“In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.” Buddha
I read this quotation yesterday and immediately thought of all the angered rhetoric on The Roar these past few weeks.
Since controversy broke many have been angrily calling for the sacking of Kurtley Beale. Since last week’s hearing many have been equally as vocal with calls of cover-ups and conspiracy theories from all different angles.
There are so many questions about the validity of what has transpired that too many roarers, my self included, and many rugby fans in general have really stopped demanding the truth. That is, we have stopped demanding truth that does not serve our existing opinions.
We have all taken what we want to take out of speculation and angst in the media to fuel our agendas.
Take Scott Allen’s article, ‘Forget losing his Wallaby jersey, Beale could be in real legal trouble’. Scott is obviously a good rugby coach but without knowing the facts of who sent what and when, or having a background in workplace law, he jumped to an angry conclusion.
In this article he continually made mention of how you would feel if it were your ‘mother, wife, sister or daughter’ that had been subjected to those alleged texts. I ask if he considered if Beale was his ‘father, husband, brother or son’ would he want such speculation on the criminality of this controversy from a members of the media unqualified to write an articles on such a matter.
The fact is Bill Pulver has become very angry also. It seems that without really checking the validity of evidence, and without showing due responsible cynicism toward one side of the story, he called a press conference and threw Kurtley under a proverbial bus.
Since then I have been angrily calling for the resignation of Bill Pulver. On reading the above quote above I have reflected and almost instantly mellowed on the subject.
I still wish to hear all of the truth, whether that serves my opinion or not.
If the truth does prove, as The Daily Telegraph suggests, that he knew about certain inaccuracies in the leaked texts etc I have no problem un-angrily suggesting that the ARU board acts quickly.
Whether that is a sacking, a demand for resignation, or another disciplinary action toward Mr Pulver, I am not sure.
However I don’t know all the facts and that is the problem. I like every Roarer and rugby fan am now free to run with any speculation or rumour I read or here.
I do hope the ARU sees the error of their ways and releases all the information they have on this controversy. Only then can people come to terms with what has or has not happened. In the 21st century, with social media and access to information on the web, transparency and the truth is key to everything.
If the truth does show that Mr Pulver has acted appropriately I wish him well in his role as CEO of my beloved ARU.
The fact is too many people without the facts have been angry and I am the first to admit to that. As the wise Buddha quote suggests, anger is indeed self-serving. If you find yourself angry on this matter take a moment to think. Do you really want to know the truth? Or do you only want to hear what you need to fuel your opinion?
I for one want the ARU to divulge the truth. All of it. Warts and all. Even if I’m proven wrong.
There is only one last thing that I wish to write about. One important thing I have taken out of all this.
For us to help ourselves we need to let go of the fixation with the All Blacks and their self righteousness. We keep hearing how the All Blacks are superior in everything they do. That if Beale was an All Black he’d have been shown the door for what he did. Give it a rest.
Let’s compare Beale’s indiscretion with one Julian Savea.
Julian Savea is an All Black that was arrested for domestic violence toward his girlfriend. This caused hardly a ripple in the world of rugby and he was able to plea bargain himself out of any real punishment.
Beale accidentally texted a lewd photo to a Wallaby staffer that was subject of the joke. Yet he has been subjected to exponentially more vitriol before and after his hearing.
Surely one of these acts deserves the angered hatred that Beale has endured these past few weeks.
It seems anyone that has been of the opinion that Beale deserved a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, or agreed with the independent tribunal that a fine was appropriate, was in actual fact condoning misogyny.
I wonder if these people were shouting for Savea’s elimination from the game with such vigour?
Some things are forgivable. Some things are not.
Let’s keep this all in perspective.
Let’s all seek more of the truth from this controversy.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Fact. Beale broke the terms of his contract by committing an offence by sending an explicit image accompanied by a name referencing a female employee of the ARU, which by the definition of law equates to sexual harassment. Please explain to me how Beale is apparently the victim of this situation, when of the two people directly involved in the incident he is the only one still employed.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Ummm - the worst sort, the sort that disagrees with you bennalong.
bennalong
Guest
You have a problem with that? Beale was hung by people who simply wanted to target one of the stars of the championship winning Waratahs. They gleefully attacked him without ever thinking of ther cosequences to his career and life yet sympathetic to a "manager", incidentally a woman, who claimed to be heart broken by an undergraduate text of an anonymous fat bum. This began from the moment he was accused! We now know he didn't write the second , lewd, text. We STILL don't know who did or the full truth about Patston's meteoric rise to, oh hang on, er what was it?....team psychologist, or was it team manager?,........ or just PA to the coach but with a lot of extra responsibilities? I don't understand the mentality of a rugby fan who 'hates' a national rugby player so much they attack without facts, and in the face of support from his captain and vice captains, as well as Higgenbotham and Slipper, suggesting it might be out of character. What sort of person does this?
