Sports stars do not have the right to be boneheads

Steve S says:

12:45pm | 12/08/09

It is quite obvious that most of the sports stars that find themselves in trouble have rarely heard the word ‘no’ said to them during their formative years and their IQ outside of the sporting arena rarely challenges their collar size.  That said, the fawning over them, particularly by a large section of the sports fanatics, allows them to carry on as they choose without worrying about the repercussions of their behaviour.  The oft-complained about media scrutiny they’re put under these days should in actual fact work in their favour provided they’re doing the right thing.  There’s no doubt that in days gone by there were incidents swept under the carpet and victims, much like those of the Catholic church, were paid off in hush money, but you do wonder if their behaviour is worse nowadays than it used to be due to increased spare time and far more cash.  Bad behaviour though is not solely restricted to sports stars, as movie stars, super models, rock stars etc behave in appalling fashion and the common denominator is the obscene amounts of cash they’re paid.  No amount of counselling is going to completely wipe-out boorish and sometimes criminal behaviour whilesoever they’re being paid these obscene amounts of money however the apparent trend of sponsors withdrawing financial support is probably going to ensure that greater steps are taken by respective clubs to ensure a code of conduct is observed.  I am cynical enough to believe too though, that sponsors are looking at these incidents on occasion to extract theselves from contracts they may have signed when the financial times were somewhat rosier.

thom says:

12:49pm | 12/08/09

What is it with NRL and AFL players getting drunk and bashing their partners, getting in to fights, gang bangs, or going to the toilet in public places.  Sure this might be your average punters average Friday night but these guys are in the public eye and are getting paid a lot of money for what they do.  There needs to be stricter control over this sort of thing - there should be zero tolerance for this type of thing from our sporting stars just as there is for the rest of the population.

Why is it always NRL and AFL? Rarely do you see Football, Tennis or Basketball stars making headlines for glassing their partners and the like.

formersnag says:

12:55pm | 12/08/09

Your right, there are many female, boneheads out there in the mass media, encouraging women to continue, avoiding responsibility, for there own, extensive Domestic Violence.

Encouraging women to use verbal abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, intensive psychological torture on the innocent men and children in their lives. Then react with mock horror when the poor bastard eventually loses it.

I note that that the typical “kath, kim, bogan pride” style WAG, in this case, is standing by her man.

Could it be, that she feels some guilt, for having abused her partner, to the point where he lost it, and hit the woman he loves?

Neil says:

01:10pm | 12/08/09

Most footballers, whether NRL or local club team players are YOBO’S. These guys go to the pub getted pissed and think they’re superman. Off goes the head and on goes the pumpkin. Just overpaid young YOBO’S. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in country towns and the yobos in town all play or follow football. All go to the pub and get paraletic and pretend they’re sportsman. Most dropped out of school early.

Siam of Canberra says:

01:23pm | 12/08/09

This culture seems to be much more prevalent in Rugby League and other similar sports where violence and bullish behaviour is smashed into little sculls the moment they take their first steps into the sport.  There are at least a million more athletes in Australia playing other sports like Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Athletics where these occurrences are the domain of one or two troubled athletes….not sports wide as is the case with Rugby League.

So, Ms Ellis, why does your government continue to fund thuggish (neanderthal)  sports like League?  Why?

I suspect the solution hinges on your response to that….

jonathan says:

01:23pm | 12/08/09

Formersnag:  you want some fish with chip on your shoulder?

wolf says:

01:23pm | 12/08/09

formersnag I’m assuming this is an obvious troll but what the hell…

If there is verbal and emotional abuse, especially in the case of children then you should end the relationship and take out an intervention order.  Alternatively you could choose to ‘stand by your woman’ in the typical ‘bogan pride’ manner.

Either way it’s no excuse to resort to physical measures unless defending yourself from a physical attack (like a chair to the head).

Jake says:

01:30pm | 12/08/09

The pathetic girls that stand by their men are perpetuating the cycle. These players are lucky that they are with such utterly corrupt, weak and morally stunted women who are willing to cop a beating in order to maintain a certain lifestyle and status. These women would prefer be belted, cheated on and humiliated by a rich sportstar than loved & cherished by loyal bloke who earns a modest living. I feel no pity for her and as long as there are women out there like her and that pathetic Katie Mulligan then this will NEVER stop. These relationships are a business for these women there is money to be made no matter what is makes them.

