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  3. the old "should athletes be role models" debate..

the old "should athletes be role models" debate..

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  • Clevfan4life C Banned Very Popular
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    C Clevfan4life wrote on last edited by Clevfan4life
    #1

    Saw someone in another thread suggest it would be swell if our next qb could also be a role model for kids. I dunno about the rest of you, but I'm over these athletes in a big way. I have been for sometime but the Martin/Incognito texts really brought it home. These millionaire kids are basically thrown into a crude, crass culture where they are told daily they're better than everyone else around them and should act accordingly. For the most part these guys are ridiculously Retarded monkeys and have major problems acitng like grown men. I appreciate what they do on gameday but that's where it ends for me now. I could care less what these guys do on their own time. "IF" i were to ever have kids I would expose this cultural paradigm of the athlete hero worship to them real quick and I would basically forbid them to do it. I wouldn't even let them hang posters up.

    I will never have kids so I don't have to worry about this but in no way shape or form would I ever allow children of mine to be duped by this cultural imperatives to worship these PED'ed up monkeys and cry foul when they "inevitably" fail to live up even the most basic of expectations. They're kids with millions, some of them hundreds of millions. Life just isn't the same to them as it is to us. They just don't deal with the same shit, they are quite literally on another planet. Why we buy shoes that they wear is beyond me given that their shoes are custom made for them and internally bear little resemblance to the chinese made crap those companies sell to the gullible masses. Or clothes or cologne...I mean who gives a fuck?

    We've allowed some serious distortions to creep into our culture through many avenues, but the athlete hero worship is certainly one of the most pronounced. Say what you all will about Jonathan Martin but he was a Stanford kid who upon getting into the NFL, in order to "assimilate"...began acting like a complete ngr. And his line buddy richie....everyone saw that interview he did with espn where he was all of a sudden the buttoned up sunday school white boy. Contrast that with those texts of his and the video of him stomping around a pool table yelling nigga.....it's a sham, a joke. These guys would make a fraction of what they do if we all woke up to the fact that they're not really that special. In any case I would never allow my children to think of these guys as anything greater than people who throw, shoot, hit or run real good. That's it.

    So if the next qb in Cleveland has character issues....are they issues that could in theory take him off the field in the future? Than fine...otherwise i give a fuck. I don't care if the next Browns #1 pick gets his picture routinely taken in strip clubs holding up cash while getting crowded by big fake boobs or goes to gay bars and sings showtunes in womens lingerie. Man I just don't care.

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    • jcam222 jcam222J Conversation Starter Dedicated Reacting Well Very Popular Posting Machine Collaborator First Post One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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      jcam222J jcam222 wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Ray Farmer seems to care. If you listen to his interview on the draft process while he was with KC he emphasizes how much importance he puts on character and off field behaviors.

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      • miktoxic miktoxicM
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        miktoxicM miktoxic wrote on last edited by
        #3

        well our #1 receiver better watch his step then.

        C 1 Reply Last reply
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        • miktoxicM miktoxic

          well our #1 receiver better watch his step then.

          Clevfan4life C Banned Very Popular
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          C Clevfan4life wrote on last edited by
          #4

          @miktoxic said:

          well our #1 receiver better watch his step then.

          What exactly did Gordon get his 2 strikes for? It's that purple shit the colored boys drink right? Who cares? See this brings me back to the original point. I don't give a fuck that Josh Gordon likes to sip purple shit that makes you high. The only reason the NFL gives a crap is because they're still holding on to this outdated image of their athletes. Frankly, for my money....Gordon has made far less of an ass of himself than Richie Incognito. But in the NFL's eyes Gordon is by far the bigger problem simply because he used a banned substance that has zero positive effect on how he plays on sunday. The only drugs I care about athletes taking are PED's cause I don't want to watch a field full of athletes with PED lab sponsors also competing with each other on who can hop up their athletes better. Only a matter of time before some kids heart blows up on field.

