The booing of Adam Goodes has now become a full-blown furore, with Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham labelling it racist. Even AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has called for the booing to stop, although he stopped short of calling it racist.
A range of articles have called the booing racist, whereas the commentary has been ardent in its position that it is not racist.
The reasons for booing Goodes include that he is a persistent diver, that they did not appreciate his apparently divisive commentary on Indigenous rights, or for pointing out a young girl in the crowd who sprouted a racist slur, sadly unbeknownst to her at the the time.
Some have even blamed the media, highlighting that the promotion and denouncement of booing Goodes has led to a sheep mentality.
Sadly, I know I could be adding to this.
Over the past two or three years, I have noticed Goodes’ tendency to dive and I was disappointed with his actions. Thinking about this now, I am not really sure why. I am generally against diving, but that has not stopped me from taking a dive or two when I play. The only defence I have is that it is the only way I could get a kick.
I also consider Goodes a role model, and hence have been disappointed with his growing rap sheet for dives, which has only started to occur because his skills have started to fade as Father Time inevitably catches up to him.
Few AFL players have been a leader in such a public way on social issues facing our society as Goodes. Heritier Lumumba is the only other current player I can think of. Michael Long began his championing of Indigenous issues after his career, although the racist altercation with Damian Monkhorst sits in my memory. Nicky Winmar had the famous guernsey lift, but generally has chosen not to engage the issue of racism further.
Overall, many AFL players support various social causes, however most do it in a less public fashion, and also try to avoid making comments that could be construed as provocative, unlike Goodes.
Perhaps the booing is a culmination of these factors. Goodes, being construed by the public as a provocative promoter of Indigenous rights is now engaging in the frowned-on activity of diving. A simplistic rationale would call this ‘tall poppy syndrome’. A more nuanced version is perhaps that people have taken offence to Goodes’ comments and actions on how he promotes Indigenous issues, then seeing his fallibility when he dives and taking exception to it. Basically, calling out Goodes for falling into the trap of ‘he who is free of sin cast the first stone’.
This leads to the question of whether the booing now become racist?
There are players specific team fans love to hate, and some players are generally hated by football opposition supporters everywhere – Stephen Milne and Hayden Ballantyne spring to mind. However, no player has been persistently booed over a season like Goodes has.
Perhaps the best way to answer the question of racism is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. If I was watching a sports bulletin highlighting similar incidents overseas, my first thought would be ‘what a bunch of racist pigs!’ This is now the public perception.
It really does not matter why you are booing Goodes now, the public perception is that the people booing are racists – and that is all that really matters.
So I would implore anyone who is considering booing Goodes to think twice unless you are comfortable with being painted with the same ‘racist’ brush.
Devout Saint
Guest
That was an excellent post Todd. One of the best I have read on this topic.
Rellum
Roar Guru
"Overall, many AFL players support various social causes, however most do it in a less public fashion, and also try to avoid making comments that could be construed as provocative, unlike Goodes." If people are booing him because of this then that is subtle racism. "How dare he stand up for his people by interrupting my football experience" is the type of attitude that has developed in the country to go along with the almost militant individualism. I do hope many other players make the same stance as as Goodes as well as administrators to rid our country of this sort of attitude and really begin the reconciliation process. To me we need a long sustained period of this message being put out there for change to occur. To watch people twist and squirm themselves in all directions to come up with excuses why they are the ones who are being insulted by Goodes is, well pathetic.
Shane
Guest
Simon Fellas like you who have no idea what racism is a abouts make comments you know nothing off . If you lived it felt it which you have nots then you can pass your stupid comments I a west coast fan to my bones I a aboriginal mixed with white You need to sit with us fella and give us your facts Nots your dividing option
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Being a week of hyperbole and bizarre commentary, this one is one of the more bizarre contributions to the debate.
conchie
Roar Rookie
You sound like TV is about all you do.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Point taken Punter.
cm
Guest
I can't remember if I commented or not alice but I saw you were going to do that and thought, good on you. Would love to know more specifically about some of your students' thoughts on what people are saying.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
No Rick, noting about what I like or don't. The issue whether you like it or not is about racism. This occurs in every sport all around the world. Ignore Fuss, he is an idiot to make it about sport, this is much bigger. Be bigger Rick.
