Free Speech - Epic FAIL - July 22, 2011

After watching certain patterns repeat themselves, the only time I am surprised, during successive occurrences, is when others are surprised. In a world of the Internet, social media, and the 24 hour news cycle, hearing someone (anyone) of any significance to the public say something ill-advised, often downright stupid, is periodically expected.


In any given week, much of the public has become conditioned to think about, not “if”, but when will someone in the world of sports do or say something that he would regret quickly. This week, University of Southern California running back Marc Tyler, son of former San Francisco 49ers running back Super Bowl champion Wendell Tyler, jokingly said that USC paid better than the NFL. Unfortunately, his comment was made directly into a camera and his remarks appeared on gossip website TMZ.com.

As many of you are aware, USC had the hammer brought down upon its football program for violations that took place in 2004 and 2005, including paying former running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush. Of all institutions, USC is among the last that needs any insinuation, even in jest, that there are inappropriate practices occurring in its athletic department.

So, once again, The Daily Hat Trick is bringing you a collection of examples, past and present, in which the free speech of sports figures came at a price.

 Marc Tyler, USC running back (2011):

TMZ cameraman: Do Trojan football players make more money from the school or in the pros?

Tyler: “USC! They breakin’ bread!”

Result: Tyler was suspended for the 2011 opening game against Minnesota.


USC, they're smacking their heads! 1



Clinton Portis, former Washington Redskins running back (2007):

Situation: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Mike Vick was being investigated by the federal government for his role in a (then) alleged dog fighting ring. Portis was being interviewed by a local Virginia television station, WAVY-TV.

What was said: "I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property, it's his dog. If that's what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business," When told that dog fighting is a felony, Portis replied, "It can't be too bad of a crime."

“You want to hunt down Mike Vick over fighting some dogs? I think people should mind their own business."

"I know a lot of back roads that have the dog fighting if you want to go see it."

Later in the day…"In the recent interview I gave concerning dog fighting, I want to make it clear I do not take part in dog fighting or condone dog fighting in any manner."

Way to smooth it over, Mr. Portis!

Result: In terms of substantial consequences, nothing…. In the court of public opinion, it was the latest in a string of dubious quotables throughout Portis’ career. He will not be remembered as one of the NFL’s all-time eloquent statesmen or deep thinkers.



Mike Vick: "Hey, Clinton! Don't do me any more favors, okay buddy? You've helped me (and my image) out enough!" 2

 Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA Analyst Charles Barkley (1994):

The situation: The Round Mound of Rebound was noteworthy for shooting his mouth off during his 16 seasons in the NBA. But Sir Charles would also come to learn, the hard way, that free speech is not always free. After a game in 1994, Barkley was extremely critical of the game officials in a post game press conference.

What was said: After a valiant effort, I was unable to locate the exact quote on the World Wide Web, perhaps indicative of how many times Barkley has served up a memorable soundbite to the press. What I remember, however, in response to being asked if he was concerned about being fined for his criticism, is that Barkely said that he could not be controlled with money and that he had more money than everyone in the room. If anyone reading this piece could locate the exact quote and email the link to me, I would be appreciative.

The Result: NBA Commissioner David Stern dished out what was then a record fine and multiple game suspension. Barkely never quite repeated a post game tirade with the same level of volatility. I guess he could be controlled with money.

If you want to play a cool drinking game, try something that involves finding a picture of Barkley with his mouth closed. 3

Former Indianapolis Colts Coach Jim Mora, Sr. (2001):

The situation: Chances are, if you are old enough to drink, I need not provide much, if any preamble to the classic post game rant. Mora’s Colts were in the midst of a losing skid and quickly falling out of the playoff race. After a loss to the San Francisco 49ers, in which Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw several interceptions, Mora expressed his disapproval with his QB and his team.

What was said: Why tell you, when I can show you (and 9 out of 10 of you probably know exactly what was said, anyway)?

 There are only a handful of NFL moments I'll remember vividly in 50 years, God willing, and this is one of them. 4 

The result: The soundbite went viral in an age where roughly half of U.S. households did not have Internet access* and You Tube did not exist. The word “PLAYOFFS?!?!”, when said in a high-pitched, incredulous tone, became a punchline. Mora may have that word in his epitaph.

