Bob Davis; champion footballer, premiership coach, Televisions first footy superstar and an all round good bloke, it is a great CV and a great life. However, the minute’s silence on Friday in memory of his passing was wrong and shouldn’t have happened. It should’ve been more.
Now before I get killed, I should explain that the minute’s silence was wrong because it could have been done better not because he didn’t deserve it.
Bob Davis is a legend of our game and his passing has touched many people including myself.
I grew up watching Davis on Channel Seven and loved his enthusiasm for the game. His “Fair dinkum unbelievable” quote has gone down in footy folklore.
So why you ask was the minute silence wrong? Well in looking at his personality, Davis was an uplifting character who made the people laugh.
A minute silence while respectful was a sombre uncomfortable way to send a man who brought joy to the footy public.
As Sandy Roberts said this week he was the first to declare it was OK to have fun at the football.
Ok you made your point but how should we have paid tribute you ask? Well I have the answer.
In 2007 when Alan Ball died, a member of the 1966 English Soccer World Cup winning side, there was an outpouring of grief for him especially at his former club Everton.
The match after he passed away, Everton paid tribute by having a minute of applause. This has now happened a few times in England when former greats have passed away.
As a man who brought joy to the football world through making people laugh, Bob Davis deserves a round of applause as a sign from the game of his contribution.
His tribute should have been a celebration of his life not a sad wake.
Could you imagine if the AFL had given him a minute applause? I’m sure both the fans of Carlton and Geelong would have cheered so loud, they would have blown the roof off Etihad Stadium. It would have made for a fantastic atmosphere for the rest of the game.
While the minute’s silence should continue to be the major sporting sign of respect to the dead, it should be on a case by case basis. Bob Davis was a man who deserved a cheer not silence for his contribution to the game.
Next time a sporting legend decides to join the big stadium in the sky, look at their personality and their contribution to the game and think about a minute’s applause. It would have been a nice way to send off a champion bloke who brought fun to our lives.
RIP Bob, you were fair dinkum unbelievable.