1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,507 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:15,907 Speaker 2: Very very sad news this week with the passing of 4 00:00:16,027 --> 00:00:20,107 Speaker 2: former New Zealand Malty Highlanders and Tasman flanker Shane Christie 5 00:00:20,547 --> 00:00:23,547 Speaker 2: at the age of just thirty nine. He played seventy 6 00:00:23,627 --> 00:00:27,547 Speaker 2: three times for Tasman and captain the markov for four seasons, 7 00:00:27,907 --> 00:00:31,227 Speaker 2: leading them to their maiden title in twenty thirteen. He 8 00:00:31,267 --> 00:00:34,947 Speaker 2: also played twenty nine times for the Highlanders, including being 9 00:00:35,027 --> 00:00:38,387 Speaker 2: co captain of their twenty fifteen Super Rugby winning team, 10 00:00:38,827 --> 00:00:41,947 Speaker 2: and he earned eight caps for New Zealand Malti. Shane 11 00:00:42,027 --> 00:00:45,867 Speaker 2: Christie's playing career ended in twenty seventeen when he began 12 00:00:45,947 --> 00:00:51,067 Speaker 2: experiencing serious concussion symptoms. After his retirement from the game, 13 00:00:51,107 --> 00:00:54,947 Speaker 2: he said he believed he was suffering from CTE, a 14 00:00:55,067 --> 00:01:00,947 Speaker 2: neurodegenerative brain condition, having experienced symptoms including headaches, speech and 15 00:01:01,067 --> 00:01:05,627 Speaker 2: memory issues, depression and mood swings. He had been a 16 00:01:05,747 --> 00:01:10,587 Speaker 2: vocal advocate for greater awareness about rugby related head injuries. 17 00:01:11,427 --> 00:01:14,907 Speaker 2: Alex Popham is a former Welsh international rugby player. Thirty 18 00:01:14,947 --> 00:01:17,547 Speaker 2: three caps for Wales. He played in the two thousand 19 00:01:17,587 --> 00:01:20,507 Speaker 2: and three and two thousand and seven Rugby World Cups, 20 00:01:20,827 --> 00:01:23,467 Speaker 2: and was a Grand Slam winner in two thousand and eight. 21 00:01:23,827 --> 00:01:27,547 Speaker 2: He retired in twenty eleven, and in April of twenty twenty, 22 00:01:27,707 --> 00:01:32,547 Speaker 2: Alex Popham was diagnosed with probable CTE and early onset 23 00:01:32,627 --> 00:01:36,347 Speaker 2: dementia as a result of traumatic brain injuries suffered during 24 00:01:36,387 --> 00:01:39,267 Speaker 2: his rugby career. He is the co founder of Head 25 00:01:39,547 --> 00:01:44,787 Speaker 2: four Change, a charity pioneering positive change to prioritize brain 26 00:01:44,827 --> 00:01:48,147 Speaker 2: health in sport. They also support ex players who are 27 00:01:48,187 --> 00:01:53,067 Speaker 2: effective by affected rather by neuro degenerative disease as a 28 00:01:53,107 --> 00:01:57,427 Speaker 2: result of playing contact sport. Alex Popham is with US. Alex, 29 00:01:57,467 --> 00:01:59,307 Speaker 2: thanks for joining us. How did you hear of the 30 00:01:59,347 --> 00:02:02,707 Speaker 2: death of Shane Christy Well? 31 00:02:02,747 --> 00:02:07,747 Speaker 3: I woke upon Wednesday morning with mass from Carl Haman. 32 00:02:09,067 --> 00:02:11,707 Speaker 4: And yeah, I just rung him straight away. 33 00:02:12,867 --> 00:02:17,707 Speaker 3: It's been a very tough week and yeah, feel pretty 34 00:02:17,787 --> 00:02:23,387 Speaker 3: numb if I'm miss with all of this, and it's 35 00:02:23,467 --> 00:02:24,347 Speaker 3: very very hard. 36 00:02:25,267 --> 00:02:27,547 Speaker 2: As I say, you've been a vocal advocate for greater 37 00:02:27,627 --> 00:02:31,827 Speaker 2: awareness around rugby related head injuries. I'm sure as you 38 00:02:31,907 --> 00:02:34,747 Speaker 2: say when you heard from Carl Hayman, I'm sure that 39 00:02:34,827 --> 00:02:37,387 Speaker 2: wasn't the only message you've received. What have the last 40 00:02:37,387 --> 00:02:38,427 Speaker 2: few days been like for you? 41 00:02:39,667 --> 00:02:44,107 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been really tough and just just hearing all 42 00:02:44,187 --> 00:02:47,747 Speaker 3: the and reading all the lovers of port. For Shane, 43 00:02:48,067 --> 00:02:53,107 Speaker 3: it's just such a stop myself from swearing. But I'm 44 00:02:53,187 --> 00:02:57,427 Speaker 3: just angry with this situation still still carrying on. He 45 00:02:57,587 --> 00:03:02,307 Speaker 3: was such a eloquent guy speaking. He spoke softly, but 46 00:03:02,387 --> 00:03:07,027 Speaker 3: he spoke with real meaning and what's gone on with 47 00:03:07,107 --> 00:03:10,987 Speaker 3: him over the last few years and putting this message 48 00:03:11,027 --> 00:03:14,027 Speaker 3: out there and I really think it come to its 49 00:03:14,067 --> 00:03:17,907 Speaker 3: head where three weeks ago, four weeks ago he released 50 00:03:18,067 --> 00:03:24,547 Speaker 3: the recording of the CEO, Rob Nickel of the Players Association, 51 00:03:24,667 --> 00:03:26,987 Speaker 3: who's supposed to be there to look after the players, 52 00:03:27,067 --> 00:03:31,747 Speaker 3: gaslight in this situation and downplaying the seriousness of it. 53 00:03:32,747 --> 00:03:34,627 Speaker 4: He was hoping that would be picked. 54 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:41,507 Speaker 3: Up that recording of telling the current players that it's 55 00:03:41,587 --> 00:03:44,547 Speaker 3: down to the alcohol of the boys that are drinking 56 00:03:44,747 --> 00:03:48,187 Speaker 3: too many drugs, the lifestyle and all that rubbish and 57 00:03:48,227 --> 00:03:50,987 Speaker 3: really and then turning around and saying that rugby is 58 00:03:51,027 --> 00:03:54,427 Speaker 3: safer than soccer. It's just a load of rubbish. And really, 59 00:03:54,867 --> 00:03:58,427 Speaker 3: for me, I think Shane thought that that was going 60 00:03:58,507 --> 00:04:01,747 Speaker 3: to be picked up, and it wasn't. Now he's dead. 61 00:04:01,907 --> 00:04:04,027 Speaker 3: Now we're talking about it, and that is just the 62 00:04:04,067 --> 00:04:08,067 Speaker 3: wrong way round. This needs to get out there to 63 00:04:08,147 --> 00:04:11,187 Speaker 3: the current players, to the mums and dads, to the coaches, 64 00:04:11,627 --> 00:04:12,787 Speaker 3: because there's. 65 00:04:12,587 --> 00:04:14,827 Speaker 4: Too many young men and women. 66 00:04:15,067 --> 00:04:18,747 Speaker 3: I sat appearances we've lost their child with this situation 67 00:04:19,227 --> 00:04:22,827 Speaker 3: because I've had traumatic brain energy from rugby and we're 68 00:04:22,867 --> 00:04:26,107 Speaker 3: not taking it serious enough. We're telling my votes. I'm 69 00:04:26,147 --> 00:04:30,827 Speaker 3: angry because this man put his life on hold for 70 00:04:30,867 --> 00:04:34,787 Speaker 3: the last three years and no one was listening. 71 00:04:36,147 --> 00:04:39,947 Speaker 2: I would I see you use a lot is denial 72 00:04:40,787 --> 00:04:44,547 Speaker 2: denial by the game's governing bodies. What do you want 73 00:04:44,587 --> 00:04:46,147 Speaker 2: to see from them? 74 00:04:46,587 --> 00:04:49,827 Speaker 3: Well, what's happening now in rugby it's legal denial to 75 00:04:50,387 --> 00:04:53,747 Speaker 3: what happened in the NFL. They're playing exactly the same 76 00:04:54,107 --> 00:04:58,587 Speaker 3: playbook the NFL did with their lawyers, with the governing bodies, 77 00:04:58,667 --> 00:05:00,947 Speaker 3: and they can't make the changes that need to be 78 00:05:01,027 --> 00:05:03,947 Speaker 3: made because legally, because of the legal case in the 79 00:05:04,027 --> 00:05:08,587 Speaker 3: UK that opens up a can of they know every hit, 80 00:05:08,787 --> 00:05:11,387 Speaker 3: every contact, not just to the head, is causing small 81 00:05:11,427 --> 00:05:15,027 Speaker 