My criticism of Michael Wilbon on Sean Taylor(Video) w/ response from Wilbon.

[Merlin Emrys]

Did I miss it? Where exactly did you critcize him? It sounded like a fair question. I didn't hear you call him out by making him explain his view point.

[askounes]

I liked Wilbon's article, and thought it was pretty well written. To be honest, the first thing i thought when I heard Taylor was shot was "Oh no... I hope he's alright" and the second thing I thought was "Well, I'm not terribly surprised."

Taylor was a great football player. And it's awful that his life was ended as prematurely as it was, as it would be for ANY YOUNG PERSON who is taken from us. But this whole beatification of the man is a bit much. His loss is no less nor greater than the loss of any other human being. Being a great football player doesn't make you a great person, it just makes you a great football player.

[Rocky21]

“I wasn't surprised in the least when I heard the news Monday morning that Sean Taylor had been shot in his home by an intruder. Would it stun me if Taylor was specifically targeted? Not one bit.” – Michael Wilbon, Washington Post

Wilbon is a rich, elitist TV star who has completely lost perspective on what's going on in the black community. His comments about ST's death are a testament to that effect. IMO the value of Wilbon's opinions have been deluded from that point forward.

“I found myself constantly thinking back to the simple truth that unless we have really spent a considerable amount of time with someone, we don't know them. Much as we may think we have an idea of what a person is about, what they stand for, their home life. how they interact with those in their neighborhood, or how they conduct themselves away from the spotlight, the reality is we have no idea. And that is of particular import to those granted the opportunity to frame public thought and bring these athletes to life. This isn't a novel thought, hardly a revelation, but on days like this the tremendous responsibility of those paid to write, talk and comment upon others - and the impact those words can have - strikes at a visceral level. “ – Jason La Canfora, Washington Post

You know when guys like JLC get it and you don't, you're out of touch.

Please read my sig for James Brown's comments on Wilbon's WaPo article.

[Mursilis]

I liked Wilbon's article, and thought it was pretty well written. To be honest, the first thing i thought when I heard Taylor was shot was "Oh no... I hope he's alright" and the second thing I thought was "Well, I'm not terribly surprised."

Taylor was a great football player. And it's awful that his life was ended as prematurely as it was, as it would be for ANY YOUNG PERSON who is taken from us. But this whole beatification of the man is a bit much. His loss is no less nor greater than the loss of any other human being. Being a great football player doesn't make you a great person, it just makes you a great football player.

I have to agree with this. If not for the fact he played football with rare talent, his death would've been buried in the local paper. Plenty of young black men die in this area every year, and for many of them that death was wholy undeserved. Do all the 'skins fans making a huge fuss over Taylor make a huge fuss over these men as well? I'm sad he died as well, because he passed far too early, and I feel for his family and especially his daughter who will not know him, but I remember that he only played a game, not saved lives like a doctor or put his life on the line for others, like a soldier, police officer, firefighter, etc.

[Titaw]

Did Wilbon have bad timing? Yes.

Was his opinion wrong? No.

Any fan that did not have any interaction with Sean thought the same way, "I hope he's fine," to "Someone, probably from his past, did this."

The fact of the matter is he had only recently (6 months prior) turned his life around. He still had a past. He still had skeletons, that were still at the forefront. It would have been less shocking if it was premeditated and it was a "hit". What was completely shocking was the fact that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Should he have been at Redskins Park? No, he was given the go ahead from coach Gibbs when he told Gibbs his home had been broken into. You can't blame him for going down there when he knew he was out to take care of and protect his family.

[Heisenberg]

In my opinion, the whole glorification of Sean Taylor over the past year has really been a disservice to the man's legacy.

[Rocky21]

It took two months of reflection (and a heart attack) for Wilbon to express any sort of remorse over the inappropriate and knee jerk comments he made immediately after Sean Taylor's death.

I lost a lot of respect for him the day he said he wasn't surprised in the least that Sean Taylor had been shot in his home by an intruder. Like it was his fault or that he had somehow caused it. Despicable.

[BAFGA]

Did Wilbon have bad timing? Yes.

Was his opinion wrong? No.

From Websters:

Main Entry: opin·ion
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈpin-yən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin opinion-, opinio, from opinari
Date: 14th century
1 a: a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter b: approval , esteem
2 a: belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge b: a generally held view
3 a: a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert b: the formal expression (as by a judge, court, or referee) of the legal reasons and principles upon which a legal decision is based

Everyone has opinions.

[Geoff_K]

In my opinion, the whole glorification of Sean Taylor over the past year has really been a disservice to the man's legacy.

qft

and the question sure had a loooooooooong windup ... i barely kept interest to the point of it appearing