SPI: Linking Taylor's death, Redskins wins shallow (More classless 'HAWK'S BS)

[bubba9497]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/miller/346204_miller05.html


Click link for entire article


Linking Taylor's death, Redskins wins shallow

Last updated January 4, 2008 9:22 p.m. PT

By TED MILLER
P-I COLUMNIST

If a casting director were choosing an actor to play the Seahawks' role Saturday in their playoff tilt with the Washington Redskins, he likely would tap Kevin Spacey ("Seven") or Anthony Hopkins ("Silence of the Lambs") or perhaps Hugo Weaving, best known as reptilian Agent Smith in "The Matrix."

Said actor then would don a black hat to shadow his menacing smirk just to make it absolutely, positively clear who the villain was.

The Redskins, the only professional sports franchise employing a racial slur as its mascot, are, nonetheless, the good guys, though probably not on any reservation lands. The team, feckless and foundering a month ago, found inspiration and motivation after the slaying of safety Sean Taylor and soared to four consecutive victories on angels' wings to slip into the playoffs.

They are a feel-good story rising from the ashes of a feel-bad tragedy. They are about unity and resilience and bonding emotion.

Consider this Dec. 31 headline and subhead from, of all places, The Arizona Republic: "Now, here's a team to root for ... Redskins conquer adversity, deserve support."

The Seahawks? They have conquered only the most quotidian adversities this season, and that failing makes them unsympathetic in 49 states and particularly lacking in one capital district with no voting representation in Congress. Wrote esteemed Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon, "The Seahawks simply don't play consistently enough with the kind of passion that has characterized the Redskins' play the last four games."

Those passionless Seahawks? They selfishly want to tear the Redskins away from a sympathetic nation clamoring for another tear-jerking ESPN story with Tom Rinaldi's signature voice-over.

A Seahawks victory Saturday would be prosaic injustice, a karmic failure, a triumph of the void over the spirit, not to mention a major disappointment for the media, who often can overprocess authentic sentiment into clichéd treacle with broadband speed before moving on to the next premature, violent and heart-rending death.

So, with all due humility and respect, might it make sense to pause for a moment and wonder if overzealously intertwining the turnaround of a football team with the spirit of a slain young man appeals to a fairly shallow impulse?

"Win one for the Gipper" is a wonderful piece of college football lore, but it's also likely apocryphal -- a Knute Rockne motivational ploy that feels fairly crass on sober inspection -- and it marginalizes the fact that real life often doesn't stand aside for happy endings.

Will perspective on Taylor's death transform if the Redskins fall flat amid the din of Qwest Field? Will the mourning/celebration cease from those who cried for a man they never knew and probably wouldn't recognize if he were standing behind them at Starbucks?

In 2000, when Washington safety Curtis Williams suffered a spinal cord injury against Stanford that would eventually end his life, Huskies coach Rick Neuheisel wisely avoided setting up any of the subsequent games, including the Rose Bowl, as a "win one for Curtis."

What happened to Williams and what happened to Taylor and what happened to any other athletes who met tragic ends are diminished when they are posthumously connected to subsequent wins and losses.

There's no denying the emotion, of course. Those close to Taylor certainly distinguish themselves if they honor his memory by recognizing the preciousness of every day, and that includes not taking an NFL career for granted. If discovering life's fragility convinces an athlete not to cheat his talent, that's a good thing.

But that's a universal lesson, one that overrides jersey color or the final tally on the scoreboard.

"It hit us all hard, especially if it involves the death of anybody in the league," Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander said. "The seriousness of us being in the real world hits home. We have a fantasy job. We get to go out and play football and have people ooooh and ahhh over stuff we can do athletically. When death comes, it sobers everybody up."

As it should.

There is a point when paying tribute starts to feel like a marketing campaign, just as repeatedly superimposing spiritual matters on the final score of a football game should more inspire rolled eyes than hosannas. Insisting last weekend there was spiritual freight in the Redskins beating Dallas by 21 -- "Wowza! Taylor's jersey number was 21!" said coach Joe Gibbs and a handful of players -- floats only in a very shallow intellectual pool.

Don't misunderstand this deconstruction as a rejection of the spiritual dimension Gibbs and some of his players include when discussing Taylor's death. Gibbs attributed Taylor's transformation from wayward, rebellious youth to dedicated family man to his developing faith, and if that indeed righted something inside him then it should only be celebrated.

But it has exactly zero relationship to the spiritual or moral authority of two football teams trying to survive in the NFL playoffs.

America may force a black hat onto the Seahawks on Saturday, but know that if Taylor is paying attention, and the afterlife includes some sort of evolving perspective, his sole rooting interest will be for the health and welfare of everyone watching as well as playing.

And he'd probably prefer the Redskins to find a new mascot.

P-I columnist Ted Miller can be reached at 206-448-8017 or tedmiller@seattlepi.com. Follow his Sports Rant blog at blogs.seattlepi.com/sportsrant.

[terpskins10]

There was another article posted on this same subject. People are just trying to draw attention away from the fact that the Redskins are motivated in a way that no team should have to be, and thus will feed off of it.

I'm pretty sure this is going to end up bulletin board material in the morning.

[spjunkies]

These bull**** writers from out of state are really pissing me off, they don't understand the pain this community and team felt so they really need to shut the **** up.

[kuraitengai]

how about after we demolish them tomorrow, we spam this guys email with a bunch of crap about this bs article.