3: amount of damage to the brain and that over player's career, 82 00:05:15,867 --> 00:05:19,787 Speaker 3: resulting in CTE so the big changes and mostly off 83 00:05:19,827 --> 00:05:24,147 Speaker 3: the pitch from limiting the amount of contacts in training, 84 00:05:24,187 --> 00:05:28,187 Speaker 3: but made that mandatory when there is a traumatic brain 85 00:05:28,227 --> 00:05:31,187 Speaker 3: injury and that player's being diagnosed, not rushing them back 86 00:05:31,227 --> 00:05:34,347 Speaker 3: in six bloody days. They need a good twenty eight 87 00:05:34,427 --> 00:05:37,787 Speaker 3: days for that brain to recover. But there's a protocol 88 00:05:38,107 --> 00:05:41,027 Speaker 3: that fits that. There's six steps that fits into six 89 00:05:41,107 --> 00:05:44,027 Speaker 3: days that these players don't miss a game. And you've 90 00:05:44,027 --> 00:05:47,187 Speaker 3: got rugby boys and rugby women who were warriors, who 91 00:05:47,187 --> 00:05:50,147 Speaker 3: were gladiators and want to be on that pitch. That 92 00:05:50,347 --> 00:05:54,107 Speaker 3: power needs to be taken out of their hands. The 93 00:05:54,187 --> 00:05:57,187 Speaker 3: other things that we would like is limit on game 94 00:05:57,267 --> 00:06:04,667 Speaker 3: time and annual medical scans that would pick up at 95 00:06:04,667 --> 00:06:09,587 Speaker 3: the damage to the brain from the previous season. I 96 00:06:09,587 --> 00:06:12,787 Speaker 3: think having those things in and they're checking out gimmicks 97 00:06:12,787 --> 00:06:15,667 Speaker 3: with bloody gum shields and this and that, it's all 98 00:06:15,707 --> 00:06:18,547 Speaker 3: smoke and mirrors to what really is happening. 99 00:06:19,307 --> 00:06:21,667 Speaker 2: Well, you mentioned the smart mouth guards there and a 100 00:06:21,747 --> 00:06:25,347 Speaker 2: roundabout way trials of a lower techle heightened community rugby 101 00:06:25,427 --> 00:06:28,267 Speaker 2: world rugby side. They are putting measures in place to 102 00:06:28,307 --> 00:06:33,787 Speaker 2: alleviate the effects. You don't believe that there's anywhere near enough. 103 00:06:34,787 --> 00:06:36,107 Speaker 4: No, nowhere near. 104 00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:42,307 Speaker 3: The good thing from it, we're talking about it. It's 105 00:06:42,347 --> 00:06:45,107 Speaker 3: getting out there, it's educating mums and dads, it's educating 106 00:06:45,147 --> 00:06:46,787 Speaker 3: people about this serious issue. 107 00:06:46,907 --> 00:06:48,027 Speaker 4: But the gum shields. 108 00:06:47,747 --> 00:06:51,347 Speaker 3: They've chosen, they've gone with the manufacturer that doesn't show 109 00:06:51,387 --> 00:06:55,067 Speaker 3: all the hits. So those gum shields stop recording at 110 00:06:55,067 --> 00:06:59,387 Speaker 3: seventy g. There was another manufacturer that Harlequins were using 111 00:06:59,747 --> 00:07:02,987 Speaker 3: and record over so show the full picture, but that 112 00:07:03,107 --> 00:07:05,067 Speaker 3: was too damn into the game of rugby because a 113 00:07:05,147 --> 00:07:07,747 Speaker 3: car crash was happening every single game. 114 00:07:07,987 --> 00:07:10,467 Speaker 4: To most players, as. 115 00:07:10,387 --> 00:07:12,787 Speaker 2: You say, Alex, these are warriors, the men and women 116 00:07:12,827 --> 00:07:14,707 Speaker 2: who go out and play rugby, and not just those 117 00:07:14,747 --> 00:07:17,667 Speaker 2: at elite level, but everybody who plays the sport. You know, 118 00:07:17,707 --> 00:07:21,387 Speaker 2: they enjoy the physicality of it. And I'm sure Mini 119 00:07:21,947 --> 00:07:24,627 Speaker 2: downplay the effects of hid knocks in order to be 120 00:07:24,707 --> 00:07:27,187 Speaker 2: able to play the following week. What can we do 121 00:07:27,307 --> 00:07:27,747 Speaker 2: about that? 122 00:07:29,267 --> 00:07:31,587 Speaker 3: In need again, it needs to be taken out of 123 00:07:31,587 --> 00:07:35,267 Speaker 3: their hands. So other sports that are very physical as well, 124 00:07:35,387 --> 00:07:39,587 Speaker 3: and so boxing the same injury in boxing you can't 125 00:07:39,587 --> 00:07:41,947 Speaker 3: step back in that ring for three months. I'm not 126 00:07:41,987 --> 00:07:44,547 Speaker 3: saying three months for rugby, but let's take it serious. 