Whatever respect former NZRU marketing manager Jack Ralston might have had to this point, it has most certainly been obliterated for his unsubstantiated claims that two All Blacks were on the ‘juice’.
In his soon to be launched biography (which I don’t care to name) Ralston states, “People might be stunned by this but I know at least two All Blacks in the 1990s who responded to demands that they bulk up by taking steroids.”
Ralston doesn’t go so far as to name the individuals, and says he never actually saw them take the steroids.
But claims “at least two confided in me they had bowed to the pressure to bulk up and were taking them… with the passing of time they may now feel as if they are in a position to speak about it publicly.”
“At least two” means Ralston is inferring there were more. And if such disclosures were ever made one must assume that Jack was a trustworthy character in a privileged position – the kind of bloke an athlete with a hell of a lot to lose could “confide in”.
Which is what makes Ralston’s documented revelation so hard to stomach, whether it be fact or fiction.
Besides being the NZRU’s head of sales and marketing for a couple of years in the late 1990’s, he has notably coached the likes of Olympic gold medallist Hamish Carter, and has served Netball NZ and Gymsports NZ.
Ralston has also worked with superstars like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. No doubt they’ll be fretting over Ralston’s loose lips with his book release pending.
But for now, Jack has chosen to cast aspersions over an entire decade of All Blacks from 1990-1999. Hmmm. So whose names come to mind out of that era then?
John Timu, Olo Brown, Mark Carter, Frank Bunce, Richard Turner, Aran Pene, Eroni Clarke, Jamie Joseph, Robin Brooke, Marc Ellis, Eric Rush, Craig Dowd, Bull Allen, Jeff Wilson, Jonah Lomu, Josh Kronfeld.
Andrew Mehrtens, Glen Osborne, Todd Blackadder, Justin Marshall, Taine Randell, Carlos Spencer, Christian Cullen, Anton Oliver, Tana Umaga, Joeli Vidiri, Kees Meeuws, Byron Kelleher, Mark Hammett, Reuben Thorne, to name a few.
Former All Blacks coach John Hart has predictably come out in defense of the above-named legends and says he’s never heard of any All Blacks on the ‘roids.
“I never saw it on my watch. It would surprise me greatly. It’s very easy to make those comments. From my knowledge, there was none at all.”
But wait, Ralston puts the boot into Hart as well by claiming he was so deflated after New Zealand’s epic 1999 Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat that he asked Ralston to speak to the players “to keep them motivated.”
Former captain Taine Randell is furious about the accusations: “For him (Ralston) to come out with those comments and not name names is gutless. He has cast aspersions on a lot of people and I can say that during my time with the team I saw none of that.”
I sympathise with Taine, even though when questioned, Ralston was quick to rule out Randall as a roider.
One can’t help but peruse the aforementioned list of All Blacks though eh? Carlos Spencer was famously pumped for his Toffee Pops commercials.
Jeff Wilson? Christian Cullen? Josh Kronfeld? All punched well above their weight. But then who didn’t?
As a former marketing man, Ralston knows all too well this is exactly the kind of spark to light a little fire around his book launch. And that it has.
I heard former All Black hardman Craig Dowd on the radio about it this afternoon and suggest Ralston avoids him at all costs.
It is a lowlife approach and one that may well backfire a hundredfold on the coach who is banking on book sales outweighing whatever guilt he is feeling for the unjustified liberty taken.
He is obviously prepared to cash in his integrity and coaching credentials for the almighty dollar. Assuming of course, anyone buys the book. I for one won’t be.
Shame on you Jack Ralston.
peterlala
Guest
peterlala
Guest
Slander is one of the worst crimes, because it's so easy to commit and so hard to refute. It has a devastating effect: to destroy someone's good character. Jack Ralston should name the people. Or apologise. He cannot "cast aspersions over an entire decade of All Blacks from 1990-1999". If there were a moral aspect to it, he would have acted at the time, in the interest of keeping sport drug-free, which would have been commendable. The timing makes this look like a marketing strategy. To whit, "Lets say blah-blah-blah if XXX wins the Rugby World Cup. That's standard sales. But, in this case, it's morally wrong. At the very least, his expose is unprofessional. He was employed by the All Blacks and now he betrays their willingness to accept him -- and reward him -- as a trusted employee. Unfortunately, I am playing into his hands by talking about a non-entity. Which is why, taking your lead KingsofCommentary, I have only mentioned his name once.
WQ
Guest
Thanks for the help here Lee, appreciate your assistance with my education. Tell me Lee do you have an opinion or do you just read through the site correcting punctuation?
Touko
Guest
Yeah, but it's a power and strength sport... If only two of the ABs or the Wallabies or whoever have used steroids I'll be frankly astonished.
Lee
Guest
He possibly is a moron, but I bet he knows how to use an apostrophe.
thurl
Guest
When did drug testing come in?
jameswm
Guest
You could make the same rumours about so many sports teams. I'd be surprised if there were no Blacks on the roids in the 90s, and Wallabies too. I guess the difference here is he's alleging that management supported it.
Hoy
Roar Guru
This is an odd situation. I have never ever heard even whispers of this sort of thing. I find it odd saying "players were taking roids, but I can't say who". What is the purpose of saying that, orther than sales? And that is such a terrible way to make sales, surely he would have recognised the implications of saying it.
Maximus
Guest
Anything to sell a bookMerhtens?
thurl
Guest
Why didn't he name then at the time..?
Jiggles
Roar Guru
So assuming he does have credible evidence, you would prefer him to just sweep it under the carpet and not expose these alleged drug cheats for what they are? I don't think the circumstances around releasing they information should impact on the actual information. That said if he doesn't have credible evidence then yes he is just a money grubbing muppet. I think it is wise to wait and see what evidence he has before he is condemned. Exposing drug cheats, even if its years after the fact, shouldn't be discouraged.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
He was well respected in his job and in his many roles with many different sports people. if he now admits that during that period he knew of drug cheating but did nothing at the time, then im sure he would lose the respect of plenty of people. Secondly the fact that he has come out now and is trying to make money from it, will also lose him respect. Why would you even mention it and then say i wont name names because it was told to me in confidence?? There's nothing worse then the old "Hey guess what?" "Oh nah never mind. He has cast a shadow over so many players who's reputations could be tarnished. If he doesn't name the players then he has cast a shadow over everyone that will remain forever. if he does then he has just ratted out his mates for personal gain. Like i said either way he is a loser.
Sylvester
Guest
He needs to put up or shut up. His claims have no credibility without names.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
why would he loose respect for naming and shaming (according to him of course) drug cheats?
Kuruki
Roar Guru
This man has dug himself a big hole. If he names them he will loose all respect. if he doesn't he will be called a liar.
WQ
Guest
Don't bother buying the book as that will only encourage other moron's to write Rugby books full of innuendo just so they can sell book's!
Geoff Brisbane now California
Guest
Buy the Book JB and then enlighten us too much he said they said stuff, proof is what counts and innuendo sells books
johnny-boy
Guest
Think you are out to shoot the messenger KOC. And the phrase methinks they protest too much springs to mind. Ralston doesnt seem the type to want to bad mouth All Blacks just to sell a few more books. He would know there was too much at risk. I'd be surprised if it was only the All Blacks that were doing it.