I agree with TCS. A good chunk of people on this board wouldn't see a racial issue unless someone was yelling racial epithets while wearing a white sheet. The fact that Bishop may point out places where he thinks it exists should result in agreement or not. It is certainly no reason to condescendingly suggest more appropriate activities where he should spend his time.
I'm not trying to speak for anyone else, but what I feel about Bishop's "commentary" seems to possibly be reflected in other posts ... TCS, you seem to be granting Bishop a lot of rope. I agree in that I don't have a problem with him raising the question - but the tact of presentation and repeated badgering is overboard. I didn't comment at the time in the Foley thread, and I'm sure Bishop will tell me that's because I don't care about a black man getting shot. But the truth of the matter is I wasn't going to post about Belfour either, even though I think his actions are pretty damn stupid. And, if I HAD posted about Foley, it would've along the lines of "Man, I wouldn't have wanted to be in that cop's shoes, but it definitely seems like this should've been handled better, particularly avoiding shooting Foley." The question was posed "what Belfours punishment should be?" My response, taken in context to the rest of this argument, is that I wholeheartedly agree that the Foley shooting was unjust. And, I recognize that racial discrimination opens the door for the possibility of a lack of balanced punishment. However, keeping in mind that Foley being shot was NOT deserved, Belfour's punishment should be way fucking less than the punishment for someone who, having just put multiple lives in jeopardy by driving very aggressively while drunk, assertively advances toward someone while their friend appears to be making an attempt to run that same person down with a car. *Raising the idea that there's a potential for racial incongruity here = one thing, respectable *Following that up by telling me multiple times that I'm racist because I refuse to agree that the only reason one guy got shot by a cop is because he's black or because I failed to immediately make a post that says "SEE, THIS is how Foley should've been treated" = something else entirely that makes me feel very, very sorry for Bishop
having just put multiple lives in jeopardy by driving very aggressively while drunk, assertively advances toward someone while their friend appears to be making an attempt to run that same person down with a car. Dude the only person that saw him driving "aggressively enough to kill someone" is the person who had to come up with an excuse real quick for why he just tried to KILL him. Get it? That justifies it. Just like "reaching into his waistband" justifies it. Get it? If the act committed by the off duty cop was criminal to the point where he would commit murder, did you ever think that he may lie as well? WTF do you think he is going to say? Man I was scared so I just shot that nigger? NO, that's the end of his career. Get it? This argument and view point towards it always offends the same ones. I know that's not a coincidence. TBH, why would I go preach at a church when I'm trying to reach my fellow members here. Sure every time this is discussed, people tend to lean more towards my delivery than my view point. Just once stop looking at how pissed off I am and sit in my shoes. Can you? If this was a Black athlete thread, there would be way more people here discussing the fact that he resisted arrest (pushing and kicking policemen). Go review the Foley thread and look at how many members here pointed out that he "walked toward the cop in a menacing manner" just to justify the shooting. There is not 1 person discussing how outraged they are by Belfour behaving in a criminal manner. Look say no 1 is talking about it because I derailed the thread. Make whatever excuses you like. The fact remains, He is JUST an angry drunk, that's all, nothing more. He's not a criminal, thug, gansta or a role model for young hockey players. He is not disgracing the NHL or it's reputation. Will he even be suspended for fighting police? NO, NHL is majority white, they're not thugs or ganstas when they fight twice a game. It's tradition to fight, to knock each other unconscious. There are even "greatest hockey fight" threads here at Spofi. It's ok. Fighting in the NHL is allowed because a white man says so, fighting is not allowed in the NBA or NFL because a white man says so. Therefore the majority of white people here at Spofi have the right to judge what is criminal behavior concerning Pro athletes. Trust me it's probably just a coincidence that the majority black populated sports are more scrutinized than the majority white populated. Not to mention if NASCAR was majority black populated and the drivers where intentionally trying to crash each other at over 150 mph, they would be the road rage havingest, drive by shooting comparingest gang members in sports. But as long as it's majority white populated, hey "rubbin's racing". I saw a thread here a while back about why NASCAR isn't more integrated. Shit, because the black guys wouldn't last long. Wouldn't be to long before an "off duty" white cop followed one of them home and shot them for driving to fast. Then to justify it all he has to do is say "he was reaching for something". Look at Rodney King, he was driving like Foley, then resisted like Belfour and he was beaten within an inch of his life. One day that might be me, so here is a big screw you to my fellow Spofi members that don't "feel like hearing about it". The racism is not only in the particular situations that are referenced, but more so in the way WE Spofi members view them. Why should I go to church and preach to the choir, when the one's who's eyes I'm trying to open are reading this right here on this "measly lil old sports website" as TBH put it.