[SkinsFanInFL]

This is amazing to me....... talk about one no class heartless f weasle..........speachless...........someone please show this to Portis and the rest of our guys before the game.

[skinsince72]

Mud slinging, mud slinging, mud slinging. I wrote an email to the last idiot reporter and will write one to this idiot.


That is the most immature article i'v ever read.

"wah wah wah, why do we have to be the bad guys? wah wah. Look how racist their mascot is. wah wah."

It is crystal clear the media out there is doing and saying whatever they can to stymie the growing sentiment around the league. And their losing their integrity in the meantime. Everyone email this idiot and remind him/her that opinions are like a**holes.

[SkinsFan48]

:applause: :applause: :applause:

how about after we demolish them tomorrow, we spam this guys email with a bunch of crap about this bs article.

[blitzpackage]

Oh ****. My Grandma died last year and I forgot to call this guy to get his permission to mourn.

Who is this d-bag anyway? His condescending tone was really abnoxious and does he not realize Sean's BEST FRIENDS are on this team? The rest would probably consider themselves as close as they could be besides his relatives.

We fans aren't really that ignorant to believe that "Sean is holding our hands all the way to Arizona" our team is simply honoring him. What is the harm in that? Are they not allowed to because ESPN catches a whiff of the story and his teammates are emotional in interviews? This guy acts as if the team WANTED this kind of inspiration. Somebody died you f'n ****, get back in your hole.

And to top it all off, Sean don't give a **** about the PC of our mascot's name, geez. Speaking of being ill-timed, self-absorbed, and self-righteous this guy's article is about as sweet and eloquent as a lump of turd.

[BuryYourDuke]

I hate the People's Republic of Washington, and their propagandist sports writers so much it is ridiculous. What does our team name have to do with any of this? Nothing. This is a different debate for a different day. He doesn't want to debate it though, he just wants to take cheap shots. He is so ignorant to all of the reality associated with this tragedy, let alone the intricacies and perspectives associated with a team nickname like the Redskins. Plenty of Native Americans actually represent the skins as their favorite team...so his whole little reservation comment is as ignorant as the rest of article. **** these commie bastards. **** them. I can't wait until all we have to deal with is those dumbasses in Dallas.

[LoudMouth12thMan]

Ted Miller can suck a fat dick. He's either pompous or too disconnected from reality to realize that this isn't riding the momentum of a "feel good story" about a slain teammate. This is real life, and these players are actually playing for their friend and former teammate. What the media decides to say is irrelevant. It's about what the players feel and do. It's not like they can walk in to Mass, Temple, or Church and preach the gospel or perform a successful heart operation on someone and know that they've done something good for another individual. You're right Mr. Miller, football and the playoffs has nothing to do with Taylor's death, or us (the fans), or you the media. These guys are doing their job, and they want to perform it as well as they can for a fallen colleague. Why is this so hard for spineless ****s to understand? That's their job, so wouldn't it be a positive thing for these guys to do their job to the level that they believe their fallen teammate would've done it?

By the way, our National Anthem was a drinking song, originally. Guess we'll watch these men line up on the sidelines, they'll sing and tear up to our national drinking song, and one side will take pride in their representation of pro-racism by wearing "Redskins" on their helmets. We'll just celebrate consuming massive amounts of alcohol and being racists all at the same time :doh: At least our guys won't be wearing jerseys trimmed in neon colors and wearing a helmet with the insignia of a bird that drops acid laced feces on everything it flies over. How fitting that you're trying to shyt on something that is so precious to this team, organization, and it's fans. You must be a Seahawks fan. Thank the Lord above that every Seahawks fan isn't as small-minded as Mr. ...damn, I already forgot his name :laugh: I'll just keep it at that.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS, TO UNITY, LOVE, COMPASSION, AND FAITH!!!!

RIP #21

[drums and skins]

how about after we demolish them tomorrow, we spam this guys email with a bunch of crap about this bs article.

My thoughts exactly.

I can't believe people are getting paid to write such contrived drivel.

After we win, I plan on sending this...


Mr. Miller,

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your pathetic attempt at journalism were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone who has read this article is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[bubba9497]

I am shocked by the number of Seattle media and fans that have taken the low road, and classless route over a football game


I have lost a lot of respect for the Seahawk's fans and Seattle media

[spjunkies]

I am shocked by the number of Seattle media and fans that has taken the low road, and classless route over a football game


I have lost a lot of respect for the Seahawk's fans and Seattle media


Exactly, they're acting like everyone is trying to rally around a injured player or something, Sean is DEAD and they want to treat it like some kind of joke.

Pathetic

[blitzpackage]

I am shocked by the number of Seattle media and fans that has taken the low road, and classless rout over a football game


I have lost a lot of respect for the Seahawk's fans and Seattle media

What's sad is I think this guy spent too much time with his nose in a thesaurus coming up with synonyms for this piece of trash article to stop and ask himself "Is this really necessary or more importantly appropriate?"

It's called honoring someone, not marketing their death. 53+ men couldn't help the fact that this happened during the season, and there were still a handful of games to play. For someone who plays the Almighty Oracle of all things moral, his own priorities are f'n askew.

[pgitta]

I just read that and was heading over to see if anyone else had seen it.


I responded to it stating that this crap is only coming out of Seattle, no where else.

Told them the country would be better off if Seattle broke off and sank to the bottom of the Pacific.

[skinsince72]

Well, he has one extra email to read tomorrow from me. Tell five people to email him and ask those five to tell five people. Be respectful though.

