Ethics and the No Fun League

By Allison Scott | April 26, 2010 at 8:00 am | Life | 32 comments | |

 
When thinking of the NFL, what are the first thoughts that come to mind? Moral excellence, virtuousness, justice, strength of character? Eh, not exactly. Well apparently Roger Goodell is unaware that ethical standards are not quite what the average fan understands to be a necessary attribute of the NFL. Unfortunately, a good 40 time and an unwavering moral compass don’t quite blend together as Goodell would like, and they shouldn’t have to.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for six games in response to an alleged sexual assault.

Take, for example, the recent scandal surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, and his subsequent suspension for 6 games. Big Ben’s suspension was in response to assault allegations that were lauded against him in March for some questionable conduct with a 20 year-old woman in Georgia. In a letter to Roethlisberger, Goodell scolds and implores him to “take this time to get your life and your career back on track.” (I’m sure that’s exactly what Roethlisberger was thinking to himself after the incident – “Wow, Ben, this is really out of control, with all these young women throwing themselves at you in the back of dimly lit clubs. This madness must end!”) Goodell and reality clearly aren’t close friends. Quarterbacks, and probably even more so Super Bowl champion quarterbacks, are likely to be cocky and insufferable guys that like to hook up with lots of young women. So what? Does Roethlisberger’s immoral behavior make him any less of a quarterback? Does it make his play and the Steelers any less entertaining? Most shockingly, Roethlisberger’s suspension was handed down despite his never actually being charged with assault. Now regardless of that whole “guilty-before-proven-innocent” thing, it’s clear that the NFL is acting in a capacity where it sees the law as deficient. It’s not good enough that you don’t break the law, you also have to be a “good guy” in order to play.

I don’t see how moral judgment is any way related to athletic ability. As long as you’re not cheating, as would be the case with steroids or a deliberately late hit, then I could care less what a player does off the field. You want to go to a strip club or hang out with Tila Tequila (that’s right, I’m talking to you, Shawn Merriman) then by all means, to each his own. It’s not as if I’m let down upon learning that Ray Lewis hasn’t memorized Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. Shockingly, prudence and benevolence aren’t correlated to having a good bench press, but good bench presses are correlated to big wins. So then why does the NFL’s code of conduct punish any player who “undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL?” I could be wrong, but isn’t the reputation of the NFL based on world class athletes who can run like cheetahs, jump high, and juke past defenders? I don’t expect a game in the NFL to be a physical representation of Kant’s categorical imperative, and that doesn’t make the NFL any less valuable or entertaining. Why isn’t high-quality play enough?

I understand that the NFL is a business like any other, and such rules are meant to deter players from conduct that is potentially damaging to viewership or the purchasing of NFL products. No one wants to buy a Michael Vick jersey now that they know he kills puppies. Even still, I wonder how much these immoral acts really affect the NFL’s fan base. Is Roethlisberger’s suspension going to stigmatize his name and just prolong the conversation? Clearly Kobe Bryant continues to struggle for viewership in the wake of his prior scandal, with people still refusing to root for the Lakers. As much as the suspensions are meant to deter players from committing bad acts, they end up being a disservice to the franchises. It’s rumored that the Steelers are looking for a replacement for their champion quarterback. Even if Roethlisberger is allowed to return after 6 games, it might be too late for the Steelers to recover and make it to the playoffs. Troy Polamalu might want to consider signing on for some more Head & Shoulders commercials, as the Steelers’ season seems to be over before it even starts.

Bengals player Chad Ochocinco poses in a Snuggie at Wal-Mart.

The overreaction of Goodell and his enforcement of contrived standards is systemic in the NFL. These rules that are meant to regulate player conduct and promote good sportsmanship just make those in charge look like the lame neighbors who call the cops every time you try to throw a kickback. For example, the athlete formerly known as Chad Johnson petitioned to have his famous nickname, Ochocinco, written on the back of his jersey. To no one’s surprise, the league refused, despite the fact that Chad’s shenanigans are the number one reason to watch the Bengals. The current “Dancing with the Stars” competitor was not without the last laugh, legally changing his last name to Ochocinco. Furthermore, the rules regarding touchdown celebrations are ridiculous. If I somehow managed to make it past the Ravens’ defense then I too would feel entitled to a celebratory dance. And the No Fun League’s rules are trickling down into college football, where in two years a new set of laws will go into effect. Soon in the NCAA, excessive celebration will nullify a players touchdown, and eyeblack with messages will be illegal. (Reggie Bush probably feels personally offended by the latter.)

