After his off the cuff remark on his radio show on Wednesday, Eddie McGuire has taken a pounding from the public and rightly so as it was in poor taste and especially poor timing.
McGuire had been responding to his on-air partner Luke Darcy’s comments that the hand coming out of Melbourne’s famous Eureka Tower would be a great promo for King Kong that they could get Adam Goodes for it
He had done so much to right the wrongs of last Friday when a 13-year-old Collingwood supporter called Goodes an “ape” late in the match against the Swans.
Goodes as we now know was shattered by that slur and left the ground before the siren. McGuire straight away made his way into Sydney’s rooms to chat with Goodes and apologise for what happened.
In a column I wrote on Monday, I outlined the importance of Eddie doing that as he had to protect his club’s image after doing so much during his 14-year reign as President to make the Magpies arguably the most professional club in the competition.
However, his radio remark has undone much of that goodwill, eventhough Goodes has accepted his apology.
There didn’t need to be an apology, because the remark shouldn’t have been made and Eddie realises that.
Understandably, he looked shattered and wrecked when fronting the media at a press conference that wasn’t his most convincing performance, and then later on the respected AFL 360 footy news program.
He appeared to have had enough, but knew as a high profile part of the footy media for the best part of 30 years, he had to face the medicine and take the heat.
Much of which came from one of his players at Collingwood, Harry O’Brien, who is half Brazilian and had asked to appear on AFL 360 with him.
Like all of us, O’Brien knows McGuire isn’t a racist and that it was a clumsy mistake, but there are no excuses and he is right.
McGuire has been around long enough in this industry to know what you can and can’t say when the microphone is on and the camera is rolling.
The Collingwood president, who has received the backing of his board to continue in the role has cited being tired for making the comment about Goodes and King Kong and that he was half-engaged in the conversation.
The tired excuse can’t wash and if you are only half listening or just partially involved in a topic, isn’t the key to say nothing, especially a delicate issue like that which has dominated the footy landscape for most of that week?
It’s not surprising the Collingwood board is in favour of him staying as president if he can, but can is the operative word as he will be and rightly so investigated by the AFL and dealt with as part of their racial vilification code.
He could be forced to stand down as president while that process occurs.
He said on his radio program on Triple M on Thursday after a gruelling and fascinating three hours that he had planned to cancel all commitments that day and go home.
That is probably the best thing he could do in what had become an horrific 24 hours for him. He has so much on his plate and not too many people live a life as full as McGuire’s, so maybe it’s time for a rest.
Unfortunately He can’t take that comment back and as he said he will accept his right whack for a stupid error, but as mentioned earlier he said being zoned out and tired played a part in him making the remark.
This might be a simple suggestion but by recharging the batteries not for a day but for a week or so or longer wouldn’t hurt.
Eddie no doubt is hurting and will for a long time. The Swans and Goodes as expected are furious with him and he understands that the whole footy fraternity is disappointed with him. Mind you!
It would be fair to say that no one is more disappointed than McGuire himself, although the mixed messages from the press conference has let him down somewhat.
We keep saying the action on the field has stepped up this year and it’s a fabulous season, but it keeps being overshadowed by controversies off the ground.
Eddie McGuire has broken thousands of football stories over the years and in recent times, the shoe has been on the other foot regarding his footy club being in the news for often the wrong reasons.
However, Wednesday was even foreign territory for him. He will recover, but maybe some time out of the spotlight if possible would aid the healing process.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
Ohh....Stavros, if only you knew me you would appreciate the humour...or maybe not. Ok, your turn. Say something that might indicate you have charisma. We are waiting..... :-)
Kasey
Guest
Chairman: I'm not sure why you brought Association football into this. The only link I have(tenuous as it is) is that racism appears to be prevalent and an accepted part of supporting your football team if you live in Eastern Europe. Eddie McGuire is from Western Melbourne (Broadmedows IIRC?) , which only 'looks' like an ex-Warsaw Pact country due to its low socio-economic profile and the lack of sunlight in the Sports capital;) At least we can be sure of one thing, there will be some major talking point by Monday in the AFL (Manufactured or otherwise) Just as nature abhors a vacuum....so do the phalanx of 'talking headfs'in Melbourne who are employed to talk and write about the AFL. I just think this has been done to death and everybody that needed to learn something (including me about Casual racism and our national history of oppression of our Indigenous people) has surely learned what they needed to and we can all move along wiser and more peacefully now. Geez this A-League off season really drags out doesn't it? At least we'll have the Socceroos to talk about next week. I really hope they can surprise a few of us and qualify for Brazil before we fall into a consolation cutthroat playoff game. Wouldn't that be a step back into the history of the Socceroos in Australia? One game with it all on the line... Maybe that's what we need to get some verve and vigour back into the support for our Nation's team?
