How Legends Are Made

Alex Jesaulenko and 'The Mark', were in the news again today. Tim Lane has devoted a column to 'The Mark.' The Media, the AFL, advertising agencies, car makers and fans cling to the hype of 'The Mark' like Christians cling to the idea that Jesus was the son of (g)od. We know the latter is bullshit, however, like Jesus, 'The Mark' has earned mythical status and any criticism of it is generally shunned.

'The Mark' by Jesaulenko is now running a close second Princess Diana in terms of how many times it is mentioned in the media; an almost daily figure.

Tim Lane:

With haunting timing, Jesaulenko has been made a legend of the Australian game on May 8: the anniversary of the end of the European war that was responsible for bringing him here.

Haunting timing eh? And there we go again. The parallels are drawn: legends, war and AFL. The more Journalists like Lane, over-hype the importance of an event and try to raise the emotional-bar every time it is mentioned, the more it cheapens it until a memory becomes a brand to be sold.

Sure, the mark Jesaulenko took was a spectacular one during a grand final, and yes, his Russian/Ukranian/Austrian heritage added "the flavour of eastern Europe to the football of Melbourne in 1967," but let's be honest, does it have to be mentioned and fawned upon every few days?