Get off your high horses those calling for the rest of the year etc. Admit you've never made a mistake. It was wrong by him.
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Get off your high horses those calling for the rest of the year etc. Admit you've never made a mistake. It was wrong by him.
Harsh penalty prob decided by the AFL's PR dept.
Still, stupid thing for Sherm to do so hopefully he learns.
Our recruits from up nth aren't making our PR team's job any easier!
Sorry but does any one know what he said? Without knowing what he said I'm pretty sure no one should be abusing Sherman. Obviously racism is a complete no-no, yet there are very, very fine lines on the issue and it might be the case that Sherman crossing the line was simply clumsy. We know from when he first arrived at the club that he can imply something through clumsy language without meaning to.
You think so? He is a show pony on the field. Apart from the Freo game many of his goals are soft/goal square type. Not sure he works hard enough either. He provides us with run we've needed but we gave up a bit for him.
Off field he has been a disaster. Classic example of a footballer that should keep his mouth shut apart from saying the cliches.
I don't agree with this. 4 weeks is enough.
The fact GC (and by extension, Wilkinson) accepted the penalty indicates the penalty is harsh enough to make amends for that particular incident. I just hope he goes further than this and make some further efforts at redemption.
Whilst I agree with a year being too much, you can hardly ask those slamming racism to get off their high horses. They've a right to feel let down.
Its disappointing for everyone involved.
I feel for Sherman who will get a hard time because of this mistake - for the rest of his career. Without knowing him, I'm willing to give Sherman the benefit of the doubt that it was a 'heat of the moment' mistake - and that it is only a blemish on his otherwise good character.
But the player from the Suns, if I'm not mistaken - is playing his first AFL match, and gets racially villified....its disgusting - and I feel sorry for him too.
I don't think the punishment is excessive whatsoever - and on the surface - both clubs have handled it pretty well.
For those who think along the lines of "What's said on the ground, should stay on the ground" - should attempt to stumble across the modern game at some point.
It was stupid but the penalty is harsh. It should be remembered that one stupid comment does not make someone racist. Also for those who stand in judgement, remember the last time you said or did something stupid in the heat of the moment.
But with all that being said it was a dumb thing to do by someone who seems to have form doing dumb things (maybe he lived up in the deep north too long). I feel bad for the GC player involved and I do give Justin credit for manning up and taking the punishment on the chin.
Made a big mistake , now he pays for it! Everyone makes them and hopefully Justin learns a harsh lesson. Been handled well IMO. As for Sherman the footballer, been a tad disappointing but I'd reckon he's a good footballer in a team traveling well and looks a little average in one travelling ordinary.
As Ozza said, it's highly likely that it was made in the heat of the moment. I don't condone it or think it's right but you seem to want to hang him out to dry.
He's been suspended for 4 weeks, he has to make a $5k donation to a charity, he has to complete a course along the lines of racial vilification. He's going to feel like shit and wear this for the rest of his life.
What do you feel would be a suitable punishment for him? Playing rights taken away ala Cousins? Gaol sentence?
According to the Bulldogs site: "Justin will also volunteer for the Red Dust Role Models program an initiative that provides mentoring and support in remote indigenous communities."
I don't understand this. If Sherman vilified a person of African(Nigerian) descent, as noted in this thread, what does this have to do with the Aboriginal community? I hope the club and/or the AFL don't think people of African descent are the same race as Indigenous Australians. Perhaps with the growing number of people of African descent in Melbourne, something to help the Sudanese in the Footscray area might have been more appropriate. Just a thought.
At least Sherman has apologised and owned up to his wrongdoing. The four weeks seems right for what he did.
It's poor by Sherman and it's a fair punishment.
However, the reactions of some on this forum tells me they haven't been in local leagues or in general social environments enough. It happens all the time, and often much worse (eg. physical abuse).
Sherman does need to be made an example of, though. Not good enough.
In my day it was just trying to put a player off his game, he would do the same back and you just got on with it, and you both knew it was just trying to psyche each other out and meant nothing.
Afterwards you all had a beer and didnt even remember what was said or you both laughed about it.
Okay things have changed and you can all have a go at me but whatever happened to a bit of gobbing off, I copped it and mainly looked forward to it, whether my race, parents etc.
I heard some real funny ones and you knew they werent personal.
I do have one question if its racially driven why arent the people feeling villified proud of their heritage?
As Nicky Winmar did by lifting his top, yes im black or aboriginal and i am proud of it.
We should all be proud of our race, I was born in the UK and growing up here, still cop the pommy "B" 40 years later, I take it as a plus not a minus.
I think the unwritten rule was dont get personal, eg if you knew something had happened to the family and focussed on that it was a no no, if he did that yep give him a good going over.
The world has changed since my day and I suppose rules are rules and all players are schooled on not doing it, Sherman did it so he is guilty but I think a few of us are going over the top with being remembered for it and its a blight on the club, i am backing its gone and forgotten in 4 weeks.
I certainly have nothing against Sherman just dissappointed its one of our players and he should have known better.
I'm with you. 4 weeks is an appropriate suspension and the fine and the eduction that he needs to complete should get the message across loud and clear.
He's been around elite football long enough to have known it wasn't acceptable and I think the club, the Suns and the AFL have made the right call.
Like I said he should be at least stood down for the rest of the year. Personally I would sack him but that is IMHO.
If this happened in many a workplace the consequences would be significant. Many a workplace would terminate a person's contract immediately. It is bringing the workplace into disrepute (in this instance the WBFC) Particularly as there has been such a strong focus on this area within the AFL any misdemeanours in this area should really involve some significant penalties including termination of contract.
Gaol sentence??? Now you are taking the piss.
Sherman put himself in a position where he can't really argue the depth of his punishment. He has to take what comes his way, but the club should have shouldered some of the weight, by leaving it up to the AFL to decide.
I don't see any other club 'volunteering' punishments for their players indiscretions.
Whilst it's a sensitive topic, we're too 'nice' of a club. Nobody gives a shit what the Dogs offered, so if our PR people think it's positive to take initiative, they're dreaming. We should have taken the punishment from the AFL and said "We agree, we're disappointed etc."
So you know the types of social environments that we have been involved in. I don't think so. Unfortunately I have seen these types of actions both socially and professionally. Professionally they have been dealt with appropriately including termination of contract.
There is no comparison between a local league and a professional sports person who earns his living through his craft. Like I said personally I would sack him but that is IMHO - I don't agree with the punishment received as i don't see that it befits the action. However if all parties involved in the issue have discussed and agreed with the appropriate action then I will simply leave it at that.
Being called a pommy B does not have even a tenth of the weight of history that black races have endured but I just don't know where to start with that one.
I just saw Sherman on the news. He appeared devastated and said how inappropriate it was given his close ties with guys like Djekerra, Hill and Jones. He has fully acknowledged he was wrong rather than attempt to justify it as banter, or undercut it by the old Wayne Carey,' IF I have offended anybody..' cop out line, and that is as it should be.
Sockeye. I completely and utterly disagree with you.
That old chestnut, (and I'll quote it in full in case anyone doesn't know it)
"sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me"
Is a colossal load of bull$@#t.
Names hurt, they hurt alot, workplace bullying and cyber bullying has caused suicides. Fact.
Racism is about the vilest face of human behaviour and needs to be stamped out completely.
I hope justin Sherman is ashamed and sorry and 4 weeks is OK with me.