Professional football player: "Nyah, nyah, we're better than you are!"

Sherman runs his mouth and everyone in the world hears about it. People can't stop talking about it.

Trent Williams punches him in the face and not a peep is said.

Trent Williams punches Richard Sherman in the face - YouTube

[jazzrack]

I find some of this conversation disturbing.

it was a very raw human moment and in a world dominated by phoniness it may be the most real moment we'll see in the media in a long time. and they are not role models, they are human beings, and humans are prone to swings of emotion one would think we would give others some slack when emotions are high. lets keep things in perspective, nobody got hurt, nobody's life is any different today than it was otherwise going to be because of Sherman.

and this notion some of you have about the past is absurd. todays game is downright tame in comparison and frankly trying to pass that kind of non-sense off lowers credibility.

[David Watts]

and in other news, a fan/s in Seattle thought it might be a good idea to throw food at NaVorro Bowman as he was being carted of the field Sunday. Grant it the food was popcorn, but still. Ugh!

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by David Watts

and in other news, a fan/s in Seattle thought it might be a good idea to throw food at NaVorro Bowman as he was being carted of the field Sunday. Grant it the food was popcorn, but still. Ugh!

They need to identify the fans and ban them.

[Jason Moyer]

Media acts outraged after generating a made-for-TV moment by shoving a mic in the face of someone known to be highly volatile mmediately after they made a huge play to clinch a super bowl appearance. Woe is me.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

Media acts outraged after generating a made-for-TV moment by shoving a mic in the face of someone known to be highly volatile mmediately after they made a huge play to clinch a super bowl appearance. Woe is me.

Exactly. Might be just me, but I've really grown to despise sideline reporters. They offer nothing to my enjoyment of the game. Often if you listen to their reports a certain scene from "Billy Madison" comes to mind. More often than not I hit mute as soon as I hear and now let's go to Erin Andrews....

The Pam Oliver's post game interview with Harbaugh was a classic. Her going all grief counselor and talking like she was about to cry was so so very lame.

[Jason Moyer]

I've grown to realize I hate sports reporting in general. 99.9% of it consists of either a.) former athletes who've put all of their energy into being good at a sport and think that that makes them better analysts than people who have dedicated their time into actually analyzing sports and b.) people with strong opinions about sports who are somehow qualified to analyze sports because they went to school for communications. Pretty much the only people in sports reporting who I can stand anymore are actual critical analysts (i.e. Bill Barnwell, etc) and the opinions of ex-coaches/GM's. Tony Dungy or Bill Cowher? Not my favorite media guys, but I could still listen to them talk about football all day long. Boomer Esiason or Erin Andrews? Not so much.

I'll give you an example here. Last night I was listening to a large, national radio show and the host kept saying that Belichick was outcoached in the AFC championship game. No facts to back that up, no explanation of why he was saying that, no answer to the question "IS THAT TRUE?", just a strong opinion without any sort of knowledge or experience to back it up, where an actual critical analysis of Belichick's play calling or game strategy would be interesting and useful.

[John Madden]

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

I've grown to realize I hate sports reporting in general. 99.9% of it consists of either a.) former athletes who've put all of their energy into being good at a sport and think that that makes them better analysts than people who have dedicated their time into actually analyzing sports and b.) people with strong opinions about sports who are somehow qualified to analyze sports because they went to school for communications. Pretty much the only people in sports reporting who I can stand anymore are actual critical analysts (i.e. Bill Barnwell, etc) and the opinions of ex-coaches/GM's. Tony Dungy or Bill Cowher? Not my favorite media guys, but I could still listen to them talk about football all day long. Boomer Esiason or Erin Andrews? Not so much.

I'll give you an example here. Last night I was listening to a large, national radio show and the host kept saying that Belichick was outcoached in the AFC championship game. No facts to back that up, no explanation of why he was saying that, no answer to the question "IS THAT TRUE?", just a strong opinion without any sort of knowledge or experience to back it up, where an actual critical analysis of Belichick's play calling or game strategy would be interesting and useful.

