Conference Championships- NFL

[Just Me]

The word "thug" used in situations like this is just politically correct way to call a black person/athlete the N-Word.

Not even close. Let's not go there.

[Raptorman]

Fair enough. Sherman does need to grow up. But I hope he doesn't lose his thymos or his willingness to be an "original." I like the kid a lot. Moreover, as Coach David Shaw said about his wildness, you need a little of that "dog" in you to play cornerback. I've always been an aficionado of that position, even though it hasn't really been a strength of the Vikes over the decades.

Well, now I have to give Sherman some credit. After the tip ball at the end of the game and before the "choke" gesture, and the rant, he at least tried to shake Crabtree's hand and told him "Good game, good game". Apparently Crabtree must have said something to him in order for him to do the choke move. He still needs to grow up.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Well, now I have to give Sherman some credit. After the tip ball at the end of the game and before the "choke" gesture, and the rant, he at least tried to shake Crabtree's hand and told him "Good game, good game". Apparently Crabtree must have said something to him in order for him to do the choke move. He still needs to grow up.

Why do you think he does and JA doesn't? Esp. when JA is much older.

[King James]

Not even close. Let's not go there.

It is very close. Whenever a white person does some crazy the public just view them as crazy or an idiot. When black people do something crazy they're always labeled as "thugs" when people really mean nig---. White people don't get labeled as thugs though.

Not trying to get into a racial debate but IT IS WHAT IT IS. Look at his twitter, this was on Jan 20th:

@RSherman_25
Last night shows that racism is still alive and well... And that's so sad.... At Least some people respect MLKs dream

Even HE knows it's racism.

[Just Me]

It is very close. Whenever a white person does some crazy the public just view them as crazy or an idiot. When black people do something crazy they're always labeled as "thugs" when people really mean nig---. White people don't get labeled as thugs though.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/bo ... 74398.html
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/co ... 43462.html
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/te ... 77551.html

A 2 second search of google yielded the above.

thug
/THəg/
noun
noun: thug; plural noun: thugs; noun: Thug

a violent person, esp. a criminal.

synonyms: ruffian, hooligan, vandal, hoodlum, gangster, villain, criminal;

Not wanting to debate this either, and if people want to invent alternate definitions to the English language I certainly can't stop them, but no, it's not even close...

Not trying to get into a racial debate but IT IS WHAT IT IS. Look at his twitter, this was on Jan 20th:


Even HE THINKS it's racism.

Fixed it for you. His opinion doesn't=truth, He also believed his penalty was a "BS call". He can believe that, but it doesn't make it true.

You can share that opinion, but we are moving way off topic here. I suggest we PM if we want to continue.

[DanAS]

That's an understatement!

You've taught me a new word, Dan. I had never encountered the word thymos until I read your post. Thanks.

Jim, the interesting thing about the faculty of thymos (spiritedness) is that it manifests itself in two very different ways -- megalothymia and isothymia. The former refers to the drive to be superior to others; the latter refers to the drive to make sure that the "self" or the "other" gets its just deserts. Obviously, the former is commonly associated with dictators and lunatics, and you can see why. But we tend to forget about the latter -- and it can manifest itself in an extremely wholesome, beautiful, and socially-invaluable impulse to fight for the "little guy" (which can include oneself, when one is a victim of injustice) or a blessed cause.

As for Sherman, my broader point is that, thanks to a few rants, he is now commonly associated with megalothymia, but from what I can gather, I believe that is only a superficial side of the guy -- one that is associated with the way he psyches himself up to perform on shut-down-corner island. If my sources are correct, he typically manifests his thymos as iso-thymia. And that is a point worth thinking about, because as long as that quality is harnessed sanely (meaning with some degree of self-control), it can produce society's true heroes.

The above explains why some folks are defending Sherman even above the "classy" players who give proper press conferences but don't necessarily break their butts for anyone other than themselves, their teams, and their families. The latter are not doing anything that is reprehensible. But given that we live in a world where injustice is rampant and appears in both blatant and subtle varieties, we must combine class with the impulse to fight for what is right. Martin Luther King, Jr., for example, was a man who did just that. When I compare him, to say, Jackie O (the epitome of class, but a person I hardly associate with the iso-thymos), it's not even close who I would like to celebrate more.

