Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Nick D'Arcy savagely beats up former Australian champion.

This is a few days old but I am posting it now since I didn't know the extent of the harm he caused the victim. From news.scotsman.com: "... A DRUNKEN late-night punch-up has rocked the record-breaking Australian Olympic swim team and left a new star facing a serious assault charge and demotion from the national team. Former swim champion Simon Cowley ended up in hospital with serious injuries, including a broken jaw, fractured eye socket and broken nose. ..." To me, this sounds like kicking to the victim's head or a weapon was involved for a hand would break causing that much damage. [Link]

From the Herald Sun: "... Cowley provided a police statement last night and, according to friends, is in extreme pain.

"He can't eat anything and basically is only on liquids and he's still bleeding from the nose, the source said. ..." [Link]

Here is an article from west.com.au where several quotes of D'Arcy which include words like regret..., sincerely regret..., embarrassed..., and this gem: “... I, like all individuals am entitled to a fair trial and due process through the judicial system.”

Quotes like these certainly make one notice how carefully measured his words are; too measured for my taste, for where were phrases like "I'm sorry" or "I apologize" or "I didn't do it" but instead we get, don't judge me! [Link]

UPDATE: I went to Yahoo Answers to find out what the drinking age in Australia is and it ranges between the ages of 16-years-old if accompanied by an adult in Victoria and 18-years-old nationally. [Link]

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Today there is a report (I'm in Perth for the World Masters meet) that D'Arcy had a similar incident with an Ironman a year and a half ago. Secondly, there is a report that Aussie swimmers are being asked to remove their Facebook pages.

Scott said...

That's real news Wendy - can you name the source? Up to this I've assumed this was D'Arcy's first assault charge and have been giving him the benefit of the doubt, but if he's been charged for a scuffle in the past ...

Tony Austin said...

Here is the link regarding the Ironman. Thanks Wendy :-)
http://news.smh.com.au/aoc-probe-into-darcy-widens/20080402-235r.html

Anonymous said...

I'm late responding, Scott, and I see Tony's got a new post up in this regard. Tim Peach's father was on ABC radio news yesterday saying they now regret now that they did not press charges as it might have prevented "this latest".

Anonymous said...

Scott, there's a little more to the Simon Cowley / Nick D'Arcy incident than has reached the papers.

Cowley may just be somewhat less blameless than you think.

Oh, and Wendy: the swimmers haven't been asked to remove their pages. They have been asked to remove public access to them.

Tony Austin said...

In defense of Wendy, I don't know about the law down under but in Los Angeles, California if you are slugged or punched, and the assailant ends his attack, you may not engage or attack back or you too will be arrested.

I suspect Cowley was on the ground getting kicks to the head or that D'Arcy may of used a weapon. Thus, this fight had nothing to do with defense. It was a savage beating for if it were in defense, why didn't D'Arcy have an injury or two?

Let's suppose Cowley threw first and D'Arcy countered; (I really don't know what happened and I emphasize that), but what I do know is that a broken jaw would stop somebody right away. It did so to Mohammed Ali yet Cowley has a broken eye socket, a concussion, a broken jaw and more.

So, yeah, D'Arcy is a disgrace and an embarrassment to Australian swimming but I bet you guys let him swim.