Michael Wilbon has mild heart attack

[CNYSkinFan]

No link on this yeat but apparently Michael WQilbon of the Post and PTI has had a mild heart attack. Apparently he is recoverign well. Just heard this on ESPN Radio

[colkurtz]

Sad to hear that. He might have to cut back on his heavy tv and press schedule.

[Keino]

Well my first reaction is that I am not surprised at all. I mean look at how he screams day in and day out on PTI. Plus the pressures of being a columnist having to throw people under the bus in the wake of tragic events, must have been too much. Im not surprised at all.


(Just a taste of Wilbon's callousness re: ST aimed right back at him)

[redskin_rich]

I hope Wilbon is alright and this was the warning he needed to live and eat healthier. Hopefully, his heart is not damaged or at least nothing that can't be repaired.
The difference between a mild heart attack and a heart attack is when you live, they call it a mild heart attack.

[nicefellow31]

Best wishes to him and his family.

[Redskinmayhem]

wow, hope he gets better. I'm still pissed at his comments regarding ST but I still don't wish this upon anyone.

[hail2skins]

Moved to appropriate forum.

[WarEagle]

I am not surprised this happened. Wilbon loved fatty foods like barbecue and donuts. Embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it.

[lakeskin]

Well my first reaction is that I am not surprised at all. I mean look at how he screams day in and day out on PTI. Plus the pressures of being a columnist having to throw people under the bus in the wake of tragic events, must have been too much. Im not surprised at all.


(Just a taste of Wilbon's callousness re: ST aimed right back at him)

Classic.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Michael Wilbon is a class act and not afraid to stand up for what he believes. Get well soon Wilbon.

[Keino]

Michael Wilbon is a class act and not afraid to stand up for what he believes. Get well soon Wilbon.

There was nothing classy about his quick, jump to the gun opinion on the Sean Taylor shooting. Not one damn thing.

[CNYSkinFan]

There was nothing classy about his quick, jump to the gun opinion on the Sean Taylor shooting. Not one damn thing.
no that was wrong. but after the details came out he did do a mea culpa and say he was wrong on PTI. More then some of the other jerks who jumped the gun and would not admit they were wrong later on.

[Ibleedburgundy]

There was nothing classy about his quick, jump to the gun opinion on the Sean Taylor shooting. Not one damn thing.

Obviously I disagree but it seems you've become what you despise in this thread.

[Keino]

Obviously I disagree but it seems you've become what you despise in this thread.

Turn-about is fair play.

I never claimed to be classy.

[Keino]

no that was wrong. but after the details came out he did do a mea culpa and say he was wrong on PTI. More then some of the other jerks who jumped the gun and would not admit they were wrong later on.


I saw his mea culpa and it was a "yadda yadda yadda, BUT........"

No points for that for me. Wilbon was dead to me after that. Eff him.

[smoak]

Well my first reaction is that I am not surprised at all. I mean look at how he screams day in and day out on PTI. Plus the pressures of being a columnist having to throw people under the bus in the wake of tragic events, must have been too much. Im not surprised at all.


(Just a taste of Wilbon's callousness re: ST aimed right back at him)

Perfect post and I ticked you beat me to it.

[Biggie]

While I was pissed at Wilbon for what he said after ST died, I hope he's ok.

[shally]

No link on this yeat but apparently Michael WQilbon of the Post and PTI has had a mild heart attack. Apparently he is recoverign well. Just heard this on ESPN Radio

best wishes for a full recovery...

[suppitty]

I am not surprised this happened. Wilbon loved fatty foods like barbecue and donuts. Embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it.

haha nice. I used to like him when he would actually write original columns. Now he just states the obvious in most of his articles, and writes about race in almost every single one.

[Keino]

I am not surprised this happened. Wilbon loved fatty foods like barbecue and donuts. Embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it.

Not sure how I missed this, but even better played than my own attempt. I believe you used his exact words.

[Fathead]

If someone would have told me that one tv sports journalist would have a heart attack, the first name I would have thought of would have been Mike Wilbon.*



















* If you said internet of course it would have been Pastabelly.

