Cousins Suspended .No show for round 1 with Sydney

[ROK Lobster]

While I openly admit to being critical of Cousins in the past, this has gone beyond a "boys behaving badly" thing and into far more serious realms.

As I said, if it happened at Sydney I would be ropeable, and certainly do not think that the club or player are beyond criticism - especially not the club, the mess they find themselves in (not the mess Cousins finds himself in) is very much of their own doing. I don't think Cousins has been very smart, and as I said, his clubmates, the club and the fans should be disappointed in him. I do not see why criticism and sympathy have to be mutually exclusive, or for that reason why criticism and gloating over another's misfortune are seen as synonymous. (Not saying that you do SR4E - just that others seem to).

[ROK Lobster]

Fair enough ROK.

We'll agree to see this from slightly different angles.

I think the problem for me is, it's Cousins.

I don't think I was outraged when Kerr got into trouble, didn't care one way or the other. It's just that Cousins has rubbed me up the wrong way for years.

Cousins and his on-field antics just sh.. me no end. Great player and all, he just rubs me the wrong way.

I'd feel the same if it was Milne, Hunter, Didak, Holland, those type of players that you just have a responsibility to despise if you are an opposition supporter.

Fine BBB. If you don't feel sympathy for him then I have no problem with that. I had been thinking about Hunter because he is one player I really cannot stomach. I do not think that I would be as sympathetic for him - less flawed genius (not that Cousins is that good) - but I really do not think I could take pleasure in it - which is the point I started from yesterday.

[AnnieH]

As I said, if it happened at Sydney I would be ropeable, and certainly do not think that the club or player are beyond criticism - especially not the club, the mess they find themselves in (not the mess Cousins finds himself in) is very much of their own doing. I don't think Cousins has been very smart, and as I said, his clubmates, the club and the fans should be disappointed in him. I do not see why criticism and sympathy have to be mutually exclusive, or for that reason why criticism and gloating over another's misfortune are seen as synonymous. (Not saying that you do SR4E - just that others seem to).

YOU would be ropeable ... we'd all be spitting chips if it were one of ours. Thank god it's not, eh?

Every kid dreams of being in the position that Ben Cousins was in before his fall from grace. Fabulous decorated footballer. Lotsa money, lotsa fame, lotsa free drinks, lotsa women, etc., etc.

When you sign a contract for professional football, along with the good (as mentioned above), there is also the "bad". The media, the football papparazzi, the fact that you have to be a "role model" (even though it's not specified in your contact), the opposition and their fanatics, etc.

Like it or not, for professional sportspeople, there's always going to be some kid out there who is going to look up to you ... that's what it's really all about. I'm sure a lot of you boys out there dreamt of making it big for your team, and how you'd always have time to sign an autograph for a kid. We're a sports-loving nation who idolise our sportmen, but as a nation, we also morally draw a line when it warranted (i.e. Canterbury Bulldogs, Shane Warne, etc.).

Sure, we can feel sorry that he's got himself into this situation, but they (the budgie administration and their insular fans) created a monster. Now they have to deal with it.

[ScottH]

Don't worry, Warney has offered to help Benny. He'll set the world right.

[ROK Lobster]

Sure, we can feel sorry that he's got himself into this situation.

I thought that you were one of the people agreeing with Demsone that anyone who felt any sympathy for Cousins was soft

[Wardy]

If the drug is "Ice" as suggested - then our loathing for Cousins should be toned down ,and I am by no means a fan of his, but contrary to popular opinion I am a human being - god I'm mellowing!

The difference between him and Warnie for example is that whilst Warnie is a serial fool, the drug he was sprung for was a fluid tablet, its not going to kill you and you dont take those to numb any type of emotional pain and get a high from it - however "Ice" is a different kettle of fish.

Yes Cousins had the choice of saying yes or no to taking such a drug, that there is no doubt ,and sadly he chose to take it.

But has anyone conisdered that perhaps his private & personal issues (which as I said previously cover a mulititude of sins) may stem from him having the belief that he has to be all things to all people. So many expect so much from him - there are people who have the strength to cope with that type of pressure and there are others who clearly dont. Perhaps Counsins is in the later category I dont know - it could be that he is ignorant or just plain stupid, I dont know I dont actually "know" him. But we all have failings and I dont know of anyone who has had the perfect life, where it all goes swimmingly, they have no emotional baggage and have never made a mistake.

