Sonny Bill Williams in action in Rugby League, Boxing and Union
Dear Sonny Bill, or perhaps that should be Bonjour! I’m writing to you to congratulate you on achieving what your manager Khoder Nassar proclaimed was your goal when you left rugby league: to “transcend sport”.
Judging by the papers I think we can down tools and say ‘job well done.’
The single minded obsession that burdens most top athletes in the pursuit of their dreams clearly isn’t for you, conquering one sport is just so passé.
I mean you smashed rugby league, one Grand Final victory (off the bench) and seven test matches! Talk about the stuff dreams are made of. Have they been in touch with you about becoming an immortal yet?
Boxing. Done and done. Undefeated. Cop that Mohammed Ali.
Sure the bloke that was handed picked to fight you turned out he may struggle to ward off a couple of teenage girls in a battle over the last copy of “High School Musical” but it showed in the sweet science a Phd is ready and waiting.
Then there is rugby union, wow, no relegation for you in France and then in the Barbarians match you stepped inside Stirling Mortlock! JONAH LOMU!! They screamed from the press box. Let’s put the big red tick in that box.
So where to now?
Well four weeks ago it was that boxing may be the way forward, three weeks ago the All Blacks were the dream, two weeks ago you declared that thanks to good old Gran you could pull on the golden jersey of the Wallabies and now low and behold you wouldn’t rule out a return to the Bulldogs.
A cynic may ask if you have been tested for ADHD, but your manager would say you can do whatever you want (as long as he can get his 15 percent…bro).
All the while though, you have been keen to point out that you have a contract in France that has a way to run yet. And we all know how much you value those.
But I think you have severely limited yourself by only focusing on the above sports so far.
It must be time to spread your wings.
I mean sure the Bulldogs fans would love to see you back. It has been a nightmare for the club this year without you, but surely it is time for a change.
What about AFL.
I mean come on, you have been to Melbourne, walked past the MCG. Surely that it is option. Judging by the fact that nearly every photo of you is taken inside Choc Mundine’s Boxa café you would fit right in to Melbourne society.
So how about dropping the line that you have seriously been thinking about picking up the Sherrin.
The A-League!
Come on Sonny it is time to put the SBW into Sydney FC. Talk about marquee player! They even play in Wellington.
I reckon we get Danny Wielder to finally write that exclusive about you doing some one-on-one drills with Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry in France and get him to get a few quotes from inside the camp that an insider has been “very, very impressed with your skills and that clearly you have the commitment to make it in that game.”
Toot! Toot! Hear that, we are off to the World Cup baby, jump on board, we can’t let all those blokes in the actual team get all the headlines. “Sonny for Socceroos!” – it writes itself.
So come on Sonny, let’s get fair dinkum about getting the initials SBW world wide. I want WWSBW on everyone’s lips by the time the year is out.
Once we have got the football codes of Australia knocked over, two down two to go, we might just have enough time to get ready for the Winter Olympics.
Bring on the luge!
Cheers
Steve
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June 15th 2009 @ 10:54am
Millster said | June 15th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Leonidas – I’d pick him over Brett Holman (…then again I’d also pick my 6yo daughter over Brett Holman)
June 15th 2009 @ 11:19am
Dan said | June 15th 2009 @ 11:19am | Report comment
A mild laugh… my opinions lie in between most people here; I didn’t find your article abhorrant, but I also think Williams actually deserves a bit of respect. The kid never talks himself up, he just goes about his business and always gives his best. Did anyone hear him interviewed before the Baabaas match? Not an ounce of arrogance, all he ever said was that he knew he had a lot to learn but appreciated the opportunity and would give it his best.
June 15th 2009 @ 11:38am
Leonidas said | June 15th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Millster – I have no idea who Brett Holman is but if ur 6yr old daughter gets the node before him that all I need to know
he must be that bad
June 15th 2009 @ 11:42am
Central North said | June 15th 2009 @ 11:42am | Report comment
The Telegraph takes the p155 out of SBW because they know the controversy surrounding him sells papers.
