Earlier this week, I sat down with Mundine for an interview ahead of his fight with Danny Green at Adelaide Oval on February 3.

It seemed natural to ask him about the lamb advertisement that has polarised opinion.

The campaign begins with a group of Indigenous Australians having a barbecue on a beach as ships of explorers reach the shore. Olympic hero Cathy Freeman makes a cameo, as does Sailor, who is wielding a lamb chop like it's a glowstick to the beats of the 1993 hit What is love? (Baby don't hurt me, no more) from Trinidadian-German Eurodance artist Haddaway.

When I raised the ad with Mundine, he had no idea what I was talking about. I pulled it up on You Tube on my mobile phone and Mundine's mood dramatically changed as he watched.

"You can't make motherf------ jokes like that," he said. "Things are dead serious. Things haven't been righted. That's the thing, man - it's racist but Aussies make a joke about it ??? No. Racist, bro. For me, it's just making a mockery of what happened and made it into a fun gesture.

"That's how Australians take everything, in their psyche. They don't know they're racist. They wouldn't even think they're racist. To me, for someone who has grown up as an Aboriginal man in this country, who has been pulled over by coppers all throughout my teens, being judged, had guns drawn on me when I was a kid, that's racist, man. They can't relate to it.

"That day [January 26] is about mourning, raping, pillaging and murdering our ancestors to take over this land. Everybody in a position of power that can make change for the benefit of our people. The system has oppressed our people for so long and that advertisement makes jokes about something sacred about our history."

Out of respect, Mundine and Sailor did not want to comment about each other's views. But Big Del passionately defended his role.

"I didn't know what my role would be but I rocked up and saw Sam Kekovich, I saw Cathy and Adam Gilchrist and I liked how it's come together," said Sailor, who is an Australian Torres Strait Islander. "We are larrikins and a fun society. I'm proud of being involved it. My kids love it, my wife loves it, and people that I've spoken to say, 'How good was that ad'?

"I can understand some [Indigenous] elders being upset with it. But my uncle was Eddie Mabo, so I know more than anyone how hard it has been. We are never going to forget where we come from. But when it comes to Australia Day, I am a proud Aussie. I am a proud Indigenous man - but I am also a proud Aussie."

Fair enough. Two strong points, both worth consideration.

Now, if someone has any idea about how I can remove that song from my head, it would be greatly appreciated.

THE GAME THAT NEVER SLEEPS

Rugby league is like New York City - the game that never sleeps.

The independent commission was supposed to be truly, er, independent but now it's going to have appointees from the NSWRL and QRL and two determined by NRL clubs.

This is all part of the deal struck by chairman John Grant last year when he backflipped on his backflip on club funding to keep his position.

The pay-off: Grant gets to keep his job until February next year, including an appearance on the stage for the trophy presentation after the World Cup.

Names are being tossed about like confetti about new commissioners after directors Jeremy Sutcliffe and Graeme Samuels resigned on Wednesday.

Former News Ltd boss John Hartigan is being whispered as a possible candidate. He hasn't been approached but the game could do with someone of his calibre and passion. (He was this week spotted wearing Jarryd Hayne's No.38 shirt from the San Francisco 49ers). Even those on the ARL divide from the Super League days want Hartigan there.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys has been mooted. Nobody would be taking limos if he was anywhere near the books. They'd be handed an Opal card.

Former Nine boss David Gyngell has also been suggested. He phoned NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg late last year as rumours swirled about him replacing Grant and told him he didn't want the job.

He's got some strong supporters trying to at least give him a seat at the table now.

BAIRD GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

NSW Premier Mike Baird has resigned. Let's get on the Golden Gatorades for three days and blow the rent on the punt at Wenty Park.

We're joking, kids, but Baird's shock resignation on Thursday morning gave reason to pause and consider his influence on what matters most in this state, this world, this life - sport.

He's pledged $1.6 billion for new stadiums across Sydney and for that every footy fan should be truly thankful.

There's a lovely new stadium being built at Parramatta but as we understand it the remainder of the stadium strategy for ANZ Stadium and Moore Park remains quite murky.

The new light rail network will also help ease the pain of attending footy and cricket and racing. Again, the things that matter most.

As for the greyhounds, placing the livelihoods of so many people in limbo after announcing he was going to outlaw the sport before backflipping for political reasons is something many will never forget.

HONOURING REBECCA

The life of my colleague and great mate Rebecca Wilson will be honoured at Royal Randwick on Saturday at the Nelune Foundation Race Day.

Race six, the Rebecca Louise Handicap, has been named in her honour. Bec died last October after a brave battle with cancer.

All funds from the sold-out luncheon in the ballroom will go to the inaugural Rebecca Wilson Fellowship in Breast Cancer Research at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

Bec met the foundation's co-founder Nelune Rajapakse about 17 years ago and had donated much of her time hosting events since.

If you're there, feel free to raise a glass of chardonnay in her honour. Maybe even two.