Australian great David Campese was slammed by current and former players after a tweet questioning whether women journalists should be writing about rugby.
Campese, Australia's record try-scorer famed for his goose-stepping runs on the wing, posted on Wednesday morning about Sydney Morning Herald journalist Georgina Robinson, who is covering Australia's current tour of Europe.
"Why does the smh get a girl to write about rugby. Growden who was a great journo and now we have someone who has no idea about the game!" he tweeted.
'Growden' is the newspaper's long-time rugby writer Greg Growden who recently took redundancy.
After coming under attack for his comment, Campese returned to Twitter but only landed himself in further hot water with his follow-up comment.
He explained: "I was trying to say is (if) the coach is under pressure sometimes males give it to the coach as some females go a lot easier on them."
Campese, who played 101 Tests and scored a then-record 64 tries, has since deleted the tweet. But not before an online backlash, including one from Wallaby flanker David Pocock, currently in Wales ahead of this weekend's Test.
"Really sad to see journos attacked based on their gender. Or a grown woman referred to as a 'girl'," Pocock said on Twitter.
Former league and union player Wendell Sailor also criticised the comment.
"Well good morning to u Campo & I have to say u are on ur own with this comment, it's 2012 champ," he tweeted.
Campese later responded: "Sometimes it is good to see some people react to (a) thing you say. Please relax and see the light side of life. All press are the same."
Comments
georgesmith says...
I don't have anything against G. Robinson but D. Campo has a point. We expect the SMH journo to be blasting R. Deans for the dull brand of rugby the Wallabies are playing under him. R. Deans needs to go and only strong journalists can drive him out by tthe might of their 'sharpe' pens.
Posted 21:29 29th November 2012
Wallaroo says...
@craigsman, I agree that it is better not to have an opinion when there is no basis for one. In David Campese's case he has a basis in that he has played the game at the highest level, albeit I don't agree with his sentiments.
In respect to discrimination on the basis of gender, we all have opinions in this regard, rightly or wrongly.I certainly believe that there are things females do a lot better than men and visa versa; males and females are purposefully wired differently it's complimentary not discriminatory as the PC police have lead us to believe. Once one views our gender differences as complimentary, it raises our level of mutual appreciation so much higher.
Here's a thought. I once asked a female activist why she was fighting for equality with men when this could be viewed as lowering herself to a level where she would lose core competencies which most men would love such as genuine intuition, multitasking, intrinsic organisational skills, etc; and wouldn't it be better to be looked up to by men than seen on the same level. Her response was that she had never considered this.
Reality is PC BS had blinded her objectivity and self acceptance.
BTW I think Georgina is doing a good job.
Posted 14:06 29th November 2012
craigsman says...
Walleroo - agree with your sentiments on freedom of speech etc. But what about the rights of women to occupy the same roles as men without feeling discriminated? The fact is that he made it personal by saying that because she is a woman she was born less qualified than a man to do rugby journalism.
Plus - sometimes it is better to admit you have no opinion because you don't have enough knowledge of something than to have an opinion based on nothing.
Posted 09:56 29th November 2012
RiverBlues77 says...
So it's 2012? Good to see that not everyone has transformed into a politically correct, neutered douchebag who toes the line of complete intellectual subservience to the crypto-communists who're trying to take over the show. Sure Campo should have criticised her journalism skills rather than making a blanket statement on gender, but good on him for annoying the PC brigade anyway. On the plus side, the Ozzies have become so PC they've employed a woman called Pocock to play as their fetcher.
Posted 09:51 29th November 2012
Wallaroo says...
Love him or hate him, David Campese is and will always be a wind up artist. I don't always agree with his opinions but at least he has one.
Too many people today are swayed by political (in)correctness which in principal has depraved us of freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is the core and underlying power of democracy. In it's absence democracy has veiled disclosure, which creates a frustrated and intolerant society.
As Stockwell Day said "I believe in freedom of speech, but I believe we should also have the right to comment on freedom of speech" this doesn't mean we criticise those who exercise it only the statement or that which they are petitioning.
George Washington summed up the absence of freedom of speech when he said "If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter".
Posted 01:23 29th November 2012
bokbevok says...
Campo the chump not champ, once a d..k always a d..k.
Posted 20:53 28th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Serious issue. Is she cute? In a 2012 way?
Posted 13:26 28th November 2012
Houston_11 says...
I have never liked Campese - something about the guy has always annoyed me. It's great he's finally tripping himself up.... what an absolute fool to say something like that in 2012. Granted some journalists don't have a clue when you read some of their articles on the sport, but to label it as a purely sexist issue is ridiculous.
Posted 13:20 28th November 2012
BokAvenger says...
Personally I think Georgina is a babe. Certainly better looking than Murray Mexted, although JayStar might disagree
Posted 12:42 28th November 2012
hayj05 says...
Campese??? Surely not.
Wasn't he voted the most intelligent Australian of all time by his 3 fellow countrymen who mastered the voting system?
"I was trying to say is (if) the coach is under pressure sometimes males give it to the coach as some females go a lot easier on them."
Lol so it's really all about Robbie Deans, what a surprise... Just make a move already, no need to beat around the bush David.
Posted 09:05 28th November 2012