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Little consolation
Posted: Thursday November 18, 1999 06:19 PM
More responses to last week's Leonard Little column follow (along with some last-minute house-cleaning of from the Jim Gray-Pete Rose, uh, meeting), but to return to the James Jones column, click here. If you didn't know how to do that already, then you're in the running for WHYLO of the week. I would like to congratulate you on a fine column. I am also glad that you have
set some guidelines for future WHYLOs. I must agree my accusation of the
Pittsburgh Steelers shaving points may of been off-base. However, I just wanted
to point out that you were a little wrong in some of your assumptions of me. It
wasn't my tuition I lost, it was my rent. Being said tongue in cheek, I hope
this won't qualify for my being subjected to another week of humiliation. I do
think athletes, like everyone in society, should be held accountable for their
actions, but not necassarily to a higher degree than the everyman. I
(deservingly so) was humiliated by you for my anger the ball didn't bounce my
way (namely, back into Jerome Bettis' hands) when I lost at gambling, but that
doesn't mean that everything I accomplished in my life before that should be
held in any different
light.
Flem, I was extremely perplexed by a letter you got from a Miami University
fellow grad, Pat White. Although he obviously learned many obscenities at that
great university, he did not learn too much about researching a paper. Mr White
complained [in the Nov. 11 edition of the Flem File] that Jim Gray should have interviewed Mark McGwire after the All
Century Team celebration because McGwire was wearing jeans and sneakers. I admit
that when I was watching it live, I was upset too. I later learned that
McGwire's luggage had been lost at the airport and the suit he had planned to
wear was lost with it. Since he had no time to get a new one before the
ceremony, he had to go in the jeans he was wearing. So when you send that check
to Miami University to help strengthen its admission standards, please kick in a
little for the English
department.
All people should be subject to the same rules, regulations and law. If it is a
penitentiary offense to kill someone - and it should be, even if drunk -- then
the athlete should pay as high, if not higher, a penalty as others. These
players should not be allowed in another football
game.
After reading this week's WHYLOs, I fear for the human gene pool. Clearly, in
the world of those "authors," it is simply not allowable for you to
express an opinion that diverges from their own. While I don't always agree with
you, I don't feel inclined to question your lineage, gender preference, or
body-part organization. Maybe you should consider including in your column a
link to an anger management course. I also think you should remind people at the
end of every column that..."It's only sports." What does it say about
people who can get so worked up over what is basically a form of entertainment?
What do they do when the issues at hand actually have some
gravity?
I was very amused by the letters posted on Friday in your column. But with that amusement comes a certain sadness at seeing the complete stupidity of the readers of your column. It is not stupid to insult a person, but I think it is absolutely moronic to result to name-calling and foul language to disagree with someone. In none of the letters in your column was there a point made, or an interesting thought gotten across. They were all just random, angry ramblings of morons. The other thing that I have to say about this is that this also points to the
prevailing stupidity of the average sports fan. I am a huge sports fan and one
of my favorite things to do is attend sporting events. But I can honestly say
that I've never been to one where the wasn't a loud, obnoxious, jackass being a
jackass under the guise of being a sports fan. These people believe themselves
to be true sports fans and therefore believe themselves to have the right to
express opinions as loudly as possible. It is my opinion that these supposed
sports fans actually understand nothing of the game they're watching, but rely
on statistics, emotions and other people's opinions to guide their thinking
(i.e. Pete Rose). Thanks for a thought-provoking article and, as always, a good
job.
Your a a-whole, pal. Little payed society, so stay off his back. Misteaks
happen. And thats why your a (homophobic slur). (I hope you read this far to see
that this is a lame joke. I enjoy your column, and frankly don't understand why
you generate such nastiness. Maybe I'm naive since I don't listen to talk radio,
but do all your colleagues have to put up with the same crap(e)? Keep up the
good
work!)
I will not sit here and tell you exactly was Mr. Little's punishment should be,
because I really don't know myself. But, this was a chance for the League to
step up to the plate and set a precedent for all sports to follow. Instead they
told Ms. Gutweiler that her life was only worth half a football
season.
Mr. Fleming, I don't agree with you a great majority of the time, but your
articles are usually very interesting in their point of view. I'm truly sorry
that so many reduce themselves to the personal attacks. I love sports, to play,
to watch, to discuss and to coach my kids' various teams. However, the kind of
mail you have received is exactly the reason the shine of the "game"
is becoming more and more tarnished in my eyes. I cannot even stand to go to a
sports chatroom anymore. No one discusses anything, except how someone from the
other team is (as you say) a female dog or a garden tool. No discussion takes
place anymore. It's just a bunch of under-educated, nearly illiterate morons
using phrases from their favorite a) movie, b) cd or c) sports reporter. Anyway,
enough of my going-ons. PLEASE keep on writing in your insightful manner -- and
I'll keep thinking you're wrong most of the
time.
Flem, I have been a long-time reader and fan (Jeez, I hate saying that). I have
enjoyed your wit, the WHYLOs
and at times I have found myself disagreeing with
you. However, your latest column, "Little to cheer in the NFL", is the
only article I have EVER read that has motivated me to respond. All I can say is
... Bravo. Our society creates such a double standard when it comes to
celebrities and athletes. What would happen to us if we did what Leon Lett did?
Or Steve Howe? Or Robert Downey Jr. for that matter? What really strengthened
your point was the understanding that you displayed towards Little. It was a
true, and classy, statement. Thank you, Flem.
Sports Illustrated staff writer David Fleming explores the sometimes weird and wacky side of sports every Thursday. Click here to send an e-mail to Flem, or address it yourself: flemfile@aol.com. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.
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