Pats fans file lawsuit for lost draft picks

[dynasty13]

1 hour ago, ÅÐØNϧ 1 said:

 

  Smoking gun ..

 

On June 26, 2013, the nation awoke to the sight of a star player on one of the NFL's model franchises being escorted out of his house by police, a T-shirt pulled over his cuffed wrists. New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged later that day with the murder of Odin Lloyd, whose body had been found six days earlier near Hernandez’s home.

Since then, Hernandez has been charged with two previous murders and implicated in the shootings of three other people in two separate incidents dating back to his college days. A timeline of what has emerged about Hernandez in the past year:

PHOTOS: Aaron Hernandez investigation

Sept. 30, 2007 — Two men are shot in Gainesville, Fla., and four Florida football players are questioned, including freshman tight end Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez remains a person of interest in the Florida investigation.

   Like I said warning signs ignored for wins in a game  when winning is all that matters it can get embarrassing for those who live in denial .

 

Who has ever denied what Aaron Hernandez did? 

 

You make it sound like the Patriots were looking at this guy, then someone told them, "he murdered someone" and then they were like, "Perfect! Let's sign him because if there's one thing we like here in New England, it's a friggen' murderer!!!"

 

Please. They cut him the second there was even a question. The fact that you even use Aaron Hernandez as some little quip against the Patriots is pathetic at best. There's a lot of nonsense in this league. Remember Belcher a few years ago? Guy straight up murdered his girlfriend. Are you criticizing the Chiefs for actively employing murderers??? 

 

You hate the Patriots. I gotta be honest I never saw that one coming... But can we please be a little objective? Even just for a second? Drafting Aaron Hernandez doesn't make the Patriots the devil. Continually treating the Colts like a chew toy does.

 

You like asterisks?

 

Cheers

   *   *   *

 

* denotes Patriots destroyed Colts is postseason on their way to Championship

[2006Coltsbestever]

10 minutes ago, dynasty13 said:

 

Who has ever denied what Aaron Hernandez did? 

 

You make it sound like the Patriots were looking at this guy, then someone told them, "he murdered someone" and then they were like, "Perfect! Let's sign him because if there's one thing we like here in New England, it's a friggen' murderer!!!"

 

Please. They cut him the second there was even a question. The fact that you even use Aaron Hernandez as some little quip against the Patriots is pathetic at best. There's a lot of nonsense in this league. Remember Belcher a few years ago? Guy straight up murdered his girlfriend. Are you criticizing the Chiefs for actively employing murderers??? 

 

You hate the Patriots. I gotta be honest I never saw that one coming... But can we please be a little objective? Even just for a second? Drafting Aaron Hernandez doesn't make the Patriots the devil. Continually treating the Colts like a chew toy does.

 

You like asterisks?

 

Cheers

   *   *   *

 

* denotes Patriots destroyed Colts is postseason on their way to Championship

I wouldn't say you guys destroyed us in the 2003 AFC Title Game. We did have the ball only down 21-14 at the end with a chance to go down and tie the game. We also beat you guys to get to a SB and win it as well in 2006. You have Andrew Luck's number so far I cant debate that but when we had Peyton we beat you guys several times from 2005-2009 in the Regular Season/Playoffs.

[OffensivelyPC]

7 hours ago, dynasty13 said:

 

   *   *   *

 

* denotes Patriots destroyed Colts is postseason on their way to Championship

LOL anyone else think that when he says things like this it's no wonder New England came up with the deflator argument?

[Restored]

15 hours ago, dynasty13 said:

 

Fans drink Kool-Aid in every single city for every single sport...it just happens to be a different color. That isn't a trait reserved specifically for those darn Patriots fans in the Northeast. 

 

I'm well aware of the situation, I know the NFL isn't going to return the picks, and I know this lawsuit is dumb...but as I said...it is only 7 fans out of the entire fan base doing this and is therefor not reflective of the intellect or general fandom in this area as some want to claim. I'm sure I could walk into Lucas Oil Stadium on any given Sunday and find a handful of fans wearing speed blue that directly contrast the self-proclaimed  'classy' perception that is often associated with your fan base. 

