It’s time for Aker to listen to his own advice
Roar Pro
By Justin Rodski, 21 May 2010 Justin Rodski is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, Jason Akermanis
Jason Akermanis looks on during the AFL 2nd Qualifying Final between the Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. Slattery Images
It’s time Jason Akermanis put his attention grabbing and unnecessary opinions back where they belong – in the closet. Aker is, of course, paid to give his opinion, right or wrong. But this to me stinks of hypocrisy from a bloke who often takes a moral high ground.
He supposedly has no problem with men being gay but bizarrely is still against homosexuals being a part of AFL football. Or at least admitting they are to the public anyway.
The most disappointing and worrying suggestion from Aker’s article in the Herald Sun on Thursday was that a gay player ‘coming out’ would actually hurt the fabric of an AFL football club.
Please! That’s an insult to his teammates and to the entire AFL playing group. Did rugby league player Ian Roberts ‘coming out’ break the fabric of his club? I don’t think so.
If I was an AFL player I would be horrified to think Aker is representing me through the media and rubbishing my credibility with such backward thinking and out of date opinions.
Paul Roos said it best on the Swans website yesterday: “If it had been written in 1943 or something like that, you could have been forgiven. But to hear it in 2010, to hear something like that, is just bizarre.”
The exact reasoning for the article was in response to rumours circulating that an AFL player was close to becoming the first to openly admit being gay. So what?
Akermanis claims the rumours are baseless, but how would he know? And more importantly, if they are untrue, what’s the point of writing of the article in the first place?
Apparently the AFL players’ association was fully aware of the article and even searched out Akermanis to help broaden awareness of homosexuality.
Who knows. Was he simply hung out to dry by the article? Have we taken him completely out of context?
I don’t think so. To say the AFL and an AFL club isn’t ready for a gay footballer is a seriously sad indictment on the entire code.
And the AFL chief Andrew Demetriou felt compelled to respond in a statement released by the league yesterday
“Jason Akermanis is entitled to express his opinion but I don’t believe it reflects the views of clubs, players and officials involved in the AFL an the broader football community.”
Akermains says he hopes one day the ‘lonely road’ he believes gay men travel on can be ‘hopefully made easier,’ but I’ve got news for you Aker, you just made it considerably harder.
Surely living a lie and concealing the truth would be unbearable for anyone?
The Bulldogs went into damage control and sensing the widespread backlash, quickly removed itself from any association with the article.
“Jason Akermanis’ article is based on his opinion and by no means does he speak for the club or AFL players as a whole, the club does not agree with the views expressed by Jason”
The Bulldogs were internally fuming as well after they subbed the article but it was subsequently changed by the Herald-Sun before print.
Can the Bulldogs now ban him from such media commitments?
Either way, Akermanis should start worrying more about his on field playing issues rather than creating off field headlines.
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Kurt said | May 21st 2010 @ 2:19am | Report comment
Why should Aker not express his opinions? Have we agreed to Qatari-like restrictions on freedom of speech as part of our WC bid? Is everyone supposed to just parrot the same beige-coloured opinions on every damned topic under the sun?
So what if you think Aker is wrong, get over it. He’s one of the very few footballers who ever says anything remotely interesting, and for that you journalists should be supremely thankful.
AA said | May 21st 2010 @ 2:33am | Report comment
What has the World Cup bid got to do with this?
These comments won’t even be heard in Cairns, let alone overseas.
Again I ask, where did the World Cup bid come into it?
Kurt said | May 21st 2010 @ 3:13am | Report comment
Take a deep breath AA, it was simply a reference to varying national laws relating to free speech. For the record, I am not suggesting, inferring or otherwise implying that bidding for the WC will lead to a reduction in Australian constitutional freedoms. Stand down from DEFCON 1, I say again stand down from DEFCON 1.
anopinion said | May 21st 2010 @ 7:02am | Report comment
Freedom of speech is encouraged. Bigotry is not. That is what is offensive.
Ben said | May 21st 2010 @ 11:48am | Report comment
So now an opinion with which certain sections of the community disagree is ‘bigoted’? Well done on trying to shut down an argument with simple labelling and name-calling!
Tom said | May 21st 2010 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Well saying that it would cause discomfort in the locker room if there was an openly gay player there I would consider bigoted, yes. I suppose it is OK if they are in the closet, ignorance is bliss and all of that. And let’s face it, odds are that Akermanis has had at least one gay team mate, probably quite a few more, over the course of his career.
Phil Waugh recently said in the wake of Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas’s outing that he and everyone else in the Wallabies (and hence presumably the Welsh team and his club side) had known for some time that he was gay, but no one particularly cared.
