I see no sense in trashing the likes of Carey, Cousins and Warne. They needed guidance from some wise elders who could help them manage their high profile careers. What is not often understood, because it can be a hard concept to grasp, is the following statement. Everything and everyone is deeply connected to everything and everyone. This principle must be factored in when considering celebrities. The trees are an extension of our lungs. Our sporting heroes are a part of ourselves, of our psyches and souls.

There is an energetic component directed at these guys from the public, which, is very difficult to control. Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe are two examples of stars, upon whom millions of people projected their sexual energies.  It brought about their early demise and death; I wonder how Heath Ledger has been impacted similarly. 

I’m optomistic about improving sport. It can occur from the bottom up and the top down at the same time. I for one, would welcome the opportunity to work with our sporting icons and attempt to provide some of that wise elder male grounding.

My masculinity work, began with efforts to improve my self, and, as I learned, has spread out to include other males—it might be called an exploration of the male inner world. It is a delicate subject, often met with derision or denial. Nevertheless, I’m careful not lay blame at the feet of men because male programming is delivered with such force and yet remains invisible to many.

Over the years, as I studied gender socialisation I was fascinated to find that male programming varies from country to country, sub culture to sub culture and also varies overtime—but it often falls under the banner of being a “real man.” Some of the programming promotes positive values and some heinous. In my books for men and especially the one featured in the article, I encourage men to explore their programming, retain the values they like—those which serve humanity, and discard the others.

I wrote “Kicking a Goal for Masculinity,” recognising that sport, (athletics in the USA) in many countries, is a dominant shaper of masculine values. It my attempts to introduce dialogue about a healthier form of masculinity I felt it necessary to write a book for the sporting community.

Unfortunately Australia has, in recent times too many national and world ranked sporting icons who demonstrate the worst of male values including excessive alcohol and drug usage, misogyny and blatant machismo.
Young boys, struggling to find good male role models in a confusing sea of choices, are negatively influenced by the antics of these highly visible icons—especially at a time of single parent families and vanishing male primary school teachers. 

I’m in awe of the millions of men worldwide, who, despite their programming as men, have somehow, as I believe I have done, managed to reclaim their humanity. When one looks at the fact that wars, rape, domestic violence, crime, porn, sex trafficking, gang violence, murders and theft are mostly male endeavours; the necessity for good men to spread their influence is of high import.