 

To give you some perspective, New York's sports journalists (Giants/Jets) have been notorious for destroying their teams. Meanwhile, the New England sports journalists have a national reputation for being closet fans. If the media is sipping the Kool-Aid, imagine how much the general fan base is sipping on..

 

It isn't so much indicative of the entire base as much as it shows the levels of extreme that exist within that base. It never ceases to amaze.

[Restored]

10 hours ago, Bad Morty said:

 

Your thoughts on 'The Asterisk Project', started by Colts fan Jim Purucker?

 

http://www.ibj.com/blogs/4-the-score/post/55427-statehouse-lobbyist-starts-campaign-to-attach-asterisk-to-patriots-record?id=4-the-score?id=4-the-score

 

“We need your help so the NFL hears from their fans that we don’t want the Patriots’ cheating ways to fade away like Tom Brady’s punishment for Deflategate did,” Purucker wrote on his website.

The 51-year-old Indianapolis resident—and self-described diehard Colts fan—insists this initiative is no joke. And he has plenty of experience with moving the needle on a cause.

 

There's a difference between a petition and filing a lawsuit. Hence why Purcker's project is pretty much dead in the water and never made it that far.

[Yehoodi]

Some fans just want to get attention.   Perhaps the guy is filed the suit in protest and is not worried about the fact that he has no shot.

 

As for it being indicative of our fan base, it is only 7 folks out of millions.

 

 

[Yehoodi]

18 hours ago, Restored said:

There isn't an argument to be had here either. The NFL made its ruling and is not giving back the draft pick.

 

Again, show me a fan base that is stooping to this level. Heck, even the Patriots journalist community is unabashed in its Patriots fandom. There's too much Patriots Kool-Aid being sipped on out there.

 

There have been fan bases that have sued the NFL and or teams.  The New York guy that sued over the spygate game, the Des Bryant catch suit, fans suing over how teams limit ticket sales to name a few.     

[OffensivelyPC]

9 minutes ago, Yehoodi said:

Some fans just want to get attention.   Perhaps the guy is filed the suit in protest and is not worried about the fact that he has no shot.

 

As for it being indicative of our fan base, it is only 7 folks out of millions.

 

 

Attention and they want to be heard by the NFL.  That's all this is really about.  As silly as it is, some people have the money to do crap like this.

[Yehoodi]

6 minutes ago, OffensivelyPC said:

Attention and they want to be heard by the NFL.  That's all this is really about.  As silly as it is, some people have the money to do crap like this.

 

Yes, and some do want attention and want to be the one in public making the protest.  "Look at me, I am the one fighting city hall"

[OffensivelyPC]

18 minutes ago, Yehoodi said:

 

Yes, and some do want attention and want to be the one in public making the protest.  "Look at me, I am the one fighting city hall"

If you throw a punch and miss, is it really a fight? lol

[TheRustonRifle#7]

11 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

 

 

EDIT: Sorry for some reason the wrong post was quoted?

[TheRustonRifle#7]

9 minutes ago, OffensivelyPC said:

If you throw a punch and miss, is it really a fight? lol

[Restored]

45 minutes ago, Yehoodi said:

 

There have been fan bases that have sued the NFL and or teams.  The New York guy that sued over the spygate game, the Des Bryant catch suit, fans suing over how teams limit ticket sales to name a few.     

 

My point is that New England fans (media included) are unabashed in their support that extend beyond normal reaches of fandom. Look at some of the personal, berating insults that were flung by both fans (and NE journalists) at Bob Kravitz when Deflategate first broke. It's just a bad look since that most of the Patriots actions have been largely perceived to be the result of blind fanboyism instead of having legitimate cases.

[2006Coltsbestever]

2 hours ago, Restored said:

 

To give you some perspective, New York's sports journalists (Giants/Jets) have been notorious for destroying their teams. Meanwhile, the New England sports journalists have a national reputation for being closet fans. If the media is sipping the Kool-Aid, imagine how much the general fan base is sipping on..

 

It isn't so much indicative of the entire base as much as it shows the levels of extreme that exist within that base. It never ceases to amaze.

