Mundine’s antics are just too much
Roar Pro
By Wally James, 31 May 2009 Wally James is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Anthony Mundine, Boxing
Has anyone had enough of this bloke? Is he a good example for our children and young men?
His father was a gentleman and talented. In the recent fight, the son did not stand with the referee when the decision was announced.
He carried on like a five year-old when he found out he was the winner and did not shake the other fellow’s hand.
Has boxing come to this? Do we want the rest of the world to think he represents Australian boxing or any of us for that matter?
I am truly disgusted with this sort of carry on.
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- Anthony Mundine, Boxing
Hugh Jarse said | May 31st 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Completely agree.
May I also add that the fox commentary was an absolute disgrace.
Geale was the champion and Mundine the challenger, but they carried on as though Geale had never done anything of significance in his entire career. Andy Raymond in particular was so one-sided in his assessment of the fight that you would think that Geale didn’t land a blow at all. He is also extremely annoying and ignorant when covering the NRL on Fox.
I can only assume that this clown has some family ties to someone there. In my opinion, he has no place as a commentator in any sport.
Harry said | May 31st 2009 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
I too find Anthony Mundine’s behaviour and conduct unpleasant and often obnoxious.
That said Australia is a free country and he can conduct himself as he wishes, so long as he stays within the law. As with any boxer, he has an immense amount of physical courage and an undoubted dedication to this most demanding of sports. While I disagree with some of his statements and actions, he has the right to put his own viewpoint. Its often disagreeable, but occassionally not without validity.
From the reports of the fight his entourage’s behaviour wasn’t the best. That is a matter for the boxing authorities to act on and from the sounds of things they need to take some action. A real shame this distracts as it was a cracker of a bout to watch on the telly.
I often cite the Australia-wide glee and delight (including mine) when he was knocked out by the German boxer a few years back as an example that there are limits to Australia’s parochialism and one-eyed support of our sportspeople.
Gerry Faehrmann said | May 31st 2009 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
Fair dinkum Hugh Jarse and Wally James, you gotta NOT take ol’ Mundine seriously!
I have a Koori mate (well respected professional, Souths tragic etc) and he knows Choc – and he says privately he is a quite and humble man. The public persona of Choc Mundine is a done for promotion of Mundine and Sport.
Jason said | May 31st 2009 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
While I personally don’t like the bloke, there are few people who have (are doing) as much as he is for their community. His committment to dragging his race and his community out of the gutter his equalled by few. He is an exceptional role model for some… perhaps not your typical WASP. Oh yeah he has also achieved more that almost any other Australian sports person!
How about we all start focusing on his positive contribution and less on the BS that he uses for getting media attention
Hugh Jarse said | May 31st 2009 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Gerry, yes we tend to get caught up in his antics and, as you said, take that side of him too seriously.
I agree also with Harry that this was a great bout. Both boxers were able to counter-punch their way out of trouble. I was happy to see that Mundine didn’t get on his bike again and backpedal away from his opponent. Credit where it’s due, Mundine looks the goods with not too many weaknesses in his technique [I'm no expert though].
That said, Daniel Geale must also rate highly to take it so strongly to someone as good as Mundine.
damos_x said | May 31st 2009 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
Wally, not to be rude about it but your name says it all. why not just come out with it & say you don’t like the bloke because he’s not your style rather than rave on about being a gentleman or who an athlete represents or the cliche of all cliches, what about the kids! yes he has ‘ a big mouth’ so just say you don’t like what comes out of it, & you may not act in the same manner but let’s see your life live on tv & see if every move you make shines with perfection. as for the kids, the bloke is a top class athlete so he has discipline & devotion to achieve a goal. he doesn’t smoke, drink or take drugs, in fact he has more good influence on kids not doing those things than most people so i assume you find that aspect disgusting too or possibly not but who wants to highlight the good bits when you are putting the boot in. role model ? i hear you ask, well i’d imagine that young aboriginal men could do with a man who tries hard to achieve both financial & spiritual success in his life as opposed to some of the influences they’ve had. all in all Wally i’m willing to put it out there that you are either a shit stirrer who just wanted to see how people would react to your post or you are pissed that you paid for PPV to see Mundine not get his come-uppance as you’d hoped.
Joe said | May 31st 2009 @ 5:49pm | Report comment
You are taking a very narrow view of Mundine if you base your opinion of him soley on his behaviour in front of the media. His real genius is ensuring he evokes a negative reaction from people like you – thus ensuring a healthy paypacket every time he fights.
Wally James said | May 31st 2009 @ 7:27pm | Report comment
damos
Thanks for your response. I will respond to it in the forthright fashion in which you responded to mine.
I don’t like the bloke. He’s not my style. I don’t like what comes out of his mouth. I would never act in the manner he does. If my every move was on TV it would not shine with perfection. No-one’s would. That is neither here nor there.
Mundine is not a top class athlete at all. Look at Pat Rafter, John Sattler, John Eales, Lionel Rose and Mark Taylor for example. None of them are loudmouths but they are fabulous representatives of their country. Mundine is far from any of them.
That you raise aboriginal men disgusts me. Not once did I raises it in my post. Neither should I. It is completely irrelevant. A person is objectionable or he is not and Mundine is. It matters not the colour of his skin.
Robbos said | May 31st 2009 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
Let me think, Gallen, Bird, Johns, Mason, Cousins, Carey & Warnie, I find their antics unpleasant, disgusting & far more worthy of displeasure from the public than Mundine. But the media has taken a line that he is the most hated sportsman in Australia. Yes some of his actions & big mouth gets him offline with alot of Australians, but he has not done what those mentioned above has done, which are truly terrible role models for their sport.
Glen Mahoulis said | May 31st 2009 @ 9:12pm | Report comment
How much of the negative public reaction to Mundine comes down to a dislike of ‘lippy’, combative aboriginals?
The indigenous person accepted by the general public tends to be submissive and shy, preferably well spoken, deferring to those in authority, who adopts or at least does not disrespect good western values, and who knows his place. Those who don’t subscribe to the dominant values and institutions, those who show open disrespect ie a very good proportion, tend to be shown contempt or just marginalised.
That’s just a thought, and it might not apply to Mundine or to those who don’t like him.
Leaving that aspect aside, is the dislike because he is a loud mouth, because he is not humble, because doesn’t pretend to be a normal punter, because he makes claims to greatness?
Where does this idea that sportsmen, in order for us to respect their athletic endeavour, have to also be humble and jovial and diplomatic? Perhaps you like those qualities in people in general? That’s great. But do you have an expectation that sportsmen in the public eye, who you occasionally see on TV, will satisfy your preferred personality traits?
If you do, you need to have a look at yourself and ask yourself why. If it’s because you think kids need heroes, do you know what indigenous kids think of Anthony Mundine?
I don’t expect boxers to have public profiles that are nice and meek and mild. I expect them to be a bit aggro, controversial, and self serving. And I don’t expect that their public profiles will be an indication of what they are like as people. They might be, but we shouldn’t assume.
For what it is worth, I have had in my professional life cause to experience the way Anthony helps people who have gone off the rails, those less fortunate etc To those people he is a saint. That’s what they think of him.