AyJay says:

01:36pm | 12/08/09

There is no way that abusive behaviour can be condoned - whether it be verbal, emotional, physical or other types. Getting abusive is the resort of someone (whether they be male or female) without the intellect to reason and discuss.

In the same way, stupid behaviour such as urinating in public places just can’t be accepted anymore. Have our standards changed with this type of action? Yeah, they probably have but that is where we are at now.

My only concern with all this is that the players concerned seemed to be sentenced by sports administrators, media etc on the basis of accusation rather than letting the legal system do its thing. If they are guilty then go your hardest but that has not been the way that most instances of this type of behaviour have played out.

MJL says:

01:45pm | 12/08/09

AFL player behaviour is terrible but is covered up by the media. One of The Punch’s columnists wrote about this not long ago.
I am disgusted that a player like Albert Proud runs around playing AFL after being found guilty of glassing a woman.
That is the kind of thing the media should focus on. Covering up AFL player behaviour only makes things worse.

DWest says:

01:49pm | 12/08/09

If sport stars, radio stars and random bogans (chk chk boom) don’t have the right to be boneheads, then Labor Premiers shouldn’t have that right either. Bonehead equality Kate please! Flipside:  Boneheads make good television (for the masses) , sell newspapers and are solid gold economic ‘assets’.

Frankie says:

01:51pm | 12/08/09

I am concerned that our sports minister (and her media team) do not know the difference between a phenomenon (singular) and phenomena (plural).
You cannot have “a phenomena”.
The ignorami are in charge, What hope?

sneakers says:

01:52pm | 12/08/09

Agreed - this is certainly a disappointing phenomenon. And to think this only comes to light because they’re are in the public spotlight - I’d hate to think how many assaults occur daily behind closed doors.

In other news - Kate, will you marry me? ;p

natalie says:

01:56pm | 12/08/09

Well said Kate

Bruno says:

02:01pm | 12/08/09

Your comment: i felt compelled to add my comment because it appears from the current comments that only women and gay blokes are commenting. here’s my two cents: obviously she understands she was in the wrong. women expect to be able to behave like men and then expect different punishment, where’s the equality in that, if i called my mates wife/ mother/ sister an unpleasant name and he gave me two black eyes, i’d be apologising the next morning because I was in the wrong, may i add a simple rule of thumb that all should adhere to men and women alike, don’t say or do anything to purposely upset someone. p.s i have never struck a woman in my life, i can say that with a clear consience, p.s.s doesnt mean i have never not wanted to

Tim says:

02:11pm | 12/08/09

Siam,
if you think this kind of behaviour is restricted to NRL and AFL players then you are sadly mistaken. Its just that the other sports don’t have the high profile and so aren’t reported on as much.
Have a look in England where your precious Soccer is the number one sport. The behaviour by these Soccer stars is at least as bad and probably worse than the NRL and AFL players here.
It is not the sport that is the problem, it is the amount of money given to young men who have no life skills that causes this kind of trouble.

KP says:

02:15pm | 12/08/09

Mmm wether you’re a sports star or not, it does not give you the right to act in a violent manner. However, to say that because they are sport stars and in the public eye that they need to behave to a higher standard is incorrect too. We all should act and behave and be at the same standard, sport stars or not. Its not football that’s the problem, it society and our rapid degeneration of moral standards.

Greg C says:

02:24pm | 12/08/09

Steve S makes a very valid point and one I have banged on about endlessly for years.  Sports “stars” are pandered to from a very young age.  As soon as the “talent” is spotted they are a commodity and there is pandering to get them to their school on a scholarship.  Then to their club and it becomes a whatever it takes attitude.  The “star” begins to feel 10ft tall and bulletproof - their behaviour proves this.

These “stars” need to be put into regular employment surrounds so they get to mix with “society”.  My first job was with a council and let me tell you I learnt more about life in those 2 years than I have learnt before or since.  If you had a chip on your shoulder it would either be knocked off and you were soon bought down a notch or 2.  Even the social aspect, hearing about peoples life experiences etc teaches you a lot.

Stars deal with their own and nothing outside that sub culture.  I know of no other employee in the world who has to train their staff in how to treat women….yet football codes need to teach it.  Sure it is an all male industry, unlike most career paths, but all these footballers have mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces etc.

