Think about it... do you really care?

[Papa Deuce]

This is from the useless Goodell speech today:

"I’ve been very clear that when you’re in the NFL you have an obligation to the fans," Goodell said. "It’s part of your job. There are things we all have to do in our jobs we may not necessarily want to do. I think Marshawn understands the importance of the Super Bowl, the importance of his appearance and the importance of him as an individual in this game. Fans are curious, fans want to know. And the media would like to make that story clear to our fans."


I am sure the media cares, because that is what they do for a living. But I don't think I could possibly care much less about what 99% of athletes think. I just want to watch the game. Well, not this one, because I hate both teams immensely, but usually I watch from beginning to end.

[ironfist]

Would love it if the media really gave him his wish and stopped talking about him. Start referring to him as "Seattle Running Back" like in some old video game that couldn't get naming rights for players. Don't use the phrase "Beast Mode." Just don't refer to him at all.

I don't care about athlete interviews. They all say almost the same thing anyway. But it's still part of their job and they get paid millions to do it. He doesn't like giving interviews/press conferences? Too bad, get another job then.

[dslaw]

I think the reporters like it as they need a story to show their employers they had to have that expense paid trip to the Super Bowl. I don't care what he says or doesn't say. I do think he gets a nice paycheck because of the media giant that is the NFL and he should participate. Right now he comes across as a jerk who wants the NFL benefits without all the obligations that go along with that.

I am glad the game is this weekend so we can quit hearing about the stupid pre-game stories and just talk about the game itself. This is the same every year though.

[Judge Jude]

Would love it if the media really gave him his wish and stopped talking about him. Start referring to him as "Seattle Running Back" like in some old video game that couldn't get naming rights for players. Don't use the phrase "Beast Mode." Just don't refer to him at all.

I don't care about athlete interviews. They all say almost the same thing anyway. But it's still part of their job and they get paid millions to do it. He doesn't like giving interviews/press conferences? Too bad, get another job then.

yep, just him do his childish act on Media Day, then ban him from the rest of the week's interview sessions. No hawking hats on his website since no one will see them on TV, no Madden video cover, no mentions of his charity (making him an even bigger dick), no appearances in NFL-produced commercials, nothing. if he wants to be left alone, leave him alone. and invisible. plus his teammates will just love picking up the slack for him.

[chancellor]

Hmmm...I don't watch football for the kissbutt media interviews. Or the pre-or post-game chatter. I watch football to see athletes perform things at the edge of my comprehension, or in rare cases, beyond my comprehension. If I don't see Stephen A. Jackass Smith forever, it will be too soon.

Do I care that Marshawn Lynch holds the media and NFL management in complete contempt? Heck, no. If anything, it increases my respect for a man, while he's made a lot of money, will at best be near crippled in 10-15 years, and if he's lucky, not mentally failing. Both the media and NFL management have significantly contributed to the physical and mental failings of players, so to hell with them. Neither of them give a rip about the players - with a very, very rare exception in the media - so I'm glad a player has the testicles to tell 'em to piss up a rope.

[Papa Deuce]

See, I don't think most people care to listen to athletes. I think that there really is no reason to demand that the athletes speak to the media.... I can't really remember the last time an athlete gave a truly compelling interview. Though I do like what Richard Sherman is doing.... I love that he is saying the stuff he does without getting fined because Goodell would have to admit his ethics. But day in, day out stuff? Couldn't care less.

LOL, Goodell probably wishes right about now that the athletes didn't have to speak to the media.

[Lucky]

I don't know exactly what Marshawn's issue is, but obviously he has one, and it is serious enough to him to take this much heat. I say let him participate or not participate. Let them all have the option. Opt out and pay X number of dollars into the NFL charity. Be done with it.

I disagree about Sherman. He's a punk. And the media flock lemming-like to monument his next pronouncement. What makes this guy an authority on anything? Who will know who the hell he was in 15 years? And he ranks the five smartest quarterbacks? He's got the wherewithal to rank the mental acuity to read the defenses and call the plays? I don't know if he can rank his five smartest toes.

