Why you should save your rage about David Warner’s cricket commentary debut

SAVE your rage for Matt Lodge’s New York rampage. Or Wayne Carey whose girlfriend claimed he smashed a wine glass in her face. But it’s time to save your rage about David Warner’s cricket commentary debut.

YOU need to save your rage about David Warner’s cricket commentary debut.

You should save it for something that really matters.

That guy who cheated on the cricket field — he hasn’t glassed a woman or coward punched a man — its not alleged that he has committed any crime.

There are plenty of examples of former and current professional sportsmen in this country who have been the subject of allegations much more serious than cheating. Men with huge air time and privilege.

Sports stars that have escaped fierce criticism.

David Warner during his emotional press conference after the ball-tampering scandal.

Sure, the Matraville Mauler was the architect of Sandpaper-gate but he’s not worthy of the mountain of criticism still hurled his way this week when it was announced he’d be commentating one game of cricket on Channel 9 for a few hours.

You should feel more upset that former AFL superstar Wayne Carey, whose girlfriend claimed he glassed her in the face and neck with a wine glass, has for many years held a coveted role as a Friday night footy commentator for Channel 7.

Although she didn’t press charges, Carey was subsequently convicted of assaulting a female police officer who attended the scene.

You should be disturbed that just a few months ago a smiling Grant Hackett ran along with the Queen’s Baton for the Commonwealth Games relay.

David Warner doesn't deserve the public's hate.

The same man who trashed the apartment he shared with his then wife and toddler twins. His former wife Candice Alley later became a White Ribbon ambassador.

This same “champ” took selfies as a special guest in a corporate box last week at the MCG for Origin. Hackett is still a regular “keynote speaker” on the corporate gravy train despite stints in rehab and a violent altercation with his brother after which he was detained by police.

You should direct your rage at Bronco Matthew Lodge who still hasn’t committed to

paying back his victims of his violent rampage in New York. The 22-year-old who still denies publicly he has ever hit a woman despite pleading guilty to a domestic violence charge. No conviction was recorded.

Steve Menzies and David Warner at the races.

There are many men holding very public positions in sport, seemingly unapologetic about their past, who deserve to be questioned and debate held about whether they deserve a prime media role or even the right to play.

Yet most of the time you hear nothing but crickets from the sports community. There’s no rage to the magnitude of Warner returning to commentate cricket.

So, I think it’s time to forgive David Warner and let him commentate for a few hours. Stop publicly punishing and shaming him.

He’s not becoming the face of Nine’s cricket coverage.

Those close to Warner say he more than understands he needs to earn the respect back from Australian public. It’s time to let him start writing his redemption story and let him try on move on from being a “national disgrace”.

He’s already been trying to get on with it by throwing himself in training, turning out PBs. He’s had awful days because of the decisions he made but he’s trying to move on, hence the commentary gig.

Of course, Warner commentating is an uncomfortable scenario just months on from Sandpaper-gate, but it’s not unbearable as say James Hird presenting the Norm Smith Medal at the AFL grand final last year. He is the coach who was suspended from coaching for 12 months when he was charged by the AFL with conduct prejudicing the game in relation to his role in the Essendon Football Club supplements controversy.

I find it more difficult watching the handful of players running around in the NRL who have pleaded guilty to domestic violence offences running out on the field every weekend than Warner saying what he thinks about cricket.

Doting dad David Warner.

So, save your rage for the fact the AFL Commission were just the other week debating whether or not the brilliant Geelong footballer Gary Ablett Sr should be elevated to “legend” status in the Hall of Fame.

The same man who admits he gave 20-year-old Alisha Horan heroin to snort, telling her it was cocaine, in a Park Hyatt hotel room back in 2000. Just hours later Horan died.

Ablett should have never been inducted into the Hall Of Fame five years after Horan’s death and it’s troubling to think the AFL are still considering him for legend status.

So, you should be bashing your keyboard in rage about a legitimate injustice in sport … and David Warner isn’t one of them.