The sin of Schadenfreude
18 Feb 2013
MARK KEOHANE, in Business Day Newspaper, writes South African rugby should be about hope and not hatred.
In Canberra a South African rugby celebration continues to grow in excess. In Port Elizabeth this Saturday a celebration unrivalled in the unified history of South African rugby should also be about excess.
But individual and team triumph will be torture to a resentful audience. The freedom fighters are apparently the terrorists and Schadenfreude will be the champagne of choice when the Southern Kings play the Western Force in their Super Rugby debut.
The majority of South African rugby supporters have expressed their hatred for the Kings. Hate is the word that has constantly been emphasized, with bloggers delighting in supporting anyone who will be playing against the Kings. There is so much hatred, in especially the perceived failure of Luke Watson, who will captain the Kings this season.
It is a hatred so many white South Africans in the rugby community felt – and feel – towards former SA under 21 captain Clyde Rathbone when he moved to Australia and played for the Wallabies.
This hatred was extended to 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White when he left South Africa last year to coach the Brumbies.
Watson’s crime was to criticize Afrikaners in 2007 and to say they controlled South African rugby. The blasphemy was to say he never grew up in a household that celebrated the Springbok jersey, and it was seen as a symbol of oppression. He told a group in informal discussion he loved the idea of playing for his country, but the Springbok jersey, in its traditional guise, was something he could vomit on given the historical association it held from his up bringing.
He was subsequently trialed, condemned, convicted and sentenced within sectors of South African media and society, as the sinner without a soul.
These same individuals also prayed to God for their own redemption for being vulnerable to daily mistakes in life choices. These same people are oblivious to the contradiction and hypocrisy.
Watson has publicly apologized to Afrikaners for his words. He has said he would have articulated his thoughts differently had he been more mature. He has said he wants to be a part of all that is good about rugby and South Africa. He said he was used as a political pawn and his move to England, where he captained Bath for two seasons, made him realize just how much he was used by politicians and how he allowed himself to be used.
He has said that in hindsight he would have done so many things differently. He has said sorry.
Watson has spoken of the privilege and responsibility to live in South Africa and to be leading the pioneers of Kings rugby.
The young Watson, schooled to oppose the Springbok jersey, is very different to the Watson of today who makes his own choices and wants to make a contribution to the life South African rugby and South African society as it is, and not to helping end what once was.
Apparently youngsters can’t make mistakes, can’t admit to them and can’t expect any forgiveness if they happen to be Luke Watson. They can only expect continued hatred from those whose joy is defined by another’s perceived failure.
In a unified South African rugby community, the division has never been stronger. How sad for those unwilling to forgive and incapable of celebrating change, be it in a view or in an action.
How sad for our rugby that so many have voiced their pleasure at the prospect of foreign team stuffing up the Kings. What betrayal to a young group of South African rugby players.
Port Elizabeth, this weekend is the greatest story in South African rugby’s youthful unity, but when the parents (SARU) can’t celebrate the first steps of the child they bought into this world, it can’t be expected of the haters not to indulge in Schadenfreude.
Clyde Rathbone’s comeback from injury, depression and a dark place in his life is a celebration, as is White’s wonderful influence as coach of the Brumbies.
They are South Africans, as is Watson and the Kings, but those unaffected by their respective choices, triumphs and mistakes, detest them for these choices, triumphs and mistakes.
Euphoria for so many within South African rugby is proportionate to the relative failure of others.
It is as if they can only be successful if another fails.
Resentment ravages redemption and Schadenfreude is the stimulant when it is the sin in our rugby – and society.
905 Comments
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18 Feb 2013, 21:53 pm
@Transformation-694: @Rage-697: Guppies…..
Not an Einstein to be found amongst the wholefuckinglotofthem.
18 Feb 2013, 21:56 pm
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-677: Nikita never mentioned your name in a derogatory way.she talked about animals coming back two by two ,but she never referred to you in that post.
18 Feb 2013, 21:58 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-700: bakkies that sickbastard is going to get what is coming to him – prison justice. He is going to be an easy target – all that John Mongrel has to do is hold his arms behind his back and then apply the KY gel.
I’m out.
18 Feb 2013, 21:58 pm
When they realize that their foundation they built their false manhood on is nothing but sham glamour and fake reality and that all this fictional bogus manhood is built on immaturity and egotism and greed then they blow and boy do they blow big. Poor unprotected unprepared roided up kids.
18 Feb 2013, 22:01 pm
Sharkslover.Take back your old nic and man up.Everybody says you are
now too soft
18 Feb 2013, 22:01 pm
@Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-677:
how many Sharks fans who live in Maritzburg have ever bragged about having the audience of Rassie Erasmus?
