Interesting article on Ben Cousins

[Layby]

Maybe even a balanced article !


reality

[Sanecow]

AFL footballers have no less right to drink to excess and over-react to relationship breakups than doctors, judges, plumbers and journalists, none of whom lose their livelihoods as a result of their exploits.

Doctors, judges, plumbers and journalists can all lose their jobs for not turning up to work. They wouldn't be "suspended" with the opportunity to return either.

[Layby]

Doctors, judges, plumbers and journalists can all lose their jobs for not turning up to work. They wouldn't be "suspended" with the opportunity to return either.

Take your point, but all of those jobs would allow personal days off, sick days off etc, would they not ?

[Sanecow]

Take your point, but all of those jobs would allow personal days off, sick days off etc, would they not ?

Most likely, but you can't just decide not to turn up.

[NMWBloods]

I don't really subscribe to the view that footballers did not choose to become role models. It's the same argument that celebrities did not choose to have paparazzi hound them. Unfortunately it goes with the territory, and it's one of the key reasons why they get paid so much money.

[Layby]

I don't really subscribe to the view that footballers did not choose to become role models. It's the same argument that celebrities did not choose to have paparazzi hound them. Unfortunately it goes with the territory, and it's one of the key reasons why they get paid so much money.

With all due respect that is rubbish, they get paid so much because the game generates that amount of money via TV and sponsorship revenue. I fail to see how thats has anything to do with being a 'role model' to children ?

Whether you subscribe to it is neither here, nor there, it is why they get paid what they do.

[goswannie14]

Take your point, but all of those jobs would allow personal days off, sick days off etc, would they not ?

These other people are also not in the paper or on TV when they don't turn up.

[swantastic]

Doctors, judges, plumbers and journalists can all lose their jobs for not turning up to work. They wouldn't be "suspended" with the opportunity to return either.

I actually agree with you Sanecow footballers today are too often put up on a pedestal and i think some times we just have to kick it from under them.

[NMWBloods]

With all due respect that is rubbish, they get paid so much because the game generates that amount of money via TV and sponsorship revenue. I fail to see how thats has anything to do with being a 'role model' to children ?

Whether you subscribe to it is neither here, nor there, it is why they get paid what they do.

But part of the reason there is huge money in TV and sponsorships is because the game is hugely popular and hence the players are hugely popular and hence they have high profiles.

[hammo]

That article is one of the most ridiculous pieces of slop that I've ever read.

As Sanecow points out, if any normal worker had a drug / alcohol problem that was preventing them performing their duties they would be sacked - not suspended. For a footballer, attending training (and being in a fit state to do so) is a major componant of their job. If they don't then they are letting down their teammates.

Like it or not, footballers are role models. If the AFL clubs are happy to rake in the TV money, sponsorships, memberships and merchandise then their players can accept some responsibility.

[Sanecow]

If footballers are role models to kids, their parents need a dose of reality. Footballers are young men who play football. that's it. They are not, nor should they be, beacons of morality. They are paid to win premierships. Ben Cousins did that.

Can someone post a link to the article where the Eagles announced that Cousins was suspended because he wasn't a good role model for kids?

[Zlatorog]

Well, yes and no. We're all passing judgments based on few incidents that we know off. What about those, that we don't? I think that suspension was an act that IMO should have happened much earlier to stop him becoming a complete tool. If he wasn't such a good footballer he would have been sacked long time ago. And that's the fact.

[swantastic]

Well, yes and no. We're all passing judgments based on few incidents that we know off. What about those, that we don't? I think that suspension was an act that IMO should have happened much earlier to stop him becoming a complete tool. If he wasn't such a good footballer he would have been sacked long time ago. And that's the fact.

Ken Judge thiught there was a problem 5/6 years ago and after that he got the boot,so the WC admin have known about the problem for a long long time.

[Sanecow]

Do good workers deserve to be sacked if they develop a drug problem?

Personally, I don't think so.

Even apart from the off field indiscretions which have harmed his employer's reputation, failing to show for work six times in six months deserves the sack IMO.

[NMWBloods]

Do good workers deserve to be sacked if they develop a drug problem?

Personally, I don't think so.

Actions by an employee to bring their employer into disrepute will often be a sackable offence.