Audio Podcast: Roger Goodell’s Stallworth decision, the Pitino scandal, and society’s absurd infidelity standards
In this podcast I discuss Roger Goodell’s Stallworth decision and why it can’t be compared to Michael Vick, the Pitino scandal, and society’s absurd infidelity standards.
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32 Responses to “Audio Podcast: Roger Goodell’s Stallworth decision, the Pitino scandal, and society’s absurd infidelity standards”
It’s all good as far as the quality.
I agree Stallworth should have been suspended the entire season. No question. Goodell has too much power hands down and it needs to be addressed. Pitino was wrong but should not lose his job but there should be a same understanding when it comes to players.
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From SAS: Oh! No question. There’s no way in hell anybody should step up to the plate and judge a player more harshly than they’d judge a grown, married man with five children.
I totally agree with what you had to say about Donte Stallworth. From the moment he stepped behind the wheel of his car intoxicated, his vehicle became a lethal weapon. Micheal Vick fronted for DOGS, Stallworth killed a HUMAN BEING, how can you compare the two? Sense when did fighting dogs become worse than taking a human life? If he wasn’t a sports figure, he would have been thrown under the jail for at the very least 10 to 20yrs. That judge needs to come under review who sentenced him, or even disbarred. Sounds harsh, but 30 days for killing someone! Accident or not, he should have gotten more time than that.
My point exactly Steven, I have no idea how Gene Upshaw agreeded to give Roger Goodell or anyone else in that matter is beyond me. The players need to look at the bigger picture and know that if something to happen to others it WILL happen to them.
Look at Plex, he is suspended for shooting himself?? Yes the cases are different but the bigger picture is the Goodell should have never been given the much power at all. David Stern is in the same position of power as Goodell and the NFL players knowing how Stern wills his power to agree with giving their boss that power is beyond belief!
well as always SAS, great podcast. I totally agree with you brotha. Cant wait until the next one. Keep dropping those gems!
I actually split with you this time Stephen A. I totally agree with you about Pitino. We dont know the nature of him and his wife’s relationship and its not like it was a public affair like what Guiliani did while mayor in NYC. This is not to say I believe in cheating when married but its like prostitution,something that has been around for centuries and will continue to be.
As for Goodell and Stallworth, I couldnt disagree with you more. Goodell has to go or get a panel of 3 arbitrators to hear on these matters. He has basically put himself above the law, forget above everyone in the league. People signed off on him establishing a code of conduct for when it was obvious a player was getting involved too often in crimes or situations that should and could have been avoided, and were not being punished. He basically flipped it like the sith lord in star wars.lol
Since I dont drink I am totally against drinking and driving, but in this instance drinking had nothing to do with the accident, causing manslaughter, which is why he was not sent to jail for a long time. The victim actually darted out into the middle of the street trying to catch a bus and stallworth could not have avoided hitting him even without alcohol in his system. The video tape proved this along with forensics. His mobility or senses were not impaired so people need to stop acting like he was stumbling drunk. If you notice he was not charged with speeding or reckless driving or dwi. To have suspended the man for a yr without pay is excessive, POINT BLANK. Like Michael Vick, better justice would have been served to make these guys the faces of PETA and MAAD, and make them perform an enormous amount of community service for these organizations for as long as they are in the NFL.
Stallworth didnt get any special treatment, he basically was viewed in the same manner as Yosef Lifsh by the court system. Like you said if people think unemployment is high now and would be double if adulterers lost their job, well the same could be said if checkpoints were set up around bars in Long Island or Boston or Chicago to test for DUI. Correct me if I am wrong but Tony Larussa didnt get a fine or penalty from baseball much less the subject brought up by the media when they mention his name. In a nut shell, this was unjust like the Ron Artest suspension.
Nice pod Mr. Smith, couldn’t agree more.
And I thought Pitino’s all white suit was bad last year. How can you expect children to love and respect their mother when a father will cheat and disrespect a wife of 5.
Stallworth got off lucky in my opinion, DWI’s in my state are 30 days minimum without the death of individual.