[thelarkascend1ng]

i understand the point of the bigger picture, but that last statement (among others) is just classless. i sent him an email letting him know a piece of my mind.

[Deefense]

Sounds to me like they are scared and already throwing out excuses and insults for the loss they are about to have handed to them.
They're really digging deep and not finding much. racist mascot???

[mdskins75]

We have to win this game. This is a classless article and this is getting personal. I hope the Redskins players get to see this article and not just beat this team but embarrass them.

[KelvinBryant]

Honestly, I have never wanted to defeat a team, fanbase, or city more in my life. There is something very bizare about Settle; as others have stated, only this stuff comes out of Seattle. I have absolutely zero respect for that fanbase now--I will never forget the way they've gone out of their way to spit on Taylor's grave.

[bubba9497]

and people wondered why Sean disliked the Media

[pgitta]

Folks. I just reread this thing, and when he says Sean would probably prefer we get another mascot, guys...I don't think he's talking about the one on the helmets...

[Cheers, Beers and Mountaineers]

Seahack fans and even their writers are starting to rival Eagle fans. Just sad.

[mdskins75]

Honestly, I have never wanted to defeat a team, fanbase, or city more in my life. There is something very bizare about Settle; as others have stated, only this stuff comes out of Seattle. I have absolutely zero respect for that fanbase now--I will never forget the way they've gone out of their way to spit on Taylor's grave.

Seattle is an awful place. My ex girlfriend is out there and she took probably 20 years off my life in a span of four years. Just another of the many reasons i hate that place.

But yes there is something very disturbing about the mentality out there.

[spjunkies]

Folks. I just reread this thing, and when he says Sean would probably prefer we get another mascot, guys...I don't think he's talking about the one on the helmets...


I know exactly what he was talking about and I caught on to it as soon as I read it.

This guy has serious issues.

[bubba9497]

I know exactly what he was talking about and I caught on to it as soon as I read it.

This guy has serious issues.

what did he mean?

? I'm clueless

[Teller]

Folks. I just reread this thing, and when he says Sean would probably prefer we get another mascot, guys...I don't think he's talking about the one on the helmets...

OMFG.

Tell me...Please frigging tell me that's not what he meant. That never even crossed my mind. Holy ****.

Where's my blood pressure medication? :doh:

[spjunkies]

? I'm clueless


I COULD be wrong but I think he was saying the team was using ST21 as their mascot in a round about way.

But that might just be me looking at it from my ticked off POV.

[mdskins75]

Yeah i'm clueless as well.

[bubba9497]

I COULD be wrong but I think he was saying the team was using ST21 as their mascot in a round about way.

But that might just be me looking at it from my ticked off POV.



that's just sad

[blitzpackage]

I COULD be wrong but I think he was saying the team was using ST21 as their mascot in a round about way.

But that might just be me looking at it from my ticked off POV.

I read it again and while I'm not quite sure which is correct or would be worse, I think he should have said "Taylor would rather the team find another motivation" instead of "mascot".

Regardless, Master Yoda says "Issues, this one has".

[mdskins75]

This writer is a complete idiot. As if there wasn't enough motivation to win this game. This guy really added fuel to the fire.

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

I love how this guy tries to sound smart. It's obvious he loves to read what he writes. So brilliant! I have one thing to say to this heartless, souless, ignoramus...

My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious!

[spjunkies]

This is the little turd.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/art2/blog70ted_miller.jpg

[degreez3deep]

Let's just have class unlike the guy and hope for the best for this guy and hopefully he'll learn through his immature ways.

[BleedBNG]

It's crap like this that makes me wish NOW that the Aggies had WON their copyright suit.

:rolleyes:

[FedExFielder]

If Shaun Alexander were to be senslessly murdered and they played insanely good football to get into the playoffs and ride a wave of emotion like that, would they not expect people to feel compassion for them as well? It seems a little vain that Seattle writers are trying to say we are exploting the situation. Well here's a question:

WHEN THE **** HAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED TO A TEAM!? HOW DO YOU WANT US TO HANDLE IT!?

Should we have just gone out and got rocked every game and said Sean would have wanted it that way?

Hell no!

We Skins fans our sooooo sorry that our team has played better since dedicating their games to a slain teammate and friend. Wish we coulda flopped to make you happy but you know trying to make the best out of a bad situation isn't the American way the Seahawks have in mind.

Jeezus, worst batch of writers I've seen have been this week. No wonder they stick em up in that rainy **** hole of a region.

[pgitta]

He is clearly suggesting we are treating Sean as our mascot. Think about it. Why would Sean want us to change the name of our team? Does it make any sense? Did he ever alude to any such thing when he was alive?


No. It was a word play that meant "Find another mascot. Don't use me"

[Jumbo]

I have heard and read a number respectful and complimentary broadcasts on the Fox and CBS radio and TV affiliates, and in the Seattle Times and Post Intelligencer, as well as the Tribune out of Tacoma, regarding the Redskins.

But that doesn't excuse the low-level material from the Seattle area that we are seeing people bring into this forum. This material takes cheap and ignorant, sometimes hateful, shots at very undeserving targets. The Seattle area media, like the fans, may be mostly of good stock, but enough has been shown otherwise to deserve our disgust.

There will be no better revenge than a cold wet defeat for the Seahawks tomorrow.

