The most vile act in sport ever? | FerrariChat

The most vile act in sport ever?

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by tonyh, Feb 24, 2004.

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  1. tonyh

    tonyh F1 World Champ
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    From Australian Newspaper----------------








    Controversial Wests Tigers winger John Hopoate has been suspended for 12 weeks after being found guilty by the NRL Judiciary of poking his fingers up the anuses of three North Queensland players.

    Accused of one of the most bizarre charges in the history of rugby league, or sport in general for that matter of fact, Hopoate was officially found guilty of 'unsportsmanlike interference'.



    On the evidence of video footage and the damning testimony from the three Cowboys players, Hopoate was always likely to be found guilty. The length of his sentence seen as the only contentious matter.

    In the end the NRL Judiciary had little trouble differentiating between a "wedgie", a "finger up the arse" and the area between the "arse and the nuts" before finding Hopoate guilty.

    NRL judiciary commissioner Jim Hall described Hopoate's case as the worst he had experienced in his 45-year involvement in rugby league.

    "I've never come across a more disgusting allegation than I've had to deal with now," he said.

    Hopoate, 27, was found guilty on three separate counts of deliberately sticking his fingers up the anuses of Peter Jones, Paul Bowman and Glenn Morrison in Saturday night's match at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

    Hopoate, a former Australian Test winger, insisted he was merely trying to give Jones and Morrison a wedgie in order to perform a quick play-the-ball and that he did not stick his finger up Bowman's anus.

    Asked by his consel Bernie Gross QC where he was directing his finger at Bowman, the Cowboys captain, Hopoate replied: "Between his arse and his nuts".

    Hopoate maintained he did nothing wrong in administering the wedgies and went on to say: "I'm a great believer in what happens on the field should stay there."

    Asked to describe what a wedgie felt like, the Tigers winger replied: "You get a burning sensation. Your undies are getting reefed up your arse."

    Hopoate's defence counsel contended to Jones that his client had merely administered a "wedgie" on the Cowboy in the seventh minute of the match.

    "It wasn't a wedgie. That's when your pants are pulled up your arse. I think I know the difference between a wedgie and someone sticking their finger up my bum," said Jones, admitting that while both acts caused discomfort, they caused different sensations and he could differentiate between the two.

    Jones claimed he hadn't provoked Hopoate and that afterwards he immediately expressed his "disgust" and gave the Tongan international a push.

    Bowman said after tackling Hopoate in the 17th minute, he stood over the winger and "that's when I felt fingers outside my shorts pushing up my arse".

    "There was pressure there. I know he wasn't doing it accidentally. He was definitely pushing.

    "I was disgusted. I couldn't believe it. I know it's a tough game, but there's no room for that."

    Gross argued that Bowman had been excessive in trying to slow Hopoate from playing the ball by grabbing the North Queensland captain's leg.

    But Bowman maintained that "if he (Hopoate) was a man, he wouldn't do that".

    When pressed by Gross, Bowman became angry and asked the QC: "If I held your leg, would that give you the right to put your finger up my arse?"

    Morrison testified he was caused pain by Hopoate's action.

    "Hopoate was trying to pick my arse. It's not a thing that I wanted to happen and it's not a pleasant thing," Morrison said.

    Tigers coach Terry Lamb, who has played 349 first grade games, said it was resonably common to be touched in the region of the testicles.

    In directing the panel before making a verdict, NRL judiciary chairman Greg Woods told the former players not be swayed by their "feeling of revulsion or distaste".

    Gross pre-empted a guilty verdict would cause Hopoate "disgrace and embarrassment".

    After the hearing, Wests Tigers chairman John Chalk said the club would appeal against the ruling.

    The hearing also made headlines in London.

    Under the headline "The sickest thing in sport? RL star is accused of going up and under with fingers", tabloid newspaper The Mirror compared the allegations against the rugby league player with boxer Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield's ear.

    "There was Vinnie Jones's infamous grab at Paul Gascoigne. Mike Tyson got in on the act by biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear. But sport can rarely have had such a bizarre charge as that levelled at rugby league hard man John Hopoate," the paper said.

    "The Wests Tigers star has been cited for "conduct unbecoming" after allegedly persistently sticking his fingers up opponents' backsides while making tackles."

    Liberal broadsheet The Guardian also reported the claims.
     
  2. tvrfreak

    tvrfreak F1 Rookie
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    That's a $hitty thing to do...
     
  3. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    That's a tall tale.

    Hopoate has been out since mid-last season with a broken leg. Just now getting up to speed to be able to play. In fact, he has been appointed to Manly rugby league's player disciplinary panel (leadership committee) for this season.
     
  4. tvrfreak

    tvrfreak F1 Rookie
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    Maybe he's one of those people that lead from behind.
     
  5. jnitis

    jnitis Rookie

    Feb 24, 2004
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    Just like a rear admiral.
     
  6. normhuff

    normhuff Formula Junior

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    J. Norman Huff, Esq.
    In Amercian football they're known as tight ends...
     
  7. Ferrari_co_uk

    Ferrari_co_uk Karting

    Apr 16, 2003
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    Mark Langfield
    I think this happened about 2/3 years ago.
     
  8. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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  9. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
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    good reference! (yeup, I got it)
     
  10. ferrariartist

    ferrariartist F1 Rookie

    Feb 21, 2003
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    i REALLY dont like back seat drivers...

    GT
     
  11. formula1joe

    formula1joe Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2003
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    If you think this is the worst thing, one needs to actually play rugby. I saw and have done just as many dirty things to help win a match or better our position. 1 simple rule applies, if you are off sides you are mine biiiiaaaattttccchhhhh.
     
  12. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
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    Personally, I think Roger Clemens is about as vile as anyone in "sports". Someone who throws a baseball as hard as he can intending to hit someone in the head.....that's vile. Of course, he isn't the only one, but he's sure proud of it.

    Intentionally sticking a finger into an opponent is more than vile, and deserves a SEVERE penalty, like permanent banishment.
     
  13. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    One has to wonder how Hopoate feels about same sex marraiges. Someone send him a link to the thread and see if he responds.

    DL
     
  14. 62 250 GTO

    62 250 GTO F1 Veteran

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    He said:
    "I'm a great believer in what happens on the field should stay there."
    So if he did that to me, I could stomp his head a dozen times and he would be ok with it. Sounds like a fair "square em up}.
     
  15. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    One more thing to add, Maybe Hopoate should try out for the Colorado Buffalos. One wayward kick and he'll get what he deserves!

    DL
     
  16. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    God I needed that!.................the laugh I mean! Too funny!
    DJ
     
  17. Meeyatch1

    Meeyatch1 Formula 3

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    Mitch
    Ummm...wow....
     
  18. Jerrari

    Jerrari F1 Veteran

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    Jerry Wiersma
    Hey.....I invented that trick!!!
     

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