I’m not saying that Ben Roethlisberger’s actions are morally permissible. If I ever found myself with Roethlisberger in the depths of a dark bar in Georgia, I would run. Nonetheless, the NFL shouldn’t be legislating morality. The league should be less concerned with what the players do on weekends and more concerned about ensuring that there is quality competition. Granted, it would be ideal if sports stars wouldn’t find themselves in such morally compromising positions. It would be nice if Tiger didn’t cheat, if Plaxico Burress didn’t shoot himself in the leg, and if Gilbert Arenas wasn’t such an idiot and rethought his decision to bring guns into the locker room. Yet what I’m hoping for more is that the Chargers make it to the Super Bowl in 2011 and that Kobe and LeBron meet in the finals of the NBA championship. I’ll look for ethical theory elsewhere.
More posts by Allison Scott »
Allison Scott

Allison Scott is a senior at Claremont McKenna College, completing her degree in Philosophy and Public Affairs. A native of San Diego, she enjoys tide pools, 75-degree weather and the Super Chargers (even when they're less than super). She hopes to one day achieve the cooking expertise of Julia Child and the swagger of Jay-Z, as the former entails the latter. She is a sometimes contributor/always supporter for The Nightcap, the official sports talk radio show of the Claremont Colleges, which airs on KSPC (88.7 FM) and online here, Monday nights from 8 to 10 PM.

 
 
 
 
  • Andrew Bluebond

    Roethlisberger’s problem isn’t that he is irresistibly attractive. His problem is that he may have sexually assaulted a 20 year old woman in a nightclub. You might argue that there wasn’t enough even to press charges, and, indeed, that is true. There were some serious problems with the handling of the evidence, including mysteriously missing surveillance footage that was likely destroyed by the nightclub.

    Prosecutors decided not to pursue the case because the likelihood of conviction was low. By no means did the Georgia prosecutor say he thought Roethlisberger was not guilty of sexual assault. Goodell’s response seems to put him in the same camp. There have been errant accusers of professional athletes in the past, and in those cases the NFL has not issued punishment.

    Moreover, the Pittsburgh quarterback is being punished just as much for how he handled the situation as anything else. He continues to handle himself poorly in public and represent the league in a negative manner. It’s Goodell’s responsibility to prevent that, which he is attempting to do with this suspension.

    You may think it’s harsh, but chalking the situation up to drunk women throwing themselves at Roethlisberger is not far from blaming a rape victim for dressing provocatively.

    • The author’s argument makes me

      Andrew’s point is spot on.

      Why don’t you write an article on how revolting it is that a millionaire professional athlete is probably going to get away with sexual assault because of his fame and connections with the police?

      Here’s a much more informative article on the subject:

      “QB’s case in trouble from the start”
      http://www.ajc.com/news/qbs-case-in-trouble-493407.html

  • Andrew Bluebond

    Roethlisberger’s problem isn’t that he is irresistibly attractive. His problem is that he may have sexually assaulted a 20 year old woman in a nightclub. You might argue that there wasn’t enough even to press charges, and, indeed, that is true. There were some serious problems with the handling of the evidence, including mysteriously missing surveillance footage that was likely destroyed by the nightclub.

    Prosecutors decided not to pursue the case because the likelihood of conviction was low. By no means did the Georgia prosecutor say he thought Roethlisberger was not guilty of sexual assault. Goodell’s response seems to put him in the same camp. There have been errant accusers of professional athletes in the past, and in those cases the NFL has not issued punishment.

    Moreover, the Pittsburgh quarterback is being punished just as much for how he handled the situation as anything else. He continues to handle himself poorly in public and represent the league in a negative manner. It’s Goodell’s responsibility to prevent that, which he is attempting to do with this suspension.

    You may think it’s harsh, but chalking the situation up to drunk women throwing themselves at Roethlisberger is not far from blaming a rape victim for dressing provocatively.

    • The author’s argument makes me want to vom

      Andrew’s point is spot on.

