In the week leading up to the draft, 2 days after being cleared by the AFL, Ben attended the funeral of a "very close friend" and convicted drug importer. That's not really sending the right message to clubs considering him (and their sponsors) and the potential damage he could cause their brands.
If ever he was going to be on his best behaviour and conscious of the image he's projecting, you would think that these past couple of weeks would be it. Unfathomably stupid for a man in his position.
Perception IS reality and for Ben to make this choice at this time, IMO, speaks volumes for where he's at regarding his priorities, recovery and ability to exercise sound judgement. I think he's clearly demonstrating to clubs and sponsors everywhere that he's not an acceptable risk.
How he is being perceived by the community and the impact that perception has on those around him (eg. clubs considering him) doesn't seem to figure in his thinking at all. He's only worried about Ben and is obviously not prepared to modify his behaviour to alleviate the concerns of those that should matter. It's just like that smug grin he wore, along with the open-neck trousers, in his first televised "apology/confession"... entirely inappropriate and uncompromisingly Ben Cousins! How can a club accept that he's turned over a new leaf when he's practically taunting them with his dark-side in the days leading up to the draft?!
I'd be very interested to hear Ricky Nixon's stance on Ben attending the funeral. Does anyone know? If he condoned it, or didn't try very, very hard to talk him out of it, I don't think he's done the best thing by his client.
A good mate would have realised what Ben was risking and have urged him to stay away from his own funeral. Ben must have realised it would harm his chances for a second crack, yet decided to attend anyway. That's his choice, but one which, IMO, will ultimately prove the final nail in the coffin of Ben's AFL career.
