James Harrison mad at Goodell

[Bear Pand]

Or do what most players do and just give mundane PC answers.

"both teams played hard today"

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

Or do what most players do and just give mundane PC answers.

"both teams played hard today"

Vanilla.

Harrison is just playing the roll.

[SethMode]

The players really shouldn't talk to the media. Doesn't seem like a ton of good ever comes from it. No matter what you say it's going to be criticized and there will always be someone angling to tear you down. Any controversy is $$ in some media guy's pocket. I'm sure Harrison was aware of all this before he gave that interview to Men's Journal.

The apology (likely not written by him, likely not even sincere just a reaction to the negative press he's getting) and whining about people taking things out of context is lame. Apologies have really fallen off.

Agreed. Apologies have fallen off because everything has. Sports journalism (journalism in general?) is really no better than TMZ at this point, yet they pretend like they are. Athletes should know better, but lets face it, if anyone could potentially be dumber than the typical celebrity, it would be the typical athlete.

So yeah, just stop talking to them. Bonds came across as (or was) a dick, but damn if the media never did more than just look like they wanted to hurt him bad.

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

Agreed. Apologies have fallen off because everything has. Sports journalism (journalism in general?) is really no better than TMZ at this point, yet they pretend like they are. Athletes should know better, but lets face it, if anyone could potentially be dumber than the typical celebrity, it would be the typical athlete.

So yeah, just stop talking to them. Bonds came across as (or was) a dick, but damn if the media never did more than just look like they wanted to hurt him bad.

Harrison could be headed down the same road as Bonds. It all starts with "I didn't say that" and "Out of context", next thing you know the media becomes antagonistic and seeks out the bad guy image. Watch, after this interview, I'll bet the media considers Harrison as the kind of guy who will re-cant what he says to reporters, which pisses the media off.

Typically a writer hates when he reports a story and the athlete turns around and makes him/her look bad by saying he took it out of context. That kinda hurts a writers reputation. But when in a perfect storm, like what Harrison is building, a writer doesn't have to worry anymore about taking anything out of context, because Harrison will now look less reputable, and more like a player that will re-cant and look bad in the press. This will turn into a feeding frenzy for all the two-bit bum writers to flock to Harrison now. It's just going to get worse I think.

[SethMode]

Harrison could be headed down the same road as Bonds. It all starts with "I didn't say that" and "Out of context", next thing you know the media becomes antagonistic and seeks out the bad guy image. Watch, after this interview, I'll bet the media considers Harrison as the kind of guy who will re-cant what he says to reporters, which pisses the media off.

Typically a writer hates when he reports a story and the athlete turns around and makes him/her look bad by saying he took it out of context. That kinda hurts a writers reputation. But when in a perfect storm, like what Harrison is building, a writer doesn't have to worry anymore about taking anything out of context, because Harrison will now look less reputable, and more like a player that will re-cant and look bad in the press. This will turn into a feeding frenzy for all the two-bit bum writers to flock to Harrison now. It's just going to get worse I think.

What is your point? The fans jump to the same conclusions regardless of proof or otherwise. I think that you missed the overall point of my post. The idea is that Harrison literally has nothing to win from talking to the media at this point. Worst case scenario by him NOT talking? They just continue to say he's a jerk. If he KEEPS talking he might say something else, cause more controversy, have to get a PR approved backtracking, and then get tarnished more. There is just no damn point to talking to the jackals in the media. Sports media is so fucking pointless. It's glorified pop culture shit. Entertaining, but that's it.

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

What is your point? The fans jump to the same conclusions regardless of proof or otherwise. I think that you missed the overall point of my post. The idea is that Harrison literally has nothing to win from talking to the media at this point. Worst case scenario by him NOT talking? They just continue to say he's a jerk. If he KEEPS talking he might say something else, cause more controversy, have to get a PR approved backtracking, and then get tarnished more. There is just no damn point to talking to the jackals in the media. Sports media is so fucking pointless. It's glorified pop culture shit. Entertaining, but that's it.

I think you think we're disagreeing or that our statements are in conflict. We're on the same page here pal.

My only point is you can't go an entire career without talking to the media. Otherwise you and I are on one accord.

[dave]

My only point is you can't go an entire career without talking to the media.

Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton did it. He never spoke to the media ... ever.

That said, that policy hurt him in Hall of Fame voting and he always came across as kinda goofy because of it.