Sit them around a lunch table with some “commoners” and let them learn some life skills instead of this cocoon/vacuum that they currently live in.

Kat says:

02:26pm | 12/08/09

It’s a shame, rugby league would be a great game if didn’t seem to be populated by so many thugs and rapists. I’d like to see some more of the “good” players challenging their teammates on their behaviour, loudly and in public, instead of this pat on the back, “well said mate”, “boys will be boys” attitude.

Phenomenal Abominable says:

02:26pm | 12/08/09

Maybe anyone who is defending Greg Inglis should be on the receiving end of a Greg Inglis black eye.

Will they still defend him then?

p.s. Bruno, interesting last point, would be keen to view the discussions as I reckon that could get very heated, lets hope someone at The Punch runs with it, the fireworks could be delicious

Jake Bligh says:

02:30pm | 12/08/09

Having lived in australia for a while I can’t understand the fuss.  WHat he did is simply aussie foreplay - get over it and hit him back girl!

miles says:

02:35pm | 12/08/09

clearly, enough people in the community still accept the use of violence as a means of problem solving.. the tacit encouragement of this from an early age is creating problems once the kids use drugs, use alcohol, drive cars, get in relationships…
you know, wherever their judgement is impaired
that is really the problem with violence, it works pretty well with a clear conscience and a considered, compassionate outlook - that is why police use it to such great effect

Tim says:

02:45pm | 12/08/09

Here is a hypothetical:
Woman starts argument with partner,
Woman uses verbal and emotional abuse,
Woman starts hitting partner, has no effect due to partners size and strength
Partner hits woman, gives her black eye.
Who gets charged?

Ben says:

02:47pm | 12/08/09

Kate obiously ‘let Bartlett be Bartlett’ has infinitely more merit that the bonehead equivalent. Likewise I think most people do have the sense that sports stars should have a sense of what is appropriate and show a modicum of care for the person they commit intimate acts with.
On the other hand though the self righteousness of the media and society when they are confronted with an example of behavior which shatters their complacency isn’t really very fair. Matthew Johns was hardly the first or last sports person to engage in that conduct and yet is the public scapegoat. Nobody lining up to condemn Kyle Sandilands for the conduct of himself, his teflon co-host and the radio station have commented on the reported fact that the show is still rated number one in the ratings - what does that say?
I’m not sure if Ellis is being Ellis or if your being admirably on message as Sports Minister but I think the whole sport as a virtuous force for good arguement actually helps to enable the boneheads culture. Sporting stars, regular players, sporting clubs and sporting peak bodies are hardly ever held to account. From school age talented sports people are often exempt from the same behavioural expectations as everyone else, a phenomenon often reinforced at home. They are no less indulged by the structures of professional sport when they arrive there. In all the media coverage and commentary about Ben Cousins I never saw anyone ‘expert’ wonder what his club was doing to assist an obviously very troubled young man over the years of his addiction.
I can’t stand boneheads but it is not like they appear out of thin air!

Siam of Canberra says:

03:19pm | 12/08/09

@ Tim - 01:11pm | 12/08/09

If $80 paychecks and about 10K supporters constitutes a high enough profile to blame your reason to rape, pillage, shit and glass your way through a professional sports career then we’re dealing with much bigger bogans than I imagined.

I could name at least 50 sports with bigger profiles than Rugby League - played in one and half countries and followed by less people than a firday afternoon bocce game by my pop and his dying mates….

p.s. Kate Ellis

Gibbot says:

03:36pm | 12/08/09

@Bruno - I’m commenting in response to your comment that you felt compelled to comment because the previous comments seemed clearly dominated by commentors who lacked the requesite testosterone to comment lucidly and concisely.

No comment.

todd says:

03:38pm | 12/08/09

I would like to congratulate David Gallop and the NRL for the stance that they have taken against player misbehaviour.You are setting an example that other sports should follow, putting community expectations ahead of your game. In the last month alone we have seen in the AFL a glassing and assault on 2 women and a bashing of a man, yet neither the club nor Andrew Demetriou came out and condemned these incidents or suspended the players involved. Its good to see the NRL leading the way in what we expect and not ignoring the problem like the AFL.

