So, how bout that Israel Folau? Yeah, that’ll get people clicking in anger.
It makes sense to have a yarn about Izzy, given his on-going issues with Rugby Australia are coming to a head this weekend.
But during the last month or so, I’ve seen on this site (again) how furious and, frankly, illogical this issue makes people.
I know, I know – people posting on an internet chat forum under pseudonyms being furious and illogical. Who’da thunk it?
Here’s the thing, though: Folau’s infamous social media postings lead to bananas numbers.
A syndicated piece from AAP about Taniela Tupou we put up this week has – as I write – more than 11,000 reads and over 860 comments.
The boss man gave his two cents when things first broke, which got 740-odd comments and over 9000 reads.
Me? I weighed in on the issue a couple of weeks ago and got 220 comments and 3600 reads.
Embarrassing stuff by comparison, but it wasn’t a bad response on Easter Sunday.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
And, reading some of the comments, I was serenaded with a few classic hits the more vicious types warble when confronted with a point of view they don’t like.
Accusations of hypocrisy? Tick.
Cowardice (and gutlessness and variations thereof)? Tick.
Leave Christians alone! Big tick.
Hate speech? Ummm, honestly, that’s a new one for me, but it certainly pops up elsewhere, so sure, tick.
I brushed all those comments off, because people who make such accusations are doing the keyboard equivalent of yelling at pigeons (and yes, a number of you are likely reading this right now – hi!).
But one of the refrains that popped up a number of times really, really pissed me off.
“This isn’t about sport!”
Now, I won’t give a blow-by-blow of my piece – there’s a link above if you care to read (or re-read) it – but it was about the response to and reporting of Folau’s Christianity-fuelled comments in a Christian society.
Sure, it went beyond talking about both a player and a sporting organisation, but that’s the power of sport.
It creates conversations that can inform broader opinions, influence politics and, ultimately, change the world.
I’m not going to pretend I’m writing prose of such profound insight that it’s spilling brandy in halls of power, but the accusation that a discussion of an athlete in the broader context of society has no place in the proverbial back pages is to completely underestimate sport’s power.
The AFL and NRL’s most recent TV rights packages combined were worth around $4.3 billion. To put that number in perspective, the Nine-Fairfax merger was reported as being a $4 billion deal.
Granted, the broadcast deals are multi-year contracts, but still, our two biggest football codes carry a televisual price tag to rival entire media empires, to say nothing of Todd Greenberg and Gillon McLachlan’s various other wheelings and dealings to attract further sponsorship cash.
And that’s just the two top winter sports. Add in the money made by and from cricket, tennis, football, rugby union, cycling, the Olympics, basketball, motorsport – look, I could go on and on here – and the total amount is eleven figures.
Specifically – and these are older numbers – Clearinghouse for Sport says “the combined value of the sport sector in 2011-12 was $12.8 billion”, which equates to two per cent of GDP.
Two per cent of the entire nation’s output is based on sport, and you want to tell me that a discussion of sport – or a specific athlete – in the broader context of society has no place on a website about sport?
Please.
Sport is a huge, sprawling, multi-billion dollar entity – and that’s just in Australia. Globally, we’d be talking hundreds of billions, if not trillions of dollars.
And it goes way beyond finances. It both reflects and shapes society.
Apartheid in South Africa was brought to an end by a variety of forces, but a global sporting embargo on the nation played a significant role.
The decades-long tension between North and South Korea eased considerably as a result of their marching together in the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
And on the negative side of things, why do you think the Munich and Atlanta Games were chosen as the targets for terrorist attacks?
Individual athletes have certainly played their parts too.
Lance Armstrong created a foundation that raised half a billion dollars for cancer sufferers (sure, it was built on lies, but that doesn’t make the money worth any less).
Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem is still causing ripples in the States.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Here at home, Cathy Freeman did even more for reconciliation with that unforgettable win in 2000 than Kevin Rudd’s apology.
