Eddie’s Queue. No waiting.

UPDATE: This story has now been vehemently denied by McGuire as having no basis in truth and he is considering legal action against News Ltd. More below.

Eddie McGuire has made news this week for trying to queue-jump his licence renewal at Bondi Junction’s RTA.

According to News Ltd. fast Eddie had already tried through phone calls to have the RTA open their doors earlier for him, spoken to managers and also asked to be served at 4.50pm -ten minutes before closing time. Apparently he is a “very busy man.”

None of it worked and McGuire was told to take a ticket and wait like everybody else. Eventually he did.

Many years ago when Eddie was a “mere” host of The Footy Show and I wasn’t even in media journalism I remember waiting in a queue to renew my passport in Melbourne. Like most government offices it was a pretty mundane affair, but who walked in to face the queue? Eddie McGuire.

I recall he sighed and was agitated, seemingly looking for a shortcut. But seeing there wasn’t any, he waited it out like the rest of us.

I also saw him work his charms when he was having a coffee in South Yarra a few years back and a Parking Inspector was adding a ticket to his black Saab. Ouch. Eddie rushed out, laughed it up, used the word “mate” lots, and from memory I think got out of it.

But then, who hasn’t pleaded with a Parking Inspector when you’re on the spot?

Those who have the gift of the gab and the Broady touch have probably just had a little more experience to see it work.

UPDATE:

“I’m actually going to take legal action against News Ltd over what is a complete fabrication,” McGuire told Southern Cross Broadcasting yesterday.

“I’ve never been to the RTA down there. I have a licence that’s actually not expiring until 2011. And when they allege that I made the two phone calls, one, I was overseas and the second time I was actually on air on the Today show last Monday.” – Sydney Morning Herald.