Kaepernick fined $11,000 for using the "N" word

[Wazmankg]

An "N"-word thread with only 16 posts in 5 hours. You guys are slipping.

 

[HallofFame]

Sir, trash talk has always been part of the game. You probably never played sports.

On the contrary, I've been blessed athletically.

*Baseball: 5 Time All-Star Babe Ruth 1B, on to HS pitcher w/a late breaking curve and a blazing fastball to boot.

*Football: Ran the old "wish-bone offense", fleet afoot leaving more than a few defensive ends clutching air, and linebackers pounding the turf in frustration.

Though this competition was only at the HS and collegiate level, we played the game for the love of the game, and I still have much respect for all of my coaches, who never made it a point to run up the score on a lesser opponent. These lessons find a way of staying with you through the years. Yes, it was about winning, but it never was about "winning" if that meant trash-talking, running up the score or noticing the color of your teammates skin.

When I coached collegiate basketball at a small D3 college in New England, as much as we wanted to beat our opponents we managed to do it absent of trash talking. Those in my charge were taught to do their talking through their actions, graduate and get a degree, and keep their noses clean on and off the playing surface. Professional athletes can be handled/managed the same way if the league, front office, coaches, etc. held them to that standard of excellence so envisioned by Vince Lombardi.

There's no need for the NFL to ever excuse major distractions like substance abuse issues; domestic violence issues; bullying a fellow teammate(WTF?!, a fellow "teammate; nor, demean a whole race of people with the N-word, and just sweep it under the rug like it's business as usual. The audacity of demeaning a teammate of color and remaining in the locker room as a constant reminder...shades of "winning" at all cost.

 

[Wazmankg]

Sorry HOF, but your experience, if true, is an exception. I played organized football at various levels for 8 years and guys were always going at each other verbally. This was in the 70s. I know it happened in baseball as well because I witnessed it, though my experience there is limited. It was the same in hoops... again my experience is limited though I witnessed it.

 

[HallofFame]

Sorry HOF, but your experience, if true, is an exception. I played organized football at various levels for 8 years and guys were always going at each other verbally. This was in the 70s. I know it happened in baseball as well because I witnessed it, though my experience there is limited. It was the same in hoops... again my experience is limited though I witnessed it.

I believe you without hesitation because you actually experienced it.

and, I suspect utilized at the appropriate time, trash-talking can upset an otherwise composed opponent and take him/her off their game--I get that, just something I personally never did in my own playing days, or requested of my players when I was coaching. Just never been fond of end zone celebrations, trash-talking or a delayed run around the base paths after tagging a pitcher with a towering homerun.

I never met Dick Butkus, Chuck Bednarik, or Tony Dungy, etc., al...but something tells me these men played with honor and respect...and if any player on their team, white, black or otherwise, dared refer to a whole race of people with the N-word, or anything else deemed derogatory towards the race of a fellow teammate, that player--in spite of his athleticism would be gone in a heartbeat (there's just no place in a "team's" locker room for major distractions like this. And, again Is it really "winning" when you "win" with players who abuse substances, hit their women, and/or refer to a whole race in a derogatory manner. Where the h3ll is Vincent Lombardi when the NFL so badly needs leadership?!

 

[Cyder]

I believe you without hesitation because you actually experienced it.

and, I suspect utilized at the appropriate time, trash-talking can upset an otherwise composed opponent and take him/her off their game--I get that, just something I personally never did in my own playing days, or requested of my players when I was coaching. Just never been fond of end zone celebrations, trash-talking or a delayed run around the base paths after tagging a pitcher with a towering homerun.

I never met Dick Butkus, Chuck Bednarik, or Tony Dungy, etc., al...but something tells me these men played with honor and respect...and if any player on their team, white, black or otherwise, dared refer to a whole race of people with the N-word, or anything else deemed derogatory towards the race of a fellow teammate, that player--in spite of his athleticism would be gone in a heartbeat (there's just no place in a "team's" locker room for major distractions like this. And, again Is it really "winning" when you "win" with players who abuse substances, hit their women, and/or refer to a whole race in a derogatory manner. Where the h3ll is Vincent Lombardi when the NFL so badly needs leadership?!

Butkus was known to bite players or punch them in the nuts in pile ups.

 

[SonnyCID]

Butkus was known to bite players or punch them in the nuts in pile ups.

In the most respectful way possible.

 

[Wazmankg]

Butkus was known to bite players or punch them in the nuts in pile ups.

I was thinking the same. I've heard stories about Bednarik, too. He wasn't exactly known for his gentlemanly countenance on the field.

 

[Cyder]

In the most respectful way possible.

Of course. It would be just plain silly to state otherwise. And after the games he would give people cold Miller Lite's. Mostly to ice down their sacks

 

[Cyder]

I was thinking the same. I've heard stories about Bednarik, too. He wasn't exactly known for his gentlemanly countenance on the field.