Billy Mack
Guest
Good manners don't stop at 13 year old girls, Eddies arrogance overpowered any manners or common sense he may have in his attempt to put Adam Goodes in his place, it's pleasing to see that common decency far outweighs those with a microphone.
Deep Thinker
Guest
Eddie's comments are funny but not acceptable.
Deep Thinker
Guest
It was clearly a racist comment but it came from a person who is not a racist. It was an off the cuff joke in poor taste that didn't pay off for Eddie on this occasion. We've all been there. There was no malice. Unfortunately for Eddie and Adam Goodes and the 13 year old girl he made the comment live on television. Taking a step back from all this hysteria, I can't help but see a funny side to all of this. I guess I'm a bad person LOL. It has also made me really interested in seeing King Kong.
Deep Thinker
Guest
It was fair enough that Goodes is offended by a comment like that. Calling him a sook is just plain flippant and a bit of a cop out to point the finger at him. But just because he was offended doesn't mean that the 13 year old girl should have been treated like she has either. What has been going on has been effectively cyber bullying on a national scale. Very poor form and anyone who has disparaged her online should pull their head in. Goodes certainly didn't want that to happen.
Stavros
Guest
Says the guy with the stupidest name on 'The Roar'. Minister, you must have been splitting your sides when you first typed in that name.
Jimbo
Guest
Great post Kev, good thoughts on the matter, seems to me on this site, the real issues get sidetracked and stolen by posters with their own silly agendas. IMO this is the sort of thing Eddie meant by his King Kong gaffe. http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://thestartingfive.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/lebron_as_brute2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thestartingfive.net/2008/03/28/lebron-james-and-gisele-bundchen-vogue-cover-causes-racial-stirand-no-one-understands-why/&h=576&w=786&sz=202&tbnid=IbQe3TiOInUkkM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=129&zoom=1&usg=__tGVNEvhZKXnE0CFJ9kG9fkM6vl0
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
You truly are one of the saddest,delusioned,blinkered code warriors we have had on the Roar. Have you met "The Cattery/Tc/Stavros..etc." ??? Find a girlfriend!
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
Well put Bayman. And I concur on the Ex-wife remark. I've had a similar experience. :-)
UpForGrabs
Guest
If he is that tired he should take a holiday. The perfect place is Greater Western Sydney, the land of the felafels. Eddie would most definitely be welcome there.
Tax but no rep
Guest
I forgot Belmore hosts one pre-season NRL game....and maybe minor league soccer...
Tax but no rep
Guest
While you were ranting you mightnt have noticed this but its a Fairfax report..I remember watching a British documentary where they quoted 1.5m people go to Rugby league each week in Sydney - they were obviously given info by an NRL person and someone either misunderstood or was deliberately misled but I think they were referring to viewers. I don't blame the RL for this. However 40K girls may have attended an Auskick clinic which are not players I agree but are providing sport virtually free of charge to kids who may sit on the sofa otherwise. BTW a report today that the federal Govt gave $4m to refurbish Belmore Oval with a multicultural centre out the back...Note unlike the AFL no contribution by the NRL or Bulldogs and along with the funding of RL central at SFS and various funding at suburban grounds by State and federal Govts (some now vacant and some only used by RL) is somehow different to AFL co-contributing to facilities with federal Govt....
