RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS:
| Adieu old friend | ||
| Written by: Titanic (Titans) | ||
| January 25th 2010 09:19 PM | ||
Rugby league speech is lively, demotic, unstuffy: the talk of men with calloused hands and a serious problem with authority. The basic structure of discourse implies a vital truth: if you think you’re better than me, then you can ‘fark’ off. The fundamental egalitarianism of Australia has always found an expression in the unconstrained use of taboo words. ‘Strewth’ and ‘bloody’ are antique commonplaces of Australian life, and ‘g’day ya bastard’ remains an ancient and affectionate greeting between fading Ockers. The now almost acceptable manifestation of children parroting their parents’ profanities, combined with the ‘leave nothing to the imagination’ up-close, unedited coverage provided by live television, has robbed caring families of the buffer between wholesome entertainment and the world of crass. Over recent months, a seemingly never ending litany of events within the rugby league community, including the aforementioned swearing, binge drinking, gang-banging of the non-Harlem interpretation and racial vilifications have now taken one of our best… Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in a maze of bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as; knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, never play without a mouth-guard, league isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. It was announced earlier today that the Referees Association will read the Eulogy. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His passing will be felt most by those who have ignored his philosophies yet even his most vocal protagonist, the Leagues Club, offered condolences to his family. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. At a recent reunion of ARL old timers he was quoted as saying, “In my day, you got paid what you were worth in the minds of those who were doing the paying, not what was in your manager’s mind.” Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a female teammate during a game of Mod Footy; teens suspended from a school team for using mouthwash after a lunchtime practice; and a referee fired for reprimanding an unruly schoolboy player, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked officials for doing the job they had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. He regressed even further when junior clubs were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sunscreen lotion or a band-aid to a player; but, couldn't inform the parents when a fifteen year old cheerleader became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; clubs became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. He staunchly supported the “innocent until proven guilty” lobby while witnessing the demise of being able to distinguish between “what’s right from what’s wrong”. Common Sense took a beating when he couldn't defend himself from a burglar in his own home and the burglar sued him for assault. He likened the cowardice of hiding behind the law to those players who willingly “take a dive” and “milk” penalties. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman patron at a recent night game failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, took the club to court and was promptly awarded an obscene settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents and club foundation members, Truth and Trust; his understanding wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three visually challenged stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim. Few attended his funeral because not many realised he was gone, however, you may watch a replay of the ceremony on free-to-air tonight after 4 Corners. Posted in the F7s Matches forum in June 2009 The F7s is an article writing competition hosted on The Front Row forums here on LeagueUnlimited.com To join a team, click on the banner below  FOR ALL F7s MATCHES, CLICK HERE |
