Whether the fact that Ryder may have a problem with alcohol changes your view of how he should be handled and regarded is up to you. But dissecting Ryder without contemplating alcoholism is like talking about the Rolling Stones without mentioning Jagger and Richards.
Whether he is an alcoholic or not, the question is why do people like Ryder drink and act the way they do? Why don't they simply stop when the problems mount up?
No one has the last word on alcohol abuse and the disease of alcoholism. There may even be a sociological angle that argues there is no such thing. But alcoholism is now widely accepted as an inherited condition related to how the brain's pleasure pathways and neurotransmitter system operate. Its close associates are depression, fear, anxiety and feelings of struggling to fit in.
Alcoholics say alcohol initially gave them an inner peace never experienced before but their "best friend" eventually turned on them. The pleasurable feelings disappear, the problems increase yet they still chase the glory days. Once they pick up the first drink, an overwhelming desire to keep drinking takes over. Normal drinkers find this seemingly bizarre, self-destructive condition hard to understand.
Unfortunately, putting the bottle down often opens a new chapter of emotional torment for alcoholics, including dealing with the carnage caused. Most prefer the devil they know, keep drinking and never find or stick to the various routes of recovery. They don't set out to cause trouble - they just want to feel better. Ultimately though, it leads many to insanity and various institutions, including jail.
Alcoholism is not automatically passed on to offspring but the majority of alcoholics can spot the condition in other family members. A veteran counsellor told me that if alcoholism or other addictions weren't easy to spot in a family tree, try looking for depression. There is a double whammy with this so-called family disease: those afflicted are often brought up in severely alcoholic - and thus dysfunctional - environments that exacerbate the problems.
It is a sneaky and vicious disease that lies in wait. Perhaps the most famous sporting alcoholic was George Best - "was" being the operative word because it killed him. Fame, adulation, a flamboyant life, medical intervention, all the help in the world ... none of it saved the brilliant Northern Ireland footballer. Best's mother never touched alcohol until her mid-40s, but once she did the addiction kicked in and killed her in short order. Best's son Calum has alcohol issues (without apparently conceding he is an alcoholic) and campaigns to raise awareness of the genetic links.
Whether Ryder has been handled fairly, sensibly and sensitively is subjective - top level sport is obsessed with image and team protocols which don't leave room for complex cases. As one writer noted, he tends to self-destruct when the pressure increases. His bosses and teammates face a difficult situation because alcoholism and all its bewildering complexities is a hand that has potentially been dealt not only to Jesse Ryder, but those who have to deal with the issues.
2 things pros want you to believe
Cameron will retire if he loses
From the believe-it-when-you-see-it department ... take heavyweight boxer Shane Cameron's claims he will retire if beaten by Kali Meehan with a grain of salt. Boxers are notoriously bad at retiring, partly because they are notoriously bad at accepting they have been beaten or are at the end of the road. Another pay day is too tempting when there aren't great employment options. It may take years, but a comeback is often on the cards. I hope Cameron retires, as he should have following the vicious pounding at the hands of David Tua. He needs to make the decision on a health basis, not on whether he wins or loses.
The All Blacks are still fresh
Oh yes, professional sport and all its carefully-managed joys. The All Blacks were disjointed against Scotland but have emerged unified. Yes, our rugby heroes are firmly on message. It may be the end of a long season, but they are fresh as a daisy thanks to the man management skill of their coaches. Steve Hansen says they are fresh, Keven Mealamu concurs, as does Sam Cane. It's so well scripted that I suspect it actually is, on a whiteboard somewhere. Nine months down the track from the opening Super 15 match of 2014, this punter will feel a lot fresher when rugby takes a break ... for a few weeks.
