Not going to read this thread, far to long, but thought I would make this comment.
Watching the news this morning when that paragon of self righteousness David Koch in a conversation with Mark Latham and Jeff Kennett piped up with the comment "We all like our indigenous sportspeople as long as they don't have an opinion." Now Kochy may be a half decent guy but in this case he is a total knob head. I will categorically say that I don't boo Adam Goodes because he is Indigenous. I boo Adam Goodes because he plays for the bloody Sydney Swans and over the last couple of years as his body slowly stop allowing him to be the incredible footballer he once was, he has resorted to cheap shots and staging to win free kicks. For that, and that alone I boo him. I am an Essendon supporter and we, much like St Kilda supporters understand and commend indigenous players who make a stand. Michael Long is a legend of the game in Essendon supporters eyes, both for his stand against racism and for his on field exploits. Right there is an indigenous male with an opinion and people laud him for it. We see it every year with the Dreamtime game at the G and the long walk. Nicky Winmar lifting his guernsey to the Collingwood members is one of, if not the most iconic image of our game. The courage of that man to do what he did, when he did was a sight to behold. We don't boo these men because they had an opinion, we hold them in esteem for the opinions they had and their courage to act. For Kochy to suggest what he did is offensive to all fair minded supporters of this game who don't see the colour of skin, but the talent of the man beneath it.
I don't object to Adam Goodes doing his war dance, or being a leader amongst his people or for being politically motivated to achieve better health, education and welfare outcomes for Indigenous Australians. These are all admirable goals and traits. I have long been an advocate for teaching Aboriginal culture in all our primary and secondary schools. After all, the more we understand something the more likely we are to accept it. Adam Goodes will and should rightfully be recognised as one of the most talented footballers we have ever had the pleasure of watching play. But that isn't the issue.
No, I don't boo Adam Goodes because I'm a racist, I boo Adam Goodes because he doesn't play for my team and for the last couple of years he has been a dick. I also boo every West Coast player after the treatment Jobe Watson received at the hands of their supporters in 2013. Where were the headlines screaming about his poor treatment. I'll boo Patrick Ryder because he screwed over my club by leaving in the way he did, but I never booed Gavin Wanganeen even though he left us. I boo Dustin Martin, Chris Judd and Stevie Johnson, I even used to boo Paul Chapman until he played for us. Am I racist because I boo them, or is it okay for a white man to be booed but not a coloured man. Should we all politely sit on the sidelines and deliver opera claps and hearty hear hears when a opponent tears us apart, or should we continue on our tribal path of booing all and sundry if they don't play for us and have committed some perceived insult, be it a sly hit, an outrageous dive or a blatant foul against one of ours?
I am truly sorry that Adam Goodes is feeling hurt by opposition supporters booing him, but I would put good money on the fact that he did the same when he was a kid growing up and watching his favourite team. To label everyone that boos him as racist is as divisive as the act of racism is itself.