Captains Courageous

The news that Scotland captain - Darren Fletcher - has been forced to take a break from football for health reasons - just goes to show that not every modern player is obsessed with money and celebrity.

The Manchester United midfielder is having to take to take an extended break from the game - to recover his health after revealing that he is suffering from ulcerative colitis - a chronic bowel condition.

One which also affected the hugely successful Olympic rower - Steve Redgrave.

But Fletcher must have been playing through the pain barrier for a long time before conceding defeat - temporarily at least - and putting his own health and fitness first.

So along with the rest of the nation - and football fans everywhere - I would like to wish the Scotland captain well - and hope he makes a full recovery.

Fletcher is one of those players who just gets on with things - he plays for the team in good times and bad - doesn't have hissy fits and never hides from the ball.

The Scotland team and Manchester United will miss him - that's for sure - but if Fletcher's spirit and attitude rubs off on the other players - then that will surely bring  its own reward in the longer-term.

So I take my hat off to Scotland's Captains Courageous - haste ye back!

Captains Courageous, by the way, is also the title of a famous film from the 1930s - starring Spencer Tracy.

The film tells the story of a highly unlikeable and wealthy little boy - Harvey - who falls off an ocean liner after a foolish prank and nearly drowns - before being rescued by a fishing boat.

The spoiled little brat - whose father is wealthy beyond the dreams of the fishermen - tries to bribe them into turning around - and taking him back to shore. 

But the crew are proud men and have a job to do - so young Harvey has no option but to grow up - and to find out what life is really all about.

The Spencer Tracy character - a Portuguese fisherman - befriends young Harvey and teaches him things that his millionaire Dad never could - that's life's about strong human values and hard work.

Never fails to bring a tear to my eye - here's a You Tube link to one of the key scenes:

http://youtu.be/Khdsopx102Y

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