NFL needs more rants like Richard Sherman's

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/nfl-needs-more-rants-like-richard-shermans-b99190370z1-241752861.html

Right up there with a job I once had sweeping a textile mill, covering the NFL is one of the most tedious gigs going. Almost as regulated as the airline industry when it comes to managing media access, the league, unlike MLB and the NBA, doesn't allow reporters to talk to players before games. Weekday "open" locker-room sessions virtually amount to the long-snapper and a few rookie special teamers milling about.

The NFL regulated fun right out of pro football a long time ago, about the point when franchise irrelevancy crushed all those delightful free spirits who played for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. Who needs Ambien these days when a Tom Brady interview is available?

That's why this whole Richard Sherman debate seems so misguided. Forget the sociopolitical smoke screens pundits have floated since the Seattle cornerback's delightful rant last Sunday. I don't care if Sherman went to Stanford or was Otis Sistrunk's teammate at the University of Mars. Bless his heart for remembering in a brilliant moment of clarity that the NFL, beyond anything else, is an entertainment business, not that far evolved from professional wrestling.

...

In fact, this whole Super Bowl buildup has become far too much of a morality play for something as ethically sketchy as a football game. Sherman vs. All-Around Good Guy and Pizza Salesman Peyton Manning. Heart Patient Survivor John Fox vs. Shady Pete Carroll. The New Jersey Meadowlands vs. The Civilized World.

[leftyohiolib]

1. disagree people need to turn their backs on sports. it takes away money that could be used for

more important social issues. plus when stadiums are built they are usually given tax abatements on property that could be generating money for schools etc

[Scuba]

2. Sports have replaced religion as the opiate of the masses.

[warrant46]

86. Sports is the "New Religion" which becomes the Opiate

And=== Insert SPORTS into any of the following observations


The full quote from Karl Marx is: "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people".

Charles Kingsley, Canon of the Church of England, wrote this four years after Marx
We have used the Bible as if it were a mere special constable's hand book, an opium dose for keeping beasts of burden patient while they were being overloaded, a mere book to keep the poor in order.

Vladimir Lenin, speaking of religion in Novaya Zhizn in 1905
Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man

[liberal_at_heart]

3. Oh, my god give me a break. Movie stars make too much money too and I don't hear people

calling on others to never see another movie again in their life.

[Vashta Nerada]

4. Movie stars can (mostly) act.

They can portray many different characters on screen with so many different emotions.

Football players can what, catch a ball? One guy can throw it. Some guys can block. Big freaking whoop. In baseball, some guys can throw a ball, other guys can hit it, and some guys can catch it. Again, big freaking whoop.

[tkmorris]

7. And who is to say which of those skills is more valuable? You?

Sure, I get it, you like watching people act but not perform athletics. That's fine. Others however may have opposite tastes and since neither one contributes anything concrete to society what makes your preferred entertainment more valuable than anyone else's?

[Vashta Nerada]

8. Yes.

Catching a ball takes waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more talent than acting in a range of emotion. That's why actors and actresses get straight A's in college while footballers can barely manage a C.

[Gemini Cat]

12. Can you catch a ball?

[CANDO]

43. I could catch one until I hit about 40.

Then the body and coordination just goes to hell! But I think professional athletes devote most of their lives to developing their physical talents and that actors don't. They get 'discovered". Most of them anyway. Some go to acting school and really work on it, but then they wait to be "discovered". An athlete makes his/her destiny for the most part. Not good enough, pretty much not going to the next level.

[geek tragedy]

14. you chose the wrong thread to disparage athletes' intelligence

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. LOL no shit.

Ooopsie!

[Vashta Nerada]

20. Hahaha.

You're funny.

Intelligent athletes. There's like, five of them.

[NCTraveler]

24. oops. Another one. nt.

