From: SSAA, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Station: 3AW Date: 18/09/2000 Program: STEVE PRICE Time: 04:12 PM Item: COMPERE CLAIMS THAT SHOOTING SHOULD NOT BE AN OLYMPIC SPORT; HE CRITICISES OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST MICHAEL DIAMOND AND SAYS THAT " HE CAN'T CELEBRATE AN OLYMPIC SHOOTING GOLD MEDAL. " INTERVIEW WITH GRAHAM CORNS AND KG CUNNINGHAM, SPORTING COMMENTATORS. STEVE PRICE: Now I know it's not popular to bag Australian sports stars. The calls I get defending Wayne Carey, Greg Norman and Mark Philippoussis, if I ever dare to criticise them, is amazing. So to question a gold medallist, or the worth of a gold medal during an Olympics is probably suicidal. But I just can't come at shooting being a sport. And to pick up the Daily Telegraph here in Sydney today and see Michael Diamond holding aloft a cocked shotgun is sad. KG CUNNINGHAM: Oh, Pricey. Hang on, Pricey. That is the most... STEVE PRICE: Now I don't- - KG CUNNINGHAM: No. Hang on. STEVE PRICE: Let me finish. KG CUNNINGHAM: No, no. You've made a complete and utter idiot of yourself by saying that. That is, that is- - GRAHAM KORNS: KG, just one sec, he's made a big mistake. The shotgun was- - KG CUNNINGHAM: Is not cocked anyway. But the fact remains, Pricey... STEVE PRICE: Same thing. KG CUNNINGHAM: ...the fact remains that you are denigrating an Olympic- - STEVE PRICE: No, I'm not. KG CUNNINGHAM: Pricey, you are. You are denigrating an Olympic gold medallist. That was one of the great performances of the Olympic Games and you've made an utter fool of yourself by opening up, by saying that. That's an absolute disgrace. STEVE PRICE: Now, as I said, I'll finish. Now I don't know Michael Diamond. I'm sure he's a wonderful bloke and it's not his fault that he's a world champion shooter, but I just can't celebrate a shooting gold medal. KG CUNNINGHAM: Oh! STEVE PRICE: How can you compare Michael Diamond to Ian Thorpe, or Cathy Freeman, or Shane Kelly. KG CUNNINGHAM: Pricey- - STEVE PRICE: You can't do it. GRAHAM KORNS: Well, hang on. Is archery a sport? STEVE PRICE: No, not really. GRAHAM KORNS: Well, it's in the same vein. I mean, they are ... they're not shooting animals. STEVE PRICE: He's got a shotgun. KG CUNNINGHAM: Let's look at this properly. The man has achieved back to back Olympic gold medals. It's one of the most emotional moments, Pricey, of the Olympic Games and that's what the Olympics are about, are about winning gold, the emotion, the drama. That ... how you could possibly knock that, or denigrate that is absolutely ridiculous. STEVE PRICE: It's not his fault. KG CUNNINGHAM: And you've made an utter fool of yourself. STEVE PRICE: It's not his fault. It is the fact that it should not be an Olympic sport. KG CUNNINGHAM: Oh, Pricey, that's the ... oh! STEVE PRICE: Would you go and watch it? GRAHAM KORNS: What's your definition of sport? STEVE PRICE: I think it's got to have... GRAHAM KORNS: I'm actually leaning a little bit of weight to your- - STEVE PRICE: ...some cardiovascular involvement, for a start. GRAHAM KORNS: Well, like archery, shooting is absolutely critical to the control you have over your body and- - KG CUNNINGHAM: Fair dinkum! STEVE PRICE: Graham and...[indistinct] skills. GRAHAM KORNS: No, not quite. KG CUNNINGHAM: Oh, Studley, come on, mate! GRAHAM KORNS: KG, settle down. KG CUNNINGHAM: Well, I'm ropeable over you, Pricey, that's ridiculous. GRAHAM KORNS: KG, just settle down. KG CUNNINGHAM: Well, I can't. You've denigrated a great man, who STEVE PRICE: No, no, I'm not just- - KG CUNNINGHAM: He dedicated that medal to his father. STEVE PRICE: I'm not blaming him. GRAHAM KORNS: KG, you're embarrassing him, KG. KG CUNNINGHAM: I'm not embarrassing you, I'm making a point. GRAHAM KORNS: Sport, I agree, should have some degree of athletic endeavour. STEVE PRICE: Correct. GRAHAM KORNS: But given the fact that it is an Olympic sport, whether you or agree with it or not, you cannot criticise Michael Diamond's performance, which is absolutely immaculate. STEVE PRICE: And I haven't. GRAHAM KORNS: Well, you have. By implying that he's not worth of winning a gold medal. STEVE PRICE: I said that I personally can't celebrate his gold medal because I don't think sport ... shooting- - GRAHAM KORNS: Well, you're thereby denigrating, which is unfair. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
