Garry Lyon and Billy Brownless.

But that hasn’t stopped popular American sports media website Awful Announcing having its take on the biggest scandal to erupt in Australian sport this year, which has seen Lyon step down from all media commitments as he deals with a mental health condition following revelations he had an affair with Brownless’s ex-wife.

Conscious of his largely US audience, managing editor Matt Yoder attempted to put the story in terms his readers could understand, by comparing the AFL footballers-turned-media heavyweights to former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.

It’s a pretty decent comparison. Barkley and Smith both had top careers in basketball and are now key members of the successful postgame show Inside the NBA on Turner Network Television (TNT).

“Imagine a scenario where Charles Barkley walked off the set of Inside the NBA, claiming mental health issues, after a report that he had an affair with Kenny Smith’s ex-wife. It would be the biggest sports media scandal today, maybe ever, and a huge sports story in general,” Yoder wrote.

The cast of Inside the NBA: (from left) Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley.Source:Getty Images

“That’s the equivalent of what’s currently unfolding in Australia, where two of the most prominent AFL commentators are involved in a scandal that seems like it’s drawn from the pages of an afternoon soap opera ...

“To describe The Footy Show and Lyon and Brownless’ relationship to American sports fans, the Barkley-Smith comparison is a great one because of their closeness on the air and the format of the show. Imagine the irreverence of Inside the NBA turned up to 11 with a lot more swearing and off-colour humour.”

To illustrate his point, Yoder linked to the following video, taken from an episode of The Footy Show that ran in August, 2013. If they took the time to watch the video, AA’s American readers will now have a better understanding of a “population rod” and “vermilion-tipped kidney prodder”. Oh dear.

WARNING: Adult themes in video below

The man who delivered those eloquent descriptions, The Footy Show veteran Sam Newman, is adamant the popular program will weather the storm.

“What the public should do ... is give us a chance to get to air,” Newman said on 3AW.

“James Brayshaw (who will host the show in Lyon’s absence) is a very competent broadcaster, and I am what I am — I’m a dill.

“I’m sure Bill will be there at some stage, and Garry will be there at some stage when he has overcome his depression. That is a given.”