What Sherman needs to do is figure out how to repress his megalathymotic impulse without stifling his thymos generally. He has already correctly recognized that there is no need to repress even the former impulse between the lines of a football field, where it certainly provides some powerful and indeed wholesome fuel. So perhaps he should just simply avoid the immediate post-game interviews and then engage in a little healthy repression when, for example, he goes on shows like the Steven A. Smith/Skip Bayless program. I still say that it was on that program where his immaturity shined the brightest, because he told Bayless that he (Sherman) was simply a better person than Bayless, and that is a statement that -- in my opinion -- one human being should never say to another human beings simply because he doesn't like what the other guy is saying. After all, no matter how thymotic you are, you must never forget that humility is a virtue.

Sorry -- I'll leave philosophy mode and go back to cheering on Nadal over Federer.

[Cliff]

It is very close. Whenever a white person does some crazy the public just view them as crazy or an idiot. When black people do something crazy they're always labeled as "thugs" when people really mean nig---. White people don't get labeled as thugs though.

Not trying to get into a racial debate but IT IS WHAT IT IS. Look at his twitter, this was on Jan 20th:


Even HE knows it's racism.

Fyi ... Sherman wasn't necessarily referring to people saying 'thug' in that post.

People were saying things to him that were blatantly racist.

Go to images.google.com and search 'racist sherman tweets'.

[King James]

This is the point im trying to make. Yes I know what the actual word thug means, it basically means criminal. But in today's society when black celebrities or athletes do crazy things, they're labeled as thugs. People like Bieber, on the other hand, who actually is trying his best to act like a thug (even though he will never be) only gets labeled in society is misguided.

Racism at it's finest, including the twitter comments I seen about Sherman.

[Just Me]

This is the point im trying to make. Yes I know what the actual word thug means, it basically means criminal. But in today's society when black celebrities or athletes do crazy things, they're labeled as thugs. People like Bieber, on the other hand, who actually is trying his best to act like a thug (even though he will never be) only gets labeled in society is misguided.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture ... beach.html
http://www.tmz.com/2014/01/10/justin-bi ... eo-tmz-tv/

[frosted]

This is the point im trying to make. Yes I know what the actual word thug means, it basically means criminal. But in today's society when black celebrities or athletes do crazy things, they're labeled as thugs. People like Bieber, on the other hand, who actually is trying his best to act like a thug (even though he will never be) only gets labeled in society is misguided.

Racism at it's finest, including the twitter comments I seen about Sherman.

I have actually heard/read Bieber referred to as a thug. And I for one view him as a thug.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Looks like Miley Cirus. Hes beyond a thug, poor guy.

[Funkytown]

Even Sherman has apologized, quite sincerely I suspect, for singling out certain individuals for poor play. He screwed up. Fine. And that wasn't the first time (see, e.g., his rant against Bayless).

But in the larger scheme of things, he is a hero. After growing up in Compton, he seriously embraced academics, now does a ton for his community, and hasn't broken any law to our knowledge. The guy is actually a great man.

People can point to his failures, but all great men have failures, and I suspect they are manifested the most when they are still growing up. This kid isn't even half of my age, and it hardly surprises me to see a 25 year old who can act like an immature punk. But at the end of the day, I bet you he will end up doing more good for his species than 99+ percent of our society, for he is gifted, purposeful, and his heart seems generally to be in the right place.

Let's please put his life in perspective, rather than taking shots at his obvious mistakes, which even he admits to. If you want to take shots, pick the players who commit assaults, drink and drive, break the gun laws ... or hell, pick the phonies who subscribe to the "Crash Davis" school of responding to the media.

Good post.

[Funkytown]

ESPN - Seahawks CB Richard Sherman fined $7,875 by league for taunting in final minute of NFC Championship Game

[King James]

Looks like Miley Cirus. Hes beyond a thug, poor guy.

They do resemble each other.

But exactly Bieber, will never be considered a thug. Doesn't have it in him and has too much to lose..

[frosted]

I think Bieber is a thug.

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