Eddie McGuire & Adam Goodes & King Kong

Statement from Eddie McGuire Dear members, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to the entire Collingwood family, particularly to our indigenous and ethnic supporter groups for the comments I made about Adam Goodes today. Regardless of my intentions, I acknowledge that the comments referring to Adam were offensive and for that I am truly sorry. What I said today was the opposite of what was in my mind at the time. It was thoughtless but absolutely said without malice. In a week that has been dominated by our thoughts on Indigenous relations and racial vilification, the Collingwood Football Club and I have stood and will continue to stand absolutely against racism in all its forms and will continue to work actively in the area. Adam Goodes has been a trailblazer for all indigenous footballers and his leadership has stood out like a beacon not only in the AFL but for the whole of Australia. I am grateful to Adam for graciously accepting my apology today. We have worked tirelessly to build Collingwood into an institution that fans can be proud of and one others can admire for its commitment to equality and social justice. I am proud of the leadership the club has assumed in promoting racial equality, of its multiple ethnic and indigenous programs and the impact that these have had on the countless people who have been involved. Today I made a mistake that I absolutely regret. I am sad that my words have cast a shadow on this great club. I will continue to work tirelessly in advancing the interests of our indigenous and ethnic communities and to ensure that the Collingwood Football Club remains a standard bearer for all to follow. Eddie McGuire President
SUPERFOOTY EDDIE McGuire will meet Collingwood chiefs to decide if he should stand aside as club president. An apologetic Pies boss was cited for breaching the AFL racial vilification policy over his "King Kong" reference to Swan Adam Goodes. Late last night he emailed Collingwood's 75,490 members, saying: "I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to the entire Collingwood family ... I am sad that my words have cast a shadow on this great club." The AFL has ordered him to mediation with Goodes and to take tolerance classes, on pain of a fine of up to $20,000. On Fox Footy, asked if he should stand down during an enforced AFL mediation process, McGuire said: "I'll speak to the board ... tomorrow." McGuire told Fox Footy: "If that's appropriate (to step aside), if that's symbolic, if that makes a difference, then I will. "I would have no problem if Triple M said have a spell, if Fox Footy said, 'You know what? We don't want you to be the face of footy this weekend'. Then I would happily do that and I'd cop that blemish on my impeccable record." McGuire insisted he did not racially vilify anyone when he suggested on his radio show that Goodes promote the new King Kong musical. When co-host Luke Darcy said the huge gorilla hand jutting from the Eureka Skydeck was a "great promo" for the show, McGuire said: "Get Adam Goodes down for it, d'you reckon?" The AFL said McGuire's comments were "totally unacceptable" and that he would be dealt with under Rule 30 of the AFL Player Rules - a rule introduced to combat racial and religious vilification in the league. In his email, McGuire offered apologies "particularly to our indigenous and ethnic supporter groups. Regardless of my intentions, I acknowledge that the comments referring to Adam were offensive and for that I am truly sorry. It was thoughtless but absolutely said without malice". Just five days ago he had condemned a teenage girl for calling the dual Brownlow medallist an ape during Sydney's 47-point defeat of Collingwood. Goodes, one of footy's most decorated indigenous players, was "gutted" by her remarks. But Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless said McGuire's comments had shattered Goodes even more. "If anything I'd say (Goodes) is in more of an emotional state as a consequence of this than of the incident on Friday," he said. Goodes tweeted: "Morning Australia this is what I have woken up to", linking to a story about the gaffe. McGuire was quick to apologise on-air over what seemed to be a joke gone horribly wrong. But later, he was adamant he had not been trying to be funny, saying it was a "slip of the tongue". "I wasn't racially vilifying anyone ... I made a comment," he said. "I was thinking the opposite. I made a slip and it's one that I regret. It happens sometimes. I wasn't on my game. But there's no excuses. I put my foot in it and I stand here today to say I did the wrong thing." Colless didn't agree. "A slip of the tongue is one word mispronounced. This was a few sentences," he said. He said while Goodes had accepted a personal apology from McGuire, it did not excuse what had been said. Collingwood president Eddie McGuire apologises for his Adam Goodes "King Kong" comments, saying he "put his foot in it" and reaffirming his... He tweeted: "It doesn't matter if you are a school teacher, a doctor or even the president of my football club I will not tolerate racism, nor should we as a society. ''In my opinion race relations in this country is systematically a national disgrace and we have a long way to go to reach a more harmonious and empathetic society." The 13-year-old girl who ignited the controversy also weighed in, branding McGuire a hypocrite. She said she was