Sports Omerta

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Cylon7

Club Legend
Veteran
Jul 9, 2008
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Canberra
Great article by Samantha Lane:
'Athletes, coaches, medical staff, administrators and media have been proven to be complicit in this nod and wink mentality that's designed – albeit misguidedly – to have the greatest interests of a sport at heart.'

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/nath...ybody-knew-20160414-go66m0.html#ixzz45mbNGXWH

In Australia this sporting omerta goes beyond drugs and those who uphold it belong in high places--also in government and politics. There is no conscience or concern about who it damages, so long as the money and our sporting reputation isn't harmed.
 
The omerta (don't spit in the soup) is alive and well in all sports.

The athletes are after all playing by the true rules - if you want to be in the elite comp, you need some help. Sucks that that is the way it is, but I can't see it changing anytime soon.

The main trick of course is to maintain the fairy tale and in doing so maintain the gravy train for all.

edit: At least one thing became clear from the article. The spin now is that "everyone" knew Bock was a true drug cheat. The 34 are innocents in comparison. Laughable but will no doubt give some comfort to some punters.
 

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I don't doubt that there would be some kind of shenanigans going on at most clubs, or at least by a lot of the players off their own backs.

The deafening silence from the majority of people in the AFL system at what has gone on at Essendon is proof of that to me. As well as the 'poor 34 players' narrative.
 
Was just watching the movie 'Concussion' last night about brain injuries in the NFL. Albeit its a hollywood movie and no doubt parts have been dramatised, there are very interesting parallels with money taking precedence over welfare of players. Not to mention the persecution of anyone who dared go against the might of the sports corporation. Worth a watch.
 
Cylon7 said:
Great article by Samantha Lane:
Click to expand...
thats a stretch and MaddAdam would say that all great journos aspire to affal reporting, hosting the Project, and being the token female on before the game
'Athletes, coaches, medical staff, administrators and media have been proven to be complicit in this nod and wink mentality that's designed – albeit misguidedly – to have the greatest interests of a sport at heart.'

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/nath...ybody-knew-20160414-go66m0.html#ixzz45mbNGXWH

In Australia this sporting omerta goes beyond drugs and those who uphold it belong in high places--also in government and politics. There is no conscience or concern about who it damages, so long as the money and our sporting reputation isn't harmed.
Click to expand...
#limited_hangout

blackcat said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_hangout ...propaganda technique that involves the release of previously hidden information in order to prevent a greater exposure of more important details.
It takes the form of deception, misdirection, or coverup often associated with intelligence agencies involving a release or "mea culpa" type of confession of only part of a set of previously hidden sensitive information, that establishes credibility for the one releasing the information who by the very act of confession appears to be "coming clean" and acting with integrity; but in actuality, by withholding key facts, is protecting a deeper operation and those who could be exposed if the whole truth came out.
In effect, if an array of offenses or misdeeds is suspected, this confession admits to a lesser offense while covering up the greater ones.
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Goldy McH said:
Was just watching the movie 'Concussion' last night about brain injuries in the NFL. Albeit its a hollywood movie and no doubt parts have been dramatised, there are very interesting parallels with money taking precedence over welfare of players. Not to mention the persecution of anyone who dared go against the might of the sports corporation. Worth a watch.
Click to expand...

versus Goldman experiment
 
FFC_RoyBoys said:
The omerta (don't spit in the soup) is alive and well in all sports.

The athletes are after all playing by the true rules - if you want to be in the elite comp, you need some help. Sucks that that is the way it is, but I can't see it changing anytime soon.

The main trick of course is to maintain the fairy tale and in doing so maintain the gravy train for all.

edit: At least one thing became clear from the article. The spin now is that "everyone" knew Bock was a true drug cheat. The 34 are innocents in comparison. Laughable but will no doubt give some comfort to some punters.
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as I had said about Bock, if he bowled medium pacers for Gloucetershire, he would be in a dank midlands gaol cell now.
 

