David EdwardsWhite-Line Wendell aims High
May 16th 2008 04:45
It was great to see Wendell "Rock-Star" Sailor on the Footy Show last night, back after a lengthy 2 year ban due to white-line fever. Wendell appeared confident, eloquent and charateristically cocky, (which leads one to wonder whether he was drug-tested after the show), but in all truth it was fantastic to see the big winger back in the media spotlight.
The earnest nature in which he responded to the questions regarding his past was incredibly refreshing, in a day where media contracts are handed out wily-nily to the most mundane and uninspiring of football commentators. Wendell Sailor has done himself a great service by returning to Rugby League, this weekend for the Shellharbour Marlins. What an apt way for Wendell's return to Rugby League - through the Jim Beam Cup - given his admission to binge drinking, or "smashing himself" as he stated last night. I'm sure the Jim Beam sponsors have nothing to worry about, as i'm sure Wendell wiill be having his bourbon and cokes sans bourbon, instead opting for a clean-living lifestyle that is more appropriate for an aging sportsman.
Channel 9 has given out some pretty questionable contracts to ex/current footballers in recent times. Ben Ikin, a mediocre footballer whose lack of natural talent is matched only by the degree of nepotism that ensured his selection in every side that father-in-law Wayne Bennett coached, is one example. Another would be the decision to offer big Mark Geyer a contract. In what one can only assume is a attempt to garner pity ratings, watching "MG" on the Sunday Roast is a little like watching a tsunami on an amateur video. The outcome is inevitably bad, but the voyeuristic element inside lures us into watching the tragedy unfurl.
Billy Slater and Willie Mason are such shockingly one-dimensional human beings that it will pain all rugby league supporters to have to endure this duo on our screen until their 40's. Yet Channel 9 believes this is what the supporters want, bland, uninsightful banter, delivered in shockingly ocker accents that offer nothing to anyone execpt irreparable ear canal damage.
Wendell Sailor has proven that he can return from adversity, and that he has the charisma to match a thousand Ben Ikin's. Further more, i challenge anyone to not notice the dark hue of his skin - which can only add an element of multi-racial flavour to the shockingly "white-Anglo" appearance that is so prevalent in Australian sports-commentators.
With Wendell back in the media -this gives the opportunity for him to have a regular column in a Sydney newspaper, purely for the astounding number of potential headings that his pun-prone name could host. Of course, the obvious "Hello Sailor" column could work, but how about something a little left-field, such as "The In-Dell-ible Truth", or "When Dell Speaks, They Listen"?
Personally, SportingMind has been waiting too long for Wendell Sailor to creep back into the headlines - and its nigh-time that his face gets splashed across all media outlets for at least another 5 years. Not sure whether his return to league is related to the fact that the cocaine supply has dried up in Australia in recent years (so i've heard), or whether its simply more expensive these days - but SportingMind welcomes Wendell back into the hearts of the rugby league community.
Here's hoping he gets that white-line fever in order for the weekend clash, and scores a hat-trick for the Marlins!
-SportingMind.
The earnest nature in which he responded to the questions regarding his past was incredibly refreshing, in a day where media contracts are handed out wily-nily to the most mundane and uninspiring of football commentators. Wendell Sailor has done himself a great service by returning to Rugby League, this weekend for the Shellharbour Marlins. What an apt way for Wendell's return to Rugby League - through the Jim Beam Cup - given his admission to binge drinking, or "smashing himself" as he stated last night. I'm sure the Jim Beam sponsors have nothing to worry about, as i'm sure Wendell wiill be having his bourbon and cokes sans bourbon, instead opting for a clean-living lifestyle that is more appropriate for an aging sportsman.
Channel 9 has given out some pretty questionable contracts to ex/current footballers in recent times. Ben Ikin, a mediocre footballer whose lack of natural talent is matched only by the degree of nepotism that ensured his selection in every side that father-in-law Wayne Bennett coached, is one example. Another would be the decision to offer big Mark Geyer a contract. In what one can only assume is a attempt to garner pity ratings, watching "MG" on the Sunday Roast is a little like watching a tsunami on an amateur video. The outcome is inevitably bad, but the voyeuristic element inside lures us into watching the tragedy unfurl.
Billy Slater and Willie Mason are such shockingly one-dimensional human beings that it will pain all rugby league supporters to have to endure this duo on our screen until their 40's. Yet Channel 9 believes this is what the supporters want, bland, uninsightful banter, delivered in shockingly ocker accents that offer nothing to anyone execpt irreparable ear canal damage.
Wendell Sailor has proven that he can return from adversity, and that he has the charisma to match a thousand Ben Ikin's. Further more, i challenge anyone to not notice the dark hue of his skin - which can only add an element of multi-racial flavour to the shockingly "white-Anglo" appearance that is so prevalent in Australian sports-commentators.
With Wendell back in the media -this gives the opportunity for him to have a regular column in a Sydney newspaper, purely for the astounding number of potential headings that his pun-prone name could host. Of course, the obvious "Hello Sailor" column could work, but how about something a little left-field, such as "The In-Dell-ible Truth", or "When Dell Speaks, They Listen"?
Personally, SportingMind has been waiting too long for Wendell Sailor to creep back into the headlines - and its nigh-time that his face gets splashed across all media outlets for at least another 5 years. Not sure whether his return to league is related to the fact that the cocaine supply has dried up in Australia in recent years (so i've heard), or whether its simply more expensive these days - but SportingMind welcomes Wendell back into the hearts of the rugby league community.
Here's hoping he gets that white-line fever in order for the weekend clash, and scores a hat-trick for the Marlins!
-SportingMind.
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Comment by Mick D
Let's hope, for our sake as league fans, and for the man himself he makes an explosive comeback and finishes his career on the positive note it so thoroughly deserves. The media element will be a bonus, but Wendell definitely has the honesty and insight to give us something different.