A League of Gentlemen?
May 8th 2009 14:42
Can the NRL get any more depraved? Mattie Johns (and his poor family) has been reminded of his sordid past as a 4Corners story featuring him, a woman in New Zealand, and apparently many of his team mates, who were involved in "consentual group sex", is due to air next week.
Like Johns himself, I feel sorry for the pain his wife and kids are going through. It's a harsh reality that our past mistakes haunt us, and nothing can haunt, it seems, than a sexual history involving more than your spouse. Those who suffer are those who get ripped off by your choices.
What disgusts me about this story is the fact that something that should be exclusive and intimate, becomes abhorrent and ugly. Whether it began consentually, the woman involved was hardly in a position to suggest those people who had since entered the room, some of whom had joined in proceedings on the bed, should leave. I cannot imagine anything more vile than gaining not only an audience, but audience participation, during the act. She has paid for a poor choice, unfortunately, with the emotional trauma she has since faced. Johns' embarrassment, grief and pain cannot compare with hers. Whilst she has felt demeaned, his career has been rolling along nicely. He seems a likable character on screen. But like many an NRL star before him, he has chosen to exploit his status, and exploit some poor girl whose gotten herself in a stupid situation, and fuel his legendary status amongst the more meat-headed of the League community, who think it is healthy, normal, and appropriate, to watch their mates having sex, and to join in as well. Instead of being something precious and good, designed to bond two people together for life, sex is used for the purposes of male bonding. Sick.
Almost two decades ago, there was a failed attempt to start a rebel league, based on big salaries, no loyalties and much fanfare. I hated this "Super League". But now, when Manly's superstar assaults his teenage neighbour on the footpath, and still gets to play, and when time and again these professional drunken gang rapists get off scott free, I say it's time for a new rebel league to be developed.
Imagine Rugby League where the players just played. Not drinking, not smoking, not gambling, not raping, not fighting. Imagine a rebel "League of Gentlemen", for players who believe they should live lives with integrity, but above all, with restraint?
Food for thought.
Like Johns himself, I feel sorry for the pain his wife and kids are going through. It's a harsh reality that our past mistakes haunt us, and nothing can haunt, it seems, than a sexual history involving more than your spouse. Those who suffer are those who get ripped off by your choices.
What disgusts me about this story is the fact that something that should be exclusive and intimate, becomes abhorrent and ugly. Whether it began consentually, the woman involved was hardly in a position to suggest those people who had since entered the room, some of whom had joined in proceedings on the bed, should leave. I cannot imagine anything more vile than gaining not only an audience, but audience participation, during the act. She has paid for a poor choice, unfortunately, with the emotional trauma she has since faced. Johns' embarrassment, grief and pain cannot compare with hers. Whilst she has felt demeaned, his career has been rolling along nicely. He seems a likable character on screen. But like many an NRL star before him, he has chosen to exploit his status, and exploit some poor girl whose gotten herself in a stupid situation, and fuel his legendary status amongst the more meat-headed of the League community, who think it is healthy, normal, and appropriate, to watch their mates having sex, and to join in as well. Instead of being something precious and good, designed to bond two people together for life, sex is used for the purposes of male bonding. Sick.
Almost two decades ago, there was a failed attempt to start a rebel league, based on big salaries, no loyalties and much fanfare. I hated this "Super League". But now, when Manly's superstar assaults his teenage neighbour on the footpath, and still gets to play, and when time and again these professional drunken gang rapists get off scott free, I say it's time for a new rebel league to be developed.
Imagine Rugby League where the players just played. Not drinking, not smoking, not gambling, not raping, not fighting. Imagine a rebel "League of Gentlemen", for players who believe they should live lives with integrity, but above all, with restraint?
Food for thought.
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