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With the race to capture the hearts of our country’s youth, sporting organisations such as the NRL are choosing the youngest of their athletes as representatives of their code.
Unfortunately, these athletes are human. Humans that are employed by their club for no other reason than that they are good at football, and yet, we expect them to have all the skills required to manage a six-figure-per-year brand.
These players are expected to be experts at everything from conversing with the media, to controlling finances, to being a role model for kids.
Is it really such a surprise that they are letting us down?
A lot has been said about Ben Barba, who has become the black sheep of the NRL in the last few days.
There has been a lot of innuendo about alcohol abuse, gambling addictions and even domestic violence.
All that has been official released by the Bulldogs so far is that “Ben Barba is ill and he needs help”, according to Bulldogs CEO, Todd Greenberg.
He is expected to join a clinic in the coming days to treat his alcohol and gambling-related problems.
Todd Greenberg is receiving, and deserves, a high amount of praise for his treatment of this issue. He has chosen to put Ben Barba the person first.
“If I put all the cards on the table it will help you, but it won’t help me and it certainly won’t help Ben,” Greenberg told reporters.
Perhaps we could all learn from Mr. Greenberg’s example.
In a pattern that is becoming reminiscent of the NFL’s Madden Curse, Ben Barba is just the latest in a string of NRL Face-of-the-League players that have found themselves in hot water on the eve of the season launch.
In 2009, Brett Stewart was charged with sexually assaulting a 17 year-old girl after the Manly Sea Eagles season launch, and in 2011, Benji Marshall was charged with assaulting a man outside of a Sydney CBD McDonald’s.
In 2013, it was seemingly Ben Barba’s turn.
Sure, Ben, Benji and Brett have all disappointed their fans, clubs, families and themselves, but the real betrayal has come from the NRL and its community.
The job of a professional sportsperson involves both playing well and behaving well, and yet training focuses disproportionately towards the former. Yes, clubs are involved in education programs, but are we really doing enough?
We must implement a league-mandated system whereby players are involved in a minimum of two hours per week of “brand management training”. In this training, players will learn how to speak to the media, how to act in public, how to manage their new found wealth, and what the consequences are for breaching the code of conduct.
Will this prevent off-field indiscretions? No. But even if it helps just one player keep their nose clean and remain in the game, isn’t it worth it?
How would you solve the bad behaviour epidemic? Is training the answer or is it just a case of “boys will be boys”?
Let me know your thoughts below.
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