It's best to follow actual news stories on actual news sites, but I thought I should acknowledge the sad death of Redskins safety Sean Taylor after he was shot in Miami by an intruder.
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Sean Taylor, RIP
27 Nov 2007 09:30 am
Comments (35)
Let's hope any witnesses ignore the urban proscription against snitching.
"I wonder what it is about an athlete's upbringing that causes him to continue to associate with knuckleheads, thugs and drug dealers long after he's cashed a few checks for several million dollars and has the means to just walk away from his past."
Here's an exercise that may help you figure this out: Why is Peyton Manning a free man while Michael Vick is in jail? Here's a hint: the answer isn't racism.
That they don't get beyond such rabble makes it easy to think they get what they deserve.
I wouldn't go that far.
I wrote the following on John Cole's Blog and it seems that it applies here also.
Wow,
Look at the jealousy. A man dies and all you can do is comment on the negative, show a little respect. You have the rest of your life to hate, why don’t you give him and his family today to grieve.
If you can’t say something positive just STFU!
F
steve duncan: you don't know what you're talking about, right? What inside knowledge do you have about "knuckleheads, thugs, and drug dealers" in Sean Taylor's life? Fred: care to elaborate on your use of "urban"?
"Fred: care to elaborate on your use of "urban"?"
It should be clear from the context, but I am using it in the sense of "inner-city", and not as an allusion to one of the eponymous popes or the design movement.
F, I doubt Taylor's family is perusing the ruminations here as to Taylor's untimely demise. I'm also confident many of them have the same doubts, the same regrets and the same sorrow due to Sean or any young man mixing with the wrong crowd and suffering greatly for it. If they don't, if they think "My boy oughta be able to hang with any damn fool he pleases!" then maybe they should be confronted with what they've evidently wrought. In the midst of a tragedy is sometimes precisely the time you should contemplate your choices, your shortcomings and the results of your actions.
I wonder what it is about an athlete's upbringing that causes him to continue to associate with knuckleheads, thugs and drug dealers long after he's cashed a few checks for several million dollars and has the means to just walk away from his past.
Hopefully it's clear at this point that the jury is still very much out as to the extent this characterizes Sean Taylor. His father is a police chief, so I think it might be prudent to hold speculation on his upbringing.
However, the recent SI article on Vick tries to address precisely this issue. The basic sentiment appears to be that these athletes (from bad communities) are given a pass from becoming involved with gangs and the like. When they hit the big time, they're asked in effect to repay the debt. Just walking away isn't so easy.
On October 27, 2004, Taylor was arrested at 2:45am for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol following a birthday party for former Redskins' receiver Rod Gardner
On June 3, 2005, Taylor was named publicly as a "person of interest" by Miami-Dade County police in regard to a Miami assault case involving firearms, and was being sought for questioning. "We need to speak to him, we don't know if he's a victim, witness or suspect," Miami-Dade police spokesman Mary Walters said. Taylor allegedly was present at, and possibly involved in, an incident on June 1, 2005 in Miami, in which bullets allegedly were fired into a stolen vehicle. [citation needed]
On June 5, 2005, ESPN and The Miami Herald both reported that Taylor, accompanied by his lawyer, surrendered to Miami-Dade police at approximately 10pm ET on June 4 at Miami's Cutler Ridge district police station, where he was transported to Miami's Turner Guilford Knight correctional facility. He was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, a felony, and misdemeanor battery.[citation needed]
On June 5, Miami-Dade police issued a statement indicating that Taylor had been arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm (a felony) and battery (a misdemeanor), for allegedly pointing a gun at a person over a dispute over two ATVs that Taylor claimed were stolen.[citation needed] Taylor then allegedly left the scene, but returned shortly and punched one person.[citation needed]
The Associated Press reported on June 5 that Taylor was held in detention at Miami's Turner Gilford Knight correctional facility and released the evening of June 4 after posting bond of $16,500. The Miami-Dade County Clerk's Office announced that Taylor would soon be officially arraigned on the charges.[citation needed]
The Washington Post reported on March 3, 2006 that Taylor's trial has been postponed until April 10, 2006. Days before that date, the trial was moved back once more, this time by a week, because of conflicts with Passover and Easter celebrations.[citation needed]
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Sean Taylor: Model Citizen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Taylor#Arrested_for_armed_assault
Is it THAT far-fetched to assume that someone from Taylor's unsavory past wasn't involved in his demise? Really?
