I have long been a critic of “excessive celebration” violations in the NFL and the growing crude and thuggish conduct of players. While some may view me a bit prudish, I find it incredibly offensive to see NFL players (or entertainers at games) swearing and making offensive gestures as millions of people, including children, are watching. The latest such transgression was committed by Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin who decided to pretend that he was defecating on a ball in Super Bowl XLIX last Sunday. While the network quickly cut away, my family (including my kids) immediately saw and understood what Baldwin was doing. Even my nine-year-old thought it was “disgusting.” The Seahawks seem determined that they will, to use their motto, “leave no doubt” that they will not comply with minimal standards of conduct in the NFL.
The Seahawks have been in news continually over the conduct of its players who are viewed by many as out of control. There is no question about their talent, but the Seahawks have a serious problem with players who seem incapable of acting like adults, let alone professionals, during and after games. Last year, many of us were critical of the conduct of Richard Sherman who was fined for his conduct in an interview on the field. Sherman has continued his taunting and unprofessional commentary this season. However, it was his teammates who drew more fines. While I support Marshawn Lynch for his refusal to speak with the media, he should have been fined for his insistence on grabbing his crotch to celebrate plays. Instead of yielding to a reasonable request that he not make offensive gestures at the Superbowl, Lynch and his supporters made it a game to donate any fine amount to charity to encourage him to grab his crotch.
Now we have Baldwin who thinks it is funny to pretend that you are defecating on the ball. The former Stanford University wideout did the act after a touchdown pass in the third quarter in the Superbowl when he stood over the ball on the ground and made a motion that resembled pulling down his pants, before squatting over the ball. How clever.
The blame for this record clearly falls on Pete Carroll who seems unwilling to stand up to his elite players (a tendency that is only likely to worsen as he hunkers down after a moronic call that likely cost his team the Superbowl win on Sunday). What is clear is that Carroll will not impose any discipline on his team (which is also why the Seahawks are the most penalized team in the NFL with 416 in three seasons). This includes a fistfight at the end of the Super Bowl that gave Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin the distinction of being tossed out of a Super Bowl.
Baldwin should have been tossed out of the game. He obviously should be fined (if not suspended) but the question is whether the NFL needs to explore a team sanction for the Seahawks for their conduct during the season. There is a culture of juvenile and uncivil conduct on the team. I have complained for years that stadiums have been taken over the lowest common denominator of drunks and thugs. The same trend is occurring on the field with the players. I am not ready to give up on the notion of minimal requirements of civility and maturity from players. The NFL needs to be even more aggressive on player misconduct. Indeed, I think the loosening of the rule on celebration has fueled juvenile players like Baldwin. I truly love football and I love watching it with my kids. As I have said earlier, I no longer go to stadium so that they are not exposed to loud, swearing, drunken fans that now are so common. The players however are making it increasingly difficult to watch the games when you have to worry that a Seahawks wide receiver is going to pretend to be relieving himself on a ball.
I realize that there are people who think that his sophomoric conduct is really really funny. The question is whether the NFL will join a race to the bottom with the Seahawks or whether it will force owner Paul Allen, Carroll and others to reintroduce an element of professionalism on their team. It is a bad sign when a network under obscenity rules has to cut away rather than let people see the conduct of your players at the Superbowl.
Source: CBS
Justice Holmes, misogyny is commonplace on these threads now, to be expected.
“While some may view me a bit prudish”
Some? I’m actually shocked you haven’t fled modern society to the rigid morality of an Amish community.
Nick-If you get a chance, please make sure you go. I’ve had certified ND haters tell me that they had an amazing experience at their first ND game. If you love and appreciate tradition and college football history, it is impossible not to have a good time at an ND game.
A game @ South Bend is on my bucket list. I was offered tix a couple times when I lived in Chicago, but couldn’t make it.
