Ben Cousins - what action should the AFL take?

[Prospector]

Fire him, then see he get's proper help.

Didnt he just get that in the US though? Paid for by the club? I think they have done more than there fair share of help - where do you draw the line.

I think maybe this patronising attitude to Cousins has been part of the problem - he is 29 years old and everyone simply keeps on protecting him. He needs to grow up and people need to let him go so he has some accountability for his own actions, and others need to stop mopping up after him.

 

[The Mint Man]

Isn't this what happens to the 'normal' person? No-one would pick up after them! And yes chops, that realisation is what he needs.

you make a good point.

 

[cuttlefish]

What is he to do then if he has no savings, no income and is unable to work? Rot in an alley somewhere?

his behaviour is shocking - he's not only using drugs heavily, he's also risking lives unnecessarily by driving under the influence, and not allowing a blood test is clear evidence he's got no intention of facing up to responsibility.

Forget whether he can play again, has money or is in a gutter - he's lucky he's not in jail and lucky he hasn't accidentally injured someone seriously through his actions. He's clearly taking no responsibility at all for what he's doing and deserves no special treatment whatsoever.

A dose of reality will do him no harm at all at the moment he's acting as though he's above the law and treating society with contempt.

 

[nomore4s]

Yup, it's probably what does happen to the average junky, but that doesn't make it any more desirable for them either.

I agree that he needs to come back down to Earth, but at what cost? I don't think the WCE throwing him out and slamming the door behind him is the right solution.

Fire him, then see he get's proper help.

Does he want help though? The first step to beating an addiction is admitting you have a problem and then wanting to change/give up. I have my doubts about whether Cousins actually wants this, I think it has been "forced" on him so he can play footy and he has said and done whatever people wanted to hear so he could play footy again, I don't think he has any real intention of changing atm.

 

[Kimosabi]

Cousins days as a footballer are over, he's not much use if he can only play along the white lines...

 

[surfingman]

Didnt he just get that in the US though? Paid for by the club? I think they have done more than there fair share of help - where do you draw the line.

That is the problem, cousins draws (snorts) the line where ever he wants to

 

[Barrw]

Who cares what these blokes do
They're grown men, know what rec. drug use can do to them its certainly not giving them an unfair advantage
The media makes such a big deal about the role models these players are meant to be, if they didn't make such a big deal about it the kiddies'd never know
Some people are just screw ups
Surely there is somthing more important to fill prime time news

 

[nomore4s]

Devoted his life too AFL in the public spotlight from day 1 pressures untold on a young man too constantly perform.
He needs help not punishment from the AFL !

Thats a cop out imo, the problem no one has to take responisablity for thier own actions anymore. Take his high paying contract away from him and see how he copes with the pressure of a mundane everyday life stuggling to pay bills etc. and when he's got to look after himself.

 

[Prospector]

That is the problem, cousins draws (snorts) the line where ever he wants to

:

 

[doctorj]

The eagles have announced they have sacked Ben Cousins and they'll be holding a press conference within the hour.

 

[IFocus]

I am a Eagles supporter (on this thread its a bit like declaring I am a alcoholic at AA)

As such I agree with DJ's comments.

Maybe because of this I wonder why the need for some of the revengeful posts I read here.

Theres no augment as to the seriousness of Ben Cousins conduct / behaviors but after watching him play AFL for so long at the absolute highest levels with the skills and courage of a champion player i just cannot stand in line and stick the boot in demanding damnation now he has fallen by the wayside.

I hope he recovers to lead a successful life.

I guess many will read this in disbelief but you have to understand I am a Western Australian and we are well known to be cowboy's, utterly corrupt and now apparently rampant drug takers.....


Focus

 

[Julia]

Thats a cop out imo, the problem no one has to take responisablity for thier own actions anymore. Take his high paying contract away from him and see how he copes with the pressure of a mundane everyday life stuggling to pay bills etc. and when he's got to look after himself.

Completely agree, also with comments by Prospector and Chops.
It appears everyone has been so busy protecting him and "helping" him he has no comprehension of taking responsibility for himself. Cut him loose and let him do some thinking.

 

[IFocus]

Hi Julia

Completely agree, also with comments by Prospector and Chops.
It appears everyone has been so busy protecting him and "helping" him he has no comprehension of taking responsibility for himself. Cut him loose and let him do some thinking.

And if he was your son..... committed suicide?


Focus

 

[godzillaismad]

I can't believe how much media coverage is on Ben... he is an adult, let him do what he wants! Also, I think the WCE and AFL have overreacted by sacking him. Put yourself in Ben's shoe; he will be devastated to have lost his job, his teammates and everyone that supported him! It is all downhill for him now... He needs to be supported now, not criticism from the media and us!!! Miracle does happen!

 

[tvhead]

The eagles should lose their first 2 picks, because they knew about it but winning is everything at thier club. They know about other players, but they will turn a blind eye. They are the junkies of the afl!!!

 

[dogwithflees1983]

Couldnt agree more TVhead, cousins is an idiot who deserves to be a sacked. I certaintly would not want him at my footy club!!

You would think after all that has happened, and esp after his good mates manny's death he would pull his head in and stay on the straight and narrow.

