In light of the fallout from the Todd Carney incident and the subsequent reporting of Andrew Johns’ statement regarding Carney’s behaviour, it is clear that some people in the world of men’s sport are sorely misinformed on life the bubble.
There has been and will continue to be people taking a stance similar to the one Johns did on Carney’s behaviour. Excuses that players like Carney are wayward young boys are wearing thin.
>> PRICHARD: What next for Carney?
>> Was Carney’s punishment too harsh?
>> Were Cronulla right to sack Todd Carney?
>> How do you solve the Carney problem?
Statements such as “they are paid to play football, not be role models” are far from the mark. The statement made by Andrew Johns on the Channel Nine Footy Show on Sunday, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, is bordering on delusional.
‘Surely they couldn’t sack him for that, it’s silly…it’s stupid…he is only doing it to himself.”
Andrew Johns,who was no stranger to controversy during his playing days, has found a kindred spirit in Todd Carney. Johns can see nothing wrong with Carney’s actions because he wrongly believes they don’t affect anyone else.
Well unfortunately for Andrew, it seems because he was excused for his shameful behaviour, he never learned a life lesson. To claim Carney is only hurting himself demonstrates sheer contempt for fans of rugby league, the clubs, the sponsors, and his own employer – those who pay to keep this game running.
Cronulla paid Todd Carney $650,000 per annum to be the best athlete he can be. They paid him to perform at the highest level and be a better ball player than his opposition. They paid him to attract fans through the gate and to have those same fans forego their hard earned dollars to buy merchandise.
The Sharks paid Carney to perform on the field and have a positive media persona, which in turn assists in attracting sponsorship.
Cronulla are languishing at the bottom the of the table. They have a drugs scandal hovering over their heads, a team captain who won’t take responsibility for his inability to lead and motivate his team and sponsors treating the club like lepers. They have a coach who didn’t want the job in the first place.
How must his teammates feel the way they will now need to hobble through the season without a strike playmaker? How will the Sharks admin staff now feel with their future already uncertain before this week? How do the fans feel when they tell their children playmaker Carney won’t be playing again.
Andrew Johns, based on his statement regarding Carney, seems sorely misinformed in basic capitalism or simply unable to grasp the concepts surrounding the Carney matter. I’d be surprised if Johns’ employer didn’t pull him aside and sternly tell him the facts about corporate business. Johns has been around a while.
It’s surprising he’s not learned some basic business acumen. Maybe some players past and present need to be informed of what the job as a modern sporting entertainer is.
Carney and his ilk are bad for business, pure and simple. It’s just basic economics. The Sharks want a return on investment in Carney. His ability to pull in revenue via his on the field skills is dwarfed by his consistent ability to repulse fans and corporate sponsors alike.
Sometimes there is only one opportunity to seal a lucrative, long-term sponsorship deal with a corporate. What Carney’s actions have potentially cost the Sharks and the NRL in monetary terms can not be quantified.
If this was any other industry, a guy like Carney would have had his contract revoked and never seen again, should he have jeopardised a major sponsor or other business venture.
He is one of the minority who are born with the ability to play sport at an elite level and is handsomely for it. People like Carney have their body on the line, so no one can begrudge their pay packet, but as I’ve written previously, with increased rights comes great responsibility.
Carney and his ilk are happy to accept the reward, yet struggle to keep their end of the bargain. He is paid to be a supreme athlete. How can one get so drunk on a Saturday night to think that urinating in one’s own mouth in front of others is a good idea.
How can he be able to back up in less than 48 hours and give 100 per cent to training. He should be sacked for that alone. He is not fulfilling his contract.
You want to act like a tool on the beers every Saturday night and not have your face in the paper, Todd? No problem. No one is standing in your way. Simply accept a $600,000 pay cut, get a job as a labourer with no corporate responsibility and gargle until your heart’s content.
Your workmates might even think you a living legend. The young, single, impressionable ones might, anyway – for a while. All the while you can play park footy to keep the passion alive.
Players like Carney are managed, educated to deal with media, and have a very fortunate life at great expenses to the clubs, yet there is a minority still decide to help to destroy the game they supposedly love. It does not cut it to say that the same percentage of people in society do the same stupid things. The difference is that sports people are paid to be elite in every way, shape and form.
Cut them loose after their second strike. Once is a mistake, twice shows contempt for everyone who loves the game.
The next star always comes along. And with less bad press by letting these miscreants go early, we might just see more mums and dads allowing their children to play the game. Now that can only be a good thing.
Tony Sarno
Guest
Respect your views, but he was a having a private joke with "mates." He did not do this outside in full view of the public. It was a private joke of the kind that happens a thousand times every weekend among young guys. The person who should be held to account is whoever took the photo and passed it around. That was totally out of order and has had devastating consequences. The upshot of it is that the Sharks can ill afford to lose one of their only two truly class players. When the Sharks are getting smashed all over the park and losing money and becoming a basket case it will be cold comfort to fans to know the club has upheld "moral standards."
Shelly
Guest
He has hurt the fans who pay hard earned money to support the club and attend matches! Good ridden to him! He needs to be responsible for his actions! How many times does someone look a gift horse in the mouth? In his case, I guess it is all about the mouth......
Shelly
Guest
I will never believe John's to be an immortal! He's a drug taker and a smart arse, and that's why he openly defends Todd Carney's constant offensive behavior! His defence of Carney helps him accept that he's been named an immortal even though he is a drug taker and a player of women!
