AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > September > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPro sports run by spin doctors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Let’s see. Commissioner Roger Goodell just told ESPN that illegal dogfighting isn’t rampant among NFL players. Said Goodell, “This is an isolated case to Michael Vick from all the information we have.”
Then there is NBA commissioner David Stern’s insistence that Tim Donaghy was a “rogue” official involved in gambling on league games and providing inside information to high-stakes gamblers on the sport.
Oh, and what’s this ridiculous talk about a massive steroid problem in baseball?
Despite ongoing news of players getting busted for the use of performance-enhancing drugs, commissioner Bud Selig says it only proves that the game’s testing program is working.
Hmmm. Goodell, Stern and Selig also want us to believe that Lee Harvey Oswald really was the lone gunman in Dealey Plaza.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
Comments
By Mr. Obvious
September 5, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
RE: Pro Sports Run By Hypocrites
Hey, Pro Sports and the AJC Sports Writers sound like they now have at least ONE THING in common.
Hosers!
By BirdMahn
September 5, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
You make a point then negate it all with your JFK conspiracy reference. You’ve been watching too many Oliver Stone flicks Terence
By WTF
September 5, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Yes, they’re all hypocrites…………and so are you Terence!!!
By Gene
September 5, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
Please add Arthur Blank to the list. He turned a blind eye to Vick’s adventures, even facilitated them, until the public called him on it. Fans pay the ridiculous salaries for pro athletes as well as all of the layers of commissioners and player-association parasites. Things will not change until the public becomes as militant and active as PETA. I don’t think that will happen anytime soon. But, at least the NFL is taking a stand.
By Getaway
September 5, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
Gene
Do you have any proof that Blank knew anything about Vick’s activities beforehand? Any witnesses? Pictures? I’m sure the AJC would love to have anything you’ve got.
You’re calling him out, but I think he’s done everything in as reasonable a manner as can be expected. Reeves, Mora, McKay and Blank aren’t responsible for this.
One of the many negative things about this whole affair is that a counter-culture whack-job organization like PETA has gotten some sort of credibilty.
By Grow up goofballs
September 5, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this
I don’t know Mr. Moore but I’m willing to bet that he doesn’t spend time reading words of someone whose writing he professes to dislike. That would make him stupid wouldn’t it?
Writers here are PAID to write. They’re not paid to read your jibes, insults or borderline Oswald like rants. GM’s don’t read the blogs for ideas on trades and players could give a rip if you think they’re not really trying. If you want your opinion to be taken seriously try doing the same to the opinions of others. Everybody doesn’t have to be a jerk.
By Najeh Davenpoop
September 5, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
If Roger Goodell hadn’t made it a point to bring attention to his new conduct policy, would public reaction have been as negative toward Pacman Jones, Michael Vick, Chris Henry, etc.? Seems to me that while Tagliabue was commissioner and sweeping Ray Lewis and Leonard Little under the rug, the public opinion of NFL players was a lot better than it is now. Obviously some fans are happy that Goodell is “taking a stand” or whatever, but if you ask me Goodell would have been better off continuing to sweep off-field problems under the rug. Maybe then he wouldn’t have to do so much spin-doctoring in the first place.
Think about it this way — is the NFL better off from a business perspective now that poor off-field conduct is more severely punished, and as a result more publicized? Are more fans going to come to games now because they see Goodell handing down lengthy suspensions? I don’t think so. On the flip side, would someone like Michael Vick have not taken part in dogfighting if the personal conduct policy was stronger? If he didn’t care about dogfighting being illegal, why would he have cared about the personal conduct policy? Goodell may feel like he’s riding on his moral high horse, but eventually his wallet is going to feel the effects of over-publicizing the NFL’s bad apples.
By D-Cider
September 5, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this
Terry, here is a headline for you: AJC sports columns written by idiots