That Akermanis believes a gay player would be aroused after a long training session or game in the showers says more about him than it does about gays. It shows evidence of a deep insecurity, and possibly a level of arrogance bordering on narcissism in his belief a player could find him attractive in such a setting.
And for all those bringing up free speech, there is no legally protected right to free speech in Australia. I think this article sums it up pretty well: http://thingsboganslike.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/95-freedom-of-speech/
Stephen said | May 22nd 2010 @ 11:28pm | Report comment
There is an implied constitutional freedom of political communication in Australia (see, for instance, Coleman v Power (2004) 220 CLR 1 and numerous other High Court cases). It is also protected, though can be overridden by legislation, in the ACT and Victorian human rights charters. And Australia has ratified international declarations and treaties that include freedom of speech: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and 1966 UN treaties on civil and political and economic, social and cultural rights.
Gerry Faehrmann said | May 21st 2010 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Hear, hear! It appears to me that anybody who takes a stand like Akers gets howled down! Fair dinkum, what ever happened to free speech!
footy_fumbler said | May 24th 2010 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
I agree Kurt he has every right to express his opinions.
We as Australians are to pollitically correct nowadays. If you don’t like what he has to say, don’t listen.
Is that too hard?
Akazie said | May 21st 2010 @ 3:28am | Report comment
AFL stuck in the dark ages, RL went through this 15 years ago.
Right now RL has an openly gay player at the Crusaders RL club in Wales, ex Rugby Union international Gareth Thomas, his team mates don’t seem to have a problem with him and the fans outside of castleford have treated him very well.
Here, read this about Gareth Thomas in americas sports illustrated, very interesting.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1168953/1/index.htm
Redb said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:11am | Report comment
Hmmm…. and how many rugby league players in Australia have come out since Ian Roberts?
I support Roberts courage and his comments in todays AGE/SMH are spot on, but the issue still remains attached to all sports.
Gob Bluth said | May 21st 2010 @ 9:43am | Report comment
The difference being no NRL player is making such moronic statements Redb. A fact that remains whatever way you spin it.
Michael C said | May 21st 2010 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Akermanis in the first instance was illustrating that the current environment of media seeking to ‘lure’ someone out of the closet (with a financial carrot attached) might not be the right way for it to transpire.
Then, alas, Carl on the Today show refused to listen to Aker and attempted to shoot him down rather than engage in a valid discussion.
Oh well.
The irony is that it takes people like Aker sometimes – - courageously or just being a big mouth – - to pave the way for proper discussion of a topic that otherwise is ‘taboo’….for whatever reason.
Perhaps in Aker saying ‘don’t come out of the closet – - it’s not safe’, might actually help make it safer…….who knows, he may be doing it for a mate of his???
Redb said | May 21st 2010 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Not sure of your point. Akermanis is one player he does not represent the sport, albeit one with a big mouth.
Are you suggesting there has only ever been one RL player that has been gay in the last 15 years? My point is that be it NRL,AFL,rugby, soccer there remains a sitgma which despite Ian Roberts courage few have followed him down that path since.
My reply was to the poster generalising that AFL is in the dark ages, when i think you’ll find the same issues still exist within the nrl and other sports despite Roberts coming out, no-one has followed him since in rl.
Even the swimmer Daniel kolwaski came out after he retired.
Michael C said | May 21st 2010 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Mathew Mitcham, the diver is about the only openly gay Australian male athlete out there.
I do wonder – - has that hindered his ‘brand’ post Olympics?? because his effort to win, that dive…….he should be an Australian sporting icon….but, for the marketers…..perhaps he’s in the too hard basket.
Where as good looking female swimmers……..(gee, what if Steph Rice came ‘out’???).
BigAl said | May 21st 2010 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
The last I read about Mathew Mitcham was an article decrying his total lack of sponsorship !
This possibly suggests. . . that. . . Acker is not the only sole out there with his thoughts ???
The Link said | May 21st 2010 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
Sounds like Akermanis is getting the Kevin Sheedy treatment.
“Funny old Aker, there he goes again..” or something to that effect.
The message from the usual suspects and captured journos is just ignore him he doesn’t speak for the game.
Rubbish. An AFL senior player with a profile in AFL’s expansion markets has said that young gay men should not come out. This has affected the AFL, regalrdless of how its spun.
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Redb said | May 21st 2010 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
If you say so Link. Perhaps the cheaters of melb storm should be given the generalisation treatment and that all nrl clubs are cheaters??
