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Speaker: Who is the bigger dick?

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  • James Green,

    Reflecting on the southland aspect of Cowan's misdemeanour, I like the Mataura local old guy interviewed for the news who suggested 'he just needs a bit of a smack' or something similar. I think both Cowan and old guy reflect the role physical solutions still play in small towns.

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Gimelstob has apologised, and yet continues in his role as both a commentator and ATP player representative.

    Which is just appalling, and a depressing reminder of just how misogynistic someone has to be to get reprimanded for it, even now. Not that Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign didn't amply demonstrate that.

    The thing is, going by rankings, he's not half as good a player as the women he badmouths - I'd almost chalk it down to jealousy. But we're not going to hear that in mainstream media, because, of course, there's no way a man could be intimidated by the talent of a woman.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Not sure that he’d be intimidated by the talent of a woman as much as old fashioned jealousy of the money.

    There’s a great example of that in the moment here with cricketers from the 80s and 90s. They are bright, shiny green with envy with the current crop playing in the IPL. It’s impossible to talk for more than a minute about cricket with any of them before the “money” word comes up.

    Then it’s all “better in my day” stuff.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Making it "stop" is real easy, all you have to do is buy out Maria Sharapova's contracts with Tiffany, Sony-Ericsson, TAG-Heuer, Parlux, Land-rover, Colgate that like to portray her as appealingly good looking.

    And there are no endorsements of that type at all for the male players? Like Raphael "I don't need sleeves" Nadal.

    Jimmy Cowan is, by the sound of it, a young man with a problem, who has been punished.

    He was punished? A $3,000 fine, playing off the bench, and not being allowed to drink is punishment? (Not to mention that none of the team will be allowed to drink anything from last night onwards anyway.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    He’s not allowed to drink for 8 months HG.

    You name me one other 25 year-old NZer, not in prison, with that restriction.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    My point was that he was punished to the extent the NZRU feels is appropriate (the reasons for that are another issue). He will also, presumably, be punished under the law.

    And there are no endorsements of that type at all for the male players? Like Raphael "I don't need sleeves" Nadal.

    Nor for Roger 'Nike/Rolex/Prada' Federer.

    It's also worth pointing out, they don't "portray her as appealingly good looking", she is appealingly good looking.

    Something that has no bearing whatsoever on her abilities as a tennis player.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Nor for Roger 'Nike/Rolex/Prada' Federer.

    It's also worth pointing out, they don't "portray her as appealingly good looking", she is appealingly good looking.

    Something that has no bearing whatsoever on her abilities as a tennis player.

    But it has a huge impact on her ability to earn money during and after a fairly short playing career. And good luck to her.

    The reality is that at least part of the reason that people watch sport is that sportspeople can be quite good to look at. It's certainly part of the appeal of the Olympics.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    The reality is that at least part of the reason that people watch sport is that sportspeople can be quite good to look at. It's certainly part of the appeal of the Olympics.

    You wouldn’t be thinking Beach Volleyball there, would you RB?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    Nor for Roger 'Nike/Rolex/Prada' Federer.

    Off topic, but the latest Federer ad, featuring our very own Rhys Darby, is excellent

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    But it has a huge impact on her ability to earn money during and after a fairly short playing career. And good luck to her.

    No, absolutely, that's not what I am saying at all. If she can parlay her looks and her skill into endorsements, more power to her.

    My issue is headlines like "Maria is spanked", "In fashion, but out of Wimbledon" and "Glamour leads to defeat".

    God knows I've done a lot of my own ogling of sportspeople, but i'd like to think I always do it, knowing i think they are kind of awesome at what they do first.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Off topic, but the latest Federer ad, featuring our very own Rhys Darby, is excellent

    So, for that matter are Maria's

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Smart,

    James Cowan is the winner is there is to be only one.

    Rugby at the AB level is a mental game. Would a man who cannot stop drinking when it obviously going to get him into trouble have the mental capacity to do the right thing in a tight game. I sympathise with his problem but he is at least a sportsman Gimelwho??

    Comparison on the other hand are odious why not make them joint Dick(s) of the week.

    Since Nov 2006 • 71 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    I hear what you’re saying Maria, but I’m sure a large part of why Sharapova gets grief from the media and other players alike is that she’s just so annoying.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    I meant Megan, not Maria!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones,

    He’s not allowed to drink for 8 months HG.

    You name me one other 25 year-old NZer, not in prison, with that restriction.

