Tim Smith Gornnn?

[Dazzat]

Enough to freak out followers. Bad luck for the kid, but the NRL is no place for the players who are not strong enough to handle it..mentally or physically.

It was the great Jack Gibson who changed the face of coaching by recognising that players are human in the first instance, and not mere cattle to push out on a field to show us all how tough and strong they are - week-in-week-out.

He put management plans in place to make sure footballers had life outside of the game, and the game didn't consume them.

Some players can cop the sort of criticism dished out by people such as yourself because they have good support systems - family, friends etc. Or maybe their personality is more suited to the limelight and they have the tools within their personality to disregard the constant abuse for every error they make.

Perhaps Tim had neither.

Alcohol is just the symptom, and I would say, only made an existing problem worse.

Dancing around saying "I told you so", as a young man suffers enough to throw away his life's dream ... ugly ugly look mate.

 

[SoftSydney]

Good luck to the kid, showed massive promise in his debut year. Lets hope he makes it back.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Haven't read through the entire thread but I will say this about Tim

personally, I hope he gets all the help he needs in terms of his personal life.

but as a footballer despite a great rookie year he simply has not cut it, maybe part of the reason has been due to having bipolar (or is the correct term being bipolar) but Andrew Johns also suffered from the condition but didn't seem to have the same problems with his form on the field.

I do find it kind of strange though that Smith when he came into grade said that he idolized Johns and now he also suffers from the same disorder as Joey.

But as I said from a personal view I hope he does get all the help he needs and if that means he never plays another game then so be it as how he lives the next 60-70 years is far more important then if he plays football in the next 10 years.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Yeah , and you rated Tim Smith in 2008.....:lol: :lol:

Why wouldn't I? he lead our side one game of a GF last year and was second in try assists.

LOL at Jeremy Smith and Morris, you are argurably the worst judge of a player i've ever seen:lol:

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Yeah , and you rated Tim Smith in 2008.....:lol: :lol:

Why wouldn't I? he lead our side one game of a GF last year and was second in try assists.

LOL at Jeremy Smith and Morris, you are argurably the worst judge of a player i've ever seen:lol:

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Yeah , and you rated Tim Smith in 2008.....:lol: :lol:

Why wouldn't I? he lead our side one game of a GF last year and was second in try assists.

LOL at Jeremy Smith and Morris, you are argurably the worst judge of a player i've ever seen:lol:

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

It was the great Jack Gibson who changed the face of coaching by recognising that players are human in the first instance, and not mere cattle to push out on a field to show us all how tough and strong they are - week-in-week-out.

He put management plans in place to make sure footballers had life outside of the game, and the game didn't consume them.

Some players can cop the sort of criticism dished out by people such as yourself because they have good support systems - family, friends etc. Or maybe their personality is more suited to the limelight and they have the tools within their personality to disregard the constant abuse for every error they make.

Perhaps Tim had neither.

Alcohol is just the symptom, and I would say, only made an existing problem worse.

Dancing around saying "I told you so", as a young man suffers enough to throw away his life's dream ... ugly ugly look mate.

See, it's this sort of post I don't get.

The bloke hasn't been up to it in 2008, he's been screwing up because he can't hold his drink for yonks, but everyone's into Pete for saying it?

And the problem with him is and always was his inability to put down the beer can. He's a pisshead and until he comes to terms with that and takes steps to control it, his career is as good as over.

That Tim can't hold his drink is not Pete's fault.

You tell me, if you were told by Jack Gibson that you could have a long career as a footballer in the NRL and all you had to do is give up the booze, what would you do?

 

[parra pete]

It is a football forum to discuss football matters. Not the Oprah Winfrey or Dr Phil.
If you can't accept that, continue to read Womans Day or New Idea instead of the sporting sections.
AND I have never delighted in the ILLNESS of anyone..NEVER

 

[Dazzat]

Parra Pete and EA ... you both know nothing about mental health issues. You cannot definitely say that the alcohol caused Tim Smith's condition (you may care to do a bit of research into the condition before make these statements). He could have had a pre-existing condition and alcohol could have worsed it. Or the alcohol may have had NOTHING to do with it.

