There is a controversy brewing over an article in Milwaukee’s Shepherd Express. Willy Thorn wrote an article titled Left Field about the Milwaukee Hurling Club. The article is little more than distortions and complete bias against competitive field sports.

I’m going to break down his article and point out gross misrepresentations.

“Hurling is an inherently dangerous and hazardous sport that can result in serious injury or death.”

So begins the waiver form handed out en masse at the Milwaukee Hurling Club’s 10th anniversary 2005 “opening day” practice. Dozens and dozens of players—man and woman, rookies and would-be-semi-pros—gather at Glendale’s Glen Hills Middle School to train, get in shape, hone existing skills and learn new ones.

Any organized competitive field sport that involves contact between players has inherent dangers and hazards. Take a look at football, hockey or soccer. Injuries happen and sometimes those injuries are very serious, but they are not the point of the game. Injuring the opponent is not an objective in hurling either. A few misguided players in any sport may play for the purpose of causing harm, but such players do not represent the sport as a whole. Violent players are discouraged or removed because they distract from the enjoyment of the sport. As far as the waiver, should it not state clearly the highest degree of danger possible? I have to wonder if Willy Thorn has ever played an organized field sport. The warning in that waiver is no different than the warnings given to football, hockey or la crosse players.

The “sport” began in Ireland as war training. Feel the exhaustion and adrenaline as the hurley blade splits the air; it remains a warrior’s game. The helmet only furthers the effect.

Why is the word sport in quotations? Hurling is just as much of a sport as football or soccer. Does the history of a sport dictate how it is played today? The Mayan Ball Game has a relation to modern soccer. In the Mayan Ball Game, the losing team was killed.

The helmet comment is completely off base. Many sports use helmets and they do so for safety purposes, not to promote a warrior image. I’d discuss more about helmets later on.

But truth be told, hurling is more a game of cheap shots than ferocious hits. It’s more frenetic hustle—batsmen running wild and loose—than the stylized violence of football and rugby.

Play in hurling develops much like basketball, Lacrosse or soccer. The ball moves up and down the field constantly. Willy Thorn observed one practice, the first practice no less, and makes an overtly incorrect and uninformed statement. A player running “wild and loose” is not much use. This is a team sport. Players may hold the ball for a limited distance, so passing is necessary. Players running into position for a pass, chasing down offensive players or evading defenders is not “wild and lose” play. It’s a strategy common to nearly all field sports.

However, amidst the opening practice—as would-be hurlers turn their hands to leather—the rumor circulates of a player who took a hurley to the head. His doctor gave him a clean bill of health, but within hours of passing out drunk in bed, a blood clot flooded his brain, killing him.

The man that died was a loved member of the club and supporter the sport. To this very day his family supports the club and such cold mention of his passing in this article is a dishonor to him and his family. His injury was the result of an accident. He was not deliberately struck by a hurley. Unfortunately he was not wearing a helmet, as was his option. GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) rules do not require players to wear helmets. The Milwaukee Hurling Club follows GAA rules, but helmets are no longer optional for Milwaukee players. No one may enter play without an approved hard shell helmet. This is a direct result of the incident, both for safety and to honor a fallen member of club.

It is this fatalism that sparks intense machismo, kindles competitive fire, and inspires drill sergeant-ism in veterans:

“Be sure you’re fully prepared and aggressive when you’re on the field. You won’t get hurt then. But if you play half-assed and tentative, you’re going to get hurt.”

Who is this quote from? This quote is taken out of context and not attributed to anyone. Hostile play is not encouraged. Players are routinely reminded to “play the ball”. The objective is to gain control of the ball. Pushing, pulling clothing, grabbing the hurley, striking a player or intentionally tripping a player are considered fouls. Players may body check, but an over aggressive body check would be considered a foul.