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          • miktoxic miktoxicM
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            miktoxicM miktoxic wrote on last edited by
            #5

            i don't care either BUT the NFL does and in eyes of many means 'off the field' issues and 'low character'.

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            • Remarker RemarkerR
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              RemarkerR Remarker wrote on last edited by Remarker
              #6

              It's hard to sell tickets, jerseys, league/team advertised products, etc. if Moms and Dads are offended by an athlete's behavior.

              Getting the 'win' with Neanderthals is not good business.

              C 1 Reply Last reply
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              • calfoxwc C Dedicated Very Popular Conversation Starter Collaborator First Post Posting Machine Reacting Well Week One Done One Year In One Month Later
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                C calfoxwc wrote on last edited by
                #7

                Character takes the worry out of a draft pick. All these bad characters keep hurting their team on and off the field,

                and a lot of the NFL is taking notice. And bad character doesn't bode well for a solid work ethic.

                hoortaH 1 Reply Last reply
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                • DieHardBrownsFan DieHardBrownsFanD Conversation Starter Dedicated Reacting Well Very Popular Collaborator Posting Machine First Post One Month Later Week One Done One Year In
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                  DieHardBrownsFanD DieHardBrownsFan wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  I don't mind some pussy chasing, some drunken behavior. As long as they are good athletes and not fags, its' cool.

                  "You planning on having a long relationship with that glass or are you going to drink it? Drink up, man. Maybe we can get another.” - Janis Joplin, 1970.
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                  • Flyin J Flyin JF One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                    Flyin JF Flyin J wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    I could care less what a guy did in his past, but whether or not hes motivated to stick around and make more than that first contract. You seriously have problems if millions of dollars dont motivate you to keep your name out of the news. Most of the time these guys who come out with bad names do just that. It seems as if they've been through it, and almost missed the shot of their dreams, they appreciate it more and do the right things.

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                    • miktoxic miktoxicM
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                      miktoxicM miktoxic wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      well i was wrong about blackmon a couple of years ago after having a temper tantrum that we didn't draft him.

                      how many DUIs does he have now?

                      bbedwardB 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • Browns149 Browns149B Conversation Starter Dedicated Reacting Well Very Popular Posting Machine Collaborator First Post One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                        Browns149B Browns149 wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Let's see. Our Owner is under investigation by the FBI

                        Our best WR is a joint, cough syrup, line of H, or blast of crack away from "CYA NEXT YEAR"

                        Our "so-called" shut down corner is a busted adderall user.

                        We have about as many " ROLE MODEL'S" as every other team in the NFL

                        "And they don't really know even what they're talkin' about And I can't imagine what empty heads can achieve."
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                        • Osiris OsirisO Very Popular Posting Machine Collaborator First Post One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                          OsirisO Osiris wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          I heard Farmer also say in an interview that high character players tend to succeed more in the NFL. So it isn't just about image, it is about character being one of the signs of a player who will have a long, productive career.

                          "I said, 'I need someone who's going to want to get on the roller coaster with me knowing that it's not always going to be fun,'" -Paul DePodesta
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                          • miktoxicM miktoxic

                            well i was wrong about blackmon a couple of years ago after having a temper tantrum that we didn't draft him.

                            how many DUIs does he have now?

                            bbedward bbedwardB Conversation Starter Reacting Well Dedicated Very Popular Posting Machine Collaborator First Post One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                            bbedwardB bbedward wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            @miktoxic said:

                            well i was wrong about blackmon a couple of years ago after having a temper tantrum that we didn't draft him.

                            how many DUIs does he have now?

                            I was big on Blackmon too. Character issues aren't always the easiest to evaluate though.

                            In a different organization maybe he would have been OK. (That organization is not the browns though)

                            Heck, he still might be OK just not in the near future.

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                            • RemarkerR Remarker

                              It's hard to sell tickets, jerseys, league/team advertised products, etc. if Moms and Dads are offended by an athlete's behavior.

                              Getting the 'win' with Neanderthals is not good business.

