Media should call stumps on Rodney Hogg

By the way, if Hogg is to be sacked over this, is should Dean Jones be in the media again after his "terrorist" comment on Amla. Or even Tony Grieg after his "mail order bride" comment? There would be many others. I think all were (admittedly unfunny) attempts at humour rather than being evidence of unfitness to commentate on cricket. As for Hogg, personally I am surprised he has a gig in the media because he just isn't that insightful or interesting.

No, everyone doesn't have to find jokes funny, they just need to be able to throw it aside as a terrible joke, and that's it. To go on about them being racist or bigoted and therefore having meaning over and above anything but more than what it's intended to be is in my opinion being precious. And don't pretend to clearly know me.. You don't. You have no idea what I have put up with in my life, just because I'm a white male who chooses to follow no religion doesn't free from jokes and criticism on the site in the same way as I have been talking to johnno about.. Your comment just proves to me that there are plenty out there waiting to label others for finding humor in jokes when others don't, and then without knowing the person assume they know all about them in an attempt to belittle them. Just because I can separate jokes from someone being abusive doesn't mean I'm a redneck.

'An Imam is still a leader in the Islamic church.' No, it isn't. Muslims don't use the term church. They use the term mosque. If they refer to their wider community, they still wouldn't use the term church. 'Why do you assume that every church leader is of the Christian faith? Perhaps because almost all are? Muslims don't use the word church. Neither do Jews. Neither, presumably, do Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, or Pagans. The only non-Christian religion that I can think of that utilises the word church is Scientology, and it's a fair assumption that in Australia, church refers to Christianity. 'A little biased n'est pas?' This from the person, whom presumes that because his religion uses the word church, other religions do so as well. You made a mistake, just accept it.

An Imam is still a leader in the Islamic church. Why do you assume that every church leader is of the Christian faith? A little biased n'est pas?

Johnno, I rarely agree with you, however this is a superb exception. :D I couldn't agree more. I think that Hogg should absolutely be sacked, or at the very least given a lengthy suspension. It is completely unjustiafable, however I suspect that nothing will be done, seeing as how Islamophoia has replaced anti-Semitism as the acceptable form of bigotry. "I don’t blame him, to have to listen to such degrading nonsense, i’d ask for a refund if i was Ikebal Patel." Me too! I loved that comment. Anyway, great post Johnno. :D BTW, regarding Craig Hutchinson's comment: "“For those asking, spoke at length last night to @RMHogg about his insensitive tweet yesterday, expressed disappointment and accepted apology.” I wasn't aware that Hutchinson, one of my least favourite sporting journalists as it happens, was Muslim. His accepting the apology is not only presumptuous (as a non-Christian, I wouldn't seek to accept an apology from someone who expressed anti-Christian bigotry, as it's not my place to do so), but completely absurd. Fantastic article Athas, and after the Curtis Mayfield reference, you've done some stunning work in recent days! :D

Rabbitz, how is Patel's saying "I’m very disappointed that I paid money to watch him now,” not helpful in or in the interests of our 'shared future? Should he have said nothing, even though he is the president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, and Hogg vilified the Islamic faith? I guess I have a different view to you on what is helpful or is in the interest of our 'shared future' (whatever that means.)

How was his joke funny in the least? "Islam is not a race, Christianity is not a race, they are religions." Yes, and? While the term racism has in recent times, been applied to religions as well (it has been coined the 'new racism'), even if one does not consider what he said to be racist, it is still extremely bigoted. It also doesn't lessen what he said. "If the same people who preach religious tolerance didn’t attack Christianity at every chance they get, I could actually take them seriously. Hypocrites." Whom are you talking about? Furthermore, there are plenty of people who preach religious tolerance, yet attack other religions (usually Islam, but sometimes Judaism and other religions), so Christianity isn't unique in this regard.

Al, you do realize that not everybody has to find jokes to be funny? I think the joke was horrible, and it doesn't make me either a 'princess' or 'precious.' Not should I 'get over it'. That you attempt to reduce this and ridiculously call people names, indicates that you clearly have never been verbally abused based on your religion, ethnicity, or skin colour. Not everybody can count themselves lucky in this regard.

TC, a fatwa is simply a religious ruling. They are extremely rarely issued as 'death warrents'. Most are issued on day-to-day issues or on legal issues. If Bachar Houli has a question concerning fasting on Ramadan, he might seek a fatwa. Even more mundanely, if a Muslim has a question concerning an upcoming wedding, they might seek a fatwa. Some leading Muslim leaders may issue fatwas on whether something is allowed within Islam. For example, a Muslim leader in Indonesia may issue a fatwa regarding whether Muslims should play Australian Football. Three things need to be understood. One, very few fatwas are binding (there are stories of individual Muslims shopping around until they get the Fatwa they like :D), and even those that maybe binding upon the particular community or those who follow the teaching of the particular leader, they are not binding in a legal sense. If an Indonesian Muslim leader issues a fatwa against playing Australian Football, only those who follow his teachings (such as those in his community) may be obligated to follow his fatwa. Most people will ignore it. Two, only a minute number of fatwas call for the deaths of people. Sadly, the media tends to report on the extreme, and so when non-Muslims hear the word fatwa, they tend to think of Salman Rushdie (which was more about power than religion anyway), however that is an absolute exception. Extremists may issue the odd fatwa calling for the death of someone, however there are millions of fatwas that are issued, which have nothing to do with calling for someone's death. Third, other religions have fatwas as well. While they don't refer to them as fatwas, other religions issue religious rulings. If a Jew asks their Rabbi a question, it is the equivalent of seeking a fatwa. The same goes for Christians who seek religious rulings from their local minister or priest. Furthermore, a Muslim leader who issues a fatwa advising his community not to play Australian Football is not that different to the Pope issuing a religious ruling advising against partaking in a particular activity. I say not that different as there is one key difference between an Indonesian Muslim leader issuing a fatwa advising against playing football, and the Pope doing the same. If the Pope does it, it may be mandatory for all observant Catholics. If a Muslim leader does it, depending on how widely followed he is, nobody may even care, and even if he has a massive following, the fatwa isn't binding. This is a sports site, however I just wanted to clarify a few things as fatwas are among the most misunderstood elements of Islam.

