What happens if the powerful Australian Crime Commission’s threat to catch a whale in its drug-taking, match-fixing, criminal element investigation into sport turns out to be just a prawn?
And a raw one at that.
For the last week, sportsmen, sportswomen, and fans throughout Australia have been served up a lot of rhetoric, finger-pointing, guarded comments, and promises of a clean-out, with no proof or substance whatsoever.
Federal Ministers Jason Clare (Justice) and Kate Lundy (Sport) have added fuel to the fire, again with no substance.
The end result is firing blanks from the start instead of live ammunition.
Even though there’s an urgency to get to the truth let’s step back for a month, even longer if necessary, until the ACC, the Federal government, and the sports allegedly involved have had a chance to get to the bottom of these serious accusations.
And by then any confidentiality agreements will have been dispensed with, and the facts allowed to surface.
This is no time for sweeping anything under the carpet as sport has been so adept at doing over decades.
But while there’s intense media pressure on a daily basis nothing will be achieved when nobody is saying anything of import. Nor can they.
It’s a bizarre situation that was triggered by going off half-cocked at the original media conference last Thursday.
Since then the vast majority of sportsmen and women have been blanketed as guilty until proven innocent.
Not on. That’s grossly unfair to the innocent players and sports.
So let’s cut out the dribs and drabs information and wait for the real truth.
Be it a whale or a raw prawn.
Punter
Guest
In defence of Mr Lord, his title does say 'lets wait for the truth' and his last line was 'is it a whale or a raw prawn' Only time will tell.
Brewski
Guest
http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20130211215111956 International media always get it wrong, and always picking on the Irish.
Boris the Mudcrab
Guest
International Rules????
Hansie
Guest
Mr Lord is straddling yet another fence. Last week he was writing an article under the heading "Australia's blackest day in sport" and saying that behaviour was not the Australian way. This week he is saying it's a situation of no substance.
TC
Guest
But then why would an organisation, whose charter is to investigate organised crime, be wasting its time looking at legal activities? What next? Investigate people who don't leave tips at restaurants? Investigate people who don't hold the door open for others? People who talk loudly on mobiles phones in small spaces? (actually, that one's worthwhile)
TC
Guest
Ha, ha - good one matt - or what about an investigation into coppers eating doughnuts, afterall, obesity is a big problem in society. From there we can move to people littering and/or jay walking. There are so many useful things the ACC could be looking into.
Australian Rules
Guest
turbo, you asked: "who says anything is tarnished". It may not be in your eyes but it is in the eyes of millions, both in Australia and abroad. Ask Essendon and the AFL if they believe their image has been tarnished over the last week. Surely you couldn't suggest otherwise?
Redb
Roar Guru
Boom tish :)
turbodewd
Guest
Not in my eyes. And my view probably represents many.
B.A Sports
Guest
I agree with everything you have said, but remember there is a difference between criminal investigations and athletes who are drug cheats. There are drugs, supplements and procedures that are not illegal, but breach WADA and ASADA rules.
matt h
Guest
Any results might be helpful :-)
matt h
Guest
Heaven help us if they start with the alchohol in print journalism investigation!
matt h
Guest
Agreed. There are only two reasons I can think of for the approach taken by ASADA: 1. They have many suspicions but only a little real evidence, so they wanted to shake the trees and see if anyhting fell out (They would have been closely monitoring their phone taps after the first press conference I'm sure) 2. The government needed something to take Craig Thomson, ministerial resignations and the faikled mining tax off the front pages. If only they had known the Pope was retiring, they could have delayed the press conference :-)
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
I am only thankful that they were off the front pages for a brief shining moment.
Australian Rules
Guest
turbo, when international news services and networks are running with headlines: "Report: doping widespared in Australian Sport" ...the whole kit'n'caboodle is tarnished.
Anon
Guest
one thing that was sad out of it all was the ordinary cut, or the ordinary content/questions of the 2 hour interview from 7.30 report with Steven Dank that was reduced to 14 mins on air. Either they edited out the questions that needed answering or just didn't ask them. A simple one being "Why were you sacked by Essendon". Gerard Healy on 3AW last night rattled off about half a dozen that should've been asked. What we got was something that wasn't really contested - i.e. Essendon knew more or less about the 'supplements' program - - question though is exactly what was given? Vitamin B12 isn't so expensive after all.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Rumor has it that big Georgie Rose was recently strip searched at the Airport. Apparently, down the back of his pants they discovered 30 pounds of crack.
planko
Guest
They could get it start picking more rugby league players ...... Man that will get back HAHA
sheek
Roar Guru
Well, Wallaby fans anyway seem to want instant results! ;-)
sheek
Roar Guru
Rabbitz - Hmmmm, maybe not. If no charges are laid against Obeid & McDonald, or Thompson (& that's my suspicion) then that tells us we've well & truly degenerated into a third world, corrupt society.