I would love to be able to put thousands of their diehard fans on a lie detector and ask them if they think Tom Brady was involved in Deflating those balls. I bet 99% of them would fail because you know 99% of them would so no  

[OffensivelyPC]

6 minutes ago, Restored said:

 

My point is that New England fans (media included) are unabashed in their support that extend beyond normal reaches of fandom. Look at some of the personal, berating insults that were flung by both fans (and NE journalists) at Bob Kravitz when Deflategate first broke. It's just a bad look since that most of Patriots actions have been largely perceived to be blind fanboyism instead of legitimate cases.

You can thank people like those jokers over at barstoolsports.com for that.  They pander to the lowest common denominator because that's what they admittedly are.  Some of the fanboyism that some of those guys spew is just...pathetic.  It's that kind of sentiment that's reminiscent of arguing with trolls.  They just shout longer, louder, and in numbers and think it apparently means they've won.  Don't get me wrong, not all Pats fans are unreasonable, but like you allude to, I feel that the unreasonable to reasonable ratio of fans is much greater than any other fan base I've ever encountered.

[dynasty13]

2 minutes ago, Restored said:

 

My point is that New England fans (media included) are unabashed in their support that extend beyond normal reaches of fandom. Look at some of the personal, berating insults that were flung by both fans (and NE journalists) at Bob Kravitz when Deflategate first broke. It's just a bad look since that most of the Patriots actions have been largely perceived to be the result of blind fanboyism instead of legitimate cases.

 

Except that you're speaking in absolutes trying to make the case that all the media up here is responsible for 'creating' fanboys by being blind homers themselves. As if we are all just a bunch of zombies up here being brainwashed by the media narrative.

 

That simply isn't the case. Have you ever read an article of Dan Shaughnessy's? Have you ever listened to Felger and Mazz on the radio...the #1 rated sports talk show on daily from 2-6? Those guys are notorious for 'trolling' Patriots fans...they literally could not be more opposite of the picture you are painting. 

 

There are levels of 'extreme' in every fan base...and unfortunately, those are the fans that tend to be the loudest. Again, it's not just some trait that can only be found in New England.

[2006Coltsbestever]

26 minutes ago, TheRustonRifle#7 said:

 

EDIT: Sorry for some reason the wrong post was quoted?

I actually thought you were laughing at this Thread so I gave it a like anyway  

[Restored]

3 minutes ago, dynasty13 said:

 

Except that you're speaking in absolutes trying to make the case that all the media up here is responsible for 'creating' fanboys by being blind homers themselves. As if we are all just a bunch of zombies up here being brainwashed by the media narrative.

 

That simply isn't the case. Have you ever read an article of Dan Shaughnessy's? Have you ever listened to Felger and Mazz on the radio...the #1 rated sports talk show on daily from 2-6? Those guys are notorious for 'trolling' Patriots fans...they literally could not be more opposite of the picture you are painting. 

 

There are levels of 'extreme' in every fan base...and unfortunately, those are the fans that tend to be the loudest. Again, it's not just some trait that can only be found in New England.

 

I don't think one necessarily created another as much as they are two peas in a pod. Prominent Boston "journalists" have a nationwide perception of being fanboys. It's a stigma that DOES exist regardless if you want it to be real or not.

 

I've read plenty of Shanughnessy's and other Boston journalists and the level of arrogance and fandom is pretty apparent in a number of pieces. Again, I'm not the one painting the picture here. This is a national perception.

 

The spectrum of those extremes is what throws people for a loop with New England fans. Perception is reality.

[Dustin]

Not surprising. Most Patriot fans are subhumans. 

[2006Coltsbestever]

2 minutes ago, Restored said:

 

I don't think one necessarily created another as much as they are two peas in a pod. Prominent Boston "journalists" have a nationwide perception of being fanboys. It's a stigma that DOES exist regardless if you want it to be real or not.

 

I've read plenty of Shanughnessy's and other Boston journalists and the level of arrogance and fandom is pretty apparent in a number of pieces. Again, I'm not the one painting the picture here. This is a national perception.

 

The spectrum of those extremes is what throws people for a loop with New England fans. Perception is reality.

Bill Simmons is definitely unbiased when it comes to the Patriots, RedSox, and Celtics. OK I am lying  He is the face of their media and that dude is the most biased Mass fan I have ever seen in my life!

