dipper 'suspended' for racial comment

[bayman]

Dipper' suspended indefinitely from Auskick role

Robert DiPierdomenico with some of the Peace Team players in Israel
TODAY'S HEADLINES


* 'Dipper' suspended indefinitely from Auskick role
Fri, Jun 18, 10




7:57 PM Fri 18 June, 2010
THE AFL has suspended Robert DiPierdomenico indefinitely from his long-time role as the League's NAB AFL Auskick ambassador for making a racist remark at a sportsman's night in country South Australia last week.

DiPierdomenico, a five-time Hawthorn premiership player, made a racially disparaging remark at the expense of Essendon and Port Adelaide champion Gavin Wanganeen, who also attended the function.

League CEO Andrew Demetriou said DiPierdomenico would not be reinstated until he completed a series of meetings and seminars with indigenous and cultural groups across Australia.

The education program, to be devised by the League's community engagement manager, Jason Mifsud, and its cultural strategy and education manager, Sue Clark, is expected to take several weeks.

Demetriou said the decision to suspend DiPierdomenico was made after speaking to him about his remarks, as well as consulting Wanganeen, his former Essendon teammate Michael Long and Auskick sponsor NAB.

DiPierdomenico's long history of work with both the Auskick program and as coach of the AFL Peace Team that united Israeli and Palestinian player was also taken into consideration.

"I have made clear to Robert my disappointment in his comment and the fact that there is no excuse for those sorts of comments and there is no place for them in our game or in the community. He knows that and is disappointed in himself," Demetriou said.

"I know Robert has been an enormous contributor to the growth of the game, working to promote Auskick to young boys and girls since his retirement as a player and he is fully aware of the importance that the AFL places on a welcoming environment for all people coming to our game."

Demetriou said DiPierdomenico had personally apologised to Wanganeen, the League, NAB and he had also spoken with Long.

"Robert said the comment wasn't what he was trying to convey and knew as soon as he made the comment that it was clumsy, that it was wrong and he apologised immediately," he said.

A portion of DiPierdomenico's apology to the AFL was released in a statement on Friday evening.

Robert DiPierdomenico's apology

"I have spoken with Gavin and sincerely apologised to him and his family. I explained that I was complimenting him on his outstanding career at the sportsman's night and my choice of words was wrong, and was by no way meant to offend. He thanked me for making contact with him.

"I have also spoken with Michael Long to explain what happened on the night and to apologise for any offense I may have caused him. I acknowledge that I have let him down as a good friend and I accept that my terminology was both unacceptable and offensive to him and the whole community.

"I would also like to apologise to the AFL, NAB and to all of the kids and parents who take part in the Auskick program. I am the proud and committed ambassador for NAB Auskick and travel around Australia promoting our great game, including the many indigenous areas. I was also the coach of the Peace Team for the International Cup and recently returned from the Tiwi Islands on behalf of the AFL.

"I hope to continue with these activities, as they are my passion, and apologise to all that I have offended."
Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

[bayman]

i can't believe anyone in todays society would say such things like this or malcolm browns 'joke'........as for dipper i would have thought he would have 'copped heaps' at school & early in his career, so should even be more sensitive to the issue, what would make these blokes say derogatory comments in a public place ??

[dedja]

DiPierdomenico, a five-time Hawthorn premiership player ...

Not a bad effort for a wog ...

I'm allowed to say that because I am one

[Barto]

i can't believe anyone in todays society would say such things like this or malcolm browns 'joke'........as for dipper i would have thought he would have 'copped heaps' at school & early in his career, so should even be more sensitive to the issue, what would make these blokes say derogatory comments in a public place ??

Stupidity?

Seriously, where have these blokes been hiding for the last decade or so?

[wooly]

Fair dinkum, this crap just goes overboard? I got called a dogger many a time, doesn't phase me...... call me what you want...... sticks and stones........

[wooly]

I should probably clarify what I have just said.... I just saw the post about a 'wog'. I went to a high school that was full of aussies and italians. Some of my best mates were and still are italians from high school!! We had quite a few laughs calling each other 'doggers' and 'wogs' - no harm was done and we still do it to this day for a laugh, it's not racist in any sense. Now indeginous connotations are obviously a different story....

[Dog_ger]

Fair dinkum, this crap just goes overboard? I got called a dogger many a time, doesn't phase me...... call me what you want...... sticks and stones........

A Dog_ger is a compliment

Yes, I have been called many things and it has unfazed me. Made me stronger to prove every one wrong.

[Psyber]

i can't believe anyone in todays society would say such things like this or malcolm browns 'joke'........as for dipper i would have thought he would have 'copped heaps' at school & early in his career, so should even be more sensitive to the issue, what would make these blokes say derogatory comments in a public place ??

My Jewish acquaintances tell the best Jewish jokes, the Irish the best Irish jokes, and the lawyers the best lawyer jokes.
Not everybody feels, or claims to be, traumatised by jokes about their ancestry or identification, so perhaps they see no harm in such joking comments.
However, a little wisdom would tell you that if you make such comments publicly it will become a big deal with some group in society, not necessarily the target group of the joke..

[fish]

Fair dinkum, this crap just goes overboard? I got called a dogger many a time, doesn't phase me...... call me what you want...... sticks and stones........

wooly just because you are not offended by racism, I and many others are. The target of the joke, Gavin Wanganeen was certainly offended: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/robert-di ... 5881334474

GAVIN Wanganeen says he was "cut deep" and "extremely offended" by racist comments made by footy legend Robert DiPierdomenico, who was yesterday stood down over the embarrassing incident.

"Dipper" lost his post as an Auskick ambassador after The Advertiser revealed yesterday that he had said Wanganeen was "not too bad for an Abo" while speaking at the Hahndorf Football Club last week.

When approached by an offended audience member after the speech, DiPierdomenico responded by saying: "You'll get over it."

"I definitely was offended ... extremely offended and if you ask any Aboriginal person what it is like to be called an Abo they will tell you it cuts deep," Wanganeen told The Advertiser yesterday.

"The notion that to be Aboriginal and successful is an unusual thing is just not setting a good example for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids who aspire to realise their dreams like I did."

Nor was it setting a good example for the kids, and others, in Dippers audience.

[Dirko]

Yeah lost his post as Auskick ambassador yet his image and signature still remain on the Auskick site;

http://www.aflauskick.com.au/index.php?id=3

[Turbo]

Dipper is and always has been an idiot

[stan]

Fair dinkum, this crap just goes overboard? I got called a dogger many a time, doesn't phase me...... call me what you want...... sticks and stones........

A Dog_ger is a compliment

Yes, I have been called many things and it has unfazed me. Made me stronger to prove every one wrong.

Look wooly you are probably right, but in this day and age everybody knows that you can't say anything. He knew that and yeah dipper is bit of an idiot.

[fish]

There is a photo of Dipper in the social pages of this weeks Hills Courier. It is of Dipper and a whole bunch of kids under lights at the Hahndorf Football Club - proably taken after the Auskick session but before the club function. The caption reads:

"Robert 'Dipper' DiPierdomenico at the Hahndorf Football Club in what would prove to be his final role as Auskick ambassador. He was stood down for making an offensive remark at a club function that evening".

[Dirko]

And the AFL still are using his image on the website.

They'll reinstate him soon. All the Auskick packs distributed/being distributed have his image still too.

Would cost millions to recall and reissue.....