[cal_junior]

As is often the case in life, Wilbon is being treated better than he treated others.

[greatest2]

its Mikes fault he had a heart attack. im not surprised it was him with his past of screaming and running around anywhere. you make your bed you sleep in it.


^^^^^
sound like anybody? doesn't feel good huh mike..

[WarEagle]

Not sure how I missed this, but even better played than my own attempt. I believe you used his exact words.

I sure did. I had to look them up.

OT: Bob Ryan's son died Sunday (suicide).

[smoak]

Not sure how I missed this, but even better played than my own attempt. I believe you used his exact words.

Yeah kudos WE and others.

Of course I hope Wilbon is fine, but these were my initial thoughts, but by the time I got out here it was too late...

[Syllable]

ST lay in the Hospital and Collumnist might have said some bad things and you guys condemned it....

Now Wilbon goes through something that was life threatening and the same fans are making themselves out as hypocrites.

I hope he gets better and this has no long lasting effects on him.

[The Skinsinator]

Don't agree with all of MW's points especially about the Taylor but overall I think he does a good job and wish him the best with this. Would wish the same thing even if I didn't care for him.

[Fathead]

ST lay in the Hospital and Collumnist might have said some bad things and you guys condemned it....

Now Wilbon goes through something that was life threatening and the same fans are making themselves out as hypocrites.

I hope he gets better and this has no long lasting effects on him.




It is not hypocritical to dish back what Wilbon dished out himself.

[Keino]

ST lay in the Hospital and Collumnist might have said some bad things and you guys condemned it....

Now Wilbon goes through something that was life threatening and the same fans are making themselves out as hypocrites.

I hope he gets better and this has no long lasting effects on him.

Turn about is fair play, not hypocrisy. I would never wish harm on anyone, but I certainly ain't gonna well wish someone who couldn't show restraint in throwing a man fighting for his life under the bus....WRONGLY I might add.

Wilbon chose to use a man to score debate points and he wasn't remotely correct in his assessment. Wilbon essentially blamed Sean Taylor for being shot while protecting his home, wife and child. What kind of person does that?

[WarEagle]

ST lay in the Hospital and Collumnist might have said some bad things and you guys condemned it....

Now Wilbon goes through something that was life threatening and the same fans are making themselves out as hypocrites.

I hope he gets better and this has no long lasting effects on him.

If Wilbon had choked to death on some complimentary Buffalo Wings then I'd feel bad, but with this, meh. I guess him missing the most significant Super Bowl since 1972 is pretty good divine retribution for the hateful things he said about ST.

[LATrueRedskin]

My best wishes to Mike Wilbon for a speedy recovery.

[akhhorus]

Wilbon chose to use a man to score debate points and he wasn't remotely correct in his assessment. Wilbon essentially blamed Sean Taylor for being shot while protecting his home, wife and child. What kind of person does that?

Wilbon didn't say that. He said:
if he heard that a Redskin was shot, that Taylor would be the first person he'd think of.
That his first reaction was that something from his neighborhood or past caught up with him(and pointed out that long time friends of Taylor like Antrelle Rolle and Taylor's cousin agreed with this theory in the beginning).

And when the facts came out, he said in a chat on December 3rd I believe, that he was wrong about his characterizations of Taylor's murder.

[LATrueRedskin]

Wilbon didn't say that. He said:
if he heard that a Redskin was shot, that Taylor would be the first person he'd think of.
That his first reaction was that something from his neighborhood or past caught up with him(and pointed out that long time friends of Taylor like Antrelle Rolle and Taylor's cousin agreed with this theory in the beginning).

And when the facts came out, he said in a chat on December 3rd I believe, that he was wrong about his characterizations of Taylor's murder.

Which was my first assumption as well.