[2006Coltsbestever]

4 minutes ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

Bill Simmons is definitely unbiased when it comes to the Patriots, RedSox, and Celtics. OK I am lying  He is the face of their media and that dude is the most biased Mass fan I have ever seen in my life!

To follow that up I did like his Basketball book regarding his list of greatest Basketball players. I know it's off topic but I agreed with a lot of it, although no way Bill Russell is the 2nd greatest player ever, he had Jordan 1 which I agree with but Russell wasn't better than Magic or Kareem and I don't even like the Lakers. Russell won 11 Titles when a team only had to win 2 series and his overall game wasn't anywhere near Kareem's or Shaq's for that matter. I know off topic but I only brought this up because of Bill Simmons being the biggest Boston homer ever.

[dynasty13]

9 minutes ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

Bill Simmons is definitely unbiased when it comes to the Patriots, RedSox, and Celtics. OK I am lying  He is the face of their media and that dude is the most biased Mass fan I have ever seen in my life!

 

He doesn't pretend not to be though....that's his schtick.

[OffensivelyPC]

53 minutes ago, Dustin said:

Not surprising. Most Patriot fans are subhumans. 

That's putting it nicely.

[OffensivelyPC]

37 minutes ago, dynasty13 said:

 

He doesn't pretend not to be though....that's his schtick.

Full disclosure and hack journalism aren't mutually exclusive.

[Gramz]

I havn't checked in here lately, and logged on a few minutes ago and this is the first thread I saw...

 

bahahahaha      Thanks for the chuckles.  

 

[Gramz]

I will say..........

 

Honestly, 7 people, or however many there were, don't necessarily represent an entire fanbase.

 

However,   I would imagine the entire fanbase would like those draft picks back, so on second thought    Maybe...    

[Synthetic]

 

Here's your typical "Wahhh, the Patriots and their fans are stupid" butt hurt threads that are so common on this board. 

 

A Jets fan sued the NFL over Spygate a few years ago, this is not something out of the ordinary of fans taking it to extremes and trying to take it to court. I don't see where it's a big deal at all, and if someone wants to sue the NFL, go for it. This whole Deflategate thing has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Goodell has a god complex, and I'll say I'm thankful that Tom Brady went out of his way to fight him and prove it to everyone that had doubts over Goodell and his ego. 

 

This is just an excuse to create a circle and pat each other on the back while bashing the Patriots. Maybe in a few years someone new will rise up in the AFC South and give the Colts a real rival to scare their fans. 

[Dustin]

6 minutes ago, Bogie said:

 

Here's your typical "Wahhh, the Patriots and their fans are stupid" butt hurt threads that are so common on this board. 

 

A Jets fan sued the NFL over Spygate a few years ago, this is not something out of the ordinary of fans taking it to extremes and trying to take it to court. I don't see where it's a big deal at all, and if someone wants to sue the NFL, go for it. This whole Deflategate thing has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Goodell has a god complex, and I'll say I'm thankful that Tom Brady went out of his way to fight him and prove it to everyone that had doubts over Goodell and his ego. 

 

This is just an excuse to create a circle and pat each other on the back while bashing the Patriots. Maybe in a few years someone new will rise up in the AFC South and give the Colts a real rival to scare their fans. 

 

At least they have you here to white-knight for them. 

[Restored]

18 minutes ago, Bogie said:

 

Here's your typical "Wahhh, the Patriots and their fans are stupid" butt hurt threads that are so common on this board. 

 

A Jets fan sued the NFL over Spygate a few years ago, this is not something out of the ordinary of fans taking it to extremes and trying to take it to court. I don't see where it's a big deal at all, and if someone wants to sue the NFL, go for it. This whole Deflategate thing has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Goodell has a god complex, and I'll say I'm thankful that Tom Brady went out of his way to fight him and prove it to everyone that had doubts over Goodell and his ego. 

 

This is just an excuse to create a circle and pat each other on the back while bashing the Patriots. Maybe in a few years someone new will rise up in the AFC South and give the Colts a real rival to scare their fans. 

 

You mean like how the Panthers have done to the Saints? Enjoy mediocrity for the next decade.