      Why don’t you write an article on how revolting it is that a millionaire professional athlete is probably going to get away with sexual assault because of his fame and connections with the police?

      Here’s a much more informative article on the subject:

      “QB’s case in trouble from the start”
      http://www.ajc.com/news/qbs-case-in-trouble-493407.html

  • katie

    Goodell, not Goddell. Hard to take your opinions seriously when you can’t spell the name of the NFL Commissioner. This is why editors are necessary. Remeber that is you choose to pursue a career in wiriting.

    Also, I don’t care if the average NFL fan cares about character. The average NFL fan is an idiot. And Pittsburgh has more female fans than any other NFL team, so they might care. The NFL is a private business, and they can impose whatever moral standards they deem appropriate. I wish more pro sports leagues would follow their lead.

    PS: Stop letting the male sports fans in your life dictate your opinions, as I suspect is the case here. But you’re young. There’s hope you may actually get it someday.

    • Speling is hadr

      Der Katie,
      If your going to shamlessly attak someone within five minites of the posting of an artikle, and begin your rant with a typow attack, I sugest that you chek your own speling and grammer, as it really takes away from any validety in your argumant.
      Also the averege NFL fan is NOT an idiut. I ressent that. You sound like quit the NFL fan yurself so watch your tungue.
      Lastly, your little post-script was a cheap shot, and tone of your entire poast came off as vary pretentus and roode.
      Next time actually give yourself the tyme to read the article twyce before shoooting out an opinion that frankly is everywon could have dune wythout

    • Laura Sucheski

      My bad — consider it fixed!

  • katie

    Goodell, not Goddell. Hard to take your opinions seriously when you can’t spell the name of the NFL Commissioner. This is why editors are necessary. Remeber that is you choose to pursue a career in wiriting.

    Also, I don’t care if the average NFL fan cares about character. The average NFL fan is an idiot. And Pittsburgh has more female fans than any other NFL team, so they might care. The NFL is a private business, and they can impose whatever moral standards they deem appropriate. I wish more pro sports leagues would follow their lead.

    PS: Stop letting the male sports fans in your life dictate your opinions, as I suspect is the case here. But you’re young. There’s hope you may actually get it someday.

    • Speling is hadr

      Der Katie,
      If your going to shamlessly attak someone within five minites of the posting of an artikle, and begin your rant with a typow attack, I sugest that you chek your own speling and grammer, as it really takes away from any validety in your argumant.
      Also the averege NFL fan is NOT an idiut. I ressent that. You sound like quit the NFL fan yurself so watch your tungue.
      Lastly, your little post-script was a cheap shot, and tone of your entire poast came off as vary pretentus and roode.
      Next time actually give yourself the tyme to read the article twyce before shoooting out an opinion that frankly is everywon could have dune wythout

    • Laura Sucheski

      My bad — consider it fixed!

  • unity

    I can’t attest to every reason Goodell has tried making the NFL into a no fun league (seriously, why the hate on TD celebrations?) but there is a big reason why a certain ethical code has been laid down. When star players get themselves in trouble, it takes away from the team’s ability to win games. Three different women have come out against Big Ben for rape charges in the past 12 months or so. If even one case made it through, you could be seeing a year of jailtime or longer. It’s hard to win when your best guy is behind bars. Imagine the Colts w/o Manning. There is just no contingency plan when a star player, especially a star QB, is out.

    By punishing some players for conduct detrimental to the team, owners like the Rooneys have been trying to dissuade other athletes from risking trouble with the law. Goodell is just expanding that perspective and applying it to others.

    Plus, imagine the flack and loss of hundreds of millions if the fanbase were to split. I couldn’t root for a team with a convicted rapist though I could root for a team with someone charged with rape. By preemptively making these rules, teams can try and address both the PR aspect of these allegations, and dissuade future behavior.

  • unity

    I can’t attest to every reason Goodell has tried making the NFL into a no fun league (seriously, why the hate on TD celebrations?) but there is a big reason why a certain ethical code has been laid down. When star players get themselves in trouble, it takes away from the team’s ability to win games. Three different women have come out against Big Ben for rape charges in the past 12 months or so. If even one case made it through, you could be seeing a year of jailtime or longer. It’s hard to win when your best guy is behind bars. Imagine the Colts w/o Manning. There is just no contingency plan when a star player, especially a star QB, is out.