And the Wallabies’ highest-profile player said that people who are born a certain way are destined to go to Hell.
Should we ignore all these world-shifting events – and stories like them – simply because they aren’t about the game that was played on Friday night?
Again, please.
The kicker? As the reader and comment numbers cited above attest, you guys freakin’ love this stuff!
If I don’t like something in the first four paragraphs, I hit ‘back’ and move on with my life. I certainly don’t read it to the bottom only to comment: “I don’t like this – and the author should be nicer to white people!”
If you’ll indulge me a little further (g’warn, you’ve come this far), despite constant accusations of being a clickbait artist, my intentions when contributing to The Roar are, sadly, far more mundane.
Rather than penning the most inflammatory and anger-inducing article I can, as part of a grand, site-wide conspiracy – of which the ‘Editor’ badge under my name apparently makes me one of the instigators – I generally write about whatever I found interesting in a given week.
Because whether the story gets thousands of reads and hundreds of comments, or it’s just my Mum who skims my efforts over Sunday breakfast, I’m paid the same.
As a result, I’ll continue to write about sport in its broader context when I deem so fit. I encourage you to as well.
You want to stick to the on-field action and talk about a team’s win or loss, or how well or poorly an athlete played? Write your own article and start a conversation.
That’s the beauty – and, indeed, whole point – of this wonderful website.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Highly recommended Timbo. I bought my copy at a bookshop so yes they still exist :)
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Last one I read was Time and time again. Do I need to get my but down to the bookshop? Do Bookshops still exist?
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
I did not imply that there is a gay gene. This is a conclusion you leapt to on your own. Preliminary scientific research indicates that is related to hormone and chemical balance en-utero. They are investigating subtle differences in brain structures. What they are certain of is that these traits can emerge as young as 5 years old. Perhaps we should link it to vaccination programs..... More facts: studies have shown an inverse proportion between high intellect and religious belief. They aren't certain of the mechanism for this, but there is investigation into the possibility that belief in a deity stifles the desire for inquiry and is responsible for the drop in IQ. This is good news, the condition isn't genetic and is treatable. Also the more moderate the religion, the lower the correlation. If it is any consolation, Everything is on a bell curve. The are a lot of dumb Atheists and a lot of smart Christians out there. We all look the same and most of us want the same things for society. This includes acceptance and tolerance of each other. One of the many great messages present in the Bible, Tora and Quor'an. For people that don't agree with this inclusionist philosophy, you don't get to complain about not being invited to the BBQ. You can light up your Tiki Torches and go elsewhere. It won't be GRR, European Rugby, NRL or AFL though. Those doors have been nailed shut.
Ralph
Roar Guru
To imply there is a a "gay" gene is misguided. Many of us are Christian because of our above average intelligence, something we cannot change.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
For a start, Dr Tour is Jewish, not Christian, but let us for sake of argument say that he is. Being a christian doesn't require that you live the Bronze age interpretation of the religious doctrine, that is a choice, and in the information era, not a popular one. If Dr Tour was living in the Bronze age, he would have been burned as a Witch. Does he believe in the Bronze Age Fundamentalist interpretation of the bible/Tora? If not, suggesting he has the same belief system as Izzy is flawed.. The scientific community agree that since the application of fundamentalist religious principles and practices science and technology was set back roughly 1500 years. It has only been since the age of enlightenment that we have got back on track. Most likely because Henry VIIIth split from the Vatican.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
In my metaphor, the Pork Chop is saying unpleasant things about vegans and then claiming that there is discrimination against meet eaters as the reason that they didn't get invited. If the Pork Chop was saying: I respect your views and choices to not eat meat, my views on that matter are different but I am sure we can still have a civil discussion about the environmental impact of cows and who should be the wallaby flyhalf. The afternoon would go a lot differently.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Unanimous You should also read Ben Elton's "Identity Crisis" :)
Unanimous
Guest
Yep, an industry based on giving multiple false impressions of something to wind up angry mobs to generate traffic is a fine way to spend a professional life, and if gay people, Christians, and rugby are all damaged who cares.
