High-profile AFL commentator Sam Newman has defended Eddie McGuire, saying the controversy over a joke about holding AFL journalist Caroline Wilson under water has gone too far.
“This started out as a shore break, it’s developed into a fully blown tsunami,” Newman said on the Footy Show on Wednesday.
Newman also called Wilson an “embarrassment”, and said if she wanted to be treated equally, she shouldn’t complain “when it’s too equal”.
Newman won some support from Essendon legend Tim Watson, who said there was an “element of truth” to Newman’s comments.
“I think everybody seizes on the opportunity if they don’t like somebody then to pile in on top of them and whack them and kick them to death,” he told SEN Breakfast on Thursday.
“What we are talking about is Eddie McGuire as opposed to what was said and how it was said.
“That’s exactly what’s happened and that’s what Sam was alluding to again last night.”
While Watson believes Newman was annoyed at everyone using the furore to sledge McGuire’s character, he thought Newman was using the conversation for his own advantage.
“It’s also an opportunity for Sam to take a whack at all the people he doesn’t like out there,” he said.
Newman has also revealed plans to make a run for the mayor of Melbourne.
He is hoping to run on an anti-political correctness platform.
He told the Herald Sun political correctness is “dogging the world as we know it”.
Mark
Guest
Or people trying to rationalise their bigoted viewpoints?
Mark
Guest
No. Just no.
Mark
Guest
You sound like an avid footy show audience member.
VivGilchrist
Guest
Could it possibly not be a gender issue? Could it just be that she is an irritating human being in the eyes of many? I guess we'll never know.
Lroy
Guest
Im intrigued by this pathological hatred of Caroline Wilson by so many Melbourne footballing identities, what is going on over there?? has a male journalist ever been subjected to this kind of public commentary??
Stewie
Guest
OH BOOM. Sam Newman would be proud of that call KKB
KingKongBundy
Guest
ill just ask your mum next time I see her
VivGilchrist
Guest
I'm neither here or there. If this "drowning joke" was directed at a Caucasian male we wouldn't have heard anymore about it. The fact is that due to sensitivities we can't have total equality. In this case the men in question were treating Caro as a white male and look at the result. For good reason, there a different set of rules regarding the way we treat Caucasian men, women, the indigenous, refugees etc. it's just the way it is. Political Correctness actually confuses the issue.
Stewie
Guest
Watch it once, get sick and tired of the lack of footy content, and quite frankly awful "humour". Never watch again. I see nothing wrong with that.
Stewie
Guest
Is it bad that I think of the car salesman guy on the Simpsons "Put it in H"?
Liam O'Neill
Guest
Wonderful comment even if you disagree with me.
VivGilchrist
Guest
The beauty of political correctness is that it allows people to puff up and take the moral high ground and therefore condemning people with alternative views as inferior and antiquated.
Liam O'Neill
Guest
I think it's interesting the number of people that don't like the show yet know all about it.
Slane
Guest
Maybe get your parents to spring for a new computer? Might help with your K problem.
Jarrod H
Roar Rookie
Very good call. The show is more past its use-by-date than Sam Newman's plastic face.
denis ryan
Guest
Sam Newman, He said what you would expect him to. No surprises there!!! He shows no concern for anyone, other than those who like him bully and belittle others. Eddie did the wrong thing, but he usually shows some respect for people, whereas Sam is a sarcastic, put down person, who enjoys taking a rise out of people. l wonder if this narcissist who has a penchant for acting like a cretin knows any better. l suspect he does, but he chooses freely to act like a cretin because he gets attention from the media for it. It is a pity that he chooses to act this way instead of being a positive force for the betterment of others.
Don Freo
Guest
How do you know what the show id like, Anon? Do you watch it?
TomC
Roar Guru
And that's the worst example of the Wilson defenders. The anti-Wilson brigade don't have a monopoly on childish name-calling.
Knoxy
Guest
The Footy Show is lowest common denominator trash for VB drinking bogans. So it makes perfect sense that Sam Newman would support Eddie and have a go at Wilson.
Rex
Guest
I look forward to the day common sense and a bit of aussie humour returns. Eddie for PM and Sam for Mayor. Lets take a minute and think of what else is happening in the world - I just walked through a street full of police with Automatic weapons in the centre of Paris with my two children who were quite scared at the sight. Get over it, have a laugh at ourselves and stop taking some off the cuff humour to the extreme!