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The Forum > General Discussion > Youth, money and too much free time can mean trouble

Youth, money and too much free time can mean trouble

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With yet another fall from grace of a modern day league legend, Ben Barber, one has to question the logic behind the way these young guys are paid so much money, given so much free time, at such a young age.

Given that some of these young guys are on million dollar deals, surely there must be a way of quarantining a large portion of their incomes, so they simply don't have the disposable income, which is the main cause of their downfall.

Its the old 'no cash, no splash' scenario.

A simple minder system, whereby they can only access their surplus funds for what is considered a 'worthwhile cause' , like an investment, would be a better way, because after all, something else many of these kids lack is education and mentoring.

As there playing careers are generally less than ten years, it would make sense to have this nest egg there for them when they do retire from the game.
Posted by rehctub, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 6:02:17 AM
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For you and me this bis an interesting thread.
We both begin at this time of the year, to talk almost exclusively, about our game.
You will note sports threads do not run well here.
And that most would not even begin to know this fantastic, brilliant sportsman.
I doubt your view of him is the full story.
I wish I did not know the possible/probable reasons.
Much more likely this and childhood and things that took place then are the blame.
I wish I did not know, even with the impending door slamming rage of the do good-ers, they are in part to blame.
Rechtub my local [two exist] *MISSIONS* are far from the NT yet child sexual assaults are endemic.
Almost every child in first few years of School come to School to be fed, to be treated for head lice so bad great tuffs of hair no longer exist.
Rechtub, these kids go to school to escape3 sexual asults by uncles and family members.
If we want change we must stop giving our selves a pat on the back, for failing.
Stop entrenching these things by setting DIFFERENT ways we handle this if the victims are white, because we want to act in a PC way
And Rechtub, true love is caring love, not ignoring the truth.
Look to the NT laws bought bin by Howard, kept by Labor, fought by fools.
Fools who have no answers .
A UN inquiry may well say Australia keeps its first nation down and separate on purpose.
You speak of one broken life in fact there are very many more, we are guilty, we lack the guts to fix it.
Posted by Belly, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 7:59:18 AM
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I never heard of the fellow you mentioned. Apparently he was a well-paid athlete who did something bad.

However, I have heard of Christopher Skase and Alan Bond, two no good scoundrels who made a lot of money and defrauded people.

Those were older guys with enough free time to work out ways to defraud people. The fact is if you allow anyone to get a lot of money some are going to behave badly. The athlete got his money because he apparently was quite skilled in sport. However, the skill Skase and Bond showed in getting their money was in dirty dealing.

I am more concerned with the like of Skase and Bond than with the athlete. The athlete may have ruined his own life and that of his family. Skase and Bond ruined many other lives. George Bush who lied my country into war ruined many lives. The athlete is small potatoes.
Posted by david f, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 8:13:19 AM
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To me YOUTH, NO MONEY + TIME = A BIGGER PROBLEM.

Quote "Its the old 'no cash, no splash' scenario." Could also be I have no cash I will steal it and don't care who I hurt getting it.

Just like the druggies they do not care where there next fix comes from or who gets hurt.
Posted by Philip S, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 9:26:14 AM
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Sorry, but in truth I can give no value to those two posts.
Nothing to do with the subject.
For the very same reason I warned Rechtub sports threads do not do well here.
NRL, no small sport but nearly unknown in other than its heartland states.
This bloke, if his skills transported to aerial ping pong, would be known by all.
He is one of the very best in the world.
A young Aboriginal, he smashed every opposition.
I see no link to davidf crooks, and less to the other post.
I too know his club says his problems started in childhood, so very many do in this community.
I think we all know of great sports men and women from this community that suffered this way
Posted by Belly, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 5:01:44 PM
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I don't know if in this "free" society you could do it Butch.

Let’s say you suggest it for young Barber, I can hear the howls of "why didn't you suggest it when the last white kid played up" coming from interested parties. I understand and agree with all your suggestions, but he is old enough to vote, unlike my eldest brother who was conscripted to Vietnam but was still too young to vote. Things have changed, the young have become older.

Consider the player structure in the clubs today compared to thirty or forty years ago. Back then the individual players dealt one on one with the club officials with the help of their lawyer. Today if you have 17 guys on the payroll and 17 managers that actually call the shots for their player client.

What I am saying is that the dynamic of the relationship and the reach of the club to direct players apart from what is in their contract; being so many games per season and how many training sessions is now gone.