[geek tragedy]

25. actually, football is very, very, very complicated.

dozens if not hundreds of formations, with each formation having multiple plays that can be run out of it, and within each play multiple options for the offense.

it takes some study just to appreciate how complex it is.

And all of the major action and movement takes place within 3 seconds of the ball being snapped, and people have to make their decisions within that time slot.

How many 3-second per turn chess tournaments are there?

[Vashta Nerada]

26. Yeah, still doesn't take much intelligence.

The couple of college football players that are in my class right now couldn't spell cat if you spotted them the c and the t. The only reason they're in college is the possibility of making it into the NFL afterwards.

[geek tragedy]

31. Your evidence being college players?

The average intelligence test (Wonderlic) for NFL tackles is the same as the average score for electronics technicians.

[Vashta Nerada]

35. Ha.

Right.



Any links to back that up?

[geek tragedy]

39. Wonderlic has a Wikipedia entry. nt

[Vashta Nerada]

44. Haha. The scores are amusing me.

Players with well below average scores:
Morris Claiborne – 4 (first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft)
Frank Gore – 6 (3rd-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft)
Tavon Austin – 7 (first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft)
Terrelle Pryor – 7 (third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft)
Travis Henry – 9 (second-round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft)
Charles Rogers – 10 (second overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft)
Cordarrelle Patterson – 11 (first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft)

Average scores:
Safety – 19
Linebacker – 19
Cornerback – 18
Wide receiver – 17
Fullback – 17
Halfback – 16

[joeglow3]

45. I hope you don't arrogantly tell you future children with skills are worthwhile

You are just pissed that you couldn't begin to do what they can. Thus, you resort to what many people do: try to disparage their skills to TRY and make yourself feel better. This thread says much more about you than the topic at hand.

[Vashta Nerada]

50. I'm pissed that people go to college and grad school

and their top pay is $40,000-$50,000/yr while some jerk can throw or catch a ball and get paid at least league minimum of $405,000/season. That doesn't say a lot about me. It says a lot about our society.

[joeglow3]

52. Actually, it says a lot about economics

Basic supply and demand and producing a product that appeals to a large group of people. However, people tend to look down on other or diminish what they do it if is something THEY don't like or suck at.

[Vashta Nerada]

53. Uh huh.

Where'd you get your degree in psychology?

[joeglow3]

55. Accounting degree

Which is why I understand economics. Sadly, you have shown that too few people understand basic economics. This should be a required course for all students. Maybe we would see fewer people throwing away $100,000+ to get the aforementioned $40,000 a year job.

[Vashta Nerada]

56. But you're trying to tell me

I have some deep issue regarding athletes because I think they get paid way too much for what they do. Since you don't have a degree in psychology, I don't think you're qualified to make psychological assessments.

[joeglow3]

60. One does not need a psychology degree to know people are resentful

Your view is hardly new. We all know plenty of people who aren't in areas of expertise that are rich in financial rewards, have little interest in sports and let that manifest itself into resentment towards these people making the money they do.

As was pointed out above, many movie stars make much more without having to make the physical sacrifices to their bodies and you are okay with that. Why? Because you enjoy them.

This is not rocket science.

[wilt the stilt]

62. you are probably angry at software salespeople too

they make way more that you think and most of the great ones were very average students. As a matter of fact most people with really high marks are really lousy salespeople. There is only one thing we do. We bring in the money that keeps people in business.

[geek tragedy]

47. 32 is the average score for systems analysts, so . . .

Tom Brady: 33
Aaron Rogers: 35
Tony Romo: 37
Matthew Stafford: 38 (!)
Eli Manning: 39
Alex Smith: 40
Calvin Johnson: 41

Btw, Frank Gore has a learning disability.

[NCTraveler]

23. "That's why actors and actresses get straight A's in college while footballers can barely manage a C

Don't worry, we all have those derp moments.