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Cylon7 said:
UK sporting media has a backbone. Would Australlian media be allowed to speak about an issue like this:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/36147120

Or would it be drowned out?
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its a bit of #socialengineering de jour that evo decries. As soon as the beeb wishes to lift the lid on saville and the other professional gold medals and tour de france wins, this is just a limited hangout imo.

sutton is old school old school
no big surprise here

and yeah, its a fallacy of mine, to suggest, unless the beeb do their chartered work and tell the truth on other stuff, they cant tell the truth on SS. thats a false dichotomy la pussie noir

but it just comes off a little mealy mouthed when the big stories are under the rug. yeah, SS is a d!ck, needs to have evolved to C21
 
blackcat said:
its a bit of #socialengineering de jour that evo decries. As soon as the beeb wishes to lift the lid on saville and the other professional gold medals and tour de france wins, this is just a limited hangout imo.

sutton is old school old school
no big surprise here

and yeah, its a fallacy of mine, to suggest, unless the beeb do their chartered work and tell the truth on other stuff, they cant tell the truth on SS. thats a false dichotomy la pussie noir

but it just comes off a little mealy mouthed when the big stories are under the rug. yeah, SS is a d!ck, needs to have evolved to C21
Click to expand...

Move the boy dinosaurs on.
Bring them to the present. Bring intelligence and accountability.
Forget about the germs whose only concern is money and the self.

It begins with the media because the sports ministers and federal sports bodies are too caught up in the vote and the money.
 
Cylon7 said:
http://www.ausport.gov.au/news/asc_...sist_sporting_boards_with_integrity_oversight

Chair of the Australian Sports Commission, John Whiley AM has released 'Guidelines to assist sporting bodies with integrity oversight'. They are aimed at directors of sport, particularly voluntary ones.

I can't see how guidelines and e-modules are going to do the job.
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So you think more can be achieved with no training and guidelines to judge them against and hold directors accountable to? :drunk:
 
Muggs said:
So you think more can be achieved with no training and guidelines to judge them against and hold directors accountable to? :drunk:
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I think it's a joke.

Firstly, why is it directed predominately at volunteer directors? There is no explanation about why guidelines and e-modules are more effective than laws.

It sounds timid and ineffectual.

I'm more interested to hear Simon Hollingsworth's opinions:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-...ines-do-not-go-far-enough:-campaigner/7399170

Why do we have an ASC, NISU and AIS who have no investigatory or regulatory powers? (They are all one under the Health Department's umbrella.) If all they can do is suggest and spend tax payers money building websites and dreaming up guidelines that dopers, cheats , bullies, match fixers, frauders, etc would just laugh at what is the point in having them?
 
Cylon7 said:
I think it's a joke.

Firstly, why is it directed predominately at volunteer directors? There is no explanation about why guidelines and e-modules are more effective than laws.

It sounds timid and ineffectual.

I'm more interested to hear Simon Hollingsworth's opinions:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-...ines-do-not-go-far-enough:-campaigner/7399170

Why do we have an ASC, NISU and AIS who have no investigatory or regulatory powers? (They are all one under the Health Department's umbrella.) If all they can do is suggest and spend tax payers money building websites and dreaming up guidelines that dopers, cheats , bullies, match fixers, frauders, etc would just laugh at what is the point in having them?
Click to expand...

The volunteer directors likely because these are the people who take on these roles! Be very surprised if non mainstream sports can actually afford to pay professional directors fees, and if the did I be horrified that they were spending on directors not atheltes!

Directors laws apply to most organisations, making people aware of their legal responsblites is a huge issue in many volunteer organisations. Having sat on boards where I spent much of the time pointing of legalities of things and our responsblites as directors I realise just how ineffectual laws are without properly training the people who take on these roles about those laws.

How serious any organisation takes an issue does depend on "tone at the top" if directors/senior management don't see things being an issue than you going to have even bigger issues. Making people aware issues and putting in controls to try and prevent bad things happening is much more effective at stopping things than undertaking investigations and punishment after the fact.

Not saying you don't need laws, but laws themselves are not enough without proper training and people accepting the need for the laws in the first place. Changing attitudes is much more effective long term.
 
FFC_RoyBoys said:
The omerta (don't spit in the soup) is alive and well in all sports.

The athletes are after all playing by the true rules - if you want to be in the elite comp, you need some help. Sucks that that is the way it is, but I can't see it changing anytime soon.

