As with anyone, I think we need to remember that we are all human beings, and thus fallible.  When one is in the public eye, however, there are even higher standards expected of one.  Although a $1,000 fine and 3 weeks suspension, for leaving the scene of an accident and lying about having your car stolen, is giving far too much leeway in anyone's language.

Your friends might not, Giz but I have seen many non sportspeople do similar and worse.  The difference is that there are no cameramen following them, and no busybodies waiting for them to act inappropriately so that they can report it as important rather than the real news.

So anybody who is offended by high profile people acting in such a way is a busybody??. . . right. . I get it now.  

Quoted from Paula

The difference is that there are no cameramen following them, and no busybodies waiting for them to act inappropriately so that they can report it as important rather than the real news.

If the above criteria fit, then the answer to that question is a resounding "yes".

The shift to the right in politics is matched by a conservative shift in public mentality, and the ability to beam someones missdeeds across the world in minutes.

The result is bad behaviour is news worthy, the "curtain twitchers" now look at the box in the corner of the room instead of the main street, they have their dirt on someone almost instantly and love to gossip about it and take them "down a peg or two".

Having said that, I believe a drunken amature footballer 30 years ago, who got paid nothing, took time off work to play, was usually given a bit of slack, a bit of wild revelry was tolerated, and often not reported by the media.

These days when you get paid millions to be an idol and role model, representing sponsors and presenting an image, they are held accountable, and rightly so.

There are still teflon coated athletes, whom find themselves in paper for missdeads regulary, but do not seem to suffer (Shane Warne anyone? can you think of any other sportsman done for performance enhancing drugs whom has kept their past records intact?) but others get crucified and loose the lot over one incident. That is unfair. Look at what Sam Rielly went through years ago over one headache tablet, her value as a marketable commodity disapeared overnight, and never really recovered even when exhonerated.

These days athletes are paid more than enough for being so much in the public eye, I reckon the amount they get paid, their own wish to be used as an image for a sponsor,   and their overall "profesional status" makes them fair game.

Quoted from BB

These days athletes are paid more than enough for being so much in the public eye, I reckon the amount they get paid, their own wish to be used as an image for a sponsor,   and their overall "profesional status" makes them fair game.

YES! . . they use those same cameras to get the publicity and big money they command. . when they are in a PUBLIC place throwing drinks, glasses, fists etc at the locals . . they should be flushed out . . . and when police involvement occurs. . they should be dealt with.

At the Henley Hotel one night. . their fight spilled into the street. . traffic was diverted and we were threatened and had to run for safety . .all we wanted was to have a quiet night out. . and THEY ruined it.
The Papers and TV reported it the next day . .and did not report the gravity of the situation we all saw . . . then 2 appear on the TV and act as if butter would not melt . . . they are fair game then . .

It always amuses me that people are surprised by the "fallen idol" syndrome.

Let's face it, a percentage of the population is always going to be drunken yobbos and thugs and giving them enourmous salaries and the star treatment isn't going to change their basic personalities.

The way footballers and other atheletes are idolised and their every utterance and appearance salivated over (by the general public) gives them the power to command such huge salaries & sponsorship deals which in turn, sometimes, leads them to be rich thugs & yobbos instead of the plain old garden variety thugs and yobbos they would have been without the ridiculous income.  

In the same way we get the politicians we deserve I think we get the idols we deserve too...we (the general public) are the ones who've made it possible for these idiots to be treated like untouchable gods for whom the normal rules of society don't apply (they don't have to wait for a table at a popular restaurant or wait on a queue to get into a venue or pay for a ticket to anything etc etc etc)...we can't really complain if they behave like untouchable gods for whom the normal rules of society don't apply.

Quoted from BSquared

. . . . we can't really complain if they behave like untouchable gods for whom the normal rules of society don't apply.

All you said is very true   . . . but it is such fun to 'have a go'   . . *just felt sorry for the parking inspector that got hit by the flying drink*. .

Quoted from Gizmo

just felt sorry for the parking inspector that got hit by the flying drink*. .

Well I might have felt sorry if it was anyone other than a partking inspector  

Two more games and $4000 for Sailor
By Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent
Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Waratahs winger Wendell Sailor will miss another two Super 14 matches and has been fined $4000 following a marathon ARU code-of-conduct hearing in Sydney last night.

The four-hour hearing, involving NSW and Australian Rugby Union officials, came after Sailor was sent home by the Waratahs for his involvement in an alcohol-fuelled altercation outside a Cape Town nightclub before the Waratahs' recent match against the Stormers. Sailor later admitted he had been intoxicated, had pushed over another nightclub patron and had vomited outside the club.

