Mascord: Rugby league, your image stinks, fix it.

[gUt]

I'd be cautious of lumping Mascord in with the Wilsons and Weidlers. He has written ore interestingly and more passionately about our game than nearly anyone else with his sized platform. If he wants to vent I think he deserves our attention and respect.

 

[Eddie Lab]

I'd be cautious of lumping Mascord in with the Wilsons and Weidlers. He has written ore interestingly and more passionately about our game than nearly anyone else with his sized platform. If he wants to vent I think he deserves our attention and respect.

I don't think he does. as others have said last year he went on a massive rage about RL saying that he wasn't going to cover it and the NRL/clubs didn't respect jurno(very funny IMO). I wouldn't lump him in with Wilson or Buzz but he doesn't deserve respect or attention.

 

[Chook Norris]

I know it's easy for everybody to just accuse the media of beating this up or try to make it a code war with AFL/Super Rugby, but if you think the NRL's image doesn't stink, you've got your head in the sand.

100% agree.

I don't care about how other codes are perceived, but fact is the NRL does have an image problem. We need to stop whinging about other codes, "OH but the AFL is full of rapists!! OH but the AFL that too!!" and start concentrating on fixing our own code's image. The general public think the NRL is played by thugs, total deadsh*ts and wife-beaters. Whether or not this perception is biased by the media is irrelevant. The mere fact that a lot of people believe this is an issue itself. Because of this, the code does have an image problem.

 

[Godz Illa]

Mascord is spot on, as was Paul Kent in his "3 Million Reasons" article. The game has evolved so much 100 years, it may be the defining feature of the sport. It needs to continue to evolve, and that means preventing the ferals from holding it back.

 

[roboshark]

The people that cover the game are just scum

 

[perverse]

It's hard and it's unfair sometimes life. Yes the media beat our scandals up like meringues. Yes the media ignore AFL scandals (on a related note I see BunniesMan defending his beloved AFL again like the ignorant f**king bellend he is despite the RAPE charges laid today) and certainly suppress them in NRL states. But of we as a code don't give them things to beat they'll eventually lead themselves down the path of ridicule trying to beat up nothing.

I mean for f**ks sake HE PISSED IN HIS OWN MOUTH. The fact that we as a community aren't pointing Carney to the exits as one is absolutely mindblowing and kind of sad.

If footy players don't piss in their own mouth, shit in hallways, punch each other at mad Mondays, drink drive, go the gash grab and beat their girlfriends, and equally if the NRL comes down like a tonne of bricks on each and every incident (including automatic life bans when assaults against women are involved) our game will be so much better for it.

The media won't stop their behaviour because they're merkins, so we have to give them nothing to report on.

All of this.

I know it's easy for everybody to just accuse the media of beating this up or try to make it a code war with AFL/Super Rugby, but if you think the NRL's image doesn't stink, you've got your head in the sand.

... and definitely this, too. You're all drinking the kool aid if you think it's just the media's fault and don't look in our own backyard. Our shit stinks, real bad. All codes have incidents off the field, but the sheer consistent volume of ours is impossible to ignore. The NRL is tragically unpopular and unattractive to those that aren't already indoctrinated in my experience, even in the middle of a supposed heartland in Sydney. I cop a decent amount of shit in my workplace for watching league.

 

[Miller was a legend]

Some of the posts that appear on this forum only go to back up some of his comments.

This place has its own fair share of complete morons, who completely ruin any fair and reasonable discussion, simply because that is to difficult for their yobbo brains to comprehend.

 

[Misanthrope]

It stinks cos our media are telling us so. How can AFL, religious organisations, politicians etc not stink when they are just as bad (AFL), to downright criminal. Don't dismiss the media in labelling the NRL as something that 'stinks'. As I said, if it stinks then just about every other thing in society we should go around thinking it 'stinks'.

I don't think RL stinks not in the context of just about everything else. Sad when we start to believe the media

No, that's not it at all.

It stinks because it stinks. Players pissing in their own mouths, getting blowjobs from dogs, beating women, groping women, drink driving, insulting one another's dead parents...

This behavior stinks in any job and (almost) any culture. It's not the media's job to not report on the stuff people in the public eye are doing.

Like it or not, these guys sign up for the scrutiny when they accept contracts to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. They accept it when they sign a contract that pays them to play a game rather than get a real job.

If I posted photos of myself face-raping dogs or pissing in my mouth where my boss could see them - I'd be fired. If I beat, sexually assaulted, or raped a woman - I'd go to jail.

It stinks because it stinks. It's easy to blame the media for reporting it, but ultimately the blame is with the idiots playing the game and carrying on like they're in any way above general social convention because they're good at a game most of the world hasn't heard of.

 

[Usain Bolt]

The story even made a major US website like Deadspin http://deadsp.in/MpC7cHB :lol: probably the only time you'd find a rugby league story on a site like that is with incidents like this

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Watched a bit of Matty Johns Show last night. They had Simon Baker on. Hindy & Fletch interviewed and were absolute dribblers. Here's a bloke who loves the game, actually attends games and watches it on the internet when in the US. He's on a massive global tv show and yet we get dribblers. If it was AFL, they'd have sat him down and promoted the code and him.

Even the ex players - Fittler, Johns on nine are f**ktards.

