I guess if you want to commit a crime the best place to be is in the NFL. You know, I'm not into "making examples" of people for certain causes or picking at silly things folks might do, but wow ... Goodell is a fabulous example of a leader whose talking leads to nothing but silence and inaction. He's a "do little" when you're caught and "do less" when you're suspected sort of fellow. The examples last year and at the start of this year alone are endless.
How many players have to beat women (and children presumably in at least one case) in order for a leader to say STOP?
How many rules (large or small) have to be broken in order for a leader to take control of the situation and put the entitlement by some of these owners and managers to a STOP?
Oh, great ... a player pummels females and gets a fine here, a few days suspension there, a banning for the season with an opportunity to come back the next and so on -- someone please explain to me how this is ok?
A team gets caught "presumably" cheating in the most childish, unnecessary ways and SHHHHHH ... "We're looking into this matter ..." More like, 'Just keep watching the Superbowl and dishing out that money to the league and after the big game we'll see if it's all died down or find a way to address it then."
Explain to me how that is ok ...
To me, Goodell had ALL those opportunities to be a leader and step up. He could have created a campaign by the entire league of respectable football players standing against violence. He could have suspended or ENDED a convicted player's pay, ended his career and said "that does not belong in the NFL." He could have either stood by Tom Brady and said, "Hey, maybe we need to take a look at this air pressure rule ... just be honest" or contacted him FIRST -- first! -- instead of going through a pathetic couple weeks of silence under the false-talking dialogue cloud of "It's under investigation." Bull. Lying or telling the truth, at least Brady and Belichik faced the music! Hellooooo ... Goodell, are you there? Are you there??
Sir, you're no leader ... you cater to criminals, plain and simple. You cater to rich owners that don't want to lose their riches. There, I said it. And you know what's funny? Ha! I agree with Kraft on one thing -- the NFL should apologize -- but, not to him ... to the fans ... to those who have been directly abused by certain players ... to players who have played fairly despite being around some that bend the rules.
I'm not angry at the Patriots for possibly "cheating" ... I'm not even angry at violent players whose crimes have been proven -- cheaters and violent people are already pathetic to me. However, when there is no one enforcing established laws, there is no reason for unreasonable people to abide them. I'm angry at the NFL. I'm angry that Goodell keeps talking and saying nothing. I'm angry that honesty, integrity, and morality have escaped this league under the misdirection of a man that cannot or does not know how to step up. I'm angry that these years, months, weeks have gone by and still there is more support for abusive players, managers and owners than there is for the abused. And then, the circus-type shows of hype and interviews and true foolishness in the media -- Do you understand that there does not appear to be any semblance of control??? (sample articles below)
If I could, I would tell him straight to his face, "either step down or step up." Either be strong enough to make strong decisions that show you have such control of the situation that you have turned dark events into light, or let someone that knows how to rise beyond these moments come forward in your stead. Enough, Sir ... enough.
I don't know if this is a common quote, but MLK, a hero I look to often for inspiration once said: "They're straightening their backs up because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent."
Those words are too brilliant not to leave it there. They say it all.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/17/us/nfl-off-field-problems/index.html
http://blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/2015/02/03/roger-goodell-marshawn-lynch-after-the-super-bowl-and-how-we-in-the-media-view-lynch-and-the-nfl/
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/12254585/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-said-league-looking-why-new-england-patriots-used-footballs-compliance-was-deliberate
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