surprised and confused after her apology to the AFL great. "Why would he say it again after all the trouble I got into? And he said something like that should never be repeated again, and then he goes and says it," she told the Herald Sun. GWS coach Kevin Sheedy says Eddie McGuire had a brain fail when making an on-air gaffe about Adam Goodes. "I don't understand why." The girl's mother, Joanne Looney, said McGuire owed her daughter an apology. But the pair said McGuire shouldn't stand down as club president, nor be fined. "It was a mistake, same as (my daughter) did." AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said: "Mr McGuire's comments about Adam Goodes were extremely disappointing and totally unacceptable. "(His) ill-judged comments have clearly compounded the hurt caused to Mr Goodes ... As a result, Mr McGuire will be treated under the Rules as we would anyone else." The AFL's Racial and Religious Vilification Policy requires McGuire first speak with Goodes, which he did. He'll now go through league education programs. Triple M acknowledged McGuire's comments could have been interpreted as racist and apologised to any listeners who were offended.	The Australian THERE is a vast difference between what a 13-year-old girl yelled over the fence at a football match last Friday and what Collingwood president and broadcaster Eddie McGuire said on his breakfast radio show yesterday morning. But both comments have been heard around the world. The girl called Sydney's indigenous champion Adam Goodes "an ape". It sparked a weekend of debate - good and bad, informed and vile - about what constitutes racial abuse. Goodes was deeply hurt and could not remain on the field, even though his side was rollicking to a memorable win. McGuire said on his Triple M radio program that Adam Goodes could be used perhaps to promote the musical King Kong. Effectively McGuire was calling Goodes an ape. Again the footballer would be bewildered and offended, as would all other indigenous sportsmen and women. The girl says she was unaware that calling Goodes an ape was racially vilifying him. No doubt that is true. But McGuire knows exactly what racial vilification is. He knows exactly how much it hurts. McGuire saw the tears in the eyes of Goodes when he went into the Sydney rooms after the game on Friday night to apologise to the champ on behalf of his club and competition. And yet he made yesterday's remark. He said it was a slip of the tongue, a humiliating mistake by a professional broadcaster. McGuire should be believed, too. The difference between the two comments is not in the words but the motivation behind them. That they ultimately proved as damaging as one another is as sad as it is infuriating. Goodes will never forget either comment. The girl's mistake, made in ignorance and not malice, but the one that set alight a lifetime of abuse for Goodes, will not be an eternal stigma for the kid. The words and the moment will live on but her identity will - or should - become irrelevant. McGuire will never live down his comments. Not in 100 years. McGuire and King Kong have just become inseparable. That's McGuire you see in King Kong's fist. Judging by the reaction of Sydney chairman Richard Colless and coach John Longmire, Goodes was more upset yesterday than he was Friday night. He has spoken to McGuire and accepted his apology. But he has been racially and emotionally shirt-fronted twice within five days. The toughest of souls can become tender with repeated hits. McGuire did not articulate his case well yesterday at his news conference. He knew to do so at an electrified environment where he was, for one of the rare times in his ambitious and successful career, vulnerable would not have helped his cause. McGuire said he was doodling in his mind how King Kong might have been promoted a century ago. To explain further he would have had to talk about the way black people were depicted in early films, the stereotyping and the degradation. All but swinging from trees. But McGuire did unthinkingly and most unprofessionally put his musing to air. To McGuire it was not racial vilification. He is not capable of it. Look at all the indigenous programs with which he is associated. He has spoken passionately about fairness and equal rights. McGuire says judge him on what he did on Friday night and not what he blurted out on Wednesday morning. It is for these reasons he claims what he said on air was not racial vilification and different to the incident with the 13-year-old girl. But as different as the two cases are they are very much the same on the most crucial point of all. The girl had no idea that she was racially vilifying Goodes. McGuire had no intention of vilifying anybody. But Goodes was offended on Friday night and shattered on Wednesday morning. Goodes is in no doubt he was racially vilified. The 13-year-old girl needed it explained to her that calling Goodes an ape was racial vilification. And it was racial vilification because Goodes believed the comment was directed at his people and at his colour. Racial vilification is not in the words of the accused but in the hearts of the victim. That is the reason McGuire, for all the years of genuine concern for indigenous Australians matched by an honourable and uplifting enthusiasm to facilitate change, cannot escape the charge of racially vilifying Goodes. He said such a judgment would burn him. Someone call an ambulance.