Skye of Port Macquarie says:

03:40pm | 12/08/09

Shouldn’t you have said, no one has the right to be a bone head? I’m a female but I know a lot of men that have been belted by their female partners. Your labelling one sex and you have no right to do that. Secondly, your using Greg Inglis as an example, the kid is yet to be found guilty, the court is his judge, not you. Try writing about something factual instead of hypothetical crap

Alex says:

03:51pm | 12/08/09

It appears that the only boneheads around play AFL or NRL.  You never hear footballers (of the world game)  doing that sort of rubbish.

Onto more important things Kate, will Adelaide get a rectangular 40,000 capacity stadium?

Please tell us we won’t be using an upgraded oval-shaped stadium such as Adelaide Oval. Let’s not repeat Gabba fiasco which was upgraded for the 200 Olympics Football tournmament but instead has left a legacy for AFL and cricket in Brisbane. How will upgrading a cricket stadium like ADelaide Oval possibly leave a legacy for football in SA?  It’s bad enough we’re including the MCG in our World Cup bid which is hopeless for viewing football especially in the lower tier. I’m afraid that if the federal government does not force the issue and contribute some cash to Adelaide’s new rectangular stadium then the local bonehead politicians are desperate to use this opportunity to upgrade Adelaide Oval for cricket and AFL.

Casper says:

03:55pm | 12/08/09

I have to agree with some of you women get open slaver when it come to domestic violence & the blame should be put at the foot of the Women’s Electoral Lobby & other groups such as Women’s Forum Australia, These bodies have to much say when it comes to government policy & sadly they will continue to do so in this politically correct world.  As for the football issue I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of these incidents that women have said had happened didn’t even occur & I’ll give you a hypothetical situation to think about.

Footballer has a fantastic career & decides to go out for a few quite drinks & while they are at the pub he is approached by a women who wants to hang off him everywhere he goes, Footballer says he has a girlfriend & is not interested to the women who is annoying him & hanging off his arm.  Rejected women think how can I get back at him “Ahh I know I’ll make up a allegation about a sexual assault or violence & the public will instantly believe me & what I’ll say”.

The NRL & the clubs associated with them should be ashamed of themselves hanging out their players to dry wake up to yourselves & start seeing the big picture.

Troppo says:

04:20pm | 12/08/09

@Casper
The girl in this particular incident is not a “random woman” it is his GIRLFRIEND, so your “hypothetical” is as relevent to this forum as tits on a bull. The fact that she is walking around sporting a set of black eyes indicates this is NOT made-up. As much as i think WAGS are generally not the sharpest tools in the shed, I doubt she’d go that far to “make-up an allegation”.

SportHater says:

04:21pm | 12/08/09

It’s like being back at school…...people who are good at sport get the breaks, no matter how thick they are.

Tim says:

04:23pm | 12/08/09

Siam,
What I was talking about was that Soccer has a low profile in this country, such that stories like this:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/soccer-star-child-sex-charge/story-e6freuy9-1225712675397
barely get a mention.
And if you look overseas Soccer other sports stars are just as bad in acting like idiots.
Are they all massive Bogans like you assert NRL and AFL players are?
It is not the sport but the amount of money given to young men that is the problem.

?? says:

04:28pm | 12/08/09

if they weren’t being paid to kick a pigskin ball about the place, they’d be unblocking the loo or rewiring houses. dumbos, with limited education and i.q’s. really, what did you expect from these lads ???

Tony says:

05:02pm | 12/08/09

Actually being able to unblock a loo or rewire a house requires skills and education. Both plumbers and electricians require a lengthy apprenticeship and are duly licenced - dare I say that the morons referred to by Kate Ellis would never have managed to get through even the first week of an apprenticeship.

Bill says:

05:05pm | 12/08/09

Why anyone looks up to a bunch of young, brainless, drunken, yobo’s, kicking a ball around gets me?

formersnag says:

05:20pm | 12/08/09

?? @ 03:28, One thing i have noticed about tradesmen is, that they don’t wind their clocks forward, 1 hour in summer, and pretend, that its 1 hour earlier than it really is. So that they can save some daylight.

They just get up earlier, all year round, start work earlier, before the worst of the days heat, and then knock off earlier, each day as well. Sounds like common sense to me but then i am not a pen pusher either.