Redb said | May 21st 2010 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/if-jason-akermanis-said-so-it-must-be-true/story-e6frepkx-1225869330423
Mike Colman in the Courier mail….
“In 1995, Ian Roberts became the first NRL player to announce that he was gay, ending years of speculation and sniggering.
At the time we were told that the floodgates had broken, that Roberts had taken a brave step that would be followed by others who could now live openly without fear.
Yet not one other gay footballer has followed his lead and declared their sexual preference.
Why? Was he the only one? Is it believable that there are no other gay men playing either first-class rugby league or Australian football?
Or is that they are afraid to come out?”
Larry said | May 21st 2010 @ 4:26pm | Report comment
I don’t think so, nobody outside Akermanis gives a stuff, which makes his comments all the more bizarre. Anyway, we all already know Fevola is gay, so what’s the problem?
mds1970 said | May 21st 2010 @ 6:25am | Report comment
As a straight white male I can’t really comment on minorities that much; but I thought the stuff Aker said about not being comfortable sharing a change room with gays was ridiculous. It wouldn’t have worried me in the slightest in my (totally undistinguished) playing days. And it certainly wouldn’t worry me if a player was to come out.
But there’ll be a lot of pressure on any player that did come out. The reality is they will cop discrimination, they will cop abuse from over the fence and sledging from opponents.
But worst of all, they’ll probably be thought of as being a gay footballer rather than a footballer. Similar to Ian Roberts – he’s long retired now, but can anyone remember anything he did on the field? He is remembered more for coming out as gay than he is for his football – and that’s the reality that any player who comes out would face.
Possibly that’s one reason why, even though it’s 15 years ago since Ian Roberts came out, no other NRL players have followed his lead.
True Tah said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:30am | Report comment
I can remember Ian Roberts beating the crap out of Gary Jack, and seeing Jacks face look like hamburger mince afterwards. Not sure I would want to sledge him about his sexuality after seeing that!
Kim Hart said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Took the words right out of my mouth True Tah. I also remember a story told to me by a mate who played a trial for Newcatlse against Manly. He gave Roberts heaps throughout the game – every time Roberts wuld tackle him he would say ‘stop trying to F me’ Just after half time this mate took the ball up and the next thing he remembers is staring at the sky feeling sick and with a mighty headache. Roberts who had just levelled this bloke with a legitimate hard tackle stood above him and said ‘See I F’d you and didn’t even take my shorts off.’
Of course this is anecdotal but says a lot about Roberts’ fearsome reputation as one of the hardest blokes to ever lace on a boot. That’s what I remember him for.
BennO said | May 21st 2010 @ 9:41am | Report comment
me too.
Kim Hart said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Oh yeah the best description of Jack’s face after Roberts got through with it was it looked like an open tool box.
MyGeneration said | May 21st 2010 @ 7:05am | Report comment
mds1970, that’s partly because Ian Roberts was the first to come out, and he’s still advocating today -
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/time-for-akermanis-to-come-out-x2026-from-his-cocoon-of-ignorance-20100520-vp5n.html
Roberts gives Akermanis a pretty good beat down (especially re the suicide statistics that Aker abuses). I think if more players came out, eventually it wouldn’t register as much of a news story, players wouldn’t have to bother to “come out” in some big media beat up, and the focus would go back to their football exploits. But it’s not easy if you’re one of the first, I guess.
Anyway, ironic that since Akermanis spoke up, a NSW cabinet minister has resigned becaused he was filmed coming out of a gay sex club. What if he had been filmed coming out of a straight sex club? They’re saying it was because he used his government car to drive there. Yeah, sure! So, this might back up Akermanis’ point, but I reckon if the minister had stood tough, it probably would haved died down in a few days. But he’s got a family to think about, and a NSW government that doesn’t want this hanging around for a second longer than necessary.
All in all, good times when the sex lives of public figures are no longer seen as of interest to the media, but that ain’t happening till paper sales and tv ratings stop going up for these kinds of stories.
Redb said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Totally agree MyGen, I havent read all of Roberts article but the part I found disturbing and this is why some of Aker’s comments were irresponsible is the suicide/depression part.
Aker could have left the ‘hook’ lines and still raised awareness of the issue. But then again he has a gig at Melbourne Talk Radio and their motto is “Talking Melbourne, Arguing Everything Else”. Nothing more than John Singleton trying to bring shock jock crap to Melbourne.
Bob said | May 21st 2010 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
The media hysteria and Channel 7′s pathethic excuse certainly does back up Aker. Obviously a lot of AFL players agree- otherwise they would be coming out all the time. Maybe when the media and society grow up a bit it would be possible but given this latest epiosde- I wouldn’t hope that would be happening soon.
