Matt Rendell...

[aussierulesrules]

He is just a guy who was/is frustrated with a situation within his employment, and who has aired an inappropriate opinion, or two.

Is/was he really? He couldn't be also wanting those in the indigenous community to have better success in their attempts to make it in the AFL as well? Is it not possible for someone to care about others as well as themselves? Do you only care about yourself? And if you do, do not know of anyone else who cares about others, as well as themselves and wants what's best for everyone? A solution that will benefit everyone, if possible?

Don't forget this is someone who has had something to do with, in his estimate, up to 500 from indigenous communities and has worked with many of them very closely, like the 15 at the one time in Brisbane in the early 90's, where Darryl White said he was "fantastic" for him and them. He probably cares a hell of a lot more about those in those communities than most of the rest of us do and I dare say he genuinely wants to help them, if they want it.

He also saw what a great benefit coming down to Melbourne (to go to school) at the age of 14, had on Cyril Rioli (who reckons it was brilliant for him) and that is apparently what gave Rendell the idea to have a scholarship type program, to give others in the same boat the chance to get the same benefits Cyril did.

To me, that sounded like a bloody good idea, as it would almost certainly help anyone from the outback who wanted to pursue footy to be able to adjust to the big city life more gradually, like Cyril did, before then having to potentially adjust to the incredible demands of an AFL club as well. But no, apparently merely suggesting offering someone a great opportunity in life, that they are free to say no to, if they don't want it, is "racist", "offensive" or "inappropriate"! Wow, if that is "racist" or whatever, I hope someone is "racist" to me sometime soon, offering me a great opportunity to help me get where I want to go, that few others are given!

And what were the other "inappropriate opinions"? One is apparently referring to those in the indigenous community as "you guys". What the hell was he supposed to say?

If you're referring to a community, or "race", or whatever, that you don't feel you're a part of, you generally refer to them with words such as "you", "them", "they". If not that, what? That's why those words were invented and have been used since probably the beginning of mankind. Since when are they "deeply offensive"? I sure as hell wouldn't be "offended" if someone from another country, like say the US, or New Zealand, referred to me, or others from here in my country, as "you guys" or "they", in a conversation. Yet this is supposedly the sort of thing Fahour found "deeply offensive"! What the hell else are you supposed to call someone from another country, area, "race", team, whatever?

If these are all "offensive" or "racist" remarks, then probably everyone on Earth who has spoken in the last week or two has said something like that, referring to someone else as "they", "them", "you", etc. Does that mean basically everyone on Earth who speaks is "racist". Or are things being taken a little too far with regard to what some consider what is "racist" or not?

 

[crowtricolours]

For all those who say Andy D has no friends, here is proof he does indeed have a friend

 

[Ron The Bear]

Re: Matt Rendall...

I think the most interesting chapter is still to come tomorrow night on The Marngrook Footy Show which will have Jason Misfud on it.

(ABC2, 8.30 - Ill be posting it here shortly after for those who miss it)

Don't hold your breath. If Gleeson is pumping it up, the recorded interview's likely to be oh-so-proper.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...cism-furore-to-television-20120321-1vkbu.html

Never been a Steve Price fan at all, but at least he's prepared to write an objective account.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion...ly-correct-sword/story-e6frfhqf-1226306589470

 

[PrideOf]

Re: Matt Rendall...

FWIW The Age says that the interview has already been taped.


I would hope there is no editorial control/input from Mifsud or the AFL and that the interview is unscripted and uncut.

Yeah, good luck with that.

This interview will be scripted down to the emotional pauses by young Jason and the single tear that rolls down his cheek when he tells us the heartfelt story of [insert heartwrenching indigenous story here].

 

[RegHickeyStand]

Feel sorry for Rendell. That latest apology is 50% about "please stop attacking the club".

It was definitely the Adelaide Footy club that asked him to make that statement.

Its like he got too much public support, and the AFL have pressured him to virtually retract his FC appearance.

Too late. We now know that Vlad lied when he said the Adelaide football club gave him an option to apologize and keep his job. We now know there was reasonable context to excuse what he said from being racist, to just putting a point clumsily. We now know that Rendell actually offered a possible solution to the high number of indigenous players that fail to make the cut because of adjusting to the AFL environment.

