Ricky Williams speaks on bullygate and makes so much sense...

[ChambersWI]

Hazing is stupid and this "rite of passage" is crap. It doesnt toughen you up. It makes you feel like an idiot and shlep in front of your teamates.

If Joe Philbin doesnt get rid of hazing after this then he is to blame IMO. I didnt think it was neccessary before when they were doing the haircut thing (clearly Dion Jordan was not amused) and certainly think it is a bad idea now. You want your rookies to grow not be made to look like grade school yahoo's. Its embarrassing if you think about it nationally that people are witnessing the dolphins with their haircuts and dye and then these guys are on the field lookin stupid and then doing interviews. complete idiocy.

I'm gonna take a step back and don't take this the wrong way but...

HAZING IS NOT A BIG DEAL

The Miami Dolphins are not the only team to haze rookies nor will they be the last. How about the Broncos Shaving the heads of their rookies including giving Tim Tebow a Friar Tuck hair due? Can it go overboard? Yes, but there is some form of hazing at every level even if it's as simple as carrying a vet's bags.

 

[ohall]

I don't agree that the best way to beat a bully is to fight a bully.

There is great wisdom in the words of Jesus the Nazarene: "turn the other cheek"

With that approach, not only do show the bully "hey, you aren't hurting me", but go a step further. You are saying "is that all? I can handle everything you got and then some. You are weak and impotent if you can only rely on force"

The most powerful changes in the world throughout history have been brought about by non-violent action over aggression, because it's the most powerful thing there is. The ability to be unbothered by the physical power of another makes one the most powerful being there is. The aggressor is forced to rethink their behavior, their tactics, and their very approach to life. Through that, you can bring about real change.

---------- Post added at 10:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 PM ----------



Kids should not be insulated. Instead, they should be given the tools to deal with the harsh realities of life. If they aren't given those tools early on, they will just rely on other tools to deal with their situation, such as guns and drugs...

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Yes it's always a option to try and debate with a thick headed bully.

 

[Shouright]

Sounds like Ricky might be superimposing his own experience of the NFL onto Martin, i.e., projection.

 

[SkapePhin]

That's the worst thing to say. Then the bully feels like he has to keep hitting you til you give in. Bullies look for weak prey. People who won't fight back. If you push back a bit, 98% of time they back off. You don't even have to fight them, just stand your ground, and don't run away crying and/or give in like Martin unfortunately has done this whole time.

And the turn the other thing generally only works if you've got more than two cheeks. Any bully worth his salt is going to knock you down at least half a dozen times before he wonders why you keep turning the cheek.

And say you take a punch and just laugh? And laugh and laugh? The key is to show that you aren't being hurt by it, not to show weakness. Easier said than done, I know, but ultimately only one person has the power to truly hurt you... Yourself.

 

[Despacio]

I remember when Ricky walked away some of the media and fans tried to lay the blame at Wannstedts feet for overusing Ricky and running him into the ground. Instead Ricky took the higher road and laid blame at nobody's feet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ohall]

Hazing is stupid and this "rite of passage" is crap. It doesnt toughen you up. It makes you feel like an idiot and shlep in front of your teamates.

If Joe Philbin doesnt get rid of hazing after this then he is to blame IMO. I didnt think it was neccessary before when they were doing the haircut thing (clearly Dion Jordan was not amused) and certainly think it is a bad idea now. You want your rookies to grow not be made to look like grade school yahoo's. Its embarrassing if you think about it nationally that people are witnessing the dolphins with their haircuts and dye and then these guys are on the field lookin stupid and then doing interviews. complete idiocy.

IMO you couldn't be more wrong. These ppl are paid gladiators who have no one but themselves. Trust is everything, it's the only thing. The hazing and etc. (not talking about Cog and his voicemails etc) is all about gaining trust between each other. The shortest way to gain trust IMO is to push individuals to see what they are made of.

