Is there no end to the ongoing litany of disgraceful behavior by drunken " sportsmen " ?
Nobody objects to a bit of harmless fun after a few drinks, but when the outcome is a glassing, or an all-in pub brawl - or a sordid episode of gang rape - it is time to draw a line.
It is quite clear that the present penalties are not working. Players have been suspended for a number of games. Both player and club have been levied heavy fines and some repeat offenders have been required to sign a ban on alcohol use - and none of these have solved the problem.
So - what is the problem ?
It seems that the problem is the move from sport being played by people who also hold down a day job to a professional clique who earn obscene amounts of money and are feted as Gods by the media. They feel that they exist in a rarefied world far beyond us mere mortals.
The only answer seems to be an understanding by all the sporting codes that a " three strikes and you are out " policy applies.
Two warnings - and on the third offence you are out for life - not just in your chosen sporting field - but from all aspects of competition in any sport.
The end of the big money. The end of adulation and fame. Enough to be taken seriously as the ultimate penalty.
Some people may object on the grounds that alcoholism is the root cause, and as such is not the fault of the player. That begs the question. Do we want alcoholics as our sporting hero's ?
It's time to get tough ! The game is bigger than any individual player !
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