In other news Mickey mantle passed today 14 years ago,
“A fragile hero to whom we had an emotional attachment that defied logic, we didn’t just root for him, we felt for him. In the last year of his life, Mickey Mantle finally came to accept and appreciate the distinction between a role model and a hero. The first, he often was not. The second, he always will be.” 10/20/1931 – 8/13/1995
I’m tired of hearing about Commissioner Goodell being too harsh in regards to imposing additional punishment to Mike Vick. Have you’ll forgotten that not only did M. Vick lie to Falcons owner, he lied to the sport of professional football, and that shouldn’t be forgotten. I don’t even watch football, but I couldn’t care less if M. Vick ever runs for another professional touchdown. So, because he served federal prison time that means that he has fully paid his debt to the NFL, I DON’T THINK SO!!! He should never be able to step foot on another NFL field again “PERIOD!” I’m 30 with no felonies, but yet I can’t even get a job sweeping-up trash at the parking lot of Lincoln Financial Field. The same goes for Dante Stallworh. Professional sports is at an all time low, as far as I’m concerned.
It still completely boggles my mind when I hear the arguement about dogs vs. people, referencing Vick’s and Stallworth’s crimes.
One was a continuous string of intentional, vile, cruel crimes. The other was a huge accident in part caused by the victim darting out from out of sight into the path of the car. Why can’t everyone see the difference? The difference is in attitude, malice (Vick) vs. absence of malice (Stallworth).
As far as punishment goes, I am not defending Stallworth, as much as it may seem, but his penalty is MUCH more heavy than the 24 days he did in jail, nearly all of which was in solitary confinement. I think the NFL has ruled properly on both cases, Stallworth’s and Vick’s. If Tony Dungy is willing to stake his reputation by stating that Vick is truly a changed man, not merely lipping the words to obtain a big paycheck, then I can buy that. Dungy has a lot to lose if Vick becomes same ole.
Wow Mr. Smith
Please tell us how you really feel. lol I feel the need to tread lighty but I just cant. First and foremost I totally agree with Chris Garrett. He pretty much reemphasized my last response to you. I dont feel like Vick should be in the NFL. I live in Philadelphia and I will not watch a Eagles game as long as he is on that team. I hope Philly are as harsh as they can be and boo him off the field.
Stallworth should have gotten REAL prison time period. I dont care if it was a mistake. He should not have been driving under the influence. Now a man is dead because he acted irresponsibly. I swear it must be nice to be in the big leagues because you can break all kinds of laws and get away with it. Im just disgusted. There are all kinds of damn criminals in the world of sports.
Last but not least I agree with you about Rick Pitino. While what he did is wrong that is between him and his wife. It no one else’s business. Im sure the people that thinks he should be fired has some infidelity issues to deal with themselves.
Anyway great podcast. I look forward to more. Have a great evening Mr. Smith
Christine
I know this is stephen A’s blog, but chris I had to respond to your comment. You sound like you have a crab in a basket mentality. Yes times are hard and a lot of decent, hard working, deserving people can not find jobs but that doesnt mean root for oppressive actions. Those same oppressive mentalities are one of the reason this economy is taking a serious hit. You have those who think what they say and do is above the law of the people and could care less about the man on the bottom. Yes vick and stallworth committed crimes but does that mean we only exile them because they are athletes? Did anyone say that for martha steward and kmart for what was reported as financing child labor? Did anyone say that for lizzy grubman who tried to run people over at a club because she couldnt get in and still got a show on VH1?
My point with stallworth is, what would have been the punishment if he didnt have alcohol in his system? The answer is most likely nothing, so what is he really being so heavily punished for if the accident still could not have been avoided if he wasnt drinking? You still unfortunately would have had a dead person.
Maybe its just me, but athletes didnt just start having drinking problems or having a small few continuously getting into trouble, so when I see the harshness and insensitive nature of the commissioners and media, it leads me to question is it because the demographics have changed? Case in point, vick caught a std and used an alias name(Ron Mexico) for treatment and the media wouldnt let it down but roethlisburger is accused of rape and its a 1 or 2 day story defending how it just cant be true.