The main trick of course is to maintain the fairy tale and in doing so maintain the gravy train for all.

edit: At least one thing became clear from the article. The spin now is that "everyone" knew Bock was a true drug cheat. The 34 are innocents in comparison. Laughable but will no doubt give some comfort to some punters.
Click to expand...
#androgenchowder

bit better than clam or seafood chowder. dont need the ocean protein with the androgen aid
 
Muggs said:
The volunteer directors likely because these are the people who take on these roles! Be very surprised if non mainstream sports can actually afford to pay professional directors fees, and if the did I be horrified that they were spending on directors not atheltes!

Directors laws apply to most organisations, making people aware of their legal responsblites is a huge issue in many volunteer organisations. Having sat on boards where I spent much of the time pointing of legalities of things and our responsblites as directors I realise just how ineffectual laws are without properly training the people who take on these roles about those laws.

How serious any organisation takes an issue does depend on "tone at the top" if directors/senior management don't see things being an issue than you going to have even bigger issues. Making people aware issues and putting in controls to try and prevent bad things happening is much more effective at stopping things than undertaking investigations and punishment after the fact.

Not saying you don't need laws, but laws themselves are not enough without proper training and people accepting the need for the laws in the first place. Changing attitudes is much more effective long term.
Click to expand...


Why is John Whiley focusing only on voluntary directors?

Corruption in sport is more likely to be found where money can be made.

Do you honestly believe e-modules and letters are going to stop doping, fraud, bullying, match fixing, collusion, entrapment etc? Why do we only have WADA for only one form of corruption? Are the ASC and other national bodies not concerned about what else goes on?

We have state sporting ministers, but in many cases they have conflicts of interest because their governments sponsor sporting teams or are up to their elbows in real estate development deals, e.g. ACT. Media and law firms are no better because they are also sponsors.

At present the only protection offered to athletes is the Members Protection Policy which isn't worth the paper/web space it's printed on.

If you have a complaint, sports often ignore it and when the ACS eventually get off their collective backside and press the sporting body for a mediation it's a worthless exercise.

Problem is the mediation is in-house and can involve no attempt to do the right thing. The ASC know this but sit on their hands. There is no independence and no oversight of the process.

Sports are big-money business, but for some reason government treats these businesses differently to others. No oversight and free for all self-regulation.
 
Did you even read what I wrote?

Cylon7 said:
Why is John Whiley focusing only on voluntary directors?
Click to expand...

Again most sporting directors are voluntary, even in the AFL most club directors don't get paid. Heck take Gordon the bulldogs president he has pumped so much money into the Bulldogs its costed him to be president. Not sure why you are hanged up on this its a simple fact that people become directors of sporting organisations for non financial reasons (may give them financial benefits through networks and profile but not a direct financial payment). At most the clubs pay the directors insurance for the directors and maybe a small allowance to cover costs, not an income.

So why is Wiley focusing on voluntary directors, because sporting club directors are volunteers!.

Cylon7 said:
Do you honestly believe e-modules and letters are going to stop doping, fraud, bullying, match fixing, collusion, entrapment etc? Why do we only have WADA for only one form of corruption? Are the ASC and other national bodies not concerned about what else goes on?
Click to expand...

No but but neither do laws unless people are educated in the law, particularly when you talking about specialised laws you want to avoid the "I didn't know" defence, which is itself dependant on what is reasonable to know. What is reasonable for someone to know who has undertaken a education module on a specialised topic is different to someone who has not had education on it. Is it going to stop the issue no, neither are laws need to do both as I said in my previous post. Long term its the education and getting culture to change that is going to stop things, this is best done through education. Laws and rules don't always stop issues either, can often drive it underground.

Basically you need both laws and education.

Cylon7 said:
Sports are big-money business, but for some reason government treats these businesses differently to others. No oversight and free for all self-regulation.
Click to expand...

Actually see government treating sports much the same way as I see them treat any big business, look at the Governments response to the call to have a royal commission into banking, the budget cuts to ASIC, sports is really no different to the way it treats other similar sized organisations.

The rest of your post(s) is your normal tirade.....
 
Muggs said:
Did you even read what I wrote?
.
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Yes, I did. I'm sure AFL directors are paid, including Gordon. Whether he donates to the Western Bulldogs is his choice.

Do you know how many sports directors are voluntary and as this is is BF, how many AFL directors are voluntary?

Muggs said:
Basically you need both laws and education.
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Yes, but the law when it comes to sport isn't being upheld.

What about the Members Protection Policy that is worthless?
 
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