And I still don't get that Mifsud never took Rendell up on it.

 

[Mattrox]

@TerryWallet Rendell is not being turned into a saint.

He was hung, drawn and quartered by the AFL in front of all of Australia. His own club did not stand behind him and allow him the chance to make a statement. Demetriou passed judgement on him without hearing his side of the story.

Others who have made mistakes have been TOLD they have caused offence, and given the chance to atone for their wrongs.

I listened to the MMM interview with Rendell again this morning. He has tried to contact Mifsud all yesterday to talk with him. He was unable to get in phone contact. He said he will talk to Ali too.

The whole thing is shameful and those who think justice has been served are wrong. They need to stop trying to look for "evidence" to prove Rendell is racist and try to listen to what he is actually saying.

 

[weevil]

Nobody said this was a simple issue. It's certainly complex, and it takes millions of baby steps given the cultural differences. Nobody has come up with a complete solution even though we have know about these issues for years, and we may not even see one in our lifetime.

Because what you need to also understand is how we view the world, which is that the colonial British western view is not in necessarily in sync with Indegenous Australia. So what we see as a solution might actually be considered not only insensitive from a cultural perspective but actually a repression of Indigenous values.

Yes building academies will help create better equipped players for AFL, but there are more important things then AFL and I think that is what is getting lost here, sadly.

And yet you are so quick to brand pretty much anyone who disagrees with any of your opinions a racist.

You may have the best of intentions but your hypocrisy and hubris here are completely counterproductive.

 

[Mattrox]

And yet you are so quick to brand pretty much anyone who disagrees with any of your opinions a racist.

You may have the best of intentions but your hypocrisy and hubris here are completely counterproductive.

Best post I have read.

 

[Mattrox]

Feel sorry for Rendell. That latest apology is 50% about "please stop attacking the club".

It was definitely the Adelaide Footy club that asked him to make that statement.

Its like he got too much public support, and the AFL have pressured him to virtually retract his FC appearance.

Too late. We now know that Vlad lied when he said the Adelaide football club gave him an option to apologize and keep his job. We now know there was reasonable context to excuse what he said from being racist, to just putting a point clumsily. We now know that Rendell actually offered a possible solution to the high number of indigenous players that fail to make the cut because of adjusting to the AFL environment.

And I still don't get that Mifsud never took Rendell up on it.

I agree. Well put.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

@TerryWallet Rendell is not being turned into a saint.

......

The whole thing is shameful and those who think justice has been served are wrong. They need to stop trying to look for "evidence" to prove Rendell is racist and try to listen to what he is actually saying.

They are too busy trying to cover their own arses to listen. A high attrition rate means Vlad's policies are not 100%. A high attrition rate means people like Mifsud are not effective enough. Rendell needs to be silenced.

I'll be interested to hear if anyone interviews Rendell at the end of the season to see what he thinks then. I think he is too much of an emotional basket case (and vulnerable) right now.

 

[Honeyboy Wilson]

I don't believe Matt Rendell is racist. I think he's a genuinely good guy.

But he has now taken ownership of his mistake, so all the conspiracy theorists should find something else to take up their time with now.

It was a mistake, a pretty huge one.

Whether he worded it clumsily or not, or whether his intentions were just or not, he insinuated that having one white parent is "better" than two black parents. That is inexcusable for anyone. But the fact that he is also a head recruiter? There was no other choice.

He himself has said there was no other choice, he had to have been stood down.

 

[Mattrox]

I was pointed to this article from the Adelaide board.

Well worth the time to read.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...-black-and-white/story-e6frecoc-1226306688820

 

[Mattrox]

Whether he worded it clumsily or not, or whether his intentions were just or not, he insinuated that having one white parent is "better" than two black parents. That is inexcusable for anyone. But the fact that he is also a head recruiter? There was no other choice.

He himself has said there was no other choice, he had to have been stood down.

I don't think he insinuated "better" he insinuated "better suited to AFL". It might not be correct and still have racist connotations and be inapproprite and shouldn't have been said but is an entirely different comment and not a judgement call on parentage or a slurr regarding cultural background.

His statement is made so no more damage occurs to the AFC. He doens't want damage to the AFL brand. It's too late AD ensured that. He should be stood down.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

But he has now taken forced ownership of his mistake, so all the conspiracy theorists should find something else to take up their time with now.

