Media organisations these days seem to place reporting events a rung or two below sensationalism and whipping up controversy. Adam Goodes, Adam Goodes, Adam Goodes, Adam Goodes, Adam Goodes. Please read my article I have something to say about Adam Goodes.
In the olden days not much happened when a goal was scored in the VFL. Players ran back to the centre for the bounce. Games weren’t televised live so the umpire bounced the ball and got the game back underway – no need to wait for the sponsor to tell us about their products.
Over time players began to celebrate a goal. Maybe it was the influence of American sports being broadcast here, or maybe not. The celebrations have typically been a group hug or some pats on the back.
In football, perhaps because goals are so rare, players seem to have their own trademarked post goal celebrations. While not an avid watcher of the game, Tim Cahill’s boxing with the corner flag comes to mind.
In American football we have all sorts of individual theatrics. The post-goal theatrics don’t seem to attract any criticism for the most part.
In the AFL individual post goal theatrics are rare. We’ve seen players give the finger to opposition cheer squads. These players have been criticised and occasionally fined.
I seem to recall Tadhg Kennelly doing some sort of Irish jig or riverdance thing once or twice. I don’t believe it was controversial.
We’ve seen Akermanis do a hand stand at the end of games. That attracted some criticism occasionally after being seen as a bit self indulgent, but over the years became it part of the Brisbane Lions’ post-win landscape.
Last night Adam Goodes decided to do a dance after he scored a goal. Why the media would try to turn this into something controversial beggars belief.
But it was Adam Goodes and Adam Goodes means that we can get people listening to our commentary and clicking on our articles about Adam Goodes.
So what if Adam Goodes did a dance. So what if he did it in front of the Carlton cheer squad (if indeed that is what he did ).
Adam Goodes, Adam Goodes, Adam Goodes.
Is our media really so devoid of things to say that it needs to beat up something insignificant into more viewers/listeners/readers?
Adam Goodes did a dance. So What. Yawn. Move on.
Gecko
Guest
Goodes is one of those rare footballers who's made a contribution to Australian society beyond footy. He has drawn a lot of attention to racism in football and some footy supporters don't like it. It's a uniquely Australian mix of tall poppy syndrome and hidden racism. When Goodes retires, I hope another Goodes comes along to take up the banner.
Phil
Guest
So Goodes gets booed at MCG and now the SCG for reasons that cannot be objectively known. But after it has gone on for an inordinate time one can but have suspicions. The most likely scenario is that a substantial number are giving vent to their racist prejudices confident that the excuse can be made that booing can be justified on footballing grounds. You then end up with the scenario that aboriginal players must exceed the ethical standards of their peers if they are not to be singled out. It is time MCG crowds treated him like the decent human being he is. That is the issue, not his recent response.
Mitcher
Guest
If you were really so appalled at the conversation being all about Goodes - wouldn't you be best to talk less yourself about... Adam Goodes? Yet here you are again. Busily lapping up another article and filling the airwaves with your own favourite topic - Adam Goodes.
frustrated old forward
Roar Rookie
If that was dancing politics looks a better option than dancing with the stars
mikeh1980
Roar Rookie
You've just got to shake your head when listening to the talkback today. Scores of journos make a living from footy. Carlton are a rabble. Last nights game was a dud. Malthouse has already been sacked so journos can't regurgitate a "How long will Mick last" article. So what is a journo going to write about? Might have been nice to do a piece on dud big name recruits and compare the performances of Thomas versus Tippett but so many seem to have taken the lazy option and beat up another Goodes story. Unfortunately a large number of talkback listeners and social media commenters have offered the Pavlovian reaction that the lazy media sought and taken the bait.
mikeh1980
Roar Rookie
really?
mikeh1980
Roar Rookie
"threatening"!! Yep, the crowd were shaking in their boots after being threatened. If any other player in the AFL did that would it be threatening? Players (and supporters) wanting wanting to stick it up 'em -- " 'em" being the opposition is not uncommon. Ted Whitten. I think you're taking life too seriously and should lighten up.
Jamal
Guest
What is that? A player was giving it back to the fans (no doubt they were giving it to him for large periods of the game) after he scored a goal... sure this has not happened before right? Yet the outcry! You have to be kidding me.
conchie
Roar Rookie
here here
Teo
Guest
to the arm chair critics of Adam Goodes, get over yourselves, I wonder if you were at the game? I was and a small pocket of Carlton supporters were leaning over the fence and yelling and abusing Goodes from the 1st bounce. Why shouldn't he react and push back on his home deck? It's sport, it's passionate and the crowd at the game loved it except for those Blues supporters who had been hurling abuse from the start, the rest of them were laughing about it. it was a great moment at the game.......
Albo
Guest
Great ! Another apologist for divisive politics being introduced onto our traditionally uniting sporting fields ! Seems that no stage is sacred for those who wish to divide us.
WhereIsGene
Guest
The celebration was a threatening war dance directed at a pocket of opposition supporters. I call that inciting the crowd, something with the potential to set a dangerous precedent. Once again Goodes has hijacked Indigenous Round for his own purposes.