Do we have unfair expectations of our sports stars?
Roar Rookie
By blackmambafive, 18 Mar 2010 blackmambafive is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- AFL, Brendan Fevola, brownlow medla
Like bourbon and milk, alcohol and the sporting elite just don’t mix. This is the latest bandwagon the media have swarmed onto.
Senior Lecturer in Health Sciences at the University of South Australia, Dr. Graham Dodd concurs: “role models for society, such as elite sports stars, are expected to reinforce the messages, and when they do not, they attract media attention.”
While there has been no shortage of alcohol-fuelled sporting incidents of late, has there ever been a clean living, controversy free sporting society? Do we place our sporting icons on such an unrealistic pedestal that they will inevitably fall?
“Alcohol is detrimental to elite performance”, Dr. Dodd says. “If they wish to perform at their peak constantly, then abstinence is the way to go.”
Brendan Fevola and his recent antics at the 2009 Brownlow Medal Count continues to dominate the backpages of the sports section.
Is it any surprise that out of a group of highly charged, testosterone-filled, male sportsmen, who have been restricted in their alcohol consumption, one may fall foul of the boundary line?
We all do stupid things when we are drunk. Our place in society determines our accountability and, in return, should influence our actions.
Are we placing an excessive degree of accountability on our sporting elite who at the end of the day are only human like the rest of us?
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Aljay said | March 18th 2010 @ 8:09am | Report comment
Absolutely agree. Let’s face it, the footy players at school were by and large the disruptive, juvenile guys who would always push things one step further than the boundary. Is it any surprise they act this way in wider society? I for one watch any code of football for what the players do on the field, not for anything to do with their life off it. Good or bad I couldn’t care less.
The coverage of sporting misdemeanors is about one thing only – selling newspapers/racking up website hits in a 24/7 news world.
If the media was genuinely concerned with ‘role models’ behaviour as opposed to flogging more papers, wouldn’t we see alot more of a fuss over the drug use at the Logies and ARIAs?
Brett McKay said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
yes, BMF, we most certainly do…
Case in point: Michael Clarke. Whatever we think of his decision to fly home and change the locks, no one deserves to have a break-up played out so publically, with 24/7 commentary on whether he should ever captain Australia.
(Personally, I think he’s enhanced his standing, out of this whole episode, but I’ll happlily stand on my own on that if need be..)
this, from the end of Peter Lalor’s article in today’s Australian sums up the circus nicely:
“..Oh, perhaps you wanted to know if he was still speaking to his ex? He was asked, and he did answer: ‘I’m not going to comment on my personal life.’
With that, 47 of the 50 journalists left the other three to cover training for the Test.
Meanwhile, back at the cricket….”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/michael-clarke-calls-in-real-spin-doctor/story-e6frg7mf-1225842064756
breakaway said | March 18th 2010 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Get real!
In recent times, several elite sports stars have been arrested in various parts of the country for peddling illicit drugs A television identity and former sports star admitted to taking part in a pack rape while on a football trip. A high profile athlete tries to import banned performance enhancing drugs through the mail – an illegal importation. A footballer defecates in a hotel corrider in view of guests. Another peddles smutty photos which degrade and demean an innocent woman when they are published in a magazine. An exuberant atlete celebrating a chapionship win breaks the jaw of a fellow guest at a nightclub. Do you condone these actions (or as you say “misdemeanours”)?
These days elite athletes/footballers are handsomely remunerated for their endeavours and take on the mantle of representing the organisaon that pays them, the state or counry that endorses them, and the supporters who put their faith in them. All that we, the fans, ask is that they do so with honour and dignity. Without getting so drunk that they have no recollection of what they are doing. Is that too much to ask?
Towser said | March 18th 2010 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
If your in the public eye, whatever the endeavour, the media will throw a pile of brown stuff your way if it sells their newspaper etc to the public.
Is it morally right. Since when has the media had morals. Note the current affairs reporters pushing emotionally distraught families with inapropriate questions about a tragic personal loss.
Back to sport. compared to the UK the scrutinisation of sporting stars in Australia is lukewarm.
Particularly compared to the goldfish bowl world that is a footballer over there.
I blame the media for the early death of Georgie Best & the slow demise of Gazza(Paul Gascoine). Sure they were not squeaky clean. Characters with cracks the length of the San Andreas Fault.
But their frail character was constantly pushed by the media monster. In the end it ate George up & Gazza is slowly being gobbled.
In Australia there seems some let up after a while & they move onto the next victim.In England if your tagged particularly a footballer its for life. Lets hope John Terry is made of sterner stuff than George or Gazza.