Perth’s media has an unrelenting obsession with the turmoil and tribulation of one of the state’s finest footballing products.
It seems each week there’s a new story about Ben Cousins doing the rounds. We’ve had actual journalists write articles entirely about a father kicking the football with his son in a local park. That was followed a short time later by a story about him going out to dinner.
I fail to see how this is newsworthy. Even when it’s a positive story being spun, there’s almost always a reference to his issues with substance abuse or his relationship with the mother of his children.
Then something goes wrong, Cousins finds himself in trouble and a feeding frenzy picks up again. Every single story I read last week about Cousins’s appearance at the Armadale Magistrates Court referenced the fact he was being whisked in without shoes on, and often in the headline to draw maximum attention to it. It’s an added detail sprinkled in to draw negative connotations for the reader.
There is no sympathy or compassion for a man who has been retired for a decade and has a known substance abuse problem. They are attacks on a man who I can personally attest to as having a great heart.
It was January 2018 and a friend of mine and I had gone to kick around the Sherrin at a local primary school. We’d been there maybe five minutes when a heavily bearded man – think Ned Kelly with lighter coloured hair – gestured to my mate to kick the ball to him. This went on for maybe five minutes until he waved us goodbye and went on about his day.
That man was Ben Cousins. Keep in mind, we didn’t ask him over or anything – he was just an ordinary guy who wanted to have a kick and play the sport he loves. We knew exactly who he was and he knew that we knew, but there was mutual respect, a sense of understanding that he was happy being a passing stranger and that we were happy to afford him anonymity.
(Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Fast forward to last month, when I’m walking into the Subway where my aforementioned friend works. To my absolute surprise, there sat Cousins, casually as you like, eating his lunch at one of the tables. As I’m being served, my mate whispers to me that he was the one to serve him, and when he asked if he remembered that kick of the footy some 18 months ago, he’d said that he did.
More importantly, when he’d finished and was getting up to leave, he turned around and said, “Thanks, mate, that was really good”. I’ve been in there more times than I’d care to admit, but not once have I heard a customer show their appreciation for their food after they’ve finished.
This man isn’t a raving lunatic like most of the Perth media portray him as. He’s genuinely one of the nicest and humblest footballers, past or present, I’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with.
All of this highlights why the entire media industry out west needs to seriously hang its head in shame. This is a man who is being punished for being good at his sport. Had he never risen to stardom, there would probably be fewer than 50 people who’d know about his issues. He’d be an ordinary bloke you probably wouldn’t look twice at walking down the street.
Instead we have a constant circus of speculation, invasive stories and nonsense ‘journalism’ about where he ate his dinner. Imagine if we hounded everyone who’s had an addiction, whether it be substance, gambling or a cavalcade of other issues. It’s shameful, tactless reporting that taints the public discourse and devalues the profession as a whole.
I don’t care what park Ben Cousins chooses to see his children in. I care that he’s able to beat his demons, but that’s never going to happen while we have a swarm of media locusts buzzing around him 24/7.
Jesse Dart
Roar Rookie
Hi Kerry, thanks for your kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed. Even though I'm a proud Freo man I have a lot of admiration for Cousins as well.
Jesse Dart
Roar Rookie
Thanks for taking the time to comment mate, always appreciate it. Glad you liked it.
Kerry Tucker
Guest
Thanks for taking the time to write all these comments that we all say in our own circles. Well said and ever word expresses our sentiment exactly. Ben Cousins was and is still an absolute champion and will always be our hero. I am amazed at his strength because a lesser man could never have put up with all this external pressure and media crap...forever grateful for you Ben Cousins.
Robert green
Guest
Never a true a word spoken i agree 100%..leave him to deal with his problems and play with his children in private Get off his case.
Jesse Dart
Roar Rookie
Hey mate, I think you've somewhat missed the point I'm getting at here, this isn't a hot take on substances, rather a look at media conduct. While drugs play an undeniable role, they are not the crux of what I'm talking about. I don't really want to get involved in a political discourse on this topic, but I appreciate you taking the time to read and share your thoughts.
penguin
Roar Rookie
But nor does constant media stereotyping, living in a fishbowl, total lack of privacy or judgmental facebook/ blog/ social media posts. Empathy is a good thing. As my badass daughter says: "Never judge anybody until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Because then you are a mile away. And you have their shoes." Be kind.
