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As you can probably gather from my body of work on this site, I love sports. Like most sports fans, I’m a die-hard supporter of a few teams. The Minnesota Twins (My offspring had his first school picture taken in a Mauer jersey), Virginia Tech football (#GameDay4Frank) and of course, America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys. Each football Sunday, my happiness lives and dies with those guys. I’ve been there from the tail-end of the Aikman years, through the Quincy Carter/every other scrub-era, to current days of Romo and his injury backups. Last night I was nervously sitting on the edge of my couch devouring my fingernails as the Boys took on the Eagles.
Speaking from personal experience, it’s easy to look past a player’s flaws if they’re helping your team win. Cowboy legend Michael Irvin had his share of run-ins with the law and is still beloved by fans, myself included. Each year, the NFL is filled with guys who’ve been arrested or been caught using PEDs. I don’t really need to beat a dead horse because everyone knows the league has struggled with that reputation. Obviously, pro athletes are real people with real issues, issues that are magnified by their position in society. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the majority of pro athlete infractions that get reported on by ESPN. That’s their lives, hopefully they’ll go through the justice system like you or I and serve their punishment and move on like any other citizen.
However, on the heels of Deadspin’s incredibly damning report on Greg Hardy’s domestic violence incident, it makes one wonder if sometimes you’re truly rooting for the wrong people and wondering where it ends.
Not for a lack of wishing and pleading, one doesn’t ever get to choose who does or doesn’t suit up for their favorite team. This past off-season, I admittedly was thrilled that the Cowboys signed Greg Hardy. I was obviously aware of why he was available and why he had sat out the majority of the previous NFL season, but at that point I didn’t give a shit. The Cowboys were a questionable call away from a conference title game last year, and Hardy is a freak-of-nature pass rusher that they desperately needed. We’re the same organization that gave Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson second chances, plus drafted Dez Bryant; most of those choices worked out, Greg Hardy is no big deal.
If you’ve been living on another planet for the last couple months, give Greg Hardy and his antics a quick Google. Then go read that link to the Deadspin piece. Greg Hardy is a piece of shit. He’s a big piece of shit. Everyone makes mistakes. Greg Hardy makes terrible mistakes, then showboatingly doubles down on his mistakes and ups the asshole ante on a daily basis. Normally, the one great thing that comes out of making a mistake is that you learn a valuable lesson, but that’s clearly not the case with this guy. He’s only been active for three games this year but he’s already managed to shove a coach, get into numerous sideline arguments, and make a mockery of his post-game interviews. Even if he wasn’t an alleged violent woman-beater away from team facilities he’s definitely at the very least a giant unstable douchebag in them.
While his antics can be debated by some, especially Cowboys management, what can’t be debated is his impact on the field. Hardy is a beast; the monster pass rusher the team has been craving since DeMarcus Ware’s injury decline and eventual release. If it was strictly based on on-field performance, Greg Hardy would be worth every penny of his contract and worth every fan’s worship. It’s that ability that earned his second chance via Jerry Jones and the Boys, and it’s that ability that seems to keep motivating people to make apologies for him no matter what happens. What’s most unsettling is that the front office has gone as far as to label him a “leader.” It’s well within their right to sign a player who is legally cleared to play as a lotto ticket to lead them to a Super Bowl. Many other teams have made a deal with a devil in this pursuit. But don’t try to make him something he’s not. Don’t attempt to get people to confuse him with a high intensity, emotional player like Dez Bryant. Being a leader is not attacking your coaches, it’s not letting your instability potentially harm the team.
I was admittedly as thrilled as anyone after the signing as I am desperate to see the Cowboys get to the Super Bowl. But months later, it’s clear what this signing is, and no matter how many statements the front office makes, it shouldn’t be disputed. The Greg Hardy signing was simply a rogue gun for hire; not a leader, but someone whose talent you hopes brings you to the Promised Land before he makes your team’s locker room and reputation go up in flames.
I’m a firm believer that everyone deserves a second chance in life; rich and famous athletes included. I rooted for Mike Vick again the day he got out of the slammer. I’ll still root for guys popped for PEDs (I loved seeing A-Rod have a good year, sue me). But where does the line get drawn?When does a player become unredeemable and unworthy of opportunities in both playing time and fan appreciation? You often hear something along the lines of loving a player if he’s on your team, but you hate him when he’s playing elsewhere. A.J. Pierzynski is a prime example. I loved him for the Twins, hated him everywhere else. Greg Hardy doesn’t fall under this. He may have earned a second chance by virtue of the law, but he’s burned any chance of being thought of as a respectable representation of what an NFL player should be.