He's loud, and he's brash, and he's taken out after a larger than life target in Tom Brady, so his fifteen minutes are lasting way, way too long. And the whole thing make me remember how smart the sporting press used to be, and how much it has been dumbed down by the massive incursion of television "journalists", where we once had to settle for the plain old print journalists.

[revo]

I disagree about Sherman. He's a punk. And the media flock lemming-like to monument his next pronouncement. What makes this guy an authority on anything? Who will know who the hell he was in 15 years? And he ranks the five smartest quarterbacks? He's got the wherewithal to rank the mental acuity to read the defenses and call the plays? I don't know if he can rank his five smartest toes.

Hmmmm.....Stanford grad, has a Masters degree, and was salutatorian of his class in HS. I think he can rank his smartest toes.

[Judge Jude]

Well, Richard Sherman is certainly far from stupid, that's for sure.

For whatever reason, his shtick doesn't bother me at all while I just cannot stand Marshawn Lynch. Sherman comes across as a brash, but well-spoken and thoughtful, guy while Lynch just comes across like a petulant douchebag.

I'm mostly on par with this, although at times Sherman goes too far. And I can't root for the Seahawks tomorrow, who put on the worst winning performance in conference championship history. He and his teammates deserve a comeuppance, or should I say a deflating.

[Hornsby]

Agree that Sherman is one of the smartest athletes ever to come down the road...he's got a really bright future after his football days. Guy grew up in Compton, and graduated from Stanford...'nuff said.

And I'll disagree with you guys (shocker, right?) about the fans wanting to hear from the players. They do. Remember we're not typical fanboys here, we're in it for different reasons, and I think that we're a lot more savvy as a group. But the guy paying for nosebleed seats, the guy dressing up in his teams jerseys and putting facepaint on, and the folks who go to all of the silly fanfests, THEY'RE the ones the NLF is trying to appeal to. And there are millions of them who really love their heros, and think what they have to say is important, no mater how inane it may actually be.

[Pogues]

I don't particularly care what most athletes have to say. If Lynch doesn't want to speak to the media, I'm fine with that. I think the NFL putting the screws to him and other players like him is just forcing the kind of reaction we see from Lynch. Personally, what he did on Media Day I loved.

Were living in the age of media whoredom. I bet 50 years ago if a player didn't want to speak to the media, the league didn't force him with threats of fines.

[Lucky]

Hmmmm.....Stanford grad, has a Masters degree, and was salutatorian of his class in HS. I think he can rank his smartest toes.

Good points. I'll concede he can rank his toes. And his fingers. He may be a very smart guy. So why act such a petty ass?

[Judge Jude]

Agree that Sherman is one of the smartest athletes ever to come down the road...he's got a really bright future after his football days. Guy grew up in Compton, and graduated from Stanford...'nuff said.

And I'll disagree with you guys (shocker, right?) about the fans wanting to hear from the players. They do. Remember we're not typical fanboys here, we're in it for different reasons, and I think that we're a lot more savvy as a group. But the guy paying for nosebleed seats, the guy dressing up in his teams jerseys and putting facepaint on, and the folks who go to all of the silly fanfests, THEY'RE the ones the NLF is trying to appeal to. And there are millions of them who really love their heros, and think what they have to say is important, no mater how inane it may actually be.

That's well said. I suspect few of the regulars here ever watch Sports Center on ESPN anymore, for instance - I haven't seen it in probably 10 years. But the ratings don't lie - a ton of people can't get enough of this stuff. They want to hear how Tom Brady sounds when he says his cold is getting better, and speculate for themselves on it. They also want the veteran player who finally makes the Super Bowl angle, the guy mad because he didn't make the Pro Bowl, the guy going against his former team, and so on.

[bryanbutler]

i've never been convinced that sherman is that intelligent. there is a minimum bar to graduate from stanford, but, frankly, it's not that high. he went on an athletic scholarship, not an academic one. and got a degree in communications. and i don't think he ever got a master's degree.

i agree with lucky - he's a punk. maybe smarter than many (most?) punks, but a punk nonetheless.

[bryanbutler]

maybe this should be in the sherman thread, but since it's here...

i dug a bit. he took the SAT twice. combined verbal + math scores of 990 and 1060. barely above average. i wish the media would stop fawning over his intelligence...