While Sailor will not appeal the decision - which was handed down as a three-match suspension but which includes the one match he has already missed because of an earlier NSW Rugby Union decision - he was visibly upset soon after being told by the hearing that he would be sidelined for another fortnight.

Sailor, who missed NSW's match last weekend against the Bulls, will miss the fourth-round clash with the Sharks in Sydney on Saturday, and the following week's encounter against the Cats at Aussie Stadium. The suspension comes at a time when NSW have been hit hard by injury. NSW are expected to be without at least five Wallabies representatives this weekend.

When asked if he was disappointed by the decision, Sailor replied: "That would be an understatement. At this point and time the NSW team need me, and this has certainly compounded the problem at the Waratahs. I have got to wear this decision though, because I did put myself in a situation and I cannot put the ARU into disrepute.

Source:

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.....8/1141095741278.html

AND

AFL player Cousins to be charged

February 26, 2006 - 2:24PM

Police are expected to charge former West Coast Eagles skipper and Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins following an incident in which he abandoned his car near a booze bus.

The footballer ran off leaving his girlfriend in the four-wheel drive Mercedes Benz which was found 50 metres from the police breathalyser unit on Canning Highway in the Perth riverside suburb of Applecross two weeks ago.

Police delayed a decision on what charges to lay against the 27-year-old and others involved in the incident pending advice from the state solicitor.

A police spokesman said on Sunday the legal advice was expected on Monday and at least one charge was expected to follow against Cousins who would most likely be charged by summons.

Cousins' girlfriend of seven years Samantha Druce has meantime broken her silence on the incident telling The Sunday Times newspaper in Perth that the episode and subsequent media interest had put intense pressure on the couple's relationship.

Ms Druce, who remained in the car after Cousins and his friend real estate agent Nathan Hewitt left it, would not comment on why Cousins allegedly ran from the vehicle.

She also declined to comment on why passengers in the car allegedly lied to police about who had been driving the car.

"I'm waiting for it all to blow over. It hasn't been the easiest time - I really don't want to say any more than that. I just want it to blow over," Ms Druce told The Sunday Times

Cousins is expected to be charged with obstructing traffic while passengers in the abandoned car could be charged with more serious offences including misleading police, over information supplied to police at the time relating to who the driver of the car had been.

Cousins and Hewitt were observed by police sprinting away from a booze bus.

Police gave chase, catching Hewitt, who was breath tested but Cousins managed to elude them.

Cousins resigned from the Eagles captaincy this week saying he had, through "errors of judgment" put enormous scrutiny and pressure on the club.

"I did not intend for this to happen and hope that my decision today will alleviate some of the pressure the footy club finds itself in," Cousins told a press conference on Monday.

He is due to play in a derby against Fremantle later on Sunday and is expected to receive a fair amount of ribbing from the crowd.

Source:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/AFL-player-Cousins-to-be-charged/2006/02/26/1140888738488.html

West Coast's Sampi charged with assault
Thursday Mar 2 11:28 AEDT


AFL player Ashley Sampi has been charged over an alleged domestic dispute, West Australian police say.

The 22-year-old West Coast Eagles footballer will appear in the Perth Magistrates' Court on Friday to answer an assault charge.

Sampi was charged after being interviewed on Wednesday night by police at Morley, in Perth's suburban north-east.

The charges relate to an alleged incident involving Sampi's girlfriend and another woman on Monday night.
He is also charged with possessing a weapon.

Speaking on Wednesday before charges were laid, Eagles bosses said they would support Sampi.

"It is unfortunate for Ashley's situation, and we are really hurting for Ashley like everyone else will be. Our club will offer as much support as we can to help Ashley through this very difficult time for him," said West Coast chairman Dalton Gooding.

The charging of Sampi comes after former Eagles captain Ben Cousins was summonsed to appear in court on March 21, charged with obstructing the path of another driver and obstructing public officers.

WA Police will allege Cousins and another man abandoned a luxury 4WD Mercedes Benz on Canning Highway in Mount Pleasant, and then ran away from a roadside booze bus on February 12.

They are all getting paid too much and it goes to their head.

i think the australian public expect too much from sports people. the public put too much pressure on these people, putting them on pedistles and the media hound them. as for going out and celebrating non sporting people do that too. look at david hookes, he was celebrating with the victorian cricket team, okay he got a bit rowdy. but he didn't ask to be bashed and eventually killed. and the bouncer got off! NZ cricket board were shocked to learn that australian cricketers got paid 3 times more than their players. besides it is a male thing they have to prove who is the dominant male. i think people and the media should lay of these people a bit and yes pay them less!