Alumni In the Pros: January 2012

[css228]

He obviously had the right to not go. And I have the right to think he's a dick for not going.

What complicates it is that he didn't announce his absence or the reason for it in advance. That's disrespectful and took the spotlight away from his team, which was where it belonged.

So it would be less disrespectful had he made a big deal of announcing in advance his decision not to go and reasons?  I think quietly skipping the event is probably the most respectful way to do it if he didn't want to attend. But YMMV.

No, it would have been less disrespectful if he'd said so beforehand and not turned it into a political dispute. Just a simple "I will not be attending this event and I have no further comment" several days or a week before would have done fine. Instead he stole the show, intentionally or not.

He used the event and his stature to make a loud political statement. Athletes have been doing this for some time. People can think he's a dick for doing it, but this is consistent only if all one condemns all political use of athletic celebrity equally.

I don't really care that he was making a political statement, but he put himself before his team and created a locker room problem. When Ali, or Smith and Carlos made statements, they did it in individual sports where the focus was about them already (although I'll grant that the Olympics is also about country). However it says something about you when you won't even show up for guys who fling themselves in front of masses of rubber flying at 100 MPH to help you do your job. Thomas was selfish and arrogant and his teammates have every right to be upset with him. Beyond being a jerk to his teammates though, its completely his right to do this.

[CowbellGuy]

I thought Keith (O) did a typically good job summing it up.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/worst-persons-hal-rounds-arkansas-cat-murderer-and-tim-thomas

He even beat out a cat killer.

[KeithK]

I thought Keith (O) did a typically good job summing it up.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/worst-persons-hal-rounds-arkansas-cat-murderer-and-tim-thomas

He even beat out a cat killer.

Someone still watches Keith Olbermann?

[Rita]

I thought Keith (O) did a typically good job summing it up.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/worst-persons-hal-rounds-arkansas-cat-murderer-and-tim-thomas

He even beat out a cat killer.

Someone still watches Keith Olbermann?

As I found out on NPR this morning, today is Keith Olbermann's birthday _and_ he is apparently arguing with his bosses at Current TV (but they didn't get into the details). I guess somethings don't change, even as one ages. I do like his baseball musings, on his MLB blog.

[Ronald '09]

I thought Keith (O) did a typically good job summing it up.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/worst-persons-hal-rounds-arkansas-cat-murderer-and-tim-thomas

He even beat out a cat killer.

Someone still watches Keith Olbermann?

Someone watched Keith Olbermann in the first place?

[CowbellGuy]

I thought Keith (O) did a typically good job summing it up.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/worst-persons-hal-rounds-arkansas-cat-murderer-and-tim-thomas

He even beat out a cat killer.

Someone still watches Keith Olbermann?

Someone watched Keith Olbermann in the first place?

MSNBC probably wouldn't exist today if they hadn't.

[KeithK]

I thought Keith (O) did a typically good job summing it up.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/worst-persons-hal-rounds-arkansas-cat-murderer-and-tim-thomas

He even beat out a cat killer.

Someone still watches Keith Olbermann?

Someone watched Keith Olbermann in the first place?

Oh, he was great back in the day when he was on Sportscenter. Back when many of the folks on this board were still in elementary school. If only he'd stuck with sports...

[KeithK]

I thought Keith (O) did a typically good job summing it up.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/worst-persons-hal-rounds-arkansas-cat-murderer-and-tim-thomas

He even beat out a cat killer.

Someone still watches Keith Olbermann?

Someone watched Keith Olbermann in the first place?

MSNBC probably wouldn't exist today if they hadn't.

The world sure owes a debt of gratitude to Keith for that... ::rolleyes::

[Al DeFlorio]

It would make a big difference if people would keep their strident political views off this forum.

[KeithK]

It would make a big difference if people would keep their strident political views off this forum.

Oh come now. We're just tiptoeing around the political in this thread.  I'm sure we could get a lot more strident over in JSID if we wanted to expend the effort. :-)

[Redscore]

It would make a big difference if people would keep their strident political views off this forum.

Second that.  I think there are too many lefties hanging out here but we root for the same team and that's why we are here.  If we talk about politics, we would be at each other's throats.  So knock it off...

[Ben]

It would make a big difference if people would keep their strident political views off this forum.

Second that.  I think there are too many lefties hanging out here but we root for the same team and that's why we are here.  If we talk about politics, we would be at each other's throats.  So knock it off...

Can't trust those Scaevolae.

[KeithK]

It would make a big difference if people would keep their strident political views off this forum.

Second that.  I think there are too many lefties hanging out here but we root for the same team and that's why we are here.  If we talk about politics, we would be at each other's throats.  So knock it off...

Can't trust those Scaevolae.

I prefer to use sinister.:-D

[TheMatrix]

Greening has been chosen to participate in the Fastest Skater and Elimination Shootout in the All Stars Skills Competition tomorrow.

[Rita]

Greening has been chosen to participate in the Fastest Skater and Elimination Shootout in the All Stars Skills Competition tomorrow.

Each team has their own "skills day" for the fans and Colin won the Fastest Skater for the Sens, and IIRC, was very close to the fasest time ever. I hope he breaks it tomorrow night.