The eye of the beholder

I noted, with barely-concealed disgust, the apparent war of words being slugged out between TV chef Ramsay and ACA doberwoman Grimshaw in the online newspapers. As I marvelled at ACA's fantastic capacity to claim the high moral ground and label others as lowlife, it occurred to me that something similar has almost become the norm in footy circles.

It was, perhaps, not coincidental that it was Channel Ten who regaled us with the now-famous footage of Ben Cousins flipping the bird. This is the same broadcaster that brought us such cerebral delights as Big Brother, whose weekly prime time roster currently includes NCIS × 2, Law & Order: SVU × 2 and Law & Order: Criminal Intent × 2 — that's six grisly murders — and they're outraged by a footballer raising a finger in what he would assume is the privacy of the dressing room?

For everyone who hyperventilated over Cousins, get over it! The football media could show us many more shocking images, tell many more shocking stories about many other footballers; Cousins is simply an easy target.