Rowdy says:

05:35pm | 12/08/09

Everybody always wonders why the abused partners in these situations rarely seem to share the same outrage about it as the vast majority of the population (well those that have commented here). Well I don’t know what it is (I can only guess) but I can at least see that there must be one, and you’d think it’s probably gotta be pretty good to hold up through something like this. I personally would suggest that the media and all you soap box champions out there should mind your own business and let them and the courts sort things out. By my estimation, at least half of all problems in this world are caused by people trying to tell other people what they should or should not be doing. Yes I realise I’m doing it now but… you all should shut the hell up and mind your own business as I’m sure you all have your own flaws that you really should be working on right now instead of dwelling on those of others.

BBB of Melbourne says:

06:02pm | 12/08/09

Boneheads?

Are we talking about sportspeople or federal politicians?

tandah says:

06:36pm | 12/08/09

Rowdy, I think its very OK to say out loud that blokes can’t beat up their partners, or anyone else for that matter, no matter what the provocation. Nobody earns a slap over the head ...

Leah says:

06:51pm | 12/08/09

For starters, some commenters have suggested most sportspeople have rarely been told ‘no’, that they’re stupid, yobos, have limited educations and IQs etc. This is very untrue. I know for a fact of NRL players who have graduated university, who go on to run businesses after they retire, etc. Let’s not brand them all as stupid just because some are. They have also come from normal families and went to the same schools as you did and I’m sure have been told ‘no’ plenty of times.

In regards to the OP… I’m so torn. Of course the actions these people make deserves punishment and should not be defended. However often there are times NRL players are falsely accused - think of Sam Thaiday last year, who was embroiled in a nightclub toilet sex scandal because he was seen coming out of the toilets the same time the guilty guys & girl involved entered the toilets.

Then there’s the question of whether the public should pay as much attention to their private lives. Of course their actions (when allegations are true) are deplorable, but is it something the entire community needs to be talking about? Does the news report on every Joe Blow who hits is girlfriend? Then some may argue these guys put themselves into the public limelight and should expect the added attention. I’d agree with that to a degree, but do they deserved to be judged by the public when anyone else has the benefit of being judged by a judge who is trained in assessing such matters? It doesn’t matter what the outcome of this is, Greg Inglis’s reputation will still be marred simply by the allegation.

Anyone who calls football players “young, brainless, drunken, yobos” has obviously forgotten about players like Darren Lockyer, Shane Webcke, Matty Bowen, Brad Thorn, Aaron Payne, Dallas Johnson, Cameron Smith, Petero Civonoceva… indeed the vast majority of current & ex-NRL players. Think about it - out of the 300-odd NRL players, how many are the drunk brainless yobos we hear about each week? It’s usually the same group (present topic excluded).

James says:

07:36pm | 12/08/09

@ Tim’s Hypothetical
“Woman starts hitting partner, has no effect due to partners size and strength. Partner hits woman, gives her black eye. Who gets charged?”

The one who committed a crime? If the woman doesn’t cause him any injuries then she hasn’t committed a crime. He could perhaps accuse her of assault in the strict common law sense, namely: creating in the victim a reasonable fear of physical violence, BUT, as you say, he’s too big and tough to care what a scrawny woman yells at him.

So Tom, here’s another hypothetical:
Woman starts argument with man, manufacturing complaints and hounding him, despite his reasonable attempts to calm her she becomes, as she often does, hysterical.
Woman abuses man while, despite being larger and physically stronger then her, he silently and passively endures like the gentle giant he his.
Woman assaults man while calling into question everything he holds dear, she carefully does not cause any injuries that might be liable to be used as evidence in a court or that would be obvious to the Police.
Man strikes woman to halt the unending tsunami of abuse, he of course is not seeking to harm her and thus only uses a quarter of his strenght. She does, nonetheless gain a black eye.
Woman feigns regret at starting the argument while secretly she delights in reporting him to the authorities.

Sound familiar? It’s what runs through your head every time you read about domestic violence.

Kim says:

07:53pm | 12/08/09

i also love the the media apologists for the thugs that many of these footballers are e.g. when they say…..’”.they’re not role models”. ( as if they have a choice). They say this to defend these thugs, as if to say that we should all mind our own business and “let boys be boys.”“.....of course they have to “‘let off some steam…...”” etc -the cliches and excuses are endless. There is a pattern here - shifting responsibility away from those who are choosing to behave idiotically.