459. Sharks_are_gonna_get_you said:
18 Feb 2013, 15:48 pm
@ The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as
dog food-453 : Talk is cheap though, he
sadly never proved his case though, I can
tell you Rassie in his own words told me he
and WP rugby did not rate Hoffman, thus
they let him go, he said the same about
JSadie.
18 Feb 2013, 22:02 pm
@RL-703: good night,guppy c.@ck sucker.
18 Feb 2013, 22:03 pm
Sharkslover.We are under siege here
18 Feb 2013, 22:03 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-675:
Hy was maar nog altyd ‘n wilde een daai outjie, jol in plaas daarvan om op sy rugby te konsentreer
SA het so baie diepte elke jaar is daar iemand wat net so goed of beter as jy is, soos bv Reinach, so as jy slap lê is dit verby
Hy moet besluit of hy ‘n celeb wil wees of wil rugby speel want op hierdie vlak rugby moet jou jou onverdeelde aandag gee, hy word in elk geval genoeg betaal daarvoor
18 Feb 2013, 22:03 pm
@skopdiekan-698: Skop, I have said it before and will say it again. Many elite athletes have ‘less than desirable’ personality traits. Some of them can be classified in no uncertain terms as narcissists, sociopaths etc etc etc.
The very drives that bring them success in their fields of ‘excellence’, are the drives that bring them right back down again……….
The public and family/friends/management sorrounding said athletes are often as guilty as the fallen hero himself/herself.
The enablers…….
Too little time to discuss this in one sitting, but just waxing through the NIKE stable of elite athletes, who have been told to “JUST DO IT”
Armstrong – he did it. (Doper – neighbourhood sociopath – amazing athlete)
Woods – he did it. (*** addiction and neighbourhood sociopath – amazing athlete)
Pistorious – he did it. (Doper,’alleged murderer’ neighbourhood sociopath – amazing athlete)
Vock – he did it. (Dog fighting, neighbourhoo sociopath – amazing athlete)
Bryant – he did it. (Sexual abuse, neighbourhood sociopath – amazing athlete)
JUST FUCKINGDOIT indeed. (And yes, this is just a small section of the ‘elite athlete community’ – but it’s scary enough for me to start asking a few questions)
The Enablers……US. Society – Just do it.
18 Feb 2013, 22:05 pm
@skopdiekan-698:
> to find 90% bulls players also shooting
Like Goosen?
18 Feb 2013, 22:07 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-710: Vock = Vick I guess?
18 Feb 2013, 22:08 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-674:
> its the last chance saloon as far as i’m concerned.
> if he doesn’t set a marker at the beginning of the season i honestly he gets dropped.
Arno is already better than him, with more gametime he’ll be even better
18 Feb 2013, 22:09 pm
@Dawn-628: good evening my girl
18 Feb 2013, 22:09 pm
@stormersboy-712: Yep sorry.
18 Feb 2013, 22:09 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-700:
> there has been a new development in the Oscar murder case and its too much for me to take at this time.
The steroids allegations
18 Feb 2013, 22:11 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-715: Those NFL okes are MAL.
18 Feb 2013, 22:11 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-654: have a good night good lady
18 Feb 2013, 22:11 pm
Grant called him out the first day that he blogs here…and then one blogger jumps in and defends him by telling g10 it’s not Sharkslover . That blogger was Hg of all people . Laughable ! Crazy farking guppies.
18 Feb 2013, 22:12 pm
@victoriabok-709: Hulle beweeg almal in een groot groep daar bo lyk dit vir my. Glad nie gesond nie…..
Spies’s butt should be giving motivational talks at schools and church camps. Arno Botha’s butt should be running out in the Bulls No 8 jersey.
It’s a crying shame.
Stander was the 1st victim, and was a bad enough loss as it is.
Losing Botha would be beyond criminal.
18 Feb 2013, 22:13 pm
@Transformation-706: yeah, names dropping is a bit like pulling yourself up by a giant’s bootstraps …
18 Feb 2013, 22:13 pm
@ryecatcher-718: Evening Rye
Thank you! I’m finishing up some work (or trying to…but keep getting drawn back into the slush here… 
18 Feb 2013, 22:14 pm
@Rage-650: this is by far the most prescient and erudite post I think Ive ever seen on Keo..
it wont make an iota of difference to its recipient though, too far gone already..
still, we know hes not watching Super rugby anymore (as he opined last year) so maybe we all win?
18 Feb 2013, 22:15 pm
@stormersboy-717: Most of them roided to the brim IMHO. A closed sport is easy to manipulate in terms of testing etc.
18 Feb 2013, 22:16 pm
@ryecatcher-708: he won’t come to your rescue ,rye.He is thinking what to do next,and as you know ‘thinking ‘ is a foreign concept for guppies.
