gigdiary

‘Maroons’ Nate Myles was banned by the NRL for six matches – including the final Origin – after being found naked in a fire escape having defecated in a corridor of the Crowne Plaze at Terrigal, on the central coast of New South Wales, after a night out of drinking with Roosters clubmates….’ [Brisbane Times]

Here’s a novel idea. Rather than ban these badly behaved, highly paid, imbeciles from playing the sport they say they love, why not take them back in time to when this sort of behaviour sorted itself out before it became public knowledge. Back to the time when the game had heroes and also a semblance of dignity. The players were still the biffo men you wouldn’t want to get offside of in a dark alley, but in the public’s estimation they were men. This can’t be said of many of today’s fumbling parade of fools masquerading not only as role models, but also grown men.

Back in those days, footballers, as well as playing major league football, I’m thinking Artie Beetson, Bob Fulton and Norm Provan, held down day jobs, because football didn’t pay enough to raise a family on. These men worked hard at both the game and their regular job. Today’s pampered princes are dragged from the obscurity of a bad upbringing, receive a meagre education and are thrust into the limelight on a wage that would stagger most working adults.

And the NRL wonders why there is a problem. It is of their own making. They are creating gladiators for the arena and ignoring all other aspects of the person’s development. Is it any wonder these men/boys/machines can’t handle alcohol, have no respect for women, and now, laughably, can’t even control their bowels.

Job well done, NRL. No pun intended. You are a money centric organisation. These young men are cannon fodder in your battle for the dollar. You need to be responsible for more than merely signing their pay cheques.

And now the novel idea. Why not, if these young men love the game so much, have them emulate their heroes of yesteryear. Receive a nominal allowance for playing a game once a week, and then go out and get a job for the rest of the week. Of course they’ll never make as much as their current contracts slavish on them, but it might help them to adjust to the real world of responsibility, teach them respect for others, including women and hopefully, they may even learn some toilet training.

At the end of their short career, they could be pensioned off handsomely, if their performance and behaviour have both been exemplary and in compliance with general community standards.

Something that at the moment is sadly lacking.