                              Clevfan4life C Banned Very Popular
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                              C Clevfan4life wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              @remarker said:

                              r.

                              Getting the 'win' with Neanderthals is not good business.

                              if those "neanderthals" are ball players...i'm down. When I say I don't care about off field issues, i need to explicitly state that on field and in lockeroom issues are a totally different matter. When you're on the clock...it's business. Johnny football...I'm not sold on him cause i'm not sure he's a good fit here. But nothing, i mean "nothing" in his past worries me in the slightest. The kid is a warrior on the field and that's all you can count on really. I'll give him credit that he's real and not cnt fgt lick like Incognito who pulls the choir boy act for ESPN. I respect Manziel for saying this is who i am and who I'm gonna be...deal with it. Still think he's gonna get chopped in the NFL but the kid is a baller and gives a fuck. The only character quality I truly give a fuck about anymore is whether or not you want to come to Cleveland and go to war on Sundays for the Cleveland Browns. If not, get the fuck out and don't come here in the first place.

                              miktoxicM 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • calfoxwc C Dedicated Very Popular Conversation Starter Collaborator First Post Posting Machine Reacting Well Week One Done One Year In One Month Later
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                                C calfoxwc wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                JF isn't that kind of character risk.

                                But why ignore those that have legal issues, etc?

                                Like that 4th round lb the Browns drafted, but never took the field?

                                That's what we're talking about.

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                                • Spectralcow S
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                                  S Spectralcow wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  I don't think athletes should be responsible for being role-models for kids. If your kids can't determine that some goofball ballplayer may not be a pillar of ethics and morality, then you've got some bigger and more personal problems than what that athlete is doing (i.e. you may not be doing a great job parenting, your kid may not be that bright, etc.).

                                  Being a role model is not an athlete's job, in my opinion. You know what IS an athlete's job, though? Being on the field and producing. So do I care if the guy is a dipshit off the field? No, not as long as he is able to stay on the field and keep it from affecting his and his teammates' performance. Once he starts missing games or the team play seems to suffer due to distraction, I start getting irritated. Show up and play well? Be a huge dipshit on your own time if you want to. Just don't make me wonder what scrub is starting on Sunday because you couldn't help but drive 135mph through a school zone with a bag of weed, an uzi, and a stolen orangutan in your car on Friday night.

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                                  • C calfoxwc

                                    Character takes the worry out of a draft pick. All these bad characters keep hurting their team on and off the field,

                                    and a lot of the NFL is taking notice. And bad character doesn't bode well for a solid work ethic.

                                    hoorta hoortaH Conversation Starter Dedicated Very Popular Posting Machine Collaborator First Post Reacting Well One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                                    hoortaH hoorta wrote on last edited by hoorta
                                    #17

                                    @calfoxwc said:

                                    Character takes the worry out of a draft pick. All these bad characters keep hurting their team on and off the field,

                                    and a lot of the NFL is taking notice. And bad character doesn't bode well for a solid work ethic.

                                    You can't help your team if you're in jail.

                                    @browns149 said:

                                    Let's see. Our Owner is under investigation by the FBI

                                    Our best WR is a joint, cough syrup, line of H, or blast of crack away from "CYA NEXT YEAR"

                                    Our "so-called" shut down corner is a busted adderall user.

                                    We have about as many " ROLE MODEL'S" as every other team in the NFL

                                    May sound like it's splitting hairs, but there's drug issues, and police issues. Only reason PacMan Jones isn't cooling his heels in prison is he's able to afford some damn good lawyers. So you approving of having a guy on our team that goes into bars and slaps around women? Any kind of lowlife as long as he's a great football player?

                                    BTW, I said if it would help, I'd rather lose with high character guys than win with scuzzbuckets. Steeler fans had to spend hours here defending St. Ben for banging that chick down south. If you don't have a problem with that sort of behavior, there's something wrong with your moral compass.

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                                    • C Clevfan4life

                                      @remarker said:

                                      r.

