Chris RubickRETURN OF THE JUDD
May 1st 2008 09:26
Jake Niall’s article on April 26th in The Age entitled
“Get Juddy – The Untold Story of the Superclubs and the Super deal” whilst entertaining was proof that all too often everything old is new again… and Juddy sells papers!
Was it an ‘untold story’? Only if that means that this story was the first time that all the pieces of the 'Judd to Carlton' puzzle that was put into one article. Untold story… I don’t think so… but it was a fantastic summary of everything that had been written and discussed in the preceding 6 months.
What the article did confirm is that Judd is a man and an athlete driven by his love of:
• The Game
• His Family
• His Privacy & Integrity
• A sense of loyalty and commitment – this may sound bizarre but he wanted the best possible compensation for the Eagles (hence his choice was Carlton and not Collingwood) and he quizzed President Pratt on whether he too would be ‘sticking around’ at the Blues.
But what still irks me most about Judd’s return home is the perception started by Leigh Matthews and supported by many journalists, that Judd interviewing clubs rather than vice versa was distasteful.
I particularly struggled with the judgemental views of many at SEN, particularly David Schwarz and Francis Leach. Back on October 1st last year I wrote this:
I wonder what was motivating this (a judgemental editorial)? Jealousy? Insecurity? Tall Poppy Syndrome? Or simply that their clubs were rejected?
The boys had a lot to say but gave no solutions or suggestions as to what Chris should do? I would ask ‘what would they have done in that situation?’
I am no Chris Judd, but I was working in Hong Kong in 2006, but like Chris, decided I wanted to return home to family, friends and the Melbourne way of life. I was offered a couple of jobs by my then employer but had made up my mind - I wanted to return. I resigned in February 2007 and then took some time to decide what “I wanted to do” and “where I wanted” to work. In my view this was standard practice and I had every right to do so!
So, why shouldn’t such a right be extended to Judd? I had 100’s of organisations to choose from, no public scrutiny and another 30 years of work ahead of me… Judd had 9 Melbourne based clubs to work for, only a limited time frame to choose and also a limited time to work – say 6-8 years. I have not even mentioned the ‘trade process’ that he, and others, must be subjected too.
Again, I ask Francis and Ox (and other members of the media) – what would they do in his situation?
And pleeeease do not suggest that you would actually do the same but “handle it” differently… i.e. control the messages and spin… because the media would just twist it anyway based on their personal perceptions and bias. Which brings me back to the above… what was motivating their pathetic criticism of a man just trying to carve out his future?
Back to May 2008 - And so 6 months later Judd is returning back to where it all began for him in the AFL. I expect the Perth crowd to ‘boo’ every time he touches the ball but they will do so with a sense of sadness in their hearts rather than with anger and venom for Chris Judd is an exemplary athlete and an exemplary human.
“Get Juddy – The Untold Story of the Superclubs and the Super deal” whilst entertaining was proof that all too often everything old is new again… and Juddy sells papers!
Was it an ‘untold story’? Only if that means that this story was the first time that all the pieces of the 'Judd to Carlton' puzzle that was put into one article. Untold story… I don’t think so… but it was a fantastic summary of everything that had been written and discussed in the preceding 6 months.
What the article did confirm is that Judd is a man and an athlete driven by his love of:
• The Game
• His Family
• His Privacy & Integrity
• A sense of loyalty and commitment – this may sound bizarre but he wanted the best possible compensation for the Eagles (hence his choice was Carlton and not Collingwood) and he quizzed President Pratt on whether he too would be ‘sticking around’ at the Blues.
But what still irks me most about Judd’s return home is the perception started by Leigh Matthews and supported by many journalists, that Judd interviewing clubs rather than vice versa was distasteful.
I particularly struggled with the judgemental views of many at SEN, particularly David Schwarz and Francis Leach. Back on October 1st last year I wrote this:
I wonder what was motivating this (a judgemental editorial)? Jealousy? Insecurity? Tall Poppy Syndrome? Or simply that their clubs were rejected?
The boys had a lot to say but gave no solutions or suggestions as to what Chris should do? I would ask ‘what would they have done in that situation?’
I am no Chris Judd, but I was working in Hong Kong in 2006, but like Chris, decided I wanted to return home to family, friends and the Melbourne way of life. I was offered a couple of jobs by my then employer but had made up my mind - I wanted to return. I resigned in February 2007 and then took some time to decide what “I wanted to do” and “where I wanted” to work. In my view this was standard practice and I had every right to do so!
So, why shouldn’t such a right be extended to Judd? I had 100’s of organisations to choose from, no public scrutiny and another 30 years of work ahead of me… Judd had 9 Melbourne based clubs to work for, only a limited time frame to choose and also a limited time to work – say 6-8 years. I have not even mentioned the ‘trade process’ that he, and others, must be subjected too.
Again, I ask Francis and Ox (and other members of the media) – what would they do in his situation?
And pleeeease do not suggest that you would actually do the same but “handle it” differently… i.e. control the messages and spin… because the media would just twist it anyway based on their personal perceptions and bias. Which brings me back to the above… what was motivating their pathetic criticism of a man just trying to carve out his future?
Back to May 2008 - And so 6 months later Judd is returning back to where it all began for him in the AFL. I expect the Perth crowd to ‘boo’ every time he touches the ball but they will do so with a sense of sadness in their hearts rather than with anger and venom for Chris Judd is an exemplary athlete and an exemplary human.
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Comment by Harry
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A agree that the Perth crowd will actually miss Judd -- they were very fond of him in the end.
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