Snapped
Like all of our work here, we would like to believe that we are not limiting our audience, as we try to bring our thoughts to fans and non-fans, casual onlookers and obsessed hermits, all generations, ethnicities and crazy people (those with and without medications). This post, however, I hope that you read and think of carefully by applying this to your own occupations and passions. In other words, you don't have to know which Manning plays for which team or if Derek Jeter's cologne smells like Michael Jordan's. Just read on.
While taking a week off because of a badly-twisted ankle during my senior year in high school, I was scheduled to attend a day tour of my eventual alma mater with fellow minority candidates from New York City. During the first forum, one of the school's law professors decided to have a simulated class with all of the students (parents excluded). Considering that it was a crisp Veterans' Day in suburban Boston, he decided to present a hypothetical scenario on the football field. We were placed on the field as a wide-open receiver on the way into the end zone. Now unless your opponents tackle like Deion Sanders and get distracted like they were in a strip club afterhours, the receiver had several angry men in full gear chasing him/her and the ball. The receiver is tackled as normal by one of the defenders. Sore, battered and a little disappointed that (s)he didn't get the six points, the receiver moves on. Normal, correct?
The professor then asks the question "what if the receiver was severely injured on the play? Is there any legal issue here?" Students began to ponder for the sake of thinking, yet came to the conclusion that it's part of the game. Hundreds of players suffer season and even career threatening injuries on the most normal of circumstances in football at all levels, yet because the nature of the game is a violent one, it is a risk that is assumed when they step on the field.
Finally, the real meat of the dinner is served. Because I was in the professor's direct line of view, I was chosen to be the receiver. I am now being chased down by a defensive player who suddenly decides to whip out a 2x4. The professor asks "is there a legal precedent involved here? How does the NFL (in this scenario) handle it?"
In addition to talking with the school's former president for a half-hour weeks before, this response sealed my acceptance. Any action on the field and within the game is under the jurisdiction of the NFL as it is considered similar to any action (insubordination, for example) in the business world. However, if a player brings an outside object onto the field of play, (s)he is also inviting the jurisdiction of local authorities. A 2x4, a Mossburg, any object that has no relevance with the game used for any harm invites punishment from the league and even more damning, potential legal repercussions. This is stating the obvious to all of us. Yet, the slippery slope has no rail if there wasn't a foreign object involved, such as if someone commits an act on the field that either intentionally threatens the well-being of a player with or (at least) a horrible act that could be in the heat of the moment.
Now what?
This scenario has presented itself in some scary, real-life events such as Todd Bertuzzi's vicious actions against former NHLer Steve Moore in 2004. How about Marty McSorely's use of his stick against Donald Brashear in 2000 (and the racial backstory that made it even more repugnant)? You might say "so what, no one watches hockey."
Before you think of the Malice at the Palace for the NBA, I remind you of Kermit Washington's punch on Rudy Tomjanovich during a Lakers/Rockets contest in December 1977. Marcus Camby and Chris Mills waited for players after incidents in recent years. Danny Ainge bit Tree Rollins' finger back in 1983. The list brings several more incidents.
Your boy Zinadine Zidane during the World Cup final in July.
How about Juan Marichal's bat-throwing incident back in 1965? Izzy Alcantera kicking the catcher en route to the pitcher that threw at his head five years ago? Delmon Young a few months ago? The Red Sox/Yankees bruhahas not too long ago? Just to name a slight few in the sport's history. And you love baseball.
During the Week 4 contest between the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, T.O. played, Vince Young started his first NFL game and fans in Nashville were wondering why they were even at the stadium. Then, Albert Haynesworth, a Titans defensive tackle, displayed an act that has this country screaming louder than the recent allegations on former Congressman Mark Foley (at least today). After a Julius Jones touchdown during the third quarter, Haynesworth was seen kicking Cowboys lineman Andre Gurode in the face... a helmetless Gurode in the face. Gurode received thirty stitches and did not return to the game. Haynesworth was ejected and by the looks of things, will be suspended by the league for three-four games. The Titans may tack onto the league penalty as its head coach, Jeff Fisher, is not only one of the most respected men in the game, but is the head of the league's competition committee that shapes the rules of conduct for its players.