Jack
Guest
I’ve made the vast majority of my money online since the late 1990’s and if you haven’t got “traffic” landing on your website you haven’t got a business. Eyeballs, engagement, keywords and authority = money! It’s not rocket science! I hope that answered your question?
Jack
Guest
Sport was popularised to keep the masses distracted, dumbed down and divided, while governments and the wealthy individuals that control them quietly continue to carry out their agenda.
Jack
Guest
Dr James Tour was voted as amongst the Top 10 chemists, and one of the 50 most influential Scientists in the world, he’s also a Christian. Maybe it is you that is living in the Bronze Age (without realising it).
Jack
Guest
Surely you aren’t arguing that a vegan should not be invited to a bbq because of their eating preferences? Every bbq I’ve attended had salads etc as sides. I’m reminded of Martin Luther King’s struggle! Some people love living in their little bubbles and safe places, but it’s not healthy and it does not promote inclusiveness - it’s also very narrow minded!
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
To assert that people aren't gay at birth is misguided. Many of us are atheist because of our above average intelligence, something we can't change. Some of us have to drink to forget that Folau isn't really a fullback and never earned his #15 Jersey. Folau made his comments, publicly, on social media under a profile inflated by his association with Australian sports, wearing Wallabies and Warratahs (work) uniforms emblazoned with sponsors logo's. Your "not at work" argument is holy wafer thin.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Depends on what is Izzy selling? His rugby brand is now shot, but the marketing department for bronze age fundamentalism are rubbing their hands with glee as they power up their legal arm in preparation for a civil suit. This could go on for more than 48-72 hours.
SandBox
Roar Guru
“God is not great: how religion poisons everything” by Christopher Hitchens, would be my recommendation Many of us have returned as the Link fall with associated player power/Cheika have turned us off the rugby. Not just the loonie left and bible basher right, and those frustrated at the Nanny State dystopian present, although I’m at least one of those
SandBox
Roar Guru
“Here’s the thing, though: Folau’s infamous social media postings lead to bananas numbers.” I’m more curious about what wasn’t included in the article. Given that the Folau issue has lead to bananas numbers. I’d like to hear from someone with a marketing background if the old saying of “no such thing as bad publicity” applies. We don’t have much to talk about in rugby right now. As someone said below Super teams don’t look great, and Wallabies look shot. Possibly Folau is the only thing attracting attention for rugby right now I’d also like to know about the fruit scale. Is there anything above bananas? Where does smashed avacado fit in on this scale? How about Açai numbers? These are the real questions I’d like answered
Tooly
Roar Rookie
That’s why the Italians don’t pick the Pope. Firstly Folau was not referring to how people where at birth, he was referring to their behaviour. Secondly he wasn’t doing it on the field, on a Qantas jet or anywhere near a Rugby field. Thirdly it is the support of fans that determines how much money a sport attracts. All three points would be well worth considering by their Inquisition.
Magic Mike
Roar Rookie
RA just tried to bribe Izzy with $1million to walk away from the game peacefully?
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
This is a misnomer and a Paradox. To be inclusive you must exclude those who aren't. You can't carry on like a pork chop and then complain when you get uninvited from the vegan BBQ.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
This is an interesting premise for an article. Should we be talking about it? The greater media seem to think so, so down the rabbit hole we go. The topic has so many special interest groups involved, it has catapulted to the front page, instead of at the back, in Monday's sports section where it used to belong. Freedom of Speech Freedom from Oppression Contract Law Religion Bigotry Descrimination Homophobia Hate speech. Social Politics It has chummed the waters with so much click-bait, the media sharks will be circling, agitating keyboard warriors for months to come, all the time, selling banner advertising. Why would it stop?