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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24040469-5016307,00.html
Inside the league fishbowl
By Nick Walshaw | July 19, 2008 12:00am
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BILLY Johnstone was in the old Belmore gym one morning when, amongst the din of crashing barbells and doofing stereo, he heard a small group of Doggies whingeing. You know how it goes. It was too cold, they said. Too early. And was any of this extra s . . . really gunna help them win a premiership ring?
After letting it go about five minutes, the Cunnamulla Fella finally exploded.
"Hey," Johnstone bellowed, pointing towards an open doorway. "If any of you blokes aren't happy with what you have to do, there's the exit.
"Because no one is making you stay. I'm certainly not making you stay. And I know the club ain't making you stay, either.
"So if you really don't like this, if you're not happy doing what it takes to play this game, that's fine. Leave."
Leave. It's a message that today needs to be shouted to every NRL superstar who continues to weep about the burden professional sport has suddenly become to them.
Like when The Daily Telegraph this week revealed how Mark Gasnier's defection to French rugby is, in part, because life in the fishbowl has simply become too much.
Yep, forget the $1 million per year with Stade Francais. Gaz is apparently sick of the press conferences, camera phones and you, the prying public. Tired of the bullets, bans and backpage headlines, too.
It was the same for Craig Gower in 2007. In fact, the "fishbowl" term has now become so prevalent in footyspeak, it threatens to overtake that classic defensive phrase - c'mon everyone sing along - "it's not his go".
But, please, enough is enough. Spare us the tears. The "well, it'd be OK if Johnnie down the road did it" routine.
Because, yes, it would be OK if Johnnie down the road did it. You know, that kid surviving on eight bucks an hour. Still living with mum, commuting via CityRail (has there been a greater punishment since public stonings?), a bloke who'll never pay off a place of his own.
But when Johnnie lays bricks, mate, he doesn't whinge about the blisters. Doesn't work at Maccas and protest about the hats.
And come that day he finally joins the army, you can bet Johnnie won't be calling home to complain about all the bearded blokes who keep shouting "Jihad" while firing bullets at him.
Footballers now earn more than our Prime Minister. But you don't see Kevin 07 hanging from a beer bong, fighting outside pubs or resting his elbows on the stage of some seedy strip club (even if he wasn't really looking on his last visit anyway).
Not that anyone begrudges a bloke making mistakes on the grog. Because we've all made the same ones our old man did. The same ones our kids will, too.
Like Gasnier sending his "Fire up" text during that infamous Origin bonding night. Because Sydney overflows with groupies who, had they received that same call from a buffed Blues Adonis, would've suitably "fired" themselves until resembling a Towering Inferno rerun.
So Gaz was unlucky. Same for those caught urinating in alleyways, throwing 'em in self-defence or liaising with Candice Falzon in a Coogee Hotel toilet . . . hardly hangable offences.
But here's the catch. Johnnie down the road, he doesn't get the groupies. Doesn't get the Bolle sponsorships, The Footy Show spots or the years of living that great Aussie Dream.
He doesn't get a shot at Candice or the cash.
And surviving the fishbowl without incident is still possible, too. For Exhibit A, we present the cleanest Aussie since Big Kev or Mary McKillop - Manly warhorse Steven Menzies.
Menzies has survived almost 16 years in the NRL without incident. Same deal for Warriors skipper Steve Price, Bulldogs superboot Hazem El Masri and Panthers veteran Luke Priddis.
Roosters prop Mark O'Meley hasn't been in the Cross for three years. Braith Anasta overcoming four Overrated tags.
A host of others also surviving the suffocation, stresses and spotlight Pricey now concedes is "part of the deal".
"And I don't mind players smoking, drinking, gambling, whatever," the Maroons Origin hero says simply. "Because everyone needs their outlet.
"But if a company CEO can't get away with being drunk, mate, why should footballers who earn the same wage? These demands, yeah, they now come with the contract."
And if it's all too much . . . well, Billy will point you to the nearest exit.
