Fight or flight? The Sonny Bill saga
Roar Rookie By Aimee, 30 Jul 2008 Aimee is a Roar Rookie
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- Bulldogs, NRL, NZ, Rugby League, Sonny Bill Williams
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Have our sports stars simply become bankable commodities rather than individuals with dreams and aspirations? As I watch the frenzy escalate regarding Sonny Bill Williams’ departure from the Bulldogs, I find it mildly ironic that the NRL, the club, and the general public do not see that they all have self-motivated interests for wanting to lock down SBW.
Ok, yes Sonny Bill Williams did enter into a contract.
However, if we look back contracts have been renegotiated or dissolved in the past. Who are we to hold a player to ransom and issue such scare tactics & threats as those put forward by the NRL?
I feel the NRL issuing SBW with a subpoena to appear in court is also a veiled attempt to try and discourage or stop other players switching codes.
I wonder amidst all this furor has anyone stopped to consider how SBW feels? At 22 yrs of age Sonny Bill Williams is in his prime and now would be the most opportune time for him to be thinking about his career alternatives; only those with their own interests at stake would have an issue with him changing codes or want to prevent him from at least exploring his options.
For a player of SBW’s caliber it would be a natural progression for him to want to enter into the world arena and to fulfill his ambitions as a sportsman.
As always when emotions are running high people can become quite irrational, judgmental and opinionated. What happened to what is in the best interests for the person not just the player or the code?
We only have one life and being so we all have to make choices that will ultimately help us achieve our goals. When you are backed into a corner with parties who are unwilling to negotiate or compromise you have to do what’s best for yourself.
After giving the Bulldogs his unwavering loyalty since he was 16 years old you would think the club would be more supportive and encouraging of SBW goals. Contractual obligations or not how can anyone justify holding back an athlete who has so much potential.
I say follow your dreams and keep playing hard Sonny Bill Williams.
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- Bulldogs, NRL, NZ, Rugby League, Sonny Bill Williams
July 30th 2008 @ 6:53pm
The Cougar said | July 30th 2008 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
Oh stop the bleeding heart Aimee.
The guy signed a contract (an agreement that intrinsically means both parties are content) with the obligation that he honours it. I recently signed an 18-month mobile phone with Vodafone. If I decide I don’t want to see that through just because I want a bigger, shinier, better package for less money, then I pay a substantial fine. And rightly so. Financial entities – like Vodafone, the NRL and the Bulldogs – can’t operate, and shouldn’t be expected to operate if those that sign agreements come and go as they please.
Therefore, I think the NRL are doing the right thing. He should be forced to come back to face the music, pay a significant fine as compensation, then as you say: go make a living, follow his dreams etc.
July 30th 2008 @ 7:30pm
joeb said | July 30th 2008 @ 7:30pm | Report comment
“The guy signed a contract (an agreement that intrinsically means both parties are content) with the obligation that he honours it.”
Everything was hunky dory till the RWC (every four years as we know) became an out and out success, the host nation scoring euros galore in profit to toss about, and throw in some comic billionaire (really did make his money through comic sales) and suddenly the deal at Belmore (God’s country to many, and rightly so) looked very second rate.
For the life of me why didn’t SBW’s legal advisors foresee that such a talent as their client’s would inevitably mature well ahead of his contractual obligations and as Gasnier’s stipulate an ‘escape clause’ in the signing? Beggars belief.
“For a player of SBW’s caliber it would be a natural progression for him to want to enter into the world arena and to fulfill his ambitions as a sportsman.”
He reminds me a lot of former All Blacks no.8 Zinzan Brooke: great open field runner ball in hand, excellent off-loader in the tackle, and a pretty good defender too. But it’s interesting that when SBW has played for NZ in tests against Australia, our defenders have succeeded in nullifying his brilliance (as in the recent Centenary Test from memory), perhaps because he hasn’t received the support he needs from his own players.
July 31st 2008 @ 12:04am
Justin said | July 31st 2008 @ 12:04am | Report comment
Spot on. I would be filthy if I had been a walking injury for the past few seasons and I demanded I get 5 a year contract not 3 like my employer wanted. Then they have the audacity after I get my 5 years to want me to hang around for a measly $500,000 a year for the 5 years I hounded them for. Bugger this I am off, I am just a kid with a manager and Dad who wanted the 5 too. Why cant they give me what I want?????
What a bunch of pricks!
July 31st 2008 @ 12:38am
Aimee said | July 31st 2008 @ 12:38am | Report comment
I agree with you that the NRL as business are well within their rights to seek compensation but I still hold firm to my belief that all contracts are able to be broken. Broken on the proviso that you pay a negotiated sum to dissolve the contract. Change is inevitable at some point all of us have instigated change i.e. signing up with a new phone company ha ha or a new doctor etc… If Sonny Bill’s heart is no longer with his club or in the game would it not be better for all concerned to have him pay a penalty and let him go? When some feels stifled or trapped they are not going to perform. In saying that it’s important to note that Sonny Bill is an outstanding athlete who has worked extremely hard to reach the level he has, is it not his right to want to continue to challenge himself and pursue greater things? Come back face the music, for sure but give him time. Keeping quite till he knows where he stands is probably a very wise move on his behalf.
