I just saw this on the news. It’s incredible. Sam Newman, a man known for his manners, warm personality and total lack of enemies (to everyone else in Australia who isn’t familiar with AFL, I’m being sarcastic, the guy pretty much hates everything and has made a career from being a jerk) has came out against skateboarders. It was on Channel 7 and featured an interview with POP alum, Sean Connolly. Have a read of this if you want to get mad. It seems some skaters were hitting a spot outside his house in the Docklands and he went ape shit. Read on for more from the honorable Sam Newman.

And why not flip out? It’s a very mature way to act. I’ve heard it’s good for your career too. Some of the total generalizations Sam says include the following:

“They are stupid, ill-bred, ignorant youths who have no intention other than to get up my nose,” Newman said.

“I think that skateboarding is incidental. I think they are just out to get their kicks out of p—ing people off.”

What’s amazing to me about that last one is, outside of Melbourne, Australian Rules is basically unheard off. How many people play Aussie Rules compared to skateboard worldwide? Well, I’ll tell you. There are less than 1 million people who play Aussie Rules in the world. As for skating, it’s estimated to be somewhere around 12.5 million. In other words, the amount of people who play Aussie Rules compared to the amount of people who skate is insignificant. As for getting pleasure out of annoying people, I’d say that sounds much more like Sam Newman’s area of expertise (indeed, his entire media career is built on it) than the average skater.

The article then goes on to describe a local council meeting where a “Docklands resident Michele Anderson echoed Newman’s concerns. She said one resident had been punched by a skater after throwing the youth’s board in the water.”

Now, the average skateboard costs about $200 (deck, trucks, wheels, bearings). If I was to throw Michele Anderson’s $200 handbag or sunglasses in the water, what do you think would happen to me? Court? Fine? Punch in the face? Probably all those things.

Seems like a double standard to me.