I AM talking about football in my posts, because I am amazed how quickly today's 'fans' turn against their own players. Comparing the conditions players under these days with those of the past, today the scrutiny is intense. It's one of the reasons I believe Melbourne have gone so well in recent times ... they don't have as many idiot fans dissecting a player's every mistake or the press of Sydney and Brisbane hanging out dirty laundry every day of the week.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Parra Pete and EA ... you both know nothing about mental health issues. You cannot definitely say that the alcohol caused Tim Smith's condition (you may care to do a bit of research into the condition before make these statements). He could have had a pre-existing condition and alcohol could have worsed it. Or the alcohol may have had NOTHING to do with it.

Don't be daft. He neds a kick in the arse, not a diagnosis.

I AM talking about football in my posts, because I am amazed how quickly today's 'fans' turn against their own players. Comparing the conditions players under these days with those of the past, today the scrutiny is intense. It's one of the reasons I believe Melbourne have gone so well in recent times ... they don't have as many idiot fans dissecting a player's every mistake or the press of Sydney and Brisbane hanging out dirty laundry every day of the week.

I was a fan of Smith's but his form this year has been ordinary, wasn't that Pete's point?

My point is that just happens to coincide with an increase in him being caught boozing at all hours and making a dick of himself.

If he puts the can down and makes a conscious decision to straighten himself out, he'll be fine. What he doesn't need is people telling him "It's not your fault"....

 

[Dazzat]

Don't be daft. He neds a kick in the arse, not a diagnosis.

I was a fan of Smith's but his form this year has been ordinary, wasn't that Pete's point?

My point is that just happens to coincide with an increase in him being caught boozing at all hours and making a dick of himself.

If he puts the can down and makes a conscious decision to straighten himself out, he'll be fine. What he doesn't need is people telling him "It's not your fault"....

Thank you for your diagnosis Mr EA ... when are you opening up your practice?

If only you'd been around when Jeff Kennett, Gary McDonald (famous actor), Olivia Newton-John, Winston Churchill, Jim Carrey or Buzz Aldrin (astronaut) struggled with mental health conditions similar to Tim Smith's.

You could have asked them into your office, told them to bend over and kicked up right up the arse ... then shouted "NEXT".

Some people like to live in simple worlds don't they?

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Thank you for your diagnosis Mr EA ... when are you opening up your practice?

If only you'd been around when Jeff Kennett, Gary McDonald (famous actor), Olivia Newton-John, Winston Churchill, Jim Carrey or Buzz Aldrin (astronaut) struggled with mental health conditions similar to Tim Smith's.

You could have asked them into your office, told them to bend over and kicked up right up the arse ... then shouted "NEXT".

Some people like to live in simple worlds don't they?

I shouldn't laugh because this is pretty serious but hell, it's worth one. LOL

How old are you kid, 20, 21?

How long has "bi-polar" existed and how in God's name did we get anything at all done before someone came up with that?

 

[Shorty]

I think both sides are expecting too much of each other.
I think what Tim has and is going through is probably very difficult and heartbreaking but at the same time I don't think fans assessing him as a footballer should be changing their opinions because of his illness.

 

[perverse]

How long has "bi-polar" existed and how in God's name did we get anything at all done before someone came up with that?

it used to be mis-diagnosed (and still is) as a lot of different mental diseases from what i know and my experience with it - from manic depression through to schizophrenia.

 

[Dazzat]

How long has "bi-polar" existed and how in God's name did we get anything at all done before someone came up with that?

At last ... you're asking questions about something you don't understand. That's a good first step. Next step ... do some research and try and learn something new. Try Google, type in bi-polar and start reading ...

Believe it or not there is wisdom beyond the 15 or so centimetres between your ears.

Bi-polar has existed for a long time ... but previously people were just called 'crazy' and thrown into mental assylums. Now, people are diagnosed SO they can be treated.

For example, people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia can now live normal lives through medication. Twenty years ago, living under your type of treatment mentality, we just threw them away in the funny farm and said, "You need a kick in the arse".

You may want to read Andrew John's comments about this is as well.

 

[Dazzat]

I think both sides are expecting too much of each other.
I think what Tim has and is going through is probably very difficult and heartbreaking but at the same time I don't think fans assessing him as a footballer should be changing their opinions because of his illness.