Ross In Canberra says:

08:13pm | 12/08/09

whats even more annoying - the government funding for supposed domestic violence workers who at least in the case of the jobs created in NSW are empl;oyed to convince these people (predominantly female) that they are genuinely victims and need to realise that fact.

what chance does a person accused of perpetrating domestic violence have against this? it was bad enough ten years ago when i went through the domestic violence system, and even then the domestic violence workers from the then voluntary support groups (again, all female) were telling them that they had to go through with their cases even if they changed their mind about their often emotionally-embellished allegations.

and what about the canberra ‘chapter’ of the womens support group ‘victims of violence’ who were exposed as committing perjury by making women embellish their claims of violence at the hands of men? they and the woman who was caught out in the court room under cross examination by her own partner (ever wondered why the womens groups had that practice fundamental right to self-defence in the court room banned?) were summarily charged with perjury, yet the group still operates and is still funded by the taxpayer.

ETW says:

08:20pm | 12/08/09

ROFL - I’m with this woman and I’ve only read the headline!!

Jarei says:

09:35pm | 12/08/09

Formersnag, good comment. When it comes to domestic violence, there are certainly some cases where the man is fully to blame, but to believe that in all cases,  women are always blameless is naive in the extreme.

In some relationships, women do indeed employ verbal, mental, and emotional abuse, sometimes over a long time. Men, especially those less educated and articulate, might one day snap and respond physically. While this is not an acceptable way to respond, a woman who employs verbal and emotional abuse must also accept some blame, rather than acting the hapless victim.

To those who automatically assume Formersnag or myself are trolls…. I regard you as rather naive. Life is not black and white, with victims and villains clearly delineated as in a children’s pantomime. Reality is a bit more complicated than that.

Niall Collins says:

09:39pm | 12/08/09

Raskolnikov in Dosteovsky’s “Crime and Punishment” contemplated whether the normal rules of society should apply to certain exceptional people. Should the pursuit of their higher purpose exempt them from being judged or hindered because of their morally reprehensible behaviour if such behaviour is necessary to further their position and achieve that higher purpose?

Many Sports Stars fans will argue that those sports stars inspire thousands of children in the expert display of their various talents to follow their healthy and productive path of sports participation, of dedicated training and focus required to express their talent at a high level. Their success or their teams’ success can boost public sentiment and national confidence. Sporting Occasions that they contribute to have for many fans become the highlight of their lives, where they can live vicariously through their hero, who’s success or role in a dramatic sporting occasions can inspire them, dripping expectation and hope into society like honey. They do a lot of good. They are the product of natural ability, absolute dedication and focus and should be commended, rewarded and perhaps adulated.

They have dedicated their attentions to the pursuit of their individual sport and their resulting success has naturally led to them being treated exceptionally as a result of their success. Exceptional treatment without check can unfortunately create hubristic and narcissistic individuals who may believe that they can behave in ways that they would not otherwise. This is bad for the individual, as any corruption of self is, but is also bad for their sport if such bad behaviour manifests itself in acts of violence or depravity that erode the good that their contribution to sport has done.

Sport stars have a hugely important role in society but must also be made aware of their responsibility to prevent their position as a beacon of hope, inspiration, hard work, talent and dedication being eroded by abhorrent behaviour. I believe they have a higher purpose but that higher purpose is inextricably linked with the public perception of them.

The acceptance of any morally reprehensible behaviour by them, would in fact, directly damage that higher purpose so they cannot even be excused on the basis of Raskolnikov’s musings which were, in any event, written before the media age. Now, all actions by those in the public eye from minor indiscretion to serious crime can very easily become public knowledge. Either these inspirational sports stars and women should be further coddled and protected from media scrutiny at the expense of a transparent society, damaging them and truth but allowing the good they do to remain unblemished or they should be forced and taught to behave within the mores of society. I think we all accept that the former is not an option.

Finally, we place these people on pedestals but they are human. They bite, they sneeze, they urinate in public. Some will be good. Some will be bad. Tolerance and discretion should be exercised by the media when stories are being written not on the merits of the behaviour of the particular sports star but because of who they are. It sells papers but erodes hope…

Widdling on the street is not a bad thing.

