Professional sport has again found itself in the mire of controversy with nude photos of Nick Riewoldt, the captain of AFL grand finalists St Kilda, posted on Facebook. People are shocked and the moral do-gooders are getting ready to kick the footballers.
Again I feel that this is another situation where after the initial shock and horror, you realise that the players have done nothing wrong. It is not even in that grey area of being morally wrong but legal; it’s just boys on a player’s trip acting up.
However, this has happened for a reason and it is a stark reminder to sport stars of today about the dangers of technology. The girl, no matter how twisted or bitter she is, has got hold of these pictures and posted them on a site that has 500 million people signed up.
While the origin of these photos are disputed (St Kilda say they came from a players phone, the 17-year-old girl says she took them herself), players surely have to know the dangers of having photos taken of them in private.
On players’ trips where I come from, there is an unwritten “no photos” policy.
This means no cameras are allowed, thus preventing embarrassment at a later date for anyone who does something stupid. If the players are having a private party in Miami or they are inviting guests over for a coffee, they should make sure no photos are taken of anyone – and if they are, delete them immediately. If a member of the public catches a player then it’s just bad luck.
However, deleting photos taken on the trip or implementing a no photos policy will more than likely save embarrassment later on.
Whatever you think of the scandal, it has become apparent the girl needs help to deal with the trauma and sport stars need to be extra careful when out in public.
When Brett Favre got caught this year with his pants down, people said it would never happen in Australia. It has and it’s now a stark reminder and an unnecessary headache at the same time.
karlos
Guest
Who cares if some blokes got naked together? Not what I do in my spare time, but Gay love is not a criminal offence. The only trouble with this as with any of this kind of stuff is idiots want to embarrass someone else with photos. Christ, I have done a million things on the drink I wouldn't like to see on facebook. Everyone wants to be a bloody celebrity these days and this girl is only doing what her singing etc idols tell her works, to become one. Thank God I wasn't born any later than I was as hopefully I will be dead before Australia is completely devoid of the things that once made this nation interesting and different. Oh well, that's the cost of becoming so wealthy. We are becoming a very shallow nation. Where once Ne Kelly Was King we have Oprah as our Queen.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yes LS - th AFL smokescreen shouldn't cover up some fundamental questions: 1. If she was there, what was a 16-17yo girl doing in a room with 3 naked or partially-clad 20-somethings? 2. If she was there - what happened before and after the photo? 3. If she took the photo - why did Riewold pose for it? 4. If she wasn't there and another St K player took the photo - why did Riewold pose for it? This was not a case of snapping someone naked as he was getting into the shower. It was someone posing for a photo by framing his genitals with his hands. Based on the pose, it makes you believe the girl's story more. If they were supposedly drunk and using that as an excuse - they also said it was taken the next morning as he got out of bed. Was he still drunk? These guys have to learn that sometimes even if a very young girl says yes - they should say no. The word just isn't in their vocabulary though.
LS
Guest
Thanks to the media hype I have had lots of interesting conversations with my 11 year old boy. He simply asked but why would they want to take photos like that Mum? Anyone got a good answer. Boys trip or not......our future AFL stars are watching their "heros".....I just wish they would behave like one!
Moonface
Roar Guru
I hope for your sake and the AFL's sake that you are right. The AFL have painted themselves into a corner. If the girl comes up with more photos of AFL players, that are not on that laptop, then it indicates that what the St Kilda players said is not true and the girl is right. Lets see tomorrow afternoon, when the injunction ends on her posting any more photos.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
So you would know that footballers walk around naked quite often, perhaps with people walking in and out of the dressing rooms. In my day, I didn't have to worry about people with digital cameras/mobile phones (they weren't as ubiquitous as they are now). You said you would chase anyone down and force them to delete, and I'd be the same I imagine, in this particular case, the captain has expected it would be done, either way, I think we can now expect that all sportspeople will become a bit more circumspect about such scenarios.
Koops
Guest
How about you understand, there is more than one, i am talking about the real world, not some piece of pathetic sensationalism, that enables you to score cheap points in a code war. And if you think i posted that about Hopoate, to score cheap points, then you really have serious problems. Should i ammend Hopoate to Ex Boxer, will that make you feel better !.
db swannie
Guest
So now you are bringing ex NRL players into it(Learnt that great diversion tactic off Vlad), Well at least we havn't inducted him into a Hall of Fame like that fine upstanding AFL Hero GOD(Ablett). You know the one in the motel room with the teenager who overdosed.. Stick to the topic,For every NRL indescretion i can show you an AFL one..
Koops
Guest
Ho hum, what a load of boring teenage nonsense. I tell you what is serious, and it's not because he is a EX high profile RL player, the Hopoate incident where the guy he chased and hit, is in a coma, ..... now that's serious, that and a stack of similar type of violent incidents around this country. This other stuff is just fluff, why do really we bother with it, and why people bothering to attempt to score points from it, is just as bad. I probably have a photo of me and a couple of mates chucking a browneye somewhere, get over it, you bunch of twits.
Gob Bluth
Guest
Ah, bringing up a totally unconnected incident. getting tired and desperate are we RedB? I know you've been working on this all day but come on you've set far higher standards. Your response also highlights you think MonaGhan was unAustralian but these blokes who apparently stand around taking photos of each other in nude are perfectly normal.
Nick the second
Guest
difference being it was to a 16-17 year old girl
Jason
Roar Guru
If the photos were taken in Miami and she wasn't there...
Nick the second
Guest
"IF" the photos date back then.
Jason
Roar Guru
Because it's not possible that someone sensible hasn't advised her to obey the court order?
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
In other words, she didn't take the photo.
jiggles
Guest
Well yes I play grade Rugby in Brisbane.... what is your point or is there even a point to this? I guess some people would find that play funny, although toilet humour (and that is just what that is) is one of the lowest forms of wit. Even still you go into that show expecting a bunch of blokes playing around with their long johns. I guess some would even call it art. This is not the same as a bunch of AFL stars (or any players from any code... I am not trying to bash AFL here) posing for a photo. If I was a famous sports star and a team mate took a snap of me naked jumping out of bed (I don’t by that excuse for a second btw) I would force him to delete it straight away, not just ask nicely and expect he does it. how much of a f00l is Reiwoldt to just think he would do it and not follow it up? Correct acting like an idiot is not illegal, but these blokes have to understand that if they take the big cheque for doing something they love they become role models for young kids all around the joint. As soon as they take the cheque it is not ok to act like an idiot. Or if you do, don’t pull a camera out.
Redb
Roar Guru
She has advised her fateful followers she will ignore such order and post the photos under a different name and twitter or facebook account. Still didn't happen. Rumours she is being managed by someone who knows the media - I suspect Roy Masters. :)
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Redb As Hannibal Lecter said to Clarice Starling in the epic "Silence of the Lambs": "all good things to those who wait". You do realise that, in the Federal Court, Justice Shane Marshall has issued an order restraining the lass from publishing any photographs until 4pm on Thursday? And, in case you don't realise, it is serious criminal offence to intentionally contravene a restraining order.
st penguin
Guest
Not sure what Corbett's problem is - sounded a bit homophobic if you asked me. It's pretty clear he's never been away on an end of season football trip!
Redb
Roar Guru
Who Monahan?
captain nemo
Roar Guru
Its "UnAustralian" to act like these blokes did