Chairman Kaga
Guest
Soccer just lost two Queensland teams in the Gold Coast and North Queensland outfits. It has inked a free to air tv deal, so hopefully that sport will grow from being a children's and ladies game. AFL is doing well, astronomical growth. The next 20 years will be amazing for the native game.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Hey Ralph, cool it man. Just dig the scene!
Ken
Guest
Sorry - how did Abbott get in here? He has a female chief of staff, no 'backward' or 'sexist' man would ever entertain that idea.
Ken
Guest
Absolutely agree. It was a storm in a teacup and Goodes behaved like a sook.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Fair points.
Bayman
Guest
How about Bill Smith and John Jones? Or, to put it another way, what the hell is oikee talking about?
Bayman
Guest
Well said, Richard. Coming from a Collingwood supporter makes it even better - because, as you say, this is not just about Eddie or even Adam Goodes. The fascination, for me, was that after the incident with the young girl last Friday Eddie seemed to handle it so well, as if from a training manual of what to do is such a situation. It was this action of Eddie's on the Friday that had me astounded on the Wednesday. Even if we assume Eddie did not realise Goodes might be offended by the 'ape' jibe until Friday, we must assume it was front and centre on his radio show with Darcy. It was, after all, just a couple of days later. Even with Darcy doing his best to help, "er, no Eddie, I don't think that's going to happen etc.", Eddie still just continued on trying to convince his partner that it really was a goodes idea. The best possible take is that Eddie was referring to Goodes' size and strength, and not his race, when he connected the great Swan to the great ape. It is everyone else who has immediately assumed race was the topic which perhaps reflects more on their relationship with apes and aborigines. It also reflects society's current nervousness with the topic and the politically correct need to be seen to be outraged so the rest of the world, or Sydney, thinks better of us. As for Goodes' reaction, the Swans tell us he'll be appropriately supported - but is it really necessary. Goodes would no doubt have heard much worse in years gone by and simply dug his heels in and tried harder to 'stick it up them'. Eddie, and trust me, I'm no fan, wasn't being racist. He was being clumsy with his choice of words if only for the fact that on Friday the word 'ape' meant racism. It probably wasn't going to be any different on Wednesday. Perhaps Goodes' reaction had less to do with the actual comment and more to do with the fact that he'd hoped for better in this day and age - and was sadly disappointed. Having said that, vilification is a dangerous area because it is accepted, who knows why exactly, that it is not what is said, but how it is received, that defines the issue. Goodes heard what he wanted to hear. If a Swans fan had called Cloke a "big ape" nothing would have been said, so it's a fine line we all tread. Eggshells comes to mind - but also some common sense is needed. If someone is looking to be offended then it's pretty damn easy to offend them. I doubt very much a thirteen year old girl is thinking 'racism', no matter what she screams out at the footy. Goodes assumed the worst and took offence. That's his right - but it doesn't make him right. The Eddie episode is different because Eddie is a mature (I'm assuming) adult who, by Wednesday, may have had an inkling to Goodes' thoughts on this matter and this particular word. It is the total lack of appreciation for what he was saying, in these particular circumstances, which amazed me. He was a key figure on Friday night - it was the Goodes and Eddie show. To say what he did a few days later made me wonder about Eddie's basic intelligence. I don't believe in God but the saying, "There but for the grace of God, go I" should ring loud and clear to all of us, particularly the journos. As Eddie has found out the hard way, Friday's hero is Wednesday's "racist idiot". And it all happened so fast. Who will be next? Eddie reminds me of my ex-wife; university degree, vastly superior academic mind compared to me, no common sense whatsoever. Incredibly intelligent and incredibly dumb all at the same time. It was fascinating to watch. So he's not racist, just selectively dumb. On the upside, at least a few counsellors are employed for a bit longer in these tough economic times. The way we all have to tread softly today means counsellors are probably Australia's only growing industry. Well, that and the AFL. Counselling won't help. It's just another case of being seen to be doing something. A true racist might be shown what not to say, but it won't change what he thinks. In Eddie's case, counselling is just preaching to the converted but at least the AFL will feel better. Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe the counsellor can help Eddie feel better about himself - because right now everyone thinks Eddie is the world's biggest idiot, and I'm sure Eddie does not feel happy about that. But that's another story!