Squeak Scolari says:

10:03pm | 12/08/09

Don’t expect much of your average league player - you’ll only set yourself up for disappointment. I don’t understand why sporting heroics would lead any child or adult to follow in their footsteps off the field, unless it was warranted. I think we underestimate children in that regard with the ‘think of the children’ argument. How about we just clone Alan Tongue and fill the league with courageous players who give it their all on the field, and are genuine human beings when they step off it?

Davo from St Kilda says:

10:51pm | 12/08/09

Re Inglis - we call that game ‘thugby’ for a reason….

Dude says:

09:08am | 13/08/09

League needs to do the union thing and pay the hush money and get more state school kids into journalism.

Tim says:

10:06am | 13/08/09

Jimes,
First of all get my name right, its Tim not Tom.
And if you think you can read my mind you are sadly mistaken.
Where did I say that the partner wasn’t scared? In fact I didn’t even say the partner was a man. So obviously it is your predjudice showing through.
It could be cleary argued in my hypothetical that the woman may have a case of common assault brought against her. But that is beside the point.
What I was saying is, hysterical ranting about this issue will get you nowhere, when often cases aren’t quite as black and white as they seem.

mick says:

10:59am | 13/08/09

how many sports need to have a course on how to treat women ?? says much about the type of men it attracts, doesn’t it ?? it would appear to me.

Chas says:

11:07am | 13/08/09

This is not an NRL versus AFL versus NRU argument.  Inappropriate behavior exists in professional sport the world over (just look at Baseball & the NFL in the USA, let alone soccer in EU).

I wonder what the impact of media and society has upon these people with the escalating trend to ‘idolise’ these professional sports people.

They are not above behaving decently in all aspects of their lives - even though the stories evidence an escalation in some players minds that they are above or even beyond the law.

Chris says:

11:45am | 13/08/09

Solution? ZERO TOLERANCE! I can’t stress this enough, especially with high profile sportspeople who are getting paid the big bucks - take away the money and status and they’ll learn very quickly…that’s all there is to it. And enough of worshipping these people, they really are not heroes, they just may have a bit more talent than the average person in the sports arena - there is no need to bow down to them like gods, no wonder they think they are invincible. Last but not least, these sportspeople are at an age, with low IQ or no IQ, when they should at least know the difference between right and wrong. kthxbai

Ben says:

12:06pm | 13/08/09

The idea that a man or a woman whacking each other for whatever reason highlights an adequacy at dealing cohesively with each and one suspects a disparity of expectations which can only increase when superficiality increasingly pervades our everyday lives. As for unending tirades of abuse whatever happened to walking off??

A key issue is about the ridiculous practice of setting people up as role models when they are virtue of their humanity inherently fallible and this fallability is increasingly obvious with the media leaving nothing to the imagination.

Penbo might devote an article to this issue: Is it better that the public knows all the various things about a public figures life? Is it a good thing that we know if someone has been caught speeding? Or does this knowledge cause us to disregard other contributions they might make or deny them the opportunity to make them in the future. Is the public’s ‘right to know’ really achievable in today’s media environment where the context of what has occurred is rarely explored in favour of the sensational or salacious content? Does the inevitablility of everything detail of someone’s life coming out give us public figures with better characters? Or does it mean we miss out on people with a lot to offer but who aren’t the human equivalents of a cardboard cut-out?

If we are determined to maintain the bread and circuses tradition then we should at least admit that our modern gladiators are as unlikely to have unblemished characters as the rest of us.

There is no excuse for domestic violence. No amount of obnoxious behaviour by a woman is an excuse to assault her instead of telling her to get lost. But it’s a bit rich that someone who allegedly commits a crime should be crucified publicly because they play sport at a professional level.

S.L says:

06:45pm | 13/08/09

Back in the mid 80’s I went with a mate for a drink at a Major Leagues club in Sydney. The bar was reasonably busy when two knuckle draggers walked in. The bar staff immediately ignored all other patrons to give these guys priority service. I later found out they were players in the old U/23s comp and as far as I’m aware never made reserves let alone the big time but the hero worship given to them was ridiculous and a real eye opener to me. It’s now no wonder to me how any of these grade league players get attitudes like they do. Even in the media there was one league commentator who would bag a troubled high profile leagues star no end but then the player had a couple of great club and origin games and the change in attitude towards the player was instant. I think the media guy should’ve stuck to taxi driving…......

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02:25pm | 28/04/11

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02:25pm | 28/04/11

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