Another slur, another apology:

The June 4 Jock Talk

Columnist takes Seau to task.

[ June 03, 2004, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]

Maybe he could spearhead getting free tickets for a gay day with the Dolphins and have them acknowledged with a full-blown sign over the scoreboard sponsored by Junior Seau. Each player could donate a few of his complimentary tickets to the cause according to how much support he wants to show - like a donation plate so to speak.

Who knows? It might even create an atmosphere that would tempt a Dolphin to come out. wink

[ June 16, 2004, 05:41 PM: Message edited by: sportinlife ]

Did anyone see this topic debated on that Max show on ESPN last night? We're "too politically correct" and we're stiffling free expression. At least one of the commentators spoke to the idea that Seau was apparently trying to say his lockerroom wasn't a bunch of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals...they're guys who CARE, damn it! Care, and say "faggot" a lot, too...

From Dave Hyde's Sun-Sentinel column: "I need to take a class," Seau said when asked if he might need counseling. "I really do."

In the wake of Garrison Hearst's public comments a year and a half ago, the SF Chronicle published an interview with Mike Haynes in which he implied that the NFL might look at adding "gay awareness" to its player training and support agenda. Good answer in the heat of the moment, but nothing ever came of it. Obviously.

Good column in the Sun-Sentinel. I'd like to see Seau actually follow through and take that class. And perhaps visit the next Outsports Convention.

I have to say, I think Seau's apology and his other comments sound much more contrite and sincere than any other apologies I've heard from Shockey, et. al. I think he means it.

I think the slur reflects more on the on the overall anti-gay atmosphere in professional sports than on Seau himself. I'm not try to make excuses for him; of course he should have known not to use the word "faggot". I think now he understands the impact of using it.

I agree a little with maxallen. I don't think a lot of straight people realize how derogatory "faggot" is. Especially when it is not being used as an insult. I think a lot of straight guys view "faggot" as the male equivalent of lesbian. Seau wasn't using it to insult another player, teammate, coach or fan. He was using it to describe an environment. His apology was also much better than most of the other athlete's guilty of this offense.

I've always like Seau and thought he had good character. It would be nice to see him follow through with some sort of action as penance to compensate for his offense.

I think the issue here is not so much the use of the word "faggot" as the implication that any guy who says he "loves" another guy must be gay - and again the worst thing to be in a locker room would be gay. If Seau had said "I'm not gay, but I have to say I love these guys" it wouldn't have been as controversial, but it still would represent the homophobia in sports.

BTW, I also appreciate Seau's apology more than most - no "if anyone was offended" crap - he issued a reasonable apology for a stupid comment.

I know it's been said before but insert any racial slur in place of "faggot", and all of a sudden there is hell to pay.

I do agree that his apology was more sincere than most we've seen and I also believe he is right when he says he needs to take a class. I think it should be the responsibility of team owners/management to make sure everyone gets diversity and sensitivity training. It should be mandatory, like it is in many other companies.

I guess before they can hold any classes, they must first admit there is a problem. They need to make it a priority and it needs to come from the top. Until that happens, we will see the constant pattern of someone making a homophobic comment, the media reporting it and then an apology.

The Dolphins have to work to sell tickets to football games. Even playoff games are sometimes not sold out until game time. South Florida has a very large gay population. Many gays, myself included, are season ticket holders.

Junior Seau's "comment" about "faggots" infuriated me. Many of these "faggots" are the people that help pay his salary. We go to the games, cheer for the players, and spend our money on tickets and concessions.

I won't hold Junior Seau's comments against the entire organization. But I will think twice before I cheer for Junior Seau again.

Im kind of torn over his comment actually. He realized what he said was wrong and apologized for being a moron, without having to wait 2 weeks and be forced to do it. He also didnt say "Im sorry if I offended anyone" which is the typical response of anyone who would say that.

So what he did say was wrong. But he did more or less point out his teammates are the homophobes more than he. He has the balls to tell his team he loves them and they call him a fag.

So at least give the guy some time to get his counseling or whatever he feels is needed. At least he actually realized what he said was wrong. And I think that actually speaks volumes of Junior Seau for owning up to it.

It is sad when someone who seems like such a genuinely good guy uses that term so casually and in a manner that suggests gay people are weak.

What is really weak is straight men who are afraid to buck the homophobic trend.

Which takes more courage: bashing a victum along with a group or standing up to the group to defend the victum? Homophobia is just cowardly.

I guess I'm the only one who's not bothered by this. When I read the comments, it's hard to find anything malicious. If anything, he's criticizing the people who say faggot and the resulting culture surrounding the sport that penalizes people for expressing affection.

The word itself doesn't really bother me too much either. I'm MUCH more offended by the non-slur comments from conservative politicians who use elevated language to basically claim that we're the worthless evil scum of society.

I am bothered by the double standard when gay slurs are compared to race slurs. But really, all the handwringing over both seems like far too much PC. If you want to change people's minds and perceptions, especially for young people, the way to go about it is by making the offending comment seem ignorant or uncool, NOT by getting hysterically oversensitive and prohibitive. People react against that.

Well said, torsten; the natural wisdom of the Midwest displays itself once again! :cool:

...and I hope it's Zach Thomas!! I've met him several times, and he has got an amazing body! He is also a very nice polite man, too...

This generation is far too "politically correct" ... dear god the guy says something that may offend SOME people and then appoligizes for it and still gets jumped on. You know what if you're offended by it, then write him a letter personally and tell him what you think of it. What is the point of coming on here and crying to everyone about how hurt and dissapointed and blah blah blah you are. You know what... maybe some other people don't care that he said that! Maybe some of us care more about hearing about something important other than the "poor me" I'm getting picked on!!! Like call me crazy but this whole FOOTBALL message board might be about postings about FOOTBALL rumors not about language choice. If you wanna get in a debate about that go find some english majors to hang around with. I'm sure you could waste your time better that way, maybe formulate several different word choices and send them to Junior. But really if you don't want to hear anything bad about your choice of lifestyle or whatever you feel offended over go lock yourself in your room with no link to the outside world. I promise, you won't have any problems then. People will always say something that offends SOMEONE so just get over it.

Interesting first post. Gotta love those Eagles fans, don't ya?

HAHAHAHA, For some reason i think the Eagles fan is just a poser or something.

Where the hell is SSM?

[ June 19, 2004, 07:00 PM: Message edited by: PhillyFan ]

SSM might be a school since he lists his occupation as "student." From his small-mindedness I'm guessing he's not in the gifted program.

SSM = Sault Sainte Marie, in Michigan and Ontario

[ June 20, 2004, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

I actually briefly met Seau before the Padres/Yankees World Series game a few years back at his Restaurant "Seau's" in Mission Valley San Diego. I gave him a anti-Yankees t-shirt, he signed autographs for me and my one of my friends, and it was obvious we were gay (Hell, we were stalking cute guys in his then cigar bar). Was pretty cool with us and didn't get a vibe of homophobe. In actuality, he took off his shirt and put on the t-shirt we gave him (a personal high for our group) and thanked us graciously.
Would chalk his comment up as non malicious.