[11 Bravo]

36. Riiiiight. Larry the Cabe Guy, Jessica Simpson, and Steven Seagal ALL graduated magna cum laude!

And Lindsay Lohan never forgets to bring potato salad to her MENSA meeting.

[Vashta Nerada]

37. Larry the Cable Guy is a comedian.

Jessica Simpson is a former reality tv star. I'm sure Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson are 10X's smarter than 3/4 of the MN Vikings.

[wilt the stilt]

64. do you think comedians are dumb

I bet they are some of the smartest people in show biz.

[spanone]

68. now that's funny!!!!

[brush]

77. Perhaps you haven't heard . . .

Richard Sherman, the footballer all the fuss is about, was a straight A student in high school and had a 3.9 GPA at Stanford University no less, the Ivy of the West.

Care to comment on that fact?

And nobody believes your statement for a moment that all actors and actresses get straight A's in college.

[The2ndWheel]

16. The best actors can do that

There are many people that suck at acting. Nobody would pay to watch them act.

Good acting is a rare talent. Being able to throw a ball 50 yards with accuracy is a rare talent. Being able to hit a 90mph pitch is a rare talent. People willingly pay money to watch all these things happen.

Is a football or baseball player worth millions upon millions of dollars per year? No, but some rich guy is giving them that money because other people come and pay to watch those players do their job.

A funny difference between movies and sports is that nobody would pay to watch a movie being made. Paying to watch actors actually doing the job of acting. I guess some people might, but most people pay to watch the finished product. People get to see the best takes cut down into an hour and a half story. Whereas with sports, if you just watch the highlights(the finished product), you miss out on the context of the game, which is where the story for sports exists.

[GeorgeGist]

85. mOST MOVIES SUCK

[pipi_k]

9. Good point...and how many

of us are sitting here using computers (and other gadgets) manufactured by companies whose CEOs are making obscene amounts of money and/or using cheap labor to make the parts.

And unless people are driving cars put together entirely with spare/junk parts in someone's garage, and running those cars on cow farts, they're also supporting some rich assholes yukking it up on their yachts somewhere in the Caribbean.

Smokers are supporting another set of rich jerks making money off the health of millions.

Double standards are so useful when people can pick and choose which things are morally objectionable based on what they dislike...

[leftyohiolib]

91. the players are worth every cent the negotiate for, i dont care how much they are paid

[Lost_Count]

89. I'll bet you are a hoot at parties...

All of the money spent on strippers and alcohol could have gone to starving orphans in Africa! Shame!

http://m.

[Paladin]

5. There was nothing "delightful" about Sherman's rant.

It was a gratuitous exercise in poor sportsmanship, and more importantly, it was a gift to every sick racist in the country.

[pipi_k]

15. It certainly was

a huge gift...

Nothing like reinforcing someone's prejudice or stereotype by acting exactly like they expect him to act.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

27. Sounds like you're struggling with your own bigotry.

I'm sorry the scary black man offended you.

[Cali_Democrat]

29. Wait a minute...

When white people talk smack in sports like NASCAR, it's just the individual. But when black people talk smack, it supposedly reinforces people's stereotypes about an entire race?

Why the double standard?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

32. Like I said in another thread.......

Hockey is full of white guys fighting and trash talking, no one gets offended. A black guy gets pumped up after a win and everyone is outraged. Its racism, no question.

[Cali_Democrat]

38. Yep. It's interesting how so many people fail to see that double standard

Can you imagine if football or basketball players fought like hockey players?

White America would be frightened

But of course hockey players are never branded thugs.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

40. But it's the black mans fault.

If they don't want to live in a racist society they shouldn't reenforce my own racist, bigoted stereotypes!

[joeglow3]

46. I don't see the race, but the sport as the issue

Fighting is part of hockey. Seriously, your point would be about as insane if you pretended it was racism that caused people to be okay with fighting in ultimate fighting but not in gymnastics.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

48. Sure you don't.

You're colorblind right?

