Tomorrow’s winning headline!

Published in Slovak Sport Daily

Today, I’ll admit to being biased, like a player agent for goalkeeper Ján Mucha. We still remember the first part of his story. A boy from Belá nad Cirochou who climbed through Bratislava, Žilina, and even a loan spell in Humenné to reach the bench at Legia Warsaw in 2005. Four years later, he went from being a star at Legia to a hero of Slovakia’s 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign—we all remember his glove kisses broadcast live on TV. Then came the World Cup, a benchwarming stint at Everton, and, in the fall of last year, his unexpected retirement from the national team, for which he earned 35 caps.

The next chapter began in March 2013. His Premier League debut. A week later, three goals conceded in four minutes in an FA Cup match, followed by a sentence of 250 hours of community service, and then, two days later, a stellar performance against reigning English champions Manchester City. He made the team of the week not only in England but also across Europe. Praise poured in from all sides. Even though Mucha hadn’t said a word until yesterday, the media had plenty to write about for two weeks straight.

His aforementioned national team exit made headlines, and the tabloids went hard on Ján. As a result, a player who had always been willing to chat with journalists gradually went quiet. It’s not easy answering the same questions over and over: “Still on the bench? What about Howard? What’s Moyes thinking? Why can’t you go out on loan?” On top of that, the pressure to speak when you’re no longer with the national team is far lower. So really—why speak out?

A minor form of revenge came in an agency report a few months ago with the headline: “Burton Albion a Possible Destination for Ján Mucha?” Hilarious. That’s practically the eighth-tier mountain league. No source cited, impossible to find even after some serious Googling, and not a single attempt to get a comment from the player or his agent. Yet sports websites picked it up with speed and gusto.

This week, Sport Daily put Mucha on the front page three times. Let’s pause at Tuesday’s headline: “Griga on Goalkeeper Mucha: We Won’t Beg Him!” A basically harmless and factually correct quote from a press conference, yet totally illogical and taken out of context. Why would anyone need to beg? Especially when the player hadn’t even been contacted. There was nothing to respond to. And the squad was drawn up before his recent performances. Of course no one will beg for a national team return, and Mucha wouldn’t allow himself to be begged. But what did this headline—crafted to sell—really suggest?

Everyone makes mistakes. Players on the field, coaches, officials, club owners. Even—if I may say so—journalists. Still, one thing is certain: no serious journalist wants to harm anyone on purpose. Athletes, especially the successful ones, should talk to the media, though now and then a short break can be healthy.

By the way, lately we’ve seen a string of strange headlines. It seems headline writers have been off their game. Fortunately, they’ll have many chances to redeem themselves. Unlike our footballers. So - tonight, let’s hope the boys earn three qualification points. And tomorrow’s headline? A hit: Lithuania thrashed in Žilina. No begging required.