Ian Roberts and Gareth Thomas are at the top of tehir professions and extremely mentally strong individuals- do you think a 19 year old kid would be able to survive the scrutiny?
Sammy22 said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:23am | Report comment
So a NSW politician resigns because he was not being ‘honest’ with the population, but if your an AFL player (according to Acker) your wrong if you are ‘honest’ with the population.
Just find the whole thing a flash back to reporting in the seventy’s reporting from the seventy’s, and exposing a very insecure sport totally out of touch with reality. The position that Aker took across his whole piece are the very reasons players need to come out for the good of the game (or any sport that’s is so bigoted)
Acker made comment of making International headlines, well sure the AFL will, for being so far in the dark ages
Agree with anopinion “Freedom of speech is encouraged. Bigotry is not.” and there is no place to cowardly hide behind a freedom of speech pretence.
Brett McKay said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
I’m just going to play devil’s advocate here for a minute, because I’m wondering if Akermanis’ main point has been either lost in translation, or just buried in the fallout.
Early on in his Herald Sun column, Akermanis wrote:
“If a player wants to out himself, then I say good luck.
But I believe the world of AFL footy is not ready for it. To come out is unnecessary for a lot of reasons.”
What I’m wondering is if he’s actually trying to shoot a message to the AFL community in general, in saying “..I believe the world of AFL footy is not ready for it.”?? Could he be trying (poorly, I might add) to get people ready for the notion, or even warning the AFL community that a lot more needs to be done to show that we would be as accepting of gay current players as perhaps the broader community is about homosexuals in general?
Have we jumped the gun on the real message here, instead just reverting to the conclusion Akermanis is against gay footballers (which I don’t believe is the case)??
Unfortunately, the rest of his column falls away into seemingly narrow-minded stereotypes (“..I felt uncomfortable, so I left.”), and even the immediate “To come out is unnecessary for a lot of reasons” sentence above perhaps undoes what he’s trying to say.
If indeed Akermanis is just telling gay players to stay “in” because he’s not comfortable, then I certainly do not condone that stance, nor am I trying to defend his comments here. I just wonder if the wrong (and easy) conclusion has been reached. That said, a lack of clarification of what was trying to be said after all the reaction perhaps throws my theory off.
Also, I want to add that if it turns out that the AFLPA asked Akermanis to write this column, then razzes to them too, because surely they would have been better served by a somewhat less-polarizing personality..
Redb said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:41am | Report comment
There is an element of postive intent in Aker’s article. I laugh at those who say the AFL is in the dark ages, thats just code war claptrap.
As far as I know the AFL is only code currently working on a sexual discrimnation policy along the lines of racial discrimination. There has been rumblings that an AFL player was about to come out,etc. The timing of Rodney Eade attending an AFL driven workshop on the issue,etc.
The positive spin is to suggest Aker’s article forges support for the gay player to come out and therefore make it easier. If he is happy to burn his reputation so be it, but there would have been other ways to raise the issue and pose the lockeroom questions rather than make certain statements.
The shame is it has taken the conversation away from the fantastic contribution indigenous players have made to the AFL culminating in the Dreamtime at the G game this Saturday. Aker’s column could have touched on any lingering racial issues in the AFL and still sold a few papers, gained some noteriety.
Michael C said | May 21st 2010 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Brett -
I tend to agree with you.
And the thing to keep mindful of is there’s a bit of a media witch hunt which Aker was taking a pot at, offering $150K to an AFL ‘gay’ who come’s ‘out’.
That’s juvenile stuff by the media. Or is it??
I’m not really sure.
But, Aker bringing it up, probably is not a bad thing and generating the discussion is probably not a bad thing.
And – too, people are allowed to have ‘personal’ feelings on the topic. It’s too often totally taboo, which means everyone suffers in silence and that’s just not healthy. Attitudes only change if they are challenged.
Brett McKay said | May 21st 2010 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
Akermanis today: people have “missed the point”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/jason-akermanis-hits-back-at-critics-over-gay-comments/story-e6frg7mf-1225869511899
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | May 21st 2010 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
Missed the point? Spot on Bret.
I read Akermanis’ comments a day or so ago, before the commentators got stuck into him yesterday. I have seen previously Akermanis is an intelligent and articulate fellow and I thought his comments were fair enough.
When they hit the headlines yesterday my first reaction was the shrill critics had not read the article and were running a classic beat up. The main point he made are summarised in the quotes you used.
