As the weather lashes Sydney, meaning only one wicket fell on Day 2 of the New Year’s Test (for the record, it was Carlos Braithwaite, bowled James Pattinson), a bigger storm – the social-media type – descended upon Hobart.
During a relatively placid affair between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Renegades it wasn’t Chris Gayle’s batting that sent people cringing all the way to the ‘any channel but this’ button on their remotes.
Nope, it was the Renegades’ gun opening-bat propositioning Network Ten’s BBL host Mel McLaughlin that sent the wrath-filled clouds of Twitter and Facebook into a frenzy.
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“Hopefully we can win this game and we can have a drink after,” Gayle said.
Mel turned her head away, with no discernable change in her facial expression. The hundreds of thousands watching at home cringed, yes cringed, but it was nothing compared to what was next.
“Don’t blush, baby”, Gayle said, with a grin peeking through the corners of his mouth.
McLaughlin replied: “I’m not blushing.”
She really wasn’t, baby.
The ABC’s Auskar Surbakti asked on Twitter whether it was sexism or just sleazy, or both? It was probably both, but I have a different ‘s’ word for it – stupid.
Or an even better word – dumb. Really dumb.
Gayle has attracted a following on social media for his exposition of a lifestyle that attracts a certain type of person – both male and female. Much of it is dumb, but harmless enough not to spark outrage – he’s on Chris time when he’s tweeting photos of him in the nightclub.
It’s when the same behaviour reaches the public sphere that it is a problem.
Gayle just wanted “to see your [Mel’s] eyes for the first time”. Imagine how many times that line’s been dropped in clubs over the years? Time and place.
Do you think McLaughlin would have preferred to be complimented about her eyes, or to hear about how Gayle felt about his aggressive performance (for the stats book, 41 off 15, one ball too many for a beautiful, palindromic score), or as her next question went on to ask, what injuries were bothering him?
At this point I will step away from the hubbub and furore, and turn to idiotic adolescence for answers.
As a young man growing up, watching McLaughlin’s career develop on Fox Sports, I can attest that she was plenty of young men’s favourite sports presenter. But, like every good relationship, there was more than just the physical attraction.
Eyes aside, professionalism, a knack for getting to the heart of the story, a terrific broadcast voice, and an enviable ability to ad lib and banter on camera were the reasons young men liked McLaughlin. These are the qualities that define a TV journalist – the very same that determine impressionable viewers’ opinions of Andrew Voss, Les Murray or Simon Hill.
This was further confirmed to me when I got to work with McLaughlin, briefly, in my time at Fox Sports News. She was a reporter and presenter you could build a show around. It wasn’t her looks, but sharp wit, reporting skill, and passion for football that made her beloved of A-League fans from the first time she fronted up to host the matchday coverage.
Wind the clock forward to 2016, and Mel has moved to Network Ten, and is being called “baby” on live television. It’s incongruous with the legwork she put in to cement a reputation, work up to the level of presenter, remain professional in the face of being asked to commentate darts live on air, and wade past the thousands who think that it’s not her place.
She has never propositioned a sportsman on camera, and in all likelihood expects the same treatment. Sleaziness might be endemic in bars and clubs, but is generally reserved for time off-camera for those working in and with the media.
The problem with last night isn’t that it exposes how Gayle likes to hit on women often and shamelessly – we knew that already. It’s more revealing of an attitude that it’s okay to do it, disregarding all evidence pointing to the opposite, under the guise of entertainment. Sex sells.
What’s worrying is Gayle clearly thought that’s what was required of him. Some call the Big Bash League ‘hit and giggle’, so let’s take the giggle a little further.
The awkwardness was palpable for all who watched. Mark Howard and his fellow commentators were placed in an extremely awkward position. I have no doubt their stomachs sank as they heard the words, and their initial reaction, as hosts, was to laugh it off as banter, stoically attempting to revive a piece of awful television by pretending hard enough that it became funny.
It didn’t. Scripted like a b-grade porno, last night’s coverage descended into ‘hit-on with no giggle’.
The Big Bash League has a mandate for entertainment, but alienating reporters in a sexist fashion while they are attempting to do their job is not where the line is. That’s just dumb.
Let’s leave terrible, terrible pick-up lines off camera, because it was as dumb and offensive as the Twitter storm made it out to be.
Journalists report. Players bat, bowl and field. Drinks and dumb compliments are for after the game.
FAIR DINKUM
Guest
Just being himself?
