Eddie McGuire is one of the best administrators in Australian Sport. He is president of the most successful Australian sporting club, the Collingwood Magpies and president of the Melbourne Stars Big Bash Franchise. He also holds numerous TV and Radio posts in Melbourne.
Yet it seems Eddie, someone in the spotlight more than most, continues to evade scrutiny better than most.
The most recent example being the manner in which he responded to claims by Hobart Hurricanes wicketkeeper Tim Paine the Melbourne Stars were “living by another set of rules” when referring to the salary cap in the Big Bash.
Paine’s comments were not supported by any factual reasoning and were arguably defamatory in nature.
Paine has since apologised for his remarks and the Melbourne Stars have stated they will not be pursuing the matter further.
What was extraordinary was the way in which McGuire chose to respond.
On Triple M radio’s breakfast program, Eddie made the following remarks:
“I don’t know who Tim Paine thinks he is, a modern-day Kevin Sheedy or something, mate just stand behind there with your overgrown gloves and try to catch a couple.
“So if this clown wants to just get up and sprout, then he’s going to cop it right between the eyes. We’ve had enough.
“He won’t want to drop one or I will be out on the ground giving it to him.”
If you will indulge me for a moment to use my imagination and paint the following picture.
It’s semi-final night in the Big Bash at the MCG between the Stars and the Hurricanes. There is one ball remaining and the Stars need two runs to win.
David Hussey is on Strike and Doug Bollinger is running in. He bowls down the leg side. The ball skims the face of Hussey’s bat and flys to a lunging Tim Paine.
Time stops for a moment… The crowd hold their collective breath. Have the Stars fallen at the semi final hurdle yet again?
And then Paine drops the ball, which rolls away to the boundary. The Stars win!
The crowd is euphoric. Eddie runs onto the ground. He is high-fiveing his team of Stars (pun intended).
The Stars have made the Big Bash final and secured a lucrative birth in the Twenty20 Champions league!
Amongst the elation, the Stars players are gracious and shaking hands with Paine and the other Hurricanes players.
Then, Eddie decides he is a man of his word. He decides to make good on his threat. He runs over to Tim Paine and gives it to him.
“You literally dropped the Big Bash title,” he exclaims. He is shouting and pointing and acting like a complete and utter embarrassment.
Would we be surprised if Eddie made good on the threat he had made on Melbourne radio? Outrage would follow, and Eddie would be forced to make another public apology.
I have no doubt Eddie McGuire is an intelligent individual.
But in all seriousness, he has a high profile. He is president of Collingwood. When he stuffs up, the majority of Australia is watching.
I just hope at some stage in the future he takes responsibility for all his comments and actions.
Being Eddie McGuire should not give you a free pass to act and comment however you like without meaningful consequence. It should mean you are held to a higher account than others and you are forced to take responsibility.
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