A Sporting Chance

by Titus O'Reily

In sport, the term ‘good bloke’ doesn't mean what it says. Like ‘fun run’, it often actually means exactly the opposite.

Titus O’Reily, the sports historian Australia neither needs nor deserves, examines why our nation’s sportspeople are so readily forgiven for doing terrible things.

With ridiculous tales from Australia’s chequered sporting history, A Sporting Chance dissects the scandals big and small, the mistakes made in covering them up and the path athletes tread back to redemption. From the Essendon supplements saga and the sandpaper-loving Australian cricket team to whatever it is Nick Kyrgios has done now, Titus reveals the archetypes at the heart of our greatest sporting scandals.

There’s the corrupt cop who gave us the race that stopped a nation and the boxing champion who refused to train. There’s the cashed-up businessmen who bankrupted clubs and the commentators who can’t get their foot out of their mouth. And of course there’s the good blokes, like Wayne Carey, Matthew Johns and Shane Warne, who it seems we’ll forgive for absolutely anything.

In his rambling and at times incoherent style, Titus asks the question: are Australians really that forgiving of their sporting heroes? With the rise of social media, women’s sport and the drive towards greater equality, are the good blokes of Australia’s sporting landscape an endangered species?

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Comedy, Audiobook

304 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2018

Reviews

[Loughlin Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off so well, it crashed and burned. The middle section was such a slog, the last couple chapters redeemed it slightly. Oh well, next!

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have now read two books in a row, both by Australian comedy writers, who had me chuckling at nearly every page: the first was Trumpedia and now this by Titus O'Reily. Certainly wasn't familiar with O'Reily's work beforehand, but will happily pick up anything he writes in future. However, while this takes a humorous look at Australian sports and sports people - dating back to boxer Young Griffo - at the turn into the 20th century and right up to the ball tampering scandal in South Africa - the underlying message has a far greater scope than merely sports. Our willingness to forgive (if not forget) the transgressions of 'stars' often boils down to their contribution to a given sport. Sadly, for those who argue on behalf of cultural change such as the author, they are often accused of 'political correctness'. Great book - well worth the read.

[Mike Wardrop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once Australia's premiere sports snarkologist (I say that as a compliment), Titus O'Reily has, for reasons not entirely clear, moved into the realm of Serious Journalism with a book that does a few strange and disparate things.

Let's look at the positives first.
The basic thrust of this book is that Australians will forgive just about anything if the star is big enough and the sporting success strong enough. It's a great point and Titus draws on many cases, old and new, to show his point. The footnotes are the primary source of the humour that readers of his website/Twitter followers will be familiar with. The old stories are particularly interesting, such as about Frederick Standish. I particularly liked his look at 'white knight' Cashed-Up Businessmen who come in to save the day and ruin everything. This is not a bad book by any means.

But.

The negatives.
I'm not sure why Titus has appointed himself to the ever-growing board of Australia's moral police. Self-righteousness doesn't look great on anybody, but particularly somebody whose great gift to the sports-loving public has been his ability to skewer an ego with a tweet or comedically use self-deprecation to its finest advantage. Titus has always done these well, but in A Sporting Chance he hops on his high horse for a few hundred pages, espousing a particular kind of morality that is pitched as largely objective, or worst-case scenario against the 'inner boys club' at the heart of contemporary sports. He's not exactly wrong, but the problem is he's not exactly right.

Part of his larger premise is this: don't forgive people.
It's never spelled out that simply, but basically Titus' theory is that in some other jobs you'd get fired for bad character decisions; why not sports? I'd dispute the validity of the argument, but even if it is the case, the criminal justice system is living proof that rehabilitation and community forgiveness are absolute necessities in helping people actually change.

Should that stop the likes of Eddie McGuire get sanctioned and critiqued? Absolutely not.
But the idea that perhaps guys who fall from grace get hit harder and harder with less forgiveness? It's a truly toxic response to an issue of toxicity.

The other key problem is Titus has moved into the difficult place of mainstream journalists protecting mainstream journalists. The one group that never seems to attract criticism in A Sporting Chance is, of course, journalists. Not commentators - the likes of Channel 9 cricket's coverage gets thoroughly roasted, with some cause - but journalists.