People can have an opinion but seriously the NRL should have sent a company wide edict of 'no comment' from players, coaches, clubs. In my work, I can't go to the media or I'm stuffed.

Carney pissed in his mouth. FMD...who does that!?!?

 

[Apey]

To be honest I think part of the problem with incidents like this and Nate Myles/Monaghan is just the bizarre circus aspect of it all. Oh someone allegedly raped someone or beat someone up? Who cares, that's not very extraordinary... on the other hand this guy pissed in his mouth/gave a new meaning to doggy-style and here's the photo! Oh and this guy took a f**king shit in a f**king hallway. It might seem unfair but really that's just how it is, we all know which stories are going to garner the most interest.

 

[juro]

I don't understand the hatred Mascord gets. He is at the opposite end of the scale to Rothfield and co. Here is a guy who obviously loves rugby league, and wants it to be all it can be.

His rant last year was because he sees access to players as a key in professionalising the game, of connecting players and their fans.

His rant above is because we have this juxtaposition of a billion dollar game and the meatheads trying to outdo each other with their idiotic, juvenile behaviour.

All the players would want to be paid $1m, but it is the seemingly constant tarnishing of their own image that is holding them and the game back. Grow up, boys!!

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I know it's easy for everybody to just accuse the media of beating this up or try to make it a code war with AFL/Super Rugby, but if you think the NRL's image doesn't stink, you've got your head in the sand.

Don't try talking sense here.

Rugby league is the Todd Carney of sport. Plenty of skill and potential but a bogan and even criminal reputation that's hard to dispute.

And regardless of how insignificant you think the issue is, the damage is done and the public has made up its mind.

 

[Misanthrope]

To be honest I think part of the problem with incidents like this and Nate Myles/Monaghan is just the bizarre circus aspect of it all. Oh someone allegedly raped someone or beat someone up? Who cares, that's not very extraordinary... on the other hand this guy pissed in his mouth/gave a new meaning to doggy-style and here's the photo! Oh and this guy took a f**king shit in a f**king hallway. It might seem unfair but really that's just how it is, we all know which stories are going to garner the most interest.

So, knowing this: the onus should be on the players to not give the media these opportunities. It's not like this shit happens accidentally. They're trying to do this dumb shit.

Watched a bit of Matty Johns Show last night. They had Simon Baker on. Hindy & Fletch interviewed and were absolute dribblers. Here's a bloke who loves the game, actually attends games and watches it on the internet when in the US. He's on a massive global tv show and yet we get dribblers. If it was AFL, they'd have sat him down and promoted the code and him.

Even the ex players - Fittler, Johns on nine are f**ktards.

People can have an opinion but seriously the NRL should have sent a company wide edict of 'no comment' from players, coaches, clubs. In my work, I can't go to the media or I'm stuffed.

Carney pissed in his mouth. FMD...who does that!?!?

Sports media in Australia is all kind of bush league in my opinion. Say what you will about the over-saturation and commercialisation of American sports media - but their analysts treat the game with respect that borders on reverence. We could use a dose of that professionalism here.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Try getting neutrals to go to games with all this crisp behaviour. Then cringe when players back up the brotherhood...even Laurie Daley. RL has the potential to be the best sport but badbehaviour is just accepted and then the player swaps clubs and carries on. If I was on $500k a year I'd be yes sir no sir three bags full sir! How can people explain pissing in your mouth...dog licking...hallway shitting to their kids even if we agree players aren't role models?!?

 

[hutch]

Mascord is easily the most passionate rugby league journo out there. He travels the world to support rugby league games in the uk, France, USA and other developing nations. He writes informed match reports and watches every game in the nrl every single week. He writes for magazines in Australia and the uk, is on radio and has an article in the Sydney morning herald. To lump him with Wilson and buzz is ridiculous. He rarely has a bad word to say about the sport! He does appear to be getting frustrated with certain aspects of rugby league, he has pretty much dedicated his life to it so I don't think his opinion should be ignored.

 

[gUt]

Sports media in Australia is all kind of bush league in my opinion. Say what you will about the over-saturation and commercialisation of American sports media - but their analysts treat the game with respect that borders on reverence. We could use a dose of that professionalism here.

I'm not sure this is the right way to go either TBH, that's how you get the no-questions-asked fawning the Victorian game enjoys.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Now I have fox I see some of the other codes here and overseas. Pre and post match player stuff is a million times better and erudite and entertaining. Most leagues can't string two thoughts together without smirking and acting the buffoon. Talented footy players but not much in between the ears some of them.

 

[hutch]

Try getting neutrals to go to games with all this crisp behaviour. Then cringe when players back up the brotherhood...even Laurie Daley. RL has the potential to be the best sport but badbehaviour is just accepted and then the player swaps clubs and carries on. If I was on $500k a year I'd be yes sir no sir three bags full sir! How can people explain pissing in your mouth...dog licking...hallway shitting to their kids even if we agree players aren't role models?!?

Bad behaviour is not accepted at all. If anything, the nrl cracks down on its players more than any other sport in the country. Afl players have tested positive for drugs, been charged with rape, sex with schoolgirls, assault, drink driving etc and keep their jobs with barely a word in the press. Does it have an image problem?

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I'm not sure this is the right way to go either TBH, that's how you get the no-questions-asked fawning the Victorian game enjoys.

I can agree with this too. But we need to get better and be better.