Brandon Jack Article

[SBD Gonzalez]

Apart from discussion of whether he's right or he's wrong, I'm intrigued to know how this article came into being.

Was it part of a university Sociology assignment, that his manager passed on to the SMH?

If so, why?

Clearly the kid can string a sentence together. But why an article in a renowned metropolitan daily (can we still call it a broadsheet?) about street violence by Brandon Jack, highly-promising but as yet basically unknown Sydney Swans footballer?

I kept expecting some reference to some impressive new Swans community initiative against street violence. Or some general theme about most footballers knowing how to play hard on the field but contain their aggression out in the wider world. Perhaps, as I said in a previous post, linking it to the story of his dad being knocked out cold during a RL game by an uppercut from Ian Roberts, maybe with some feel-good revelation about how Garry and Ian are best of mates off the field.

But nothing of the sort.

Any thoughts?

 

[replicant]

Apart from discussion of whether he's right or he's wrong, I'm intrigued to know how this article came into being.

Was it part of a university Sociology assignment, that his manager passed on to the SMH?

If so, why?

Clearly the kid can string a sentence together. But why an article in a renowned metropolitan daily (can we still call it a broadsheet?) about street violence by Brandon Jack, highly-promising but as yet basically unknown Sydney Swans footballer?

I kept expecting some reference to some impressive new Swans community initiative against street violence. Or some general theme about most footballers knowing how to play hard on the field but contain their aggression out in the wider world. Perhaps, as I said in a previous post, linking it to the story of his dad being knocked out cold during a RL game by an uppercut from Ian Roberts, maybe with some feel-good revelation about how Garry and Ian are best of mates off the field.

But nothing of the sort.

Any thoughts?

A Rugby League players just been charged with assault and got a 2 year sentence.

Maybe it was organised by the AFL/Swans as a good PR exercise. Rugby League big thugs/ AFL anti-violence etc...

 

[mtooler]

The comments above seem a little edgy at present and in no way shed any light on the emerging movement as to why Bird should be dropped from the 22.

 

[CAS79]

I Don’t agree with everything he said, especially about testing/judging morals but I like the fact at 19 he’s prepared to put his thoughts on an issue on paper and put them up for discussion.

How many other 19 year old footballers are prepared to speak up on issues upon the topi like this. Brando’s opinions might change/modify over the years like a lot of us but right now its great he’s prepared to look at the world and consider how to make it a better place.

That’s an impressive trait.

 

[J_Moore]

Apart from discussion of whether he's right or he's wrong, I'm intrigued to know how this article came into being.

Was it part of a university Sociology assignment, that his manager passed on to the SMH?

If so, why?

Clearly the kid can string a sentence together. But why an article in a renowned metropolitan daily (can we still call it a broadsheet?) about street violence by Brandon Jack, highly-promising but as yet basically unknown Sydney Swans footballer?

I kept expecting some reference to some impressive new Swans community initiative against street violence. Or some general theme about most footballers knowing how to play hard on the field but contain their aggression out in the wider world. Perhaps, as I said in a previous post, linking it to the story of his dad being knocked out cold during a RL game by an uppercut from Ian Roberts, maybe with some feel-good revelation about how Garry and Ian are best of mates off the field.

But nothing of the sort.

Any thoughts?

It was posted on his blog the day before. The smh opinion editor seems to have just lifted the thing as-is. It's topical and it's by a footballer, and in this day and age, that's good enough. Nevermind if it a actually makes sense.

 

[BarneyBent]

I Don’t agree with everything he said, especially about testing/judging morals but I like the fact at 19 he’s prepared to put his thoughts on an issue on paper and put them up for discussion.

How many other 19 year old footballers are prepared to speak up on issues upon the topi like this. Brando’s opinions might change/modify over the years like a lot of us but right now its great he’s prepared to look at the world and consider how to make it a better place.

That’s an impressive trait.

Was about to post something along these lines. For all my criticism of the article, it's better than anything I was writing about such issues at that age.

 

[bungee]

Great article by BJ in the SMH.