[Superman]

1 hour ago, OffensivelyPC said:

Full disclosure and hack journalism aren't mutually exclusive.

 

In fairness, I don't think Bill Simmons pretends to be a journalist. He's basically become the face of Boston sports fans, and that really shouldn't be confused with journalism or reporting. It's media and entertainment.

 

I actually used to enjoy Simmons. Can't take him anymore, though. He's become a caricature, IMO.

[OffensivelyPC]

11 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

In fairness, I don't think Bill Simmons pretends to be a journalist. He's basically become the face of Boston sports fans, and that really shouldn't be confused with journalism or reporting. It's media and entertainment.

 

I actually used to enjoy Simmons. Can't take him anymore, though. He's become a caricature, IMO.

I disagree, but fair enough.  I disagree, mainly because it's still the dissemination of thought and idea and regardless of the character, it's often portrayed as journalism.  Even when you approach it from a comedic aspect (which by the way can be more powerful than logic itself, depending on your audience), you are still influencing using your words - on paper or on audio.  It's one thing to promote free discussion, even pushing the limits (and I can respect that Simmons did that, in a negative fashion in my opinion, but he did), but some guys such as Simmons push it to a point that I just cannot stand.  when I listen to radio or read, I either want to learn something or have my own viewpoints challenged.  If your'e only reading things you agree with, it's boring.  If you aren't learning anything, how is it going to hold your attention?  Simmons is one of those guys that never came close to either.

[Bad Morty]

4 hours ago, Restored said:

 

My point is that New England fans (media included) are unabashed in their support that extend beyond normal reaches of fandom. Look at some of the personal, berating insults that were flung by both fans (and NE journalists) at Bob Kravitz when Deflategate first broke. It's just a bad look since that most of the Patriots actions have been largely perceived to be the result of blind fanboyism instead of having legitimate cases.

 

I think you are basing that on a pretty limited knowledge of the fan base here. I grew up here...we are about as cynical as they come, particularly with our sports teams. Have you ever heard the soundbite of Rick Pitino during his ill-fated stint as Celtics coach? He went on a tirade about the fans and media that still gets dredged up from time to time. "I don't know what fans are expecting here, but Larry Bird isn't walking through that door. Robert Parrish isn't walking through that door...and if they do, they'll be old and gray...all the negativity in this town sucks". Even with deflategate, I can name a half dozen media folks here who are still in print and on the airwaves stating their opinions that the Patriots are guilty as charged (Felger and Masserotti afternoon sports radio hosts, Ron Borges (Herald), Ben Volin (Globe), Dan Shaughnessy (Globe), and Gary Tanguay (Comcast Sports).

 

Yes - in this situation, most fans think the Pats were wronged by the league...seriously wronged. Doesn't mean they ALWAYS side with the team and wave pom-poms. 

[Restored]

3 minutes ago, Bad Morty said:

 

I think you are basing that on a pretty limited knowledge of the fan base here. I grew up here...we are about as cynical as they come, particularly with our sports teams. Have you ever heard the soundbite of Rick Pitino during his ill-fated stint as Celtics coach? He went on a tirade about the fans and media that still gets dredged up from time to time. "I don't know what fans are expecting here, but Larry Bird isn't walking through that door. Robert Parrish isn't walking through that door...and if they do, they'll be old and gray...all the negativity in this town sucks". Even with deflategate, I can name a half dozen media folks here who are still in print and on the airwaves stating their opinions that the Patriots are guilty as charged (Felger and Masserotti afternoon sports radio hosts, Ron Borges (Herald), Ben Volin (Globe), Dan Shaughnessy (Globe), and Gary Tanguay (Comcast Sports).

 

Yes - in this situation, most fans think the Pats were wronged by the league...seriously wronged. Doesn't mean they ALWAYS side with the team and wave pom-poms. 

 

I don't believe I am. I'm merely reflecting what many of those OUTSIDE of New England's market see. The bias that a number of Boston journalists have shown towards the Patriots is pretty apparent. By the way, using a quote from a coach of the Celtics in the late 1990's doesn't lend credit to the level of fandom that has accompanied the Patriots in today's world. Volin, Shaughnessy and Tom Curran (the ultimate Patriots journalist fanboy) have made a number of pieces that reflect their bias towards the Patriots.

