The deep fall of German sport

WE are no longer what WE used to be. Pope even, as the big German tabloid “Bild” headlined at the time: “We are Pope”. It was, even if I have to force myself to admit it, a brilliant headline that, to a certain extent, has become a linguistic self-perpetuator, even though it was a long time ago. In April 2005, Joseph Alois Ratzinger was elected Pope. The third Pontifex Maximus, who came from Bavaria. The personal pronoun “WE” is now at the beginning of many questions. So what are WE now? Okay, basketball world champion. For the first time ever. A close-knit group defeated Serbia in Manila, previously the high-flyers from the USA and every other team during the tournament. The team's exuberant joy was clear in every report. But there was no more in-depth analysis that could have shown how this sensational success could have come about. People in Germany were also too surprised about this victory because, to be honest, playing under the basket isn't necessarily in our genes. It was also created in Canada. Handball is more our thing. After all, WE are said to have invented this game at the time, which is not entirely true historically, even if the Berlin gymnastics supervisor Max Heiser laid down the basic principles of the still existing rules in 1917. Of course WE were world champions at one point. Two years after the papal election. Since then, there has been no place on the world handball podium. So WE were better at that. Likewise in rowing. The “Germany Eight” is a fixed term, even the epitome of an almost unbeatable group of eight steely boys who drove their oar blades into the water with such force that the competition could only be amazed. The flagship of the German Rowing Association (DRV) regularly secured medals at world championships and the Olympic Games. Now WE are happy and happy that it didn't go down in the last title fights in Belgrade. You were still allowed to take part in the final via the repechage run. Fifth place - no chance in the fight for the medals - at least secured participation in the Olympic Games in Paris next year. People are cheering about that now. The “Germany Eight” used to be a synonym for German thoroughness and success-oriented work. Now he is more of an example of gradual decline. WE have to be happy that he can still take part. The track and field athletes also experienced a disaster at their recent World Championships and did not win a medal for the first time in history. Sport as a reflection of society It is suitable for our entire situation in Germany. WE are not experiencing a standstill, but rather a step backwards in many areas. At the International Motor Show in Munich, the focus was on products from China. German car manufacturers are lagging behind and used to be the ones who set the rhythm. Over. WE are faced with heating chaos, a residential building that only produces ruins, dilapidated motorway bridges and a railway that is outdated in all respects, where as a passenger you are happy when the train at least arrives. Nobody wants to talk about punctuality anymore. WE look spellbound at our traffic lights, at the many colors that are constantly flashing without any system being recognizable. WE are unsettled and also angry because the price spiral continues to spiral, while our elected representatives are constantly thinking about their own voters, depending on their color. After all, WE are inventive. WE create special assets that are nothing more than more debt on the backs of taxpayers. But the word creation for the specified value creation is admittedly sensational. But WE have always been good, even brilliant, in this regard. See Goethe, Schiller or Lessing and all the other poets and writers. The rip cord was becoming apparent And now another cornerstone of our hopes is falling away. Football. WE could always rely on that in the past. To our national team. Gone here too. In the interviews after the most recent devastating defeat against Japan (1:4 at home in Wolfsburg), players as well as the national coach Hansi Flick, who was still in office at the time, made it clear that WE could no longer keep up. The Japanese are better educated. They are superior to US. In every relationship. WE are nothing anymore. The young talent failed in the preliminary round this year, as did the women kicking, and the national team is no longer even a shadow of previous years. As a team, it is a tragedy. Of course, the rip cord was now pulled at the DFB headquarters, as always at the weakest point, where all it takes is a small jerk and the connection is history. Coach Hansi Flick has now been fired and the entire team would have to be replaced. All these self-absorbed footballers who constantly claim that they play for their coach and tear themselves apart for him and Germany. They let Hansi down and all of us too, although the nice Hansi certainly made some fundamental mistakes by experimenting too much and not developing a clear structure with the team. Whatever the case, his dismissal followed the rules of his industry. The fact that he always emphasized that he wanted to continue as before may not have helped either. But where are WE now? Somehow and fundamentally apparently in a losing battle in far too many areas. Sport is just one of them. Except for the basketball players, of course. About the author: Sigi Heinrich The award-winning sports journalist, author and Eurosport commentator devotes his column “Sigi'spitzen” to the entire diversity of sport and also enjoys poaching in foreign regions. With a smile and a wink or thoughtfully serious and sometimes deliberately provocative. There should be something for everyone.

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The deep fall of German sport

German sport is in a frightening downward spiral. Even the basketball world championship title cannot hide this. Our columnist Sigi Heinrich also sees the dismissal of national soccer coach Hansi Flick as more of a sign of helplessness than one of optimism.

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