Surprising article from an Aussie journo!

[Precambrian]

Whoa!

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport...-raise-his-hand/2008/12/16/1229189623611.html

Glad to see a change in perspective.

 

[Matt79]

Articles here critical of the Aussie team aren't thin on the ground you know - when they deserve it, and sometimes when they don't, they'll get a roast. Ex-players tend to stick up for their mates and promote the team line, but that's not a problem unique to Australia. Proper journos like Haigh, Baum, Roebuck regularly call the Aussie team on bad performances or poor behaviour.

We're not all the biased, blinkered, arrogant fools some like to make us out to be. We've deserved our pride in our team here in the past decade and a bit, but there's not going to be much of a honeymoon based on past performances for the team going forward if they don't perform.

 

[Precambrian]

Whether it's love or hate, Aussie media has so far just focussed on that "Australian cricket". What I was surprised is that this guy is asking to look beyond that.

 

[The Sean]

"in Australia, an out-of-work drug addict had a stroke of luck and scratched his arse"

What is this a reference to?

 

[Richard]

Yeah, I wondered that too.

 

[Precambrian]

"in Australia, an out-of-work drug addict had a stroke of luck and scratched his arse"

What is this a reference to?

That remark got me too.

Think it's a random reference to highlight how such a non-news get preferred over graver issues from outside Australia.

 

[Matt79]

Are the media in any country different? They write what their editors tell them to, which is what their research shows people want to read about. Barring something extraordinary going on in a test not involving the audience's team, the average fan isn't going to be as interested in those matches.

Baum writes for The Age, one of the major broadsheets - it's not a specialist cricket or sports publication although it has a sports section. During summer, it will typically feature two, maybe three, non-Australian match report type articles a day. The Age, and therefore its journos, aren't trying to take on Cricinfo, or other specialist cricket media in providing comprehensive coverage of the game around the world - they aim to give people what they want.

 

[Precambrian]

What people want? Sad to see media has fallen to such depths.

 

[silentstriker]

We're not all the biased, blinkered, arrogant fools some like to make us out to be.

I would say most fans in most countries are.

 

[The Sean]

What people want? Sad to see media has fallen to such depths.

I'm not sure if you're being ironic there or not, but it's exactly what the media have always done. It's a business, and a very big one at that - if they don't give the people what they want they don't make money and their business is taken by one that does.

Unfortunately, "what the people want" tends invariably to be trash. Mainly because large groups of people are, by and large, very stupid and incredibly easily manipulated.

My name is The Sean and I am an elitist snob.

 

[duffer]

"in Australia, an out-of-work drug addict had a stroke of luck and scratched his arse"

What is this a reference to?

Ben Cousins I can only presume.

 

[Uppercut]

How patronising and ironic, and Indian starting a thread based on his surprise at finding an Aussie with a reasonably unbiased opinion on cricket.

 

[Precambrian]

How patronising and ironic, and Indian starting a thread based on his surprise at finding an Aussie with a reasonably unbiased opinion on cricket.

Not.

 

[Matt79]

That remark got me too.

Think it's a random reference to highlight how such a non-news get preferred over graver issues from outside Australia.

if you're referring to ben cousins that's ****ing dire.

 

[Matt79]

What people want? Sad to see media has fallen to such depths.

it's a business! What do you expect.

 

[Precambrian]

if you're referring to ben cousins that's ****ing dire.

Who is Ben Cousins?

 

[Matt79]

One of the biggest football (australian rules football) stars in the game. Aussie rules is the biggest sport in Australia. I assumed the "out of work drug addict" reference was to him.

It's been a massive story here, and while Baum sarcasm is understandable - I share it - its not surprising that papers are following it, as football is much more passionately followed, and it is a story involving scandal and intrigue.

 

[Neil Pickup]

What people want? Sad to see media has fallen to such depths.

Incredible, isn't it? Can you believe that shops also sell what people want to buy, and cinemas show films people want to watch?

 

[Precambrian]

Incredible, isn't it? Can you believe that shops also sell what people want to buy, and cinemas show films people want to watch?

It's not shut case as stuff. The dumbest perception is that the people are dumb.

 

[Uppercut]

One of the biggest football (australian rules football) stars in the game. Aussie rules is the biggest sport in Australia. I assumed the "out of work drug addict" reference was to him.

It's been a massive story here, and while Baum sarcasm is understandable - I share it - its not surprising that papers are following it, as football is much more passionately followed, and it is a story involving scandal and intrigue.

Is Aussie Rules the biggest sport in Australia? I always thought it would, be but several Australians on this forum assured me that cricket was most popular, as it has appeal right across the country whereas League, Union and Aussie Rules are only popular in certain hotspots. What's the truth there?