Josh Simpson

[pokerspiv]

A bit rich from someone that threatened people and said that they would smash another poster with a brick?

Please leave.

People that repeatedly accused me of being a paedophile. I have made no personal attacks on these guys. It's all coming from them. If you are going to take sides at least acknowledge the provocation, or remain quiet.

 

[Belnakor]

Have you ever considered that you're mentally weak if you can't appreciate that posts like that aren't useful?

It's a Josh thing, and Josh just happens to be aboriginal.

yet they keep making up excuses for him because he is aboriginal.

 

[eddy2918]

People talk like this is an aboriginal problem.. have you considered that Josh is just mentally weak and can't commit to the lifestyle of AFL footballer. That ain't just an aboriginal thing

Enough has been alluded to previously in this thread to disprove the mental weakness theory mate. It seems he has got serious external pressure from back home to give up AFL. The choice he is being asked to make is not an easy one and it is not Josh that is putting the pressure on himself to make it.

I imagine it goes something like this; (with the disclaimer that I know nothing of his situation, only what I can extrapolate from information provided thus far)

Relative/friends/family/senior figure (whoever the negative influence is); 'Josh, we are displeased that you have chosen a lifestyle that is not that of an indigenous man from Yalgoo, please return and start living the way you are 'supposed' to.'

Josh; 'I'd really like to be able to play AFL footy without being made to feel as though I'm betraying my cultural heritage.'

Negative influence; 'Tough luck mate it's one or the other, you can either play AFL or betray your culture, family and friends. Let us know when you've chosen, cheers.'

If given that choice, history shows us that people choose their roots over footy, which is a non essential part of life.

Hope I didn't offend anyone, that's about as much as I can read into what is occurring from what has been said.

 

[GilG]

Is there any international equivalent the afl/Freo might want to consider looking at. For example, how does soccer go about including people from the remote areas of Africa? Or the NBA/NFL? Any major sporting body could provide useful comparisons really.

Eddy, fascinating questions and it really makes one think about the definition and implication of the word "remote." Josh comes from a "remote" community in terms of geography and population, yet many other professional athletes before him who have failed and succeeded in their sports and in the general population have come from "remotely different" environments from mainstream society, such as legendary boxer Mike Tyson, from the densely urban setting of Brownsville, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.

Not sure exactly what other formal programs North American sports leagues have in practice, but with the booming numbers of Major League Baseball players coming from Latin America, who face linguistic and cultural obstacles while playing in, ironically, "remote" communities of the lower level Minor League affiliate clubs, most MLB teams have figured out it's a good idea to structure and sponsor English language and acculturation programs aimed at smoothing their transition and also to have Spanish-speaking assistant coaches on their rosters.

In the NFL, whose own on-field culture is more and more resembling the urban, lower-income African-American experience, that league has instituted programs geared toward helping players break away from dangerous and toxic hangers-on, such as gang members and mooching friends and family members. I've also read some fascinating accounts, in books, of pro American athletes' challenges playing in overseas leagues, out of their comfort zones -- former NBA stars Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury playing in Turkey and China, respectively, and ex-MLB guys Rex Hudler and Warren Cromartie having a go in Japan.

I imagine the men and women who've successfully stepped outside their environment and can artfully navigate two worlds have a reservoir of confidence, mental toughness, strong values and character. In his leave of absence, Josh will be tested on all these fronts. I'm hoping the kid passes with flying colors.

 

[Keys]

yet they keep making up excuses for him because he is aboriginal.

Making excuses or acknowledging that his cultural background is a part of the problems he is trying to address

 

[Dormammu]

nonsense, we have plenty of support here.

What support specifically?

 

[Keys]

The club, the coach and people close to the story have confirmed that this is definitely related to cultural and identity issues.

Please don't try and paint it otherwise.

As if they'd know anything about it

 

[mightymouse75]

Just last week, teammate Michael Walters urged Simpson not to waste the chance to set up his family financially.
"He has got two kids and there is no better way to make money than by playing something you love," Walters said.
"He's the type of kid that does work hard when he wants to, but it's the sort of thing where he has to do it multiple times, rather than just for a week or two.