Another example is the duke lacrosse and st johns basketball team. Both were accused of sexual assault and/or rape. When the media wants to talk about someone being wrongfully accused and people being quick to judge before all the facts or evidence is out, they never make mention of st johns just duke. It the same way certain media personalities in NYC like to say Isiah Thomas cost the garden millions on a sexual harassment charge, when in actuality it was a hostile work environment that they lost on. Also the rangers which are part of MSG were also brought up 1 or 2 sexual harassment charges. If what I am stating is not true or close to accurate, please let me know.
Great Podcast SAS.. Keep em coming!
Steve,
On a lighter note, I loved you in “I Think I Love My Wife?” How does working with Chris Rock compare to working with, say, Bill Walton? Do you think you will do more feature films? Have you ever thought about writing films, since that is your primary talent?
Keep up the good work, post more often if you can,
Chris
I can’t say I agree with you on the issue of Donte Stallworth. Only 24 days in jail for killing a human being, doesn’t seem fair. That just sends the wrong message in my opinion.
On the issue of Rick Pitino you are absolutely right!! None of us are in a postion to judge him. That’s a private matter between him and his wife. There’s no way he should lose his job. He is nothing more than a basketball coach, and a damn good one at that!!
I think that we are putting way too much time and effort into the lives of these sports figures! I agree with u stephen “Mind Your Own Business” Who,but his wife cares who he slept with..As for Mike Vick Plz ppl leave him ALONE..get over it already he has paid his debt. What more do u want Blood? Stallworth is over like a fat rat!! But again neither one pays my bills so, not really my problem is it? At least we are getting your perspective Stephen, which is very refreshing. Not the bland droning on of tv and sports radio.. When r u coming back???
Like I’ve already said, Roger Goodell has a “God complex”. I do agree for the time being that Stallworth should be out for this upcoming season without pay, with the right to extend that punishment in the future. What he did was reprehensible. Vick’s situation and Dante’s are not the same and I feel that the Commish let the feelings of others influence his decision on Mike Vick. The legal system failed Dante’s victims family, and I believe that the Commish finally got it right with his decision.
Rick Pitino’s situation is a bit more complex. I personally think he’s an egotistical maniac and I’m not a bit surprised by this revelation. However, I do think that this is a legal and personal matter that has no barring on his job. But being a parent, I don’t know if I would send my sons to a university with a coach who’s morals aren’t above reproach. I just think he’s nasty!
Good luck to Michael Vick with the Eagles, except when they are playing my Cowboys. Keep’em coming SAS.
Stephen A.
There isn’t any reason for me to write some drawn out statement about your latest podcast. Although this is my first official “reply” to any of your material on your site, I’ve been a fan for years (your site is linked from my site http://www.charris.wordpress.com) and I almost agree with you 100 percent of the time. This time, there is no difference.
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From SAS: Thanks Chris. Appreciate the support.
I think you are the best in the business and find all of your podcast better than any show or report done in sports today PERIOD!
Commissioner Goodell is great. Note to all knuckleheads: don’t do something stupid because the commissioner will put the hammer down.
Good podcast SA.
I won’t harp on long about the obvious. Dante Stallworth should have gotten much more time. People who JUDGE Michael Vick should go spend 3 nights in a real jail (versus the 2 years he spent in there) and see if they feel like they should continue to call him a killer. And the saddest part about all this attention that he’s getting for the crime that he has served his time for is that some ignorant people are blaming the roots of dogfighting on black people and using it as a further excuse to be racist. Not to mention the borderline racism that’s going on in Philly right now (in my opinion, of course).
It might just be that we as black people are being a lot more forgiving of our own, but all I see/hear in the news are caucasians vilifying Vick for a crime he SERVED HIS TIME FOR already. If this is the world we live in, then what’s the point of putting people in jail? Just to make them stop doing what they’re doing for a little while so we can hate them for it even after they get out? Sorry to get on my soapbox for a moment, but SOMETHING has to be said about this.