Gary Carter, on the other hand, was incredibly media-friendly and an instant shoo-in for the HOF. And, his friendly attitude (even if it was fake at times) got him a job with the Florida Marlins post-career. A young kid, who was a college journalism student at the time, remembered how friendly Carter was to him even though he was just a lowly college kid. The college kid became a high-ranking Marlins' exec and hooked Carter up with a TV job. (Might have been a radio job).

Carter was my favourite baseball player when I was a kid ... then he got traded to the Mets and was dead to me. :D

The problem today is athletes have no filter. They can Twitter or Facebook their thoughts of the moment and get killed for it later. Hell, I think I'm reasonably bright and tell friends shit on FB chat that I'd kill to take back. LOL
Oddly enough, I rarely post shit on my FB frontpage that would embarrass me. Go figure.

[Spidey]

Of course he's butthurt he lost the SB. He's also pissed that Matthews is getting so much hype right now, and rightly so. I don't think Harrison means to say Matthews sucks, just trying to shed light on why he thinks he's overrated. I agree. Matthews is overrated if anybody thinks he's the best OLB in the league. Hell I've seen people try to pass Matthews off as the best defensive player in the league, which has to be a joke, because he's just not there yet. I see Harrison's comments as him being a blowhard that makes everything bigger than it really is, but every one of his statements has some truth to it.

Fair enough. I don't disagree with being upset about the Super Bowl. He should be. Just taking shots at the other team when you got outplayed just makes you look more pathetic. That shat I meant by the butthurt comment.

If he's speaking about hearing that Matthews is the best OLB in the league then fine I guess. I would agree he's not the best but he's certainly upper echelon at the moment. He's got to keep it up if he wants to be he best.

"Clay Matthews, who's all hype — he had a couple of three-sack games in the first four weeks and was never heard from again — I'm quite sure I saw him put his helmet on Michael Vick and never paid a dime. But if I hit Peyton Manning or Tom Brady high, they'd have fucked around and kicked me out of the league."

However, the only truth to that statement is that he had two 3 sack games to start the season. Was never heard from again? LOL. Sure seems like he's saying Matthews sucks. At the very least hes disrespecting him.

Matthews only had 11 more sacks the rest of the regular season and playoffs, an INT for a TD, 3 forced fumbles (including the biggest one of the year agains Mendenhall). No biggy. This all while missing a game due to injury and having the likes of Brad Jones, Frank Zombo, and Eric Walden lining up across from him resulting in Matthews being double and triple teamed virtually every play. No LaMarr Woodley on the Packers unfortunately.

That was why I LMAOed that comment and called it bogus. Anyone who watches the Packers routinely knows the impact CMIII has on the field.

IMO, Harrison is still a better all around OLB. He's certainly been doing it longer. Like I said, I think he's a great player. But he benefits greatly from having a threat like Woodley across from him. That said, the shot at CMIII seems uncalled for and bogus.

As for the rest of his comments regarding the fines, there very well may be truth to that. None of this surprises me from Harrison though. Its just how he is.

[Warner2BruceTD]

This isn't an situation of the media tearing down a player or making him look bad. This is a situation of a player pretending to be a tough guy and saying a bunch of stupid shit, then backing off and not owning what he said when it comes back to bite him.

Harrison is a clown, he gets what he deserves because he puts himself in these situations. He makes himself look bad. At least be a man and own what you say. LOL @ the fake apology written by your agent. Harrison isn't even good at his own gimmick, he's just another poser who backs off of his statements.

[SethMode]

This isn't an situation of the media tearing down a player or making him look bad. This is a situation of a player pretending to be a tough guy and saying a bunch of stupid shit, then backing off and not owning what he said when it comes back to bite him.

Harrison is a clown, he gets what he deserves because he puts himself in these situations. He makes himself look bad. At least be a man and own what you say. LOL @ the fake apology written by your agent. Harrison isn't even good at his own gimmick, he's just another poser who backs off of his statements.

I agree with you, but at the same time, I think that my point about the media was less about how they act in this situation and how they act in ALL situations. Yes, Harrison (or his PR people) are dialing back his rhetoric. But still, my overall idea is that I don't know why ANY of these people would talk to the media unless it's about the orphans they're funding or the bridges they're building. Anytime these idiots start talking about their ideas 1 of 2 things happens: 1) they sound retarded; or 2) they say nothing remotely interesting.