    By punishing some players for conduct detrimental to the team, owners like the Rooneys have been trying to dissuade other athletes from risking trouble with the law. Goodell is just expanding that perspective and applying it to others.

    Plus, imagine the flack and loss of hundreds of millions if the fanbase were to split. I couldn’t root for a team with a convicted rapist though I could root for a team with someone charged with rape. By preemptively making these rules, teams can try and address both the PR aspect of these allegations, and dissuade future behavior.

  • Get Your Facts Straight

    The “No-Fun-League” didn’t bar Chad Ochocinco, formerly Chad Johnson from changing the name on the back of his jersey. He legally changed his name, and was therefore, allowed to wear the new jersey. However, what you’re referring to, was an effect of a contractual obligation with Reebok. It had nothing to do with the “No-Fun-League.”

    Furthermore, the NFL is a business. You are mistaken by thinking they are legislating morality. Would you want someone widely thought to be a rapist representing your brand? I certainly wouldn’t…Regardless of whether or not Rapelisberger did or didn’t do it, it still reflects negatively upon the NFL to allow him to play. Goodell made the right decision in suspending him for six games. Let’s face it, the situation itself is very shady…Unity has it right when addressing the PR aspects of the situation.

  • Get Your Facts Straight

    The “No-Fun-League” didn’t bar Chad Ochocinco, formerly Chad Johnson from changing the name on the back of his jersey. He legally changed his name, and was therefore, allowed to wear the new jersey. However, what you’re referring to, was an effect of a contractual obligation with Reebok. It had nothing to do with the “No-Fun-League.”

    Furthermore, the NFL is a business. You are mistaken by thinking they are legislating morality. Would you want someone widely thought to be a rapist representing your brand? I certainly wouldn’t…Regardless of whether or not Rapelisberger did or didn’t do it, it still reflects negatively upon the NFL to allow him to play. Goodell made the right decision in suspending him for six games. Let’s face it, the situation itself is very shady…Unity has it right when addressing the PR aspects of the situation.

  • Shane K.

    I understand that here at CMC we look at things purely from an economic standpoint, and like to consider the business aspects of being represented by a rapist or losing money on jersey sales.
    However, as a college athlete who will assuredly never make any money competing in pro sports, I can say that there is honor and integrity within the arena. Boxers shake hands after pummeling each other. The losing team of the super bowl- who just missed out on $millions in bonuses- will congratulate the winners. Sure, there is a select elite who are able to play for money now, but everyone started out playing because they loved the game. It is under these ideals that the commissioner is right to reprimand players who degrade their positions as athletes.
    Let us also not forget the post that athletes hold as role models. Kids really do look up to professional athletes, and aspire to be like them (anyone who disagrees was clearly either never a sports fan or never a child). Sure there’s a lot of money being thrown around, that’s what contracts, TV deals and merchandising or for. But there are also ethics involved, and that’s where the commissioner comes into play.

  • Shane K.

    I understand that here at CMC we look at things purely from an economic standpoint, and like to consider the business aspects of being represented by a rapist or losing money on jersey sales.
    However, as a college athlete who will assuredly never make any money competing in pro sports, I can say that there is honor and integrity within the arena. Boxers shake hands after pummeling each other. The losing team of the super bowl- who just missed out on $millions in bonuses- will congratulate the winners. Sure, there is a select elite who are able to play for money now, but everyone started out playing because they loved the game. It is under these ideals that the commissioner is right to reprimand players who degrade their positions as athletes.
    Let us also not forget the post that athletes hold as role models. Kids really do look up to professional athletes, and aspire to be like them (anyone who disagrees was clearly either never a sports fan or never a child). Sure there’s a lot of money being thrown around, that’s what contracts, TV deals and merchandising or for. But there are also ethics involved, and that’s where the commissioner comes into play.

  • Mr. Wet

    this is so wet

  • Mr. Wet

    this is so wet

  • ALSO:

    The issue is NOT him having too much sex.

    “Crowd taunts Roethlisberger with “She Said No!” chant during NFL draft”
    http://www.mediaite.com/tv/crowd-taunts-ben-roethlisberger-nfl-draft/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mediaite%2FClHj+%28Mediaite%29

  • ALSO:

    The issue is NOT him having too much sex.