Sadly, many of the people who listen to sports talk radio just like their opinions to be spoon-fed. If he explained the opinion, people would change stations.

This is why we can't have nice things, America!

[cephasjames]

The only thing I thought after Sherman made that comment was, "Well, I hope you can back that statement up. Because you can look pretty silly if you don't." And then that was it.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Jason

Ill-mannered prima donnas is probably the best way to mention it.

The problem is their attitudes and actions are reflecting society rather than driving it. In the time Gifford and Butkus were playing, society as a whole didn't need to run around taunting and blowing their own horns to show they were tough. They went on the field, did their job and let the play do the talking for the most part. (There were always exceptions, i.e. Joe Namath) but for the most part you're right in attitudes.

I think Sherman's an ass. If he gets burned in the Super Bowl, I'm curious to see whether he turns tail and runs from the press or mans up and takes his lumps. If it's the latter, I'll willingly admit I'm seeing him wrong.

This. And the loss here is civility, the erosion of which makes the world that we live in that much more unpleasant, year by year.

It's no skin off my nose how Sherman behaves and it's true that he and this topic have occupied too much of my time and thoughts already. But the thought that his unsportsmanlike behavior is tolerated and even admired bothers me.

It's not a war, folks. It's a game. True war veterans must grit their teeth to hear people talking about the "war" of football.

Within rules, knock the other guy silly. Do everything you can that is legal and respectable to win. But don't make it a matter of winning at ALL costs.

And when you beat the guy, don't step on his face. Don't gloat over him and humiliate him. Help him up, literally and figuratively.

You know why? Because if that were you on the ground, or even worse, your son, you would appreciate that helping hand much more than somebody shouting curses in your/his face and mocking you/him as a choking loser.

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

Media acts outraged after generating a made-for-TV moment by shoving a mic in the face of someone known to be highly volatile mmediately after they made a huge play to clinch a super bowl appearance. Woe is me.

Certainly not the first time a player was put in that circumstance. Most players respond professionally.

[jaxmagicman]

Originally Posted by CD1083

Certainly not the first time a player was put in that circumstance. Most players respond professionally.

Are you telling me that each player is different? Say it ain't so. All humans react exactly the same way in every circumstance. Don't you know that?

[jaxmagicman]

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

I've grown to realize I hate sports reporting in general. 99.9% of it consists of either a.) former athletes who've put all of their energy into being good at a sport and think that that makes them better analysts than people who have dedicated their time into actually analyzing sports and b.) people with strong opinions about sports who are somehow qualified to analyze sports because they went to school for communications. Pretty much the only people in sports reporting who I can stand anymore are actual critical analysts (i.e. Bill Barnwell, etc) and the opinions of ex-coaches/GM's. Tony Dungy or Bill Cowher? Not my favorite media guys, but I could still listen to them talk about football all day long. Boomer Esiason or Erin Andrews? Not so much.

I'll give you an example here. Last night I was listening to a large, national radio show and the host kept saying that Belichick was outcoached in the AFC championship game. No facts to back that up, no explanation of why he was saying that, no answer to the question "IS THAT TRUE?", just a strong opinion without any sort of knowledge or experience to back it up, where an actual critical analysis of Belichick's play calling or game strategy would be interesting and useful.

I'm with you. If you are going to say something, back it up somehow. I like Barnwell for that very reason. He doesn't just say Tony Romo is better in the 4th quarter than people give him credit for, he writes a 10,000 word article on it with stats. He doesn't just talk about why coaches should go for it more, he shows us win % why.

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by jaxmagicman

Are you telling me that each player is different? Say it ain't so. All humans react exactly the same way in every circumstance. Don't you know that?

That's your defense? People respond different so it's ok that Sherman was unprofessional? If I wanted to watch a WWE promo, I'd watch WWE.

[jaxmagicman]

Originally Posted by CD1083

That's your defense? People respond different so it's ok that Sherman was unprofessional? If I wanted to watch a WWE promo, I'd watch WWE.

