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Message: The past few weeks a lot has come out about sports people behaving badly.
You have Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna up on rape charges, Two carlton players arrving at training under the influence of drugs, various other afl players under investigation of rape allegations, Ronnie Burns drink driving the list goes on and on, and that is not mentioning the NRL players under rape investigation.
ALL these stories are printed all over the paper, on TV and radio were kids who look up to these players are seeing it all.
Nigel Smart said last night" it only takes 1 or 2 to ruin it for everyone" That is true but it hasnt been 1 or 2 its been over 10 players in the AFL who have given the sport a bad name and it is giving kids the worst possible rolemodels to look up to.
Something must be done to fix the problem and i think the AFL must do something because the players arent just playing footy they are rolemodels and at the moment bad rolemodels.
Author: Tontonan Timestamp:- 10/4/2004 10:08:05 AM Subject: Re: Sporting Rolemodels
Message: Strong points gunner.
I used to play footy when I could touch my toes and there is nothing that happens today that didn't happen way back then in terms of behaviour off the field. What has changed is the media's willingness to construe these things as 'news' and public's willingness to gobble such 'news' up.
Players behaving like pack raping bikies ? I've seen that. Players off their face at training ? Yeah, I have seen that too...and we were still hammering our stops in in those days.
The same media that draws attention to these unacceptable behaviours - and sells newspapers on the back of them - is the same media that demands that players be promoted as role models. The media will build you up, the media will cut you down. There's bucks in it for the media either way. Years ago such scandals would be quietly swept under the carpet or dealt with in house. The journos knew, the journos kept mum. Not any more.
For what it is worth I reckon these boys get paid way too much, and are given way too much attention for playing ball. Good luck to them on that score. However, there is every chance that the next celebrity ball player, elevated to millionaire status and declared 'King' will be a boofheaded Neanderthal with the morals to match who you wouldn't want to leave your children around. He just happens to play ball well.
Having said that there are many, many footballers who are decent men, who want to get along with their careers, who will benefit in many ways from their involvement in football and be outstanding role models as players, coaches, fathers and men. And the media will not give them the attention they deserve.
Author: im the gun Timestamp:- 10/4/2004 1:12:25 AM Subject: Re: Sporting Rolemodels
Message: I don't understand how just because someone can kick a ball, shoot a basket or ride a horse they have to become upstanding people off the field.
Sam Newman was talking about this last night on MMM. he said that footy players grow up knowing how to do one thing great, that is their sport, they are not the best people to learn about life from. It's the same with actors, but we don't hear the do gooders jumping up and down over a stuff up they do, whys that?
I grew up loving sport, but everything I needed to learn about life I got from my mum and not from the Shaws, Millanes or Banks of the world.
Author: Rex Timestamp:- 9/4/2004 11:51:46 PM Subject: Re: Sporting Rolemodels
Message: Im The Gun, you are right it is up to parents to install good values into their children.
But any sports person who is in the public eye automatically becomes a role model wether they like it or not, and its my belief that they should accept this, again wether they like it or not.
Taking into account the salary and perks that go with being a leading sports person i really dont think they have to much to complain about.
Message: Ethan, there's alot more than 10 players who have disgraced themselves in recent years. I know of one team who has had 2 rape incidents covered up and paid money to the victims. The AFL doesn't want bad publicity.
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