By Mark E
June 1st 2009 @ 7:24am
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Why Cousins did it
The media have gotten themself into a sanctimonious lather over the latest Ben Cousins incident. Cousins ‘pulled the bird’ at the camera before the Fremantle v Richmond game on Saturday night. He is clearly shown directing his attention at the camera in the changerooms at Subiaco.
However many followers of football feel that Cousins frustration may be as a result of the continued media attention, which at times may be considered distateful.
What some media outlets are failing to report is the fact that the footage was taken over an hour before the game, at a time when players might expect some privace.
Furthermore, the camera clearly is following Cousins around the room.
While Cousins may have brought much of the attention on himself, there is a limit, and perhaps the media might with to contribute to the rehabilitation of Ben, rather than add to pressure he must be experiencing.
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(33)
sheek said | June 1st 2009 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Unfortunately, all Cousins achieved was to demonstrate that he is as tasteless as many of the media chickens that chase him around looking for a quick story. I noticed Grant Kenny gave the media the same thing when he & wife Lisa Curry publicly announced their separation.
Some people can be famous because of particular skills they possess, but never develop any class.
It’s shame, I’m a fan of both Cousins & Kenny, but clearly, neither can be regarded as a superior human being of quality.
Hoy said | June 1st 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
I don’t see what the problem is here. It is a fairly deliberate attempt to get Cousins into trouble over nothing. Why else did they show it on TV? There was no need… it isn’t newsworthy that is for sure.
So they show it, get a headline, and a quick attention grab for the “problems with sportsmen” mob.
Whoever decided to show this footage should grow up.
Brett McKay said | June 1st 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Hoy, I’m with you on your central premise, but it’s newsworthy BECAUSE it’s Cousins. At the moment, Cousins politely correcting a coffee order would be newsworthy for some perculiar reason. I think most people would share his frustration at the constant attention (which yes, sometimes is brought upon himself), but throwing a towel over the camera would have been a better move, rather than what he did..
Michael C said | June 1st 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Agree with Hoy,
main lesson for Cousins – - every camera is ‘live’,
a similar lesson on microphones was learned by people such as Ronald Reagan and Dean Jones.
I don’t think this says too much about Ben Cousins the person – - I really struggle to see why it should be an ‘issue’ and as a lady caller on SEN this morning commented – how come, if it was so ‘offensive’ did the 5th Quarter show on ch.10 show it so often and then finish off for the night treating it as a ‘joke’.
Scandal for scandal sake!! To me, it makes our media look far more foolish than Cousins – alas, the AFL might be forced by media pressure to sanction him………..THAT would be a scandal.
jimbo said | June 1st 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Just like Johns’ misdemeanors for NRL, the AFL seem to think Cousins’ publicity is good for the game.
His first match of the season helped fill the MCG and another packed house at Subiaco.
Why was his finger gesture shown on every news bulletin around the country?
My kids saw it and immediately started giving each other the one fingered salute.
Maybe the problem is not so much with Cousins, but more to do with the people that are using him.
Redb said | June 1st 2009 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Just a smart arse bogan who is not good for the game other than supplying a decent blonde on his elbow for the Brownlow.
Redb
Michael C said | June 1st 2009 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Jimbo -
agreed.
(bet that surprised you!! – I’ve GOT to ensure that I let you know that I’m not anti-Jimbo in a general combative sense!!)
The AFL as you correctly point out, seemed only too happy to mention the Cousins factor in the lead up to the Round 1 clash at the ‘G. (also during the pre-season – i.e. the ground double booking at Etihad over the HAL GF).
SO, yes, the AFL is guilty of seeking to exploit the marketing benefits of the Ben Cousins saga.
The sell out for a Freo game with Cousins there was interesting – as, the Freo folk we perhaps more likely to boo him than anyone!