    “Crowd taunts Roethlisberger with “She Said No!” chant during NFL draft”
    http://www.mediaite.com/tv/crowd-taunts-ben-roethlisberger-nfl-draft/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mediaite%2FClHj+%28Mediaite%29

  • oops

    I think you should go through and change every instance of “Ben Roethlisberger” to “Tiger Woods.” THEN this article would make more sense. Woods is just a skeezy guy. Roethlisberger is a skeezy guy who probably assaulted a young girl. World of difference.

  • oops

    I think you should go through and change every instance of “Ben Roethlisberger” to “Tiger Woods.” THEN this article would make more sense. Woods is just a skeezy guy. Roethlisberger is a skeezy guy who probably assaulted a young girl. World of difference.

  • peter

    i have two issues:

    one is basically summed up by andrew, and i don’t really have more to add. it’s pretty clear from reading the witness statements and other accounts of the night that Roethlisberger raped that girl. i’m also against the legislation of morality in sport, but when words like “No, this is not OK, and he then had sex with me. He said it was OK. He then left without saying anything,” are used to describe the incident by the victim, the consideration of morality in decisions about consequences is hardly the point.

    however, your choices of NFL players to use as anecdotal examples of the boorishness of NFL players are curious. in particular, Ray Lewis, who, like Roethlisberger, likely committed a crime but was not convicted (only Lewis ordered someone’s murder, and has been engaged in a thinly veiled PR campaign to propagate his status as “God’s linebacker” for image rehabilitation http://i.cnn.net/si/si_online/covers/images/2006/1113_large.jpg), or Shawne Merriman, who, in addition to testing positive for steroids, was accused of beating up his aforementioned mistress, Tequila. given that both players are washed up, it seems strange that you would pick them to be emblematic of “world class athletes who can run like cheetahs, jump high, and juke past defenders.”

    This is a list of every player who has won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Payton_Man_of_the_Year_Award
    there aren’t many player on that list that wouldn’t be instantly recognizable to any self-respecting football fan (even “mean joe” is there), and almost all of them are in or are destined for the hall of fame. And it’s not as if only one player a year is a good guy; every team nominates one player each year, and most are very qualified candidates in terms of the hours they have committed to service and charity work (except probably the raiders nomination).

    so while I agree that the NFL overlegislates “morality” (although most of the time what you’re talking about is an old-fashioned sense of sportsmanship), i don’t think that being a good player should make them feel enabled either by an apathetic society (which clearly dropped the ball on this one) or league to commit crimes (and let’s not kid ourselves, big ben is a rapist). big ben doesnt have to spend any of his time giving back to the community to get TV ratings or sell tickets, but he should at least be expected to keep it in his pants when its not wanted.

    • Ari Zyskind

      “every team nominates one player each year, and most are very qualified candidates in terms of the hours they have committed to service and charity work (except probably the raiders nomination).”

      I don’t know why you would say such a thing about players on the Raiders. Just because they have not been successful as of late does not mean that they are not good people. You may know how to point us to the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award but you must not know who Nnamdi Asomugha is and all the things that he has done to give back to the Oakland community as well as providing relief in his native land of Nigeria. This 3x Pro-Bowl CB is destined to go to the HOF barring injury or unforeseeable setback. Think of a better Darelle Revis on a worse defense and there’s a reason why no one throws his way.

      Additionally, to assume Roethlisberger’s guilt is a little ridiculous. Certainly there were problems with the way the evidence was handled (and in some cases destroyed). But you have to remember that it would not be the first time that a star athlete was charged with rape and the evidence and police statements seem to show otherwise (see Kobe Bryant, Duke Lacrosse Team, etc.). I am not saying that Ben Roethlisberger is innocent, but I am saying that you should not jump to such a conclusion and call him a rapist.

