Posted on 01/13/2005 11:56:03 AM PST by TheBigB
I'd have to agree on this point...went to the rams/packers monday night game this year (from St. Louis).
We were there a couple of days and nights, in our rams gear, and had a great time. Just some good natured ribbing, except for one drunk in the stands, but he finally shut up.
The moss thing didn't seem like a big deal to me.
A close relative of mine, works for the Packers in security. He has told me that this year has been much worse than past years, in terms of behavior, and the number of arrests, and game kick outs. He personally had to call the police last month to have a group of "fans" arrested after they peed on the building, and refused to leave when asked. Is peeing on Lambeau field worse than mooning the visiting team? If you ask neither are wonderful behavior.
The last time I checked, he was never a Viking!!!!
I'm from MN and for reasons just like this one, I'm MUCH more into college ball. WOW, did you know that Red McCombs said that Joe Buck was "prejudiced" (I'll post the article)in saying that Moss was "disgusting"? Unbelievable! He's a good player and he knows it, but his repeated crap like this is losing him favor among lots of fans.
Actually, I think Jake Plummer was only fined $5,000.00 for doing this exact gesture last month, and I don't believe the Brett Favre was fined anything when he did it too Chris Hovan last year.
I guess it all depends on who you are.
They certainly have to fine the players so most of the outraged viewers will be at least a little pacified, and most of them will keep watching.
It's a show, and the commish is the ringmaster.
Well, don't know the reason why Brett did that but evidently the ref did and didn't call a foul. Randy did what he intended to do and he knew what that was and so do the rest of us. Even if the fans have done that to departing visiting teams the women and children in the stand are not responsible for that NO matter who says what....it was not right. We are supposed to be enjoying an afternoon or evening of some good, fun football. Why are there always ones who try to bring it down with antics such as these? No, in my mind there was no reason for this and never will be except for what he had in mind and he was successful.
You are correct on those others. I totally agree with you but I fear the NFL is headiing that direction too. Yes, we all love football and its a great game and a nice way to spend an afternoon or evening. I just wish they would play the game and stop trying to make themselves so known in other ways. Let your talent speak for you and stop the nonsense. Not everyone is interested in the antics...we are interested in the game and as team players. It just gets old.
"You never answered if that includes Brett Favre (who puched an opposing player during the same game, wasn't penalized, and won't be fined by the NFL)."
Nope. Brett Favre is a WHITE pill-popping alcoholic so it's OK.
"Yes, because the criminal justice system favors the rich and condemns the poor"
The rich have been doing it to the poor since time began. Worse yet, the rich have now teamed up with perversion, activism and treason!
A close relative of mine, works for the Packers in security. He has told me that this year has been much worse than past years, in terms of behavior, and the number of arrests, and game kick outs. He personally had to call the police last month to have a group of "fans" arrested after they peed on the building, and refused to leave when asked. Is peeing on Lambeau field worse than mooning the visiting team? If you ask neither are wonderful behavior.
I didn't hear about the Sykes revelation and my direct Packers and law enforcement sources have refuted the mooning charge, but I will concede the point.
Even if true, it is still just rationalization. It might better explain Moss' actions, but it doesn't excuse it and it doesn't make it right.
My view remains:
1) the gesture was vulgar and inappropriate,
2) Randy Moss has a history of inappropriate and/or criminal conduct,
3) that - after the NBA incident in Detroit - professional sports leagues need to take action to prevent a repeat of that riot, and
4) a $10,000 fine is too little punishment based on Moss' history and also as future deterrent to inappropriate conduct by Randy Moss or any other NFL player.
I would hold the same viewpoint even if this situation were to have occurred with Terrell Owens at Giants Stadium, Ray Lewis, Jamaal Lewis or Deion Sanders at Heinz Field, Darren Woodson at Chiefs Stadium, Kellen Winslow at Heinz Field, or even Bubba Franks or Najeh "the Super Pooper" Davenport at Soldier Field.
Other than Moss or TO, I had trouble finding a likely example of a low-class jerk who would potentially engage in the conduct at a rival's field. I think Ray & Jamaal Lewis, Sanders are equally low-class jerks, but the lack of a true Baltimore/Pittsburgh rivalry makes the example less valid. Franks and Davenport have the potential to stoop to that level, but I don't think that even with their U of Miami intelligence they would be stupid enough to do something like that in Chicago.
It's a shame Winslow got hurt this season, because I really think that with his capacity for being a complete jerk and the very real Browns/Steelers rivalry he could join TO & Moss in the pantheon of NFL uber-jerks.
As an added note, if I were the NFL commish I would have suspended both Ray Lewis and Jamaal Lewis for an entire year for their involvement in criminal conduct (a double homicide and drug traficking, respectively) following the conclusion of their legal cases.
As for the action of fans, I will point out that this is just more rationalization on your part. But again, I will concede your argument. Fans engaging in improper conduct are subject to arrest and criminal prosecution, game expulsion and revocation of the season ticket privaleges. In fact, even if you sell your season ticket to a broker who resells it, the conduct of the eventual 3rd party purchaser could cause revocation of the ownership rights of the season ticket holder. All of these are of far greater consequence in scale to fans than the mild slap on the wrist that Moss received.
And, unlike Moss' (or TO's or Ray Lewis' or Deion's or whomever) conduct, most of the fan conduct you seem so upset about is not broadcast on live TV around the globe and repeated endlessly on a multitude of sports highlight shows for the next 72 hours.
Take off your purple-colored glasses and view some reality.
In my other posts you will see that I have absolutely no problem with the fine, I also said I thought that it was a classless act. I am just sick of the double standard that I have heard from Packer fans (those with green and gold colored glasses). Brett Favre is the biggest example of, "depends who you are". He not only punched another player, he grabbed his face mask, and slapped the official. He also last year "flipped" the bird to Chris Hovan, where was his fine?
I happen to be a rare bird in Viking clothing, I love to watch Brett Favre play. You rarely see someone that seems to have so much fun, and I hope he doesn't retire. I, as I said, am just sick of the double standard!!!
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