Certainly though – the speed with which this story blew up into something ‘important’ and ‘newsworthy’ and front page around the country – - – that’s the really bemusing thing. So, never have you stated a truer musing than Maybe the problem is not so much with Cousins, but more to do with the people that are using him.
Hear hear Jimbo!!!
cheers
Kurt said | June 1st 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
I’m just in shock that Jimbo allows his kids to watch AFL related stories on TV, I would’ve thought he’d send them from the room or cover their eyes or something. I’m sure he had them say their hail-maradonas before bedtime to cleanse their souls.
Redb said | June 1st 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
Kurt,
yes amazing. Also revealing how Jimbo speaks for the AFL about these matters. On the contrary I listened to Andrew Demetriou (the CEO of the AFL) on the Offsiders who commented he thought it was a strange act that left him scratching his cranium like the rest of us as to why he would do such a dumb thing and he should apologise.
Ch 10’s use of the footage is the real culprit.
Redb
Kick2Kick said | June 1st 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
A lot of Cousins sympathetic supporters would be disappointed with that as his true colours again showed…
Spiro Zavos said | June 1st 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Was Ben Cousins trying to prevent cameras coming into the dressing room by making a gesture that could not be used (or so he thought) on the nationwide broadcast? I have a certain sympathy with the player if this is the case. Television cameras are too invasive with their gotcha shots and so on in many instances.
Players consider the dressing room to be a safe place. It should not be invaded by the television cameras. Or there should be special cases, such as the halftime talk perhaps, where they are allowed in. Otherwise, they should stay out. i
Redb said | June 1st 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
regardless of the virtue of TV cameras if Cousins felt the need for some privacy walking up to the camera and giving it the bird it not the action of a footballer with a brain and class.
Cousins is a walking recruiter poster for a nationalist insular Pauline Hanson loving KKK. Look for the next skinhead to print up a few t-shirts.
He plays with class on the field why not do the same off it?
Redb
Michael C said | June 1st 2009 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
REdb -
I gather the camera was specifically following Cousins around – - so, not hard to see that as a joke he figured he’d give them something they couldn’t use so that they’d either have to continue shooting, edit out, or just use what they’d already collected.
All pretty harmless.
K2K – if you reckon this exposes a ‘dark’ side of Cousins – - gee, you must have been pretty forgiving so far for what I’d assume had exposed a far, far darker side than giving the bird to a remote controlled camera an hour before the game in the change rooms!!!
BigAl said | June 1st 2009 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Spiro . . . what you say may be true, but professional AFL players (should) know that it comes with the territory.
It would be interesting to know whether, out of all the Richmond personnel in the room at the time, Ben Cousins was the only ‘offender” ??
It could well be that the players know that the fixed change room camera is not live and that Ch 10 just take what they want – which probably makes Cousin’s actions even more stupid !
Working Class Rugger said | June 1st 2009 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
He’s an idiot. Sorry to the Cousins bandwagon but he is. He knows that for the rest of his career he will be watched and critiqued. But he still does it. Why is this fool given so much media attention whilst ignoring those who are the perfect example of the responsible public figure( I’d say Role Model but evidently they aren’t) is ignored.
Kick2Kick said | June 1st 2009 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
Regardless why he did it. Richmond need to take action. We all agree that their culture needs to be changed so why not start with a senior player and suspend him for a week for his actions…
Now that will send a strong message to the rest of the players, club officials etc.
jimbo said | June 1st 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Thanks MC.
Maradonna, Matthew Johns, Marilyn Jones, Andrew Johns, Wendell Sailor – there are plenty of sportsman in other codes that have cracked under the public pressure.
Just how public is a famous sportsman and what privacy are they entitled to. The sports administrators, not the players give permission on what to release to the media.
I would have thought, given all the Cousins controversy lately, the AFL should have held back that footage – Cousins’ finger was well and truly aimed at everyone watching, whether you follow AFL or not.