    All of the pregnant ones?

    The boys will be boys vs abject paternalism thing often pops its head up in sport - there was a debate a few years back about female netball players in their first trimester being banned from playing. Can't remember whether it was Aussies or Kiwis who banned them, but their counterparts across the Tasman were all like, "I played then and I was fine." Also, women aren't allowed to do that high speed ski jump downhill as far as you can thing at the Winter Olympics, I think because the male sports administrators worry that their childbearing parts will fall off.

    There's certainly no girls will be girls approach to women's sport.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    My issue is headlines like "Maria is spanked", "In fashion, but out of Wimbledon" and "Glamour leads to defeat".

    Several years ago, the Guardian produced one of my all-time favourite headlines: "Beckham leaves field with broken wrist, silly haircut".

    This was during the brief cornrows period.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    Alcohol restrictions as part of performance management isn't unusual or new. The thought being if you want to stay we'll help, if not there's the door.

    Physicality is part of the attraction of sport, why do so many women watch rugby/league. Toffee-pops anyone?

    With the speed of the ball in mens tennis - what are you watching? Womens tennis is more of a contest and easier to follow for a number of reasons.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • rodgerd,

    Not that Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign didn't amply demonstrate that.

    It did demonstrate you can get given a free pass for employing racism if you cry about sexism enough.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Also, women aren't allowed to do that high speed ski jump downhill as far as you can thing at the Winter Olympics, I think because the male sports administrators worry that their childbearing parts will fall off.

    Only the latest in a long line of sports women have been forbidden from competing in at an Olympic level because their childbearing bits might fall off. To which the answer is always, men's hurdles, anyone?

    It did demonstrate you can get given a free pass for employing racism if you cry about sexism enough.

    Hillary Clinton ran a pretty dirty campaign, racist dogwhistles and all, but it doesn't negate the level of misogyny aimed at her (Citizens United Not Timid, etcetera.) For god's sake, people were making PMS jokes about a sixty-year-old women. It wasn't even clever. And I don't think she _did_ get a free pass on her campaigning, either; media outlets from the feminist blogosphere to the Economist called her on it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    How did Hillary end up in this?


    For example, she doesn't grunt?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    my bigger question is - but why hasn't cowan been put on close up and made to cry like they did to norm hewitt?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    I respect Norm for turning his life around after that. It was an alcohol fuelled, violent home invasion. Not sure what happened from there as far a Rugby goes but that was the moment his life changed for the better (with the exception of Dancing with the Stars) and maybe an attempt to stay out of jail.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    And there are no endorsements of that type at all for the male players? Like Raphael "I don't need sleeves" Nadal.

    When representing a brand for several $million per year on tennis ability and good looks - getting knocked out of Grand Slam in the second round is going to seriously damage your marketability if you cannot convert well on the good looks.

    As Megan points out on her blog (yes she was part of this argument) a Google News search about Maria Sharapova's exit from Wimbledon contains too many headlines that make mention of her fashion rather than her tennis. Meanwhile the equally whored-out Andy Roddick and Raphael Nadal don't get the same treatment.

    Maria Sharapova gets way more headlines than Andy Roddick, after both get knocked out early. Good on Maria, good on Maria's PR. "Maria is spanked", "In fashion, but out of Wimbledon" and "Glamour leads to defeat" - all good front page stuff generating $millions + $millions in exposure and securing Maria's endorsements for next year. To oppose this is to oppose Maria making $millions in endorsements. To focus on her general "awesomeness" at tennis last week would require acknowledging that 32 women were more awesome and they all earn a lot less money.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Rachel Prosser,

    I think a "dick" is someone being excessively stupid. It presupposes a chance of recovery. People who are fundamentally decent can be do stupid things and then grow up from them.

    Gimelstob just seems to be a misogynist troll, showing his true colours and ingrained attitudes.

    So I'd vote for Jimmy Cowan (and good luck with the alcohol problem - if he is an alcoholic, then he isn't the first sportsman to deal with the disease)

    That said, if there were more half-back depth, I suspect he'd be on a no-alcohol contract and out of the All Blacks.

    Maybe there is a chance for Justin Marshall after all?

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Good on Maria, good on Maria's PR.... To focus on her general "awesomeness" at tennis last week would require acknowledging that 32 women were more awesome and they all earn a lot less money.

    Gee, I wish I could see the forest! All these trees keep getting in the way...

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

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