127 00:07:44,627 --> 00:07:46,947 Speaker 3: Let's give it the respect it needs and give it 128 00:07:46,987 --> 00:07:50,067 Speaker 3: the twenty eight days. Most of the changes we want 129 00:07:50,147 --> 00:07:54,587 Speaker 3: and guidelines put in place. They're off the pitch to 130 00:07:54,627 --> 00:07:59,907 Speaker 3: Monday and Friday. We can have our gladiator spectacle on 131 00:08:00,307 --> 00:08:04,267 Speaker 3: a match day, but we take that as rugby players, 132 00:08:04,267 --> 00:08:07,907 Speaker 3: but they need to be looked after during the week 133 00:08:08,107 --> 00:08:10,907 Speaker 3: when there has been a traumatic brain injury. The length 134 00:08:10,947 --> 00:08:13,667 Speaker 3: of the season, the number of games they're playing, all 135 00:08:13,707 --> 00:08:15,627 Speaker 3: of this, you've got to look at the brain as 136 00:08:15,667 --> 00:08:18,907 Speaker 3: like the mileage on a car. These miles on these boys' 137 00:08:18,907 --> 00:08:20,347 Speaker 3: brains and women's brains is. 138 00:08:20,347 --> 00:08:22,947 Speaker 4: Just racking up and we need to reduce it massively. 139 00:08:23,587 --> 00:08:25,827 Speaker 2: Do you think player attitudes are changing, Alex? Do you 140 00:08:25,827 --> 00:08:29,147 Speaker 2: think there's a great realization among current players, those who 141 00:08:29,147 --> 00:08:31,987 Speaker 2: are still playing the game, you know, of the long 142 00:08:32,067 --> 00:08:34,267 Speaker 2: term fix that they could potentially face. 143 00:08:35,387 --> 00:08:36,827 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think it is getting better. 144 00:08:36,947 --> 00:08:40,667 Speaker 3: We saw it in the Lions series with Gary Ringrose 145 00:08:40,667 --> 00:08:43,667 Speaker 3: who poured himself from a from a test match, and. 146 00:08:45,307 --> 00:08:47,467 Speaker 4: That that was very brave of Gary. 147 00:08:47,507 --> 00:08:50,827 Speaker 3: But I'd say ninety five percent of the players wouldn't 148 00:08:50,867 --> 00:08:54,467 Speaker 3: wouldn't do that because they wouldn't know if that situation 149 00:08:54,867 --> 00:08:59,227 Speaker 3: would would come up again and play for such in 150 00:08:59,307 --> 00:09:00,147 Speaker 3: such a big game. 151 00:09:00,267 --> 00:09:02,147 Speaker 4: So I think. 152 00:09:01,947 --> 00:09:07,067 Speaker 3: Players off the record are speaking to me, but they're 153 00:09:07,107 --> 00:09:08,747 Speaker 3: not allowed to go on the record. They're not allowed 154 00:09:08,787 --> 00:09:12,587 Speaker 3: to talk talk publicly on this issue because it puts 155 00:09:12,627 --> 00:09:18,187 Speaker 3: the game in a bad light. And that's a tough one. 156 00:09:19,347 --> 00:09:22,107 Speaker 4: It's a tough position to be in. 157 00:09:23,107 --> 00:09:27,427 Speaker 2: How optimistic do you feel or not that change will 158 00:09:27,467 --> 00:09:30,307 Speaker 2: come and will come from the top. 159 00:09:31,427 --> 00:09:34,387 Speaker 3: Well, I I don't think change will come until the 160 00:09:34,507 --> 00:09:38,267 Speaker 3: legal fight is over. The changes I've I've been fighting 161 00:09:38,307 --> 00:09:44,507 Speaker 3: this now for over five years, and the changes that 162 00:09:44,627 --> 00:09:47,227 Speaker 3: have been made, the smoke a mirror, the pr stunts 163 00:09:47,667 --> 00:09:50,827 Speaker 