Nice piece about Jim Stynes here.
http://media.smh.com.au/sport/real-footy/jim-stynes-was-afls-greatest-story-3147395.html
Very sad, RIP. A bed in heaven for the big man.
Incredible outpouring of grief on twitter last night for the man. His story is an inspiration from his rise out there and how he used his sporting talent to mould himself into something else entirely with the Reach program being a truly astonishing undertaking and success story. A wonderful story which has had a sad ending of sorts, but given the high esteem he’s held in he’s a man that won’t be forgotten for quite some time.
There’s not many in this world at this point that haven’t been hit by cancer in some way or form, its a horrible horrible disease and one with few if any really happy outcomes.
I see he’s getting a state funeral.
Some going for a foreigner to get a state funeral. Says a lot for the man.
RIP Jim.
RIP.
Very sad news
Sad news. RIP
The docu on him last year was seriously inspiring, I have no interest in Aussie ruled so its that I’ll remember him for
The type of man you would be in awe of.
Small kids too, v sad
Dreadfully sad news, R.I.P. Jim, a true Irish sporting legend.
RIP big lad
This dude seemed to be well known. I hadn’t actually heard of him.
RIP. I didn’t know that much about Jim Stynes until that documentary last year. It was eye-opening stuff though. The amount of respect he’s earned from the Australians is very impressive and telling. Very sad news for a man so young.
very sad news. RIP Jim
was trying to find his documentary there online to watch again. anyone know where it can be watched.
There’s a few torrents about but because there was a DVD with proceeds to charity all the obvious streaming copies were taken down.
if you have a spare half hour, this is worth watching. His influence and impression he left in Austrlia is massive. A proper sporting hero.
Nice one g-man
Its been a huge story here, not just in Melbourne, one of the leads on all the news bulletins. State Funeral next Tuesday. His work in setting up the Reach foundation has been particuarly reported on. Everyone very concerned about the well being of his family. It really is a tribute to him how people speak of him not just as a footy legend, but as a leader and a charismatic man who brought people together. Vale Jim.
AN EX-AUSTRALIAN RULES footballer has today apologised for a stunning attack on Jim Stynes, who died earlier this week at the age of 45 after a long battle with cancer.
The Dublin-born footie legend will receive a state funeral from Victoria after a glittering career in the oval with Melbourne Demons as well as a philanthropic life in retirement.
But one former rival Jason Akermanis told radio listeners to Mix 92.7 FM in Queensland that the outpouring of grief was ‘overkill’.
Akermanis quickly released an apology, in the face of a massive public backlash.
“Firstly, I want to apologise wholeheartedly for my inappropriate words this morning, regarding Jim Stynes,” the statement reads. “I am truly sorry for the ill feeling I have caused.
“In reality, my feelings are quite the opposite and I just didn’t express my thoughts, feelings and words very well.
“I deeply apologise to the Stynes family, the public and everyone involved with Jim throughout his life. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my true thoughts, and I hope that you will forgive my stupidity.”
He has been sacked by the radio show — but insisted afterwards he planned to quit anyway. The Stynes family have criticised his comments but said that if Jim Stynes himself were still alive he’d pick up the phone and invite ‘Aker’ for a beer.
This comes after Akermanis claimed the Ballyboden man ‘was a nasty man in his day’. “He had a nice turn of phrase and he made sure you knew how he felt”.
“What amazes me is yes, he was a legend of the game and did a great job and wonderful things with kids, but you know there are a bunch of people who have done just as much who don’t get any recognition. I just think it’s a bit out of kilter.
“He got a state funeral – do all football players get a state funeral? There’s something about it all that just made me feel uncomfortable. Jim’s good, but is he that good?”
Stynes passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a long and public battle against the disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2009. He moved to the Melbourne Demons in 1984 as one of the pioneers of the AFL’s “Irish Experiment” to recruit GAA talent.
In 1991, he became the only overseas-born player to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal, awarded to the “fairest and best” player in the league, and continued to devote himself to the game and charity work following his retirement in 1998.