[AGibbsGirl]

OT: Bob Ryan's son died Sunday (suicide).

ok...for us locals...this is not Bob Ryan the weatherman for Channel 4...whom we all love like a Father...or at least I do...sorry for this other Bob Ryan though, his kid sounded like a great guy

[WarEagle]

ok...for us locals...this is not Bob Ryan the weatherman for Channel 4...whom we all love like a Father...or at least I do...sorry for this other Bob Ryan though, his kid sounded like a great guy

I apologize, I didn't realize you all had a D.C. Bob Ryan up there. I was referencing the Boston Globe Bob Ryan, who makes appearances on those afternoon ESPN sports talk shows.

[smoak]

ok...for us locals...this is not Bob Ryan the weatherman for Channel 4...whom we all love like a Father...or at least I do...sorry for this other Bob Ryan though, his kid sounded like a great guy

Assume all posts from WE start from Boston and slowly radiate outwards... Very slowly.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

Assume all posts from WE start from Boston and slowly radiate outwards... Very slowly.

LMAO

[ryflan47]

Threads like this are why I post on an average of one or twice a week here.

I'm disgusted with some of the reactions in this thread.

[Keino]

Wilbon didn't say that. He said:
if he heard that a Redskin was shot, that Taylor would be the first person he'd think of.
That his first reaction was that something from his neighborhood or past caught up with him(and pointed out that long time friends of Taylor like Antrelle Rolle and Taylor's cousin agreed with this theory in the beginning).

And when the facts came out, he said in a chat on December 3rd I believe, that he was wrong about his characterizations of Taylor's murder.

When one opines that the lifestyle one leads and embraces is the cause of his shooting, that is essentially blaming the victim of the shooting and that was what Wilbon opined, prior to the facts coming out. I didn't read his Dec 3 retraction, but heard his PTI retraction and I wasn't impressed.

[akhhorus]

When one opines that the lifestyle one leads and embraces is the cause of his shooting, that is essentially blaming the victim of the shooting and that was what Wilbon opined, prior to the facts coming out.

I think thats a bad way to read comments like his. I believe that his point was that if you want to get out of a violent world(or frankly any world: violent, gay, southern, rich, poor, etc) and you want to get out of said world, you need to completely break with that world. And at the time, he had people close to Taylor saying similar things.

I didn't read his Dec 3 retraction, but heard his PTI retraction and I wasn't impressed.

I believe he said flat out that he was wrong and that he should have waited until the facts were out.

[Keino]

I think thats a bad way to read comments like his. I believe that his point was that if you want to get out of a violent world(or frankly any world: violent, gay, southern, rich, poor, etc) and you want to get out of said world, you need to completely break with that world. And at the time, he had people close to Taylor saying similar things.

I believe he said flat out that he was wrong and that he should have waited until the facts were out.

Fair enough. I can admit that I am still pissed and hurt over it (The whole thing...shooting, death and media treatment) and that may be clouding my ability to look at it in any objective sense. I had always liked Wilbon up to that point.

[Lacquer Head]

You know, with that crowd he's been running with his whole life, I can't say I'm surprised at all. You had to know his past was going to catch up with him eventually.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013103759.html

[AGibbsGirl]

ooops, this thread has already been posted in the Apache Forum

[csquared]

DELETE.........And besides what does this have to do with the Redskins?

[Lacquer Head]

He's a Redskins beat reporter.

If this doesn't have to do with the Redskins, then why is an Antonio Pierce thread here?

[techskinsfan]

You know, with that crowd he's been running with his whole life, I can't say I'm surprised at all. You had to know his past was going to catch up with him eventually.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013103759.html
wow thats dirty...i know he disrespected ST but come on

[Lacquer Head]

wow thats dirty...i know he disrespected ST but come on

Ahh, it's just a little hyperbole. I was trying to make a point about making assumptions, but it looks like I double posted in the wrong forum anyway.

[greatest2]

wow thats dirty...i know he disrespected ST but come on

the golden rule = do onto others as you would like done onto you.

why is it ok for him to say it to ST, but nobody can say it to him?

There is already a thread in another forum, and i suggest reading the comments in that, as well as War Eagles post because that is how i feel.

[rhummer37]

I saw his mea culpa and it was a "yadda yadda yadda, BUT........"

No points for that for me. Wilbon was dead to me after that. Eff him.