Shelly
Guest
Todd Carney is a disgrace! I sincerely support the Sharks decision to sack him! Any decision other than sacking him would be offensive to all other team players, his club and other clubs. who do the right thing in promoting the game of football! He has no respect for the fans, who pay hard earned money to support the Sharks by being club members and/or those who turn up at matches in support of their cherished club. I say a job well done for sacking someone who has been given sincere opportunity to respect the game and the fans; good riddens! I also take offence to high profile ex-players of the game who have been defending his actions in the media.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Tony, I see it as a good thing. sweeping undesirables out of the game to make way for young stars who have some self awareness and can adhere to common moral standards of society expected of people in the public eye. Actually, I wasn't so much disgusted by the act itself. It was just stupid, childish rubbish played by someone with the EQ of a post-pubecent school boy. What he did was put himself in a position to destroy the integrity of the club and all that goes with it.
Tony Sarno
Guest
So who is the winner here? Some silent moral majority "disgusted" by the act. Really? Most people I've talked to about it think it's silly stuff. The real losers here are the Cronulla Sharks fans who basically reel from bad news to bad news under this club management, and now see the club lose their best player. Who is Cronulla management really looking after here? The NRL or the fans?
BJ
Guest
This is nothing new. Anyone from Goulburn will tell you that the 'bubbler' has been doing this for years. At 28 you would think he'd have grown out of it. In his interview with ch 9 he doesn't even seem to comprehend how deplorable his actions were. "The boys have seen me do it heaps of times". No you are all grown men and it's something to be ashamed of if you have done it once let alone 'heaps of times'.
Dessie
Guest
He was the best half back the game has seen he had to be made an immortal. who would you pick? Cronk? Joey is twice the player cronk is. The man liked to have fun on the wknd. If you think that these young men don't take recreational drugs get out from under that rock. Cocaine being the main one.
Jason
Guest
$100 says Johns is a regular "bubbler"
da plane
Guest
Johns was right he did it to himself so it was not a criminal offense to be sacked for but his record meant the sharks had no choice but to sack him although he should have been at least able to face the board to explain..Of course is was totallly disgusting act no matter if the pic was not supposed to get out there and what is wrong with people who do such things and others who think it is funny. Carney's problem is the drink which is not soley an NRL problem it is a society problem which needs addressing. If Carney was 18 he would have been fined but he is 28 and obviously the penny hasn't dropped that not drinking means he doesn't do such idiotic/disgusting things. his career is over one would say when he could well have finished as one of the best NRL players of his era as he can play- all he will be remembered for is this incident he should be ashamed of what he did and seek the help he needs.
Marco
Guest
Carney had to go. Most employers who rely on stars to promote their brand would of done the same thing. If Johns can't understand this then he can look like a fool. The NRL would surely have insisted Carney be sacked. The Disgusting acts that have happened in league can't continue. It's a disgraceful look.
eagleJack
Guest
Gallen has the highest workrate in the game. He leads from the front. He has shouldered plenty over the past year How would you cope with that type of public scrutiny Kate, every single day?
eagleJack
Guest
What rules were changed?
eagleJack
Guest
There are dozens who were as bad as Johns off the field. All are still high fiving each other that they didn't play in the age of phone cameras and social media.
rvm99
Guest
I agree entirely with the sentiments expressed by the author however the insertion of behavioural clauses may not be enough for the Sharks and the NRL to avoid an action for unlawful termination based on what has been publicly reported as the clauses would in the normal course of events transfer part of the risk of offending back to the player (the employee) unless they are backed up with some form of Alcohol Management Plan with counselling in place being provided by Cronulla (the employer) if you look at this issue in pure Work Place Health & Safety Terms. My understanding of matters is that he was signed with absolutely no restrictions or frameworks in place in place other than you need to behave yourself. People with alcohol problems have a diminished capacity to accept responsibility. In Carneys’ instance with a long list of highly publicised alcohol related incidents suggesting some form of alcohol abuse over a prolonged period and I would suggest he is either a binge drinker or a high performing alcoholic then Cronulla knowing that should or ought to have taken greater steps to mitigate the risk of such an incident occurring with some form of preventative program (Alcohol Management Plan) and a rehabilitative program (counselling) being put in place. The fact that they didn’t do either suggests a lack of duty of care. I have absolutely no sympathy for Todd Carney however Cronulla and the NRL really only had two choices after he was sacked by the Roosters who did take those steps and that was not sign him or sign him with that framework in place and they only have themselves to blame if the whole mess ends up in the law courts.
The Hoff
Guest
What a grub . He said " the boys have seen me do it before .. " la la la . and he feels let down by the club ! I felt sorry for him but now I think he is an arrogant little child who will never grow up. Well when the tatted up footy player has to get a real job It will be sweet justice
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Just watched Weidler interview Carney - it's clear he still just doesn't get it. For Carney, he's completely unrepentant about the act itself, and is only sorry that the image got out into the public arena. Oh, and apparently he's done it before and his "mates" thought it was hilarious. Feeling very picked upon, the poor dear. Astonishing.
turbodewd
Guest
Im just suffering drama fatigue :^) Just wish the 1% of footballers who tarnish it for the 99% would pull their heads in.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Agreed.
kate
Guest
I am disgusted by both Andrew Johns and David Riolo's comments reguarding the very creepy Todd Carney . Stop defending his revolting behavior . Ultimately you are doing him no favours . Todd Carney has serious issues .He needs professional help . Paul Gallen should grow up . Start acting like a captain andlead your team .