Redb said | June 1st 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
MC,
Don’t see it that way. It’s not the biggest sports story on the planet by any stretch but his actions belie a certain behavorial trait I dislike – disloyalty. He owes the AFL, Richmond, fans,etc a lot more than a bird for giving a him a second chance. My reaction was fark him.
There are two parties to this issue, Cousins and the Ch 10 TV Director who decided the footage was too juicy to be true. The AFL actaully had no say in it, thus for anyone to contend that the AFL is happy to be reaping a ‘bad publicity is good publiciity’ type scenario is way off the mark IMO – light years in fact.
Redb
Michael C said | June 1st 2009 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
Redb -
ah, but, before he was aware of this story ‘breaking’ on the night – the post game boundary line interview with him saw him going to great lengths to pay tribute to T.Wallace and Richmond – - a nice little display of loyalty.
Sure though, he’s a little arrogant and cocky (or appears that way) – - many top flight sports people who sustain long careers at a high level come across that why – - it may be a pre-requisite. Okay, James Hird didn’t. Robert Harvey didn’t. Not all people are the same.
Agreed re the AFL re the ‘releasing’ of the footage. Doubt there’d be any interaction there whatsoever. However, the AFL potentially whacking him for such a non issue in my mind would be a bit rich. Perhaps it’ll help cover the costs of the 3 or however many weekly drug tests. Perhaps the cameras should be zooming in on those – surely that’s in the ‘public interest’ MORE so.
BigAl said | June 1st 2009 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
I’m with Redb on this one.
The AFL don’t control what is broadcast – just imagine the media storm if they even tried !!!
Also wasn’t the camera un-manned & fixed position ? -i f so I can’t see how it could ‘follow’ Cousins.
Pippinu said | June 1st 2009 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
Big Al
I think you’re right about it being a fixed one – Cuz just had to keep away from it – it was clearly a brain explosion that was never going to achieve anything.
Nird99 said | June 1st 2009 @ 9:36pm | Report comment
Regardless of the action of the player, there was no need for the 10 news to show the footage three times during the story tonight. What is achieved by the station by showing it three times, other than some sensationalism.
Michael C said | June 2nd 2009 @ 5:37am | Report comment
Nird99 -
exacly – if it was deemed so ‘offensive’, then why did channel 10 show it over and over and over and over again……..simply to ‘offend’.
If anyone was offended – then about whom should they complain? I’d be tipping they should complain to ch.10 (or the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal) who firstly elected to show it and then show it again and again…etc.
Redb said | June 2nd 2009 @ 8:02am | Report comment
I thought it was pretty cringeworthy when Wallace came yesterday and said at his news conference that one of his great decisions was to recruit Ben Cousins.
Redb
Michael C said | June 2nd 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Redb -
I’m gaining the impression …. now, stop me here if you must…….. but, I’m gaining the distinct impression that you don’t really ‘like’ Ben Cousins,
infact, perhaps fairer to suggest that you absolutely loath him. (a bit like Jim Wilson last night on 3AW)
Personally – - I like the ‘idea’ of Ben Cousins. His journey I reckon is one well to be shared by others. Role models are permitted to be flawed. In fact, parents need access to both positive and negative role models to assist their children in discerning good from bad.
Ben Cousins has much going for him, and, perhaps like a Scud – he might end his career and wonder how and why he wasted it so.
Still though – I reckon the public journey that people are in part sharing with B.Cousins will be a healthy one (with a few completely over blown ’scandals’) as the general public becomes more aware of the issue of drug addiction and rehab and the value of getting back to work and support structures etc etc.
But – did Cousins have reduced impulse control because of drug issues in the past or his rehab process? Who knows. I’m no expert.
BigAl said | June 2nd 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Looks like the Cousins issue is the icing on the sad story cake of Wallace at Richmond !
Redb said | June 2nd 2009 @ 11:34am | Report comment
MC,
I was never that comfortable with his re-entry into the AFL in the first palce but was willing to give him another chance and thought the hype around Richmond might help the club a bit. For Cousins to bird the cmaera shows a lack of classI dont beleive his story baotu a mate behind the camera.