Finally, like you said, if everybody paid less attention to everybody else’s private business, then the world would be a better place. However, for Pitino, a borderline public figure, to be so stupid as to commit adultery in a public place is damaging to the image of any University. However, I cannot say that the president of U of Louisville has never had infidelity issues, or any of the Deans. And, if they have, they were either kept very private or they were slapped on the wrist for it. Stuff like this happens almost everyday in the public world, so someone should just make a movie about it and get over it. I’m fairly sick of reading about other people’s privacy and I’m tired of seeing other people who stew in mess get mad when messy things happen to them.
That’s my rant SA. Have a good one! Keep up the great work of a REAL BLACK journalist!
Stephen A. I respectfully disagree with you on Donte Stallworth. His punishment was spending time in jail, no matter whether you fell it was substantial or not. I agree with CJ up there speaking on a panel of arbitrators determining circumstances of this nature. Goodell is making his points loud and clear, but keeping a man from working for an extended once the legal system has already spoken seems a bit unjust. Not unfari, but unjust!
Tony Dungy is being called a pimp because he is mentoring Michael Vick. This is a man of character who believes in second chances.
SHOCKED! A White successful man cheats? Oh no ..Always knew coaches were in the same potato chip bag as all the other successful people.
@ Christina , the Eagles will not miss your chanting , its tons of people lining up for tickets ..Enjoy your misery all season long..If you father did the same thing you would want him to get a second chance too–so get over selfish views!
Thanks for another good one Steve !
Hey Stevie,
Remember when you said Steve NAsh is no “Starbury.” You were kissing his butt on some hack show. You still feel that way? Two time MVP compared to ???????, what did your boy ever do? I know Steve is white, so that dq’s him from any positive feedback from you you racist; but come on you phony, Nash or MArbury? BTW, I saw you in AC @ boardwalk Hall in AC about 9 years ago at a UFC event. I was doing some reporting for a local TV station. I shouldaa choked you out when I had the chance. Oh well anyways, you’re a punk and a blatant racist. PS I am a casual aquaintance of Lou TIlley and he knows your game is Lame too. IS LArry Bird in your top 50? Thought not you degenerate.
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From SAS: I would tell you to kiss my ass…..and that I WISH you would’ve tried “choking me out,” but I won’t bother because it’s easier to call you a liar.
First of all, I was talking about Marbury BACK THEN…not four years later when he refuses to take his medication, clearly suffering, probably, from bipolar disorder and in desperate need of our prayers. And secondly, stop lying about Lou Tilley. He’s a wonderful guy, an old friend from Philly who was great at what he did and should still be in Philadelphia on television. There is no way on earth he’d hang with a pathetic, race-spewing bigot like yourself. You know good-and-damn well he is no friend of yours.
Have a nice life!
Me and Stephen A dont agree on a lot of things but I cant cosign him being a racist. I always felt at times he was unfairly harder on black people, so unless he just dislikes people you cant label him a racist.
As for Marbury, Stephen A is right, he does need help and its not a laughing matter. This man has truly had a mental breakdown and its sad that he has been driven to this point. What bothers me the most about all this is the media’s culpability in this mental meltdown, although all at fault. Nothing he did was ever right and it was always his fault and all because he didnt smile like they wanted.He was basically charlie brown on the court. Although his body language didnt always look positive, you can never say he directly pointed a teammate out or wasnt interested in winning.It was totally understandable, by most people who compete, what he meant when he said he is the best point guard in the league. It was just a way of saying he had the utmost confidence in his game but like the media typically does, they blew it out of proportion.
If you want to call out some racist ppl listen to some sports announcers or radio host and tell me their views arent one sided.
Steven Smith:
Are you really trying to say that you don’t play the R card to advance yourself? Or to create a spectacle? HAHAHA.
Biggio is right though. You’re a fraud who did nothing to ever obtain a position at ESPN. Once everyone realized how lacking you were in talent, you were booted. Fired. Given the heave-ho. Your claim to fame is the failure of your TV show, radio show, and writing career. Take that to the bank.
