You notice there has never been an outcry from any players, past or present. The Players are the ones who should report on what went on between Richie Incognito and Martin, the two Miami Dolphin's players in the middle of it. Then let the players decide if ANYBODY was out of line. Either player, the team(s) or the practise. MY opinion..."what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" has become a slogan for a good reason and, NOBODY likes a snitch or a crybaby on their team.
When the players get to run their own lockerroom without outside interference, THEN, maybe real sportsfans will get to know the truth about the culture and traditions that has been going on in the NFL, and why the players (past and present) should be the only ones to decide WHAT those traditions should be. After all, it's worked for 80 odd years now. Nothing has changed except the non-football players who scrounge a living by instigating controversies that will capture those "wannabees" that never played the game but want to feel like they have and KNOW everything. As I've said so many times before, "All this does is deprive REAL sportsfans of real sports stories and robs young, aspiring sportsfans of hearing about the history, and the REAL heroes, of their favorite sport. Get on Google and look up Boston Patriots guys like Jim Nance, Bob Dee (now there's a story) Larry Eisenhower, Nick Buonoconte (a 212 pound middle linebacker) Tommy Addison, a tough linebacker and the first team captain. I'll tell you a story of him that clearly defines the character of the entire early Patriots team. Head coach at the time was Mike Holovak, a BC alum and NFL Fall of Famer. He told me a story of Ron Burton (Steve's father) who helped win the very first Pats playoff game EVER. Holovak said, "And he played with a broken back.".....Stay tuned.....
Us old-timers remember when, as rookies, "Bubba" Smith having to get up on the table, whenever ordered by a veteran teammate, and sing his college alma mater's song; Mean Joe Green having to carry a veteran's duffle bags and Dick Butkus having to wash a veteran's car. And THESE were some of the toughest guys in the history of pro football. Remember when Broadway Joe Namath had to cut his hair and shave his moustache.
At any rate, a trial by a group of your peers is the American way. To allow, and give credence to, these vultures of the news so-called sports media is not acceptable.
Yes, I played football years ago, and it was rough, like Marine boot-camp, but when it was over you knew "you were a man" (as the time honored cliche goes.) That so-called "trial by fire" is what forms iron-clad, life long friendships. NOTHING compares to the feelings and TRUST that comes from a bunch of guys growing in an environment such as that. Marines...football....All the same. AND, I might add, nothing compares to the feeling of knowing you took the best..and made the team.
It breeds confidence and camaraderie, both necessary to succeed in a tough world..... "Nuf said.
TRIVIA.....Ron Burton was the Patriots VERY FIRST first round pick. BUT, each team was required to draft, a day or so before, a "territorial pick." Who did the Pats select?
MORE TRIVIA.....Anybody remember, in 1948-49, the almost trade that would have sent TED WILLIAMS to the New York Yankees?? (That would have been like trading Tom Brady to the JETS)
Ask Grandpa, he knows (and cringes). You'll get a good history lesson that you'll love. And along the way make a great memory with him and your dad.....send in YOUR trivia questions and see if you can stump the expert.....We'll send a prize to the best one of the month.....Stay tuned.....