I met Jr Jr in The Cross, on a night on the tiles, many moons ago… he would have been about 18 pr 19\. I was well dosed but he was completely hammered, totally glazed look in his eyes. That being said, he didn't do or say anything inappropriate, he was happy and friendly enough for that short time.
What he did this time, I don't think it's that big a deal. People are outraged basically because he got caught, because these incidents are happening all the time all across the country. I think it's hypocritical in this age of the smart phone to pulverise individuals just because they are famous, when most of these drunken incidents aren't even against the law. The internet is full of this stuff from less famous people.
So by all means be outraged if you are, but direct your energy towards the problem of alcohol abuse in young people, rather than try and fix everything by crucifying Pearce for being loose on the booze. I feel the penalty they are discussing is about right, not just for abusing the dog and trying to abuse the young lady, but for the sheer stupidity of his actions.
Because that is what this is half about - about the clear stupidity, verging on personal troubles, of Mitchell Pearce. Contrast this with Matt Lodge - he's already had his contract torn up, but Lodge was already on domestic violence charges before his US rampage. Nobody is taking the moral high-ground against Lodge, because that kid is clearly messed up, needs mental health support. Mitchell Pearce, well maybe he needs psychological help too, but at this stage it just looks like normal stupidity.
You should get in trouble for stupidity because you are a representative of your sport and your club, they pay your wages, and your actions hurt the money-making potential of these institutions. You should be financially penalised for bringing on the media storm. You should be heavily penalised for repeatedly causing trouble in a business that is damaged by such trouble.
But I want to ensure there is appropriate perspective, including running off a few names of players who are still playing - Lui, SKD, Inglis, Greg Bird. You tell me Pearce has done anything even close to physically abusing his partner - he's been a pest on at least two occasions, but so far as I am aware he never struck a woman.
Pearce is about halfway along the Todd Carney path, of getting the sack for being a repeated idiot. If Politis really does alter his contract, then the Roosters are positioning themselves to part ways. Don't doubt for a minute though that if Roosters ever do sack Pearce, another club will be ready to counsel him then sign him right up.
On Todd Carney, that guy has the longest rap sheet of any footballer I ever heard of. Not as serious as some like John Elias or Craig Field, but consistently and endlessly stupid. That will ultimately get you fired as well. Todd Carney had a restraining order taken out against him by the town of Goulburn, don't think Jr Jr is anywhere like that yet. And I can tell you for a fact that Carney's list of transgressions was far longer than the media ever knew about.