They tell us that they mentor their younger stars, but with the track record of the past 6 or 7 years, it hasn’t worked as evident by the number of recidivists, if they are wild they are wild Butch.

The clubs probably have an existing player welfare officer, if they do, they have to try harder. If they don’t they should invest in one. I compare these kids to middle aged lotto winners, many of them have blown it all…..and they aren’t kids.

All we can do is sit back and watch. Ben is a great kid, he will come back to earth.
Posted by sonofgloin, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 6:05:30 PM
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sonofgloin, this has nothing to do with race.

I don't know your forty background, but I have played and followed the game since the 60's.

Once the game became bigger than Ben hur, about ten years ago, insane amounts of money was being paid to these young players, the best of the best.

There have been many non indiginous playeres effected, Julian Oneal being one such case,

Back in the 80's, most players had day jobs, however, once the code became a professional sport, the day jobs disappeared and free time, combined with insane amounts of money became too much for some to manage.

All I am suggesting is that rather than pay these young guys up to millions for a few year contract, pay them a decent wage and put the balance in trust fir when the retire.

And Belly, I know this is not the site for sports, but at least you and I, anlomg with anyone else who shares our passion can share and care about the gloved game.

Go the Broncos!
Posted by rehctub, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 7:31:34 PM
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Yeah, it's such a shame we can't just chain 'em up and let 'em out to play on Saturdays.
Posted by Bugsy, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 7:48:34 PM
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Yes, nothing to do with race.

All too often, not always of course, the best sports people don't think too deeply about much else but their sport. It is probably part of what makes them the best.

The lucky ones have a coach like Wayne Bennett, who keeps them out of too much trouble, if not actually on the straight & narrow. However the adoration, & sex showered on the top football players would turn the head of some of the very brightest of us, if subjected to it. Even Bennett could not help some of his charges.

I think a mandatory deferred pay system could help many, while playing, & most definitely when age has finished that part of their life, but such a thing is probably illegal.
Posted by Hasbeen, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 8:04:25 PM
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like some of our young tennis players good athletes are treated like gods as they are growing up. Parents allow many to act like brats as long as they perform. Unfortunately for them they are unable to show any responsibility in the real world. Recently our best tennis player showed that along with many afl players. The NRL. AFL, Tennis Australia is mainly interested in gate receipts and TV royalties so allow many brat like McEnroes to behave like pigs and get away with it. All codes are the same in this regard. Hopefully this young man will realise he isn't god and become a citizen that adds to this world instead of just taking.
Posted by runner, Wednesday, 27 February 2013 11:15:50 PM
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http://www.skynews.com.au/sport/article.aspx?id=849986
Here is insight in to this Champion QLD player currently playing in Sydney under a life changing contract.
I think, after reading his story, comparing it to the now ex player from Alice Springs in the other game, we can look further than money for answers.
Posted by Belly, Thursday, 28 February 2013 6:40:11 AM
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Rechtub, we are pushing it uphill here bloke.
Any one who has difficulty getting out side the door snears in contempt at sport and sports men.
Just about every country town has a teacher and at least one cop playing with the locals.
Often out on surf patrol if not at work.
Last weekend, it takes place every year, Army and other services, played in a dead service mans hometown, to honor him.
No doubt we lovers of sport are dead heads, should confine our selfs to the charity work and hospital visits.
OR we could be home locked away, still those against sportsmen and women do scream we won at the Olympic games.
Look deeper Rechtub,read the link before it is killed it says a lot.
Posted by Belly, Thursday, 28 February 2013 6:49:24 AM
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Yes Belly, good article.

You see there is a huge difference between rugby league and rugby, or more so the players and their ways.

I contribute this to their upbringing, as most rugby players are from well to do parents and come through their junior years at mostly private schools. They are also well educated, with many being lawyers and the like.

Whereas many league players are school drop outs, and I don't mean that in an insulting way, it's simply a fact.

This is changing as there is now this switching of codes going on, almost on a weekly basis it seams, so I am afraid that the rugby code will lower its image, not visa versa.

But, at the end of the day, the main cause to any highly paid professional sports persons demise, is money. Too much of it, and too much spare time, because unlike a high paid job, once the daily training is over, they can switch off until the next session.

Address these issues and you will go a long way towards fixing the problem.
Posted by rehctub, Friday, 1 March 2013 9:36:30 AM
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