Walters has been mentoring him.
Has Roger been mentoring him?
Paddy Ryder is yamtji, but why would he listen to paddy if he isn't going to listen to his team mates..
There was a time where being a man meant getting on with the hard work and providing for your family, indiginous included.
If he doesn't want to man up then he doesn't want to man up.

 

[thefreodockers]

Eddy, fascinating questions and it really makes one think about the definition and implication of the word "remote." Josh comes from a "remote" community in terms of geography and population, yet many other professional athletes before him who have failed and succeeded in their sports and in the general population have come from "remotely different" environments from mainstream society, such as legendary boxer Mike Tyson, from the densely urban setting of Brownsville, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.

Not sure exactly what other formal programs North American sports leagues have in practice, but with the booming numbers of Major League Baseball players coming from Latin America, who face linguistic and cultural obstacles while playing in, ironically, "remote" communities of the lower level Minor League affiliate clubs, most MLB teams have figured out it's a good idea to structure and sponsor English language and acculturation programs aimed at smoothing their transition and also to have Spanish-speaking assistant coaches on their rosters.

In the NFL, whose own on-field culture is more and more resembling the urban, lower-income African-American experience, that league has instituted programs geared toward helping players break away from dangerous and toxic hangers-on, such as gang members and mooching friends and family members. I've also read some fascinating accounts, in books, of pro American athletes' challenges playing in overseas leagues, out of their comfort zones -- former NBA stars Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury playing in Turkey and China, respectively, and ex-MLB guys Rex Hudler and Warren Cromartie having a go in Japan.

I imagine the men and women who've successfully stepped outside their environment and can artfully navigate two worlds have a reservoir of confidence, mental toughness, strong values and character. In his leave of absence, Josh will be tested on all these fronts. I'm hoping the kid passes with flying colors.

Always love your posts Gil.

 

[slicedndiced]

Just last week, teammate Michael Walters urged Simpson not to waste the chance to set up his family financially.
"He has got two kids and there is no better way to make money than by playing something you love," Walters said.
"He's the type of kid that does work hard when he wants to, but it's the sort of thing where he has to do it multiple times, rather than just for a week or two.

Walters has been mentoring him.
Has Roger been mentoring him?
Paddy Ryder is yamtji, but why would he listen to paddy if he isn't going to listen to his team mates..
There was a time where being a man meant getting on with the hard work and providing for your family, indiginous included.
If he doesn't want to man up then he doesn't want to man up.

The only problem with that is that you're not an indigenous man, and you're just here to troll your ugly point of view.

 

[Ripper]

The only problem with that is that you're not an indigenous man, and you're just here to troll your ugly point of view.

Cheap shot bushie.

Here is Noel Pearsons take on things from 2001

I encourage everyone to read the whole thing.

The substance abuse epidemics are embedded in our Aboriginal social web and has
become our new dysfunctional culture: to drink is to be Aboriginal. When you look at
a drinking circle you see people who are socialising around grog. Everyone is obliged
to share the money and the grog.
These social and cultural obligations are invoked at every turn by members of the
drinking circle. These invocations are very heavy indeed and they most often draw
upon real obligations and relationships under Aboriginal laws and customs. What -
when people are not drinking but hunting - is a cultural obligation to share food with
countrymen, is turned into a cultural obligation to share grog. In fact your fellow
drinkers will challenge your Aboriginal identity in order to establish your obligation
to contribute money to buy grog.
Outside of this drinking circle are the women and the children and old people and the
non-drinkers. These non-drinkers are placed under tremendous social and cultural
pressure to contribute resources to the drinking circle for buying grog. Ultimately the
addicts resort to intimidation and violence.

I actually listened to excerpts on Speaking out and was very moved. Everything He said
I could relate to what goes on here.

I got up the next morning and downloaded the transcript and waited patiently for the full audio to be put up.


Still waiting.