The charges of racism hereabouts are absurd. Thanks a lot, Mark and F, for making Fred look sane by comparison.
I'd like to reiterate what F said.
You may speculate all you want in your head, but, even in blogs, there are times to get some information before you spit out racist or classist garbage.
jk, a review of this thread doesn't indicate anyone tying Mr. Taylor's plight to his race. Nor is his class or station in life indicted. It's also mentioned a total stranger may in fact be the perp. Any speculation otherwise is rooted in doubts about Taylor's behavior and associations. Neither is a race or class issue as people of all colors, creeds and background have proven capable of going astray or getting entangled with bad actors. What comments specifically are overtly racist or classist?
So it's a drunk driving arrest (subsequently dismissed, btw) and five items related to an incident from June 1, 2005. Also, not everyone who has their trial date moved for Passover is a thug.
Since Sean Taylor grew up in a small town and died in a suburb, I don't know what else "urban" or "inner-city" could mean in this context.
".....five items related to an incident from June 1, 2005..."
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So, brandishing a pistol and pointing it at another person in a threatening manner is an "incident"? Returning after tempers have apparently cooled and slugging him is an incident? In most of our lives it'd be more than an incident, it'd be a pretty big fucking deal. Of course there are segments of our society where such events are as common as buying milk.........
RIP Sean Taylor
It's disgusting that so many people act like it was the man's fault that he was shot by an intruder into his home.
You should all be ashamed of yourselfs. The kid is dead. His family is grieving. Have a little respect.
I'm not going to go into anything about Taylor specifically here. But, in general, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often with high profile people who have been convicted of crimes. If it's well known that your right to have a gun in your home has been taken away it certainly makes you a target for burglary. Especially given the ease with which any potential burglar can access firearms.
Look, at a time like this, there is no place for speculation as to motives or casting aspersions on the life Taylor may or may not have led. Nobody deserves to die from an act of violence. Nobody. Taylor wasn't an object and shouldn't be made into fodder for pop sociology. The fact is, he's a guy who died who should be alive. I have nothing but sympathy for his friends, family, and teammates. (An incident like this transcends even my Eagles' fandom.)
Fact is, Sean Taylor was more of a model citizen than steve duncan will ever be, because at least he wasn't a total asshole who disrepected the dead before they were even in the ground.
"You should all be ashamed of yourselfs. The kid is dead. His family is grieving. Have a little respect."
Posted by TheCarpetMuncher
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Just curious, how does an essentially private exchange (sorry Matt, your traffic means what, maybe .00001% of the U.S. population sees all this?) of ideas on this blog impede or intrude on the Taylor family's grieving process?
And, so we're clear, steve duncan fails to mention the plea bargain, which was extremely favorable to Taylor, given the potential charges (16 to 46 years versus charitable time and donations). So, add intellectual dishonesty to the now-growing rap sheet for mr. duncan!
And, so we're clear, steve duncan fails to mention the plea bargain, which was extremely favorable to Taylor, given the potential charges (16 to 46 years versus charitable time and donations). So, add intellectual dishonesty to the now-growing rap sheet for mr. duncan!
Steve Duncan,
The issue is not solely the family. We all grieve. I knew nothing about this person, but a bit of me is grieving. Even if I had had the thoughts that you and others had, I would have kept them to myself, at least for a reasonable period of time, and at least until a whole lot more was learned about the circumstances of the death. I would not have shared these thoughts with anyone, anyone.
In the past I can remember times when an someone I knew died under potentially embarrassing circumstances and I had been catty and gossipy with friends. I felt guilty, and, I think, rightly so. We have a public grieving process that serves a purpose and should be respected.
I suggest you think about the effect of your words. If you think the effect is useful, say them. If its just to hear yourself speak, or the effects may be damaging, keep them to yourself.
Ah yes, walking away from a crime without doing time is indicative of the inherent flimsiness of the original charges? Could be I guess, probably should talk to Scooter Libby to get a better idea.
wow. just, wow.
All too many commentors on this thread are behaving like those total assholes Nancy Grace, Wendy Murphy, Stacy Honowitz, etc. who appear on the cable talk shows and who have a gross tendency to convict people before any evidence has been presented. Remember Richard Jewell, Richard Reici, and the three Duke Lacrosse players. Before deciding whether Mr. Taylor brought this tragedy upon himself through his associations, we should get the facts. Based on the latest information, the police have released no information as to possible theories of who the perpetrator might have been or what his/her motive was. If this turns out to be nothing but a burglary that went terribly wrong, the Duncans of the world will look foolish. Of course looking foolish never stops Ms. Grace, Ms. Murphy, or Ms. Honowitz from convicting the next guy/gal charged with something.
