Originally posted by ckparrothead
This has nothing to do with how important David Bowens is in the grand scheme of things. Our point is simple. He just got a new contract with the Phins where he could make a lot of money if he played well. Getting injured outside of the job screws him probably more than a normal person because now he's on the non-football related injury list which I believe means he doesnt get paid, or at least doesnt get paid the same amount. Its also seriously damaged his future with the team, because an up-and-comer like Lamanzer Williams is going to have a shot now.
Personally I don't feel 16 feet is the same as 30 feet. I've been up at both heights and had to carry 100 pound windows up both heights, but thats just my personal feeling on that and I weigh almost what Bowens weighs. It is entirely possible that he's done it before and its just a menial chore for him, but if thats true I do question his getting familiar with being up that high in his everyday life when he's got so much money on the line depending on his body being in top physical form...and when I say that I mean even other stuff like sprained ankles, broken leg, etc...any injury that prevents him from playing the game of football which is to say, a lot of injuries that wouldn't necessarily prevent the normal guy from goin into the office or somethin.
This isn't about anger from us because we were depending on Bowens. This is about feeling that Bowens was not acting with a whole lot of intelligence when he decided to get up in the air 30 feet just to change a burnt out bulb...and was acting with even less intelligence when he decided to jump off the ladder.
I'm sure when Muck created the thread he thought opinion would be very uniform on the issue, but even with people disagreeing its pretty much an even split...yet people insist on trying to me and Muck what we're thinking...and that is what is p!ssing us off. Don't try to tell me where I'm drawing the line. I know damn well where I'm drawing the line and don't need someone else to tell me whats going on in my own head.
Well why don’t you go down to the emergency room at the local hospital and tell all the people that YOU deemed as taking an unnecessary risk that they’re unintelligent?
Now if you read my post you'd know that I took into account that everyone should be cautious of their surroundings especially people that do physical labor in their work place, and that an injury such as a broken leg or sprained ankle would prevent them from working. There is no difference between Bowens and anyone else who uses their body or physical well being to provide for themselves and family. I don't CARE if he just signed a new contract or not.
So it's ok for John Doe to climb a 30-ft ladder and get injured at home and miss work and money, but God forbid a pro football player does it, that would make him STUPID. We wouldn't want him to lose out on his million dollar contract now would we, how would he feed his family?
That's as lame as Barry Bonds saying he needed a bigger contract so he could pay child support.
Would a truck driver have been as unintelligent if he did the same thing? Or a mill worker? How about a surgeon? What about the guy that you wanted Bowens to hire to change the bulb? Is he unintelligent for doing it? If he falls he’s only out $30 right? Oh wait how would he change the other pro athlete’s light bulbs if he got injured. I see it’s ok for a guy who make 30,000 dollars a year to take the risk and injure himself because he’s only out 10 or 15 thousand dollars, but not a pro athlete because he could be out millions right?
Trust me CK I'm not trying to "climb in your head" and tell you where to draw the line. I'm saying there is no line.
You say that he shouldn't be put in a bubble, but yet you say because he's a pro football player with a new contract he shouldn't take any unnecessary risks. Define unnecessary risk? Maybe he didn’t feel it was an unnecessary risk, he could’ve felt very comfortable doing it. Maybe working around his house is his hobby. Maybe he’s a decent carpenter.
Accidents happen that’s why they are called accidents. You can break your leg slipping off of a 3ft step stool or twist your knee tripping over your kids toys.
As far as falling from 16’ or 30 ft goes, I’m 6’2 255 and the concrete driveway under me wouldn’t have cared how high I was when I hit it. But I felt comfortable doing it, if I fell and got hurt and missed work does that make me unintelligent, I could of hired a handyman to do it but why when I can do it. If I fell and got hurt does it then become an unnecessary risk? No.
Did he make a bad call? I don't know because I don't know how capable he is at changing a light bulb that's 30ft in the air, only he knows. This could’ve been one time out of 20 that this happened.
I’m not one to tell someone what they should or shouldn’t do on their own time because of the money involved. If Ricky Williams or Jason Taylor wants to skydive, hey go for it, if their chute fails to open and they splatter on the ground then oh well, they were living their lives the way THEY wanted to not the way you want them to.
So how about Tillman? He left the Cards and a nice contract to join the Army, is he unintelligent?
Or is the question, who are you to judge?
Muck don't get too pissed, I wouldn't want to see you get banned....
