Well done, Roosy

[ShockOfHair]

Every now and then the Swans show that footy is more than about just footy. Within a few hours of Jason Akermanis making his views known on gays, Paul Roos and the Swans stuck this story on the club website.


Roos slams Aker's gay comments - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club

I'm not anti-Aker, but great to see our club leaders call him out on this one. Life is short. Why waste it on gay-phobia?

[chuckie]

Back when Roos was playing at Fitzroy he was being ask questions about him being Gay.
I remember well before Sam Newman was on the Footy Show he use to write a column in the Melbourne Herald Sun one of his pieces was an interview with Paul Roos where he ask him that question, Roosy just dismissed it with a next question.

[Primmy]

As Ian Roberts said last night, the whole thing should come down to public interest like in a Womans Day, pictures, etc, and next week something else. It should be of no more interest to anyone than that. Well done Roosy. And Craig.

Your slip is showing Akker, and it is mighty muddy.

[AnnieH]

Wankermanis should be taken out to the back paddock and shot. He needs to be put out of my misery.

[Yuri H]

Great quotes from Roos and Goodes. Makes me proud I picked the team I did to follow when I switched hemispheres.

[Vonsteinman]

The most annoying thing about this whole Akermanis piece is that it has achieved everything that was intended when it was published. I realise that by typing this I'm also becoming part of the machine, but don't you wish that people would just ignore him when he comes out with that sort of crap?

[dimelb]

Generally speaking I like Aker as a straight shooter, even when he gets up various noses.
But this time - Clackermanis.

[Trickster]

The most annoying thing about this whole Akermanis piece is that it has achieved everything that was intended when it was published. I realise that by typing this I'm also becoming part of the machine, but don't you wish that people would just ignore him when he comes out with that sort of crap?

Indeed-in fact just ignoring the self loathing ranga completely would be best

[swansrule100]

what did he say? i never read the article. I would say that sometimes these things blow out of all proportion though? reports seem to make it sound like he doesnt like gays, where as i heard he said they should avoid coming out as it would be hard for them in a footy environment?

[Big Al]

what did he say? i never read the article. I would say that sometimes these things blow out of all proportion though? reports seem to make it sound like he doesnt like gays, where as i heard he said they should avoid coming out as it would be hard for them in a footy environment?

That's what most people in the footy world are objecting to. Even his own club stated that he is way off the mark.

[swansrule100]

That's what most people in the footy world are objecting to. Even his own club stated that he is way off the mark.

yeh they would have to say that, i wonder if it would be hard though in some footy environments? maybe in lower leagues where its a bit less monitored?

Either why not sure he bothered writing anything on the topic , just asking for trouble. You think he would be keen to keep his nose clean these days.

[swansrule100]

just read the article, sounds like he would have the problem himself but tried to put it on others. Just a dumb article, thought maybe he had been misquoted more than that etc.

[BSA5]

Christ some people are precious. Aker's article was poorly expressed and edited, and obviously (typical Aker) a grab at the headlines, but what he said actually made sense. Even if clubs on the whole are accepting of homosexuality, there will always be players at a club, like any workplace, that are to varying degrees uncomfortable with homosexuality. The difference is that in a workplace like an office, it's easy to avoid any situations that certain people might find uncomfortable or "compromising", and so any disruption is minimal. That's not the case at a footy club, where there is intense physical interaction, and it must be said, undertones of potential homoeroticism. People of any degree of homophobia would be forced to confront their discomfort, and intentionally or not, would act differently towards a gay teammate. Just as the law of averages says that there will be some gay guys at footy clubs, the law of averages also says there will be some homophobes, whatever the dominating culture, and in a footy club, neither have anywhere to hide.

Aker is a bit of a wanker, sure, but to say that article means he's homophobic is short-sighted and completely missing the point.

[Bas]

Certainly got the AFL drugs issue off the front page. Did wonders for Acker brand, everyone knows him now. Better than being the former Roads Minister in the NSW government. That's what you call getting cannoned out of the closet. Forget stepping out.

I still would like to know what does sexuality have to do with playing sport. Nothing. It's a personal issue.

[cruiser]

Gay men and lesbians should be able to come out whenever it feels right for them. Who is he to tell them otherwise. The problem isnt the gay person coming out, its the bigotry they may have to deal with thats the problem. But if they want to tackle that, as so many gays like myself have done, that's up to them.