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Saturday March 20, 2010

What we're talking about

Sam Newman's passionate view

Posted by: By Ben Wise and Nicole Denton | 19 May, 2009 - 12:04 PM
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ABOVE: Watch the video of Sam Newman with 3AW's Neil Mitchell.

Aussie rules Footy Show host has again defended axed NRL Footy Show panel personality Matthew Johns.

The latter was stood down by Channel Nine after ABC TV's Four Corners produced a special on a group sex incident in New Zealand which involved Johns, a then 19-year-old woman and several NRL players from the Cronulla Sharks in 2002.

The woman, who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and even 'bought a rope' to hang herself with, reported the incident to police at the time but no criminal charges were ever laid.

Newman, however, believes the program was nothing more than a 'deliberate' witch-hunt to oust Johns from his high-profile role at Channel Nine.

"After the dishonest assassination that Channel Two … absolutely dishonest assassination of someone's career."

When quizzed by 3AW's Neil Mitchell why the program was dishonest, Newman then replied: "Because they just, only wanted to give one slant to a story which was emotive in the first place … and didn't bother to check anything about the rest of the facts."

"You couldn't conduct that interview on Four Corners without asking a whole range of other questions which might give someone some inkling into the fact that this mightn't be completely as it is … and their dishonesty by not asking them or playing them is a disgrace."

On another issue dominating - rightly or wrongly - the Melbourne news scene, Newman also weighed in with his thoughts.

With outrage in some circles over strippers performing at a low-grade amateur football club prior to the team playing, 303-game ex-AFL player Newman was asked by Mitchell 'ever seen strippers around footy clubs?'.

"I tell you what – I've seen things around life – that would make your hair curl … and while there are men on this planet and while there are women on this planet the two are inextricably linked," said Newman.

"I've not yet seen – I don't know why I'm saying this – I've not yet seen anyone chastise the women involved for being compliant – or the people who supply the women."

"I've not seen anyone say to the women who are far smarter than men on these occasions – not seen them chastised at all for any part in this."

On the specific case of te strippers perfomring before the amatuer footy game, Newman said:

"I think its ridiculous – I think it's just stupidity. And we should respect women … but I think I heard you say driving in some women make a career out of this – so that is their vocation. But this is nothing … we'll probably have silly Phil Cleary ring in a minute who is probably a charlatan - at best a simpleton - some of the things he says."

Mitchell then said of Phil Cleary: "He's passionate about it

Newman: "He's passionate about it and then he goes that extra metre and suddenly slags and slanders everyone who has an opinion that is reasonable."

"No-one could sit here and say we are for abusing women, exploiting them or running them down – like we're not into exploiting men and running them down and doing anything untoward to them … we are all equal in this but it seems to get sheeted home to stupid men – more than it does to smarter women."

Neil: "Because men are stupid."

Newman: "Stupid – because they are guided by one thing primarily."

"Every time I discuss it I am suddenly branded as a sexist, a misogynist, someone who doesn't respect women and nothing could be further from the truth – but let's be even-handed."

Sam Newman praised for reaction

Sam Newman 3AW's Neil Mitchell has praised Footy Show identity Sam Newman's words on the Channel Nine program in relation to the frenzied reaction to the NRL 'group sex debate' which is raging on airwaves around the country. Read and hear more.


Online group sex debate rages on

Matthew Johns The furore over the group sex story detailed on the ABC's Four Corners program last week involving a then 19-year-old woman, axed Channel Nine personality Matthew Johns and Cronulla Sharks NRL players in New Zealand in 2002 has sparked furious on-air and online debate on 3AW. In response to feedback, we have put all of your comments and 3AW's related coverage on one page.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Sam came to w.a. to do street talk and never played me and my girlfriend who was working at sussans at the time we gave him sum shit the guy could'nt handle it and put on the dead beats we were too smart n sexy for him althou my girlfriend did get camera shy but he did the run duck and get the hell out of there the big pussy go on play what I said hahahahahaha no way he would'nt shame himself even more so shame it never aired but still a sam newman supporter go sam.no need to be nasty thou luv ya footy show from simpsons 3 x

    shandelle simpson Friday 3 July, 2009 - 12:24 AM

  • the attitude that sam displays in his puerile attack on phil cleary is a sad reflection on him.

    Mary Mandanici Friday 29 May, 2009 - 1:44 PM

  • i think its a discrace what they have done to johns sam is right on the ball keep up the good work great interview

    bob Friday 22 May, 2009 - 11:49 AM

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