[BleedBNG]

Honestly, I have never wanted to defeat a team, fanbase, or city more in my life. There is something very bizare about Settle; as others have stated, only this stuff comes out of Seattle. I have absolutely zero respect for that fanbase now--I will never forget the way they've gone out of their way to spit on Taylor's grave.
I'm with you KB. Two years ago I was rooting for Seattle to go all the way and win SB XL. But man, some of their fans and media have sure surfaced to show how low class they can be. Must be Lombardi Trophy envy... or something.

[SavageForce21]

The reason this writer is wrong is because Sean was the type of player who would want his team to play thier freakin' guts out to get through the playoffs. This is why the team is playing so hard -- they're playing the way Sean would have played.

[Fred288156]

how about after we demolish them tomorrow, we spam this guys email with a bunch of crap about this bs article.

Normally, I wouldn't be down with this... but in this case I feel that this is definitely warranted. The only decision is really whether to wait out the results of the game and rub salt in his wounds from a Redskins victory, but should that not happen the whole thing comes off like sour grapes.

I mean, this is a real low-class way to deal with the fact that most of the nation is in the Skins' corner - which, with the current ownership, they aren't most of the time.

[GeneralStonewallTaylor]

my buddies and i, after having a few beers, have gone out of our way to fill this clown's inbox with plenty of hate mail.......oh and i hope he doesn't mind us using his email address to register for some 30+ online newsletters.......newton's third law budday have a nice day

[1Adam12]

Obviously this guy has never been a part of a team that ment something. From my point of view this guy knows nothing about being a part of a team who has lost somebody. These Seattle D-Bags need to shut up, and look at the trash they are writing.

[Chants]

I was not angry since I came to France
Until this instant. Take a trumpet, herald;
Ride thou unto the horsemen on yon hill:
If they will fight with us, bid them come down,
Or void the field; they do offend our sight:
If they'll do neither, we will come to them,
And make them skirr away, as swift as stones
Enforced from the old Assyrian slings:
Besides, we'll cut the throats of those we have,
And not a man of them that we shall take
Shall taste our mercy. Go and tell them so.

[Special K]

I am from the Northwest and sadly, I'm not surprised by this article in the least. Honestly guys, Seattle is full of a bunch of commie, lunatic-fringe, elitest pigs who spend their days sipping their Seattle's Best and handing down life-lessons to us mere mortals. Their fans are the most fairweather fans I've ever met (save the 40-whiners): trust me, I know tons of fans from both teams.

After the crap I've read these past few days in the Seattle press, I guess I just don't get too mad when reading this BS anymore. I got mad at first, but now, I've come a realization about these people. The varmin who who write this type of vitriole are miserable SOB's who are offended at everything and spend their miserable, inconsequential lives nit-picking at stupid BS.

So instead of getting mad at these I jerks, I take solace in the fact that once their pathetic lives have ended, they will have NEVER, NEVER during their entire lives, lived as much as Sean Taylor, inspired as many people as Sean Taylor, and leave this earth loved as much as Sean Taylor. And that, my friends, is what I now take comfort in when I see this type of crap in print.

[Chants]

So instead of getting mad at these I jerks, I take solace in the fact that once their pathetic lives have ended, they will have NEVER, NEVER during their entire lives, lived as much as Sean Taylor, inspired as many people as Sean Taylor, and leave this earth loved as much as Sean Taylor. And that, my friends, is what I now take comfort in when I see this type of crap in print.

That is an excellent, rational, thoughtful, and wise statement.

Regardless, the fan base has issued its orders: No quarter.

I agree.

[bubba9497]

The thing that is most upsetting to me in all these type articles and posts, is these people writing them try to portray the Skins as a heartless team, who are somehow profiting from Sean Taylor's death

to a man if they had a choice to go to the super bowl without ST, or never win another game this season, but could somehow turn back time and stop ST's murder.. everyone in Redskin park would be the happiest bunch of losers ever


There is no merchandising of ST jersey's and articles... only what was still available, and that is going 100% to his Daughters education fund the Skins established

The Redskins PR dept. didn't send out packets saying how the Skins were the feel good story of the NFL last month, they can't control what the media nationwide will write... lord knows that before all this the Skins weren't thought to highly of the past couple seasons

and this isn't the first time, and sadly won't be the last that athletes have dealt with a tragedy, and focused the energy, and grief into a positive channels to have a good or sometimes great season... it's what people do to overcome the loss of a family member, teammate, or friend... if you don't you can let the grief overtake you and you can at times spiral out of control.

I know when I lost my Father I didn't have the team like support group, and my family took it very hard, but the one constant that kept the family together was watching the Redskins, and in 1982 when Gibbs lead the Skins to a Super Bowl 17 victory, it was probably the first time in many months after my fathers passing, that it felt natural to be happy again in our house, and experience joy... and even though I know they had no knowledge of me or my family, in the back of my mind I felt the win was somewhat for my Dad a huge Skins fan, and he was looking down smiling along with us.....

I know some what how these players feel, and know what they are experiencing is real to them, and is helping them to heal.... and anyone who tries to downplay it's importance to this team, and it's players is just a cold hearted loveless soul... who is too scared to care about anyone or anything other than himself

Win or lose I know that this team will play it's heart out tomorrow, and that's all ST would want from them, and they can return home feeling a little better, hopefully a lot better :D

[Teller]

Good grief, bubba. I don't think I've ever read a post of yours that was incredibly eloquent and poignant. (That's a compliment about this one, not a criticism of the others.) :)


Thanks for putting into words what a lot of us wish we could right now. :cheers:

[TheGreek1973]

One question. Has one told this jerk what Seattle fans and team would feel like if Hasslback was killed while at home with his wife and baby? Honestly where would that team be today and more importantly would they have the type of team to beat 4 teams in a row to make the playoffs after being 5-7? What pisses me off about these Seahawk fans is they feel high and mighty when they have won ONE ****ING game more that us in the division that is arguably worse in football.