Current blacklisted ex-RB Ray Rice made a horrible mistake that was caught on video, and may never see the field again. He’s paying the price of being shunned by both team management and fans alike. By all accounts, Rice has conducted himself since his unofficial banishment with maturity and remorse. Hardy has not, not even close. Thanks to Deadspin, we now know as much about the horrific offenses related to his domestic violence incident, and we’ve been able to see and hear for ourselves his immature and outlandish conduct while employed by the Cowboys. But, as long as immeasurable on-field talent continues to be rewarded with more chances from the front office and blind acceptance by fans, myself included, athletes like Hardy, from high school on up to the pros, will continue to be a black mark on sports.
Last night, Greg Hardy was inches away from sacking Sam Bradford and putting an end to the game-winning play before it started. Maybe that was fitting; maybe it was karma and what the Cowboys deserved. We as fans have continued on with a win at all costs mentality and have supported deplorable behavior as long as it comes with a W, and maybe that’s the problem. Growing up I think many of us played with at least one guy who thought himself above the team and made poor life choice, but who’s talent granted them chances that others wouldn’t get. We are seeing that example at its worst right now in the form of Greg Hardy. Until we all make the decision that winning a championship isn’t as important as not defending or tolerating degenerate behavior, it’s something that will plague every level of sports. I love watching talented guys take the field with the star on their helmet, but I won’t be saddened at all to (hopefully) see Greg Hardy go this offseason. .
Image via YouTube
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Kyle Bandujo
The artist formerly known as Crash Davis. My kid doesn't think I'm funny.
@kylebandujo
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Mayweather is another piece of shit that I absolutely hate.
I’d like to see him pass rush off a cliff. Great read, Crash.
I completely agree with Terry Bradshaw’s comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzX1fbiHYzs
Also agree with Stephen A. Smith who says Hardy needs to be cut immediately after these pictures were released. Fuck that guy.
Stephen A. Smith is the same guy who defended Ray Rice by saying she must have done something to provoke him. I have zero respect for SAS.
Every time people say athletes are “real people” and have the same problems we do, I always think that if I did anything a lot of these athletes did, would I be fired, but then immediately hired anywhere else?
Also, its time to let Mauer go, get that kid a Sano jersey.
As sad as it is, top tier athletes are just much harder to replace in their line of work than you or I. Also I’m loyal to a fault, I still love Joe and it’s hard to give up on him, he’s the best we’ve had since Kirby. And they don’t make toddler sized Sano jerseys yet but when they do I’m on it.
Looks like the Twins won the negotiating rights for Park. With a healthy Sano, it is possible the Twins could have two 40+ HR guys in the lineup. If I had any say, I would force Joe back to catcher. Sano at first so we can keep Plouffe at 3rd. Park to DH.
They’re trying out Sano in the OF in winter ball, which I just don’t see working out.
I know but it makes no sense. The outfield is already deep, potential to be one of the best defensive outfields in the league.
They need to put Joe in the OF. Guy has a cannon, put Sano at first.
I grew up a Cowboys fan. With all the ridiculous crap the NFL has pulled, from tax dollars paying for billionaire’s stadiums to the concussion fiasco, I was disenchanted to say the least. But when Hardy was reinstated, and then his suspension cut to four games, that was the final straw. I will no longer consume the NFL’s product. It’s awful. Haven’t watched a game all season and I don’t intend to ever do so again. I know it doesn’t affect them in the slightest but I don’t care. It’s the principal of the matter.
Same here. Grew up an Aikman, Smith, etc fan. I haven’t watched a full NFL game besides the super bowl in years. CFB is much more entertaining and a lot less ego.
I’ll start watching again once something is done regarding Hardy
I hope Vick catches AIDS and dies. Greg Hardy is a first class piece of shit but to do what Vick did to those dogs, especially to a breed that already has a bad rap and with such wanton cruelty is unforgivable. Godell should have been fired years ago.
As much as I hate Vick. He has at least seemed remorseful. Hardy hasn’t once, in the slightest.
He’s only remorseful because he got caught. You can bet your bottom dollar he’d still be doing it if he wasn’t arrested. He was a piece of shit at VT, with the Falcons and only stopped because he was arrested. He electrocuted, hung, burned, ripped out teeth of animals we domesticated. I wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire.
Well yeah, that would be impractical. You would need a lot of urine and he probably would be moving.
I’ll start saving my piss in jugs, attach it to a firehose and sneak up to him at Heinz Field. Should be something like this:
Agreed but Hardy also got caught and has continued to play the scumbag card.