Carmel Biro
Guest
I'm sorry to see- a good man / a good sport being booed out of ALF. There is no excuse, booing isn't the sport that the majority of ALF fans want to experience. I'm sorry I will not go to another football match (not even on TV) until the ALF takes a stand and becomes proactive and pots the spot light back on the perpetrators- Sadly it appears that this antisocial racist behaviour was not going to be addressed - yet again Goodes himself has had to take action to have this issue addressed.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
I hardly agree with you in sport, however, this issue is beyond sport & I agree with you.
jax
Guest
Simoc - you have been duped http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/07/29/if-youre-booing-adam-goodes-examine-the-reason-why/comment-page-2/#comment-4185110
conchie
Roar Rookie
Rugby at private school level is indeed huge in Sydney.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Well, i guess it is just ex A league players then ..... http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-cup/griffin-mcmaster-adam-goodes-heidelberg-united-fc-goalkeeper-dropped-for-deportation-tweet/story-fno7mzzd-1227462189999 Griffin McMaster Adam Goodes: Heidelberg United FC goalkeeper dropped for ‘deportation’ tweet He wants Adam Goodes deported ... LOL
alicesprings
Guest
As my name suggests i live in Alice Springs and teach at an all Indigenous school. These kids and their families cop some pretty serious racism in the community and we often discuss this in class. The issue has been big up here and today we looked at some roar articles and some threads on big footy. Their reflections where profound. I get tied of been asked why 'white people hate black people'..but its a logical conclusion upon their behalf. There are many pin heads on here that have no idea of the harm even passive racism causes. That said its indicative of where we are as a country and we have a LONG way to go.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Doggie there's accepting an apology and then there's accepting it and moving on like nothing happened. Goodes had the opportunity to be the bigger man and acknowledge that McGuire was out of line, but it was not malicious and not offensively aimed at Goodes.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
conchie - I'm going to correct you there on one little detail. Riverview is not Joeys. They are rivals of each other, mainly in Rugby, and are geographically located very close to each other. I believe the AFL offers 5 full scholarships to Riverview, and considering it costs close to 50k a year to go to Riverview in your final year, that's a pretty penny being outlaid. I met their physio on match-day between the two senior rugby teams. They get 15000 people to their derbies, which is just ridiculous. I believe it's mandatory for all students to attend, irrespective of whether you play or like rugby.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Fuss - go read again what I said if you can be bothered. I had a conversation about AFL making inroads into Sydney private schools and made reference to Riverview. I even linked this article, which started the discussion before even mentioning Joeys. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/afl-kicks-into-rugby8217s-backyard-invading-elite-private-schools/story-fni0cx12-1226698955700 I was asked about Joeys by another Roarer, since at the time I was doing contract work for them with their Rugby team. Go have a look at my profile and see where I'm located if you like. You might see the connection that indeed I live in Hunters Hill and perhaps you can put two and two together. I subsequently decided to look up if there was any history of AFL players from Joeys. I find it funny that the same mistake I made when looking up Joeys, you have done yourself. Good stuff again champ, but if you want to continue flogging a dead-horse, then go right ahead. As far as my Geelong history? I could bore you with my connection through Malcolm Blight who played in the SANFL with my father and was a good friend. I could also bore you with my first physiotherapy clinical placement there. I could bore you even further and tell you about the huge picture of God I had on my bedroom wall as a kid. It matters little... One thing I can tell you though. I lived in Chester for a few years and can't name a single school there. Does that mean I couldn't possible have followed United for the time I lived there because it's not in Manchester, or I can't name a single school? I know I know, it doesn't follow Fuss's law of what is a true football fan. So what would you like to talk about next Fuss? Perhaps the worlds largest economy, or have you figured that one out yet...
conchie
Roar Rookie
Well Riverview ( St Joeys) in Sydney is seen as the best private school to send your kid to, if you can afford it and are interested in him playing AF, the private schools comp in Sydney is doing very well thanks. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/comp_info.cgi?c=0-10806-0-366820-0&pool=1&round=0&a=FIXTURE I think it has been going 2 or 3 years just starting with a year 7/8 comp but has know grown to inclde all age groups.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Rick I wasn't part of the conversation, but I read it clearly. You - allegedly a passionate Geelong supporter - posted on a sporting forum how AFL was making big inroads in Sydney's private schools and that Bartel, Ling, Scarlett had been recruited from St Joseph's in Sydney which is a school with a strong Rugby Union history. This was not a slip. It was pure ignorance. No Geelong fan would ever think St Joseph's in Sydney, or Perth, or Brisbane was the school that produces lots of Geelong AFL players. You've been exposed as a Wikipedia follower of sport.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Rick, are you kidding me, i thought we were the best of mates :) I honestly had no idea you had the same convo with fuss about the McClelland trophy, most comps had a minor premiership trophy (club Championship) running, fuss stated to me that the 18 AFL teams only play for one trophy, it is incorrect, pretty sure he had no idea it existed, yet tells all and sundry time after time how much an expert he is on the AFL and AF. This is same fuss who time after time year after year has commented that he only comments on things he is literate about, quite clearly he is not literate about the AFL and should not comment. To put it quite simply he is football illiterate, i also have no idea why anyone would bother to post under several names at once, it really defies normality, but perhaps explains his persona,