[Special K]

Thanks for the awesome post Bubba...I agree whole-heartedly!

[Jumbo]

Beautiful post, bubba, well said.

[arrowhead]

Poor Seattle writers. So starved for attention they have to wave the "I'm over here, love me some too!!!" flag and resort to playing the tired mascot race card. I would invite this particular befuddled writer to educate himself with the history of Washington state and the plight of Native Americans after the arrival of European settlers, of which I'm sure he's a descendant.

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/washington/

I would submit that what his ancestors did to baselessly claim the land of the aborigines and force them to reservations was far more atrocious than a team carrying the name "Redskins" on its helmet hundreds of years later.

If you're asking yourself, "how many more of these feckless, contrived assassination pieces must we endure before the game even starts?", do what I do; ignore them as the bright, shining examples of disingenuous yellow journalism and be sure to check their follow up stories once we roll them in their own house less than 12 short hours from now.

Hail. :logo:

[Henry]

Another one of these articles has popped up?

Seattle wasn't the moustache-twirling bad guy before, but they sure as hell are now.

[Sharkdart]

I can only hope that some of the Redskins have seen these articles. No other teams fans or "sports writers", would write things like this. I am pretty much hating the city of Seattle right now.

[ragemdw]

This is ridiculous. This newspaper is a disgrace. I have seen a few things post by this paper on here. I cant believe they would let a guy completely disrespect a team for mourning the lose of a player the way the player would want them to. Unreal!!

I have no desire ever to go to Seattle if this is how people are out there. RIDICULOUS!!

WE BETTER ****ING WIN TODAY!!

[tryfuhl]

I'm not saying that there's a great link, but I know that a lot of the emotion and physicality has come from it.

However, if our comeback at the end of the season has nothing to do with the death, then I guess we're just that good huh?

[tryfuhl]

He's so overreaching too. Nobody said that a Hawks win would tear it away from someone deserving who has to win.

People are just saying that the skins are playing inspired, are on a roll, and they're going to be hard to stop, jesus ****.

[tryfuhl]

Good grief, bubba. I don't think I've ever read a post of yours that was incredibly eloquent and poignant. (That's a compliment about this one, not a criticism of the others.) :)


Thanks for putting into words what a lot of us wish we could right now. :cheers::applause:

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

Bubba, your father passed in 82? Mine died in 91 and the Skins ended up winning the SB. It was my only solace that year, really.

[Larry Brown #43]

What is most disgraceful about some of these Seattle writers is that they essentially claim to know more about what Sean would want than Sean's own father and teammates do.

Do they not realize that the success the team is having -- in HONOR of Sean -- is helping Sean's family and teammates cope with the tragedy? Or that Sean's father watches every game on the edge of his seat, inspired by the idea that this team is playing to honor his son's memory?

From the day Sean died, the remainder of this season -- however long it lasts -- is dedicated to Sean. That's the case whether we lose today, or whether we go all the way to the Super Bowl. If that bothers you, then tough ****.

[scruffylookin]

Remember when Mike Utley had that injury back in 1991?

Remember how the Lions used that as a rallying cry that propelled them to the NFC title game?

Remember the "thumbs up"?

I don't remember one person, media or otherwise say anything other than great things about the Lions and how they came together for Utley.

The Redskins were the "villain" when we faced them in the NFC title game and what did the Redskins do? They paid tribute to Mike Utley by also doing the "thumbs up" for him and pay respects to him and the Lions. They continued to do the "thumbs up" in the Super Bowl.

That's what you call class, something some of these Seattle writers/fans are beginning show with more and more regularity that they do not possess.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

Scruffy--that's right. I totally forgot about that (well about the Skins paying respect to Utley.)

Question--are you the same scruffy that has tried to post historical Skins footage on YouTube? (trust me, nothing against that, just curious.)

[scruffylookin]

Question--are you the same scruffy that has tried to post historical Skins footage on YouTube? (trust me, nothing against that, just curious.)

Yeah that was me. I've reposted all the Art Monk stuff but everything else is gone.........for now. ;)

[Longbomb]

Why do they always bring up this "racial" crap with the name Redskins? And if the "Skins have found motivation in the death of ST why do these media clowns care. If the rest of the country is behind the Redskins because they are a "feel good" story then so be it. This team has been the laughing stock of the NFL for quite a while now.

I miss ST like everyone else. I would rather us be 7-9 and out of the playoffs this year and be able to look forward to next year with ST but that's not happening. So as this team has been rallying around the death of a teammate and brother they have seen there is more to life than football but when they are on the field, when they are truly fortunate to be on the field they are giving it everything they have. Laying it on the line:) That's what it's about and I think these media hacks don't have a clue as to how death can lift you spiritually. I think I'll stop now cuz I'm starting to spook myself all this spirit stuff.LOL

[tryfuhl]

Remember when Mike Utley had that injury back in 1991?

Remember how the Lions used that as a rallying cry that propelled them to the NFC title game?

Remember the "thumbs up"?

I don't remember one person, media or otherwise say anything other than great things about the Lions and how they came together for Utley.

The Redskins were the "villain" when we faced them in the NFC title game and what did the Redskins do? They paid tribute to Mike Utley by also doing the "thumbs up" for him and pay respects to him and the Lions. They continued to do the "thumbs up" in the Super Bowl.

