Easy there bro, I'm neither an apologist nor a fan of either Bonds or McGwire. However, what rule in baseball did McGwire break? Once steroids were banned, how many drug tests did he fail?

 

I think the bottom line is this: you guys have all clearly led more perfect lives than most and are more comfortable convicting people to a life of labels for making a mistake. Good for you, I'm happy for you. I'm not so fortunate, and have had the benefit of people forgiving me -- so I guess I'm trying to look at things differently.

 

To those of you unable to grasp my stance on Merriman's popcorn, I think it was fine. A little bit of smack, sure, but Taylor had it coming.

 

:thumb:

Okay, I need to get this straight. Chad sends Pepto Bismol to the Browns' DBs because he'll give them an ulcer, has a horrible day, and is funny and entertaining. Shawne sends popcorn to a guy that has been running him down all over the place in the press to enjoy watching me on TV and he is arrogant, not a class act, a jerk, etc. Makes perfect sense.

 

Frankly, it doesn't bother me in the least. I think Taylor politic'ing for Defensive Player of the Year in the media was equally as offensive...if not moreso.

 

Is every player that's ever failed a drug test a loser and a cheater? I mean, is that the hard-line approach we're going to take?

 

:thumb:

Easy there bro, I'm neither an apologist nor a fan of either Bonds or McGwire. However, what rule in baseball did McGwire break? Once steroids were banned, how many drug tests did he fail?

 

I think the bottom line is this: you guys have all clearly led more perfect lives than most and are more comfortable convicting people to a life of labels for making a mistake. Good for you, I'm happy for you. I'm not so fortunate, and have had the benefit of people forgiving me -- so I guess I'm trying to look at things differently.

 

To those of you unable to grasp my stance on Merriman's popcorn, I think it was fine. A little bit of smack, sure, but Taylor had it coming.

 

:thumb:

 

I am a Bengals fan, but find myself getting frustrated with my fellow fans fairly regularly. The Bengals have been the laughing stock of the league for 15 of the last 20 years (give or take a few). Missing the playoffs this year hopefully brought us down to earth a little bit. The NFL does not revolve around Cincinnati.

 

I don't see how this is much different than Chad Johnson's antics at all. What's the difference? Merriman was at least provoked by Taylor. If you have a problem with Merriman's actions, how can you not feel the same towards Taylor? He called out another individual to promote himself.

 

I'm no physics expert, but I've always heard that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

It was all in fun, but at the same time letting him know that he didn't like that he beat him up in the media to win the award. Taylor even said himself he thought it was clever and there would be a return package. It's funny that no one on here has ever made a mistake.

That's a pretty fair assessment. I will never forget Billy Hatcher using a corked bat, Sammy Sosa using a corked bat, Big Mac and Bonds are cheaters, and whenever I think of any of these athletes that's the first thing I think of. The baseball HOF voters apparently feel the same way. When I was growing up I cheated in anything I played (pick up games). Winning was that important to me. It still is, however, I have come to realize that if you have to cheat to win than the win isn't authentic. It didn't come from being better, playing harder, or getting lucky. It came from cheating. I grew up. Apparently some of these athletes didn't.

 

 

So you are a cheater and always will be? Is that what you're telling us?

Shawne Merriman was jacked up in college too...

 

Say what you want, but Merriman has the mentality of a great linebacker...

 

 

Mike Singletary was a great Hall of Fame LB, and he is a gentleman!

Mike Singletary was a great Hall of Fame LB, and he is a gentleman!

 

Hello, exception.

Hello, exception.

 

Zach Thomas, Lofa Totupu, Harry Carson, Jack Reynolds, Randy Gradishar, Jack Ham, Andy Russel, Jonathan Vilma, Teddy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, James Farrior, Andra Davis, Al Wilson, Jeremiah Trotter, Derrick Brooks, Antonio Pierce, London Fletcher, Takeo Spikes, Leroy Hill, and on and on and on

 

exception, I think not.

Okay, I need to get this straight. Chad sends Pepto Bismol to the Browns' DBs because he'll give them an ulcer, has a horrible day, and is funny and entertaining. Shawne sends popcorn to a guy that has been running him down all over the place in the press to enjoy watching me on TV and he is arrogant, not a class act, a jerk, etc. Makes perfect sense.

 

Frankly, it doesn't bother me in the least. I think Taylor politic'ing for Defensive Player of the Year in the media was equally as offensive...if not moreso.

 

Is every player that's ever failed a drug test a loser and a cheater? I mean, is that the hard-line approach we're going to take?

 

 

When a player fails a test for performance enhancers, he is indeed a CHEATER; there are hundreds of players in the league who play the game fair and square and reach their potential through nothing but hard work and dedication.

You don't think the fans of local teams forgive them? I've seen many Bengal fans say how much they like Ahmad Brooks and how good he'll be in the future -- he failed a drug test.

 

My point is to permanently write a guy off for failing a drug test is a dangerously short-sighted plan to take.

 

 

A drug test or a performance enhancer test?

Easy there bro, I'm neither an apologist nor a fan of either Bonds or McGwire. However, what rule in baseball did McGwire break? Once steroids were banned, how many drug tests did he fail?

 

I think the bottom line is this: you guys have all clearly led more perfect lives than most and are more comfortable convicting people to a life of labels for making a mistake. Good for you, I'm happy for you. I'm not so fortunate, and have had the benefit of people forgiving me -- so I guess I'm trying to look at things differently.

 

To those of you unable to grasp my stance on Merriman's popcorn, I think it was fine. A little bit of smack, sure, but Taylor had it coming.

 

 

I don't think anyone is professing to be perfect; the big issue is Bonds, McGuire, & Merriman have all done something that gave them an unfair advantage, which damages the integrity of the games we all love to watch and at least hope are nothing pure competition!

OK, so sticking with the original topic. I was watching NFL live or whatever and it had Jason Taylor on it and they asked him about a package he got from Merriman and he joked about it and said that he was sent a t-shirt that was actually too small, a hat, and a bag of popcorn that had the note attached to it. Taylor laughed it off and said that he hadn't sent him a package back but he'd think of something to send.

So you are a cheater and always will be? Is that what you're telling us?

 

 

 

Thats not what I took from IAmAFan's post at all.

That's a pretty fair assessment. I will never forget Billy Hatcher using a corked bat, Sammy Sosa using a corked bat, Big Mac and Bonds are cheaters, and whenever I think of any of these athletes that's the first thing I think of. The baseball HOF voters apparently feel the same way. When I was growing up I cheated in anything I played (pick up games). Winning was that important to me. It still is, however, I have come to realize that if you have to cheat to win than the win isn't authentic. It didn't come from being better, playing harder, or getting lucky. It came from cheating. I grew up. Apparently some of these athletes didn't.

 

 

:ylsuper: