No stopping Waco Jaco
26 May 2007
Jaco van der Westhuyzen continues to embarrass himself.
The Bulls fullback sparked a minor controversy when he wore a white T-shirt, with the handwritten message “Jesus is King”, at the end of the Super 14 final in Durban. With the rest of his team-mates in their blue jerseys, Van der Westhuyzen — and his message — stuck out like a beacon.
The SA Rugby Union has since received numerous calls from members of the public who took offence at the player’s religious “ambush marketing”, which is not surprising considering how many non-Christians there are in this country.
Van der Westhuyzen’s antics gave the staff at SA Rugby magazine a problem when compiling our next issue. We wanted to pay tribute to the Bulls, but every photo of the team celebrating was visually wrecked by Van der Westhuyzen. At first we decided to remove the “Jesus is King” text using photoshop and leave him wearing a plain white T-shirt. However, we eventually tracked down a photo in which Van der Westhuyzen didn’t appear at all and went with that instead.
Not content with what he “achieved” in Durban, Van der Westhuyzen has continued to seek the limelight he so clearly loves. He’s in this week’s You and Huisgenoot magazines, again wearing the T-shirt (which hopefully he washed) and trying to justify his actions. He was also in Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, insisting that he would have worn the T-shirt even if the Bulls had lost the game (would he have ambushed the Sharks team photo?).
Rugby writer Gavin Rich made a couple of excellent points in the latest Sunday Argus when he asked how happy sponsors Vodacom would have been with Van der Westhuyzen’s T-shirt, and not their brand, being the centre of attention. Rich also asked, tounge in cheek, what Sharks coach Dick Muir had done to deserve the wrath of God and lose the final in such painful circumstances.
Van der Westhuyzen has predictably received support from Christians who applaud him for not being ashamed of his faith. But how would they have reacted if a player had worn a “Jesus is Dead” or “There is no God” T-shirt? Would they have defended that player’s freedom of speech as they have defended Van der Westhuyzen’s?
While some may not approve, South Africa is a secular state and Van der Westhuyzen’s actions were grossly inappropriate.
His claim that he wanted to give glory to God for the Bulls’ Super 14 win is laughable. God (if he does exist) would surely be focused on the war in Iraq and other life and death issues, not a rugby match. Ironically, by jumping onto the crossbar of the posts at Kings Park and behaving like a total nutter, Van der Westhuyzen simply drew attention to himself and not his God.
But perhaps that was his intention all along.
By Simon Borchardt
* Comments have now been switched off to help speed up the website
336 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] Show All
28 May 2007, 08:12 am
ufo, next time maybe you should listen a little more careful, they are thanking God for the talent He gave them, for keeping them injury free, for the ability to train etc, not for making them win! Big difference…
28 May 2007, 08:13 am
I don’t mind a guy expressing his beliefs, but Jaco-it-was-a-drop-goal acted inappropriately.
Pierre Spies and Johan Roets are great examples of Christian rugby players who doesn’t feel the need to despoil the team photo. They have spoken about their faith on several occasions and their actions more often than not indicates that they are Christians.
A good example is Spies: every time he scores, he points his finger upwards to give the glory to God (although Hugh Bladen thinks it is for his dad).
28 May 2007, 08:13 am
Jaco would have been too embarrased to display the T-Shirt if they lost.
He can pretend that he would have displayed the T-Shirt (ala drop from 75m) but it is all about Jaco.
SA Rugby is proabably a better place now that we have characters like Jaco. Every circus needs its clown. Every village needs its idiot, etc
28 May 2007, 08:14 am
ufo, dis presies wat Jaco gese het – gaan lees ‘n paar artikels waar onderhoude met hom gevoer is oor die voorval voor jy hier kom nonsens praat.
28 May 2007, 08:16 am
I cannot believe we are asked to tone down the political comments, and yet this is allowed to perpetuate. Who’s priorities are we adhering to here?
28 May 2007, 08:18 am
The sad thing is Simon writes how the editorial staff considered airbrushing the t shirt out of the photo.
You are a pathetic man, Simon.
I guess freedom of speech is only good when you are writing, hey Simon?
The death of Christianity in South Africa is a victory for the Communist Party you have in charge.
There is no hope for your future.
28 May 2007, 08:18 am
Mense verskil, dis Jaco se manier om sy geloof uit te druk en daar is niks mee fout nie.Spies doen dit sy manier en Roets op sy manier, Jaco op sy manier.
28 May 2007, 08:25 am
Can anyone enlighten me about this “Communist Party we have in charge”??????
YeGads…
28 May 2007, 08:28 am
Hi Pietman .hoe gaan dit daar in Korea? I see you point but surely religion should not be displayed so commercially if not openly. Religion,like politics is very personal. Discussing this in a pub or on here leads to abusive language.And we have a lady in here – Hi Dawn
28 May 2007, 08:28 am
Simon is a disgrace to this website!
28 May 2007, 08:28 am
Elvis is King… and he’s still alive.
28 May 2007, 08:31 am
news just in, god supports the bulls
28 May 2007, 08:31 am
#8 “The problem with this world is that it is secular” – there have been more wars started because of religion than greed or anything else.
Jaco is an idiot who has no respect for other people’s beliefs. I was insulted by his T-shirt. He is like the misionaries who go out trying to convert others without having any respect for their belief systems.
Believe what you want to, just dont trying to convert everybody else.
28 May 2007, 08:31 am
What a stupid thing to argue about. I’m a christian and wasn’t bothered by Jaco’s actions. Although the sponsors, some of the Bulls’ supporters,etc might not like it. Especially the sponsors, Vodacom. But hey, lets look at the bigger picture. For that, Jaco proberly kissed his Springbok chances good bye
28 May 2007, 08:33 am
Guys, can we discuss *** instead.Tired of these religious outpourings.Does not turn me on.
28 May 2007, 08:34 am
Koos…
I listen very carefully… you should try too… you should also try to read… I’ll say it again… Instead of thanking God for what he has done for them… they should be talking about what they did for God…!!! Perhaps too big a difference for you to see…!!!
Kaybee…
If Jaco was so sincere and consistent and it was all about God, how come this is the first time he’s done this…???
The other thing I’d like to ask all you guys is this… How come most of you lambaste Luke Watson for professing HIS belief… (although I’ve not yet heard him do it in an after game speech) but it’s okay for everyone else to do it…??? A little hypocrisy here I think…!
28 May 2007, 08:36 am
Remeber, Everytime you click refresh, and Angel loses his wings (….and Keo get more advertising money.)
28 May 2007, 08:37 am
#314 – RugbyStudent:
“I’m a Christian and wasn’t bothered by Jacos’ actions” erm DUH.
Jaco… Springbok chances, sure, maybe if ***** was the convener of selectors.
Stay of the tik.
28 May 2007, 08:37 am
For some or other reason I don’t believe God would help the Bulls cheat their way to the Super 14 crown, could have been Satan though?
28 May 2007, 08:39 am
Don King is *****
28 May 2007, 08:42 am
283
The ’95 Bok Team did make a reference to God – as soon as the final whistle blew – Pienaar and then the rest of the team kneeled down on the field and prayed to God – thanking Him.
28 May 2007, 08:43 am
***** IS KING NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS, JACO DID THE RIGHT THING, PEOPLE MUST KNOW THIS. STOP BEING NEGATIVE AND GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR BEING OPEN ON WHAT HE BELIEVES IN
28 May 2007, 08:43 am
ufo, you also went on and talked about Superbru, God picking winners, Oscars and what not leading me to believe you were saying they thanked God for making them win.
Anyway, thanking God for their talent means they do know where it comes from, knows it is their duty to use the talents to their best ability and are confirming that they are doing it for God, no need to say it.