"Eff" you

I thought the same thing that Wilbon did when he made the statements that got Skins fans so upset.

Given Taylor's history, why was there so much anger over his comments?

It turns out the comments were wrong and Wilbon sort of apologized for the way in which the whole situation was handled.

Now lets post angry messages on the internet in response to Wilbon's heart attack, that'll teach him!

[greatest2]

do onto others as you would like done onto you.

if wilbon don't like his treatment here (which i wouldn't bet in a million years he reads or cares about) then he shouldn't say what he said about st.

i don't know why people are mad at some of the post's here. They are as logical as his at ST's. If i heard someone on PTI had a heart attack i would say wilbon and that his fatty foods and screaming caught up to him. as War eagle said, he embraced it, loved it, liked to run it, and refused to divorce himself from it.

[Keino]

"Eff" you

I thought the same thing that Wilbon did when he made the statements that got Skins fans so upset.

Given Taylor's history, why was there so much anger over his comments?

It turns out the comments were wrong and Wilbon sort of apologized for the way in which the whole situation was handled.

Now lets post angry messages on the internet in response to Wilbon's heart attack, that'll teach him!


I will post my opinion on the internet when I feel like it. And I would suggest that you tone down how you talk to me. I haven't directed an "Eff you" to you or any other member of this forum and I expect, No , I DEMAND the same respect.

If you thought the same thing as Wilbon initially, then shame on you for making assumptions about someone you don't even know.

[dj_stouty]

Merged.

[csquared]

He's a Redskins beat reporter.

If this doesn't have to do with the Redskins, then why is an Antonio Pierce thread here?

Michael Wilbon is a sports reporter. He doesnt only do Redskin stuff. The Pierce thread was there because he was talking about the Redskins.

[csquared]

do onto others as you would like done onto you.
if wilbon don't like his treatment here (which i wouldn't bet in a million years he reads or cares about) then he shouldn't say what he said about st.

i don't know why people are mad at some of the post's here. They are as logical as his at ST's. If i heard someone on PTI had a heart attack i would say wilbon and that his fatty foods and screaming caught up to him. as War eagle said, he embraced it, loved it, liked to run it, and refused to divorce himself from it.

And why exactly do you repeat yourself in just about every post?

[Lacquer Head]

Sorry mods, didn't even realize this forum existed.

On the bright side, now I know.

P.S. I do think Wilbon is a good journalist but he really upset me during ST's death, so I stand 100% behind my editorial comments, even though my thread was misplaced. If he died or something, I'd keep my mouth shut, but since he's alive, turnabout is fair play. Obviously some people in the media don't have the discretion that I do, but I digress.

[Keino]

Sorry mods, didn't even realize this forum existed.

On the bright side, now I know.

P.S. I do think Wilbon is a good journalist but he really upset me during ST's death, so I stand 100% behind my editorial comments, even though my thread was misplaced. If he died or something, I'd keep my mouth shut, but since he's alive, turnabout is fair play. Obviously some people in the media don't have the discretion that I do, but I digress.

I stand behind your comments as well. They were entirely appropriate. It's not like you are wishing ill on him, just giving him some of the same that he gave to us when ST was shot.

BTW - I read his column today (1st one since the ST death) and it seems like he has had a life changing experience. I will check him out again and see if it is reflected in his tone.

[greatest2]

And why exactly do you repeat yourself in just about every post?

notice Dj said he merged the thread. i post once when it was in the main forum, and then i found this one and i posted here. I didn't know he would merge them.

you happy now sir?:confused:

[greatest2]

I stand behind your comments as well. They were entirely appropriate. It's not like you are wishing ill on him, just giving him some of the same that he gave to us when ST was shot.


bingo

[shally]

as someone who has also just undergone a life changing health issue i can fully understand what wilbon is feeling right now, and the impact that one's words and prior actions can have on a person's outlook on life

having looked into the abyss and seen my own mortality (even at 60 it was unexpected because i had previously been blessed with great health) the overwhelming thoughts i had were sorrowful .. sorrow over the hurts i had caused people.. sorrow over my thoughtless actions.. sorrow over rudeness and impatience with family, friends and those who had trusted me in the past

and my selfish prayers were to be given just one more chance to make things right. happily, i have been granted that wish and each day i wake up hoping
and trying to make a positive difference in the life of every single person i come in contact with.. i add mike wilbon to that list for whom i pray now and hope he never forgets that feeling of the deep goodness in the people who
inhabit this world with him..and the humanity that binds him to all those people

[akhhorus]

I repeat all my posts in this thread.

