“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong … They never called me nigger.”

Now everything is forgiven and he is treated like a national icon.

Then again, I would hate to think what would have happened to him in Bush’s America

Doesn’t India alone have about 20% of the World’s population?

He lost me as asupporter with his post 911 comments, even if it was just about raising his profile.
I hope he understands the privilege it is to be able to speak your mind with out fear in a democracy, something only about 20% of the world population can do.

Gave up a highly paid job (rugby league) to fulfil his dream job (how many of us can say that?!)

Steps into the square circle to face his opponents and half the country who want to see him knocked out, but continues to raise the profile of his sport.

Has given back more to the community then all of us here judging him. I’d say very few of us have the right to judge him unless you’ve done at least half of what he did, regardless of success or failure!

I’m from NZ whch is about 20 yrs ahead of Australia in recognising what was done even 50 yrs ago was wrong & asttempting to resolve the subsequent issues (higher unemployment/convictions/mortality/ etc) & my parents generation still struggle with the concept of maori politicians & political parties. You’re seriously expecting Australia to be ready for mundine ? look at what Ali had to do to be accepted – retire !

That’s about as balanced as I can be, but I will always support a humble gentleman such as Daniel Geale against a brash, vain loud-mouth like Anthony Mundine any day of the week.

As a rugby league player, Mundine was exceptionally gifted, with terrific skills, good vision, anticipation & a box of tricks, but he far too often ran away from his supports, or failed to use them effectively.

Rugby league being a team sport, Mundine struggled to fit into the team game. Maybe as a junior, he was able to win matches on his own. But when he got to the senior ranks, he still struggled to use his supports effectively.

All great players must still be able to have a style of game that allows teammates to be part of the picture/plan. I agree with Chop that he failed to win NSW SOO selection probably because of this, & certainly not because of race.

I can still remember the fact that he played the race card after being beaten out of the NSW state of origin team by two players named Daley and Fittler. As a footballer he was ok, but he was not up to that standard and wasn’t picked because he was not up to that standard regardless of race.

Mundine was humble & generous to Geale after their fight, firstly embracing him in the ring with a “very well done”, & visiting his dressing room afterwards to offer more condolences & encouragement.

For all of Mundine’s showmanship faults, the two gestures mentioned above indicate C-L-A-S-S.

Love your moniker, especially when you say it quickly!

Ali was the same, early in his career he learnt from watching a pro wrestler self promote a bout & get a sell out crowd to a ‘show’ when the cometing title bout had plenty of empty seats. He then decided to grow his self advertising ability.

Bill – perfectly put, he’s done well but he’s no Tzyu (yet).

Until Mundine beat a true world champion (no disrespect intended of Daniel Geale) I will reserve my judgement of his boxing ability.

Abit like how Sonny Bill Williams was also the most dispised sportsman last year, yes he did the wrong thing by walking out on his contract, but as he said he was treated like a mass murderer, it’s not as if he glassed his girlfriend or something. But then maybe he was also associated to Mundine.

Firstly, the obvious. He has done more for Australian boxing these past 6 or so years than anyone else.

Secondly, he has reached the highest level as an athlete in two sports. Not many can do this. Michael Jordan couldn’t. He won a rugby league premiership with Brisbane in 1997 (super league) & a world championship crown in boxing.

Thirdly, & here’s the clincher. He is very generous with both his money & time, & has given a great deal to charities, helping fellow Aborigines & the homeless & downtrodden.

This last point is rarely mentioned in the media, because they would much prefer we continue to hate Mundine, because it helps to sell more newspapers.

Fourthly, Mundine has tremendous personal mental strength. People can think what they like about him, but he has remained true to himself, his family, his friends, his people, his religion & his ideals. No easy feat considering the abuse he has had to put up with.

How many of us so quick to put the boot in, can claim to have many of his truly admirable qualities???

I especially enjoyed watching the Green Mundine bout at my local RSL. About half the audience wanted to see Mundine brought down. They finished subdued, brooding over their beers.

Wally, Pat Rafter, John Eales et al are fantastic role models and so is Mundine. We all have a different history, and need different role models. An exceptional sportsman, devout Muslim and proud Aborigine.

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.

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.