18 Feb 2013, 22:16 pm
@the curse-723: Howdy Pops. I will be giving Bakkies interweb updates on live games. He will be following the bullshitandrubbish I feed him. He could make it easy on himself and just watchthefrikking games I guess
18 Feb 2013, 22:17 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-724: Yip. Freaks the bunch of them.
18 Feb 2013, 22:19 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-724:
And HGH
18 Feb 2013, 22:20 pm
so
Banned steroids were found in the home of Oscar Pistorius after the Olympian’s girlfriend was shot dead, it has been reported.
Police are said to be examining the theory the 26-year-old may have been experiencing “roid rage” – a side-effect of the drugs in the run up to the fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp.
which school did Oscar get these from?
18 Feb 2013, 22:20 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-720:
> Hulle beweeg almal in een groot groep daar bo lyk dit vir my. Glad nie gesond nie…..
Wat bedoel jy?
18 Feb 2013, 22:20 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-701: and not even a Wouter Basson
18 Feb 2013, 22:22 pm
@stormersboy-727: I rekcon if they did a little testing of the mental sort on many of these ‘amazing athlete’ fellas, we might be horrified.
Jeff Dahmer at 10 for the Bulls……
18 Feb 2013, 22:22 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-726: hey Pedi, hope you are well..
nah, hes a man of “honesty, integrity and truth”, and as he told us “truthfully” and “honestly”, and believing his “integrity”, I know a man of that stature would not go back on his word.
but then, I heard rumours of new TMO laws, so perhaps in his capacity as thou whoest mostest righteous he feels it is his duty to backtrack?
in the world of paramoia, Bakkies is the shadow in the night
18 Feb 2013, 22:26 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-720:
> Arno Botha’s butt should be running out in the Bulls No 8 jersey.
He’ll get more gametime this year
> Stander was the 1st victim, and was a bad enough loss as it is.
I think he was considering playing and studying there anyway, and HM telling him he won’t pick him for the side made his mind up
18 Feb 2013, 22:26 pm
These kids are not adult enough to be responsible for their own actions Hougaard and Pistorious and how many others mixing in the same ra ra shoot it up at the range and in your bathroom and wherever else you can get your next roid fix. Wtf with the high profile heroics owning 4 guns and he’s not stabilized in a reasonable maturity of emotions. Spies got pulled out of WC 2007 under suspicion of what mysterious blood clotting disorder, the doctors miraculously beat the disease by magic since ?
These kids are being setup by their ego manipulative parents into shooting for the moon when their maturity levels are hardly out of nappies yet.
18 Feb 2013, 22:27 pm
@victoriabok-728: Thing is, on most sports etc, the athletes are very rarely tested out of season, which means they have already enjoyed a lot of the benefits of the ‘banned substances’ before the season starts.
(Off season training and conditioning)
I don’t ONLY blame the athletes. To compete, earn a living and participate in the sports they love – they have to be better than the oke next to them, and the oke next to them is probably shooting as well. So what so you do? Remembering most of them have ‘drives’ to win, not to fail, to be the best etc etc etc, that are not present in the average person…..(along with a few other possible personality glitches)
Blame sponsors, agents, trainers, family, friends, fans, society, the world, the athletes personality glitches…………..????
18 Feb 2013, 22:27 pm
@RL-703:
its terrible, RL, terrible.
and its getting worse by the day.
he will probably receive preferential treatment in prison but to my mind its looking more and more like he did it and if thats the case then where’s the justice for that poor girl.
i dont know whats happening to the world anymore.
so long.
@victoriabok-716:
yes.
first it was talk of shots fired through a door, then a blood stained cricket bat and francois hougaard and now steroids too.
this is too much for me, Vic
i’m going to get an early night
cheers
18 Feb 2013, 22:30 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-737: but but but SA sportsman are all straight up, honest and play the game by fair means only
isnt this your mantra? for so long youve been telling us kiwis to clean up our acts and to wake up to the truth.
are you mal because
“there has been a new development in the Oscar murder case and its too much for me to take at this time.”
the truth will set you free Bakkies..
seems all your tokoloshes have come back and are living under the massive brick base you have built.
bew di ful!
18 Feb 2013, 22:32 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-737: glass houses, bakkies, glass houses & stones …
G’nite, bakkies
18 Feb 2013, 22:35 pm
@the curse-738:
i cannot deal with you right now, Poppa
this is a tragedy man! but go ahead and have your fun
good night
18 Feb 2013, 22:37 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-740: not having fun at the tragedy at all Bakkies, I havent made one joke about this whole scenario since it broke the headlines
Im just having fun at the crumbling of the ivory tower you have built..and man, it seems to be coming down around your ears rather quickly.
all that talk about filthy cheating kiwis, and here we have a SA sportsman exposed for the world to see as a filthy cheat..
even youve got to love the karma that has come full circle and with swift authority??
18 Feb 2013, 22:38 pm
I’m out too. Getting too low.
