04/19/24
November 16, 2009
Titans Owner Bud Adams Flips Off the Bills: Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams gave several one-fingered salutes to the Buffalo Bills at the end of the team's 41-17 victory Sunday (see the video), for which he later apologized. Style points to Adams for pairing the birds with a "you, yes, I mean you" gesture.
That was awesome.
Awesome? All this proved was money can't buy class. And that age doesn't buy maturity. Bills owner Ralph Wilson is older than Adams, and he'd never make himself look like such a dick. The guy has respect for the game, the players, the fans, and other owners, which is something Bud obviously didn't grasp in his eight-and-a-half decades on earth.
posted by dyams at 06:06 PM on November 16, 2009
Adams looks like an idiot doing that. Larry Johnson got drummed out of Kansas City for calling a couple people fags and insulting his coach. Isn't Adams' display of juvenile behavior -- which was in sight of hundreds, including kids -- worse?
posted by rcade at 06:13 PM on November 16, 2009
At age 86, Adams has proven can make both his middle fingers stand straight at attention, for as long as he needs them to, which is pretty good.
Maybe he'll get called to be in a Cialis ad featuring side-by-side his-and-hers lavatory basins.
He also looks twice as good as Al Davis does condition-wise, age regardless.
But he's a fool for giving the salute, especially with Goodell in his box at the game.
Being a Texan, of course he's going to show 'em his matching pair, pulled straight out of their rhinestone holsters.
Even in a blowout, there just ain't no such thing as an ordinary Bills - Titans (Oilers) game.
posted by beaverboard at 07:29 PM on November 16, 2009
I'm sure that what he meant was that they were number 1.
posted by irunfromclones at 08:04 PM on November 16, 2009
Isn't Adams' display of juvenile behavior -- which was in sight of hundreds, including kids -- worse?
Arguably so. It will be interesting to see if the fine is in line with player fines. If they fined the Atlanta coach more because he's a coach, shouldn't an owner get hit with a 6-figure fine?
posted by yerfatma at 08:08 PM on November 16, 2009
shouldn't an owner get hit with a 6-figure fine?
Funny you should ask-
Goodell fines Titans owner $250,000 for gesture
posted by irunfromclones at 08:15 PM on November 16, 2009
Adams looks like an idiot doing that. Larry Johnson got drummed out of Kansas City for calling a couple people fags and insulting his coach. Isn't Adams' display of juvenile behavior -- which was in sight of hundreds, including kids -- worse?
posted by rcade at 06:13 PM on November 16
If not tens of people!
posted by basicchannel at 08:35 PM on November 16, 2009
Titans-Bills attendance: 22,153.
posted by rcade at 08:48 PM on November 16, 2009
They flip you off in Buffalo all the time, but you can't tell because they're all wearing mittens.
posted by Joey Michaels at 09:10 PM on November 16, 2009
Being a Texan, of course he's going to show 'em his matching pair, pulled straight out of their rhinestone holsters.
Even in a blowout, there just ain't no such thing as an ordinary Bills - Titans (Oilers) game.
posted by beaverboard at 07:29 PM on November 16
Bud Adams is not a Texan. His citizenship was revoked by the Governor when he fired Bum Phillips and then moved the team from Houston. I believe he was also forced to wipe the cow manure from the soles of his boots and turn in his Stetson and spurs. He is a complete disgrace. I think someone in the Texas State Legislature should bring up a bill that would disallow the Titans from wearing the Oilers uniforms. Shame.
posted by kerrycindy at 10:29 PM on November 16, 2009
irunfromclones:
Goodell fines Titans owner $250,000 for gesture
Awesome.
Joey Michaels:
They flip you off in Buffalo all the time, but you can't tell because they're all wearing mittens.
Okay, that's funny.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:50 PM on November 16, 2009
Titans-Bills attendance: 22,153.
In the ESPN box score of the game, 69,143 .
posted by tommybiden at 12:08 AM on November 17, 2009
Oops ... I got my number from the preseason game.
posted by rcade at 06:45 AM on November 17, 2009
But he's a fool for giving the salute, especially with Goodell in his box at the game
I believe that he was smart enough to wait until Goodell left his box...but not smart enough to stay out of the someone's cellphone apparently.
posted by BornIcon at 07:46 AM on November 17, 2009
I read somewhere that Goodell was meeting folks elsewhere at the time Adams flew the birds and did not see it.
posted by rcade at 08:05 AM on November 17, 2009
Looks like dimentia has set in!!!
posted by Doehead at 08:13 AM on November 17, 2009
Awesome? All this proved was money can't buy class. And that age doesn't buy maturity.
Class is overrated. And, this was fun. No one (but his wallet) was hurt by it. If you can't buck convention at 86 when you are millionaire, when can you?
posted by bperk at 08:29 AM on November 17, 2009
Oops ... I got my number from the preseason game.
Are you sure you didn't look at the wrong figure in the box score?
Attendance: 69,143
Attendees kind of sober enough to drive home that day: 22,153
posted by yerfatma at 09:11 AM on November 17, 2009
Oops ... I got my number from the preseason game.
I would have liked the final score from the preseason game better.
posted by tommybiden at 09:44 AM on November 17, 2009
Class is overrated. And, this was fun. No one (but his wallet) was hurt by it. If you can't buck convention at 86 when you are millionaire, when can you?
I'll remember that "bucking convention" line the next time that I simply want to be a rude asshole to a bunch of complete strangers. "I'm just bucking convention," I'll tell them, and I'll expect a free pass.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:44 AM on November 17, 2009
I'll tell them, and I'll expect a free pass.