Go review the Foley thread and look at how many members here pointed out that he "walked toward the cop in a menacing manner" just to justify the shooting. There is not 1 person discussing how outraged they are by Belfour behaving in a criminal manner. I pointed this out to you twice. You ignored it twice. I'll try one more time. Foley got shot. A discussion then ensued regarding whether or not the shooting was justified, with IIRC considerable disagreement. Some people justified the cop's actions, and made reference to Foley's alleged behavior in doing so; some people felt it was an inappropriate use of force. The important thing, though, was that something happened, and people commented on it, and Foley's alleged behavior became a subject for comment because something happened, and because people made comments to the effect that it should not have happened. Belfour did not get shot. He got tasered, wrestled down and cuffed. Nobody said, "Hmm, wow, they were kinda rough on that guy, weren't they?" Nobody challenged the cops' use of force in this case. If they had, do you honestly think no reference would have made to Belfour's behavior, to defend the cops' actions?
It is certainly no reason to condescendingly suggest more appropriate activities where he should spend his time. I'm guilty of assumption here, because I think you're talking about my statement(s). If you're not, sorry...my mistake. If you are, you're wrong. Dead wrong. This broken record plays all too often, and whether you, TCS, Bishop, or anybody think it's helping or not, my personal opinion (and that's certainly all it is) is that it's not doing much at all to change minds, especially when you consider the style of delivery. When I suggested that Bishop's time and passion would be better spent in real-world activities, I was dead serious. I feel that a person can do better from within their community, trying to make things right, than to scream at the top of their lungs about the racial inequalities we see in America on a sports website (not a "measly lil ol' sports website," Bishop, which I never said in the first place. If you're going to quote me, please do it accurately.). By "community," I mean the place where you live. Sure, I spend a lot of time on SpoFi, probably too much, but I don't live here. I live in South Bend, Indiana, and when something happens in my community that bothers me, I try to do something about it. My motives in suggesting that Bishop channel his considerable passion and righteous anger were sincere, and I stand by them.
Yes, TBH, I was referring to your comment because I don't believe you should presume to know how Bishop should spend his time based on his posts on a sports site. You don't know the sum total of what issues in the world are important to him based on his posts. You also don't know anything about how he spends his time. Why give him unsolicited advice about how his energies could best be expended? That rhetorical tool has been used on me on this forum. I thought it was dismissive - it sounds like saying since this is so important to your life, why don't you go away and fight this battle somewhere else.