Whether Philbin gets rid of hazing and etc is his right. I wouldn't be surprised that this incident is going to change how the entire NFL functions. The PC culture is out of control and this is just another example of that.

 

[vagrantprodigy]

And say you take a punch and just laugh? And laugh and laugh? The key is to show that you aren't being hurt by it, not to show weakness. Easier said than done, I know, but ultimately only one person has the power to truly hurt you... Yourself.

No that would be turning the other cheek. The trick is to not let them punch you more than once. If they punch you once, and you crowd up on them, and let them know if they try it again, it'll cost them, they'll back off. Bullies at heart are mostly cowards. That's why they pick on the weak. Take yourself out of that category, and you are fine.

 

[SkapePhin]

Obviously if a bully is physically attacking you to the point that you are in danger of serious bodily harm, self defense is warranted. Defend, never attack. That's the difference to me.

A solution like "Oh, I'm going to show that bully. I'm going to jump him after school" is not a sound strategy. That serves only to escalate the situation, and solve nothing.

---------- Post added at 11:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 PM ----------

Yes it's always a option to try and debate with a thick headed bully.

Who said anything about debate??

 

[ohall]

Obviously if a bully is physically attacking you to the point that you are in danger of serious bodily harm, self defense is warranted. Defend, never attack. That's the difference to me.

A solution like "Oh, I'm going to show that bully. I'm going to jump him after school" is not a sound strategy. That serves only to escalate the situation, and solve nothing.

---------- Post added at 11:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 PM ----------



Who said anything about debate??

No one did Skape, I was attempting to make a point.

 

[rudys119]

Violence isn't the answer, compassion is.
But, if you show that their violence or abuse has no effect in you, they are forced to reconsider that perspective,

Then real dialogue can be made and healing can begin.

We are talking about football players who's jobs are to physically bully the opposing teams for a living. What is Martin going to do when he is getting bullied by the opposing defensive line? Next time he gets picked up and thrown down like a rag doll and gives up a sack, or if the defensive end is talking crap to intimidate Martin, instead of getting mad and fighting back you want him to show that defensive end some compassion and hope they can have a dialogue to let the healing begin???

This hazing is a way to get him to man up and develop that way to deal with the adversity that comes when the other team kicks your ass or is trying to get into your head. I dont think compassion is going to be the ticket.

 

[JG777]

I would rather have a bully on my team than a puss, Martin broke the unwritten rule, Instead of being a man and confronting him he acted like a coward and ran home to mommy and told. I don't want to see him in a Dolphins uniform ever again and I'm sure the players feel the same way. He doesn't belong in the NFL.

 

[phinking]

He always gets my attention when he speaks because he always make me something thought provoking. That being said, I disagree with his assessment about not taking people down with him. When he quit on the Dolphins in 2004 he took down a few coaches with him.

 

[Phindog]

Ricky Williams Quote

" On bullying: "My first thought was how is bullying something that's even mentioned regarding the NFL? Because that's kind of what we're taught to do, at least on the field - to bully the guy across from us so we can win the football game."

And: "What we're required to do physically, mentally and emotionally for the course of a season is astronomical; it's amazing. And I'm not saying that it's bad. I'm saying just really speaks to what it takes to be a professional football player. And to me there's no room to play the victim or to be bullied or to even have that discussion when it comes to the NFL. If you're having that discussion, it just means that maybe you don't belong in the NFL."

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

He always gets my attention when he speaks because he always make me something thought provoking. That being said, I disagree with his assessment about not taking people down with him. When he quit on the Dolphins in 2004 he took down a few coaches with him.

I believe what he's getting at there is that he didn't throw those coaches under the bus, attack them, blame them, or accuse them of wrongdoing. I think that's what he's talking about.

He certainly ended Dave Wannstedt's NFL head coaching career, but that's a little different.

 

[ohall]

Ricky Williams Quote

OMG Ricky must have found a good medication combination. He's making so much freaking sense!