We can all have a go about certain players and whether they are good, bad, ugly annoying, brilliant (and dont we despise brilliant opposition players) we are all guilty of it. But this is different, here is a guy who has the world at his feet, who is a very good footballer, quite a good sort with a legion of admirers but who has made the worst life choices. Yes its his own fault, but you have to hope that at 29 he might finally summons the strength to defeat this and sort himself out. But he needs support, not loathing or gloating from opposition club fans no matter how much we dont like him. He is a human afterall.

I beleive that it would be better for the AFL to address drug problems if the test is positive first go - because as it is, players have the "oh they wont get me until strike 3" by then it could be too late and more harm is done. Nip it in the bud at the first sign of use. But this is only my opinion, I dont expect people to agree with it.

[hammo]

I just don't feel any sympathy for Cousins or West Coast who have well and truly let these issues get out of hand, tarnishing the reputation of all AFL clubs and players.

I am not taking joy in the situation. I strongly believe its possible to be unsympathetic while also not gloating.

Yes I hope he gets over his personal issues and whatever substance problems he has, but the evidence is he has mixed with the wrong crowd for many years and should have taken more personal responsibility for the sake of his own health and reputation, and also his club.

Cousins had up to 5 instances where he was in an unfit state to train. Worsfold and the club were aware of his issues in July last year. Someone who's had that many warnings is forfeiting their right to any sympathy IMO. This also highlights how seriously the Eagles abrogated their responsibility.

The discussion on 2UE last night was "recreational drug use in the AFL". Such publicity causes enormous damage to the code in Sydney when mums and dads are deciding whether their kids should play soccer, AFL or league this year. Whether it be Wendell Sailor or Ben Cousins, the league friendly media and NRL relish these opportunities to lay the boot into stars of sports other than rugby league who have messed up.

No one can pretend that having Ben Cousins splashed over the back page of the Telegraph during the start of the football season is a positive thing.

[reigning premier]

No sympathy here... but maybr if I go searching I can dig out some empathy.... just a little.... not a lot....

The guy gets paid a @@@@ load to be a professional and he has failed to fulfill his part of the contract.

The guy gets paid a @@@@ load to be a role model and he has failed to fulfill his part of the contract.

The guy gets paid a @@@@ load to be an ambassador and a representative of his club and the game in general and he has failed to fulfill his part of the contract.

The guy gets paid a @@@@ load because he is constantly in th public eye and subject to constant media scrutiny and he is now beginning to understand the ramifications of this part of the contract.

I don't wish him any ill will, but @@@@ him. He made his bed. He can lie in it.

[Industrial Fan]

I just don't feel any sympathy for Cousins or West Coast who have well and truly let these issues get out of hand, tarnishing the reputation of all AFL clubs and players.

Two of your posts in one thread that I agree with. That is some sort of record.

[Mr_Juicy]

I also found it strange that in another thread Crouchy gets knocked from pillar to post for his views, but some of the very same people want to show sympathy and understanding for this scumbag.

Those people carry their soap boxes with them wherever they go and should be listened to for amusement only

[Mr_Juicy]

Anyone watch that report on Today Tonight? I know it's hardly a credible news source (maybe for bogans) but it "revealed" the disturbing "truth" prior to him passing out near Crown Casino.

Apparently, he offered some guy cash to take him somewhere (probably Crown) and the driver (who was interviewed of course) noted strange and paranoid behaviour exhibited by Cousins. He was allegedly in the car for 15 minutes although the car travelled about 200 metres, then left the car and passed out metres from where he departed. If any of that was true, I'd believe it.

Did they mention the aliens? Only explanation for the loss of time.

[Chow-Chicker]

It is no longer an unsubtantiated rumour.....Ben Cousin's is a drug addict.

[ScottH]

Link.

[Sanecow]

It would be greatly appreciated if the threads in "RWO Chat" and "General AFL Chat" could be kept on topic and leave the idle chit chat/attempts at wit to the other forums, namely the Sandpit.

[reigning premier]

Link.

Now you're just beeing mean....