                                      Getting the 'win' with Neanderthals is not good business.

                                      if those "neanderthals" are ball players...i'm down. When I say I don't care about off field issues, i need to explicitly state that on field and in lockeroom issues are a totally different matter. When you're on the clock...it's business. Johnny football...I'm not sold on him cause i'm not sure he's a good fit here. But nothing, i mean "nothing" in his past worries me in the slightest. The kid is a warrior on the field and that's all you can count on really. I'll give him credit that he's real and not cnt fgt lick like Incognito who pulls the choir boy act for ESPN. I respect Manziel for saying this is who i am and who I'm gonna be...deal with it. Still think he's gonna get chopped in the NFL but the kid is a baller and gives a fuck. The only character quality I truly give a fuck about anymore is whether or not you want to come to Cleveland and go to war on Sundays for the Cleveland Browns. If not, get the fuck out and don't come here in the first place.

                                      miktoxic miktoxicM
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                                      miktoxicM miktoxic wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      @clevfan4life said:

                                      if those "neanderthals" are ball players...i'm down. When I say I don't care about off field issues, i need to explicitly state that on field and in lockeroom issues are a totally different matter. When you're on the clock...it's business. Johnny football...I'm not sold on him cause i'm not sure he's a good fit here. But nothing, i mean "nothing" in his past worries me in the slightest. The kid is a warrior on the field and that's all you can count on really. I'll give him credit that he's real and not cnt fgt lick like Incognito who pulls the choir boy act for ESPN. I respect Manziel for saying this is who i am and who I'm gonna be...deal with it. Still think he's gonna get chopped in the NFL but the kid is a baller and gives a fuck. The only character quality I truly give a fuck about anymore is whether or not you want to come to Cleveland and go to war on Sundays for the Cleveland Browns. If not, get the fuck out and don't come here in the first place.

                                      man you are really hung up on this incognito thing.

                                      who gives a fuck. is he affecting your life right now? is he affecting the browns right now?

                                      the guy's an asshole. we all know that. and martin is a weak minded football player.

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                                      • Westside Steve W Dedicated Reacting Well Posting Machine Collaborator First Post Conversation Starter Week One Done One Year In One Month Later Very Popular
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                                        W Westside Steve wrote on last edited by Westside Steve
                                        #19

                                        Yes I believe they should. To an extent we should all be, or strive to be, role models. Do many of us fall short, I suppose so. Yet I think it behooves every human being to try to be a decent person. Personally, even though I've heard others say they just want to win regardless of how big a scumbag a player is, I don't. If my team is led by real scum bags, and I mean real scum bags, I will just watch something else.

                                        If this is about Inccognito I assume there are plenty of guys who can play at his level and are less dickheads. So I would just as soon higher the other guy. Martin may well be a pussy, I don't know, but it seems like he should have told incognito to just go fuck himself.

                                        WSS

                                        www.westsidesteve.com www.myspace.com/westsidestevemusic www.cdbaby.com/artist/westsidestevesimmons
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                                        • jrb12711 jrb12711J Conversation Starter Reacting Well Dedicated Very Popular Posting Machine Collaborator First Post One Year In One Month Later Week One Done
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                                          jrb12711J jrb12711 wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          This will be a little long-winded, but I don't think people understand fully that being a professional athlete is a job. It's a constant struggle to be good enough to have a job that makes most millions of dollars. For the vast majority of players, there's really no such thing as job security. Each year can mean a major injury, a loss of skill, and bam it's all over. Additionally, football is all most of these guys have ever known. Think about this: are you a role model where you work? I know I'm not, I try to be as helpful as possible and work hard but mainly I just do my job. It's the same for a lot of these guys too. I totally get that they are the limelight and that inherently gives them more influence and ability to be seen as good or bad. But most of these guys are just trying to work and make the money while they can, it's human nature. Sure, some are going to be exceptional and become role models but most just want to play hard for the paycheck.

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