Edited

 

[Honeyboy Wilson]

Edited

Because if he didn't take ownership of his mistake, then he would've lost his job!

Oh wait...

 

[RegHickeyStand]

I don't believe Matt Rendell is racist. I think he's a genuinely good guy.

But he has now taken ownership of his mistake, so all the conspiracy theorists should find something else to take up their time with now.

It was a mistake, a pretty huge one.

Whether he worded it clumsily or not, or whether his intentions were just or not, he insinuated that having one white parent is "better" than two black parents. That is inexcusable for anyone. But the fact that he is also a head recruiter? There was no other choice.

He himself has said there was no other choice, he had to have been stood down.

The cat's out of the bag well and truly, anyway.

Pretend all you want that Rendell did not offer a solution for the high attrition rate at that meeting putting some context on his comment. Pretend all you want that Vlad did not lie on OTC when he said Rendell was given a chance to keep his job. You have to pretend that to keep believing in Vlad.

If you listened to Rendell's apology, you would know it was for the club, and not himself. That isn't conspiracy theory, thats just not having a tin ear to what is said. He said what was needed to be said to get the public of the club's back. He showed a loyalty that was never given to him in all this.

 

[RocknRoll]

And what were the other "inappropriate opinions"? One is apparently referring to those in the indigenous community as "you guys". What the hell was he supposed to say?

If you're referring to a community, or "race", or whatever, that you don't feel you're a part of, you generally refer to them with words such as "you", "them", "they". If not that, what? That's why those words were invented and have been used since probably the beginning of mankind. Since when are they "deeply offensive"? I sure as hell wouldn't be "offended" if someone from another country, like say the US, or New Zealand, referred to me, or others from here in my country, as "you guys" or "they", in a conversation. Yet this is supposedly the sort of thing Fahour found "deeply offensive"! What the hell else are you supposed to call someone from another country, area, "race", team, whatever?

This keeps coming up so I think it needs to be addressed.
It seems quite clear from the later article that Africans were included in the "they" or "you guys" comment, so this was probably taken to mean "you black people". This is of course offensive.

Even if this is not the case it can be used in an offensive way. Indigenous culture in Australia is quite diverse, which is why we talk about cultural diversity. So using a term such as 'they' and following that with a racial stereotype is also offensive. It is not the term 'they' which is bad, it is what follows it that matters.

Misfud does mention racial stereotyping in his last tweet so it is not a big step to reach this conclusion.

EDIT Presuming most readers are Victorian - eg. If someone from Sydney said, "You southerners are all lazy, have no stamina and are always late for appointments. Us New South Welshmen are only going to deal with those southereners with one enlightened parent from NSW unless you send your 14 year old kids over to Sydney for a decent education that you just cannot get in Victoria. But we will give those kids of yours most likely to succeed in Sydney free scholarships!" some might take offense at that. You'd probably tell the cockroaches to stick the scholarships up their arses if it was put this way.

The Sydney people might say, "Why are you so upset? We're only trying to improve your miserable lives to help you! Those who want to keep their kids imprisoned in that dump Melbourne are free to do so."

Of course I am not suggesting Matt would have been nearly as blunt as this and I am deliberately grossly exaggerating to make a point but I hope you get the idea.

 

[Malibu#27]

Whether or not we believe Rendell is racist or not (I personally don't, but he did make stupid comment(s)), its hard not to think that the severe reaction from Andrew Demetriou is not purely because he was offended by the comments.

I think equally as important for Andrew was that the comments had offended one of his employees who's brother is responsible for allocating significant sponsorship money to the AFL, and who's inital sponsorship seems to loosely correlate to the time the offended individual took up employment from the AFL.

Andrew always seems to keep one eye firmly planted on the coffers, and he would be keen to ensure all is good on that front, so having an sponsor whos brother is offended would be a sticky situation, perhaps enough to overreact the way he seems to have.

 

[Honeyboy Wilson]

The cat's out of the bag well and truly, anyway.

Pretend all you want that Rendell did not offer a solution for the high attrition rate at that meeting putting some context on his comment. Pretend all you want that Vlad did not lie on OTC when he said Rendell was given a chance to keep his job. You have to pretend that to keep believing in Vlad.