'Church leaders in mosques'? If you are referring to actual church leaders, I can't imagine that too many Islamophobic Church leaders would be invited to speak in Mosques. If you are referring to Muslim religious leaders, they are Imams, not Church leaders. Furthermore, not everything has to be balanced out. Yes, some Imams may make horrible comments (not every week), however Rodney Hogg made some disgusting comments this week, and not only is he a former sports star (and this is a sports site), but he did so on twitter. BTW, if you do want to talk about other racist, ignorant or dangerous comments, then I can refer you to comments made against Muslims by politicians, Christian leaders, and so-called journalists and shock jocks. "At least he wasn’t inciting violence and ignorance of our laws." While what he said wasn't the worse thing in the history of the world, I hope you aren't trying to lessen it.

Thanks Fuss, I hope you still kept reading my pieces during your break ;-)

Well Well Well . Welcome back Fuss .

I have to say I loved Hoggy the cricketer with a pasion, at a time when Aussie cricket was full of people without fire or passion he stoood out like a beacon. Perhaps the nasty tour of Pakistan in 79 has never left him, he did get pelted by the crowd on that tour. As a response he collected all the bricks, rocks and bottles thrown at him at the end of his run-up, gathered them in his arms at the over's end and when he got back to fine leg pelted them into the crowd. It did not go down well, but like Cantona kung-foo kicking that gross ignorant twat of a fan, understandable. Hogg's comments were high quality stupid, but unfortunately Hoggy won't lose his media job, he'll do the usual mea culpa and all will be right with the world. After all it has not been a problem for Dean Jones, he said "the terrorist has got another wicket" after Hasim Amla toook a catch in an SA v SL test match. He lost his job on that channel but all in the media still seek him out, he still gets work, he's still a "top bloke". Maybe it's a Victorian thing? But we all know the media won't sack anyone unless it makes ratings worse to continue with the person than to be rid of them. Really, Kyle Sandilands has regularly been more stupidly, unfunnily offensive than Hogg, Dean Jones, Alan Jones, and Greg Smith put together, but he seems reasonably well paid. Articles stating the obvious like this one does won't stop stupid comments, or get Hogg off the air, ringing up, emailing or tweeting companies saying you won't buy their products if they advertise with certain TV,Radio, news outlets would have far more clout. So is Hoggy an objectionable tool? Yes. what can we do about it? Contact SEN and let them know, the rest is just keystrokes in the ether.

Fuss your back, and i still want Sydney Olympic , and Sth Melbourne in the A-league, and maybe Marconi or Sydney united nothing's changed mate. The old NSL VS A-league, and old football vs new football lives on in Australia.

Nothing Rabbitz , as I am not a religious person, I was born into a christian family but hardly what one would call a strict anglican church of England family, I haven't been to church in years. So in reality I do nothing for any religious community at all in Australia, or anywhere for that matter.

The English were explorers looking for a penal colony. How you can insinuate that brought disease and should be held accountable in some way is laughable. It was not intentional and I would guess not even an afterthought. If it wasn't the English it would have been the Dutch or Portugueese. Either way we have minorities in this country battling but for diffetrnt reasons. If we are treating all people equally as we should then wehave to analyze what creates such a discrency between cultures and enable them all to flourish, if that's what they truly want.

Is there any obligation on Hogg to do anything for the Islamic community? May I ask what you do for the Islamic community, or the Christians, Hindu's, Buddhists, Jewish, Rastafarians, Pastafarians, Pagans, Druids et al ?

Your the last hope Al save us lol, to keep comedy alive .

I'll love it mate you bet champ lol., im now talking like blue collar worker wow lol. Okay Al I'll give the building site a go and get big muscles lol, and have banter with uthe woman why not lol, and i can still spin some sales line to sell the work to , to precious clients lol,.

Athas, thank you for this article, which provides an ideal opportunity to return from my self-imposed exile from The Roar! Hogg's comments come as no shock to me. I've heard him on SEN Radio and he speaks with the eloquence of a buffoon often making snide & insensitive remarks (which are never challenged by SEN Radio) that are, no doubt, embraced by the red-neck, ignorant bigots within Aussie society, who seem to be present in significant numbers at Australian cricket matches (at least, that's the impression I get whenever I read stories about cricket crowds). The fact that some people on this forum (presumably, they're Aussies) tell us to "lighten up and enjoy a larf" indicates that, for some Aussies, simply being a Muslim means you cannot, and never will be, accepted as an Australian. Hogg should be treated as a pariah by any decent member of Australian society and it gives me great solace to see how quickly people on Twitter rallied to condemn Hogg, which forced him to apologise, admit he did the wrong thing and ultimately he deleted the offensive comment. This gives me hope that there are sufficient good people in Australia, who are willing to give everyone a fair go, and will rise up against the bigots who seek to find ways to divide Aussies rather than unite us. Finally, it's interesting that, on a website where Cricket is an extremely popular subject and attracts numerous articles, that a Football writer is the first to expose this issue. Yes, I'm back! ;-)