On the same day Nick D’arcy and Kenrick Monk were posing as gun-bearing outlaws in The United States, Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale were under investigation for an alleged scuffle outside a hotel in Brisbane.
Of course, the Australian media were relentless in their scrutinizing of the four professional athletes.
They should have known better, they are meant to be professional athletes, it’s against the various team policies these individuals have agreed to – all valid points raised by the media, and we shouldn’t start to question the media here.
This behaviour is clearly something that needs to be brought to the public attention, especially when it involves high profile athletes of world class, Olympic calibre, even. This needs to happen in order to ensure it is not overlooked or swept under the rug by the respective bodies governing the Olympic Swim team and the Australian Rugby team.
But one thing that is continuously overlooked, much to the detriment of these four young men and many who have gone before them, is the fact that they are just that – four young men. Young men who can’t help but think it would be pretty neat to pick up a gun when you’re in America, where it is perfectly legal to do so within the confines of a licenced gun shop. Young men who are quick to protect the interests of their mate when push comes to shove after a few alleged racial slurs where hurled at them.
I mean sure, Nick D’arcy’s involvement in the assault case of his teammate Simon Cowley in 2008 should probably have shocked some sense into him, especially considering he only narrowly escaped going to jail and declared bankruptcy to avoid monetary liability. And Quade Cooper’s robbery charges in 2009 should probably have been enough of an indicator that he needs to pick up his game off the field if he wants to build a career as a professional athlete.
While it’s reasonable for us to be morally outraged when they are criminally charged for serious offences, these petty instances shouldn’t attract too much of a media stir – incidents which don’t attract police attention certainly shouldn’t have any bearing on these athletes’ participation in future sporting events.
Personally, I do not feel they require media attention at all until contravening the law comes into play.
The point I’m making here is that it is a little particular of us, the public, to expect these young men to transform overnight, almost, from teenagers to respected role models.
The counter argument, of course, is that these players have rules and regulations to follow, contracts which they have signed, images to uphold. But I say overly stringent clauses in these contracts are burdening theses young athletes, leaving them wide open for the media to pounce.
Let the boys have their fun, providing it be legal and harmless, obviously.
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