I honestly don’t understand how people say Vick repaid his debt to society. I’m still all for them punishing him the way he treated his dogs. Just seeing him on the field makes my blood boil.
Vick did go to jail for 2 years + probation.. Hardy (allegedly) beat a woman to within inches of her life, got paid to sit out a season, then signed a multimillion dollar deal with a long term contract likely to follow. Both are awful, but wouldn’t you have to say Vick paid more of his debt to society than Hardy?
I don’t think it’s a dick measuring contest in terms of punishment. Both of them are shitty people. Vick viciously and systematically took the lives of animals that were entrusted in his care. After reading about it, I cannot fathom a human being can do that to anyone or anything, animals included.
Neither Hardy nor Vick should be allowed to be in the NFL based on personal conduct but until people are held to some sort of standard, something sports and especially Goodell have no interest in, we will continue to see this kind of stuff. The “just win baby” attitude is what keeps people like Rice, Crablegs, Hardy, Vick, Rapelisberger, etc. in the game.
Well said. This probably isn’t the first case of domestic violence for Hardy, and unfortunately probably won’t be his last. As long as he can sack a QB someone will sign him.
Exactly. I find domestic violence absolutely disgusting and it’s never okay to hit a woman, but there can be two sides to a fight. Killing dogs? There’s only one side, and Vick is a humongous piece of human garbage.
…what? these kinds of comments are terrifying to me. You really think its worse to kill a dog than to potentially kill a woman?? Two sides to a fight?? These guys are humongous and could easily kill most of the women they date with a single blow to the head that lands in the right place. Two sides to a fight… I’m sure your dog pisses you off, but do you beat the shit out of it?
Is it worse? I don’t know. Maybe. What I know is that rarely ever does a man show up and just start beating a person for no reason. In no way is there ever a justification for a man to strike a woman, but before that happened, was there an argument? Were insults hurled by both sides? Was there potential unfaithfulness? Was Hardy, et. al, entirely unprovoked, or were they goaded and taunted and dared by women? Terrible if they took the bait, but I’ve never seen a fight that started out 100% unprovoked. The physical violence is 100% wrong ( I can’t say that enough for the SJW crowd), but leading up to that, what happened?
Compare to a dog. When has a dog ever picked a fight? Talked back? Done anything at all to encourage a beating? It’s a mostly helpless, defenseless, innocent creature. And Vick didn’t kill one, he killed dozens, over and over, in horrific ways. That’s a specific kind of f***ed in the head.
I’m not going to say that beating a woman is better than beating a dog. But I will say that Vick is a worse person than Hardy, mostly due to the extended pattern of his behavior.
My great grandmother was beaten by my great grandfather for things like not having his laundry done when he wanted a pair of pants. According to what I know about her, she was a meek, quiet, stoic little woman who never had a bad thing to say about anyone, and he was a bully, so he beat the crap out of her because he knew he could take out all of his life’s frustrations. My grandfather beat my grandmother and his own son near to death for things like spending too much money on summer camp, and when the cops came, my uncle refused to send his father to jail. Hey that’s just my experience, it doesn’t apply to every case, but I think domestic violence is much more complicated than what you’re thinking of. Maybe you aren’t like this so you can’t imagine being angry enough to hit a woman without a reason like infidelity or her hitting you first, but I think plenty of men out there are way, way different.
Also though love dogs, hate what Vick did.
note: wasn’t my grandfather’s money anyway, my grandmother had a decent inheritance, which my grandfather mostly took and wasted
Are you Stephen A. Smith?
Fuck this pos. The dude is a fucking animal. I said it before hopefully a team goes high low on him and breaks one or two of this legs.
Oh and fuck Jerry Jones and Steven Jones. You can’t hire guys like this and not expect people to tell you he is scum. When he is fucking scum.
I can’t believe that Goodell still has a job. After how he handled the Ray Rice video tape and then issued Brady twice the suspension for deflategate than what Rice got, there are more than enough reasons to fire him.
Game 1: Dez broken foot. Game 2: Romo broken clavicle. Game 4: Sean Lee concussion 1. Game 6: Sean Lee concussion 2. This season has hurt my soul, but is proof that karma is real. Hardy need to GTFO. But I’m taking the outrage with a grain of salt, because Ray Lewis was “leader” and played for nearly a decade after murdering someone.
This was very well written and spot on. Hardy is a scumbag who should be black balled from the league. I give jerry jones credit though, he signed la’ll Collins when no one else would and the kid wasn’t even involved in the issues that were surrounding him.