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It’s a complete mystery why Ben Barba, Nick Kyrgios, and Glenn Maxwell so consistently abuse their superb God-given natural talents.
On their day they have fans on their feet with their skills. But when they abuse their talent, fans share deep disappointment to the pit of their stomachs.
Don’t Barba (27), Kyrgios (21), and Maxwell (28) ever think of what jobs they would be doing if rugby league, tennis, and cricket deserted them?
All three are on serious money, but would only earn a mere fraction in 9-5 jobs outside sport.
But the penny doesn’t drop.
Barba was on the highest of highs after the Sharks won their first NRL premiership, ending a 50-year drought.
The euphoria in the Shire, the celebrations, and the idolatry would be more than enough for any normal bloke, but Barba had to have a crack at cocaine, despite a general warning by the NRL there would be drug testing in non-competition periods.
By testing positive, Barba had his contract torn up, he faces a 12-match ban next season, he’s in Thailand undergoing rehab but his partner Ainslie Currie and their four kids aren’t with him.
Why did he do it, why risk his career?
Is Barba just plain bloody stupid, or is he an addict?
If it’s the latter, the Sharks have a duty of care and everything must be done with support to get him on the straight and narrow.
Nick Kyrgios is far harder to understand.
He is Slam potential, which is reserved for the elite few.
His rapid rise to number 13 in the world is because of that potential in beating the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, and David Goffin.
So why does he blatantly tank matches, where’s his pride? Why does he foul mouth opponents, or someone in the crowd?
Is he just plain bloody stupid, or is there a serious flaw in his mentality?
Countless times he’s threatened to give tennis away and concentrate on his other love of basketball. If he thinks, for one fleeting moment, basketball would welcome such a loose cannon, he’s delusional as well.
His future is in the hands of Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, and the new world number one Andy Murray, who both strongly believe in him.
If he doesn’t listen to them, his future in tennis won’t see out next year.
Glenn Maxwell must get his priorities right.
He has as much natural batting ability as Steve Smith, David Warner and Usman Khawaja, but not the brains to go with it.
Maxwell’s main aim is to please the crowds that flock to see him in the hope he tees off, which is about one in five or six.
Forget the crowd, they will never be in a position to pick him him in Tests, ODs, or T20 sides.
Once Maxwell concentrates on playing every ball on its merits and stop trying to be an occasional crowd-leasing cowboy, the real Glenn Maxwell will surface for the benefit of Australian cricket and the crowds who want to see him in powerful action more often.
If he doesn’t get the message he will remain in the too bloody stupid category, which would be a tragic waste of natural talent.
It’s worth repeating,the future of these three wonderfully gifted sportsmen is in the balance,
Fingers crossed they all realise their potential.