Players must be fully prepared and aggressive. Not to battle and inflict harm, but to control the ball and ensure safety by being aware of their surroundings and their movements. If you are not prepared, a simple body check will throw you off balance, causing you to fall down and perhaps cause injury either from the fall or by other players tripping on you.

It’s why rookies need to attend five practices before getting into the action. With an extensive skill set and quirky rules, the pace and dangers of the game require a little extra familiarity. So while the league is coed and the play gentle, rookies are taught hurley handle rib digs from day one, if only as ready-ment for visiting club teams.

Finally a small measure of truth, but only to be ended by a perversion. The club promotes competitive, but safe play. We play to have fun, not to inflict harm. Rookies are informed about how other clubs play the game. In Ireland, where the popularity of Hurling is much like football in America, play is more aggressive. Rookies are not instructed how to “rib dig”. They’re told about what is to be expected if they play against a more competitive team. The Milwaukee Hurling Club does have a traveling hurling team that competes around the country. However unlikely, a rookie may make the team and they need to know what to expect. If they feel they do not want to play at such a competitive level, they don’t have to. Hurling is not the only sport where the higher levels of competition are more aggressive. Compare High School football to the NFL. The traveling hurling team is in effect a semi-pro team.

Players tend to be disproportionately redheaded, with names such as Shannon and Tim, Katie and Kelly. “You don’t have to be Irish,” one veteran says. “But it helps.”

The club does not have many redheaded members. The quote about being Irish is a joke, not to be taken seriously. Since hurling is an Irish sport, it’s jested that the Irish are naturally better at it, just as Canadians joke that they are naturally better at hockey. Does Willy Thorn suffer from a total lack of humor?

This article almost suggests that the club discriminates against some groups and selectively recruits players of Irish descent. Nothing could be further from the truth. The club has members in all shapes, sizes, colors and creeds. Anyone physically able to play that wishes to do so is given the opportunity. Players are only required to agree to the waiver, pay their membership fees and follow club rules.

In many clubs there is a high percentage of Irish people. Some clubs only allow Irish players, but often only people of Irish descent know what the game is. The average American has never heard of hurling. People of Irish decent are more likely to join the club just because they know what the sport is, but MHC has made great efforts to inform and include people of all ancestries.

Some seem contented by the opportunity: to sport a mohawk, or say things like “for f—-’s sake,” or wear European athletic jerseys, or to hang out at County Clare, Derry Hegarty’s, McBob’s, Packy’s, Shamrock Club and the Harp.

The club does not dictate how members may express their individuality. You may wear your hair as you choose. You can cuss if you want, but please try to refrain around the Youth Club or the younger relatives of club members. You can wear whatever you want, within the guidelines of appropriate clothing for physical activity or social order. If you want to wear the jersey of your favorite NFL team, go ahead. If you want to wear the jersey of your favorite World Cup Football team, go ahead. The fact that hurling is a European sport might be the reason some members wear European jerseys. Willy Thorn might also be confused about the jerseys since the teams for the Milwaukee Hurling Club have the same appearance of European jerseys. If a player wants to wear their team jersey from last year, they can.

Does it matter if member’s congregate at a bar after practice or games? A major portion of the club life is social interaction. We’re not just teammates and opponents, we’re a family.

Willy Thorn also failed to mention one very important fact about where MHC socializes after events. Every single bar mentioned in this article is a team sponsor. These establishments contribute significant amounts of money and support to the MHC. It’s only proper that the club makes an official appearance at these establishments from time to time.

This article does a disservice to the sport of hurling, the Milwaukee Hurling Club and organized sports clubs. The tone of this article might discourage the type of responsible players the club wants to recruit and attract the violent, uncontrolled players that are discouraged. There’s also a question as to whether this paper obtained permission to use the image used in the article. That photo is copyright protected content from the MHC website.

The Shepherd Express and Willy Thorn owe the Milwaukee Hurling Club, its supporters and sponsors an apology. As well as a correction printed in the next paper and action taken to prevent such gross misrepresentation of facts and poor journalism.