Boo
Guest
It is utopian to believe that drugs should be legal and distributed by government sources.I totally agree present today policies don't work and cost the community too much.There are too many vested interests in the illegality of drugs for that to happen ranging from the medical profession to the legal fraternity.My view has always been the only person you should get drugs from is a doctor.
Seymorebutts
Guest
Interesting article. Should we be discussing drug use in general instead of a specific individual? I cant remember the exact stats, but approx 1/2 of people who are in jail are related to drug possesion... and it costs approx $350 per day to keep someone in jail, per day. So surely we should only be incarcerating people who are a direct threat to others, like rapists, child molesters and killers etc. Would drug addicts commit burglaries etc if the drugs they seek were legal? The precise reason they are so expensive is because they are illegal. What crime have they actually committed except consume a substance that society deems inappropriate... In the USA and extraordinary number of people every day overdose on legally prescribed drugs... when they talk about an opioid crisis..they are talking about patients who have become addicted to drugs proscribed by doctors...things like vicadin. Even medical practitioners are prescribing themselves drugs, or stealing it from medical supplies. In a free society, are you not free to decide what you wish to put into your body...no matter how distasteful it may appear to others? Who exactly are we fighting in this war on drugs... our own brothers, sisters, sons and daughters?
Boo
Guest
Ice rewires the brain hence it ( I am not a Dr) so it goes further than mental health problems.There is nothing like this drug so the approach taken with other drug addictions won't work.If you think I am speaking from a holier than thou perspective you couldn't be more wrong I have personally seen the damage it causes and wish that upon no on.Psychologists have told me that for each month yr on ice it takes a year to recover so it quickly and permanently does damage.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
'Feeling sorry' is not what anyone is doing in this conversation. Beware the social cliches, Boo.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Addiction is totally a mental health issue. What caused the issue is no longer the conversation...apart from for 'holier than thou' types.
Boo
Guest
Feeling sorry for drug addicts helps no one.
Jesse Dart
Roar Rookie
I absolutely direct sympathy to those affected but I also feel for Cousins and everyone else gripped by addiction. They made bad choices but when the sun goes down they are still a human being.
Jesse Dart
Roar Rookie
As someone who was lucky enough to experience being in the media from a young age, I've been pushed by literally hundreds of people to get a journalism degree. Essendon 34 made me decide I don't want to spend four years studying how to ruin peoples lives and the Cousins circus has only reaffirmed that. Absolute farce the behaviour of some of these journalists.
Gary
Roar Rookie
The conduct of commercial news outlets is so predatory... it truly beggars belief sometimes.
Boo
Guest
Ice use shouldn't be compared to mental health issues it rewires the brain.Don't feel sorry for the user of the drug ( let's face it in Ben Cousins case his time in custody must have meant he received treatment)give your sympathy to those that have to fear his erratic behaviour.
Jesse Dart
Roar Rookie
I have no doubt ice has ruined and is currently ruining thousands of lives, especially over here in WA where regional towns are facing severe addiction issues. It's a real shame that Ben went down this road but if there is any hope for him it needs to happen without the media witch hunt.
Boo
Guest
I understand your point regarding Ben Cousins and am sure he has redeeming qualities.Ice is such a dangerous drug and if one article showing how this drug has wrecked the life of a champion athlete influences even one person to not try this toxic drug it is worth it.As a society we have to recognize how dangerous ice is and condemn anyone for even trying it.Apparently for each month your on ice your brain is scrambled for a year so I doubt there is much hope for Ben Cousins now.Who cares how good a player he was maybe his greatest legacy will be showing people how insidious this drug ice really is.
Grints
Roar Rookie
I do get your point and yes the only difference between him and plenty of others out there who went to court for similar reasons last week is his celebrity turned villain status which would make things more difficult for him than the average addict. Unfortunately for Ben he is also kind of the "poster boy" for how it can all go wrong. Unfortunately if he is to get well -I hope he can get better for the sake of his kids if nothing else - its going to have to be in the public eye.
Jesse Dart
Roar Rookie
Great story Jack, I imagine it would be quite the surprise the first time one of them came in!