Sporting Life

The Age

Tuesday November 11, 2008

Samantha Lane

IT'S World Orangutan Caring Week. Yes, that's right. And while the most dedicated activists are out saving the rainforests that the planet's highest-profile red-haired animals like to inhabit, we thought we could help raise awareness by paying homage to redheads in sport. They're a special bunch when you consider National Geographic's report that they make up less than 2% of the world's population. Yesterday, Australia's flame-topped sporting IT man Steve Hooker talked us through the business of being part of a club referred to, variously over the ages, as sauce heads, fanta pants, gingas, bluey and - courtesy of Australian writer/actor/general genius Chris Lilley - rangas, which is a shout out to our precious furry friend the orangutan. To assist the Olympic gold medallist pole vaulter we enlisted a second authority, Geelong vice-captain Cameron Ling, who also lets his red mane grow long and thick. More proud spokesmen for a red-haired man or woman you would not find. And just to fire things up a bit, they also tipped the bucket on a few notable sporting types they feel are letting the red-haired community down. So in the name of the orangutan we present ...

The good

Hooker: "Grandmas always think you're cute. Anyone over the age of 60 thinks your hair's gorgeous. And to be fair I probably got more votes when I played junior footy than I deserved and that could well have been because of the red hair."

Ling: "My mates tell me it's great whenever I meet them in a crowded place because they reckon I'm easy to spot. So they can always come over and find me.

"My mates and I have agreed that one day all of my freckles will join together and I'll have the best tan out of everyone and I'll be laughing."

The bad

Hooker: "The main disadvantage would be the massive financial outlay on sunscreen. Every day, massive amounts, apply and re-apply. The sun thing's the biggest issue. It's not so much the hair, it's the complexion that comes with the hair that's the problem."

Ling: "The combination that usually goes with the red hair is the beautiful pale skin, so you can't spend a hell of a lot of time in the sun. I've been dying for a sponsorship with Banana Boat or something like that but none's coming my way."

Closet redheads

Hooker: "I claim Shane Warne as a sporting redhead. Look at his little goatee thing, it's got so much ginge in it it's not funny. It's not easy for us, but I sort of understand where Warnie's gone with it. It's probably been better for the endorsements to keep the ginge in the closet. Have you seen any red-haired people doing Advanced Hair ads? I don't think so."

Ling: "Dermott Brereton, Jason Akermanis, they should just put it out there and be proud I think. But for some reason, and I don't know why because obviously it's a beautiful hair colour, they just seem ashamed of it and have decided to go down a different path. But one day they'll just stop living in denial and they will come out and they will just be proud."

Temptation of the tint

Hooker (has a history of flirting with colour): "When I was in high school my hair was white for probably a couple of years." Current status: completely natural.

Ling (dubious past): "There has been question marks raised over the past couple of years. A few of the boys reckon I've been putting a bit of blond in it. I tell them it's just the salt water and the sunshine from surfing and I'm not about to comment otherwise." Current status: mostly natural, but still dubious in

sections.

A deadset redhead legend

HOOKER and Ling bow to 22-year-old champion American snowboarder and skater Shaun White, nicknamed the flying tomato, who was voted the best action sportsperson of 2008.

The tomato has medalled in every winter X games since 2002 and his tally is nine gold, three silver and two bronze. He also won gold in the men's halfpipe at the 2006 Winter Olympics as well as a third consecutive halfpipe title this year at the US Open Snowboarding Championships. The tomato has been snapped dining with model Heidi Klum and was recently on the cover of Rolling Stone.

Hooker: "He's bad arse, he's hard core. He's the man. He's got a lot of hair and he's wearing it loud and proud. He's like the ultimate ranga sportsman at the moment."

Ling: "He's a legend. He's flying the flag for the redheads. Maybe I should have been a skateboarder."

THE LISTS

Red and out there

A random and uncomprehensive guide to sporting redheads: Boris Becker, Jim Courier, Stuart O'Grady, David Carney, Hayden Foxe, Rod Laver, Jack Nicklaus, Ellie Overton, Shaun Pollock, Daniel Kowalski, Paul Collingwood, Michael Voss, Justin Leppitsch, Daniel Merrett, Paul Vautin, Gary Moorcroft, Brad Hardie, Ben Hart, Simon Atkins, Neville Bruns, Jan Ullrich, Craig McDermott, Emma George,

Trisha Fallon, Mark Woodforde, Chris Guccione, Bill Walton,

Darren Bewick, Esther Williams, Adrian Hickmott, Tim McGrath, lots of other Geelong players, Lance Whitnall, Shaun "the flying tomato" White.

Red and hiding it*

(*According to pre-eminent Australian authorities Hooker and Ling)

Visit www.orangutans.com.au to support the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Australia.

The Melbourne Zoo is having a special World Orangutan Caring Week event this weekend. For details, call (03) 92859300.

© 2008 The Age

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