I think Sherman is an interesting character. I didn't like the Seahawks and was rooting for the 49ers and was going to root for the Broncos in the Super Bowl. But the backlash he got for making a comment that really wasn't that bad has pushed me to root for them. He graduated Stanford. He finished second in his class in High School. He is a amarter and more accomplished man than me. He does charity work, he goes back to his old neighborhood. He has never been in trouble with the law. Never been arrested or suspended in the NFL. He is a model player. So he talked a big game. Shut him up by beating him. We have had athletes who talk and they have been loved. Jordan talked. Babe Ruth trash talked. Muhammad Ali trash talked. There isn't anything wrong with it in my book. You don't want someone to trash talk you, you beat them on the field. I don't do it myself. But when someone does, I don't see it as unprofessional. It is part of the profession. These guys are playing a game. They can't all answer questions with grace and humility. It is boring. It is contrite and it reeks of being fake. I need characters like Sherman in my life because it makes things interesting.

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by jaxmagicman

I think Sherman is an interesting character. I didn't like the Seahawks and was rooting for the 49ers and was going to root for the Broncos in the Super Bowl. But the backlash he got for making a comment that really wasn't that bad has pushed me to root for them. He graduated Stanford. He finished second in his class in High School. So he talked a big game. Shut him up by beating him. We have had athletes who talk and they have been loved. Jordan talked. Babe Ruth trash talked. Muhammad Ali trash talked. There isn't anything wrong with it in my book. You don't someone to trash talk them, you beat them on the field. I don't do it myself. But when someone does, I don't see it as unprofessional. It is part of the profession. These guys are playing a game. They can't all answer questions with grace and humility. It is boring. It is contrite and it reeks of being fake. I need characters like Sherman in my life because it makes things interesting.

There is a time and place for everything. There is zero debate about the fact that what Sherman did was not only unprofessional but beneath him. He's not a thug, but he acted like a thug. It was unnecessary for him to do what he did when he did it which is why he's not only apologized but wrote a well written article explaining himself. Thugs don't care enough to go through all that for people to understand where he's coming from.

He turned himself into a villain. The entertainment aspect of his character doesn't preclude chiding.

The issue I had (and I assume most have at the core) is not the trash talking but instead the overall aggression in which he presented it towards an innocent sideline reporter in addition to the choking sign and getting in Crabtree's face right after the fact.

For that moment, Sherman was the face of sports arrogance and the entire internets exploded with aggression towards him.

I hope he continues to be a character, but in the future maybe he'll think it through a little bit better.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by CD1083

There is a time and place for everything. There is zero debate about the fact that what Sherman did was not only unprofessional but beneath him. He's not a thug, but he acted like a thug. It was unnecessary for him to do what he did when he did it which is why he's not only apologized but wrote a well written article explaining himself. Thugs don't care enough to go through all that for people to understand where he's coming from.

He turned himself into a villain. The entertainment aspect of his character doesn't preclude chiding.

The issue I had (and I assume most have at the core) is not the trash talking but instead the overall aggression in which he presented it towards an innocent sideline reporter in addition to the choking sign and getting in Crabtree's face right after the fact.

For that moment, Sherman was the face of sports arrogance and the entire internets exploded with aggression towards him.

I hope he continues to be a character, but in the future maybe he'll think it through a little bit better.

I think the getting in Crabtree's face and the slap to the butt was by far the worst thing he did. He's really lucky a brawl didn't break out over that. As for the choking sign, Kaepernick's a big boy and if he can mock another teams QB the week before, he has to be ready for someone to return the favor. I think the rant was exactly what you said earlier, WWE. I'm just surprised he was able to pull it off without a single bleep.

[cephasjames]

I'm confused on how he acted like a thug. What does that even mean?

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I'm just surprised he was able to pull it off without a single bleep.

Me too. I had hear it again to be sure there wasn't.

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

I'm confused on how he acted like a thug. What does that even mean?

Do you know what a thug is?

They sound like uneducated criminals. Sherman is neither but he did his damnedest to sound like it.