[joeglow3]

49. Nice job of not addressing the point I brought

Fighting has ALWAYS been part of hockey. And your point is that that is because of racism. However, just resort to attacking people. We all know that means you win the internets.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

51. You're not getting it.

The double standard is based on racism, not the fighting. Black people are expected to live up to the expectations and standards of white racists, if they do not, it's their fault for perpetuating stereotypes. You can pretend not to see race (which is bullshit), but it still plays a major role in our society.

[joeglow3]

54. It is NOT about race (for me)

It is the self-centered arrogance that gets to me. Sherman's team has had a great season and the TEAM just won a hard fought game. When given the opportunity to speak, he goes on a rant about how he is the greatest player. White or black, that kind of self-centered behavior goes against what everyone of is taught, starting at about 5 years old. Even my 8 & 10 year old sons, who were watching the game with me, commented (without someone else saying anything to them) on how self-centered he was. Their view was not based on race, but a basic understanding of how a team sport works.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

57. Fine.

Was is your first time watching football? Trash talk has been there since the beginning, it was nothing new. God forbid you have to sit down and talk to your kids about sportsmanship instead of raising them in front of the television.

[joeglow3]

59. Actually, we do discuss it when it comes up

However, the reason this is an issue is because it went waaaaay beyond what one has grown desensitized to. Everything from Erin Andrews' reactiion to the pundits analysis was because this disgusting example of self-centered behavior was so far beyond what has already become commonplace.

However, nice little attack on my parenting skills because I let my sons watch a football game with me. That comment says much more about you than you think it does about others.

[wilt the stilt]

63. Have you ever talked to anyone who actually played football at that kind of level?

My friend was invited to the NFL combine and my son's best friend's father was a 12 year NFL player and an all pro. Basically when you are playing at that level you are insane. Things come out like you can't believe. Chris Collinsworth and Phil Simms said it is the way it is on the field. It is basically a fist fight for 3 hours. I watched inside the NFL and they had a video of Simm's screaming at the defense. you live in a unrealistic world.

[joeglow3]

65. Actually, yes. A friend was a TE for the Browns, Panthers & Broncos

And he was just as shocked by this guy's behavior. No one said it is not crazy on the field. However, those people also know that it is a team sport and no individual player is the sole cause of success or failure. And this comes out in most people's interviews. Again, the reason this was a big deal is because it this has never happened in anyone's memory (contrary to your point that it is common).

[wilt the stilt]

73. where you shocked at Kevin McHale's

clothesline of Kurt Rambis or Larry Bird's constant trash talking?

[joeglow3]

82. Hard to say

Before my time.

[BronxBoy]

88. If they were before their time...

then you don't know what the fuck you are talking about

[wilt the stilt]

92. never seen you over in the sports area

over there everyone know'a I know my sports and I am one of the most knowlegeable basketball people. played forever, swa the great Kniick. Played with high caliber people including all the atlanta falcons. I know my stuff. I started following Bball and watched Texas Western beat Kentucky. My high school(Yonkers) played De witt clinton every year.

[BronxBoy]

87. And full on

testosterone driven energy in football isn't?????? Sounds like you are making excuses for a largely white sport on the grounds that that's the way it's always been.

[joeglow3]

94. What the fuck

I am not making any excuses. I am stating a fact.

[The2ndWheel]

61. That's going a bit too far

I hear that the reason hockey isn't as popular as other sports is specifically because of the fighting, which is called thuggish from time to time.

The only reason hockey players might not be called thugs that often is because nobody in the US media(or general public) talks about hockey, and if they do, it's usually because of a fight, which is a major reason why hockey isn't worth talking about in the media in the first place.

[nolabear]

18. I ca't get behind wanting someone to behave in ways acceptable to bigots.

All he did was smack talk. The rest of his life is far more outstanding than 90% of ours, by many standards and by his own efforts. And it's being brought up time and time again. Back in the day acting in a manner that wouldn't fire up the bigots was referred to by black folks as shucking and jiving.