[hail2skins]

"Eff" you

I know you didn't just say that to one of our mods. You shouldn't be saying that at all around here. Consider yourself warned. You will be banned.

[hail2skins]

Wilbon didn't say that. He said:
if he heard that a Redskin was shot, that Taylor would be the first person he'd think of.
That his first reaction was that something from his neighborhood or past caught up with him(and pointed out that long time friends of Taylor like Antrelle Rolle and Taylor's cousin agreed with this theory in the beginning).

And when the facts came out, he said in a chat on December 3rd I believe, that he was wrong about his characterizations of Taylor's murder.His first response was I'm not surprised. That's not something you say at the point in time in which it happened. Not matter what his reason was, it was a bad comment at the time. That's why folks reacted the way they did.

[akhhorus]

His first response was I'm not surprised. That's not something you say at the point in time in which it happened. Not matter what his reason was, it was a bad comment at the time. That's why folks reacted the way they did.

And Wilbon really has been the only national writer who said things like that who turned around and said that he was wrong and that he should have waited to say anything(Mariotti and Shapiro's sanctimony sans an apology for what they said makes their actions pathetic), yet he's still the devil and people take the time to make borderline tasteless comments when he has a heart attack? I don't get it. Its like Dr. Z and Peter King being slammed for their non-voting for Art Monk heading into the decision day for Canton, yet they've both publicly said that they're voting for Monk now.

[hail2skins]

And Wilbon really has been the only national writer who said things like that who turned around and said that he was wrong and that he should have waited to say anything(Mariotti and Shapiro's sanctimony sans an apology for what they said makes their actions pathetic), yet he's still the devil and people take the time to make borderline tasteless comments when he has a heart attack? I don't get it. Its like Dr. Z and Peter King being slammed for their non-voting for Art Monk heading into the decision day for Canton, yet they've both publicly said that they're voting for Monk now.Let's not start this debate again but I don't recall him apologizing. Is it in print anywhere (even just mentioned that he did?)

[rhummer37]

I thought about creating a separate thread about it and probably getting more hits; instead I shall branch off the main idea of this one.

Below is the article which-?if I am correct?- so many Skins fans are upset with concerning Mr. Wilbon.

Why?

Please know that I am a die hard Redskins fan like many of you and was deeply hurt by the passing of S Taylor; however, Wilbon and I had similar thoughts at similar times concerning the cause of the situation.

Did people think it was too soon for such an outlandish idea? He told you not to read in the first paragraph.

No where is the Washington Post labeled NONFICTION; it was his editorial column.

As it turns out, S Taylor was not murdered to settle a score in his earlier life. I do not think Wilbon apologized for his comments and I do not know why he was supposed to. He did not attack S Taylor in anyway that I can see. Was he supposed to apologize for publishing his lack of surprise surrounding the situation?

I thought about posting these thoughts of mine in the thread bashing Wilbon when his statements were originally made, but figured I would not get a sensible response.

While I have the authorities breathing down my neck (inside joke), I figured I would go ahead and post.

Thank You

:typeR2:

*we have a dallas/eagles/giants sucks icon, but this is the only Redskins-related one?*

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112702680.html

Dying Young, Black

By Michael Wilbon
Wednesday, November 28, 2007; Page E01

If you're hoping to read about the on-field exploits of Sean Taylor, or a retrospective of his time with the Washington Redskins, it would probably be better if you cast your eyes to a piece elsewhere in this newspaper.

Seriously, you should stop right here.

Because we're going to have a different conversation in this space -- about the violent and senseless nature of the act that took his life, about trying to change course when those around you might not embrace such a change, about dying young and black in America, about getting the hell out of Dodge if at all possible.

