BOOING AND ADAM GOODES

Let me start by saying that I am in no way a racist, I have many friends from various backgrounds, some are Aboriginal, some are not.  I treat everyone of my friends and family the same and vice versa.  I love the Australian multi-cultural lifestyle that we have largely embraced for the past 50-60 years or more and it continues to grow.  Life would be bloody boring if we were all the same.

Now, lets get onto the topic of booing at the football or sport in general and the antics of Mr Adam Goodes from the Sydney Swans FC.  I have attended football matches for as long as I can remember and have been an avid Norwood FC supporter and in recent times a supporter of Adelaide Crows FC and pretty much anyone playing against Collingwood or Port Adelaide.

There would not be a game that I have attended where booing of someone, more often than not the Umpires has not taken place.  It is part of our game, it is part of our release to vent and let off steam.  We do this in Australia rather than get involved in violence or lighting flares, such is the case in overseas Soccer matches.  Over the years the crowds have (myself included) booed legends of our great game such as: Michael Aish, Russell Ebert, Wayne Carey, Mathew Lloyd, Tony Lockett, Garry McIntosh, Michael Graham, Gavin Wanganeen, Wilbur Wilson, Paul Bagshaw, John Wynne the list is endless.

We booed them not because we thought they were idiots or a different colour but quite simply because they were good.  They were in fact greats, who often would tear up the opposition because of their talents and they were often booed in a vain attempt to perhaps put them off their game.  On the other side of the ledger the entire crowd from both supporter bases would often applaud as one when someone like Roger Luders, Tony Modra, Stephen Silvagni, Michael O'Loughlin or Eddie Betts took a screamer.

Football is just one arena where booing often takes place but I have heard it at the cricket, aimed at Shane Warne or Steve Waugh from the English Barmy Army.  I have heard it at the Soccer and even baseball and basketball.  Sometimes the booing by the crowd is aimed at a particular player because of a recent indiscretion and then the crowd moves on.

However, in the case of Adam Goodes it has been allowed to fester on and on for weeks by the media and his own actions.  He has largely brought this on himself.  When you put yourself out there for a cause you then become the focal point of that cause.  The issue with Adam Goodes came to ahead at the Carlton game because they were booing him.  They were booing him because he is good not because he is Aboriginal.

Mr Adam Goodes has made this issue a racial one not the crowds who have booed him.  He has turned our game into a political statement.  Like I have said people boo opposition players to try and put them off their game and in this case Adam Goodes has let them win.  I am sure the Adelaide Crows appreciate the fact he wont be playing against them this weekend as he usually performs very well.

I don't think the booing is the issue, as a student studying human behaviour at the moment for my diploma in Counselling I suspect Mr Adam Goodes has some serious underlying mental issues that need resolving and the booing has just highlighted his plight and brought it all to the surface.  If his issues were simply just the booing alone, then hell we would not have one umpire left standing, they would be all out on stress as these poor dudes get booed by everyone and constantly.  Think about that one.

That's my opinion.