is more to life, and the game than just numbers and who is who.