The sports media is basically the paparazzi at this point, and all they're looking for is more controversy. I would never want to side with Harrison, whom I always thought of as a thug even as a Steeler fan. But at the same time, it isn't hard for me to consider the fact that certain quotes are twisted or used out of context to make a "sexier" story, particularly during this exceedingly lame lockout.

[dave]

The sports media is basically the paparazzi at this point, and all they're looking for is more controversy.

I always find this criticism a tad hypocritical. Even at a newspaper my size, the more pop culture a story is ... the more response and interest it gets. I'm not saying it's right, it is what it is.
We could write the most interesting stories on city bylaws and no one would care ... the second we right about young, hot high school teens locked out of their prom because one or two had a scent of alcohol, we get hundreds of feedback posts on our website.

At the end of the day, the media is in big trouble. TV, newspapers and radio have to run with stories that appeal to short attention spans, whether it's right or wrong. It sucks, but it is what it is. If running some of those stories keeps us in business, it also allows us to run real stories that mean something.

The "paparazzi" stories keep us in business, and allow us to keep running more important stories.

[SethMode]

I always find this criticism a tad hypocritical. Even at a newspaper my size, the more pop culture a story is ... the more response and interest it gets. I'm not saying it's right, it is what it is.
We could write the most interesting stories on city bylaws and no one would care ... the second we right about young, hot high school teens locked out of their prom because one or two had a scent of alcohol, we get hundreds of feedback posts on our website.

At the end of the day, the media is in big trouble. TV, newspapers and radio have to run with stories that appeal to short attention spans, whether it's right or wrong. It sucks, but it is what it is. If running some of those stories keeps us in business, it also allows us to run real stories that mean something.

The "paparazzi" stories keep us in business, and allow us to keep running more important stories.

What is hypocritical about this? I don't give a shit about sports players lives, issues, what have you. I know none of these people. I cheer for laundry and realize that. I only really comment about stories like these with my more pop culture oriented friends or on this forum. It's a stupid, stupid way of presenting information in my opinion. I'm glad that it gives you an income (truly), but it doesn't change the fact hat sports writer's would be just as good on the TMZ beat.

[dave]

What is hypocritical about this? I don't give a shit about sports players lives, issues, what have you. I know none of these people. I cheer for laundry and realize that. I only really comment about stories like these with my more pop culture oriented friends or on this forum. It's a stupid, stupid way of presenting information in my opinion. I'm glad that it gives you an income (truly), but it doesn't change the fact hat sports writer's would be just as good on the TMZ beat.

Truthfully, I don't either. As long as they aren't committing felonies, I don't care.

But, like I wrote, if all the media ever gave readers was "serious" stories, we'd be in even bigger trouble than we are now. The majority of readers/viewers, whether you and I like it or not, are more interested in Angelina's latest Twitter pic or James Harrison's latest racial rant than real news.

[SethMode]

Truthfully, I don't either. As long as they aren't committing felonies, I don't care.

But, like I wrote, if all the media ever gave readers was "serious" stories, we'd be in even bigger trouble than we are now. The majority of readers/viewers, whether you and I like it or not, are more interested in Angelina's latest Twitter pic or James Harrison's latest racial rant than real news.

Right, I understand your point, I'm just saying all I can do in these situations is state my personal opinion. I realize that it doesn't matter, but what else is the point of the forum if not to give your personal insight on this? Either way, nothing that any of us says will have any effect, so yeah, I'll stick by the idea that really, at this point, sports journalists are what they are.

And yes, I also realize that it isn't the journalists fault. I just got over my disappointment in my fellow humans a long time ago. I still can't believe how much people eat this bullshit non-news up.

[dave]

And yes, I also realize that it isn't the journalists fault. I just got over my disappointment in my fellow humans a long time ago. I still can't believe how much people eat this bullshit non-news up.

In my newspaper's case, we ran a story about a month ago about kids who were refused entry to their prom ... a very superficial story. And, to our huge surprise, it got incredible response (mostly negative) on our website. Truthfully, it was unreal. Of course we wanted to capitalize on that interest and ran a few followup stories that were annoying some readers (but, again, getting incredible response).

As I wrote, this shit is superficial undeniably, but we need this shit to keep our newspaper in business. By 2017-2020, newspapers will no longer be print editions, we will need website numbers to justify our existence. My newspaper, thankfully, is doing very well (for a paper of our market size). My hope is people will always crave real news sources and not just some blogger.

While younger people (those under 30) are not newspaper readers per say, they do go to our websites. That's the audience we need to keep and grow.

Sometimes, that means stories that mean nothing but get reaction.