Expathack
Guest
"unproven misdeed"
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Yeah , the 'booze bus' !
Expathack
Guest
Was the P155 the number of the bus they were on?
Expathack
Guest
That Buddha quote is fatuous. Without righteous anger very few injustices would have been righted in this world.
Bakkies
Guest
Not sure. There has to be a reason for Josh Mann Rea who I don't think has even started a Super Rugby game moved ahead of him on to the bench and S Faingaa to starter.
bennalong
Guest
Cheika tried to coopt the aid of Foley and Larkham, with a view to bringing the provinces into an agreement to place the national team above state loyalties. I have defended Beale because he has been subjected to vitriolic attacks totally out of proportion to his unproven misdeed. Strangely, I like most Rugby players and happily participated in the successes of the Reds and the Brumbies. I like seeing interviews with players from any club. By contrast, The Roar is filled with comments from people who hate players from other states and appear to dislike rugby generally. I think they are trolls 'and have no place in the game' but it appears this is the time i now live in. These posters are generally ignorant, betrayed by abominable spelling and grammar, and their increasing ability to pollute websites is an ominous warning about deteriorating standards. Contrast their views with those of Michael Cheika. Read his words you ignorant peasants (you know who you are) He is a trustworthy and honourable man but he is tough as teak and will not be easily brought down
Mongolian Expat
Guest
Mike, I have been reading your responses to your article for two days now. You must be a media consultant, contracted by the ARU, to counter any negativity exposed or perpetrated on this site. To link what Beale has done to how the NZRU has dealt with any indiscretions by an All Black has nothing to do with how the ARU has dealt with this. A serious flaw in your written article and comments has been in attempting to garnish support of your view, from fellow Australian rugby supporters, who don’t clear less what happens to Kiwi players. The simple fact is, most people on this site wants facts, seriously lacking in your article (along with all other) and in the absence of these will make them up. The old saying of “don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story” hasn’t stopped you. Give it a rest mate.
Rob G
Guest
You're completely missing the point Michael. Savea doesn't play for the Tahs!!!!
Boomeranga
Guest
Of which both were instances that generated a cluster f' of commentary as to whether sports people can be forgiven for ordinary behaviour. That is that point I'm making, not that our legal systems are sensible.
avonjeff
Roar Rookie
And of course the fallout will be entirely KB's fault - quite a guilt trip for anyone let alone a flawed talent. KB's management team obviously felt he had a good legal case and have been proven correct. So that should be the end of the discussion. My gut feeling tells me that the lady on the receiving end of all this is also a flawed talent as she had a responsibilty to be looking after the welfare of KB. KB's erratic behaviour is hardly news and clearly he is in need of special attention - confrontations should be avoided - especially after a dramatic test loss. To equate his position to that of an employee is plain silly. We are talking elite performers who are often liable to extreme highs and lows - they are under great stress at the best of times. I am not saying the behaviour is acceptable I am saying the behaviour has to be professionally managed. If Bill Pulver knew all about this from the beginning then he must take much of the responsibilty for the fallout. But it would appear the coach has taken on that responsibility. We will know one day.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not really. Hanson never received it, it seems.
Badjack
Guest
Well maybe blowing snot on him
NickF
Guest
Patrick, what you say is perfectly true. However Scott Allen is quite the expert on matters rugby and is revered here on the Roar for his opinion (I for one think highly of his rugby opinion). So when he wrote the article, his opinion carries weight. If I had written it, I would have been shot down with little regard. I felt his article on Beale was a bit pre emptive and pre judging. He would have done better to wait till the tribunal with their findings and facts.
WoobliesFan
Guest
Explosive story in today’s The Australia by Wayne Smith ---> Pulver likely to be next causality in Beale mess. I told you guys this was BIG….more was to come…I told you so! Patson gone. Link gone. Assistant coaches gone. Pulver likely to go. Reputations destroyed. Careers destroyed. Beale will not survive this folks….either depression or resignation or termination. WATCH THIS SPACE!
NickF
Guest
Michael. This is the point. "we’re only willing to make a stand about something when it suits a private agenda."
Jibba Jabba
Guest
He is an Ozzie prop - he is not capable of 'snotting' anyone !!!
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Firstly McCaw wouldn't bother kneeing QC in the head so that is a silly statement . You may have seen my comments about R Loe on Carozza - i certainly was not recommending any medals. And yes it appears QC has grown up so alls good in QC world. and lets hope it continues.