Last night after Oregon was humbled on the "Smurf Turf" by Boise St., a bizarre scene erupted that lead to 24 hr. coverage and a year long suspension. When the dust settled and the teams were supposedly shaking hands after the game, a Boise St. player made a big mistake, followed by an Oregon player making an even bigger one. A full time bench player who will forever be recognized more on YOUTUBE.COM, then in real life, taunted Lagarrett Blount the starting RB for the Oregon Ducks, and was greeted with one of the BEST left crosses Da GOAT has ever seen. I mean a "Hay maker" for the ages. A left cross that rivals Roy Jones, Jr. and Mike Tyson respectively. A straight up GOOD NIGHT shot! But not only did this "punch for the ages" WRECK the Boise St. players jaw, it effectively RUINED Blounts collective college life. After punching the Boise St. player, Blount proceeded to get into a verbal altercation with the drunk "tater tossers" in the BSU crowd. This in turn lead to a scuffle with a security guard, a pushing match with a coach in the tunnel and a YEAR LONG SUSPENSION.
Now the question posed to DA GOAT is: "Does the punishment fit the crime?"
Well, here's my take.
Blount made a very poor decision in hitting the jackass back-up for BSU, but the real problem was the aftermath. Had Blount just rocked the BSU player and gone quietly into the night, he would probably catch a max 3-4 games suspension and then no harm, no foul. But he took it too far and it cost him everything. I don't condone his actions, although the cross was a money shot, I do not however believe that the punishment fits the crime.
IF you have ever been in Blounts situation at that very moment, then it is hard to just say "Throw the book at him!". All of us have been in a bar or something, and our girl just left us, we got a fat girl pregnant, just lost $5 LARGE on a .5 point or whatever, and "Tough Guy" at the bar says something dumb. You first reactions is "IT'S GO TIME BIG BOY" and you launch a Brock Lesner type attack. Once you pummel that guy, then every tough guy at the bar wants some of you, and guess where you end up? Right in LaGarrett Blounts shoes and you act just the way he did, it's your natural gut reaction, and don't say it isn't because it is. Now your sitting in a jail cell or court room and the judge has to figure out whether to give you probation or a nickle in a 6x6. He is taking into account everything from that night, and even though you were justified in your reaction, he does not take into account your emotional state at the time. This is key.
Raw emotion is a tough thing to control, and Blount lost his. I think that Oregon did the "Save Face" thing. Everyone would have questioned anything less. i don't think that ruining a young man's life over an emotional mistake is the answer. I hope that LaGarrett Blount sticks with football and does something great with his life. I hope the jackass from BSU has to have massive reconstructive surgery, gurgles when talks, and has to eat out of a straw for a month...and is suspended for at least 5 games. I hope that "The Punch" is the most viewed YOUTUBE video for the next 5 years. I hope he gets clowned everyday for this, because he is nothing more then a piece of trash. What he did to me is worst then what Blount did, minus the aftermath with the fans. Of course no one else will look at him the way I do, but it's the truth. Don't blame LaGarrett Blount for acting with instinctive raw emotion, blame the BSU player for starting the whole thing. That guy is the guy I teach my son about. IF he starts it with you, you whip his ass and make sure he remembers who you are. But IF you start it(which Blount DID NOT) you deserve what you get. Blount does not.
Enjoy,
Da GOAT
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
wow goat..I generally disagree with you on this one. I was also taught to finish any fight that someone else starts with me. BLOUNT took it to the physical level. Now I wasn't impressed with Hout's actions to say the least, but I have encountered that guy on every playing field of every sport I have ever played.(Even in darts, pool, poker, washers) And, no doubt, there have been times I would loved to have knocked "that guy" out at the moment his mouth running and my frustration coincide. But the right thing to do is to take the higher road and take your lumps. A senior in college can't lose total control of his actions/emotions because somebody hurt his feelings. Can you honestly look at the footage of the incident and say that punch was thrown in self defense? I beleive "You ain't fighting until a punch is thrown and you ain't never been in a fight unless you have had your ass whipped."
When you play sports for a university, you are first and foremost a representative of that university. Blount's behaviour has a huge ripple effect for the University of Oregon; both acedemically and athletically. As long as Blount is on an Oregon sideline, the school and this event are indelibly linked. (Not good particularly when the owner of Nike is your primary contributer...is any company more image conscious?)
I do agree that Bount's actions following the punch were in some ways worse than the punch itself. And attacking coaches, teamates, security guards, and fans doesn't seem consistent with someone who was defending themself from any perceived initial "threat"
I want my nephew, and any children I may have, to know that the world is full of assholes...particularly in sports. You don't fight with every asshole you come across because they hurt your feelings, talked trash, etc. In fact, I want them to be smart enough to recognize it for what it is when it happens and not be lured into a pointless confrontation. The flipside of this is that no one, no matter how big or tough, lays a hand on you, treads on you, imposes themself on you against your will without getting the best you have to offer. Always defend yourself from harm.
Sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing to do. Blount was woefully unable to live up to the expectations and obligations asked of him as an Oregon football player. Because of that, he no longer has the privilege of representing the school. I really don't see how Blount's life is ruined now. Playing in the NFL is not an entitlement. When you have alot to lose, which Blount certainly did before this incident, than it takes that much more character and maturity to hold onto it. Tht's true for anyone - athlete or not. Maybe he continues to work out, gets a shot at an NFL camp, and does well. But the NFL will never give him a shot until he demonstrates a level of maturity and understanding he currently does not posess; athletic ability not withstanding. Blount will ultimately have to figure these things out for himself; as we all do. That's life.
Chup-
I can't argue with any of your points, very strong work. You're right, they do represent the university and they have "NO RIGHT" to be in the NFL, so I do side with you on this. You're an asseset to this blog, your views are greatly appreciated.
Post a Comment