Free Speech Faux Pas

The first amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America guarantees everyone on our soil the right to free speech. It is possibly the most fundamental right that anyone in this country has. It is probably the most cherished, too, capturing the very definition, for many of us, of what it means to be an American and responsible for shaping our very own personalities, morals, values, and beliefs.

The ultimate government permit...maybe it shouldn't be issued to everyone. 2

Just because it is sacred, cherished, and precious, does not mean it is always good, when exercised, 100% of the time. Everyone enjoys this right. This means that when one person says something controversial or offensive to masses of people, a negative response, those masses have the same freedom to verbally return fire. That return fire should be expected to also be a negative response. While I am happy to live in a country in which I am free to express any opinion I have, even if it is a negative one, I personally get no enjoyment from being in a negative climate. It is not pleasant nor is it fun, to me.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall ignited a small storm of controversy when he made remarks via Twitter questioning the chain of events that led to the collapse of the World Trade Center towers and the culpability of Osama bin Laden in that collapse on September 11, 2001. He has since chosen to delete one of the Tweets, issue a statement of clarification on his comments, and lost an endorsement deal. Free speech did not work very well in Mendenhall’s favor in this instance.

Today, the Hat Trick is going to look back at some other instances in sports history in which a little less freedom with one’s speech could have saved the speaker a considerable amount of trouble and negative press. Free speech: great for America…a potential liability for public reputations.


KOBE BRYANT: THE OTHER “F” WORD

April 12, 2011 – Kobe Bryant has a verbal altercation with referee Bennie Adams after being assessed a technical foul. Bryant sat on the bench and his lips could clearly be read, saying “fucking faggot,” to Adams.

If not being allergic to money makes me “the other F word” then just call me a “queen” honey (snapping finger in a circular motion)! Bryant was quickly fined $100,000 by the league the following day. I know what some of you are thinking: “He makes over $20 million per year! So what?”

I have been acquainted with a few millionaires, as I am sure many of you have. Rich people don’t stay rich by throwing their money away. Sure, they will not hesitate to pay the extra 25¢ for cheese on a Whopper. They will hesitate to toss $100,000 into a black hole like a penny into a wishing well. Notice that Kobe didn’t do it again?


LEBRON JAMES TAKES HIS TALENTS TO SOUTH BEACH

July 8, 2010 – There was no bigger offseason sports story in 2010 than where LeBron James planned to play in the upcoming basketball season. James, previously with the Cleveland Cavaliers, coordinated with ESPN to air a prime time special announcing which team he had chosen to sign with. Advertising proceeds would go to the Boys & Girls Club, a non-profit organization serving children.

My first thought: “If he is announcing this on national television, he must be staying in Cleveland. No way would he go on ESPN and drop THAT kind of a bomb on everyone.” Then LeBron announced he was taking his “talents to South Beach”.

I think they took it well. 1

TIGER WOODS RECEIVES A TEXT MESSAGE ON THANKSGIVING

You would think that with all of the means of electronic communication available, and the relative anonymity made possible by the Internet, a billionaire golfer would not get busted for cheating by his wife because she found a text message on his personal cell phone from his mistress. That, in and of itself, is not very interesting nowadays, as the media gets wind of, seemingly, every aspect of a famous man’s personal life. Even amid speculation that Woods’ “traffic accident” was caused by a domestic disturbance, this story appeared to be one that would fade from public consciousness by the end of the year.

You know how there are some questionable websites that, if visited, will produce a pop up box? Then if you try to close that pop up, another pop up appears? Yeah…my readers are pretty smart; I don’t think I need to connect the dots for you on this one.

Don't text and drive. 3

OZZIE GUILLEN CLARIFIES WHO IS BEST IN THE WINDY CITY

May 4, 2008 – Colorful Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen does not pull many punches. After a loss, Guillen shared his true feeling about the cross town Chicago Cubs.

"We won it a couple of years ago, and we're horse shit. The Cubs haven't won in (100) years and they're the fucking best. Fuck it, we're good. Fuck everybody."

I think Ozzie cleared it up nicely.

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1) Image from opposingviews.com
2) Image from arb.ca.gov
3) Image from TMZ via leighvalleylive.com