from foxsports.com.au
I have been an idiot: Carney
By Josh Massoud in Kigali, Rwanda
October 10, 2008 THERE are so many things Todd Carney isn't sure about. For example his long-term future. Carney's work visa to play in England next season is yet to be approved.
The delay is causing much angst for the 22-year-old, who is barred from playing in Australia until 2010.
Should the British High Commission not grant him a visa, his future will descend into a black hole.
"I'm still waiting for the police to fax some stuff over," Carney says. "When I went for the interview last week I thought it would be sweet.
"I'm in limbo now. I said to mum if it doesn't get accepted I'm back to square one. What's the next step?"
The question lingers in the humid Central African air.
Carney is on a hotel bed at the Banana Guest House in Kigali, Rwanda, searching through the wreckage of his short life.
It all amounts to a rap sheet longer than the tattoo that covers his right arm. There have been drink-driving charges, nightclub dramas, a police pursuit, brawls, warnings and arrests.
Canberra finally sacked him three months ago. So he travelled to Africa this week to turn his life around.
Alcohol abuse and his mates are the common denominator in all of Carney's stuff-ups. But he is still drinking on this trip.
That he continues to drink after the latest incident just a week ago - arrested for allegedly smashing a window in Goulburn - invites the simple question: Todd Carney, are you an alcoholic?
"No," he replies with rare clarity and confidence.
"People who need to drink every day are alcoholics. That's not me. But I do have a problem with alcohol and when I get drunk."
Then why don't you stop drinking? The uncertainty returns as he scratches his neck and squints. Finally he answers: "I've got nothing, mate. I don't know what to say.
"To be honest, I wouldn't know how to start. It's something I've got to have a big think about, but I know I've said that so many times before. I'm pretty shy most of the time and I suppose you could say I need to drink to socialise. Honestly, if I went out sober I wouldn't have fun.
"I can stop at a few but once I go past that I get too comfortable. When I drink a fair bit, it seems to hit me all at once. I just sort of black out. There's been plenty of mornings I've woken up and not had a clue what happened the night before."
Last Friday night's incident in Goulburn was a telling example of Carney's problems.
A mate smashed the door, but Carney was handcuffed and arrested on suspicion of committing the crime.
One of the boys, he preferred to spend three hours in a holding cell than give up his friend.
Even while he lived in Canberra for five seasons, Carney returned home to Goulburn at every opportunity.
His relationship with Australia's first inland city is complex. Much stems back to his father, Daryl.
When Carney was young, Daryl spent time in jail. Carney won't reveal why but the two were very close during his adolescence and rise to prominence as an NRL star.
"Dad coached me for five years," Carney reveals. "But he was very intense. He would always be into me about football."
When Carney was graded with the Raiders, Daryl would travel to Canberra for every home game. He bombarded his son with advice after every match. There were also daily phone calls - sometimes twice a day - assessing his training.
"Then it just stopped, Dad didn't call me anymore," Carney explains.
"Suddenly, with Dad gone, I had no one to turn to."
Aged in his mid-50s, Daryl developed dementia two years ago.
It was a rapid decline and debilitating for the family, particularly Carney's mother Leann. Daryl now lives in a facility in Goulburn and can never return home.
"It's tough visiting Dad because there are times when he doesn't know who I am," Carney says.
"He has good days and bad days. It's a terrible disease because it sort of broke up our family.
"People with dementia, they make up lies and say different stuff. A lot of that hurt my mother."
His drivers licence taken away long ago, Carney is now stranded at his parents' house without any other outside influence.
"When I had my old number, people would call just about every night," he said.
"It wasn't something I worried too much about. I only complained once - this guy phoned and said he knew where my girlfriend was and what she was doing.
"That freaked me out a bit but I don't want to use it as an excuse. There's no excuse, including what's happened to Dad. I've just been stupid. I've been an idiot and I have got to change."
I have been an idiot: Carney
By Josh Massoud in Kigali, Rwanda
October 10, 2008 THERE are so many things Todd Carney isn't sure about. For example his long-term future. Carney's work visa to play in England next season is yet to be approved.
The delay is causing much angst for the 22-year-old, who is barred from playing in Australia until 2010.
Should the British High Commission not grant him a visa, his future will descend into a black hole.
"I'm still waiting for the police to fax some stuff over," Carney says. "When I went for the interview last week I thought it would be sweet.
"I'm in limbo now. I said to mum if it doesn't get accepted I'm back to square one. What's the next step?"
The question lingers in the humid Central African air.
Carney is on a hotel bed at the Banana Guest House in Kigali, Rwanda, searching through the wreckage of his short life.
It all amounts to a rap sheet longer than the tattoo that covers his right arm. There have been drink-driving charges, nightclub dramas, a police pursuit, brawls, warnings and arrests.
Canberra finally sacked him three months ago. So he travelled to Africa this week to turn his life around.
Alcohol abuse and his mates are the common denominator in all of Carney's stuff-ups. But he is still drinking on this trip.
That he continues to drink after the latest incident just a week ago - arrested for allegedly smashing a window in Goulburn - invites the simple question: Todd Carney, are you an alcoholic?
"No," he replies with rare clarity and confidence.
"People who need to drink every day are alcoholics. That's not me. But I do have a problem with alcohol and when I get drunk."
Then why don't you stop drinking? The uncertainty returns as he scratches his neck and squints. Finally he answers: "I've got nothing, mate. I don't know what to say.
"To be honest, I wouldn't know how to start. It's something I've got to have a big think about, but I know I've said that so many times before. I'm pretty shy most of the time and I suppose you could say I need to drink to socialise. Honestly, if I went out sober I wouldn't have fun.
"I can stop at a few but once I go past that I get too comfortable. When I drink a fair bit, it seems to hit me all at once. I just sort of black out. There's been plenty of mornings I've woken up and not had a clue what happened the night before."
Last Friday night's incident in Goulburn was a telling example of Carney's problems.
A mate smashed the door, but Carney was handcuffed and arrested on suspicion of committing the crime.
One of the boys, he preferred to spend three hours in a holding cell than give up his friend.
Even while he lived in Canberra for five seasons, Carney returned home to Goulburn at every opportunity.
His relationship with Australia's first inland city is complex. Much stems back to his father, Daryl.
When Carney was young, Daryl spent time in jail. Carney won't reveal why but the two were very close during his adolescence and rise to prominence as an NRL star.
"Dad coached me for five years," Carney reveals. "But he was very intense. He would always be into me about football."
When Carney was graded with the Raiders, Daryl would travel to Canberra for every home game. He bombarded his son with advice after every match. There were also daily phone calls - sometimes twice a day - assessing his training.
"Then it just stopped, Dad didn't call me anymore," Carney explains.
"Suddenly, with Dad gone, I had no one to turn to."
Aged in his mid-50s, Daryl developed dementia two years ago.
It was a rapid decline and debilitating for the family, particularly Carney's mother Leann. Daryl now lives in a facility in Goulburn and can never return home.
"It's tough visiting Dad because there are times when he doesn't know who I am," Carney says.
"He has good days and bad days. It's a terrible disease because it sort of broke up our family.
"People with dementia, they make up lies and say different stuff. A lot of that hurt my mother."
His drivers licence taken away long ago, Carney is now stranded at his parents' house without any other outside influence.
"When I had my old number, people would call just about every night," he said.
"It wasn't something I worried too much about. I only complained once - this guy phoned and said he knew where my girlfriend was and what she was doing.
"That freaked me out a bit but I don't want to use it as an excuse. There's no excuse, including what's happened to Dad. I've just been stupid. I've been an idiot and I have got to change."