It was a different league then and a lot of dirty shit went on. Deacon Jones had the head slap which later got banned. Alex Karros (Yep, Websters Dad/Mongo) was known to be extremely dirty.

 

[SonnyCID]

Of course. It would be just plain silly to state otherwise. And after the games he would give people cold Miller Lite's. Mostly to ice down their sacks

 

[HallofFame]

and I'm sure he was the instigator every time instead of reacting to lesser skilled players responsible for neutralizing his strong play any way or chance they could get.

With that said though, the point about Butkus was meant more about his defined sense of leadership in the locker room, meaning he wasn't going to allow the actions of a single player to hurt the team. Same can be said for Chuck Bednarik and Tony Dungy as well.

Rookie teammates respected Butkus' prowess so much it is said that some refused to go more than half-speed, let alone full speed, whenever they were assigned to block him. One even quipped, if he was assigned to block Butkus he's just assume call a priest instead and b administered last rites.

With all of that aside, the point is no one player should be deemed above the whole team. Philadelphia missed a golden opportunity to set the standard here, but wished to "win" more than do the right thing. Of course, if the offender had been a head shorter than Cooper, he would have been sent packing on the first train or plane leaving town. The calculated decision by the Eagles says a lot about where their priorities were/are. Guess "winning" is more important than doing the right thing. I will never want to "win" this bad.

 

[HallofFame]

I was thinking the same. I've heard stories about Bednarik, too. He wasn't exactly known for his gentlemanly countenance on the field.

As ferocious as it was, the hit on Frank Gifford was as clean as they come.

 

[Cyder]

and I'm sure he was the instigator every time instead of reacting to lesser skilled players responsible for neutralizing his strong play any way or chance they could get.

With that said though, the point about Butkus was meant more about his defined sense of leadership in the locker room, meaning he wasn't going to allow the actions of a single player to hurt the team. Same can be said for Chuck Bednarik and Tony Dungy as well.

Rookie teammates respected Butkus' prowess so much it is said that some refused to go more than half-speed, let alone full speed, whenever they were assigned to block him. One even quipped, if he was assigned to block Butkus he's just assume call a priest instead and b administered last rites.

With all of that aside, the point is no one player should be deemed above the whole team. Philadelphia missed a golden opportunity to set the standard here, but wished to "win" more than do the right thing. Of course, if the offender had been a head shorter than Cooper, he would have been sent packing on the first train or plane leaving town. The calculated decision by the Eagles says a lot about where their priorities were/are. Guess "winning" is more important than doing the right thing. I will never want to "win" this bad.

From some of the things I read Cooper may have been shown the door had Vick not said a few words to the team about getting a 2nd chance

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Clearly Kaepernick has never been on SportsHoopla. Here he would have learned to use the word "ninja".

Had he been on this messageboard, he'd have $11,000 more dollars in his wallet.

The more you know.

 

[HallofFame]

From some of the things I read Cooper may have been shown the door had Vick not said a few words to the team about getting a 2nd chance

2nd chances matter in this lifetime, nothing ever wrong with a 2nd chance offered in good faith.

However, taking nothing away from Michael Vick, who I commend for dousing the flames as oppose to fanning them, major decisions aren't made on behalf of organizations (owners, front office, coaches, etc) by a mere player, who in the scheme of things just happened to be the right shade needed given the situation. How much of that was engineered behind the scenes is anyone's guess, so I won't speculate but some of us know how the game is played.

With that said, because Vick didn't have the authority to adequately address the matter, the Philadelphia Eagles essentially sent a message to anyone following this storyline that it's okay to address a whole race of people in a derogatory and demeaning manner IF the player who says it is a big target downfield to help "win" games. It was that cold calculation alone that speaks volumes about where the organization's priorities were. What's more, I wonder how fast Lombardi would have rid himself of such a cancer, where a mere player's perceived worth is set above the team in spite of his misgivings. Have to wonder at that very moment had the Eagles or NFL demonstrated some leadership when given the opportunity not to drop the ball, if the myriad of problems now plaguing the NFL wouldn't have surfaced in a sense in ire of them getting the Cooper case right. "Winning" isn't winning if someone else has to suffer blows to her face, or a whole race is deemed less than human. It's time for the NFL to clean house, and restore the game to the integrity of players and coaches who would rather win than "win".

 

[HallofFame]

Third sentence from the bottom should have read: "...them getting the Cooper case wrong.'

 

[Cyder]

2nd chances matter in this lifetime, nothing ever wrong with a 2nd chance offered in good faith.

However, taking nothing away from Michael Vick, who I commend for dousing the flames as oppose to fanning them, major decisions aren't made on behalf of organizations (owners, front office, coaches, etc) by a mere player, who in the scheme of things just happened to be the right shade needed given the situation. How much of that was engineered behind the scenes is anyone's guess, so I won't speculate but some of us know how the game is played.

