Inside the Ben Cousins circus
| > | Ben Cousins finally comes clean |
| > | Cousins unsure of football future |
| > | Ben Cousins to take up boxing |
| > | Cousins conference: Word for word |
In the unlikely setting of a steaming Redfern gym, heaving with journalists, ranging from the world of general sport to the world of AFL to the current affairs programmes, a noticeably more contrite Ben Cousins continued his slow journey to recovery and redemption.
With big money offers constantly dangling infront of the fallen West Coast Eagles to tell his story, Cousins chose a musty boxing gymnasium run by friend Anthony Mundine to answer questions for the first time about his dramatic fall from grace, resulting in a twelve month ban from AFL.
Cousins forlornly attempted to shift attention away from himself.
“Today is not about me.”
Never has a more inaccurate phrase been uttered.
With Cousins largely remaining silent over the last year about his drug addiction, hungry reporters were ready for a feast. However Mundine’s manager Khoder Nasser quickly made it clear Cousins would not be eaten alive, allowing just three questions to be directed at the star attraction. The first two were asked by Channel Nine reporter Danny Weidler and Sydney Morning Herald writer Brad Walter, both fervent Mundine supporters. The final question was asked by Herald Sun chief football writer Mike Sheahan.
The tabloid reporters were left to meekly ask Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris and Bulldogs forward Sonny-Bill Williams what they thought of Cousins.
Cousins wore familiar garb – nightclub style white shirt, sunglasses resting on his chest, with jeans and casual black shoes – however the familiar smirk was missing. He nervously answered the first question, shuffling awkwardly while overusing his hands to the point that his words were barely being picked up by microphone.
“I knew all along I didn’t condone what I was doing, but I could justify it,” Cousins said.
“At the end of the day, I ran the gauntlet. But at the same time, there’s a lack of public awareness for a majority of people who find themselves in my situation, where I deep down don’t think I really had a choice, in terms of the very things that make me a great footballer, are some of the things that led me to fall into sort of those traps.”
With Mundine warmly placing his arm around Cousins, the fallen star settled into stride, regaining his confident streak as he reflected on his troubles.
“Life’s good. I’m in a good place. In terms of rehab, it’s an ongoing process. You don’t, I guess, get to a point where you’re completely over it.
“In terms of how tough it is, I get asked that a lot. I don’t like to use the word ‘tough’, I’d rather describe it as something that’s required my full attention every minute of every day, to stay on top of.
Once the third question had been asked and answered – the only football related question of the trio – Cousins retreated, until he grabbed the microphone for one last, unexpected burst.
“There will come a time when I can be in a position to go into detail, you know, about how it all came about. I’m not ashamed, or embarrassed, to say I have a drug, or had, a drug problem. For a lot of people they don’t choose to do it, in a lot of ways it choose them.
“Thanks very much for turning up. Happy days.”
Think West Coast winning the 2008 AFL flag at $12.00 is good value? Bet now with Lasseters
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