Not to mention if NASCAR was majority black populated and the drivers where intentionally trying to crash each other at over 150 mph, they would be the road rage havingest, drive by shooting comparingest gang members in sports. But as long as it's majority white populated, hey "rubbin's racing". I saw a thread here a while back about why NASCAR isn't more integrated. Shit, because the black guys wouldn't last long. Wouldn't be to long before an "off duty" white cop followed one of them home and shot them for driving to fast. Seriously, this is what you're going with? The NASCAR hates black people angle? Quick question Bishop, has there ever been a police shooting where the victim and the officer were both black? Which one is the racist in that scenario? Or are those the only times a black man is truly guilty of committing a crime and an officer justified in using his weapon? Look, it's obvious that racism is still an issue in this country. Unfortunately, it will probably remain an issue for years to come. That doesn't mean that everything is centered on race, especially in sports. People commit crimes, white and black, hispanic too. No race is without it's shady characters. To suggest, as you seem to do quite often, that most arrests, suspensions, shooting, etc. where black people are involved is motivated by hatred and racisim is, in my opinion, inaccurate and counter productive. I don't want to undermine your passion or beliefs and I sincerely hope I've never done that to anyone here. I come on here most days and enjoy reading the discussions. From time to time I'll post something if I am motivated by the discussion. I respect that you have the right to feel the way you do, as everyone should. But I reserve the right to disagree with the tone and approach you take in expressing your opinion. You don't seem very receptive to others opinions if adverse to your own. What I hear from you is that all white poeple are absolved from any wrong doing because they're white, and all black people will eventually be shot to death in their front yard by an off duty white cop.
"Hmm, wow, they were kinda rough on that guy, weren't they?" Likewise if that's all that happened to Foley (getting tasered) would I even be using it as a reference? If Foley only got tasered who could say it was just or unjust? Only the people that were there. I think a few people who don't even agree with me half the time, think that the shooting of Foley was criminal. We still haven't addressed the simple fact that in the NBA/NFL the common theme is punish the criminals, it's about time ( the thread is merely about their punishments, it's not even an article) If it was any other topic 5 people would have jumped all over the poster about posting a yahoo snippet (please don't make me link examples, you know it's true.) While over here in the NHL it's all good, he's just an angry drunk. No need to send messages. No need to label the offenders criminals, gangstas or thugs. As a matter of fact let's just continue talking about the comparisons made by Bishop. So what Belfour disobeyed police like Foley did. He's not a big scary gangsta with a posse, wearing gang colors and bling. What I hear from you is that all white people are absolved from any wrong doing because they're white, and all black people will eventually be shot to death in their front yard by an off duty white cop. Of course that's all you hear, odds are you'll never have to stare at the working end of a police issued pistol merely because you "look like" the stereo-type of a hand gun carrying hiphop dope dealer. You'll also never get a call that one of your family members was shot over 10 times by police just because the police "thought" he might be getting ready to commit a crime. Until you suffer such loss, trust me, I don't expect you to ever understand what I'm saying. And I definitely don't expect for you to actually see what I'm writing. I only expect you to see how I'm writing it. It's kind of like disliking a pro athlete so much because of their swagger, or the way they dress, talk or carry themselves that it causes some of us to over look the contributions they make to the game itself.
And I definitely don't expect for you to actually see what I'm writing. Step back and realize this is the kind of thing crazy people say. I think you have something important to contribute here, but prolonged rants about how we should think about issues probably isn't doing it.
All I have to add is that Ray Emery would totally demolish Ed Belfour in any form of brawl.
See: meaning considering my view point instead of putting so much stock into it's delivery. Hey, but thanks for all your input. It's been more than helpful. Do black males get a raw deal from cops? Yes. Film at 11. Are American attitudes toward this disappointingly unfair and disinterested? Yes. Does Sportsfilter reflect that? Probably so. Let me know when the windmills start to fall over. posted by yerfatma at 1:23 PM CDT on April 10 Sounds important enough to you. Next time just say who gives a fuck. Or add something to the posted topic. I never understood the ones who just cry about someone else crying. LBB, THB, they may disagree, but they add their view point. Simply saying move along, no one gives a fuck is something I would expect from the likes of Don Imus (just before he runs to Jesse or AL).
I sure am glad that I posted this story...
Simply saying move along, no one gives a fuck is something I would expect from the likes of Don Imus (just before he runs to Jesse or AL). You got me. Let me put my white hood back on so you can't hear me. No one on the Internet is reading a 1,000 word screed, and they definitely aren't reading a dozen of them. So whale away, but realize it's become an echo chamber. When you honestly try to engage in respectful dialogue and listen to the viewpoints of others, do let me know.