3: that they're they're checking out that they really care. If 164 00:09:50,827 --> 00:09:53,827 Speaker 3: they really cared, you wouldn't have your CEO of the 165 00:09:53,867 --> 00:09:56,947 Speaker 3: players Association, who's supposed to be looking after these players, 166 00:09:57,227 --> 00:10:01,827 Speaker 3: going around gas lighting this situation. There's thousands of players 167 00:10:01,867 --> 00:10:04,827 Speaker 3: in New Zealand that are struggling. There's four all blacks 168 00:10:04,827 --> 00:10:07,307 Speaker 3: who are part of the legal case. There's boys who 169 00:10:07,387 --> 00:10:09,627 Speaker 3: have played over here and not to all black level 170 00:10:09,787 --> 00:10:12,347 Speaker 3: were part of the legal case and their brains are 171 00:10:12,387 --> 00:10:17,547 Speaker 3: damaged from rugby. So until that is resolved, I don't 172 00:10:17,547 --> 00:10:19,427 Speaker 3: think any real change will happen. 173 00:10:20,267 --> 00:10:22,787 Speaker 2: And you talk of the of the legal challenge. Eleven 174 00:10:22,907 --> 00:10:26,867 Speaker 2: hundred players have joined the lawsuit against the RIFU, the 175 00:10:26,867 --> 00:10:29,787 Speaker 2: Welsh Rugby Union World Rugby. Is that case still on 176 00:10:29,867 --> 00:10:31,987 Speaker 2: track to potentially go to trial next year? 177 00:10:33,187 --> 00:10:36,627 Speaker 3: Well, we hope so the can keeps getting kicked down 178 00:10:36,667 --> 00:10:39,547 Speaker 3: the road from the other side and dragging it out 179 00:10:39,587 --> 00:10:44,187 Speaker 3: and chucking mud at not really important information and hoping 180 00:10:44,267 --> 00:10:46,667 Speaker 3: we run out of money as a as a as 181 00:10:46,707 --> 00:10:48,667 Speaker 3: a legal team or our legal team does. 182 00:10:48,747 --> 00:10:53,227 Speaker 4: But that's my understanding. It's been a long time. 183 00:10:54,387 --> 00:10:57,547 Speaker 3: We just want to be able to support There's I 184 00:10:57,587 --> 00:11:01,187 Speaker 3: say a lot. There's there's some real drastic situations where 185 00:11:01,427 --> 00:11:02,987 Speaker 3: boys have lost everything, their. 186 00:11:02,827 --> 00:11:04,027 Speaker 4: Marriage is that they're home. 187 00:11:04,507 --> 00:11:08,787 Speaker 3: Had a phone call last last month with somebody was 188 00:11:08,787 --> 00:11:11,627 Speaker 3: washing himself and is closed in a stream because he 189 00:11:11,627 --> 00:11:14,507 Speaker 3: had nowhere to go. We ended up and we managed 190 00:11:14,507 --> 00:11:17,267 Speaker 3: to get him cetemporary accommodation. 191 00:11:17,427 --> 00:11:19,387 Speaker 4: But it shouldn't be in this situation. 192 00:11:21,267 --> 00:11:27,467 Speaker 2: It's a sobering, sobering topic of conversation. Indeed, Alex appreciate 193 00:11:27,987 --> 00:11:30,587 Speaker 2: you're joining us. Do you have a message for our 194 00:11:30,627 --> 00:11:32,787 Speaker 2: listeners here in New Zealand, the rugby public here in 195 00:11:32,787 --> 00:11:35,627 Speaker 2: New Zealand and the loving rugby. 196 00:11:35,627 --> 00:11:37,947 Speaker 3: But I still love rugby. We can still make this 197 00:11:38,067 --> 00:11:42,747 Speaker 3: game a special game. Carry on, but just in a 198 00:11:42,787 --> 00:11:45,587 Speaker 3: safer way. I really appreciate you having me on. It's 199 00:11:45,587 --> 00:11:50,867 Speaker 3: not a topic that is hard. It is hard to 200 00:11:50,907 --> 00:11:55,027 Speaker 3: talk about this exposure and telling the truth. This is 201 00:11:55,067 --> 00:11:58,467 Speaker 3: what Shane did and what we will carry on. 202 00:11:59,107 --> 00:12:01,107 Speaker 2: All the beast to you, Alex, thanks for your time today. 203 00:12:01,187 --> 00:12:01,987 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. 