If by free pass, you mean huge fine, then sure.
posted by dfleming at 12:08 PM on November 17, 2009
Great video. What a pistol.
And what a ridiculous fine.
So he gives the money to charity. Everyone wins (except the morality police, who will always be miserable and judgemental no matter what happens).
"Bbbbbut .... de chidren in the stadium saw it."
posted by JButton at 12:26 PM on November 17, 2009
He obviously learned his moves here.
Great Flight of the Concords reference. I bet that was the first time that excellent show was mentioned here.
posted by BornIcon at 01:22 PM on November 17, 2009
posted by yerfatma at 01:25 PM on November 17, 2009
We didn't shake on it.
posted by BornIcon at 02:32 PM on November 17, 2009
Class is overrated. And, this was fun. No one (but his wallet) was hurt by it. If you can't buck convention at 86 when you are millionaire, when can you?
The fact he's old, a millionaire, and acts like this makes it all the more embarrassing. And I guess it's not even a question of class. Just a little respect for humans to understand you don't stand in front of 63,000 people and tell the visiting team, Fuck You.
posted by dyams at 07:27 PM on November 17, 2009
Just a little respect for humans to understand you don't stand in front of 63,000 people and tell the visiting team, Fuck You.
As opposed to Buffalo, where 63,000 people tell the visiting team Fuck you?
Pro football games are pretty much PG-13 these days.
posted by tselson at 11:30 PM on November 17, 2009
Can you give me the names, ages, and backgrounds of these 63,000 people in Buffalo? Are they standing in the owners box, the top person in the structure of the NFL team?
The fact some think this is cute says something about the erosion of common decency and respect in this day and age.
posted by dyams at 06:09 AM on November 18, 2009
Oh, please. He was probably directing his expression at someone specific in the crowd, and everyone else just witnessed it. I hardly think flipping someone the bird says something terrible about anyone's character nor do I think it says something about my character or our society's character that everyone is not outraged by it. Now, if he had mooned someone, then I'd probably have the reaction you are having now. Or not. His age has a lot to do with why I find it charming rather than outrageous. As someone who grew up in Florida, I'll tell you that it Adams is a rare and special 86-year old to get that worked up and find such a lovely way of expressing his feelings.
posted by bperk at 10:52 AM on November 18, 2009
I find it charming
such a lovely way of expressing his feelings
Sounds like the moment would make a nice Norman Rockwell painting.
posted by dyams at 05:49 PM on November 18, 2009
Sounds like the moment would make a nice Norman Rockwell painting.
Which is exactly the type of scene people are expecting to see at an NFL game, right.
Can you give me the names, ages, and backgrounds of these 63,000 people in Buffalo? Are they standing in the owners box, the top person in the structure of the NFL team?
I'm sorry, I thought Buffalo had earned a reputation of having some pretty raucous fans. I guess I was mistaken, they probably never saw the bird being flipped before Bud let it fly.
Next time I generalize, I'll remember to do a thorough background check. I'm sure if I had the names, ages and backgrounds of the next full house at a Bill's game, I'd find that I was being really silly, thinking they'd ever use a curse word.
The fact some think this is cute says something about the erosion of common decency and respect in this day and age.
He flipped off Bills fans, and you equate that to the erosion of common decency and respect in "this day and age." Funny.
Isn't Adams' display of juvenile behavior -- which was in sight of hundreds, including kids -- worse?
Do you have the names, backgrounds and ages of these supposed kids?
( I kid )
posted by tselson at 10:53 PM on November 18, 2009
The reason I asked if you had the names, ages, and backgrounds of "63,000 people in Buffalo" who disrespect people or groups by making a gesture to tell the "Fuck You" is to make the points that:
1. 63,000 is a HUGE generalization, not just a generalization. I have a pretty good idea only a very small percentage of fans at any given NFL game, Buffalo included, are abusive or disrespectful to other fans or athletes.
2. In this particular situation, we do have the name, age, and background of the person who was so disrespectful. He's Bud Adams, 86, the owner of the professional football team who was hosting the event. His actions cross the line of acceptable behavior for the top representative of the organization. He has a responsibility to the league to control such emotions in public.
3. The small percentage of "63,000 people in Buffalo" who do act this way could be, for all you know, could include a 28 year old problem drinker who just spent the previous night in jail for public intoxication and has been arrested numerous times for his actions. These types of actions are practically unavoidable from certain, small segments of a crowd of 80,000 people, be it at a football game, concert, etc.
The point I made about "the erosion of common decency and respect in this day and age" is really meant to point out that if the people in influential, respected positions in society, such as Adams, think it's appropriate to make such disrespectful gestures whenever it suits him, then it is a problem. Hopefully we don't see Obama making such gestures on overseas visits whenever he feels the need.
I only gave three reasons, but Goodell gave 250,000.
posted by dyams at 06:40 AM on November 19, 2009
Good post, Dyams. Anyone who has attended an NFL game knows there are some belligerent jerks in the crowd. But Adams' dumb stunt encourages more of it by legitimizing the behavior.
The Jags have a public service announcement before games that lets fans know there's a code of conduct and they can be expelled for breaking it. I'll bet the Titans do as well. Adams did something that's grounds for removal from his own stadium.
posted by rcade at 09:16 AM on November 19, 2009
That was awesome. The most important thing about this story for me is that Adams is 86 years old. I hope I never lose that fire!