Jim Stynes no demigod: Akermanis
AFL megamouth Jason Akermanis has attacked the late Jim Stynes as a "nasty man in his day'' who was now being treated like a "demigod".
The former Brisbane Lions player turned shockjock on Mix 92.7 FM on the Sunshine Coast today, when he described as 'overkill' the outpouring of sympathy and grief at the passing of Stynes, who lost his battle with cancer this week.
>> Latest sport news
Stynes has been lauded around Australia as an inspirational player and recognised for his youth work with the Reach Foundation.
He is expected to be honoured at a State funeral in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Akermanis is unlikely to be invited after he told breakfast hosts Mark Darin and Caroline Hutchinson that Stynes was 'no saint',.
"(Jim) was a nasty man in his day. He had a nice turn of phrase and he made sure you knew how he felt.''
"What amazes me is yes, he was a legend of the game and did a great job and wonderful things with kids, but you know there are a bunch of people who have done just as much who don't get any recognition.
"I just think it's a bit out of kilter,'' Akermanis said.
"He got a State funeral - do all football players get a State funeral? There's something about it all that just made me feel uncomfortable. Jim's good but is he that good?''
Akermanis was making his season debut on the station.
He will also appear in the upcoming series of Celebrity Apprentice Australia on Channel 9 to air next month.
Akermanis hit the headlines in 2010, when he was attacked for alleged homophobic remarks in a Herald Sun newspaper column in which he urged gay players to stay in the closet.
Audio: Akermanis on radio this morning
Tomorrow: Read what Caroline Hutchinson thought of Akers' outburst
