NRL and group sex - implications for AFL

[Rik E Boy]

Yes, what should the penalty be for consensual sex seven years after the event? If you have gone on to have a successful media career then that penalty is that you lose two jobs and have a bigger media following than Ben Cousins. If you remain an 'unknown Cronulla player' then the penalty apparently is zero.

If the Kiwi woman was so traumatised why wait for that trauma to fester for seven long years before coming forward. Heaven forbid that a media outlet, one of among many trying to get another angle on an over publicised sporting world perhaps sent a few Somolians accross the Tasman to obtain verification of whift of a rumour? Surely not! Whipped up by the media and possibly the coin this woman has found her mark and is now having her 15 minutes of fame for something that traumatised her so much she said nothing for seven years.

Was it rape? Well, I don't recall the court case. If a crime has been committed then let Johns et al stand trial amongst a jury of their peers.

Is it about respect for women? Respect is not handed out but earnt whether you are a male or a female. And like it or not birds that put on a gangbang for the boys might be highly appreciated at the time but it is not something that is likely to gain you respect. If you want respect, start off by respecting yourself.

Opportunism and media hypocrisy and a severly manufactured 'crisis'. Nothing more, nothing less.

regards,

REB

[Dog_ger]

Tragic case.

He's going to lose everything.

The man will end up having to work for a living.

Kill, Crush, Destroy.

[Gingernuts]

Yes, what should the penalty be for consensual sex seven years after the event? If you have gone on to have a successful media career then that penalty is that you lose two jobs and have a bigger media following than Ben Cousins. If you remain an 'unknown Cronulla player' then the penalty apparently is zero.

If the Kiwi woman was so traumatised why wait for that trauma to fester for seven long years before coming forward. Heaven forbid that a media outlet, one of among many trying to get another angle on an over publicised sporting world perhaps sent a few Somolians accross the Tasman to obtain verification of whift of a rumour? Surely not! Whipped up by the media and possibly the coin this woman has found her mark and is now having her 15 minutes of fame for something that traumatised her so much she said nothing for seven years.

Was it rape? Well, I don't recall the court case. If a crime has been committed then let Johns et al stand trial amongst a jury of their peers.

Is it about respect for women? Respect is not handed out but earnt whether you are a male or a female. And like it or not birds that put on a gangbang for the boys might be highly appreciated at the time but it is not something that is likely to gain you respect. If you want respect, start off by respecting yourself.

Opportunism and media hypocrisy and a severly manufactured 'crisis'. Nothing more, nothing less.

regards,

REB

Good post REB. Surely given the lack of charges Johns has a fairly good defamation case against 4 Corners.

[Interceptor]

Good post REB. Surely given the lack of charges Johns has a fairly good defamation case against 4 Corners.

I'm no legal expert, but I'd say he'd probably have more chance of getting Unfair Dismissal against Channel 9.
All 4 Corners really did was to say he was 1 of the 2 players originally with the girl.

Is it fair that the case is brought out in the open 7 years later? Probably not since no charges were ever laid.
It's not clear whether 4 Corners contacted the girl first or vice versa.
The bottom line is that it went to air and Johns is the fall guy.

[Dutchy]

The fact their wernt charges after being investigated by police is good enough for me - if there was any sniff of rape and/or assault they all would have been put in front of courts to make a decision.

Hats off to his wife for being so strong and standing by him - she is the one I feel sorry for

[MW]

Absolute joke the treatment of Matt Johns....absolute joke. Channel 9 and the two clubs he used to coach have no balls whatsoever. Shame.

[Thiele]

Seems like Johns has been treated unfairly

[redden whites]

Seems like Johns has been treated unfairly

Please elaborate on the unfairness.I would be most interested.

[gadj1976]

A mate of mine and I were talking about this and trying to recall what happened when Shane Warne was 'found out'. What did Channel 9 do?

I recall later on in the piece there were moves to reinstate him but can't recall if that ever happened.

I think the penalty in Johns's case is pretty harsh.

[Dirko]

Seems like Johns has been treated unfairly

Please elaborate on the unfairness.I would be most interested.

Please elaborate on the treatment given to the other blokes involved ?