With that said, because Vick didn't have the authority to adequately address the matter, the Philadelphia Eagles essentially sent a message to anyone following this storyline that it's okay to address a whole race of people in a derogatory and demeaning manner IF the player who says it is a big target downfield to help "win" games. It was that cold calculation alone that speaks volumes about where the organization's priorities were. What's more, I wonder how fast Lombardi would have rid himself of such a cancer, where a mere player's perceived worth is set above the team in spite of his misgivings. Have to wonder at that very moment had the Eagles or NFL demonstrated some leadership when given the opportunity not to drop the ball, if the myriad of problems now plaguing the NFL wouldn't have surfaced in a sense in ire of them getting the Cooper case right. "Winning" isn't winning if someone else has to suffer blows to her face, or a whole race is deemed less than human. It's time for the NFL to clean house, and restore the game to the integrity of players and coaches who would rather win than "win".

Or maybe the owners, who I believe are white, let the players, most of which are people of color, have a say in who is allowed in the locker room. Maybe everyone in the locker room had gotten drunk and done something stupid yet basically harmless in the overall scheme of things and decided to forgive him after hearing him out. If the players decided to revolt Cooper would have had to be cut. Considering they just let a covicted felon into the locker room and all the distractions he brought maybe the Cooper thing didn't seem like such a big deal. I wasn't in the room so I don't know.
But I'm not sure one drunken episode can lead one to believe a man deems a whole race less than human.

 

[HallofFame]

Or maybe the owners, who I believe are white, let the players, most of which are people of color, have a say in who is allowed in the locker room. Maybe everyone in the locker room had gotten drunk and done something stupid yet basically harmless in the overall scheme of things and decided to forgive him after hearing him out. If the players decided to revolt Cooper would have had to be cut. Considering they just let a covicted felon into the locker room and all the distractions he brought maybe the Cooper thing didn't seem like such a big deal. I wasn't in the room so I don't know.
But I'm not sure one drunken episode can lead one to believe a man deems a whole race less than human.

In respect to the idea of locker room inhabitants policing themselves, hung jury dynamics every time. So, this is why the coaches, front office and ownership are in place. The Philadelphia Eagles simply struck out on all three levels here. One can only imagine how bad they want to "win" as oppose to doing what's right and making the appropriate call in this case (Zero-tolerance gentlemen, no matter what you bring to the table in the scheme of things athletically, there's simply no place for the N-word on our team, on or off the field). What an amazing teachable moment wasted.

In respect to how many times it may take for any one to use racially charged language in a derogatory or demeaning manner, what Hitler did to a whole race of people doesn't somehow change because he was or wasn't in a drunken stupor. Moreover, what's in the heart finds it way to the mouth.

I don't like Toronto Blue Jay fans (long story) but if I had to sit near them at a Yankees game in the Bronx, first and foremost, they are people just like you and me, so spewing trash-talk or outright hateful language shouldn't be par here. Yes, there's no friendly harm in mild taunting of family and friends in the garage on game day over a few beers, but you can bet your last dollar no one I know black, white or otherwise would take a free pass (under the influence) and spew derogatory and demeaning language about another race--simply no need for.

What's wrong with this picture? CK gets fined $11,000 while actually playing in a heated contest which may force a player out of his normal composure, not excusable but certainly understandable given the agitated conditions on that particular play; bear in mind, CK directed his ire at a single individual, yet RC reduces an entire race of people. Hitting and battering one's spouse is inexcusable even if the a-hole is in a drunken stupor, and making reference to a race of people in a demeaning manner drunk or otherwise should have gotten Cooper a pink slip, a year's worth--at least-- of sensitivity training with the people he offended, then a review board by the NFL to reinstate him if it was deemed appropriate to do so. To ignore what he said just to "win" games is very telling. If he was a head shorter, he would have been vilified by the Eagles and shown the door faster than a Road Runner's exit. Guess "winning" is more important than doing the right thing here.

 

[Breed]

Trash talk has no place in the game--zero tolerance; excessive celebrations have no place in the game--zero tolerance; and, it's interesting how the NFL turned a blind eye to the Philadelphia Eagles' player, who actually referenced--not just an individual player--a whole race of people in a demeaning manner with use of the N-word.

Would Vince Lombardi even recognize what this league has become? Is it really "winning" if it's okay to ignore the ills that plague today's game. Have to wonder if the Eagles would have kept a much smaller receiving target than Cooper if someone of that physical acumen had dared to cross that line in such fashion. Guess today's game is all about "winning", because in Lombardi's day there'd be zero tolerance for such distractions.

Lotta things happen today that didn't take place in Lombardi's time.

Football isn't the only entity in sports, business, entertainment, etc where winning is the most important thing and by winning multiple sins are therefore overlooked.

On Riley Cooper. Likely nope on keeping him if Kelly had what he thought was a more talented WR to take Cooper's place. Kelly didn't so he kept Cooper.

 

[Labgrownmangoat]

What happens to you guys if you break that word out at work?