Over it already, move on.
haven’t been in the best of moods since Sunday afternoon.
Redb
Michael C said | June 3rd 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Yeah, Sunday arvo was an anti climax – like many neutrals I was looking forward to seeing what Essendon might do. Geelong just flexed their muscles………..they are SOOOO good.
It reminded me of the first final in 2007, North Melb had reason to believe that they could have a crack, and at qtr time, 3 goals each (mind you, we had 3 straight I think and Geelong had about 3.7). 2nd qtr, Geelong just did what they had to do, and clearly exposed to all and sundry that North just could NOT compete. Essendon were similarly made to look like boys against men.
And that’s without Ottens, Chapman, Stokes, Egan etc. Fair enough, Essendon is well down in the ruck stakes and Lovett-Murray owes his team mates an apology.
btw – glad to see Greg Baum taking channel 10 to task in the Age – - for showing the Cousins finger, and the parallel that Ch.10 had better be willing to show every ‘off air’ nose pick, f bomb, bum scratch etc that any of their contracted talent do in front of a running camera. Betcha they won’t.
Agreed though – - well and truely over it.
simon said | June 3rd 2009 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
ben cousins is the worst thing to happen to football …
noone in their right mind should act in the poor manner that he has ..
the sport is too good for him..
do the right thing and get rid of him once and for all……especially the kids ….who do not deserve to see an
idiot giving people the bird ..then coming up with the worlds most useless excuse ever..
come on AFL …there are plenty of young up and comings to replace him and they will at least put the effort in…
Redb said | June 3rd 2009 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
Mc,
re Ch 10 I said further up they’re the real culprit but maybe I was just naive, as I was surprised to hear on Ch 9’s Footy Classified and Foxsports Backpage that both networks would have definitely played the footage and beleived any media would have also. So it’s not just Ch 10, its the media generally who use Cousins for readership/viewership fodder.
Rather than sport the coverage of Cousins soap opera moronic antics belongs on a cheap womens weekly/ TV gossip type mag.
Redb
Michael C said | June 5th 2009 @ 6:17am | Report comment
Redb -
After this and the North Melb ‘Chicken video’, I’m just curious now to see the penalties and continuing moral outrage over the following:
-The Chasers sick kids skit
-Lyncoln Lewis (Home & Away) and his ’sextape’
-Jodi Gordon (Home & Away) and her ‘association’ with shady characters (suspected bikies and houses being attacked by gunmen)
Let’s see how good the tv networks are at a bit of self assessment.
Redb said | June 5th 2009 @ 7:26am | Report comment
MC,
If the answer to your question is how Ch 9 handled the Matthew johns incident, the network stood him down and then interviewed him the same day.
Redb
Michael C said | June 5th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Redb -
yep – but that’s because it was in the ’sports’ domain,
we now have acknowledgement that Jodi Gordon was using drugs and has a ‘problem’ (and yes, she had a sad experience a few years back with a boy friend who died young). What’s a bet she gets sympathy and understanding,
whereas, the sports context would dictate that a certain number of ‘zero tolerance’ advocates should be demanding to know why H&A haven’t been drug testing their young stars and why she hasn’t been named and shamed and sacked for 2 years.
I just want to see the Today show and Sunrise go to town on this, because, the TV networks and production houses have a duty of care equal to at least that of an AFL or NRL footy club.
What annoyed me a bit was with the sad passing of Chris Mainwaring a couple of years back – was that he’d been within the ‘media’ environment for several years and sustaining a drug ‘problem’ that played a major role in his demise. Where is the responsibility of his employer to drug test? Sadly, he would have been better off still playing footy – - in the ‘new world’ of AFL illicit drugs harm minimisation protocols. So, I just get sick and tired of the holier than though news media attitude when their own backyard is littered with skeletons.
Right – rant over!!!!