Short Term Trading Weekend Lounge: 28-30 June, page-2

It was interesting last week to find out how well behaved sports fans in the States are. I wonder if we turn the spotlight on the mega rich sports stars,just what we would find.

In Australia, the majority of players are well versed in the Corporate Chorus, and manage themselves pretty well. As usual, the minority generate lots of media headlines, and create headaches for administrators, who in hindsight have been found a bit wanting.There's quite a few interwining issues primarily relating to the Players Code Of Conduct, and how best to manage the issues that inevitably pop up. For example:

The Transport Accident Commission, as part of it's endeavors to promote driver safety, used to sponsor the Collingwood AFL Club. Following a series of drink driving offences by Collingwood players between 2004 and 2008, the sponsorship arrangement was terminated. A seething Collingwood President reiterated that the club had lost over $4m in sponsorship deals over the years because of players behaving badly.

Fast forward 11 years to Rugby Australia's Israel Folau tweeting for "sinners" to repent or spend an eternity in Hell. Folau's employment was terminated, and the role in this of Qantas, Rugby's major sponsor, has been brought into question. Folau launched legal proceedings with the Fair Work Commission against Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby for breach of contract. He then started a Crowdfunding Campaign and asking people to donate $3m, although his worst case legal costs are estimated at $1m.

ARL players have turned drunken behaviour, sexual assault and drug use into an art form. Since the beginning of 2015, the Australian media has reported on 66 separate allegations of rugby league players behaving badly.

Now to keep these sporting juggernauts afloat, they have become dependent upon income from gambling,turning a blind eye on the social damage inflicted on the most vulnerable members of our society. Collingwood's Jaidyn Stephenson was recently handed a 22-game ban, with 12 games suspended, and fined $20,000 for $36worth of bets through a friend's betting account. Ye must protect the almighty dollar at all costs? The AFL has no conflict of interest? Some wags have suggested Jaidyn would have received a fairer hearing if he'd won a Brownlow Medal (or two).

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-21/does-the-afl-have-a-gambling-problem/11172630?pfmredir=sm

So, a bit of "naughty boy stuff" and a bit of "holier than thou stuff" getting raised.Anyhow, over to the forum, if you had to choose between the Stairway ToH eaven, and the Highway To Hell, which would you choose?

One vote for Acca Dacca fromme.