A halfback is the chief 'decision-maker' on the field. A mental illness that sends you on wild mood-swings WILL impact on your decision-making on the field - and your form. Footballers are people - surprise! surprise!

Mental health is similar to physical health.

If someone's playing injured, for example, Anthony Minichello with a half-stuffed back, we say, "Oh that's why he's not playing like he did in 2003' (although some 'fans' don't think this deeply).

If someone's ruptures a knee ligament we say, "Oh yes, he needs surgery and a year of recovery".

We should have the same attitude when someone has a 'brain snap'.

 

[sharko]

If he has been suffering from this problem for 18 months then I believe he should not be registered to play NRL or ESL for another 18 months, so that he can recover sufficiently.
Let him get a real job, 9-5 stuff or work on a building site, no public scrutiny, no couple of hundred grand a year for playing football for a few months of the year, and then see how the other half have to exist for 30 -40 years before they can retire.
I reckon a few months of hard work ordinary work will sort him out.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

it used to be mis-diagnosed (and still is) as a lot of different mental diseases from what i know and my experience with it - from manic depression through to schizophrenia.

I read a bit about it and that seems to be the consensus. To me it's something people bandy about way too much, like ADHD. Most of the things I've read about footballers doing are things that plenty of people, even people I know, do without being diagnosed as being Bi-polar or having ADHD.

Willie for example, who here thinks the strife Willie got into was really ADHD or Willie just being a dickhead with too much time on his hands?

Anyway, I really hope Tim gets to an enviroment where he'll be able to straighten himself out.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

At last ... you're asking questions about something you don't understand.

No, I understand it. You missed the point.

That's a good first step. Next step ... do some research and try and learn something new. Try Google, type in bi-polar and start reading ...

I tend to do that before I comment, not after. And I did that this time.

Believe it or not there is wisdom beyond the 15 or so centimetres between your ears.

I'm sure there is, but I'm also certain there isn't anything you've got to teach that I need to learn, boy.

Bi-polar has existed for a long time ... but previously people were just called 'crazy' and thrown into mental assylums. Now, people are diagnosed SO they can be treated.

Yeah, I read that.

And you know that in this case Tim is Crazy, not just being a dickhead because?

Funny, I never thought he was crazy but you seem to.....

For example, people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia can now live normal lives through medication. Twenty years ago, living under your type of treatment mentality, we just threw them away in the funny farm and said, "You need a kick in the arse".

We also thought the world was flat too.

You're not making much of an argument.

Here, I'll simplify it for you.

In my opinion;

Bi-Polar is overdiagnosed.
Bi-Polar is a cover-all term used to give people a crutch.

Doctor: You have bi-polar.
Patient: Whew, that explains why I go and get on the piss every second night till all hours even though I know it'll get me into trouble.

Doctor: You have ADHD.
Patient: Whew, that explains why I did a runner from that cab and signed Craig Fitzgibbon's autograph instead of mine.

Everyone: Yay, we feel sorry for you now because we know why you've been acting like a dickhead.

You may want to read Andrew John's comments about this is as well.

Pass.

I'm sure you feel very sorry for him too and that would just make me want to throw up.

People having been living with this sh*t for centuries and either do ok or don't. That's not going to change in a hurry.

And of the people who did ok not one of them did ok without the massive assistance and determination of one person;

Themself.

 

[perverse]

I read a bit about it and that seems to be the consensus. To me it's something people bandy about way too much, like ADHD. Most of the things I've read about footballers doing are things that plenty of people, even people I know, do without being diagnosed as being Bi-polar or having ADHD.

Willie for example, who here thinks the strife Willie got into was really ADHD or Willie just being a dickhead with too much time on his hands?

Anyway, I really hope Tim gets to an enviroment where he'll be able to straighten himself out.

mate, i agree with you. despite my genuine exposure to the disease in my life i still feel that it is both the most under-diagnosed and the most over-diagnosed mental disease that exists. the fact is i think that many people who genuinely do have the disease often go untreated, and many people who don't have it are often treated for it - and use it as a convenient scapegoat. i believe this is particularly true because it has only recently been identified as a stand-alone mental illness and is currently the "in" thing in psych medicine circles.

i am - however - just talking out my arse, but that's the way i see it.