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Dollars and sense
It makes complete sense to me why Heinrich Haussler decided to change his mind and turn his back on Australian cycling - financial sense, that is.
After
all when it comes to sport (and professional cycling in particular),
the corporate opportunities in Germany far outweigh those available in
Australia.
Haussler is the most celebrated and successful
rider currently carrying a German licence and it goes without saying
his career has exploded into life in the last 12 months.
At
a time when German cycling is screaming for a new hero, in an era when
many fans of the sport in that country are bombarded and disillusioned
by dope cheats, Haussler is seen as a rider who can bring restored
faith.
German cycling has effectively thumbed its nose at Haussler since he turned professional in 2005.
That was the year he first came to international notice when taking stage 19 honours at the Tour of Spain.
Few Germans realised then who he was, let alone Australian followers of world cycling.
Here
was an Aussie-born journeyman who had taken the advice of his
influential father and decided to follow a dream by leaving the town of
Inverell in country NSW to pursue a career on the big stage.
It's a great story - one that would make for good reading in any sport's journal.
Haussler told SBS in July of Germany's failure to recognise or acknowledge him even after his solid performances at the Milan-San Remo in March this year when he finished runner-up, and his top-10 showing at the Paris-Roubaix.
Only when tears of joy welled his face on crossing the finish line in Colmar in the Tour de France did German cycling change its tune, especially as Haussler made it publicly obvious that Australia was his country of choice.
He openly explained how he "felt more Aussie than German" even after having lived there for more than 10 years.
He explained how his only support came from fans following his career from his country of birth.
Interestingly, despite his allegiances to Australia, Haussler had never really pursued the idea of formally applying for an Australian license.
I'm
told to this day he has never officially contacted Cycling Australia
and outlined his future plans of possibly wearing the green and gold at
next year's road World Championships in Victoria.
Too bad, because he would have been one of the first selected on current form.
As
a dual citizen, it seems to me Haussler may be 'hedging his bets' on
who he decides to represent. Don't get me wrong he has every right to
do so if he desires.
As far as I can tell, Haussler is a
true-blue Aussie - he's Aussie through and through. But does he owe
Australian cycling anything? I'm not so sure.
Unlike other
Australian-born sportsmen and women who have been raised here and
developed their skills through the various institutions such as the
AIS, only to turn their back on their country, Haussler didn't have
that opportunity.
Fast-forward to August 2009, and it wouldn't surprise me if Haussler is suddenly being lured by the big cheque books to keep his German license.
If he can make a decent living from representing his chosen sport as a German, I say good luck to him.
Your Say
Sydney
German cyclists knew who HH is ever since he crashed across the finish line of the 2001 U19 worlds race in Zolder and he gained big respect in German cycling with his Vuelta stage win. Now that he wins a Tour stage Australia comes out from down under. By the way, the german federation has barely any money left to even pay for national coaches. But at least german U19 that represent their country at world championships don´t have to pay for it, unlike in Australia. HH was supported with camps, funding and free races ever since he was in the german national U19/U23 team, as is every national team rider. Let him decide who he wants to ride for and the reasons are his own business. If you´re a cycling fan and a HH fan you´ll suport him whatever colors he will wear in Melbourne.
Lithgow
Nicko Tim Cahill doesn't fit your description very well. He played one or two game as a junior for Samoa. I might add it was whilst his family were on holidays, he was 14 and it was a minor tournament. Samoan officials new he was good and his parents said he could play. Cahill has always been Australian and is more than entitled to play for the country he spent his youth in. In particular when he is legally an adult and making his own decisions and not deferring to his parents. FIFA just have specific rules on national eligibility, rules that bend all too often.
Victoria
fyi, news just in... http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-sport/haussler-wants-to-ride-for-australia-20090828-f2d6.html
Victoria
Dwanye - who else has Australia scambled after to secure their nationality after they became successful? The only one that might fit that mold is Timmy Cahill, but even then he wanted to be a Socceroo and I think has lead by example on how much playing for Australia means. So I find your statement a little...wrong. I too agree CA needs to pull their finger out and really lobby and support HH in possibly changing his mind. Although if the choice is a financial one then I too cannot blame the man. And fwiw it's probably not the German cycling association paying him but rather all the money he could stand to earn in promotions for (likely German based companies) as a pin up boy for German cycling. Funny thing was that an interview with HH earlier this year had it that he was keen to join CTT as they were active in their support of him to ride for whichever country he choose (with that being Australia) - so it must be an 'offer to good to be true'...
from Melbourne....again
On another note, I too would love to know exactly where the extra money is coming from to keep HH riding for Germany. As stated, a team should pay on your talent, not your country of origin. Is it sponsorship, and advertising for cereal or whatever? Maybe also a greater chance to break into other media - i wonder if german tv talk shows are as bad as Italian ones?? :P
Melbourne! =)
I too support HH in whatever choice is best for his career as a professional cyclist. Though I was a bit disappointed at first to hear we wouldn't be gaining a first class rider to our ranks, you know what that emotion is? It's selfish, and though I'm not christian, i really enjoy it when you rediscover that selfless feeling of wishing someone well even though you have no direct personal interest in the outcome. So it feels great to say i hope HH keeps doing what he's been doing, and anyway he's no doubt with us in spirit methinks =) and that's more than enough
Canberra
Jonno's comment sounds like a case of "I'm not a rascist but...". For God's sake, it's sport and nothing more so stop taking it so seriously.
Sydney
The UCI law is as ass! Why should HH relinquish dual citizenship to represent a country for which he desires? Cycling Australia and the UCI have to sort this out and quickly.
Melbourne
Oz Cycling has an interview with Heinrich which says he was surpised by the news that he is to ride for Germany as he still plans to ride for Australia. Just needs to sort out dual nationality issues with the UCI.
Goolwa Beach
Given professional sport is such a short lived game, if I were in the same situation I would ride under a martian licence if it meant I could secure my future. Its easy to say he should be under the aussie banner sitting in at our office desks for the corporates who run the planet but if you depend on cycling for your bread and butter go where the money is I say..... good luck to him. All to often us as Aussies wait till success is gained then claim them as Citizens.
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