Immoral to continue the pregnancy, to love and support their child, no matter what? I find loving parents who embark on that course the most inspirational people among us, and it is all the more wonderful when an entire community gets behind them. A case in point was raised in Federal Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, by Federal member Ewen Jones, who spoke with great warmth about a 40-year-old in his electorate last Saturday night was made a life member of Townsville's Brothers Rugby Club, Frank Fanning. The youngest of eight children, with five older brothers who all played for Brothers, Frank has Down syndrome, and made his debut for the club as water boy and has filled the role with such purpose ever since – sometimes doing six matches on a Saturday. He also gives powerful rev-up speeches to the 1st XV before matches in the finals, leads the chants and the team song, and is the most vocal barracker of the club. No captain leads a Brothers team on the field without Frank in his ear yelling 'attack, attack, attack.' Anything that needs elbow grease or time, he is the first to put his hand up, though carrying the water is his main task.

"On the odd occasion where he has filled in on the wing," Ewen Jones MP told the honourable members, "at every break he has called for the water and critiqued the performance of the water boy. He is an institution at the club . . . He now carries the title of 'Senior Water-man' and is listed in that position on the club website, alongside President, Treasurer and Secretary. He demands and gets a new set of water bottles every season."

This year, the Brothers Blue and White Ball boasted a grand occasion. Frank Fanning was made a life member.

"Frank did not get life membership as gift," Jones informed the House. "He earned it with hard work and dedication to the club, and he is a major part of the club's success both on and off the field . . . He is the very essence of a club man. Frank is a Brother's man."

Frank now has a nephew, Ben, who also has Down syndrome and Frank does renditions of Michael Jackson's song Ben that would bring a tear to a glass eye.

"Ben," Ewan Jones says, "will grow up knowing he has an absolute tribe in his corner. Not just Frank and his [family,] not just the Brothers rugby fraternity. Madam Speaker, Ben will be entering the entire sporting world of Townsville knowing there is a place for him and anyone who wants to put in."

Frank has put in, as has the Townsville community, as has Brothers rugby club. Bravo to the lot of them. And – on this one – fie to Professor Dawkins. And could it be that part of the evolutionary purpose of Down syndrome is that communities who embrace those with it, become stronger?

Dan's the man

TFF wrote a yarn about our own formula one driver Daniel Ricciardo this week, with the rough theme that he might be The One – a hugely successful Australian sportsperson whose ability is matched only by his likeability. It immediately drew a response from Fitzphile Nicholas Andrew, who reports that with some mates in Singapore last September, they bumped into Ricciardo heading to the track.

"No entourage," our man reports, "just walking along on his Pat Malone. We bailed him up for about five minutes and had a great chat. Very open and gracious with his time. He holds himself well . .  humble and doesn't refer to himself in the third person . . .  He is extremely well-regarded in the F1 fraternity for this reason. Plus it doesn't hurt that he is giving Vettel a right spanking this season!"

What he said . . .

Onya, Freddie ...

Bravo Brad Fittler. In a week where so much of the piss-weak league commentariat – you heard me – looked the other way and changed the subject when conversation turned to the disgrace of the 17 Cronulla players acknowledging they had been on the juice back in 2011, Fittler was one of the few with the gumption to say what needed to be said, declaring that under the circumstances he did not want Gallen to win the Brad Fittler Medal for best NSW player in the Origin series.

"In my opinion," the former Kangaroo captain said, "given the circumstances that he is suspended, he should be ineligible to win the medal. That's all I want to say."

You're right, hardly scathing, but from someone with the stature of Fittler it was important. Ditto Wayne Bennett, who lined up the Cronulla coach at the time, Shane Flanagan, pointing out that it was ludicrous for him to say he knows nussink when 17 of his players are being doped! Three others to stand out were Matty Johns on his eponymous show on Fox Sports on Monday night, who was critical that the players didn't get a longer suspension, as was Gorden Tallis. Nathan Hindmarsh, on the same show, made the point that all the NRL clubs get lectures every year from ASADA where they make clear that they must take responsibility for what is put in their bodies, so the Cronulla players had no sympathy for them.

