Thursday, January 23, 2014

If we're honest with ourselves, Richard Sherman is right

After the fake Penguin suits, top hats, and monocles came out in force after Richard Sherman did his best Booker T impersonation in the on-field postgame interview of the NFC Championship, Richard Sherman gets the best of his detractors again.

In a Seattle Seahawks media session, he basically called out the people who called him a thug.

Was his actions classless? You can say so. However:

1) If you expect choir boys in the NFL, you will be constantly disappointed.

2) I'm not going to stand on a holier than thou pedestal when I'm pretty sure the folks who threw the thug label on Sherman would probably not want a camera following them every second of the day.

Could he have handled it better? Yes. But I'm not going to scold a guy who was still on an adrenaline high.

Richard Sherman in today's media session said "Thug was now the accepted way to call someone the N-word".

I hate to say it, but if we are really honest with ourselves, you cant dismiss this statement.

Aaron Hernandez and Rae Carruth are  thugs, they are murderers. Richard Sherman screamed and called out a player (and there was no need for a bleep or parental advisory disclaimer). There's a difference.

I've witnessed this from someone saying "They don't watch the NBA because of all them thugs". The NBA crime rate is actually pretty low, so draw your own conclusion on that use of the "thug" term.

Some will look at a black male and use the term thug, to hide that bad word they can't really say so they don't look racist.

Is it an epidemic? Of course not. But if someone tells you that there is no instance of that ever happening, they're lying.

I'm sure that Sherman's statements make some of you mad. The fact I see (even a little bit) of validity to it probably will make you mad too.

You gave Richard Sherman the spotlight with your fake outrage over an emotional (and obviously an opportunity to air dirty laundry) moment, and he threw it back in your face with this.

And I hate to say it, you cant dismiss his statements as false.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Richie Incognito is not a bully....He's a Grade-A Douchebag

At first when I heard about this story last week, I was thinking that this story of "bullying" in the NFL would be another ridiculous story to outrage the masses in regards to a crusade against "bullying".

Because of that, I will not call Richie Incognito a bully. He's a Grade-A douchebag who needed to be dealt with.

The fear now will be that the NFL will crack down on "hazing" and no one will longer be able to do the traditional and comical forms of hazing. (Like shaving heads and ridiculous outfits)

Johnathan Martin left the team citing emotional issues.

Do I think Incognito got what he deserved? Yes, but he also deserved a country boy ass whooping along with it.

Martin and Incognito's careers in the NFL I believe are over.

Incognito because of selfishness and destructive behavior cited in text messages with racial slurs and threats, along with the video posted by TMZ showing him loud and out of control in a Ft Lauderdale pool hall.

Martin because if he couldn't pop that guy in the mouth to deal with it, then he lacks the mental toughness to survive the NFL.

Because lineman have to be tough mentally and physically. Martin proved he is none of those to be able to lock horns with the Clay Matthew's, Ndaumakong Suh's, and Mario Williams's.

It's an unfortunate incident, Incognito got what he deserves, but Martin did more damage in my opinion to his stock and reputation to his peers.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Washington ThinSkin

I recently reflected on my upbringing when it comes to politics. Looking back at it as a whole, it's almost as if I was looking at two completely different people.

Some of my views fiscally are mostly conservative. I won't lie. I like money and the opportunity to pursue a better life and not settling for the status quo.

However, when it comes to social issues, I like to use the common sense meter compared to the liberal or conservative cue cards.

Lately, I've grown sick of politics. My sickness has no immunity to either party.

When I turn on MSNBC and a episode of Lock-Up or reruns of To Catch a Predator are not on, I want to vomit.

When I even turn it on Fox News, I want to punch the panel in the face.

I ask myself, why have I become so cynical that I'm not eager to hear both sides of the argument?

The answer is plain and simple.

The only thing you hear is rhettoric and bullshit and no focus on the real problem at hand.

Here's an example:

Bob Costas had a commentary in regards to the controversial Washington Redskins, who now after 80 years of existence, are deemed offensive.

The first thing I hear is that Bob Costas needs to keep the politics out of his sports commentary.

I disagree even though I think that his take had contradiction and is a little misguided.

There are three questions that I would like to ask:

1) If this was so offensive and not a problem, why was it not addressed in the 1960's after the historic Civil Rights Battle? Was it a problem then?

2) Exactly what percentage of the butt-hurt over this name is actually by those of Native American decent? I'd be shocked if it was above 20.

3) How many American people actually actually use the term Redskins other than describing the NFL Franchise?

For those who are so offended by this, Ask yourself that question and then ask yourself, "Am I making a difference or being a nuisance?".

What would be a better use of your time and make a better impact? Raising Money and Awareness for abused children so no other father would have to suffer the anguish that Adrian Peterson recently did? Or do you want to fight to change a name of a football where anyone with a functioning brain would not be all of the sudden racist because they talk about them?

This is why I have become sick of the political environment.

Don't get wrong, I think it is important to keep up with politics and know what is going on.

However, when you flip on the news, you should be hearing conversations about how our economy should be fixed, what's the best compromise for that goal and how we can come up with solutions rather than fighting over agendas.

Instead, we're hearing about a talk show host who should be fried for using the term "slut", (which isn't the worst thing mentioned talk show host has ever said), and how an NFL team needs to change it's name and that we're too dumb to see how offensive it is.

Is it because we're too dumb or maybe we don't use that term in any other way but describe the football team.

If the Redskins change their name, when does it end? Will it come to a point to where we can't have nicknames at all because some idiot with artificial outrage will get his way?

Sports is our escape from the political rhetoric that gets crammed down our throats from both sides of the aisle.

What really should be offensive about this conversation is the lack of common sense when it comes to handling it.