Further, he is entitled to be uncomfortable with that which makes him uncomfortable (it was mentioned as an aside, not as a central theme) and certainly no less entitled than a homosexual claiming special status because of that alone.
Do we live in a nether world now in which no-one is permitted to express an opinion or observation that does not conform to a pre-determined acceptable script, crafted by a government agency at the behest of a particular lobby group, enforced by some rights agency as the only permissible viewpoint, of which everyone is terrified?
I recall days of easy candour, before the code chiefs had their every utterance processed first and rinsed by the media advisor, when one didn’t have to look behind the words to understand what they were really saying. A simple example is Peter Moore – “Bullfrog” of Canterbury Bankstown Leagues Club, an outstandingly succesful leader of his code – who spoke plainly, clearly and free of interpretation, without the assistance of an expert in media camouflage.
Brett McKay said | May 22nd 2010 @ 10:59am | Report comment
on this topic of a good point badly made, Gerard Whateley on the ABC’s The Drum has had a crack at writing the article Akermanis was looking for:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/21/2906126.htm?site=thedrum
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | May 23rd 2010 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
A worthwhile read, Bret, thanks for the link.
Next younger brother was gay, sadly now departed, and it was never a big deal for any of the family – his mate of many years is treated with great affection. He was a mighty achiever, and well known, in his craft and he never sought special consideration or made “grand courageous announcements” about his sexuality.
Our old Dad never made mention of it – a tough worldly fella whose other sons excelled in sport and at military officer school – and all I recall is, before he died back in the late ’60s, his brief message to me “He’s not as strong as you blokes, you are to look out for him.” He might only have been referring to my brother’s poor health as a child, which dogged him for his life.
In my view there is way too much vicarious interest in the subject, unnecessary and unproductive spotlighting on something that was pretty much dealt with decades ago and raised since primarily to entertain the ignorant masses.
True Tah said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Maybe not just an AFL issue…recently in the UK, a futbol campaign against homophobia had to be canned because most of the players didnt support it, come to think of it, the world game is probably the least gay-friendly of the major sports, for the myriad of players who have played at the top level, there are only two who were openly gay.
Funnily enough, for all the conservatisim in the US, there have been a number of NFL players who have come out, there was some big Hawaiian dude who came out after his careers had ended.
RL should be proud in that it is far more inclusive than any other sport in this respect, it has had two openly gay men playing at the highest level.
Paul J said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Just shows how the AFL is still in the dark ages and years behind the other codes…
…i’m just stirring of course.
It was Aker who said it so everyone takes it as his ramblings only.
I think with Ian Roberts intelligent comments and all the comments from the AFL community, Aker may have inadvertently helped fight homophobia.
It was good to see the NSW SOO team photo where some players were holding signs saying ‘fight discrimination’ & ‘Let’s end homophobia’. Can you imagine them doing that 20 years ago?
todd said | May 21st 2010 @ 8:52am | Report comment
i think Aka’s comments should be taken for what theya are: an opinion only. Curious to see how many Westen Bulldogs fans react to the comments. Aka might be exercising his right to free spech but the impact on the footy club abd ran base might be more telling
Lu said | May 21st 2010 @ 9:03am | Report comment
This whole thing is hilarious..
so we got aker crusified for saying.. “hey don’t come out, cause your team can’t handle it..”.. but then some pollie goes and resigns his position the very same day because he was found to possibly be gay…
hmm.. if we are in such a tolerable world as every one who is against aker is saying.. than why would the pollie need to resign?
Whats wrong with being found going to a gay club? Why didn’t rudd resign when he went to the titty bar in america?
Aker is just saying what everyone is thinking.. the team will treat that person differently.. and no one should be treated differently..
Gob Bluth said | May 21st 2010 @ 9:40am | Report comment
I think you’ll find Lu that Aker is NOT saying what everyone was thinking. Most people with more than three brain cells got over the idea of homosexuality as some sort of problem years ago. This probably includes plenty of AFL players who Aker has painted as all morons by saying a club could be ruined by a player announcing he was gay.
Redb said | May 21st 2010 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Agree.
Justin said | May 21st 2010 @ 11:27pm | Report comment
Yes but why was the poliie sacked? If it was just an affair with a woman I think he would have survived.
As if any institution is going to bag homosexuals, get real they can only take one stance.
Aker was advocating a path (righty or wrongly) that coming out would do the individual no good. You wont find anyone within the game on public record saying they would be against gays.
Off the record…well I KNOW guys he played with who would not be wrapt about it, despite what SOME of them have publicly said… And that is Ackers point that has been lost.