Now what?
It's too easy to throw out an opinion on Haynesworth's actions. It's even easier to indict athletes as criminals with money and size. Yet, despite his apologies and the five-week punishment, most of us would likely ask for a little more than a temporary ban from the field. I'd bet that you'd sue, at least. And to be brutally honest, most of us would find out where he lives, trains and eats... you know the rest. That would be even more trouble and at day's end, you're serving a few years at the nearby penetentiary. So what would be the legal ramifications? In several past incidents, victims have filed civil suits and criminal charges. In the case of Bertuzzi and Moore, the city of Vancouver (where Bertuzzi's Canucks played in a home game against Moore's Colorado Avalanche) stepped in before Moore got his head straight and filed charges against Bertuzzi. Though doubtful, it would not be above and unprecedented for Nashville Police to take a similar action, even though Garude may not. Players have sued each other for violent acts and many things less significant. Though Garude's actual ability to play next week has not been affected, the fact that Haynesworth justmissed his eye is going to play a large role in what he and his family may decide to do.
There is a seed of viciousness within us all, no matter how much we deny and suppress it. When you deal with so many different temperments and personalities, you might want to snap once in a while. However, you have some restraint and you don't slug the people you hate. As good as it might feel and as much as you believe people deserve it. If your co-worker hit you in the face because you're at odds about what slides to use in next week's presentation, what would you do? It might happen in sports, but it happens in life as well.
Consider everything.
Seriously, I'm soliciting responses, whether you're reading this from the blog, MySpace or on Facebook.
Say What?!?!: Personally, I am rooting hard for Alex Rodriguez to hit .500. I am rooting equally harder for three things: 1) that the Yankees other than Rodriguez hit as if they're playing the Angels again, 2) that the Tigers win the Series just for a different flavor to baseball and 3) the start of NBA training camps. In the meanwhile, as usual, here is some reading material.
While taking a week off because of a badly-twisted ankle during my senior year in high school, I was scheduled to attend a day tour of my eventual alma mater with fellow minority candidates from New York City. During the first forum, one of the school's law professors decided to have a simulated class with all of the students (parents excluded). Considering that it was a crisp Veterans' Day in suburban Boston, he decided to present a hypothetical scenario on the football field. We were placed on the field as a wide-open receiver on the way into the end zone. Now unless your opponents tackle like Deion Sanders and get distracted like they were in a strip club afterhours, the receiver had several angry men in full gear chasing him/her and the ball. The receiver is tackled as normal by one of the defenders. Sore, battered and a little disappointed that (s)he didn't get the six points, the receiver moves on. Normal, correct?
The professor then asks the question "what if the receiver was severely injured on the play? Is there any legal issue here?" Students began to ponder for the sake of thinking, yet came to the conclusion that it's part of the game. Hundreds of players suffer season and even career threatening injuries on the most normal of circumstances in football at all levels, yet because the nature of the game is a violent one, it is a risk that is assumed when they step on the field.
Finally, the real meat of the dinner is served. Because I was in the professor's direct line of view, I was chosen to be the receiver. I am now being chased down by a defensive player who suddenly decides to whip out a 2x4. The professor asks "is there a legal precedent involved here? How does the NFL (in this scenario) handle it?"
In addition to talking with the school's former president for a half-hour weeks before, this response sealed my acceptance. Any action on the field and within the game is under the jurisdiction of the NFL as it is considered similar to any action (insubordination, for example) in the business world. However, if a player brings an outside object onto the field of play, (s)he is also inviting the jurisdiction of local authorities. A 2x4, a Mossburg, any object that has no relevance with the game used for any harm invites punishment from the league and even more damning, potential legal repercussions. This is stating the obvious to all of us. Yet, the slippery slope has no rail if there wasn't a foreign object involved, such as if someone commits an act on the field that either intentionally threatens the well-being of a player with or (at least) a horrible act that could be in the heat of the moment.