So remember, Hat Trick readers, in the spirit of this month, in which we celebrated America's 235th birthday, free speech is not always free (far from it)!

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

* source: census.gov

1) Image from TMZ.com via webpronews.com

2) Image from statesman.com

3) Image from baldcelebrity.com

4) Video from YouTube.com

Free Speech Epic Fail

In the age of Twitter, the public seldom has to wait long to get a newsworthy quote from a newsworthy person. Often, newsworthy Tweets have lead to controversy. Recently, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison made his inflammatory comments about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell the old fashioned way: in a magazine interview.

Harrison's incendiary rant on the league commissioner included vitriol and bodily functions. It was the first truly juicy NFL soundbite/quote available to the public since Steelers running back and Harrison teammate Rashard Mendenhall made controversial remarks about the 9/11 attacks following the death of Osama bin Laden.

Today, we are going to take a look at some more memorable quotes that have thrusted sports figures into the spotlight, even if they wanted to pull the plug on the spotlight, right away.


James Harrison, on Roger Goodell (2011)

Quote: "If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him."

Result: Time will tell, but Roger Goodell's best move, possibly his only move, is to do nothing. Any action Goodell takes against Harrison for remarks made during a lockout on his own time about Goodell will not go over well among players or in the court of public opinion.

James Harrison will not play fireman with Roger Goodell. 1

Rashard Mendenhall, on Osama bin Laden and 9/11 (2011)

Quote: "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side.... We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

Result: Free speech is not always free. Sporting apparel maker Champion cut ties with Mendenhall shortly after the controversial remarks. This cost Mendenhall an endorsement and a source of supplemental cash.


Former Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker on the possibility of playing in New York (2000)

Quote: "I'd retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 train to the ballpark looking like you're riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing... The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?"

Result: Rocker became public enemy #1 in New York. In spite of issuing an apology soon after the incident, his appearance in the Mets' Shea Stadium necessitated more than ten times the normal level of police protection and special protective devices for the Braves' dugout and bullpen.

Free speech was not free for Rocker, either. Rocker was suspended for the first 14 games of the 2000 season.

Rocker didn't exactly take great pains to bridge the divide between himself and the fans of New York. 2

Former CBS football commentator Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder (1988)

Quote: "The black is a better athlete to begin with because he's been bred to be that way — because of his high thighs and big thighs that goes up into his back, and they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs. This goes back all the way to the Civil War when during the slave trading, the owner — the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid."

Result: Wow! You know, for something that this country was founded upon as being "free", speech ain't cheap! Snyder was fired very shortly after the controversial remarks. I, personally, have always had sympathy for Snyder since this incident. He was a fixture on CBS' "NFL Today" show. The man was a sports commentator, not a keynote speaker. Had he simply used phrasing like, "I think the breeding of slaves may have had an impact on the disproportionately high number of blacks succeeding in sports," as opposed to the sweeping statement he made, I doubt that he would have been fired, or even disciplined. By all accounts I have read, Snyder was a decent man, not a racist, and appears to have quickly and sincerely regretted what he said.

It isn't like this is the scene at the line of scrimmage. 4

Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, following Tiger Woods first, ever, major win at The Masters (1997)

Quote: "He's doing quite well, pretty impressive. That little boy is driving well and he's putting well. He's doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve...."

Result: The cost of free speech is a little more than pocket change. K-Mart and Dunlop Tires dropped Zoeller for the racially tinged remarks. The marginally relevant golfer became a punchline as a person making racist comments, but soon faded into oblivion, where the PGA would agree he belongs.

I'll bet Fuzzy would have a stroke if the brothers started repping his Vodka like "Gin and Juice". What a stupid jackass.... 3

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To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.


1) Image from creativestickers.com
2) Image from si.com
3) Image from proof66.com
4) Image from foolscrusade.blogspot.com

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.

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.
1) Image from opposingviews.com
2) Image from arb.ca.gov
3) Image from TMZ via leighvalleylive.com