 

Deflategate and Spygate are the two most prominent instances where Patriots fans clearly decided to side with the team unequivocally. Those two choices have created that perception.

[Superman]

35 minutes ago, OffensivelyPC said:

I disagree, but fair enough.  I disagree, mainly because it's still the dissemination of thought and idea and regardless of the character, it's often portrayed as journalism.  Even when you approach it from a comedic aspect (which by the way can be more powerful than logic itself, depending on your audience), you are still influencing using your words - on paper or on audio.  It's one thing to promote free discussion, even pushing the limits (and I can respect that Simmons did that, in a negative fashion in my opinion, but he did), but some guys such as Simmons push it to a point that I just cannot stand.  when I listen to radio or read, I either want to learn something or have my own viewpoints challenged.  If your'e only reading things you agree with, it's boring.  If you aren't learning anything, how is it going to hold your attention?  Simmons is one of those guys that never came close to either.

 

I think a journalist/reporter is held to a high standard. Their job is to discover information, contextualize it, and report it in an objective manner for their listeners/readers to consume and then reach their own conclusions. It's not the job of a journalist to tell people what to think, just to tell them what's going on and what it means. As media has changed, fewer people meet that standard, but I don't think the standard has changed. Real journalists accept that standard and measure themselves against it.

 

That's something Simmons has never done. It can be hard to determine how people view themselves sometimes. There are some bloggers and media personalities who want to be treated as if they deserve the credibility of a good journalist, yet they don't want to be held to the high standard of journalistic integrity. Stephen A. Smith is one of those guys; he seems to think what he says should be trusted just because he said it. Simmons is and always has been an unabashed homer, who speaks in a way that shares his particular perspective as a Boston sports fan. Sometimes his access puts him in position to share news and information, but that doesn't make him a journalist. And again, most importantly, he's never claimed to be a journalist, nor has he tried to claim rights to credibility that a journalist would have earned.

 

Sadly, some have abused their standing in the media, and some once-respected journalists have lowered the bar for themselves. But I think it's up to us as consumers to hold people to that high standard, and if they consistently fail to meet it, then we should adjust our view of them accordingly. 

 

JMO, for what little it's worth. But I think there's a big difference between someone like Bill Simmons and someone like Adam Schefter. When Schefter fails to live up to a higher standard, it's different from when Simmons voices a boisterous opinion.

[Yehoodi]

5 hours ago, OffensivelyPC said:

If you throw a punch and miss, is it really a fight? lol

 

 . . . funny . . .

[OffensivelyPC]

29 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

I think a journalist/reporter is held to a high standard. Their job is to discover information, contextualize it, and report it in an objective manner for their listeners/readers to consume and then reach their own conclusions. It's not the job of a journalist to tell people what to think, just to tell them what's going on and what it means. As media has changed, fewer people meet that standard, but I don't think the standard has changed. Real journalists accept that standard and measure themselves against it.

 

That's something Simmons has never done. It can be hard to determine how people view themselves sometimes. There are some bloggers and media personalities who want to be treated as if they deserve the credibility of a good journalist, yet they don't want to be held to the high standard of journalistic integrity. Stephen A. Smith is one of those guys; he seems to think what he says should be trusted just because he said it. Simmons is and always has been an unabashed homer, who speaks in a way that shares his particular perspective as a Boston sports fan. Sometimes his access puts him in position to share news and information, but that doesn't make him a journalist. And again, most importantly, he's never claimed to be a journalist, nor has he tried to claim rights to credibility that a journalist would have earned.

 

Sadly, some have abused their standing in the media, and some once-respected journalists have lowered the bar for themselves. But I think it's up to us as consumers to hold people to that high standard, and if they consistently fail to meet it, then we should adjust our view of them accordingly. 

 

JMO, for what little it's worth. But I think there's a big difference between someone like Bill Simmons and someone like Adam Schefter. When Schefter fails to live up to a higher standard, it's different from when Simmons voices a boisterous opinion.

