Roy and HG’s behaviour is un-Australian
Columnist By Geoff Lawson, 27 Jan 2009 Geoff Lawson is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Andrew Symonds, Australian Cricket, Cricket, Cricket Australia, Indian Premier League, MCC, Premier League, Shoaib Akhtar
The managers of commercial radio stations are always competing for ratings. That’s how they stay in business. Announcers, DJs, Shock Jocks, Drive Time, Breakfast and Late Shift, are paid significant sums to provide the unforgettable quote that more often comes from a Western Sydney rugby league player or a drink driving full forward.
The more people listen, the more business’ advertise and the more the station can charge for that air time. It’s that simple.
More listeners equals more cash.
The punters want to hear controversial statements, inside information and what the super stars really think. It’s all grist for the mill and much of it is unadulterated, unsubstantiated bullshit.
I cannot remember a sportsperson – Australian, foreign, Martian – EVER calling a fellow competitor of the same sport (or any other sport for that matter) “a lump of shit,” live, on a radio, or any medium.
Which brings us to the latest utterances of the wayward ‘genius’, Andrew Symonds. Andrew plays cricket and fishes. He studied both these topics with great diligence during his secondary education years. The University of Moreton Bay and the sub-campus at the Gabba were his tertiary course locations.
No doubt he has significant skills as a cricket player, especially at the shorter forms of the game. His skills beyond the physical are less well defined.
What surprises me the most about the recent Symonds radio interrogatories is the absolute lack of responsibility shown by the two microphone muftis who lead the unwary Queenslander down the slippery sloping path of inebriated opinion straight into the bear trap of bad language and personal insult.
Roy Slaven (John Doyle) and HG Nelson (Greg Pickhaver) are known for their broad knowledge (not just of sport) and their intellectual observances, not for baiting unsuspecting fishermen and all rounders.
Surely they could have engaged Andrew in a conversation that would produce some erudite insight to the current McCullum selection conundrum without resorting to the lowest insulting common denominator.
These two guys were schooled in radio on Aunty ABC, grilling politicians, interviewing Nobel Prize winners, and back announcing symphonies. They had not grown through breakfast radio joke fests and one liners interspersed with traffic reports and corn flakes commercials.
Much more is expected of people schooled in proper process, tradition and rules of fair play. Once they had gleaned that Andrew was a little on the unsteady side, and the slurring of his speech was not the result of recent dental visit but through the agency of a couple of ice cold sponsor’s products, they should have eased him into more familiar areas such as his latest Hindi lessons with pen pal Harbajahn Singh or what lure to use when trolling for Flathead off Stradbroke Island.
To bring up the McCullum issue again when Andrew had already labelled it as “unAustralian” was simply unprofessional.
But possibly good for the ratings.
Cricket Australia are now faced with the difficult decision of giving Andrew ‘another’ chance even though he has had more disciplinary charges than Shoaib Akhtar just joking, NO ONE has had more charges than Elvis Akhtar!), tearing up his contract and send him packing to the Indian Premier League where his salary is $1.5 million, or severely reprimanding Nelson and Slaven and never letting an Australian contracted cricketer be interviewed by them again.
The irresponsibility of the media has been a thorn in Andrew’s career so far. The performance of two of its veterans is terribly disappointing and ultimately un-Australian.
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January 27th 2009 @ 11:36am
Henry said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Gee I’m glad The Roar’s readers understand sarcasm when they read it!!!!
January 27th 2009 @ 11:38am
Benjamin Conkey said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Geoff, Roy & H.G have always worked with the ‘give ‘em enough rope’ technique when interviewing. That’s why the dream was so popular during the Olympics. I remember when they interviewed Pat Rafter and tried to get him to say how much he hated the ‘Poo’ (Philippoussis). Pat was obviously smart enough to not take the bait.
I fail to see how Roy & HG are un-Australian for doing this. The McCullum issue wasn’t old. The public was interested in it and Symonds said what he thought, bluntly but honestly. If this isn’t Australian I don’t know what is.
The fact that he was drinking is the real issue and clearly he will face some punishment for the way he talked. Once he was on air, though, Roy & HG could hardly say “mate you sound drunk we’re going to have to leave it here.”
Why should they change the way they interview just for Symonds? As you said, it’s entertainment and entertainment gets ratings, which is why Kerry O’Keefe is pure gold in the ABC commentary box.
