Australian Diamonds legend Liz Ellis has called on NRL coach Ricky Stuart and Daily Telegraph columnist Paul Kent to admit they got it wrong by using a "pathetic" and outdated analogy that belittles netball, after a "throwaway line" used by Kent this week sparked widespread criticism.
On Fox Sports on Wednesday night, Kent was addressing reports that Stuart's relationship with some of his Canberra Raiders players was on shaky ground, and paraphrased the coach's response from a conversation he had with him.
"He said there's no issue there," Kent said on NRL 360.
"As Ricky said to me - 'If I can't have tough conversations with my better players I might as well coach netball'."
The subtle barb at netball was not missed by teams, commentators and fans. Ellis, along with other netball identities immediately shared their disappointment at the dig on social media and the legendary former Diamonds captain opened up to Wide World of Sports on why it struck a nerve.
"It riles us. I've got friends who are professional coaches who are really angry about this because it actually casts a pretty poor aspersion… it's having a shot at them, saying they're not capable of having the tough conversations," Ellis said.
"Whilst it was a throwaway line, it actually it's one of those things that needles you.
"It's happened for years and years and years, and I feel like it's time now we say actually that's a bit rubbish, you guys are smart, and think of a better way to say it."
Ellis and many other netball personalities also shared that view on Twitter, with the debate creating a firestorm within the sport.
"If you can't have a tough conversation with your players then you may as well not be coaching," Ellis tweeted.
"Full stop. Stop making netball a euphemism for 'not tough'. If you are still doing that in 2021 you might need get out to a game to do some fact checking."
https://twitter.com/LizzyLegsEllis/status/1392411761660235776"It doesn't matter whose words they are....that message could have been delivered and related back differently by all! So to all involved...TAKE YOUR DISRESPECTFUL & UNEDUCATED COMMENTS and have a 'tough conversation with yourself' about how to be better!" Nine Super Netball commentator Sue Gaudion said on social media.
"These comments, no matter who said them, are deeply disrespectful to our game. It's 2021," the NSW Swifts tweeted.
https://twitter.com/NSWSwifts/status/1392446459153317899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/NetballScoop/status/1392428207094177792https://twitter.com/joshuawells93/status/1392623439022739458https://twitter.com/NSWSwifts/status/1392824802251984900?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwEven brands fired up over Stuart's alleged comments, with Melbourne Vixens' netball sponsor Puma posting a scathing message about "outdated views" about the sport.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COz_8RZBnnU/Ellis elaborated further to Wide World of Sports, explaining why there was no place for such comments and why it needed to be called out, and not just by the netball community.
"Netball continues to get used for a euphemism for 'soft' or 'not tough'. I think we're past that now. It's not a comparison of sports. But to suggest that any one code has a monopoly on tough conversations with athletes is so wide of the mark," Ellis said.
"Along with 'you throw like a girl' or 'hit like a girl' - no one says that anymore because it's a pathetic thing to say - so now we need to call it out. It's almost a figure of speech.
"I can't imagine that Paul Kent or Ricky Stuart went, 'I'm going to take a pot shot at netball' - it's just a figure of speech - but if it's just in the back of your mind, then those of us who took offence, have to call it out.
"If someone like me calls things out, you might dismiss it, but if someone in rugby league or whoever from whatever sport makes that comment, you have to take notice.
"We need men to stand up and actually say, 'Yeh we probably got it wrong, I might think about my language next time'. Words are important."
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/netball/netball-reaction-to-ricky-stuart-paul-kent-toughness-dig-liz-ellis/789dbd0e-9832-409d-aa49-323a3d4027e4
0 Comments