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The frenzy following recent allegations against Karmichael Hunt is a modern-day witch-hunt. Squeeze in a bit of public shaming and you’ve really hit the sweet spot.
Get out the popcorn folks because we’ve found our latest victim. And it’s a good’un.
If the allegations are true, then the bloke took cocaine and passed it to his mates.
Yes it’s bad. And yes it’s sad. And yes he knew the risks. But is it worth ruining a man’s livelihood for partaking in an activity that has become fairly commonplace? Yes, commonplace.
Why the public outcry of indignation?
It can’t be an issue of performance enhancement, as cocaine is more likely to impair than improve a man’s performance on the rugby field.
We can’t be talking about blanket immorality associated with taking drugs, because smoking and alcohol are considered acceptable poisons.
Is it the illegality? Worse crimes have gone unpunished in the professional era; or at least without pressing the big red button on a man’s career.
It must be the role model thing. Taking drugs will normalise the behaviour for impressionable kids. It’s unbecoming of a man in his public position, they will say, and he must be made an example of.
Assuming the allegations are proven true, the ARU will be required to spout this rhetoric. They’ll toe the political line because it’s the easier path. It’s harder to man up and call it as it is; that Hunt, just like the rest of us, is a human being with flaws, and it’s ok to not be perfect.
Instead, the man will have his contract terminated, and the Reds, the Wallabies, and rugby fans the world over will lose another exciting talent.
The great irony here, of course, is the only reason we’re talking about this terrible affront to role model behaviour is because the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission took the initiative of going undercover and find dirt on him. Presumably it was deemed in the public interest to expose Hunt for the ‘fraud’ he was. To parade the man as a bad role model for children to observe the world over, thus somehow protecting the children from exposure to a bad role model.
It’s almost too ironic to contemplate.
Perhaps instead of parading a scapegoat, whose only real crime was being an easy target, we should focus on addressing the societal issues associated with drug taking.
But then again, sports stars are only here for our entertainment.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.