Edward, You are just what this place needs. We had a period when the Sensitivity and Fairness Sheriff’s roamed the threads like Barney Fife, looking for violations. Hell, some of my best friends are Domer’s. But, I stick it to them every time they get beat on Saturday. That said, some of the best college games I have seen were ND v USC, late in the season, back in the 60’s and 70’s.
rcocean, Interesting stat on the turnover rate. As others have pointed out, lost in this is the Patriots kid making a GREAT play. That’s too bad. And, good point about Vince. Hell, he was only 66 when he died. Funeral @ St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Nick-Double dorks??! My sensitive Irish Catholic sensibilities have been offended. Where’s the grievance industry when I need them? I’m only a single domer though. And unlike some folks, I can tell the difference between good-natured ribbing and insults. Keep em’ coming. 🙂
BTW Lombardi was probably in his early 50s when that picture was taken. The man looks like he’s 65. They aged fast back then.
It wasn’t a bad call, historically passes on 1 yard line are just as successful as runs and the turnover rates are more or less the same, about 1.5%. As for the player’s who celebrate by grabbing their crotch or mimicking sex actors or taking a dump – they should be severely punished. Who the hell wants to see that? Its not just a matter of “the kids are watching”. I suppose the next step is whipping your dick out and waving it around or mooning the crowd.
Trooper, You had another photo of Lombardi smoking erased a week or two ago. Email JT and ask him the problem. If you got an “Awaiting Moderation” prompt, it’s a profanity. “B!tch” gets censored automatically. I forget that @ times. JT deletes some non PC words @ times, but that is not programmed into WordPress. He deletes those himself.
Oh no, we have a Domer in our midst! I worked for a large loop law firm in Chicago as an investigator. We had quite a few Double Domers, both undergrad and law school. I called them Double Dorks. I hope that doesn’t offend Little Miss Justice Holmes.
Edward…I agree, he appears to be a class act. I’d have been even more enthused if Tom Brady had given him the keys to the pick up truck he won as MVP and done so on stage. I heard one pundit suggest that…but I don’t know if it occurred post game. The outright MVP, in terms of winning the game, as it stood in the final minute, was Mr Butler.
Justice Holmes…you might be the only one. Chip S spoke tongue in cheek. Still a thread winner. For one, when in college at the U of Wisc. I made it goal to chase every cheerleader I could…most were Delta Gama’s or Chi Omega’s….and I had a lot of fun doing so. I’ll also admit I didn’t score on each attempt…but the fun was in trying. One was a niece of Allen Dulles, IIRC, CIA head at the time…caution was the better part of valor where she was concerned. I almost fell in love with her to boot…until she went all Hippie on me. Still, we had a great relationship for a few months. Truth be told, none of the cheerleaders I pursued were dunces…rather bright in fact, and athletic, always an enticement to me, then and now. Probably due to my fascination for the invariably pretty, strong, and bright horsewomen in my days in eventing and jumping. Pun not intended. 🙁
Aridog-What impressed me most about Butler’s pick is that it was a clear result of long hours in the film room. He knew what was coming and had the brains and the balls to sell out and jump the route. He was also a class act when he was interviewed. Very happy for the guy.
Paul… I agree with you…the male USC cheerleaders probably didn’t get hit on as much.
Was that gender bias?
As an ND guy, I am completely unwilling to admit (with a few notable exceptions) that USC has any redeemable qualities…The USC Song Girls would be one of those notable exceptions.
Am I the only one who thinks Chip S’s comment was as offensive and the conduct we are discussing.
The Seahawks deserved to lose and I am glad they did. The fight at the end of the game was the crowning achievement of a group of badly behaved players.
BTW…,Chip S. still wins the thread. 🙂
Aridog – in fairness to the USC cheerleaders there has to be one who was not bonked by everyone.
Nick…I have to give considerable credit to Malcom Butler of the Patriots…he made that pick in crowd. A rookie…who’d a thunk it. Malcom did. And did it. It was cool headed enough by a rookie to just maybe get me watching football once again.
Trooper York…what? You have a lawn in downtown Brooklyn? Small patches of grass do not count. 🙂
Yep, I, too am an old white man…so, yes, *get your heiny off my lawn or grass patch!* Unless, of course you’ve come to mow it and groom it…then you get a cold beer or whatever else you fancy.