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/kingh...icatingly-violent-culture-20140106-30dfv.html

A well reasoned article by an obviously clever and deep thinking author. At 20 years old I was a victim of just such a 'Coward Punch'. The perpetrator was part of a group of 8 guys roaming the streets for victims. He would knock them down and the others would then lay the boots in. Luckily I remained standing and got away, albeit with a smashed nose and ripped eye socket. Of the 7 people assaulted that night I was the only one who was willing to press charges. No easy thing to do as I was even threatened by his mates in the court room (mind you they'd all been quivering with fear when the police lined them up for me to identify the one who assaulted me). This nutcase got 3 months jail but later went on to commit two murders. In short, the guy was a psychopath. Brandon rightly points out that alcohol is not the problem but more often the trigger. This guy had no moral compass whatsoever. Extreme violence to others was just part of his life. These people need to be identified early to try to mitigate the harm they'll do later in life.

Well done Brandon. Glad to have you at the Swans.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Bungee that's terrible mate glad you managed to get away, sounds like you were the victim of what some youths call the knockout game which is essentially assault, kids as young as 13-14 are involved.

 

[Sanecow]

Interview on SEN.

http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/video/2014-01-08/swanstv-brandon-jack-on-sen-radio

 

[bungee]

Bungee that's terrible mate glad you managed to get away, sounds like you were the victim of what some youths call the knockout game which is essentially assault, kids as young as 13-14 are involved.

Cheers JG. Now I worry about my young boys growing up and having to face the same problems. Hopefully by then society may have woken up to itself a bit more. Myself, I teach them about bullying and cowards who roam in packs. They both do self defence classes and as they get older I'll have to teach them to recognise dangerous situations and how to avoid them. Fortunately I always managed to get out of a lot more scrapes than I got into.

 

[bungee]

Interview on SEN.

http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/video/2014-01-08/swanstv-brandon-jack-on-sen-radio

Kudos for Brandon for coming across as an easy going bloke despite the serious nature of his message. The guy interviewing seemed a bit over-awed trying to discuss a thought provoking subject in an intelligent manner on a footy show.

Garry Jack raised some fine boys there. I see a future captain in the making.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Was about to post something along these lines. For all my criticism of the article, it's better than anything I was writing about such issues at that age.

Same here. In fact it's better than anything I can write now, and I'm nearly three times his age.

 

[alanlau34]

Cheers JG. Now I worry about my young boys growing up and having to face the same problems. Hopefully by then society may have woken up to itself a bit more. Myself, I teach them about bullying and cowards who roam in packs. They both do self defence classes and as they get older I'll have to teach them to recognise dangerous situations and how to avoid them. Fortunately I always managed to get out of a lot more scrapes than I got into.

This is the key thing. Obviously if you hit the Cross on a Saturday night you don't expect to cop one to the back of the head, but the chances of it happening there increase compared to a nice steak dinner with the missus. If you are out and about, just do the ol' 60's racist thing, and cross to the other side of the street if you see a group of loud drunken lads.

I've trained taekwondo for over 15 years (quick plug, I teach a class in Ultimo Tues and Thurs nights, if anyone is interested PM me ) and havent gotten into scrapes. I like to think its a confidence projection, but a large part of it is not getting into iffy situations simply by not being there in the first place.

 

[Kummerspeck]

I've trained taekwondo for over 15 years (quick plug, I teach a class in Ultimo Tues and Thurs nights, if anyone is interested PM me ) and havent gotten into scrapes. I like to think its a confidence projection, but a large part of it is not getting into iffy situations simply by not being there in the first place.

Oooh, Tae Kwon Do! That's a really fun sport.

Sport.


SPORT.

 

[alanlau34]

Oooh, Tae Kwon Do! That's a really fun sport.

Sport.


SPORT.

Don't worry ITF look down on WTF as much as you do. It's a shame that the Olympic style is what TKD is known for, when the traditional self-defence based one is pretty bad ass, if I don't say so myself. The "sport" one as you say is great for fitness, flexibility and competition, but in a self defence situation, you don't start chucking out head high spinning kicks.

 

[Kummerspeck]

Don't worry ITF look down on WTF as much as you do. It's a shame that the Olympic style is what TKD is known for, when the traditional self-defence based one is pretty bad ass, if I don't say so myself. The "sport" one as you say is great for fitness, flexibility and competition, but in a self defence situation, you don't start chucking out head high spinning kicks.