I wasn't surprised in the least when I heard the news Monday morning that Sean Taylor had been shot in his home by an intruder. Angry? Yes. Surprised? Not even a little. It was only in June 2006 that Taylor, originally charged with a felony, pleaded no contest to assault and battery charges after brandishing a gun during a battle over who took his all-terrain vehicles in Florida. After that, an angry crew pulled up on Taylor and his boys and pumped at least 15 bullets into his sport-utility vehicle. So why would anybody be surprised? Had it been Shawn Springs, I would have been stunned. But not Sean Taylor.

It wasn't long after avoiding jail time and holding on to his football career that Taylor essentially said, "That's it, I'm out," to the world of glamorized violence he seemed comfortable negotiating earlier. Anybody you talk to, from Coach Joe Gibbs to Jeremy Shockey, his college teammate, will cite chapter and verse as to how Taylor was changing his life in obvious ways every day. He had a daughter he took everywhere. Gibbs said he attended team chapel services regularly. Everybody saw a difference, yet it didn't help him avoid a violent, fatal, tragic end.

Coincidence? We have no idea, not yet anyway. Could have been a random act, a break-in, something that happens every day in America, something that could happen to any one of us no matter how safe we think our neighborhood is. Could have been just that. But would it surprise me if it was more than that, if there was a distinct reason Taylor was sleeping with a machete under his bed? A machete. Even though his attorney and friend Richard Sharpstein says his instincts tell him "this was not a murder or a hit," would it stun me if Taylor was specifically targeted? Not one bit.

You see, just because Taylor was changing his life, don't assume the people who pumped 15 bullets into his SUV a couple of years ago were in the process of changing theirs. Maybe it was them, maybe not. Maybe it was somebody else who had a beef with Taylor a year earlier, maybe not. Maybe it was retribution or envy or some volatile combination.

Here's something we know: People close to Taylor, people he trusted to advise him, told him he'd be better off if he left South Florida, that anybody looking for him could find him in the suburbs of Miami just as easily as they could have found him at the U a few years ago. I'm told that Taylor was told to go north, to forget about Miami. I can understand why he would want to have a spot in or near his home town, but I sure wish he hadn't.

The issue of separating yourself from a harmful environment is a recurring theme in the life of black men. It has nothing to do with football, or Sean Taylor or even sports. To frame it as a sports issue is as insulting as it is naive. Most of us, perhaps even the great majority of us who grew up in big urban communities, have to make a decision at some point to hang out or get out.

The kid who becomes a pharmaceutical rep has the same call to make as the lawyer or delivery guy or accountant or sportswriter or football player: Cut off anybody who might do harm, even those who have been friends from the sandbox, or go along to get along.

Mainstream folks -- and, yes, this is a code word for white folks -- see high-profile athletes dealing with this dilemma and think it's specific to them, while black folks know it's everyday stuff for everybody, for kids with aspirations of all kinds -- even for a middle-class kid with a police-chief father, such as Taylor -- from South Central to Southeast to the South Side. Some do, some don't. Some will, some won't. Some can, some cannot. Often it's gut-wrenching. Usually, it's necessary. For some, it takes a little bit too long.

A recently retired future Hall of Fame NFL player called me the day Taylor was drafted by the Redskins, essentially recruiting a mentor for Taylor, somebody who knew D.C. well enough to tell Taylor what and who to avoid. The old pro thought Taylor wasn't that far from a pretty safe path but was worried about the trouble that can find a kid here in D.C., and certainly in Miami. The old pro had all the right instincts, didn't he? Taylor was only 24 when he died yesterday morning and from all credible accounts he seemed to be getting it in the last 18 months or so. But it's difficult to outrun the past, even with 4.4 speed in the 40. Running away from the kind of trouble we're talking about is harder than running in quicksand.