That's what you call class, something some of these Seattle writers/fans are beginning show with more and more regularity that they do not possess.

Yep, I was just about to post this.. you rarely see it mentioned in the media too. We came out of the tunnel in the SB with a thumb up, classy.

[SlinginSammy HOF '63]

proof that any non sport playing ***** can have a voice in something they know nothing of.

[nace14]

does anybody here actually believe that this ted miller guy ever played a down of competitive football in his life? the guy has no standing to say anything he just said so why even bother. in the past two days, seatle "journalists" have shown me that they have no concept of what football is about and have proven why nobody gives a bleep about them: because they, along with their football team, suck.

[SparkleMotion]

Why don't these seattle media idiots ask the seahawks if they think the Redskins are doing anything tacky? From all the quotes I've heard from the seahawks players themselves, they recognize the weight of the tragedy and the emotion it has brought to our team.

I guess turds click-clacking on their word processors have their finger on the pulse of team emotion better than those who play the game.

[tryfuhl]

does anybody here actually believe that this ted miller guy ever played a down of competitive football in his life? the guy has no standing to say anything he just said so why even bother. in the past two days, seatle "journalists" have shown me that they have no concept of what football is about and have proven why nobody gives a bleep about them: because they, along with their football team, suck.

I'd be willing to Sean Taylor him to find out how well he could recover from it.

[BoBoCTiberius]

I really hope I don't ever get this bitter and disenfranchised when my Journalism career doesn't work out.

[2006Skins]

Talk about selling your soul for a football game. This is the first time I can remember in my life that the skins weren't the evil team from DC with a bad mascot. It's kind of a joke that this guy would write this... "The skins wins are shallow because they're playing for Sean Taylor. Therefore they should change their name!" Talk about a self-riteous loser. :2cents:

[Stucon]

For what its worth, the author claims that a team with the name Redskins would never be found on any reservation nor would the name ever be respected on a reservation.

Well, the Red Mesa High School in Arizona. The school is comprised of mostly Navajo students. The football team for which I am sure they are proud of is their Red Mesa Redskins.

http://www.rmusd.net/student/football06/football.php

Now the Seahawks. there is a name which strikes terror in everyone's mind. The Seahawk has a long history of being a fierce fighting creature. It has earned the respect for every sailor that has seen his buddy ripped off the deck of a ship by a fighting Seahawk. Children of all ages know never to fight a Seahawk.

I think the Redskins should change their name to the tapeworms or some other ferocious creature like the pigeon.

[demarc007]

I have grown to hate the Seahawks almost as much as Dallas this last week. I have never heard so much whining about not getting respect and being forgot about as a team just because no one gives a damn about them. I want this victory so bad just to shut up that entire fan base and send them home crying wondering what the **** just happened in our beloved Qwest today. For a franchise that has won absolutely nothing they expect the world. Freakin' whiny idiots.

[jnhay]

America may force a black hat onto the Seahawks on Saturday, but know that if Taylor is paying attention, and the afterlife includes some sort of evolving perspective, his sole rooting interest will be for the health and welfare of everyone watching as well as playing.

What a dick this guy is! He's pretty much telling his own readers he's much smarter than them.

[DixieFlatline]

What POS. I think I'm more angry at this one than McGrath because he got all high and mighty with the mascot crap. Don't read the comments unless you want to get more angry.

I hope some players on the team see this stuff, kick the crap of the Hawks, then call out these writers after its all said and done.

[DCranon21]

Nice write up bubba and welcome back to youtube scruffy, I was wondering what happened.

But all these articles and Seattle fans are showing nothing but how to be a classless city and fan. I mean so what if the team beat Dallas by 21, and others are seeing the team come together as 1 in the wake of ST's tragedy. It's a cry for attention, and they are going about it the wrong way. Instead of writing something classless like this, write about how your team will try to exploit the other team. All these articles this week has been about ST's death and how the Redskins are profiting off of this. I guess when you don't know anything, ignorance starts to spew out.

[Pookie]

Now the Seahawks. there is a name which strikes terror in everyone's mind. The Seahawk has a long history of being a fierce fighting creature. It has earned the respect for every sailor that has seen his buddy ripped off the deck of a ship by a fighting Seahawk. Children of all ages know never to fight a Seahawk.

I think the Redskins should change their name to the tapeworms or some other ferocious creature like the pigeon.

LOL! That was great, thx for a morning laugh.

Those Seattle folk really are coming across as a bunch of whiney pansies, but I'm guessing in all their self righteousness and condescention they can't see that. Losers.

[Dingani]

why is it that nobody is saying that the Patriots would not be winning except for drafting Tom Brady? Or if Bellicheck had stayed in Cleveland for 20 years? Or how about why the Seahawks are even in the playoffs........because they play in a horribly weak division, perhaps the weakest division in all the NFL. But nobody asks that because THEY HAVE A WINNING RECORD AND WON THE DIVISION.

All that matters in todays NFL is not WHY you are winning, only that you are winning.
Let the Redskins win today next week against Dallas and all that lack of respect stuff goes out the window...but they DO have to win. Does not matter why, but the Redskins have to do more than just finish the regular season strong AGAIN, this time they have to win some games in the post season.

[md20j]

You just have to understand that community out there, I guess. I've never been to it, though, so it's hard for me to understand. But it seems like there are a lot of nice folks, but there are also alot of whiney folks, too. This guy would probably fall under the latter.