Yeah I shouldn't really throw stones. My only KO in a tournament was from an axe kick from a TKD character.

 

[alanlau34]

Yeah I shouldn't really throw stones. My only KO in a tournament was from an axe kick from a TKD character.

I can see this convo ending up in the Bar, but what style did/do you do?

Self defence is important, especially against Collingwood ferals in Round 2.... so mods, keep this in here

To make it somehow relevant, someone mentioned the rise of MMA as a factor. I tend to agree, as it glorifies vicious combat (which I love), without the grounding in humility and tradition that martial arts brings.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

The comments above seem a little edgy at present and in no way shed any light on the emerging movement as to why Bird should be dropped from the 22.

????

 

[baja]

lads.

I've trained taekwondo for over 15 years (quick plug, I teach a class in Ultimo Tues and Thurs nights, if anyone is interested PM me ) and havent gotten into scrapes. I like to think its a confidence projection, but a large part of it is not getting into iffy situations simply by not being there in the first place.

I had a good friend who was a taekwondo master and he was surrounded by a group of drunks who challenged him, he tried his best to defuse the situation but they wouldn't have a bar of it and moved in on him so out of desperation he yelled "please, I don't want to fight you I will hurt you as Im a taekwondo master"..

It actually worked for a moment then they beat him to death as he bent down to take his socks and shoes off.

 

[Kummerspeck]

I can see this convo ending up in the Bar, but what style did/do you do?
.

A few. Dabbled until I started Kyokushin up until I was about 22 or so. I took a break from training and I couldn't start up again. I'd grown up doing it so didn't really realise what it was like not having constant soreness or bumps and bruises. It's also something you need to invest a lot of time into in order to really get the benefit, which I don't really have now.

I do like the non combat aspects as well. Even the small things like how an obi was supposed to be tied was something I liked doing. Even enjoyed kata which wasn't that common. It was a good way to break up sparring and brought your mind back to where it was supposed to be.

 

[Tedeski]

I seriously think the issue here (if there is indeed an increase in this sort of incident) is the interface of alcohol with steroids and various chemical concoctions.

Yes! It's steroids!
Which in turn creates a REAL small penis which in turn makes these guys angry.
Angry with normal looking guys that more than probably have bigger penises than they do.
It becomes a mental thing you see.

Don't take steroids folks. It'll give you a small penis.
That goes for the ladies too.

 

[Sanecow]

Yes! It's steroids!
Which in turn creates a REAL small penis which in turn makes these guys angry.
Angry with normal looking guys that more than probably have bigger penises than they do.
It becomes a mental thing you see.

Don't take steroids folks. It'll give you a small penis.
That goes for the ladies too.

I was prescribed steroids to stop me tripping over.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Don't take steroids folks. It'll give you a small penis.

Very. Very. Very sound advice.

 

[bungee]

Don't take steroids folks. It'll give you a small penis

There are so many inappropriate jokes springing to mind ....

 

[bungee]

A few. Dabbled until I started Kyokushin up until I was about 22 or so...

I did Judo (as my boys do) then switched to Kyokushin Karate as a teenager. Both very demanding but great for confidence. One of my boys does Judo and the other both Judo and Karate. They started Judo in Brussels in a really tough mainly Magreb (North African) neighbourhood. Those kids learn to fight on the streets at a young age but Judo gave them the moral compass to understand and control their aggression. The instructor was an ex-Olympian heavyweight well into his fifties and as dangerous as a cornered buffalo. The kids respected him. In Oz they did lessons at Sydney Uni. Another great instructor (also ex-Olympian) who demanded total discipline in an age when kids are not used to it. My kids thought he was great. I'd love to see more Judo or Karate taught at school.

I agree the best advice is to cross the road. If they cross, cross back. If they cross again...run. Before I went backpacking for 18 months in some dangerous countries I re-learned how to sprint flat out, something most people can't manage past their mid-20s.

Back on topic, I think Brandon might really strike a chord. I hope the Swans grab this issue and run with it.