Dolphins double standard

[chambers#1]

The irony of it to me is how quick fans are to defend athletes in these situations as if they would do the same things in their jobs How many business owners on this board would knowingly hire a sex offender? Not many. How many people here would hire back a critically important employee after he breached his contract and left the company in ruins so he could smoke pot and live in a tent? Not many. If Randy McMichael was your son-in-law, I bet you wouldn't be talking about how "it was mutual violence" or "no big deal" when he beat up your pregnant daughter, or bloodied her nose by repeatedly trying to throw her out of their car.

Do I think these guys should be punished all their lives? No, but a job in the NFL isn't a regular job, either. It is a public position with direct links to the community and an emphasis on image, like being a media personality or any other highly public figure. These people are not just hired, they are marketed to your children. I think everyone can realize the difference between quietly hiring a felon for a job and hiring a felon for a job and then celebrating him by selling merchandise with his name all over it. Most people wouldn't even want to be associated with a felon convicted of a sex crime, but when they are in the NFL, you'll buy their jersey and wear it to a game and around your house.




I always find it funny that people hold football players ( or other celebrities) under more stringent standards than that of those who run this Country or corperate America. Celebrities have a far less impact in our lives than the people who run our Country and corperations. Nevertheless, people are quick to pass judgement on them and not even hold the latter accountable for anything. That is as if, making mistakes in your personal lives ,that has minimal impact on society, is worse than the mistakes of people in public office or corperate america which has a direct impact on our society.


As for Mcmicheal, I have been in a relationship that towards the end the woman istigated all the fights just to get me in trouble out of spite, to pass judgement whithout all the facts is unfair.

 

[ErroneousFlint]

Let's call the whole thing off ...

 

[LAphinfan]

Fans don't care about character anymore...it's just that simple. When someone like Ray Lewis can become an official NFL spokesman and win the Superbowl MVP award after being caught up in a murder trial and there is no public outcry, it just drives home the fact that people only care about winning...at any cost. Teams continue to talk about how character matters while they are signing felons, and it is only going to get worse as fans continue to defend those players and signings, because thugs bring more intensity and hype to the field.

The irony of it to me is how quick fans are to defend athletes in these situations as if they would do the same things in their jobs How many business owners on this board would knowingly hire a sex offender? Not many. How many people here would hire back a critically important employee after he breached his contract and left the company in ruins so he could smoke pot and live in a tent? Not many. If Randy McMichael was your son-in-law, I bet you wouldn't be talking about how "it was mutual violence" or "no big deal" when he beat up your pregnant daughter, or bloodied her nose by repeatedly trying to throw her out of their car.

Do I think these guys should be punished all their lives? No, but a job in the NFL isn't a regular job, either. It is a public position with direct links to the community and an emphasis on image, like being a media personality or any other highly public figure. These people are not just hired, they are marketed to your children. I think everyone can realize the difference between quietly hiring a felon for a job and hiring a felon for a job and then celebrating him by selling merchandise with his name all over it. Most people wouldn't even want to be associated with a felon convicted of a sex crime, but when they are in the NFL, you'll buy their jersey and wear it to a game and around your house.

Want proof of my claims? Just watch the responses to this post telling me how terrible and wrong I am for caring about an athlete's of the field behaviour

So are any of the posters here ready to boycott the Dolphins franchise, or will they continue to watch their games and purchase their merchandise and tickets to the games thereby becoming at least partially complicit in the policy of the franchise. Most people just squak a little, but in the end they vote with their dollars and support the franchise which in turn supports the offending players. I'm not saying what is right or wrong, I am merely trying to get fans to be honest with themselves: most fans care more about winning than about the conduct of the players who help create the wins. I have NEVER heard a Cowboy fan lament the reign of the 90's during which MANY Cowboy's players were drugged out and hanging with prostitutes every other weekend. They were ecstatic to win three Lombardi Trophies and, if you were to squeeze an honest answer out of them, would have to admit that the cost of those Super Bowl wins (some players breaking the law with relative immunity) was worth it. I know it is unappealing when you look at the situation straight in the face and are perfectly honest with yourself. My question to Volk is will you just leave a post on the message board or are you willing to walk the walk and not support the franchise?

 

[DolfanISS]

Damn.... I wish we were the 90's Cowboys... or even better the 80's CANES!!! They may get in trouble, but daaaaaaaaaaaamn they could play some ball

I agree. I'd trade the trouble for 3 Super Bowl rings anyday. This is my favorite football team the players are not my friends or family.

 

[chambers#1]

So are any of the posters here ready to boycott the Dolphins franchise, or will they continue to watch their games and purchase their merchandise and tickets to the games thereby becoming at least partially complicit in the policy of the franchise. Most people just squak a little, but in the end they vote with their dollars and support the franchise which in turn supports the offending players. I'm not saying what is right or wrong, I am merely trying to get fans to be honest with themselves: most fans care more about winning than about the conduct of the players who help create the wins. I have NEVER heard a Cowboy fan lament the reign of the 90's during which MANY Cowboy's players were drugged out and hanging with prostitutes every other weekend. They were ecstatic to win three Lombardi Trophies and, if you were to squeeze an honest answer out of them, would have to admit that the cost of those Super Bowl wins (some players breaking the law with relative immunity) was worth it. I know it is unappealing when you look at the situation straight in the face and are perfectly honest with yourself. My question to Volk is will you just leave a post on the message board or are you willing to walk the walk and not support the franchise?

I agree

 

[volk]

Now that makes good sense, so why don't you do the same and stop attacking him while the jury is out?

I'm not really attacking him, but I am certainly not going to defend him or act like he had no role in this situation. I am just fascinated at how many on this board immediately said that it was "no big deal", or implied that it's his wife's fault. I just find it rediculous that they feel the need to defend his actions without knowing the circumstances. It is like this fanboy need to defend the players no matter what.