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From SAS: Stay tuned, Nick. I’m saving this email. Sincerely hope everyone sees it to, because I have quite a few surprises coming your way very, very shortly! We’ll talk again, I’m sure
Where are the right to lifer? Pitino “Mr. Family Values” gave cash for an abortion.
He should be fired or forced to step down. If, by chance, one of his top recruits finds himself in a moment of indiscretion with a young lady on campus. Will the university terminated his scholarship?, will Mr. Family Values susupend him from the team? If they do, the university is being hypocritical.
Can someone please tell me where an abortion cost $3000 at? I ask this because people keep saying pitino is lying about that being for health insurance. Well which option is $3000 closer to in terms of being believeable?
I think the justice system did what it was supposed to in Stallworth’s case. Michael Vick does not deserve compassion. He did not JUST make a mistake. He committed a FEDERAL FELONY for 5+ years straight. Over and over again. Stallworth, not Vick, made a mistake. Vick is a criminal, and is a horrible person. 23 months in prison does not reverse 7(sorry if my numbers are wrong) years of killing and torturing living beings, especially mans best friend. It takes a very sick person to do what he did. I said it. Sick. I don’t think it’s professional of you to call people out by telling people of different opinions to “stop whining and complaining” as if you think you are right above all others who disagree with you. You basically are saying you have no respect for people of differing opinions. Is that how you are? Your opinion is just that, your opinion. It’s not a fact and neither is how I feel or anyone else.
Put everything else aside. If a man goes out and commits a crime repeatedly, smokes pot on top of that, and gets involved with the wrong kind of people for 5+ years does he not deserve harsh punishment? If a man gets inebriated and accidentally hits someone who RUNS out into the road in the middle of the night, does he deserve worse punishment? How does he deserve to lose his job? He’s not an alcoholic, he’s not a psychopath, he’s not a murderer. He made a one-time mistake. Yes he made the choice to drink and drive, but he didn’t intend on harming anyone. Are you kidding me? This is along the lines of the Pitino comments. If you put everyone in jail who went out and drove drunk at his BAC level, you’d be putting at least 50%(that’s a low number) of American adults behind bars for years. I’m not at all condoning it, just pointing out what I personally see as flaws in your argument. A man who has repeatedly committed the same act over and over again does not change in 2 years of jail time. Don’t pat him on the back for doing and saying exactly what his PR’s are telling him to do. This could take years to see if he actually has changed, and even then you’ll never know. I choose not to believe a word he says. That’s how I feel. No one can blame you for having an opinion, I just don’t agree with you this time.
@CJ (Jersey): well said. i basically said the same thing before I read what you wrote. This whole thing is insane to me. My goodness. I can’t tell you how many times I could have been in Stallworth’s shoes, and I’m not afraid to admit that. A lot of people have done it. Not nearly as many people have been as stupid as Michael Vick as to commit a FELONY repeatedly for years and years and then have the audacity when he’s being investigated to get caught smoking pot… What kind of person does that?
And I want to add something else. The NFL and NBA above all other sports leagues in America, are jokes. These players are expected to uphold a certain moral fiber because of the public positions that they hold. Yes they are not government officials, or police officers, but damn! There is a higher rate of criminal activity in the NFL than any other million dollar position in the country. It’s not just about money. It’s about assuming a role in which you KNOW that little kids and the American public will be looking up to you as a good character. These players represent our country. I can’t imagine what Canada, or any European country thinks of our high profile athletes. Guys are doing drugs, shooting themselves with unlicensed weapons in a freaking public setting, running over people drunk, torturing animals, getting involved in shootings, etc. It’s just sad. Roger Goodell needs to take a harsher approach to discipline. These athletes need to understand that this league is not for criminals, and quite frankly it is right now. People throw pity parties for them because their “skills” are honed in and they don’t know how to do anything else but play football. BS. They had the same opportunities that the rest of us had. If I were a stock holder I’d be pissed.
@Nick: I may not agree with what you say or how you say it sometimes, but I’d never make comments like this. Nick – shut up for one. Then grow up.
UFC 114 will have a good deal of suits, but none at the magnitude of the bout concerning Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans. This is one of the most anticipated match-ups, which will finally take place this month.