'People die': Eddie McGuire savages 'privileged' Sam Newman protest
Eddie McGuire has given controversial AFL personality Sam Newman a dressing down on live radio over his golf ban ‘stunt’ on the steps of Victorian parliament on Thursday.
Newman, 74, dressed in his gold gear and brought is bag to Spring St to have a crack at the state’s ban on golf, part of Victoria’s extensive range of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
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The elderly former Geelong Cats player was incensed that golf had been shut down in Victoria, while it was still permitted elsewhere in the country.
McGuire invited Newman on Triple M to discuss the topic, but was left frustrated when Newman continually insisted that golf was ‘the most cathartic thing’ anyone could do with society all but shut down due to the virus.
“You give me a legitimate reason why playing golf is dangerous in these times … I would say golf is the most cathartic thing people could do.
“The risk of getting coronavirus … if you socially distance and if you know how golf’s played, would be minimal.”
McGuire acknowledged Newman’s point about the inconsistencies from state to state, but implored his former Footy Show co-host to see the bigger picture of the shutdown plan.
Eddie McGuire reminds Sam Newman of risks of breaking distancing rules
The Collingwood president said many outbreaks in Victoria had been linked to elderly, affluent citizens not taking restrictions seriously early on - missteps which he said had claimed lives.
“We’ve nearly got this right. Sam, if you can leave the bag in the back of a car for another month, I reckon you’ll be playing,” McGuire said.
“Why don’t we just stick between the lines for a couple more weeks. It’s better than having to go to war or anything. Why don’t we just stick there and we’ll all get through it.
“The problem has been early in proceedings people wouldn’t sink into their thick skulls, and a lot of them into their thick, privileged skulls, that this was going to be something that could actually catch up and destroy not only lives, but our economy and our way of life.
Does Sam Newman have a point about banning golf being over the top? Sure.
Is Sam Newman's 'protest' just a dummy spit by someone who is only thinking of themselves? Sure.
Is he a big baby? You betcha!— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) April 16, 2020
They said it was going to be bad - and it was. 870 more deaths in the UK from coronavirus - maybe something for Sam Newman to think about while he's moaning about not playing golf. Lucky Australia got ahead of it @theheraldsun
— Stephen Drill (@steveheraldsun) April 16, 2020
“If you hang on for another couple of months and show the leadership in the community to tell people who are holed up in single bedroom apartments, who aren’t going to school, sometimes we all have to dig a bit deeper.”
Unfortunately for McGuire, Newman was unswayed.
When the septuagenarian continued to insist he should be allowed on the links, a somewhat frustrated McGuire cut to the chase.
“You’re not allowed and it’s not happening. Full stop. Get used to it, cop your whack,” he said.