18 Feb 2013, 22:39 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-732: i read somewhere one of these sports personalities was saying they are a “close knit group” along with super models & upon a little reflection it was plain to see. all these guys just end up dating around the same circle of people…
i recall when jp duminy broke through into the proteas team he quickly ditched his gf of years & had a platinum blonde by his side @ awards ceremonies, hougie, loui fish, reeva, oscar, kallis, cindy nel, neil mckenzie, kerry mcgregor, biff, minky, ernst joubert etc.
18 Feb 2013, 22:39 pm
@victoriabok-730: Die tipe persoonlikhede saam…. Hulle ‘voer mekaar’ in maniere wat nie altyd gesond of positief is nie.
Nie ware vriendskappe…..maar meer van ‘n kompetisie (of ‘n oefening in ‘last and strongest man standing’, wat hulle dryf om meer waaghaalsig, meer arrogant ens ens ens op te tree.
‘They feed each other’ – negatively.
Ek vat nou ‘n ou soos Oscar…. ‘n ou wat lyk asof hy alles het…maar tog voor sy naam al die jare staan die woorde: Gestremde atleet, Oscar P…… In sy kop, sien hy dit as ‘n ‘weakness’, dat hy dalk ‘minder man is’, sooooooo, hy kweek die ongesonde ‘personality traits’: die recklessness, the lack of inhibitions, the entitlement etc etc etc om op te maak vir die wat hom ‘sleg laat voel oor homself’.
To be honest, in his case, the signs have been there a long time….What convince me way back he might be a little ‘off base’, was after the incident with the 19 year old and the wooden door. His interview after being arrested was way off…….
Last year, when he was involved in that public break up with that Taylor chick – she wanted to come clean about certain things, then suddenly her attorney said she would not be saying a word…payoffs? This girls mother posted something very scary on Facebook this week, re Oscar and his eternal promises to see a psychologist for ‘issues’.
This was the girl that van der Burg ‘stole’ and got the “I will break your legs” threat.
So: Oscar’s ego was not as secure as what many might have thought……and if Reeva (RIP) had started showing an interest in someone else…who knows what the already ‘fragile ego’ (coupled with the extreme paranoia that alcohol, narcotics, roids etc induce) would have been capable of.
I hope the truth comes out…..and I hope people start taking a long hard look at just WHO they decide are heroes and worthy of godlike adoration.
18 Feb 2013, 22:39 pm
@Angostura-739:
very affected by all this, Ango
good night.
18 Feb 2013, 22:39 pm
Pistorious was not prepared for life loose f’ng cannon on the rampage. I actually can’t for the life of me see what that angelic chick possibly saw in him. Why play with such raw immature emotions when the outcome was never going to be pretty? Thrust into the quagmire of unbridled egotism and so called freedom way beyond any level of stability and these young heroes start believing they’re godlike. That nothing is beyond them not even killing that which you love if you find out what you thought was your possession is not your own
18 Feb 2013, 22:40 pm
@the curse-738: I honestly think Bakkies only wants to believe the good. It’s tough to believe the worst……(albeit the healthier way to go)
18 Feb 2013, 22:41 pm
Hougaard used to date Oscar’s chick. After their split he decided to stay in contact with her ,even going as far as to befriend Oscar when he discovered his ex was dating the blade runner.sneaky little blue bull ******* that one!
18 Feb 2013, 22:44 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-747: well, when you insist on berating others for their “perceived” injustice they inflict on the rest of the world in a sporting contest, which is always open for interpretation, when your own perpetrate an injustice one should expect those who have been the target to respond in kind..
I know its wrong, but I derive great schadenfruede watching Bakkies break down.
do you think he may change tack after this though? (I doubt it)
18 Feb 2013, 22:44 pm
‘Freak accident’
Meanwhile, Beeld reported on Monday
Pistorius in January accidentally fired a
gun shot at a busy Jo’burg restaurant.
The paper said the bullet, which was
fired at a Tashas in Melrose
Arch, almost hit the foot of Kevin
Lerena, a boxer and mutual friend of
Pistorius and his slain girlfriend,
Steenkamp – who was allegedly gunned
down in Pistorius’s Pretoria home last
week.
“I got a huge fright, because the bullet
hit the ground just centimetres from my
foot … but it really was just a freak
accident,” Lerena told Beeld .
He said he had visited the restaurant
with a group of friends who included
Pistorius.
“I must emphasise that the gun
belonged to one of Pistorius’s friends –
I’m not going to mention his name.
Oscar just wanted to look at the gun,
and it sort of snagged on his pants,
releasing the safety catch. A shot went
off. I wouldn’t call him negligent, it was
just an accident. He apologised to me
for days afterwards,” Lerena said.
The restaurant did not report the
incident to the police, as Pistorius and
Steenkamp were regular customers.
“I went to investigate when I heard the
shot, but they all denied it,” said Tashas’
manager, Jason Loupis. – Sapa
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