REAL FOOTY While Eddie McGuire is the man in the hot seat on this occasion, there could yet be collateral damage on the field as well as off it. The fallout from his inappropriate comments about Adam Goodes could affect Nathan Buckley, for the Magpies coach must now deal with another major issue that has already distracted at least one of his key players. Buckley will need to ensure Harry O'Brien's mindset is now solely on Friday night's crucial clash against the Brisbane Lions. On Wednesday, it was purely on McGuire. ''I'm extremely disappointed with Eddie's comments and do not care what position he holds,'' O'Brien tweeted. Whack. When was the last time you heard a player say that about his president? The pair appeared on Fox Footy to talk through their differences and seemed to be on friendly enough terms. But a hallmark of the Magpies' 2010 premiership under Mick Malthouse was the ability to escape unwanted headlines. In 2010, McGuire made a conscious decision to keep as low a profile as possible, for he did not want the club's focus to veer from its primary aim - securing a flag. Mission accomplished. A year later and the handover from Malthouse to Buckley, with McGuire wedged in the middle, was clearly a distraction as the Magpies lost to Geelong in the grand final. Buckley is already dealing with several issues. Injuries have decimated his list and several key operators are out of form. Former Sydney coach Paul Roos has even questioned what ''brand'' the team stands for on the field. And there has been a minor tiff between Dale Thomas and Darren Jolly over the latter's Fairfax Media column about his poor relationship with former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser. Then, in a bid to avoid controversy, club chief executive Gary Pert confirmed Buckley had asked Dayne Beams to delete an angry tweet about Justin Koschitzke's off-the-ball hit on Magpie Jamie Elliott this month. Buckley, in conjunction with consultants Leading Teams, has worked to extract greater off-field discipline from players, who had been given more freedom under Malthouse. The so-called Brat Pack have been taught some tough lessons - just ask Dane Swan and, this week, Heath Shaw, who Buckley says is one of a few players whose skinfolds are not as they should be. Suddenly, a bigger storm, involving one of the most prominent names in the country, has enveloped his club. Buckley must quickly get his men to refocus, otherwise a season that promised so much will hang in the balance.	REAL FOOTY A defiant Eddie McGuire says he is determined to make amends for his dire on-air clanger racially vilifying Adam Goodes, and said he was willing to stand aside as Collingwood president while the AFL's process unfolded. He said he would ask the Collingwood board members whether they thought that was an appropriate step also said he would ''take a spell'' from his various media commitments if required. Eddie McGuire. ''I'll talk to the guys about it. I'll speak to the board. The board have said to me today we know what you're doing,'' he said on Fox Footy's AFL360. ''I'll work it out with other people tomorrow, I've just got to get through today to be honest. If that's appropriate, if that's symbolic, if that makes a difference, then I will. I have no problem with that. ''I have no problem if Triple M said have a spell, if Fox Footy said you know what we don't want you to be the face of footy this weekend, maybe have a spell. ''I would happily do that and I'd cop that blemish on my impeccable record in that regard to make the point. ''There's no ducking around or anything else, it is what it is. I'm enternally disappointed and sorry on what happened and I will make amends. I will make amends, I promise you I will make amends.'' McGuire also offered to resign from his position as the chairman of the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre, an offer that Long rejected. McGuire had inexplicably suggested Goodes could be used to promote the musical King Kong just days after a 13-year-old girl hurled the racist slur of ''ape'' at Goodes during the match between the Magpies and Swans at the MCG on Friday. McGuire had been praised for his handling of that issue, but undid all the good work on his Triple M breakfast show on Wednesday. Swans chairman Richard Colless and coach John Longmire were bewildered by McGuire's comments, while it is understood that Goodes has reluctantly accepted McGuire's apology. ''I think a slip of the tongue is probably one word mispronounced. This was actually a few sentences,'' Colless said. ''It wasn't even funny. Being funny, you might have been able to make the case. It was [a] very sort of ham-fisted comment that really you would have thought only an amateur who hadn't read the papers over the weekend would have been able to make.'' The AFL has said McGuire will be put through the league's racial and religious vilification counselling process. One of the most savage responses to McGuire came from Magpies backman Harry O'Brien, who admonished his president, declaring he was ''extremely disappointed''. ''In my opinion race relations in this country is systematically a national disgrace,'' he said. McGuire later apologised to O'Brien and the pair appeared together on AFL360 to further discuss the issue of ''unintended racism''. Discussing with Luke Darcy, on their breakfast radio show on Triple M, a promotion of the King Kong musical, in which an ape's hand was hung from the Eureka Skydeck, 300 metres above the ground. Darcy said: ''One of the great promos ever was the hand coming out of the Eureka tower. What a great promo that is for King Kong.'' McGuire interjected: ''Get Adam Goodes down for it, you reckon?'' ''No, I wouldn't have thought so,'' was the response from Darcy. McGuire went on, stumbling over his words: ''You can see them doing that, can't you? Goodesy. You know, the big, not the ape thing, the whole thing … I'm just saying pumping him up and mucking around and that sort of stuff.'' McGuire then went into damage control. He soon rang AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, federal Sports Minister Kate Lundy, Goodes and the Swans to apologise and fronted a packed media conference. ''Adam was really upset. I don't think he felt vilified because he knows me and he said that to me,'' McGuire said. McGuire said it was a ''slip of a tongue'' and ''it burns me to the core''. He said he understood if indigenous players questioned his stance on equality but said this had been a ''hallmark of his presidency'' and it was ''a cause that I live for''. ''I am not a racist and because I have done a lot of things in the past and I will continue to fight for the cause of equality in Australia,'' he said. ''People don't resign because they make a slip of the tongue. It's as simple as that. If I stood up because I was racially vilifying somebody, not only should I be resigning, I should be sacked. ''I let myself down because I had a slip of the tongue. It was as simple as that but the ramifications are greater than that.'' McGuire had spent Tuesday night at an indigenous-related event. Asked why he had used Goodes' name, McGuire replied: ''We were talking about how the arm of King Kong was on the building. To be honest I was drifting off, thinking about how [promotional] things used to be done in the old days … it just slipped out.''