FAIR DINKUM
Guest
Well Warnie's sexual advances to many women were made very public. Text messages were made public and they were read all over the world. Chappelli now wants a global ban on Gayle playing cricket - thus killing off his cricket career - but has welcomed Warnie as a friend and fellow commentator thus giving him a new career after cricket! Compare Gayle's interview with Warne's sexploits and the punishment just does not fit the "crime" - nor is the idolising of Warne deserved. Lesson? Get off-side with the media and you're dead - charm the media and you're rewarded. Sheer hypocrisy.
The Auteur
Guest
Okay, can I sexually harass your female relatives by making amorous advances on them? It's just a joke, m8.
Johnno
Guest
One could go on forever, with examples it's no coincidence I know, it's awful/unfair how many good looking women get starts on TV over average looking women of equal talent. -Some more I can add the good looking list. Alana Smith/Lee Furlong/Roz Kelly(remember she did the cricket stuff for 9 until she married Morne Morkel), and I could rattle of endless more names if I had the time. None of these women, or your examples are reflections of average looking women. -Oh and TV news/Breakfast TV is just as bad, Chris Bath/Anne Sanders/Sandra Sully/Sophie Hull/Sonia Kruger and many more.
Johnno
Guest
DaniE What do you mean about having to behave more neutral around men than women, just confused with that part, can you clarify what you mean please?
Jamie
Guest
Pffft yeah they must need so much training to ask 'how do you think the game is going' etc. Funny how in other sports ex-players seem to do that just fine.
Jamie
Guest
He jokingly said they should have a drink then made another joke. The only difference is how you are viewing it.
Jamie
Guest
Because it's not harassment or an advance, it's a joke. Women reporters do the same thing all the time to actors and rock stars and the like.
Jamie
Guest
Yeah righto, because journalists give others their 'due respect' all the time.
CG2430
Guest
Now, now, Morsie, what matters is that someone is outraged about something. Outraged!
CG2430
Guest
It's actually relatively easy for attractive women. Generally speaking, female television sports journalists - and many of Nine News' non-specialist news journos these days - tend to be young and significantly more attractive than the average. For a very obvious example, look what happened when Melanie McLaughlin departed Fox Sports; she was replaced by Tara Rushton - coincidence? Lara Pitt, Neroli Meadows, Louise Ransome, Jessica Yates, Stephanie Brantz, Johanna Griggs (even these days), and many others whose names I cannot recall - very good-looking sports journalists/presenters... While correlation does not necessarily mean causation, one must ask if there physical beauty is a requirement for the innate qualities required of a sports journalist/presenter. Does being good looking make you a better speaker, a more through researcher, a more insightful interviewer, or more knowledgeable on any particular sport? The answer is no. Television, however, is a visual medium. Melanie McLaughlin grew to be quite good as a football presenter on Fox Sports - early days notwithstanding - but there can be no question that it helped that she's also aesthetically blessed. Anyone with half a brain who is not a hen-pecked social justice warrior can see this.
Punter
Guest
Warnie was a legend at bowling a cricket bowl. I don't know many who sees Warnie as a legend to what he put his ex wife & kids thru. This is Warnie's business not mine, but he is no Aussie Legend to me off the field.
AlanKC
Guest
Great post.
AlanKC
Guest
You post a link to an article written by Dan Talintyre about her and use it as justification for your rubbish? Wow, Kaks is right, you really are quite pathetic.
AlanKC
Guest
So you, Johnno, inhabit a world where if a woman wears revealing clothing she deserves what she gets?
AlanKC
Guest
Fess up Jo, you're a bloke right?
DaniE
Roar Guru
Have to agree with you there.
DaniE
Roar Guru
Isn't it fairly standard though, in media, that all in front of the camera, are at the very least presentable? Doesn't matter if male or female. The prejudice, in that case, is that no matter what sex you are, if you're good looking you're more likely to be in that job. As a female who is starting to dip her toes into a male-dominated sport, I do feel I have to behave a lot more neutrally than say in the company of mainly women. I'm doing that to preserve my reputation and to ensure respect. But it's still definitely an uphill battle regardless.
colvin
Guest
Johnno I believe the blond interviewer in the YouTube clip is an ex-girlfriend of Richie McCaw and knew well most of the players, Hence the hug from Richie and the banter. I believe she famously said after they parted ways she wanted a particular Sunday morning in bed with Champagne and Richie but Richie was only interested in a 10 mile cycle ride. (or something like that). Not sure if that's relevant.
Joe
Guest
'Dont be offended, I was just joking!'... Oldest excuse in the book. Put simply how would it go down if someone interviewed this sleeze and said 'Gee, big innings today Gayle, you were out there for a long time... I can see that from your tan!' ...Oh hey, don't be offended, I was just joking! Racism, sexism it all comes from the same ugly place. Get with the times.