Role Model Watch: Tyson Fury will not have his tongue cut out and eaten by dogs
Role Model Watch: a look at strangers billed as role models by the media and elite.
The Guardian reports that boxer Tyson Fury has “escaped punishment” and been reminded of his “heavy responsibilities”. The BBC alls him a “role model”, but declines to identity people who look to Fury for moral, spiritual and political guidance.
Fury is a boxer. His heavy responsibilities, as far as the boxing rules run, are to smack other heavyweights in the head and body until they throw in the towel or fall over.
The Guardian has other ideas:
Tyson Fury will face no punishment from the British Boxing Board of Control for his controversial remarks relating to women and homosexuals but he has been reminded of his “heavy responsibilities”.
The BBBoC has issued a statement. It is ridiculously pompous:
“Tyson Fury has made comments in the media that have caused offence to members of our society. However, there is no suggestion that he has broken the law by exercising his right to freedom of expression. In such circumstances, the stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control have been advised that it cannot interfere with his basic human rights. Having said that, the stewards of the board have made it clear to him that as world heavyweight champion, arguably the holder of the most prestigious title in sport, there are heavy responsibilities upon him to avoid making controversial, non-boxing comments.
“He has assured the stewards that he understands the responsibilities upon him and has expressed regret that he has caused offence to others, which was never his intention.”
Hard cheese for Fury fans who queue to hear him speak. They’ll have to look elsewhere for their role models. They might look to mums and dad, big brother or grandparents. They might also look to Prince Harry, BBC newsreaders, the neat one from One Direction or The Clangers.
The paper continues:
Fury provoked outrage when he equated homosexuality and abortion with paedophilia and saying a woman’s “best place is on her back” – although he repeatedly denied he was a homophobe. His achievements in outpointing Klitschko earned the 27-year-old a place on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, although a petition to have him removed exceeded 140,000 signatures.
Fury showed signs of personality, although not one 140,000 incarnations of Outraged of Twitter liked.
His inclusion on the list was also discussed by MPs, with the shadow culture secretary, Michael Dugher, calling for him to be dropped and the sports minister, Tracey Crouch, saying she would remind him that as a sports star, he is a role model.
Tracey. Mike. He’s not a role model. You are not a role model. He punches people in the head for a living. You try to browbeat them.
Posted: 28th, January 2016 | In: Reviews, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