January 27th 2009 @ 11:49am
James Mortimer said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:49am | Report comment
Personally, I think Roy and HG are idiots. Never understood the hype.
January 27th 2009 @ 11:52am
Benjamin Conkey said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
James, just watch the DVD-highlights of ‘The Dream’ in 2000. Their best work by far. Even the Americans loved the humour, which is saying something.
January 27th 2009 @ 12:33pm
Tom said | January 27th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Roy and HG were somewhat complicit in the nature of that interview, but ultimately that Symonds came off as a drunken fool is his fault and no one else’s. That he was drinking before the interview is again his fault alone. Roy and HG cannot be held responsible for Symonds’ ridiculous comments; surely they can’t be expected to predict that Symonds would shoot his mouth off in such a spectacular fasshion.
January 27th 2009 @ 12:39pm
dasilva said | January 27th 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Actually there is one cricketer who is worst then Akhtar
Mohammed Asif
tested positive for a banned steroid
he was detained at Dubai airport, allegedly for possessing opium
tested positive for nandrolone during the IPL
January 27th 2009 @ 2:41pm
OldManEmu said | January 27th 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
I listened to the interview to see what the fuss is about – talk about a typhoon in a shot glass.
Symonds did sound like he had a few but he was not rambling nor was he incoherent. His reference to Macullum as a lump of shit was a bit of a non sequiter really and no more – he made it clear that he did not think Mucullum is a lump of shit – I think what he was trying to say was MuCullum is simply the piece of human flesh being bought and sold for a commercial outcome.
His more extraordinary comment was that referring to Hayden’s wife – it did not really make a lot of sense, but clearly it was in poor taste.
It was clear that Symonds had his wits about him by falling short of commenting on the purpose of the MuCullum signing – instead he invited Roy and HG to draw their own conclusions.
So I dont think any of what he said should or will cause him too many problems, nor will his apparent level of intoxication – it will be damn nigh impossible for CA to prove how many he had on board.
Now, as for suggesting Roy and HG are in some way culpable here is a bridge too far. Symonds himself referred to their style and method during the interview – their “tangent”ial approach – nope, if Symonds does get in strife it will only be because he permitted himself to be interviewed.
And anyone who refers to Roy and HG as a bunch of idiots just does not get it and takes life way too seriously.
January 27th 2009 @ 4:28pm
Harry said | January 27th 2009 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
And now Cricket Australia have charged Symonds OK, but they need to also charge Neilsen for instituting lousy tactics, allowing illogical selections and failing to prepare teams properly. That brings the game into disrepute, not this sideshow.
January 27th 2009 @ 8:22pm
Westy said | January 27th 2009 @ 8:22pm | Report comment
Like you Old Man Emu I must be getting old. I remember tired and emotional politicians of the past some of whom I quite liked commitsuch impolitic comments. I did not think it was that bad.. To one journalist Churchill replied about a report of a Privy Councillor being apprehended for ” promiscuous behaviour in a public convenience” that it was good to see that he was upholding the finest traditions of the British establishment” For those of us familiar with Roy and HG the key is for a guest to remain themselves and not try to be as funny or controversial as the compares. Symonds did not obey this rule nor did he have the wit to compete although I believe he thought he was joining in the fun drunk or otherwise. He certainly was not slurring.. I remember there constant barrage on “Back door Benny Elias” you can tell what they did with this during a game it was terrible yet hilarious. They interviewed Elias who said “fellas my mum will be listening take it easy ” and so they did during the interview. We are becoming precious about some things. I actually had some sympathy for Symond’s point rather than the way he expressed it. For a state that could not find a place for warner until he was selected for Australia and who has by the way more up and coming cricketers than most other states I did not think it was a good call. For all their crassness this was the point HG and Roy were making and in his own inept way Symonds. Management does not like to be criticised. I am sure Mccallum has been called alot worse.
January 27th 2009 @ 8:56pm
Joe FC said | January 27th 2009 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
Andrew Symonds is responsible for and will have to accept the consequences of his actions. Roy & HG have now moved to commercial radio and unsurprisingly will perform accordingly.
Spiro, it’s not a good look to name drop when relaying details of your professional conduct. You risk appearing pompous which I’m sure you’re not.