Rebecca Wilson is on leave
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Inside the league fishbowl
By Nick Walshaw | July 19, 2008 12:00am
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BILLY Johnstone was in the old Belmore gym one morning when, amongst the din of crashing barbells and doofing stereo, he heard a small group of Doggies whingeing. You know how it goes. It was too cold, they said. Too early. And was any of this extra s . . . really gunna help them win a premiership ring?
After letting it go about five minutes, the Cunnamulla Fella finally exploded.
"Hey," Johnstone bellowed, pointing towards an open doorway. "If any of you blokes aren't happy with what you have to do, there's the exit.
"Because no one is making you stay. I'm certainly not making you stay. And I know the club ain't making you stay, either.
"So if you really don't like this, if you're not happy doing what it takes to play this game, that's fine. Leave."
Leave. It's a message that today needs to be shouted to every NRL superstar who continues to weep about the burden professional sport has suddenly become to them.
Like when The Daily Telegraph this week revealed how Mark Gasnier's defection to French rugby is, in part, because life in the fishbowl has simply become too much.
Yep, forget the $1 million per year with Stade Francais. Gaz is apparently sick of the press conferences, camera phones and you, the prying public. Tired of the bullets, bans and backpage headlines, too.
It was the same for Craig Gower in 2007. In fact, the "fishbowl" term has now become so prevalent in footyspeak, it threatens to overtake that classic defensive phrase - c'mon everyone sing along - "it's not his go".
But, please, enough is enough. Spare us the tears. The "well, it'd be OK if Johnnie down the road did it" routine.
Because, yes, it would be OK if Johnnie down the road did it. You know, that kid surviving on eight bucks an hour. Still living with mum, commuting via CityRail (has there been a greater punishment since public stonings?), a bloke who'll never pay off a place of his own.
But when Johnnie lays bricks, mate, he doesn't whinge about the blisters. Doesn't work at Maccas and protest about the hats.
And come that day he finally joins the army, you can bet Johnnie won't be calling home to complain about all the bearded blokes who keep shouting "Jihad" while firing bullets at him.
Footballers now earn more than our Prime Minister. But you don't see Kevin 07 hanging from a beer bong, fighting outside pubs or resting his elbows on the stage of some seedy strip club (even if he wasn't really looking on his last visit anyway).
Not that anyone begrudges a bloke making mistakes on the grog. Because we've all made the same ones our old man did. The same ones our kids will, too.
Like Gasnier sending his "Fire up" text during that infamous Origin bonding night. Because Sydney overflows with groupies who, had they received that same call from a buffed Blues Adonis, would've suitably "fired" themselves until resembling a Towering Inferno rerun.
So Gaz was unlucky. Same for those caught urinating in alleyways, throwing 'em in self-defence or liaising with Candice Falzon in a Coogee Hotel toilet . . . hardly hangable offences.
But here's the catch. Johnnie down the road, he doesn't get the groupies. Doesn't get the Bolle sponsorships, The Footy Show spots or the years of living that great Aussie Dream.
He doesn't get a shot at Candice or the cash.
And surviving the fishbowl without incident is still possible, too. For Exhibit A, we present the cleanest Aussie since Big Kev or Mary McKillop - Manly warhorse Steven Menzies.
Menzies has survived almost 16 years in the NRL without incident. Same deal for Warriors skipper Steve Price, Bulldogs superboot Hazem El Masri and Panthers veteran Luke Priddis.
Roosters prop Mark O'Meley hasn't been in the Cross for three years. Braith Anasta overcoming four Overrated tags.
A host of others also surviving the suffocation, stresses and spotlight Pricey now concedes is "part of the deal".
"And I don't mind players smoking, drinking, gambling, whatever," the Maroons Origin hero says simply. "Because everyone needs their outlet.
"But if a company CEO can't get away with being drunk, mate, why should footballers who earn the same wage? These demands, yeah, they now come with the contract."
And if it's all too much . . . well, Billy will point you to the nearest exit.
Rebecca Wilson is on leave
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