An audio file of the excerpts from Noel Pearson's address broadcast on Speaking Out will be put up shortly.

 

[slicedndiced]

Cheap shot bushie.

Cheap shot maybe rip.

However, he has form on blackfellas and his point of view.

Assimilate or die kinda thing.

I'm a huge fan of Noel Pearson's ideas on weaning off welfare.

 

[Ripper]

Cheap shot maybe rip.

However, he has form on blackfellas and his point of view.

Assimilate or die kinda thing.

I'm a huge fan of Noel Pearson's ideas on weaning off welfare.

That is unfortunately most of the problem. I could tell stories all night if I had the energy about how it (and the partners) genuinely holds people back who want to get ahead, but it has worn me out.

 

[Mockcockpit]

There was a time where being a man meant getting on with the hard work and providing for your family, indiginous included.
If he doesn't want to man up then he doesn't want to man up.

Christ almighty, what does anyone know of being a man when you're 20?

 

[slicedndiced]

That is unfortunately most of the problem. I could tell stories all night if I had the energy about how it (and the partners) genuinely holds people back who want to get ahead, but it has worn me out.

It is a massive "industry" that feeds gold to everyone except those who really need it.

But you know that already.

 

[Belnakor]

There was a time where being a man meant getting on with the hard work and providing for your family, indiginous included.
If he doesn't want to man up then he doesn't want to man up.

Alot of people have it alot worse than a guy who has been offered 100k+ a year to play a game. Hardly a hard luck story.

 

[slicedndiced]

Alot of people have it alot worse than a guy who has been offered 100k+ a year to play a game. Hardly a hard luck story.

btw, how are things from the comfort of your suburban whitebread home?

Nice and cosy?

Or a little like like Yalgoo?

I'll take A.

 

[Ripper]

Cheap shot maybe rip.

However, he has form on blackfellas and his point of view.

Assimilate or die kinda thing.

I'm a huge fan of Noel Pearson's ideas on weaning off welfare.

It is easy to generalise. It is the visible minority who most ignorant people notice , I was one of them once.

A pertinent stat. 70% of blackfella's never come into contact with the justice system. That means they are held back by the 30% . I am a big advocate of shame photos so that everyone knows who the baddies are. At the moment no one knows that so everyone is treated suspiciously which is terribly unfair on the good kids.

 

[slicedndiced]

It is easy to generalise. It is the visible minority who most ignorant people notice , I was one of them once.

Nah, in this particular case...he HAS form.

Agree with the rest/

 

[Dormammu]

Alot of people have it alot worse than a guy who has been offered 100k+ a year to play a game. Hardly a hard luck story.

And I know blokes earning >$100k who have topped themselves.

Your point?

 

[Ripper]

Nah, in this particular case...he HAS form.

Agree with the rest/

You will win more people over with logic than abuse.

 

[slicedndiced]

You will win more people over with logic than abuse.

Rip. It aint raining and you aint pissin.

I've been around here long enough to know who is who.

This guy won't be won over for anything.

 

[scon]

Thanks for posting the Noel Pearson speech Ripper I'll be sure to read the lot

 

[mightymouse75]

Christ almighty, what does anyone know of being a man when you're 20?

I knew I had to grow up when my daughter was born as I turned 20.
Was never a goal to become a dad at that age but I like to think I've done the best that I could under the circumstances.
20 years, 10 as a full time single father and the little 1 is now a big 1 finishing her uni degree,
Could have been a whole lot different if I didn't step up to the responsibility when I had to.

 

[slicedndiced]

I knew I had to grow up when my daughter was born as I turned 20.
Was never a goal to become a dad at that age but I like to think I've done the best that I could under the circumstances.
20 years, 10 as a full time single father and the little 1 is now a big 1 finishing her uni degree,
Could have been a whole lot different if I didn't step up to the responsibility when I had to.

And this is relevant to Josh's situation how?

I lost my wife to a brain tumour a few years back and raised 3 kids, still raising one of them, and they're aboriginal kids, so what is your point exactly?


Or are you after a lollipop?