If you listened to Rendell's apology, you would know it was for the club, and not himself. That isn't conspiracy theory, thats just not having a tin ear to what is said. He said what was needed to be said to get the public of the club's back. He showed a loyalty that was never given to him in all this.

I've never pretended that Rendell's intentions weren't from a good place? In fact, I've stated that I think his heart was in the right place.

BUT no MATTER what context he said them in - HE INSINUATED THAT ONE WHITE PARENT IS BETTER THAN TWO BLACK PARENTS. Why does this keep getting lost? He made a disgusting generalisation and that's come back to bite him in the ass.

There's no doubt that he worded it clumsily, that he could have made his point in a way that wasn't offensive , but it was said.

 

[WALL-e]

Yes the big bad racist has been has seen the light and has apologised so that he may atone for his sins

Meanwhile the real issue and the problem he was trying to address remains unspoken and unresolved

Justice has been served and the heathen has been sacrificed at the altar of illusion and all things peachy

Welcome to the AFL; enjoy your stay.

The whole Fahour clan flaming the issue on twitter is very unprofessional.....but then again, is that to be expected from them?

Fahour claims Netball isn't a professional sport, hardly the all sensitive bloke he's claiming to be when getting up in arms over this issue.

Racism IS a real problem, but this sort of stuff is trivialising actual racism and actual issues. Having the Fahour click 'like' and re-tweet this Kony style propaganda doesn't help the actual issues.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

This keeps coming up so I think it needs to be addressed.
It seems quite clear from the later article that Africans were included in the "they" or "you guys" comment, so this was probably taken to mean "you black people". This is of course offensive.

Even if this is not the case it can be used in an offensive way. Indigenous culture in Australia is quite diverse, which is why we talk about cultural diversity. So using a term such as 'they' and following that with a racial stereotype is also offensive. It is not the term 'they' which is bad, it is what follows it that matters.

Misfud does mention racial stereotyping in his last tweet so it is not a big step to reach this conclusion.

So what you are saying is that Mifsud thought his friend was uneducated about indigenous diversity within Australia, and got things wrong, but didn't say a word to his friend about that.

And then waited 6 weeks to drop a bomb on his unsuspecting noggin.

What do you think about that?

 

[Ron The Bear]

I think equally as important for Andrew was that the comments had offended one of his employees who's brother is responsible for allocating significant sponsorship money to the AFL, and who's inital sponsorship seems to loosely correlate to the time the offended individual took up employment from the AFL.

This is why the full story is important. What was the chain of events linking Mifsud's presentation to Mifsud repeating the comment to The Age? I believe the truth is capable of sinking the good ship SS Demetriou, so we will never know.

 

[Malibu#27]

This is why the full story is important. What was the chain of events linking Mifsud's presentation to Mifsud repeating the comment to The Age? I believe the truth is capable of sinking the good ship SS Demetriou, so we will never know.

Pretty much, as they always say ... follow the money.

 

[RegHickeyStand]

I've never pretended that Rendell's intentions weren't from a good place? In fact, I've stated that I think his heart was in the right place.

BUT no MATTER what context he said them in - HE INSINUATED THAT ONE WHITE PARENT IS BETTER THAN TWO BLACK PARENTS. Why does this keep getting lost? He made a disgusting generalisation and that's come back to bite him in the ass.

There's no doubt that he worded it clumsily, that he could have made his point in a way that wasn't offensive , but it was said.

He said out plain, that as far as recruiting goes one white parent would be the preference, unless there is something put in place to help full blooded kids. He based that on numbers and his own experience and the example of Rioli. He offered a solution. Why do you keep ignoring this?

If it is true, then it may be unpalatable, but it would need to be said, right?

If it is true, then clubs will do exactly as Rendell said, and everyone will pretend its AOK and ignore the problem.

You know the story about the Emperor's clothes?

 

[weevil]

HE INSINUATED THAT ONE WHITE PARENT IS BETTER THAN TWO BLACK PARENTS.

No he did not. This has been discussed repeatedly. He warned that clubs may start doing this if things don't improve. He did not endorse this, he did not say it would be a good thing or a right thing. He said things could get so bad that it might happen.

As Keyser said last night, Winston Churchill warning that the Germans were going to go to war is not at all the same thing as Churchill saying he loved the Nazis.