 

[dolphingirl_vic]

the girls fault????? hey what going on?
never the girls fault

 

[dolphingirl_vic]

the girls fault??
hey what going on?
never the girls fault

 

[volk]

I always find it funny that people hold football players ( or other celebrities) under more stringent standards than that of those who run this Country or corperate America. Celebrities have a far less impact in our lives than the people who run our Country and corperations. Nevertheless, people are quick to pass judgement on them and not even hold the latter accountable for anything. That is as if, making mistakes in your personal lives ,that has minimal impact on society, is worse than the mistakes of people in public office or corperate america which has a direct impact on our society.

Actually, it is quite common for people to lose their jobs/don't get specific jobs for their personal behavior. Some examples: If you got caught steeling, you will likely never hold a high position at a bank. Get caught stripping, and you will lose your job in television, get arrested for sex crimes and you won't work with children, etc. This is the case with any job where personal integrity is important. Heck, Allstate Insurance just fired a guy for writing an article about homosexual marriage that got published on the web.

Athletes may not have a direct impact on our lives, but they do have an impact on the lives of children. Is it the athlete's fault that children look to them as role models? No, but that doesn't change the fact that they do. It is a uniquely public lifestyle involving millions of dollars. I agree that other institutions should make character an element of importance, but I don't think that the NFL should be expempt from it either.

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

I'm not really attacking him, but I am certainly not going to defend him or act like he had no role in this situation. I am just fascinated at how many on this board immediately said that it was "no big deal", or implied that it's his wife's fault. I just find it rediculous that they feel the need to defend his actions without knowing the circumstances. It is like this fanboy need to defend the players no matter what.

you are attacking him. Calling him a wife beater is an attack.

 

[volk]

So are any of the posters here ready to boycott the Dolphins franchise, or will they continue to watch their games and purchase their merchandise and tickets to the games thereby becoming at least partially complicit in the policy of the franchise. Most people just squak a little, but in the end they vote with their dollars and support the franchise which in turn supports the offending players. I'm not saying what is right or wrong, I am merely trying to get fans to be honest with themselves: most fans care more about winning than about the conduct of the players who help create the wins. I have NEVER heard a Cowboy fan lament the reign of the 90's during which MANY Cowboy's players were drugged out and hanging with prostitutes every other weekend. They were ecstatic to win three Lombardi Trophies and, if you were to squeeze an honest answer out of them, would have to admit that the cost of those Super Bowl wins (some players breaking the law with relative immunity) was worth it. I know it is unappealing when you look at the situation straight in the face and are perfectly honest with yourself. My question to Volk is will you just leave a post on the message board or are you willing to walk the walk and not support the franchise?

A great post. I'm not ready to walk away from the Dolphins or the NFL yet, but I am starting to consider it. I don't mind that convicts and troubled youth make it to the NFL so much, that is inevitable. It's just that it's starting to appear that such activities are actually helping to enhance resume's instead of being a strike against the player. If you are looking at a player with marginal value and little chance to make the roster, why would you even bother considering a criminal? The NFL made ESPN cancel the show Playmakers because they felt it painted an innaccurate picture of the NFL, yet with each passing season it appears that show was dead on.

Also, why can't fans at least be honest about it instead of making excuses for such players? When we signed the kid that was convicted of sexual assault lots of people on this board immediately rushed to his defense as though they knew him and because Saban picked him up it was no big deal. Several tried to revisit the trial and disagreed with the jury's verdict because they felt the woman's character was questionable...sound familiar? Maybe instead of defending these players, you could start droping e-mails to the organization and other media outlets holding the organization accountable for their hiring practices?

Maybe if the NFL and fans would stop being so accepting of this kind of behavior and started passing over some of these more troubled guys there would be greater incentive for young NFL hopefulls to keep themselves on the straight and narrow.

 

[ErroneousFlint]

you are attacking him. Calling him a wife beater is an attack.

really. if the guy assaulted his wife with a shopping bag, he's not a wife beater but rather something far worse.

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

really. if the guy assaulted his wife with a shopping bag, he's not a wife beater but rather something far worse.

if he tried to kill her with the shopping bag.

 

[ErroneousFlint]

if he tried to kill her with the shopping bag.

right. definitely a man without the ability to think pro-actively or else he wouldve used a plastic gallon zip-lock ...

 

[chambers#1]

Get caught stripping, and you will lose your job in television, get arrested for sex crimes and you won't work with children, etc. This is the case with any job where personal integrity is important. Heck, Allstate Insurance just fired a guy for writing an article about homosexual marriage that got published on the web.

Athletes may not have a direct impact on our lives, but they do have an impact on the lives of children. Is it the athlete's fault that children look to them as role models? No, but that doesn't change the fact that they do. It is a uniquely public lifestyle involving millions of dollars. I agree that other institutions should make character an element of importance, but I don't think that the NFL should be expempt from it either.

My point wasnt that athletes should be immune from public scrutiny. It is that they get more of it. i find it intresting that you completely glossed over the importance of people in public office and and corperations and mentioned some insurance guy.

<<Heck, Allstate Insurance just fired a guy for writing an article about homosexual marriage that got published on the web.>>

It seems to me that people in public office are using issues like gay marraige, dodgy athletes, and celebreties to hide what they are doing. Making people focus on these issues that have less relevance on our society and ignore the issues that really affect them.


<<Actually, it is quite common for people to lose their jobs/don't get specific jobs for their personal behavior. Some examples: If you got caught steeling, you will likely never hold a high position at a bank.>>



Actually I know a l;ot of high ranking officials that their indescretions get looked over. Just as an example our President and vice peresident have about 5 D.W.I.'s between them.