Point being? Let's get 'em all today!!!


HTTR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


JB

[md20j]

For what its worth, the author claims that a team with the name Redskins would never be found on any reservation nor would the name ever be respected on a reservation.

Well, the Red Mesa High School in Arizona. The school is comprised of mostly Navajo students. The football team for which I am sure they are proud of is their Red Mesa Redskins.

http://www.rmusd.net/student/football06/football.php





I'm a teacher and had a student last year who is Haliwa-Saponi... he invited me to his pow-wow in April and I took my son.

They ENTIRE group down there LOVES the Redskins!!!!! I was afraid at first because I have Redskin stuff on my vehicle, but they completely dug it!!

JB

[Highway66]

What a pig

[Loxley]

I think that the Seattle media knows deep down that this is going to be a white wash and theyre just trying to get their shots in before the final whistle.


GO SKINS!

[Broohaha]

i had to let this douche know how i feel:

i hope you don't think that bringing up some purported moral high ground over the name of a franchise that was established in boston in 1937 and who the players, community and fans have zero ability to impact is some sort of vindication for your pathetically lame and self-indulgent column. if the redskins were a crappy excuse for a franchise created in the mid-70s, they may have come up with a similarly ludicrous "safe" name like seahawks.

you have no clue -- NO CLUE -- how painful and shattering the death of sean taylor was to this team, its fans and the greater DC area. he was no bit player or replaceable starter, he was the absolute centerpiece of the team, arguably the most singularly talented football player in the 75+ year history of the franchise, who was coming into his own and was an enormous fan favorite for his amazing playing ability, his toughness, his ability to shine in big moments and his menacing presence on the field and his mysterious nature off of it.

NFL teams are often full of religious people; if they find some higher significance in numerology, that is their right. if you think this has been "over-played" in the media (just ONE column in Arizona and an ESPN piece the day a four-game win streak clinched a playoff berth being the only things I can think of), then you probably have an overly sensitive seahawks fan mechanism in your head.

i would expect more from professional columnists. you and your colleague in seattle share a geographic name with the washington team but apparently 3000 miles of distance and a horribly unimportant playoff game are enough to overwhelm your sense of respect and conscientiousness when it comes to publicizing your narrow-minded and pigheaded comments about a team overcoming tragedy in the middle of a horribly unimportant season.

but no big deal. who cares if you show immensely unfeeling and disgusting disrespect to a team and an entire community still struggling to come to terms with the death of someone who they may not have known but who they cheered for and followed closely for four years? you've got papers to sell and an inconsequential playoff game to talk about. certainly it's worth selling out your own decency as a human being to make inaccurate, callous and unfeeling generalizations about a group of players and coaches and a fanbase who have gained more perspective and understanding about what is important in the span of a few weeks than you have apparently gained in your entire life.

in the end, you seem to have it completely backward. the redskins team, fans and community, in the pain of coming to grips with what has transpired, have struggled diligently and intelligently to put things in perspective -- a bittersweet playoff appearance is more a triumph that attempts to lionize the name of someone who was deeply loved than a cheap attempt at self-glorification.

so you see, absolutely contrary to what you say, nobody associated with the redskins has been shallow. the only shallow and pea-brained individuals i can see are those who write up completely mindless columns on the matter of grief and pain from 3000 miles away with a stunningly self-righteous air and absolutely no idea of what an entire community a continent away has endured.

the redskins may be stuck with an outmoded team name and a sentimental feel that may seem grotesque to you from behind your keyboard. but that shallowness you detect does not come from them but from within you, emanating from your narrow mind and your black heart.

[smoke-n-mirrors]

Those D-bags are scared ****less! That's why we get all this hatred!

[Charm City Sports]

You know, this is just sick.


These f'n guys who write this garbage are just trying everything they can to either put their upcoming loss into perspective, or try to get them to rally behind something because they know that they suck as a team.

God forbid, but if something happened to Shaun Alexander and he was killed they would be doing the same thing.

That would go for any team in the leauge.

And to go after our name too? Man they are really grasping at straws!

[Tommy-the-Greek]

Does this guy even know that Taylor's father spoke to the team about winning out and making the PLAYOFFS IN HIS SON'S HONOR? To our knowledge the coaching staff/ franchise didn't initiate this.

I think I am going to send this guy my wife's recipe for my favorite game snack, Nuclear Buffalo Seahawk Wings. They are mighty tasty and about as PC as his POS article.

[Charm City Sports]

i had to let this douche know how i feel:

i hope you don't think that bringing up some purported moral high ground over the name of a franchise that was established in boston in 1937 and who the players, community and fans have zero ability to impact is some sort of vindication for your pathetically lame and self-indulgent column. if the redskins were a crappy excuse for a franchise created in the mid-70s, they may have come up with a similarly ludicrous "safe" name like seahawks.

you have no clue -- NO CLUE -- how painful and shattering the death of sean taylor was to this team, its fans and the greater DC area. he was no bit player or replaceable starter, he was the absolute centerpiece of the team, arguably the most singularly talented football player in the 75+ year history of the franchise, who was coming into his own and was an enormous fan favorite for his amazing playing ability, his toughness, his ability to shine in big moments and his menacing presence on the field and his mysterious nature off of it.