  • peter

    i have two issues:

    one is basically summed up by andrew, and i don’t really have more to add. it’s pretty clear from reading the witness statements and other accounts of the night that Roethlisberger raped that girl. i’m also against the legislation of morality in sport, but when words like “No, this is not OK, and he then had sex with me. He said it was OK. He then left without saying anything,” are used to describe the incident by the victim, the consideration of morality in decisions about consequences is hardly the point.

    however, your choices of NFL players to use as anecdotal examples of the boorishness of NFL players are curious. in particular, Ray Lewis, who, like Roethlisberger, likely committed a crime but was not convicted (only Lewis ordered someone’s murder, and has been engaged in a thinly veiled PR campaign to propagate his status as “God’s linebacker” for image rehabilitation http://i.cnn.net/si/si_online/covers/images/2006/1113_large.jpg), or Shawne Merriman, who, in addition to testing positive for steroids, was accused of beating up his aforementioned mistress, Tequila. given that both players are washed up, it seems strange that you would pick them to be emblematic of “world class athletes who can run like cheetahs, jump high, and juke past defenders.”

    This is a list of every player who has won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Payton_Man_of_the_Year_Award
    there aren’t many player on that list that wouldn’t be instantly recognizable to any self-respecting football fan (even “mean joe” is there), and almost all of them are in or are destined for the hall of fame. And it’s not as if only one player a year is a good guy; every team nominates one player each year, and most are very qualified candidates in terms of the hours they have committed to service and charity work (except probably the raiders nomination).

    so while I agree that the NFL overlegislates “morality” (although most of the time what you’re talking about is an old-fashioned sense of sportsmanship), i don’t think that being a good player should make them feel enabled either by an apathetic society (which clearly dropped the ball on this one) or league to commit crimes (and let’s not kid ourselves, big ben is a rapist). big ben doesnt have to spend any of his time giving back to the community to get TV ratings or sell tickets, but he should at least be expected to keep it in his pants when its not wanted.

    • Ari Zyskind

      “every team nominates one player each year, and most are very qualified candidates in terms of the hours they have committed to service and charity work (except probably the raiders nomination).”

      I don’t know why you would say such a thing about players on the Raiders. Just because they have not been successful as of late does not mean that they are not good people. You may know how to point us to the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award but you must not know who Nnamdi Asomugha is and all the things that he has done to give back to the Oakland community as well as providing relief in his native land of Nigeria. This 3x Pro-Bowl CB is destined to go to the HOF barring injury or unforeseeable setback. Think of a better Darelle Revis on a worse defense and there’s a reason why no one throws his way.

      Additionally, to assume Roethlisberger’s guilt is a little ridiculous. Certainly there were problems with the way the evidence was handled (and in some cases destroyed). But you have to remember that it would not be the first time that a star athlete was charged with rape and the evidence and police statements seem to show otherwise (see Kobe Bryant, Duke Lacrosse Team, etc.). I am not saying that Ben Roethlisberger is innocent, but I am saying that you should not jump to such a conclusion and call him a rapist.

  • peter

    ari:

    the raiders thing was a joke. also, i know youre a pats fan and want to cast dispersions on the jets at every opportunity presented, but calling asomugha as good as revis is blasphemous. asomugha might be as good in coverage, but a highlight reel of him trying to tackle running backs would be a good alternative for nbc’s 10 o’clock weeknight opening. its that hilarious.

    any person who has followed the case and has knowledge of his previous behavior would have to, in my estimation, come to the conclusion that he is a rapist. i encourage you to actually read the police report on thesmokinggun.com. what was described by the victim and other witnesses is, to me, a clear-cut instance of rape. insinuating that the reports said anything else is total nonsense.

    its kind of funny that kobe bryant would be brought up here. interesting quote: “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.” pr bs translation: i raped you! rape is rape. whether or not the man thinks its consensual is irrelevant; if the woman doesn’t want to have sex, and you have sex with her, you raped her. so actually i would put kobe into the same category as ben of people who raped someone and got away with it.

    as for the duke case, those kids were obviously part of a campaign by the DA in durham to crack down on partying at duke, and he lost his job and was disbarred for his obvious disregard for the law. seeing how the DA in midgeville elected not to prosecute, it seems like the exterior motive condition doesn’t apply to the roethlisberger case case in any way.

    • HA

      eminem’s new song…..

      “I’d rather turn this club into a bar room brawl. Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall.”