July 31st 2008 @ 12:50am
Captain Carnage said | July 31st 2008 @ 12:50am | Report comment
Yeah because those 5 or 6 games I play every year would have me on about $300,000 a game in France but less than $100,000 at the Bulldogs! They didn’t tell me that when I signed that 5 year deal, the bastards!
P.S. Aimee…”playing hard” doesn’t mean putting the odd big hit on someone on the rare occasions you’re not wrapped up in cotton wool. Why don’t you do a piece on Alan Tongue “playing hard” through multiple injuries instead of trying to make us all feel sorry for SBW? The Tongue won’t be able to walk by the time he’s 40 but alas no million dollar French rugby contract for him.
“Unwavering loyalty”? So that’s what you call fleeing the country without manning up and telling anyone or explaining your actions?
By the way, I looked up SBW in the dictionary and it read as follows. SBW: 1. A product of the Channel Nine/Phil Gould media hype machine. 2. ripped, would make Footy Show boys turn. 3. Ridiculously overrrated.
July 31st 2008 @ 6:59am
The Answer said | July 31st 2008 @ 6:59am | Report comment
Aimee,
Two points.
1. “All contracts can be dissolved” so if a player gets injured can a club refuse to pay them for the year and ‘dissolve’ the contract?
2. ‘has anyone stopped to consider how SBW feels?” But hard when no one can find you, tends to happen when you do a runner. Fair dinkum, the Bulldogs had more meetings than I’ve had hot dinners trying to keep him happy.
That line is as childish as the kid who runaways from home for a night, then when their parents go ape for giving them so much worry they say “haven’t you thought about me!” That is what it all boils down to me, me, me.
Have you thought about Fred Briggs? The bloke plays alongside SBW (or did) and gets $8,000 a season. I’d imagine he hasn’t shed too many tears about Sonny’s plight.
July 31st 2008 @ 1:18pm
Aimee said | July 31st 2008 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Obviously if someone runs away there are underlying issues or problems that need to addressed by both sides (nothing is ever one sided). If you keep reaching a stalemate in your negotiations where do you go from there? I am not saying that SBW has handle things as best as he could have. By no means am I seeking a sympathy vote for him but it comes down to perspective. In the same circumstances have you considered what you would do? I am an ex athlete and I know if I was not where I wanted to be or achieving what I thought I could, I too would walk and look for alternative opportunities. Granted the way I would choose to leave would be handled a bit differently yet I too would still consider my options which is what I believe SBW was doing by heading to France (exploring his options), as yet no ink has been put to paper.
I’ve said before life is to short to commit to something that does not bring you satisfaction. We can’t please everyone and as selfish as it may sound you have to take care of yourself it’s as simple as that. Until you are 100% certain of where you are heading I too would keep quite, I believe it is my right not to have to disclose my personal affairs until things have been set in stone which requires planning & timing. Perhaps if SBW had been given the chance to go about his business quietly without all the media hype he may have come forth in due time and disclosed his plans, I’d like to give him the benefit of doubt.
Yes I do feel SBW’s management could also be accountable chiefly for not taking into consideration his long term prospects & goals.
Additionally I do understand that when you are playing in a team sport there are others to consider I guess this is why I now surf rather than participate in team sports LOL
July 31st 2008 @ 1:24pm
True Tah said | July 31st 2008 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Aimee,
I agree that SBW is doing what is best for him.
The fans who are complaining that he let the club down, what will they do for him in a few years when his body breaks down…especially given his injury record.
July 31st 2008 @ 1:47pm
Aimee said | July 31st 2008 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
This is exactly what I’ve been thinking all along. We all know an athlete only has a certain shelf life especially when plagued by injuries. SBW has to think of his immediate playing future and I believe he has made the right choice for himself. If only others such as the media, bulldogs and fans would start to think as logically as you and I. Sport stars and the spotlight come and go like the flavour of the month. When you are performing the public loves you and then when you are beset by injury they scream bloody murder LOL Who will be there for Sonny if the Wheels start to fall off? A: Sonny!!!
July 31st 2008 @ 2:24pm
Justin said | July 31st 2008 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
Perhaps SBW should have thought logically and not signed a 5yr contract? I am not a league supporter but his actions are a disgrace. He has one person to blame for the media frency – A: Sonny!
Looks like he wont be getting that big pay day after all from the latest media reports either. Might have really buried himself in the proverbial if thats the case…