Eddie McGuire is one of the best administrators in Australian Sport. He is president of the most successful Australian sporting club, the Collingwood Magpies and president of the Melbourne Stars Big Bash Franchise. He also holds numerous TV and Radio posts in Melbourne.
Yet it seems Eddie, someone in the spotlight more than most, continues to evade scrutiny better than most.
The most recent example being the manner in which he responded to claims by Hobart Hurricanes wicketkeeper Tim Paine the Melbourne Stars were “living by another set of rules” when referring to the salary cap in the Big Bash.
Paine’s comments were not supported by any factual reasoning and were arguably defamatory in nature.
Paine has since apologised for his remarks and the Melbourne Stars have stated they will not be pursuing the matter further.
What was extraordinary was the way in which McGuire chose to respond.
On Triple M radio’s breakfast program, Eddie made the following remarks:
“I don’t know who Tim Paine thinks he is, a modern-day Kevin Sheedy or something, mate just stand behind there with your overgrown gloves and try to catch a couple.
“So if this clown wants to just get up and sprout, then he’s going to cop it right between the eyes. We’ve had enough.
“He won’t want to drop one or I will be out on the ground giving it to him.”
If you will indulge me for a moment to use my imagination and paint the following picture.
It’s semi-final night in the Big Bash at the MCG between the Stars and the Hurricanes. There is one ball remaining and the Stars need two runs to win.
David Hussey is on Strike and Doug Bollinger is running in. He bowls down the leg side. The ball skims the face of Hussey’s bat and flys to a lunging Tim Paine.
Time stops for a moment… The crowd hold their collective breath. Have the Stars fallen at the semi final hurdle yet again?
And then Paine drops the ball, which rolls away to the boundary. The Stars win!
The crowd is euphoric. Eddie runs onto the ground. He is high-fiveing his team of Stars (pun intended).
The Stars have made the Big Bash final and secured a lucrative birth in the Twenty20 Champions league!
Amongst the elation, the Stars players are gracious and shaking hands with Paine and the other Hurricanes players.
Then, Eddie decides he is a man of his word. He decides to make good on his threat. He runs over to Tim Paine and gives it to him.
“You literally dropped the Big Bash title,” he exclaims. He is shouting and pointing and acting like a complete and utter embarrassment.
Would we be surprised if Eddie made good on the threat he had made on Melbourne radio? Outrage would follow, and Eddie would be forced to make another public apology.
I have no doubt Eddie McGuire is an intelligent individual.
But in all seriousness, he has a high profile. He is president of Collingwood. When he stuffs up, the majority of Australia is watching.
I just hope at some stage in the future he takes responsibility for all his comments and actions.
Being Eddie McGuire should not give you a free pass to act and comment however you like without meaningful consequence. It should mean you are held to a higher account than others and you are forced to take responsibility.
Rod and Pam
Guest
Hi all, well my husband and I think Eddie is just the best. Whatever he does, he does it well and that's why he is so popular. Unfortunately a lot of people are very jealous as his natural ability to communicate and make people laugh is very hard for a lot of others to do. My husband has met and had his photo taken with Ed and of course loves the magpies we say we want more of Eddie and the magpies bring it on !!!
Wasim Ranamadroota
Roar Pro
Eddie's King Kong comments about Adam Goodes, given the context they were made in, best summed up the disconnect between Eddie's mouth and any brain he may or may not posess. The less attention or airspace we give him the better.
Radelaide
Guest
All I can say is I hope he keeps opening his big mouth because all he does is provide ammunition to his opposition which then comes back and bites his team in the butt, imagine his opposition coach was Jose Mourinho Eddie would absolutely be owned by his mind games.
Garry Edwards
Guest
How can you justify one premiership as sucessfull administration if that be the yardstick most public servants have a sensational victory everyday using the same logic. But lets be upfront publicity is everything it gets you places and you meet people remember the old adage no such thing as bad publicity. And if people haven't the balls to take responsibility for their errors then only fools stay with them and the biggest fool leads. Now some people are intellegent and no CDF,others have CDF but lack intelligence. And Tim Paine wore his gloves well and swung the willow with gusto I congratulate him and the canes. I just CA is taking notice because I smell a rat within the system and I aint the only one. Time for CA to audit.
Garry Edwards
Guest
How can you justify one premiership as sucessfull administration if that be the yardstick most public servants have a sensational victory everyday using the same logic. But lets be upfront publicity is everything it gets you places and you meet people remember the old adage no such thing as bad publicity. And if people haven't the nerve to take responsibility for their errors then only fools stay with them because the bigger fool leads. Now some people are intellegent and no CDF,others have CDF but lack intelligence. I just wonder if telling Tim Paine to wear gloves he was saying that he wears boxing gloves to bed. Just not my kind at all, well done Canes .
Graydon
Roar Rookie
Tim Paine 1, Eddie Mcguire 0 that's gonna sting
Australian Rules
Guest
I don't find anything that Eddie said to be surprising at all. In fact, it's entirely consistent with the way he protects his own patch.
Australian Rules
Guest
josh
Roar Rookie
"Eddie McGuire is one of the best administrators in Australian Sport." Is he? Eddie only acts for his own self interests. He maybe a fan of sport but he isn't good administrator. i.e. He let Malthouse walk, because he loves Buckley so much. "He is president of the most successful Australian sporting club, the Collingwood Magpies" define success? 1 Premiership (after a draw?) isn't success especially since he's been at the club since 1998. Sure he may be able to talk a good talk and get members and sponsors on board. But that's not football success.
MrKistic
Guest
Massive tool. Simple.
Sportnut
Guest
Eddie can't or won't ever take full responsibility for what he says and does. Not being from Melbourne I don't have to see him as much as you Vics do. For which I am grateful. He just seems to be able to put his foot in his mouth so easily. I get he is passionate. I get he is loyal to his teams. But he just gets it wrong too often. The best for me was the absolute bollocking he gave the AFL, WA and Fremantle over their stupidity at allowing a rugby test to be played on a Saturday night instead of the AFL final that he expected Collingwood to be in before the game had even been played. Collingwood lost. Eddie no longer had anything to complain about. I never saw an apology from him.