There is a growing number of people who see the AFL’s abandonment of ill champion Ben Cousins as a tragic mistake.
Even among media colleagues, people are stepping back and asking some crucial questions after the feeding frenzy of the last 2 years where logic, compassion, and often, the truth were missing.
I am not alone in being concerned about the demonstrably sick AFL community as much as Ben.
Fairfax Digital’s Tim Lane makes some key points in the article posted here – please read it and pass it on. If you are so motivated, contact your MP, media, footy club or friends and ask a few questions yourself.
click here for Tim Lane’s excellent article
So, what hope is there in australia for more ordinary mortals who admit drug use but are not convicted – do we ban them from their job forever and expose them to unwarranted ridicule, do we keep pretending people with mental health issues are dangerous madmen? – please read the article below for more on that.
December 8, 2008
tony serve
5 responses to “Ben Cousins abandoned by the AFL and gutless administrators”
AFL
February 9th, 2009 at 17:06
I saw Tim Lane interviewed on TV too and he made a great point about how completely unfairly and inconsistently Ben Cousins has been treated by the AFL. Well done to Sheeds for encouraging Richmond to get him and to Richmond for giving him a fair go.
Ben Cousins
December 29th, 2008 at 15:54
Your comment about social justice is spot on. West Coast carefully worded the sacking of Cousins to avoid any mention of drugs. By doing so, it also diluted any speculations that Cousins may have been introduced to drugs by team mates, that WCE had not have taken sufficient action or sought help for previous warnings of drug use at the club and that WCE may have had a duty of care to provide a safe work environment for footballers.
If there is a lack of social justice, hopefully there will be plenty of karma.
Congratulations to Richmond for getting Ben Cousins – good luck for the 2009 season.
Ross
December 23rd, 2008 at 14:02
A good article by Tim Lane; he touched on why Ben didn’t get the fair go he really should have. By rights he should have been given the status of a first offender just like a few others in the AFL that haven’t been identified publicly. I think the Eagles dumped him because of the several previous indescretions but the AFL have been found wanting in this.
tony serve
December 16th, 2008 at 12:49
Thanks for your comments Dennis.
I’m at a loss as well, trying to understand why the real issues are not beiong covered in mainstream media.
As mentioned in my latest post, you wonder what these AFL, media and business people do with their family members who are addicted to alchohol,nicotene and other drugs – do they or will they abandon them because of ignorance and embarrassment, ‘cos they damage the family “brand.”
Will they also make sure the loved one can’t resume their careers after overcoming massive challenges in rehab.
Anyway Dennis, I’m delighted to find a kindred spirit and welcome your input from here on in…
Happy Holidays to you and yours mate – keep in tocuh
Patricia Hewett
December 9th, 2008 at 11:10
What a triumph it would be to see Ben playing again, demonstrating to all that drug addiction is not ALWAYS a downward spiral.
That it can, in fact, be beaten with hard work, guts and determination.
Now THAT would be ‘a role-model’ !