To the bolded, I disagree.  30 for 30 is exactly what journalism is.  Even Grantland.  I get that he's not doing that anymore, but these days it seems like a lot of guys wear an entertainment hat one minute and a journalistic hat another.  Asking the audience to decipher which minute is which character is alot to ask.  While Simmons might be more on the entertainment side these days, I think he depends on the credibility he has had as a journalist.  More importantly, whether you provide commentary on the news or actually report the news, you depend on your audience's trusting you.  If you cant' be trusted, who will listen?  Even comedians have to have a nugget of truth in their dialogues.  

 

Anyhow, we're getting off topic and into a philosophical conversation about the definition of an evolving career path which, at least to me, is not always black and white.  On Simmons - to me, the bottom line is, to the extent he's not a journalist, I just don't find him entertaining and I don't find him to be very funny.  To the extent he is, he's not what he once was.

[Yehoodi]

5 hours ago, Restored said:

 

My point is that New England fans (media included) are unabashed in their support that extend beyond normal reaches of fandom. Look at some of the personal, berating insults that were flung by both fans (and NE journalists) at Bob Kravitz when Deflategate first broke. It's just a bad look since that most of the Patriots actions have been largely perceived to be the result of blind fanboyism instead of having legitimate cases.

 

Yes, the New England fans do lend their support to their team, as do all fan bases to be frank.   I do think though that Deflategate is a special exception that we need to be careful with trying to use it to define a fan bases support of its team or its ability to think reasonably.   And at the same time define other fan bases by their respective views of Deflategate. 

 

For the most part up here there are a lot of fans and media that think something happened with the balls after they left the locker room.   And a lot more than what folks outside of NE might think exist.

 

However, the biggest problem that we have here in NE was the fine imposed, the attention that it received, and sense that what happened was the worst thing in recent sports history.   The trouble with this is how the NFL treated prior violations of the same rule and therefore its opinion on the matter prior to Jan. 2015. 

 

In a case on point where the Jet's employees were illegally tampering with kicking balls after they were inspected, a violation the same rule, all that happened was a suspension of the employees, and no real media concern or concern outside of the state of NY on the matter.    With this back drop one should be able to understand a sense of injustice in light of what the Pats received and the attention that it brought.  

 

As for Kravitz, yes there are some fans that are just vile and rude and there were some that went overboard and agree on this front.  At the same time though there are some fans who think that perhaps he was not talking to an NFL employee at 1 am in the morning but may have been a leak from the team that called him to spill the beans and on that level some pats fans are frustrated.

 

[Yehoodi]

5 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

I would love to be able to put thousands of their diehard fans on a lie detector and ask them if they think Tom Brady was involved in Deflating those balls. I bet 99% of them would fail because you know 99% of them would so no  

 

I would love to do is to go back in time with Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine to Dec. 2014 and put fan bases of the other 31 teams on that same lie detector as ask them an honest question of what they think is a fine should be for someone taking some air out of a football and see what they fans would say. 

 

Something tells me that a high percentage of them would not think something along the lines of what was given to the Pats.

 

As for Pats fans thinking Brady was involved, I think you will find that it is a higher percentage than most think.  

[Yehoodi]

5 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

Bill Simmons is definitely unbiased when it comes to the Patriots, RedSox, and Celtics. OK I am lying  He is the face of their media and that dude is the most biased Mass fan I have ever seen in my life!

 

You need to look to Jerry Thornton on the most bias Mass fan.  .

 

Although Bill Simmons is a Boston Sports Guy, which he makes no bones about it, he does have a refreshing view on things and most of his articles on Boston teams, hit home as if a fan wrote the article.  Which is fun to read for Boston fans.

 

As for his non Boston articles, I never really had a problem with his angles on things.   And he has made some key contributions for he is the one that started the 30 for 30 problem to name one.

[Superman]

20 minutes ago, OffensivelyPC said:

On Simmons - to me, the bottom line is, to the extent he's not a journalist, I just don't find him entertaining and I don't find him to be very funny.  To the extent he is, he's not what he once was.

 

Agreed on that. He used to be entertaining and sometimes funny, then he went on multiple crusades, undermining whatever it was that used to like about him.

 

Just one thought on Grantland / 30 for 30, he was a producer, and the name behind those projects. He wasn't the one doing the fact finding and reporting. He set the overall direction for a media outlet, but that's different from being considered a reporter himself.