What word pops into your head when you think of the greatest game?
Entertainment, memories, career, passion, childhood?
Excitement, enjoyment, happiness, teamwork, family?
Excitement, enjoyment, happiness, teamwork, family?
To me the NRL represents a way of life. It represents a lifestyle and a beautiful, promising future. The NRL has so many positive stories, from players saving themselves from a life of crime or hardship, to participating wholeheartedly in charity events and raising money and awareness for less fortunate people, such as those fighting a serious illness or an RSL that has been destroyed by fire or floods. Players, staff and supporters across the world unite through football. They support each other through wins, losses, off-field incidents and deaths of those close to them.
There are obviously negative stories too, but not often does the magnitude of any bad situation overcome the positive. There have been players who find themselves in trouble with the law or the judiciary; including breaching club rules, assaults, public disturbances and the ASADA scandal last year. These things happen in every code of football, every code of sport and everyday life too. Football players receive bad publicity because they are role models for the younger generations, however punishment extends further through social media.
Players don't have to be in trouble with the law to find themselves being attacked on personal social networking sites and news forums. Every on-field movement is judged, every win or loss made known throughout the NRL community. Racist, homophobic, judgmental and extremely rude comments are not uncommon on pictures, statuses and articles. Whilst the NRL works hard to promote equality, acceptance and security within the sport, how do inconsiderate people promote such hatred? Those who spread hate are not die-hard, poud supporters of their team, they are people who are publicly attacking the reputation of the sport and tarnishing the beautiful game.
There is a difference between playful banter and a discriminating attack.
Instead of being consumed by hatred and targeting a player over winning or losing a game, moving to another team, bad behavior or simply wanting to cause trouble, why don't they acknowledge all of the positives. The game would be a much better place.
Players don't have to be in trouble with the law to find themselves being attacked on personal social networking sites and news forums. Every on-field movement is judged, every win or loss made known throughout the NRL community. Racist, homophobic, judgmental and extremely rude comments are not uncommon on pictures, statuses and articles. Whilst the NRL works hard to promote equality, acceptance and security within the sport, how do inconsiderate people promote such hatred? Those who spread hate are not die-hard, poud supporters of their team, they are people who are publicly attacking the reputation of the sport and tarnishing the beautiful game.
There is a difference between playful banter and a discriminating attack.
Instead of being consumed by hatred and targeting a player over winning or losing a game, moving to another team, bad behavior or simply wanting to cause trouble, why don't they acknowledge all of the positives. The game would be a much better place.
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