What is it about footballers, NRL players in particular, that make them think that they are above society? The latest instalment in player misbehaviour is the immature actions of Todd Carney.

While the story has been well publicised that he allegedly urinated on a patron at a Canberra bar and his team mate got involved in a fight on the same night, there appears to be more to the story. He has previously been caught by the police and found guilty of some quite serious vehicle misdemeanours.

So far, he’s only been suspended by his club for the rest of the season. There must come a time when recidivist offenders like him are totally banned from the game and not merely slapped on the wrist with a piece of wet lettuce by being suspended, paying a fine or being traded to another club (the latter is the equivalent of the Church moving a known paedophile priest to another parish – it just moves the problem somewhere else without attacking it at source).

The only way Carney will ever get the message is to suffer a much harsher penalty. What better way to give it to him than via the very organisation (the Canberra Raiders) which has been continually covering up for his actions.

Overall, the game, as well as societal standards, will be better for his banishment.

That clown that got the boot from the Olympic swim team (Darcy?) is a classic example of this stuff. No excuses, but they're told all their lives they are better than the rest of society. It takes special individual, or special parents to keep their head out of the clouds, but they generally have this fantasy world embedded in their consciousness and when they become old enough to mix it up with the rest of society they clash with the rest of us. Competition makes them clash with eachother when their 'back teeth are floating'.

Not putting them on such a pedestal is the only way to beat it long term, but as long as so much money is involved it'll keep happening.

I don't think players should be held accountable in the game for their their actions outside the game. They are entirely seperate and discrete spaces. He should be punished equally under law however and not be given special treatement if he has been.

Dear Rob,

We as a society have to accept some
of the responsibility for the misbehaviour
of our idols.

We place them on pedestals, give them celebrity
status, and let them believe that they're
not accountable for their behaviour
as long as they keep on producing the results
we want.

Then when they disappoint us - we want to punish
them.

Perhaps we should set our parameters and guidelines
of behaviour - a bit earlier and higher.
These "heroes" should learn what is or is not acceptable.
It should be part and parcel of their education
and training. The Clubs need to be involved in the
"education" or "re-education" of its players.

But, its not only football that produces "celebrities"
behaving badly.

Look at Russell Crow, Naomi Campbell, Gordon Ramsey,
Elton John, and John McEnroe, just to name a few.

They get away with it because we as a society
let them.

The Clubs love winners.

The media love the stories.

Results count.

Dear Foxy,

I think there is an element of truth when you say that we, as a society, have to take some responsibility in that, overall, we don't make enough of a stand when players do wrong and players aren't given the sort of role models they could be.

However, everyone knows when they have done the wrong thing, Carney included, and everyone has a free will. Many innocent people have been hurt one way or another by the bad actions of others. I don't think it's right to turn the other cheek forever. At some point the perpetrators have to face the consequences.

The problem is so bad that the only way to fix it now is to be harsh. While it's not a very nice analogy, when the cat does its business on the carpet, we tend to literally rub its nose in it so it understands not to do it again. It's the only thing that works. There must be some pain associated with the original action or else it will keep on happening. The same goes for some people ... unfortunately.

Dear Rob,

I understand the point you're making.
And perhaps harsher punishments are the
answer in the long term.

However, I still feel that education and
training of the players within the Clubs -
about unacceptable behaviour
could possibly help instill into the
players - what won't be tolerated.

The NRL is my game, one I miss come summer and wait for in near pain.
But this bloke is a symptom not the problem.
One of many who have let the game and its fans down but bigger problems exist.
Refereeing standards have never been as low.
Super league may not be the name of our game but it is controlled by TV and Medea owners not its true owners the fans.
Control that stops those who question poor performance by refs , sometimes so very wrong results Mondays questions include , did some one get paid to get it that wrong?
The NRL needs the freedom to question why it can not reduce entry fees to bring crowds back and who owns the game.

Foxy,

I take your (implied) point that whatever punishment is necessary be part of a process and not administered in one stroke.

This will allow other elements to come into play in solving problems in the game as well as giving individual misfits the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves (if that is possible). If it's not, then they can be taken care of later. The only time the guillotine should be used is when one person or group threatens to derail the whole process.

I'm a big fan of the game and I feel that players have a duty to conduct themselves properly when they are away from the game. They are ambassadors for the game whether training, taking part in a game, at home, at work or at leisure. The same applies to any sport, or indeed any high profile profession.

Well, to be honest I can't stand Rugby League. Rob asks, "what is it about NRL players in particular?" Well, the answer is they're pretty dumb. League is a dumbed down version of Rugby which is a dumbed down parallel sport to "football" (which is the "real" name for soccer).

To see a bunch of huge, ape like, over muscled boofheads bash and barge at each other is disgusting.......in fact I nearly just regurgitated my cappuccino at the very thought of it.

Now "football"........there's a game of "real" skill and intelligence. And it's not played by "apes".

I agree philips, you can't beat a free-flowing and skilful game of AFL as a spectator sport. But I'd have to concede that dumbness isn't monopolised by the NRL players. Ever heard of Sam Newman, Crackers Keenan, Robbie "Mad Dog" Muir, Ronnie Andrews ...?

philips,

Yeah, great. Because someone is muscular, and plays a body contact sport, they're dumb. Get real!

philips,

Oops, I mistook one sort of football (soccer) for the other sort (AFL). That'll teach me for skimming.

Soccer is certainly a skilful game, but while they don't exactly have thugs, they do have enforcers. I'd hate to be hacked down by Kevin Muscat.