For too long has wet toast supporters and the media in West Oz protected cousins.

No Sympathy at all!

 

[wayneL]

Hi Julia



And if he was your son..... committed suicide?


Focus

Cutting a player loose from a football team is a bit different to a persons family and friends refusing in helping him with a problem.

A bit of a tenuous link here - sack from WCE = suicide?

The team NOT acting would be sending entirely the wrong message to BC, all other players, and the general public.

He's had plenty of support from all and he blew it. There must be a price. But as a human being, he deserves all the social help he can get to get over this problem, but only if he wants it.

 

[Stan 101]

I'm sorry if this will offend...Wayne, please remove it if you see it is unfit for the forum. I think it is worth saying.

This guy and many like him have had many benefits in life that most others an only dream of.
They have personal managers, they have team managers, they have docotrs all at their beck and call. If they are in any position where they feel they are out of control, they have backup.
Sure, people make mistakes so he made a mistake and he now has broken down and ackonowledged his issues. In fact he got national news admitting it. The secret is out... No excuses now. There is nothing to hide now. Everyone knows his problem.He still has all the backing of his entourage and more and he still screws up.
Yet, he still finds it okay to socialise with a guy busted for dealing quantities of whizz. The guy is a fool and if he tops himself, he tops himself.
What has he done for society? Why is he any better than anyone else? He has shown children it is OK to be an **** and that yes, you can get away with it in the national limelight and then mock it again... Some other team will pick him up if the AFL don't scrub him out..

The guy should have quite a paypacket from his footbal so far. So he's lost about 5 more playing years. He still had a good run. To say the guy will top himself for losing his job is lunacy.

HE could be a bumbling fool and still live on a realistic wage for the rest of his life. Maybe even start a new career through study, heaven forbid. Hell, he'll have time on his hands when in the can and when he gets out of it.

He is the wasted product of society's love of heroes. He has many benefits from it, how about the child that is Cousins takes a little responsibility to counteract the rights he has gained...

I cannot bevieive this is even in the news. I was watching Sky news from a motel room last night and this was given much more coverage than the election or Burma..

He needs a good kick in the ****!





cheers,

 

[explod]

I'm sorry if this will offend...Wayne, please remove it if you see it is unfit for the forum. I think it is worth saying.

This guy and many like him have had many benefits in life that most others an only dream of.
They have personal managers, they have team managers, they have docotrs all at their beck and call. If they are in any position where they feel they are out of control, they have backup.
Sure, people make mistakes so he made a mistake and he now has broken down and ackonowledged his issues. In fact he got national news admitting it. The secret is out... No excuses now. There is nothing to hide now. Everyone knows his problem.He still has all the backing of his entourage and more and he still screws up.
Yet, he still finds it okay to socialise with a guy busted for dealing quantities of whizz. The guy is a fool and if he tops himself, he tops himself.
What has he done for society? Why is he any better than anyone else? He has shown children it is OK to be an **** and that yes, you can get away with it in the national limelight and then mock it again... Some other team will pick him up if the AFL don't scrub him out..

The guy should have quite a paypacket from his footbal so far. So he's lost about 5 more playing years. He still had a good run. To say the guy will top himself for losing his job is lunacy.

HE could be a bumbling fool and still live on a realistic wage for the rest of his life. Maybe even start a new career through study, heaven forbid. Hell, he'll have time on his hands when in the can and when he gets out of it.

He is the wasted product of society's love of heroes. He has many benefits from it, how about the child that is Cousins takes a little responsibility to counteract the rights he has gained...

I cannot bevieive this is even in the news. I was watching Sky news from a motel room last night and this was given much more coverage than the election or Burma..

He needs a good kick in the ****!





cheers,

Now that is a pretty good post. The punch line, lets move on and forget Ben Cousins, he will survive and look after himself.

By the way the oil price is making new highs and with the dollar weaker it will be crook at the petrol pump soon.

 

[Stan 101]

I am a Eagles supporter (on this thread its a bit like declaring I am a alcoholic at AA)

As such I agree with DJ's comments.

Maybe because of this I wonder why the need for some of the revengeful posts I read here.

Theres no augment as to the seriousness of Ben Cousins conduct / behaviors but after watching him play AFL for so long at the absolute highest levels with the skills and courage of a champion player i just cannot stand in line and stick the boot in demanding damnation now he has fallen by the wayside.

I hope he recovers to lead a successful life.

I guess many will read this in disbelief but you have to understand I am a Western Australian and we are well known to be cowboy's, utterly corrupt and now apparently rampant drug takers.....


Focus

Ifocus, I don't know about you but I watch a game of football. Game over I go on with my life. It was entertaining, sure. But it's now over and off I go..
I don't care what colour jocks the full forward was wearing or who he's dating. I have my own full life to be engulfed in..

To me a fallballer is nothing more than my milko delivering my milk. It's a part of my life and it feeds a need. Nothing more...Sure there is emotion in sport. There is in my milko, too. I like to hear his stories about my family, his daughter's new baby, their new house.. Much like a great kicked goal.. I'm moved, but it's not my world.

People need to pull their heads in and realise this just a game. These players are not GODS, they are people who kick and catch balls better than the average person...


cheers,