I think the best defence for racist remarks is 2fold.. one is legal the other.. hmm :)
A quick and direct confrontation "Do you want to repeat that now" ?

But that way (depending on how it goes) can end up with you being munched up by the law.

Or.. same confrontation but a very articulate expose of their limited humanity with well chosen words.

The other way is cool calm confidence and success....

People who abuse others like referred to on the footy field are seriously socially challenged, and if they take that attitude with them into life, we can be assured they will one day encounter someone with a worse attitude and an angry violent disposition.. which will sort them out most likely.

But its also up to all of us, to exercise social discipline on others who speak this way to members of other races. We should give them a very clear verbal 'serve' about the unnacceptability of what they did.

When I was a boy I wanted to be a cowboy when I grew up; my best friend wanted to be an Indian. I told him he was stupid because they are the baddies and called him an itchy-bum. We had a big slap up and the teacher went crook at us.

When Dad found out, he got Mum to get the strap down.

Now I am all growd up I fink i shoulda jus' called him a f#*k wit. That woulda put 'em on da right twak.

I wonder if my having a go at him stopped him from becoming an Indian. I quess i am the baddie now. Funny how things always come back to bite you on the bum.

Great article Stephen, I think that professional footballers should not be political commentators just as much as I don't think I should play for the Broncos.
Having played all codes of football it is clear that the crowd don't care about our colour just whether the stereotypes help them win.

I once played for an Aboriginal team who were named after a famous orphanage in Perth. During one game we coped abuse from a small group on the hill. We did our best to ignore it but the racial and vile nature of the abuse caused the whole team to converge on the hill at the end of the game.

It was a narrow victory to their team so they had won in their eyes. Their team was across the field celebrating and upon seeing us ready to fight some of the spectators, they sent their captain over to fix the problem. He ran through us, jumped the fence and knocked the lead agitator out with a single blow. in shock we returned to the sheds and had a beer with him and his team.

He proudly told us that his nickname was "Whitey" and that his mother was a member of the orphanage (and stolen generation) we represented and he would never let anyone in the team or club speak ill of our team. I am still shocked by that amazing turn of events.

Racism can never 'stay on the field' because the racist attitudes of Australians will never stay off it!

Yes, you may call them racists. but most of the time things are said in the heat of the moment - i know i've said some things that i later regreted, haven't we all?? when people say these things most of the time the comments are meant as a joke or to put someone off - like in an important kick or something - the people that mean these comments are just stupid. as for the E.S Nigger Stand in Toowoomba - who cares wht the stand is called. I live in Toowoomba and less than 1/2 the population care and only 1/2 would've ever used the stand. its not a racist name only a nickname!