    • Ari Zyskind

      To say that I want to cast dispersions on the jets at every opportunity presented is ridiculous. If you listen to my radio show (The Nightcap, Monday night from 8-10 PM, kspcstream.com. You should call in (909) 626-5772. I would love to continue this debate with you, live, on air) you will hear me praise the Jets (frankly, I’m scared to death of them this year and am incredibly impressed with Rex Ryan) and Darelle Revis. Yes, I hate them the same way that, as a Red Sox fan, I hate the Yankees. Nevertheless, I consider Revis to be the second best CB in the league, of course all of this is debatable.

      But since you brought it up…Take a look at these stats: http://profootballfocus.com/by_position.php?tab=by_position&season=2009&pos=CB&stype=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1. In 980 snaps last year, the ball was thrown Asomugha’s way only 28 times. Revis, 111 times in 1008 snaps. That’s a difference of more than 5 thrown at attempts a game (1.75 compared to 6.9). Asomugha did have 8 missed tackles last year while Revis only 5, and Revis was thrownat a lot more. But I account that to the fact that QBs only throw the ball Asomugha’s way if there is separation leading to a higher rate of missed tackles. Still, I love Revis as a player and wish that the Pats had somehow managed to draft him.

      As for Kobe Bryant, I had never seen that quote before and I am surprised to read it, but I guess I was wrong about Kobe. But my main point was that while I do think that Ben did rape that girl, we can’t prove it and therefore to call him a rapist is just plain dangerous. I guess it’s just semantics.

  • peter

    ari:

    the raiders thing was a joke. also, i know youre a pats fan and want to cast dispersions on the jets at every opportunity presented, but calling asomugha as good as revis is blasphemous. asomugha might be as good in coverage, but a highlight reel of him trying to tackle running backs would be a good alternative for nbc’s 10 o’clock weeknight opening. its that hilarious.

    any person who has followed the case and has knowledge of his previous behavior would have to, in my estimation, come to the conclusion that he is a rapist. i encourage you to actually read the police report on thesmokinggun.com. what was described by the victim and other witnesses is, to me, a clear-cut instance of rape. insinuating that the reports said anything else is total nonsense.

    its kind of funny that kobe bryant would be brought up here. interesting quote: “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.” pr bs translation: i raped you! rape is rape. whether or not the man thinks its consensual is irrelevant; if the woman doesn’t want to have sex, and you have sex with her, you raped her. so actually i would put kobe into the same category as ben of people who raped someone and got away with it.

    as for the duke case, those kids were obviously part of a campaign by the DA in durham to crack down on partying at duke, and he lost his job and was disbarred for his obvious disregard for the law. seeing how the DA in midgeville elected not to prosecute, it seems like the exterior motive condition doesn’t apply to the roethlisberger case case in any way.

    • HA

      eminem’s new song…..

      “I’d rather turn this club into a bar room brawl. Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall.”

    • Ari Zyskind

      To say that I want to cast dispersions on the jets at every opportunity presented is ridiculous. If you listen to my radio show (The Nightcap, Monday night from 8-10 PM, kspcstream.com. You should call in (909) 626-5772. I would love to continue this debate with you, live, on air) you will hear me praise the Jets (frankly, I’m scared to death of them this year and am incredibly impressed with Rex Ryan) and Darelle Revis. Yes, I hate them the same way that, as a Red Sox fan, I hate the Yankees. Nevertheless, I consider Revis to be the second best CB in the league, of course all of this is debatable.

      But since you brought it up…Take a look at these stats: http://profootballfocus.com/by_position.php?tab=by_position&season=2009&pos=CB&stype=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1. In 980 snaps last year, the ball was thrown Asomugha’s way only 28 times. Revis, 111 times in 1008 snaps. That’s a difference of more than 5 thrown at attempts a game (1.75 compared to 6.9). Asomugha did have 8 missed tackles last year while Revis only 5, and Revis was thrownat a lot more. But I account that to the fact that QBs only throw the ball Asomugha’s way if there is separation leading to a higher rate of missed tackles. Still, I love Revis as a player and wish that the Pats had somehow managed to draft him.

      As for Kobe Bryant, I had never seen that quote before and I am surprised to read it, but I guess I was wrong about Kobe. But my main point was that while I do think that Ben did rape that girl, we can’t prove it and therefore to call him a rapist is just plain dangerous. I guess it’s just semantics.