Of course Sherman's not even in this fight right now; it's being left to all of us who have opinions we love to flaunt. I expect he's doing what he's been told in leading up to the game, and not being in the throes of post-game emotion he's back to the day-to-day work of being an athlete.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

30. Me either.

In fact I find that notion offensive. It's the same kind of bigotry I've always heard from older white racists. The same type of people who say "he's so well spoken" when they talk to an educated black man.

[liberal_at_heart]

41. I guess he didn't learn how to act "properly" when he went from Compton to Stanford.

He still acts too much like a black man from Compton for some people. I wish people could see past that crap. It's really sad to see especially right here on DU.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

42. that's not good enough I guess.

Black people are suppose to live up to the standards set by white racists, otherwise it's their fault that racism exists...... At least that's what I take from those comments.

[liberal_at_heart]

34. I agree.

[Comrade Grumpy]

71. He was an asshole. It doesn't matter what color he is.

[liberal_at_heart]

72. does that mean that hockey players are assholes too then?

[Comrade Grumpy]

76. I imagine some of them are, but I don't pay any attention to hockey.

I know some people consider them to be thugs:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/897210-nhl-video-50-biggest-thugs-in-hockey-history

[liberal_at_heart]

83. someone in another thread mentioned the fact that Tom Brady cussed out a referee and

nothing happened to him. Why is that? Why all this fuss over Sherman and nothing over what Brady did?

[Comrade Grumpy]

84. I dunno. Was Brady yelling directly into the camera on national TV?

[liberal_at_heart]

93. It was caught on camera. So, being excited and yelling into a camera is worse than

cussing out a ref? Geez, I give up.

[geek tragedy]

6. Bigger problem, imo, was that he glorified himself rather than being about the team. nt

[nolabear]

11. I have to say, though, his attention has fired up Seattle and the team something fierce.

That one rant set against an amazing life and skill set set the stage for Seattle having something to rally around. Sherman shirts are selling like crazy, the Seahawks are completely in control of the narrative and momentum, and, of course, nothing makes a whole lot of difference except who wins. But since we like to play odds, I think this sways them in Seattle's favor.

And Sherman really does seem to be a good guy, adrenalin and attitude included.

[geek tragedy]

13. I like him, I didn't like that display.

They're in the Super Bowl--not sure that they need firing up.

The irony, of course, is that it's not how well Sherman plays that will matter, but rather how well Seattle's third best cornerback play.

Fun fact: Last time there wasn't an AFC championship game without the Steelers, Colts, or Patriots was 2002-2003 when the Raiders (Jeff Gannon) defeated the Titans (Steve McNair).

[liberal_at_heart]

10. Pete Carroll loves players with passion and grit. He loves players that stay hungry for the win.

He is a great coach and he has picked some fantastic players. We have a great team right now. Go Hawks!

[Logical]

17. He was an idiot, only celebs think they can not act normal. nt

[alarimer]

21. I think he's an asshole. I'm tired of the prima donna behavior of these jackasses

And it goes for all of them. Rarely do you find a pro athlete that does not engage in some diva-like behavior.

Throwing a fit every time something doesn't go their way. Yelling at coaches or their teammates or throwing stuff.

Big, coddled, babies, that's all they are.

[countryjake]

22. Here ya go...

LOB!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1934741-kids-re-enact-richard-shermans-postgame-interview-with-erin-andrews#articles/1934741-kids-re-enact-richard-shermans-postgame-interview-with-erin-andrews

[Blue_In_AK]

28. I think they've got it.

Lol. Crabtree!!

[countryjake]

33. Saw this on our local news early this morning...

I have a feeing that little kids around here in wa will be doing the Sherman rant for years to come, ha!

I loved the boy sneaking up with the ball bat...