The Herald writes fluff pieces about SBW because they know he’s a controversial figure, and controversial figures sell papers.
Selling papers = advertising dollars. Advertising dollars = more money for Rupert’s evil empire or the seemingly sinking Fairfax ship.
Steve.. what’s your excuse???
June 15th 2009 @ 11:45am
Mick of Newie said | June 15th 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment
SBW does not get me fired up like some but I heard him interviewed on ABC radio last night (not a sport program) and it was fascinating. His manager should ban him from doing live stuff (strict ration of pre recorded interviews with Danny Wiedler only). His attemps at rationalising his decisions were weak and I was left with the overwhelming impression that he left because he felt like it and there was a pot of gold. Both perfectly good reasons but why not say them.
He jumped in with both feet on Paul Gallen’s racism but backed right off on league’s attitudes to women. The interviewer nailed him on the toliet incident and he admitted he was sorry for the embarressment to his family and the loss of income through sponsorships, blamed alcohol (just finished pre season without grog). When pressed on whether he would apolgise to the woman involved he said he hadn’t made any attepmt to but he would “if he bumped into her in the street.” (does any of this sound familiar)
Left the impression that this man of principles is selective in his moral causes.
June 15th 2009 @ 11:54am
Mike said | June 15th 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
I thought it was an amusing article – SBW’s minders do spin some large ones in order to attract attention to anyone in their stable, and they deserve to have the p*ss taken out of them!
Fortunately, SBW himself seems to have his feet on the ground. His comments after the Barbarians match were realistic. For good or ill, he has decided to make his way in Rugby, and he will have his work cut out making the grade – even allowing for his obvious and considerable talent. Toulon has been a good introduction to the code for him, but I think he needs something more intense now – maybe a better French side, or maybe Super 15. But he better have his injury rate sorted out – a Super 15 side won’t be as tolerant of his down-time as were the Bulldogs.
June 15th 2009 @ 12:10pm
Gerry Faehrmann said | June 15th 2009 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
Sonny Bill wouldn’t rate with the Bulldogs now!
Funny thing is the Bulldogs have bought really well with money to spare. Sonny Bill can get nicked as far as most Bulldogs fans go!
June 15th 2009 @ 1:13pm
Mike said | June 15th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Yes, it hasn’t been pleasant for Leaguies to be on the receiving end of poaching, the way they used to poach union players!
If it were just Australian rugby, League wouldn’t have to be so worried – the professional rugby pot in Australia is so small, that there would only be a few players moving over to Union. Plus its always harder to move from a less complex game to a more complex one.
But the increase in Rugby’s popularity in wealthy countries like France and Japan has changed everything. There is a genuine (and well paying) alternative for talented young League players (or talented old ones who burn too many bridges in League).
June 15th 2009 @ 1:17pm
Hen said | June 15th 2009 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Steve,
I don’t have a strong opinion either way with regards to SBW – but all I saw in this article were cheap shots and lazy journalism.
I expect much much more from an article on this site.
June 15th 2009 @ 1:38pm
NickF said | June 15th 2009 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
There certainly are some sourpusses who read and post on this website.
Bulldog – Cheer up, join in and have a bit of fun.
Gatesy – If we’d all moved on, why did you read this article?
LeftArmSpinner – No, not THAT funny, but so what, I smiled, especially about the Danny Wiedler part.
eric – you can’t possibly call the whole SBW Circus “fair dinkum”, fair shake of the sauce bottle.
old goalie – I didn’t know I’d have to be fit to tie SBWs boot laces, I’d better get in training. “Where’s the harm in a young, extra-ordinarily gifted athlete expressing himself?”, What the harm in having some fun?
Dan – Maybe, but I think Koda N. and Danny W. need to be singled out for their effort. And as for channel 7s “Sonny Bill’s Barbarians v The Wallabies”. have a go at them instead.
Central North – I don’t think Steve needs an excuse.
If the article is incorrect, then correct it. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
We have enough crap in this world without all the above putting more crap in it.
Thanks Steve, I enjoyed it, but you forgot to suggest the WWE.
NickF