I dips me lid to the lot of them for speaking up, while blowing loud raspberries at those talking-head league figures who pretend 17 players admitting to being drug cheats, even if they claim it was unwitting, is no big deal; that it's all ASADA's fault, and it's far more important to talk about anything but that.

What They Said

"Get me a coffee, you %&$*." Reportedly, these were the words that Steve Roach used to a young producer that saw him sacked, as 2GB says it's getting tough on bullying. No, really.

Shaquille O'Neal reminiscing about how Michael Jordan once humiliated an opponent: "He said, 'I'm coming down. I'm going to dribble it between my legs twice. I'm going to pump fake and then I'm going to shoot a jumper. And then I'm going to look at you.' And that's exactly what he did."

Former formula one champion Alan Jones on the courage and skill consistently displayed by Perth's Daniel Ricciardo: "A 170 mile-an-hour corner has still got to be taken at 170 miles an hour. It doesn't matter what your computer says, it's your balls that take you through it."

Returning Sharks coach Shane Flanagan: "It's like a bank teller taking money out of the till. Does the bank manager know at the time? Well it's the same here ... I was lied to about what was happening." We're not talking about a rogue teller. We're talking about 17 of your players engaged in systemic doping. And you didn't know? I call bullshit.

ASADA CEO Ben McDevitt on why it took 18 months to nail them: "I don't think ASADA was ready for an investigation of this magnitude. And I can tell you something it is not just ASADA, I don't think any national anti-doping organisation in the world would have been ready for something of this magnitude, of this complexity, of this enormity."

NRL CEO Dave Smith: "On the evidence of what I have seen, there is no place in this sport ever for Stephen Dank."

Australian swimmer Mel Schlanger: "If someone came near me with a needle I'd be running the opposite way.  We had a flu shot after the orientation camp. I took the lid off the bottle first, checked it online and made sure it was all good before I even got my flu shot."

Drug cheat Paul Gallen after his suspension: "The last 12 hours have been hard. The ballpark, the goalposts changed three or four times." The need for a level playing field has never changed.

Nick Krygios after his first round win at the US Open: "Last year I was playing Futures and now I'm playing Grand Slams. It's crazy. Seeing guys that you watch on TV and you just walk around the locker room and you're potentially playing them, it's pretty daunting at times."

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw on retaining the big Bledisloe  cup for another year: "Having been there when we got it back I never want to be in position where I leave the door open for the Wallabies. I love winning that big trophy and having a big drink out of it." Sadly, Richie has been drinking to excess, and it must stop.

Channel Nine CEO David Gyngell – thank you, I know – on Richie Benaud perhaps calling the summer's cricket from his house: "He'd be the ultimate armchair caller from the couch, wouldn't he?"

Adam Ashley-Cooper, accepting one of the gongs at the Waratahs Awards dinner on Tuesday evening: "Finally, after all these years, I understand what a team is. The Waratahs resemble that." Strangely, on the players' poll, Israel Folau didn't come in the top ten.

@ClydeRathbone tweets: "Att Charities, I'm giving away all my playing jerseys. Please email contactclyderathbone@gmail.com if you want one. pic.twitter.com/x7B9I8B5a2" Bravo. The Wallaby winger also did a wonderful job speaking for the Cauliflower Club last week in the Hunter Valley, at a function that raised 39 grand for the rugby charity.

Team of the Week

Wallabies. I don't want to talk about it, OK? I SAID I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!

Daniel Ricciardo. Had the best year of any Australian sportsperson.

Sydney Swans.  Locked up a top-two spot and look to clinch the minor premiership on Saturday, putting egg all over the face of those miserable bastards that predicted calamity this season because of their signing of Buddy Franklin.

Cronulla.  Lost to Canberra to just about seal the wooden spoon — to go with their plastic syringe — for the  season.

Boomers.  Begin their World Cup  on Saturday against Slovenia.

The Sydney Uni Boat Club Under-23 Men's VIII.  The youngest team in the race recorded a wonderful win in the final event of the 2014 Canadian Henley Regatta.

Pat McCabe.  The 26-year-old Wallaby Warrior of the Backs — a man with the heart and spirit of a forward — has retired from rugby after fracturing his neck for a third time. Bravo, mate. You left nothing on the track.

Western Sydney Wanderers.  Through to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League, whatever that is.

Twitter: @Peter_Fitz