[nilesobek]

58. Its Romanesque but watered down gladiators.

If Corrections Corporation of America takes over all the prisons, then we might be able to see real gladiator combat to the death on pay per view for a modest fee.

[KamaAina]

66. You know what really sucks?

A 'Roidhawk has somehow managed to come out of this looking like a hero.

[nolabear]

69. You do know that Sherman has never been suspected of using steroids, right?

Never accused. Never suspected. He was accused of taking Adderall, and I have no idea whether he ever did that or not, but he appealed and won.

[KamaAina]

70. No, he hasn't. His teammates, however, have.

If you believe the two who were suspended are the only two dirty players on the team, given Pete Carroll's history, I've got a bridge I'd like to show you. No, not that one, the Golden Gate.

[frylock]

74. then provide some fucking evidence..

all you have is heresy and guilt by association, and if you don't think the league isn't investigating other players on the team, then you clearly know fuckall.

on edit: nothing to see here folks. just another butthurt forty-whiner fan.

[opiate69]

78. "the two who were suspended"...

If you're referring to Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond, they were suspended for pot. Which could only be confused with steroids or performance enhancing drugs by the most intellectually challenged among us.

[nolabear]

79. Show me. Show me the steroid use.

Or accept that your team lost. We've got plenty of bridges of our own, thanks. Most of them have Super Bowl banners flying from them.

[mythology]

80. You do know that the person who claims Sherman tested positive for Adderall is Sherman right?

The NFL doesn't release the drug that the test result showed so it could have been any drug on the league's list of performance enhancing drugs. So all we have is Richard Sherman's word that it was Adderall he tested positive for. And given his petulant behavior I see no reason to believe him about anything. His "apology" posted on SI.com was a joke and blamed the other player for Sherman's actions. Sort of like he claimed that half the players in the league take Adderall, or he blamed the tester for his positive drug test. That's kind of a pattern of behavior that indicates Sherman needs to learn to take some personal responsibility.

"It's also possible that Adderall has become the "excuse du jour" among suspended NFL players who know that the NFL has never (and will never) publicly divulge or comment on the specific substance that triggered a positive test result. The players are also aware that Adderall use is permitted by the NFL, provided the proper paperwork has been filed with the league office."

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/richard-sherman-says-half-league-takes-adderall-143837265--nfl.html

The NFL's drug testing policy is an absolute joke. They should absolutely name the drugs used and should start with at least a year long suspension, if not two years. Additionally they only use a urine test, not a blood test which would be more effective at rooting out cheaters. And yet in spite of that, 9 players on the Seahawks have tested positive for being cheaters in terms of taking performance enhancing drugs, including Sherman.

He got lucky and beat the system this time. Hopefully next time he won't get so lucky.

[nolabear]

81. Well, your objection is noted. But it seems the rules and breaking thereof are across the board.

No rule against Adderall, but I can see why the NFL would want to discourage amphetamine use. The article has a pretty impressive list of users from many players from many teams and clearly the NFL doesn't know what to do with it. And it is an interesting question re performance enhancing drugs. What is one? I know Adderall, btw, and personally I don't think amphetamines would be useful in general for playing football. Raises the blood pressure, diminishes appetite, interferes with sleep, and doesn't make you any faster. Might help concentration. But that's my opinion. It's not banned.

The rest of your argument is based on a dislike of Sherman's attitude. That's fine. I see it differently. Every championship team has people who don't think they deserve it. I'll leave that to the league and the refs to decide.

[aikoaiko]

67. I say we need more sac dancing a la Gastineau

[frylock]

75. i just have to smh and laugh at everyone that believes they would remain composed..

under the same circumstances. the guy basically advanced his team to the SB on that one play.

[BronxBoy]

90. I know....

This is fucking FOOTBALL! The testosterone driven, most popular sport in the country. Brutish, hyper masculine behavior is celebrated as long as it doesn't seep into the cloistered confines of the open mike in the guise of a person of color.

This shit is laughable