Johns has been set up as the fall guy in this one for sure, and Channel 9 & the
Rugby Teams are doing what they think looks good, but in reality is making them look
like over reacting jerks.

Also Channel 9 "bone" him indefinitely, yet they interview him for a Current Affair a night later. Hypocrites.

[mypaddock]

Who he sleeps with should have no impact on his employment status one would think.
Clearly this woman is out to make a dollar.

IMO honest opinion these sports 'groupies' deserve most of what comes their way. These are loose women who have no self respect and in turn are treated with no respect from these sportsmen.

Think back to the whole fiasco with Kobe Bryant from the LA Lakers- why would someone of his stature (money/fame) need to rape someone?? He could walk into any bar/club in the US and choose from a dozen or so women to sleep with, if he so desires.

[Dogwatcher]

Fame and fortune does not preclude a man from raping a woman.

[mypaddock]

Fame and fortune does not preclude a man from raping a woman.

Correct, but it does increase your chances of being sued by loose women.

[Interceptor]

Who he sleeps with should have no impact on his employment status one would think.
Clearly this woman is out to make a dollar.

Think again. The women hasn't sued Johns or anyone else.
She wasn't interviewed by Today Tonight or another commercial organisation with the cheque book out.
She was interviewed by the ABC with her identity withheld.

Esssentially Nine are to trying protect whatever commercial image they have amongst viewers.
Johns wasn't charged or convicted of a crime, but he did get found out about cheating on his wife and it seems that's enough for the Nine bosses.

[Hondo]

Who he sleeps with should have no impact on his employment status one would think.
Clearly this woman is out to make a dollar.

IMO honest opinion these sports 'groupies' deserve most of what comes their way. These are loose women who have no self respect and in turn are treated with no respect from these sportsmen.

Come on, think about what you're saying. No-one 'deserves' any sort of bad treatment. Even if someone had no self respect that doesn't mean they shouldn't be shown any. Just because you CAN do something, when you are in a group with your mates, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

1 - don't generalise women, you don't know how this specific event unfolded
2 - don't defend poor behaviour towards women by men on the grounds that it's deserved. There's a massive power imbalance, both physically and psychologically, when it comes to well-known sportsmen meeting young women, particularly when alcohol is involved. Even the most self respecting woman can be induced into a bad situation if she meets one of her "heroes". It's about how the sportmen choose to use, or abuse, their "chick pulling" power.

In this case, I don't think 12 guys in the room with 1 women can be defended on the grounds that she wanted that to happen. Consent may have been given on the basis of some number smaller than 12, then things probably got out of hand. Is she making up the trauma she claims she feels? Well, none of us know for sure but I think she deserves to not be dismissed out of hand just because one of our favourite sportsmen has lost his job over it.

Should he have lost job over it? TBH, I don't know.

[Dogwatcher]

I'd be really interested to hear the thoughts of female posters about this.

[JK]

Who he sleeps with should have no impact on his employment status one would think.
Clearly this woman is out to make a dollar.

IMO honest opinion these sports 'groupies' deserve most of what comes their way. These are loose women who have no self respect and in turn are treated with no respect from these sportsmen.

Come on, think about what you're saying. No-one 'deserves' any sort of bad treatment. Even if someone had no self respect that doesn't mean they shouldn't be shown any. Just because you CAN do something, when you are in a group with your mates, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

All things being equal then, Fev shouldn't be on the footy show because he assaulted someone in an Irish bar?

I know that's not the world we live in (where everything is equal), but does an immoral act against a male hold less weight than an immoral act against a female?

It's a tricky situation.

[silicone skyline]

Pretty funny cartoon in Today's 'Tiser

[Hondo]

All things being equal then, Fev shouldn't be on the footy show because he assaulted someone in an Irish bar?

Dunno on Fev. I'm not sure either way on the responses of Ch9 and the club in sacking Johns. I am was just responding to the "loose women" comment.

I know that's not the world we live in (where everything is equal), but does an immoral act against a male hold less weight than an immoral act against a female?

No

[Dirko]

All things being equal then, Fev shouldn't be on the footy show because he assaulted someone in an Irish bar?

As opposed to Bickley assaulting someone on the Footy oval....

Where do you want to draw the line ?