I agree with the above commenters: the body is not yet cold, much less in the ground. Have some class.
Geez, everywhere you turn some asshole holds forth with a callous opinion (and a professional sportswriter no less!):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112701111.html?hpid=topnews
More assholes:
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died Tuesday, a day after he was shot by "an intruder who forcibly entered his residence," Miami police said.
.....Observers searching for a motive for his killing put Taylor's police record under renewed scrutiny. In 2005, he was arrested after he was accused of waving a gun at people he believed were stealing his all-terrain vehicles,....
After originally being charged with aggravated assault, Taylor pleaded to a misdemeanor battery in the case, Sharpstein (Taylor's attorney) said. A civil suit stemming from the case remains open. "There's still a lot of open ends to that," he said.
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Man, you almost start to think more than a few people suspect something a bit more nefarious than a common housebreaking. You'd think publicly airing such suspicions might be limited to a few nutjob blog trolls, but no, mainstream journalists are running with this patently baseless drivel. For shame!
Mr. Duncan,
I wasn't saying you were a nutjob - troll. Those are your words. I was saying that your comments are base and thoughtless. I'm not surprised to see reflections of that in the media. Perhaps you learned your style from them.
I am, however, disappointed in your reaction to criticism. We all have moments of thoughtless and crude behavior. Sometimes the right thing is to apologize.
Here's an exercise that may help you figure this out: Why is Peyton Manning a free man while Michael Vick is in jail? Here's a hint: the answer isn't racism.
I think if I was a philosophy professor and I was teaching an into to logic class, I would use this as a golden example of utterly logic-free thinking.
Re Steve Duncan
Anybody who has ever listened to so called mainstream so-called sports journalists on the ESPN sportswriters shown at 10:00 AM on Sundays knows that, almost without exception, they are assholes from assholeville. Many of these fuckwits pronounced the Duke Lacrosse players guilty from the get go. I haven't hear an apology from any of them. I will be holding Mr. Duncans' feet to the fire for an apology if it turns out that the doer here was a druggie unknown to Taylor looking for the wherewithal for his next fix.
What is wrong with people who right away assume it was in some way his fault? If it turns out that it was some guy he beat up or something coming from revenge, that's one thing. However, we don't know anything yet. Steve Duncan, you're coming pretty close to say he deserved it. Have you ever had a loved one or had a loved one lose a loved one to an act of violence? I'm guessing you wouldn't be so glib if you had.
Re Reality Man
Although Mr. Reality Man and myself are in total disagreement about almost everything else, I find us to be in agreement on the Sean Taylor matter. I suspect that Mr. Steve Duncan might say that Nicole Brown Simpson had it coming to her because she dabbled in cocaine on occasion.
Apropos of the opining about Mr. Taylor, I was very disappointed in todays' sports column by Michael Wilbon (link attached). Mr. Wilbon is one of the few (very few) sportswriters that, up until this morning, I had a modicum of respect for. Unfortunately, Mr. Wilbon decided to play Nancy Grace today and his column reflects it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112702680.html
Yeah. And I'm sure all you geniuses knew exactly what was coming down the pipeline. You blogheads and commentfreaks get me everytime. Just like the know-it-all at the bar who can't quit mouthing off on topics he's got nary a slight clue about. Sean Taylor was a better man than any of ya'll.
Comments closed December 11, 2007.
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Heads in the Sand
It is unfortunate to have to wonder whether someone with a beef with Taylor did this. His life as he led it certainly accrued more than a few people bearing animosity towards him. It's even more depressing to think a total stranger waltzed in and killed him. Not good either way it went down. I guess you have to walk in another man's shoes to know his troubles. I wonder what it is about an athlete's upbringing that causes him to continue to associate with knuckleheads, thugs and drug dealers long after he's cashed a few checks for several million dollars and has the means to just walk away from his past. I hear of the difficulty of abandoning friends and losing touch with your roots. Friends and roots getting you killed, jailed, fired from your job or otherwise disgraced in front of the whole world seem like the type of influences that would be pretty easy to discard. That they don't get beyond such rabble makes it easy to think they get what they deserve. I hope for that reason it was a stranger in Taylor's house. Otherwise it would be tempting to think he invited the reaper's visit.
Posted by steve duncan | November 27, 2007 10:04 AM