204 00:12:02,507 --> 00:12:07,587 Speaker 2: That is Alex Popham, former Welsh International co founder of 205 00:12:07,707 --> 00:12:10,307 Speaker 2: Head for Change. Now, I know this is a pretty 206 00:12:10,307 --> 00:12:14,067 Speaker 2: heavy subject, but it's an important one to discuss and 207 00:12:14,147 --> 00:12:16,627 Speaker 2: to keep in the light, not in the shadows. In 208 00:12:16,747 --> 00:12:22,267 Speaker 2: very simple terms, the time for denial is over, much 209 00:12:22,387 --> 00:12:26,467 Speaker 2: as it is a confronting conversation to have. We must 210 00:12:26,507 --> 00:12:31,027 Speaker 2: now accept the irrefutable link between collision sport and the 211 00:12:31,027 --> 00:12:34,587 Speaker 2: long term effects of traumatic head injury on the players 212 00:12:34,627 --> 00:12:38,387 Speaker 2: and those closest to them. You will never remove the 213 00:12:38,387 --> 00:12:41,587 Speaker 2: physical element from rugby, and no one wants to. That's 214 00:12:41,667 --> 00:12:44,827 Speaker 2: not what this is about. The physical battle is one 215 00:12:44,867 --> 00:12:46,547 Speaker 2: of the things that makes the sport what it is, 216 00:12:47,307 --> 00:12:49,507 Speaker 2: why we love to watch it, why millions of people 217 00:12:49,587 --> 00:12:53,307 Speaker 2: around the world want to play it. But the long 218 00:12:53,387 --> 00:12:58,187 Speaker 2: term effects of head collisions needs to be unequivocally understood 219 00:12:58,827 --> 00:13:02,867 Speaker 2: and mitigated in any way possible. We need actual, quantifiable 220 00:13:03,027 --> 00:13:05,867 Speaker 2: change from those in charge of the game. You heard 221 00:13:05,867 --> 00:13:12,147 Speaker 2: some suggestion there from Alex Poppham. Mandatory standdowns must be longer, 222 00:13:12,227 --> 00:13:14,587 Speaker 2: Full contact trainings need to be reduced. To be honest, 223 00:13:14,907 --> 00:13:19,107 Speaker 2: players probably need to play fewer games, and decisions need 224 00:13:19,147 --> 00:13:23,667 Speaker 2: to be taken out of the player's hands because I'm 225 00:13:23,827 --> 00:13:27,067 Speaker 2: almost certain there's a feeling among many of our top 226 00:13:27,107 --> 00:13:29,707 Speaker 2: players that they would rather return to play as soon 227 00:13:29,707 --> 00:13:35,707 Speaker 2: as possible. And that's entirely natural. Who doesn't want to play. 228 00:13:36,227 --> 00:13:38,627 Speaker 2: Who wants to miss important matches? No one in the 229 00:13:38,667 --> 00:13:41,347 Speaker 2: professional era when this is their job. Who wants to 230 00:13:41,347 --> 00:13:45,387 Speaker 2: give up their spot to somebody else? Nobody? But at 231 00:13:45,387 --> 00:13:50,787 Speaker 2: what cost? When Billy Giton died, we said something had 232 00:13:50,827 --> 00:13:54,187 Speaker 2: to be done. Shane Christy tried to bring the issue 233 00:13:54,187 --> 00:13:56,227 Speaker 2: into the spotlight, but he came up against brick walls 234 00:13:56,907 --> 00:14:00,507 Speaker 2: and resistance, and I count many of us in the 235 00:14:00,547 --> 00:14:04,587 Speaker 2: media in that group that preferred to look the other way, 236 00:14:05,267 --> 00:14:10,147 Speaker 2: preferred to ignore some of the inconvenient truths of this issue. 237 00:14:11,507 --> 00:14:14,987 Speaker 2: Shane Christy wasn't the easiest guy to listen to, but 238 00:14:15,107 --> 00:14:17,067 Speaker 2: he needed to be listened to and now he can't be. 239 00:14:18,547 --> 00:14:20,707 Speaker 2: So what do we just wait for the next one 240 00:14:20,747 --> 00:14:23,667 Speaker 2: now or do we take action now? 241 00:14:24,467 --> 00:14:27,667 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 242 00:14:27,747 --> 00:14:31,027 Speaker 1: to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 243 00:14:31,067 --> 00:14:32,707 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.