Now what?
This scenario has presented itself in some scary, real-life events such as Todd Bertuzzi's vicious actions against former NHLer Steve Moore in 2004. How about Marty McSorely's use of his stick against Donald Brashear in 2000 (and the racial backstory that made it even more repugnant)? You might say "so what, no one watches hockey."
Before you think of the Malice at the Palace for the NBA, I remind you of Kermit Washington's punch on Rudy Tomjanovich during a Lakers/Rockets contest in December 1977. Marcus Camby and Chris Mills waited for players after incidents in recent years. Danny Ainge bit Tree Rollins' finger back in 1983. The list brings several more incidents.
Your boy Zinadine Zidane during the World Cup final in July.
How about Juan Marichal's bat-throwing incident back in 1965? Izzy Alcantera kicking the catcher en route to the pitcher that threw at his head five years ago? Delmon Young a few months ago? The Red Sox/Yankees bruhahas not too long ago? Just to name a slight few in the sport's history. And you love baseball.
During the Week 4 contest between the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, T.O. played, Vince Young started his first NFL game and fans in Nashville were wondering why they were even at the stadium. Then, Albert Haynesworth, a Titans defensive tackle, displayed an act that has this country screaming louder than the recent allegations on former Congressman Mark Foley (at least today). After a Julius Jones touchdown during the third quarter, Haynesworth was seen kicking Cowboys lineman Andre Gurode in the face... a helmetless Gurode in the face. Gurode received thirty stitches and did not return to the game. Haynesworth was ejected and by the looks of things, will be suspended by the league for three-four games. The Titans may tack onto the league penalty as its head coach, Jeff Fisher, is not only one of the most respected men in the game, but is the head of the league's competition committee that shapes the rules of conduct for its players.
Now what?
It's too easy to throw out an opinion on Haynesworth's actions. It's even easier to indict athletes as criminals with money and size. Yet, despite his apologies and the five-week punishment, most of us would likely ask for a little more than a temporary ban from the field. I'd bet that you'd sue, at least. And to be brutally honest, most of us would find out where he lives, trains and eats... you know the rest. That would be even more trouble and at day's end, you're serving a few years at the nearby penetentiary. So what would be the legal ramifications? In several past incidents, victims have filed civil suits and criminal charges. In the case of Bertuzzi and Moore, the city of Vancouver (where Bertuzzi's Canucks played in a home game against Moore's Colorado Avalanche) stepped in before Moore got his head straight and filed charges against Bertuzzi. Though doubtful, it would not be above and unprecedented for Nashville Police to take a similar action, even though Garude may not. Players have sued each other for violent acts and many things less significant. Though Garude's actual ability to play next week has not been affected, the fact that Haynesworth justmissed his eye is going to play a large role in what he and his family may decide to do.
There is a seed of viciousness within us all, no matter how much we deny and suppress it. When you deal with so many different temperments and personalities, you might want to snap once in a while. However, you have some restraint and you don't slug the people you hate. As good as it might feel and as much as you believe people deserve it. If your co-worker hit you in the face because you're at odds about what slides to use in next week's presentation, what would you do? It might happen in sports, but it happens in life as well.
Consider everything.
Seriously, I'm soliciting responses, whether you're reading this from the blog, MySpace or on Facebook.
Say What?!?!: Personally, I am rooting hard for Alex Rodriguez to hit .500. I am rooting equally harder for three things: 1) that the Yankees other than Rodriguez hit as if they're playing the Angels again, 2) that the Tigers win the Series just for a different flavor to baseball and 3) the start of NBA training camps. In the meanwhile, as usual, here is some reading material.
posted by Jason Clinkscales @ 4:15 PM
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