28 May 2007, 08:44 am
Simon
Fishing for some hits…?
28 May 2007, 08:44 am
I am a BIG Christian, and certainly DO believe in GOD. I go to Church on Sunday morning, and try and live a good life. But I certainly believe it was the wrong thing to do, it was not the right forum. All of the players were thanking God for what he did for them, so then does that mean he let the Sharks down ? Certainly not !!!!! I am a Christian, and VERY PROUD of the fact, but there is a time and place for everything.
28 May 2007, 08:44 am
Howzit aussiejoe and God bless everyone on this fine morning!
28 May 2007, 08:44 am
BloMachin
huh? Why didn’t Jaco go fetch his bible also, start testifying on the field? Maybe the next time we select a team at least two people should be Muslim…lol! Just a question? Why do some white people still feel the own the country?
28 May 2007, 08:47 am
#322: Bullsbro,
I think you accidentaly hit [CAPS LOCK] while you were bashing your bible.
28 May 2007, 08:48 am
If Vodacom have an issue with Jaco, I’ll gladly CANCEL my subscription!!!
28 May 2007, 08:49 am
RS, your powers of deduction is phenominal, care to explain how one white boy showing his believes suddenly turns into white people still feeling they(I assume that was ‘they’) own the country?
28 May 2007, 08:49 am
1. Ja, the Dino brothers are in jail for refusing to pay tax, claiming they are exempt due to their religion, and are being persecuted due to their beliefs….uhhhh…..your being found guilty of a crime, dumbass, Pay your Taxes.
2. Thought it quite funny how Jaco is in the middle of this “***** scandal” when he looks so much like *****…lol. Also when he was on the posts thought it was priceless that he used a hand signal synonimis with devil worshipping metal heads.
3. If god exists and allows us to suffer, he is cruel, if god exists and he cant stop our suffering then he is weak.
4. Jaco is allowed to display his beliefs publicly, I have no problem with it. I also have no problem with him being criticized for it. This is a blog after all, which is a representation of the author’s beliefs and opinions, and they have the right to state said beliefs/opinions….
28 May 2007, 08:49 am
I am a Muslim, I believe in ***** (peace be upon him).Let us tolerate Jaco’s behaviour in this country and not ponder on the ifs. and if they lost would he have done the same?Leave it. Let the creator of the worlds judge the appropiatness of his behaviour and let us carry on with Rugby.My non-muslim colleagues and team mates over the years has always tolerated my beliefs and I will continue to do the same.
28 May 2007, 08:50 am
The Bulls players feel they get their strength from God – thats why they thanked Him. Its not about God choosing the Bulls over the Sharks – ppl all over the World thank God for their talents etc.
I dony think God cares about the result – He cares about their hearts and what they do with their talents. And the best in the Southern Hemisphere thanking Him for their talents and giving them strength – that makes Him proud id say…
28 May 2007, 08:50 am
Seriously, this is the age old argument of morons. Take the Crusades or any old war: on one side a heavily religious Christian force on the other an equally religious army. Both lots believe and proclaim that God/Yahweh/Allah is on their side. That ‘he’s on our side’ claim by definition implies he (an omnipotent being we want to believe lives on a cloud stroking his beard… mysterious ways, eh) is not on the other guys’ side.
If I were a Christian or a follower of any blind faith for that matter, I’d be more worried that a fool like Jaco is swinging from the poles making the sign of the devil, pinky and index finger extended.
I think it’s funny that he shafted Vodacom’s picture. Serves them right for years of nauseating over-advertising.
28 May 2007, 08:51 am
Jaco’s actions left a bad taste – and I’m a Bulls supporter.
28 May 2007, 08:52 am
327 RS, let me explain.
1. Being Christain kinda predisposes you to be supportive of your brother Jaco “***** made me drop it” Van Der Westhuizen
2. He is so out of form that he would only make the squad by divine intervention.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] Show All