THE YEAR OF THE BRAT

The year 2009 will go down as many things in sport. Records, rewards, achievements et al, as per usual. But it will also be remembered as the year of the brat.

Sport remains very much an important and enjoyable part of our lives, and it is reflective of the times in which we live.

As such, the world has become a hotbed of hotheads highlighted by a disrespect for authority and a wanton absence of discipline. You see it on the streets, in the schools, on the beaches, in the shopping malls, all magnified by the ever-presence of television and social media outlets.

That's society. And, sadly, that is an unsavoury part of sport as we now see it.

At the US Open, Serena Williams exploded with expletives in an outburst which surely would have resulted in a long-term ban for a less-marketable player. This was an outburst that would have made even John McEnroe blush in his heyday, but more of that later.

We were wrong on Tiger Woods. Touted as Mr Clean before his world imploded, more detailed analysis of Wood the golfer reveal him towards the top of the list in, not only women and wins but, his on-course indescretions as well. The club-tossing episode in Melbourne during the 3rd round of the Masters was just one example, the 5-iron clubbing a spectator in the process. This was an act of defiance glossed over by a loving media because it was Tiger. Imagine if it had been John Daly 12 months ago?

Domestically, the names roll off the tongue like last chance warnings from football officials. Just this week, as the footballers were supposed to be in hibernation, Sydney Rooster Jake Friend had his third appointment with local police, all in 2009.

And Paul Gallen, he with record of alleged testicle-grabbing, racial vilification and the attempted re-opening of an opponent's stitched head wound, was pinged by the police for urinating in public and near the head of a mate. A mate!!? Lucky he liked the bloke. There were extenuating circumstances, according to Gallen, but he copped his $5000 fine regardless. After-all, Gallen is a former captain of the Sharks, so leadership is required here.

Then there's Brendan Fevola, whose drunken Brownlow Medal night antics proved to be the final straw for long-suffering Carlton coaches and officials, and he was sent packing. Good luck Brisbane.

There are plenty more examples. Many, many, many. Fortunately, they are vastly outnumbered by the good deeds and fine behaviour exemplified by the majority of footballers, but there are enough bad ones to make the head spin. Why, oh why, do so many continue to behave like boofheads?

Did we ever hear of Jack Nicklaus or Peter Thomson behaving badly on or off the golf course? Or Margaret Court or Evonne Goolagong on the tennis court? Or Pele on the soccer field? No, and very few of their contempories, either.

McEnroe is one of the few exceptions of times dating back beyond the last quarter of a century. Indeed, he has a lot to answer for, with his rantings and ravings defying authority and infecting a whole new breed of impressionable brats in sport and in society in general.

Gone are the days of unquestioned compliance in homes, the classrooms and the training pitches. Youngsters have been encouraged to, not only be seen, but heard as well. To question authority. And, as an extension, to disrespect rules and discipline.

Over the same period, sports management and marketing has undergone exponential growth, resulting in burgeoning pay packets for those who put on the show. The sports stars have become commodities, and with commodities we have minders and a raft of people to repair the odd bit of collatoral damage created along the way.

It's proving to be a poisonous cocktail. A flagrant dumbing down of community standards and expectations, and kids who can kick, hit, tackle or throw well lauded as celebrities.

The time has come for them to understand, like so many of their peers, that they in a privileged position. The best moment of their lives. The $300,000, $400,000 or even, in the case of Fevola, around $800,000 a year contracts won't last forever.

Time to make the most of it, and grow up.