I've edited this up from a 2 star to a 3 star - because despite my many issues with it, it's still a well-written, engaging read.

This isn't a 'don't read' - but it will likely be a disappointing read if you're hoping for Titus' comedy, rather than Titus' moralism on contemporary sports.

[Peter Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, the author is a brilliant writer of satire and comedy, and no doubt there are some absolute gems of both in this work. However the very nature of this work, how sporting heros are forgiven for acts that many of us would not be, could have lead to a book where the acts themselves were glossed over, or indeed given a satire sheen and not really addressed. I am very pleased to see that they weren't and the work is all the richer, honest and better for it.

People are named front and center, be it for perpetuating domestic violence, corruption, criminality or for offenses that would see the common person jailed. And not just once, but throughout the work as it is appropriate.

For this, and given Australian liable laws, this is at many times a brave work. I found laughs interspersed with moments of reflection and anger at how some have been "redeemed" and allowed back into the public eye as heros or idols when in fact they should not be. It has changed my view of some sports coverage and those that make the decisions on who presents that coverage.

Very, very good on several levels.

[Steve's Book Stuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sporting Chance is a humorous take on sports scandals in Australia, and the ready forgiveness of sports stars ('Good Blokes' all) by Aussie sports fans. It's written by Melbourne's Titus O'Reily, a broadcaster / podcaster / comic / writer and sports aficionado.

This book was a gift from a great friend on our last visit to Australia in 2018, that is only now getting pulled of my pile of "to read" books and getting the attention it deserves.

I found this book quite funny, even though I only knew a slight bit about of a few of the sports stars, and knew nothing about the scandals that O'Reily writes about. The book manages to cover scandals from practically the founding of the country all the way up to the present day. Australia is a sports mad country, maybe even more so than the US if you can believe it. This book is a great way of getting to know some of the history of Aussie sport, and to get a better understanding of Aussie sports fans.

If you'd like to get a flavor for O'Reily's humor / writing style - check out the "About" section of his web site at https://www.titusoreily.com/about-titus.

While it did help that I've been to Australia several times and had some familiarity with sports there, I think any Australia-phile or sports fan might get a kick out of this book.

[Pip Snort · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an unexpectedly brave book. It was brutally honest, self deprecating, engaging and at times, witty. I appreciated its desire to face facts and to draw conclusions about the wisdom of choices made by those involved in the Australian sporting culture. We need much more honesty and accountability in sport and I hope our administrators follow the lead of Mr O'Reily in this space.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Humorous take on sporting personalities and why they get away with so much. But, a good message for all to take in at the end. As Titus says, it probably is career suicide for him though.

[Malcolm France · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often very funny but also surprisingly thought-provoking. Well worth a read.

[Loki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and entertaining book about the endemic corruption and sexism that characterise Australian sport. It's not as depressing as it sounds.

[Jason McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Warner was recalled to the Australian cricket team this week and this books point has been proved.

[Sun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Caleb Scanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Titus captures sporting scandals in a hilarious and succinct way, while still being comprehensive

[Simas009 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems the Australian sporting hero is indeed a protected species. A laugh out loud and slightly concerning account of what the sports fan “has let go through to the keeper”

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

thought-provoking, loved the dry wit and if your an aussie who loves sport - well worth a read.

[Andie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptionally funny take on Australia’s obsession with sport but kept delightfully PC. Now know more about horse racing than I ever cared too...

[Kathbick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I have enjoyed Titus on The Front Bar and Nova 100, so excited to hear he had written some books. A very interesting read and funny as well.

[Claire A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you love or hate sport Titus O'Reily's A Sporting Chance is a hilarious and brilliant guide to the cult of the Good Bloke in sport and popular culture. You will enjoy every minute of the bizarre and gobsmacking stories and emerge far wiser about the thorny PR paths used to mismanage issues, crises and sagas. Prepare to cry with laughter and be amazed by the power of sport to redeem even the worst offenders. A cracking read and a brilliant follow up to his first book.