NFL teams are often full of religious people; if they find some higher significance in numerology, that is their right. if you think this has been "over-played" in the media (just ONE column in Arizona and an ESPN piece the day a four-game win streak clinched a playoff berth being the only things I can think of), then you probably have an overly sensitive seahawks fan mechanism in your head.

i would expect more from professional columnists. you and your colleague in seattle share a geographic name with the washington team but apparently 3000 miles of distance and a horribly unimportant playoff game are enough to overwhelm your sense of respect and conscientiousness when it comes to publicizing your narrow-minded and pigheaded comments about a team overcoming tragedy in the middle of a horribly unimportant season.

but no big deal. who cares if you show immensely unfeeling and disgusting disrespect to a team and an entire community still struggling to come to terms with the death of someone who they may not have known but who they cheered for and followed closely for four years? you've got papers to sell and an inconsequential playoff game to talk about. certainly it's worth selling out your own decency as a human being to make inaccurate, callous and unfeeling generalizations about a group of players and coaches and a fanbase who have gained more perspective and understanding about what is important in the span of a few weeks than you have apparently gained in your entire life.

in the end, you seem to have it completely backward. the redskins team, fans and community, in the pain of coming to grips with what has transpired, have struggled diligently and intelligently to put things in perspective -- a bittersweet playoff appearance is more a triumph that attempts to lionize the name of someone who was deeply loved than a cheap attempt at self-glorification.

so you see, absolutely contrary to what you say, nobody associated with the redskins has been shallow. the only shallow and pea-brained individuals i can see are those who write up completely mindless columns on the matter of grief and pain from 3000 miles away with a stunningly self-righteous air and absolutely no idea of what an entire community a continent away has endured.

the redskins may be stuck with an outmoded team name and a sentimental feel that may seem grotesque to you from behind your keyboard. but that shallowness you detect does not come from them but from within you, emanating from your narrow mind and your black heart.


Well said, well written. No one could have said it better.

[HrPuffNstuFF]

This guy can go crawl back into whatever seattle bog he crawled out of.

What the rest of the media does is not our problem or business. The more the Skins win, the more it is going to be talked about. That cannot be helped. It is not sensationalism nor is it being stupid.

Reading one of these posts I started tearing up thinking about ST being gone, and I wondered yet again why it seems to really hit hard to a true fan of the skins, and then I thought of another guy that had affected me and others the same way. Thurman Munson.

Read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurman_Munson#Death_and_legacy

As a lifelong Yankee fan (we all have evil sides alright?), and some of my oldest friends are to. To this day when Thurman comes up- it is special and revered. Anyway I think the two are related as people who really were fans knew that something special was lost, and when that happens, people get inspired.

Screw this douchebag.

[SteelNeil]

Starbucks Drinkin, Grunge listenin, Bigfoot Chasin, Microsoft workin toolbox.



Seattle? Hey is'nt that where Kurt Cobain had a hunting accident?

[ThaGibbskin]

That article is completely unacceptable. Ted Miller and whoever approved the article to be published have ZERO class.

[Boss_Hogg]

how about after we demolish them tomorrow, we spam this guys email with a bunch of crap about this bs article.

Viagra ads sounds good to me.

I have heard of Native Americans who are die hard skins fans because of the name and symbol. Plus the "red" is supposed to symbolize war paint.

He needs to do more research.

[commyderm2]

chronic lurker here.. sorry to waste your time but I have two comments on this subject..

one. nobody on this board has heard of this guy before this article adn you probably will never here of him again. Why get so stirred up over this guy's insensitivity? Why give him the satisfaction. Alot of these columnists take this sort of reaction as a sign of affirmation. Rush Limbaugh once said that rape is a conspiracy started by feminists to weaken the military, when the inevitable volcano erupted of anger, hate mail, and even threats of physical violence, Rush (who is a completely delusional, drug adict moron with no credibility with anyone who has any sense) thought that he struck a nerve


another thing



http://www.rcdbase.com/skin/shoe.jpg


that sig is as racist as it gets.

lurker out!!!!

[bubba9497]

please keep personal politics out of this forum

[redskins55]

Redskins Mascot and the Sean Taylor Tragedy

Apples and Oranges ...

Only an idiot could attempt to involve the two in an article.

[Blondie]

He will get emails from Texas.

From each of my 4 email accounts.

Several times.

Probably too stupid to realize the REDSKINS have fans all over.

As it seems are many of their fans.

[skins fan1010]

His team is in touble, and he and the rest of his Seahawks know it.

It is an unstoppable freight train, one that can be heard from the distance inside Seattle's stadium, and it is about to run over the pitiful Seahawks.

Unstoppable freight train is the metaphor that best describes this Skins team, now. They all have a one-track mind...Super Bowl.

[blueskin]

"Posted by 1019nwa (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/piuser/showuser.asp?username=1019nwa) at 1/5/08 11:57 a.m.

21 backwards is for the 12th MAN BIATCH! All you Redskins fans should be ashamed of yourself for exploiting Sean Taylor's death! If you really want to know how I feel and a sh*t load of other's.....no one really cared two sh*ts about Sean Taylor's death. It was the media who blew it out of proportion. Did us Hawk fans use Ken Hammlin getting his head smashed in with a stop sign as motivation and exploit the seriousness of his injury....no not at all so all you damn Redskins fans go F yourself!

GO HAWKS"

Another example of the average classy seahawk fan. I hope bluetalon and the others see this.

[zoony]

the redskins may be stuck with an outmoded team name and a sentimental feel that may seem grotesque to you from behind your keyboard. but that shallowness you detect does not come from them but from within you, emanating from your narrow mind and your black heart.



This needed to be said again. Great post.