It's senseless and tragic either way, much in the same way Len Bias's death was senseless and tragic, and sparked so much examination, much of it resented. I drove to Redskins Park yesterday morning and left rather quickly. It was way too much like the aftermath of Bias's death. We, the media, were camped out. Teammates walked in, not wanting to say anything, understandably. Some things are eerily similar. Bias was 22. Each had been with his institution, Bias at Maryland and Taylor with the Redskins, for four years. Everywhere you went in D.C. yesterday, Taylor was the conversation. And people of a certain age, from Dulles International Airport to Georgia Avenue, talked about how they were reminded of Bias's death. For many of us it's a defining moment in our lives.

Of course, there are enormous differences. We were so much more innocent in June 1986, and Bias's death was a complete shock. There was no warning, no hint that he had ever courted danger or that it had ever gone looking for him. And Bias, though unintentionally, harmed himself. Taylor, no matter what he might have been involved in at one time, was a victim in this violent episode, a man in his bedroom minding his own business.

But what they do share is dying too soon, unnecessarily so, while young and athletic, seemingly on top of the world. Though we're likely to struggle in great frustration to understand the circumstances of how Taylor left so soon, how dare we not put forth an honest if sometimes uncomfortable effort to examine his life in some greater context than football.

[greatest2]

Rhummer - Again, if its good for wilbon to say, its good for us to say right.


I am not surprised this happened. Wilbon loved fatty foods like barbecue and donuts. Embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it.

my feelings ^

[Keino]

He modified his comments in that column. The day of his reaction he had a Post Chat.

[Keino]

And Wilbon really has been the only national writer who said things like that who turned around and said that he was wrong and that he should have waited to say anything(Mariotti and Shapiro's sanctimony sans an apology for what they said makes their actions pathetic), yet he's still the devil and people take the time to make borderline tasteless comments when he has a heart attack? I don't get it. Its like Dr. Z and Peter King being slammed for their non-voting for Art Monk heading into the decision day for Canton, yet they've both publicly said that they're voting for Monk now.

His initial comment was borderline tasteless, and that was the point. And certainly Im not holding him to a different standard than Mariotti, or Shapiro or that fool Whitlock. Point is, I expected better of Wilbon and while it does him credit that he manned up in Dec 3 chat, his initial reaction still bothers me. He should've known better and he should've been more sensitive to the fans of the Redskins, and fans of Sean Taylor:

This is what pissed people off....on the day he was shot:

"I know how I feel about Taylor, and this latest news isn't surprising in the least, not to me. Whether this incident is or isn't random, Taylor grew up in a violent world, embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it. He ain't the first and won't be the last. We have no idea what happened, or if what we know now will be revised later. It's sad, yes, but hardly surprising."

No different than what others posted on this thread, only we all know WIlbon will live.

[hail2skins]

I thought about creating a separate thread about it and probably getting more hits; instead I shall branch off the main idea of this one.

Below is the article which-?if I am correct?- so many Skins fans are upset with concerning Mr. Wilbon.

Why?

Please know that I am a die hard Redskins fan like many of you and was deeply hurt by the passing of S Taylor; however, Wilbon and I had similar thoughts at similar times concerning the cause of the situation.

Did people think it was too soon for such an outlandish idea? He told you not to read in the first paragraph.

No where is the Washington Post labeled NONFICTION; it was his editorial column.

As it turns out, S Taylor was not murdered to settle a score in his earlier life. I do not think Wilbon apologized for his comments and I do not know why he was supposed to. He did not attack S Taylor in anyway that I can see. Was he supposed to apologize for publishing his lack of surprise surrounding the situation?

I thought about posting these thoughts of mine in the thread bashing Wilbon when his statements were originally made, but figured I would not get a sensible response.

While I have the authorities breathing down my neck (inside joke), I figured I would go ahead and post.

Thank You

:typeR2:

*we have a dallas/eagles/giants sucks icon, but this is the only Redskins-related one?*

I deleted a lot of what you posted because it was too long and irrelevant for my response. But, I will say what you posted is not what folks were responding to in terms of what Wilbon said. Nice try though (inside joke). I'd like to also remind you that posting the entire article is against our guidelines.

signed: The Authority

[hail2skins]

Rhummer - Again, if its good for wilbon to say, its good for us to say right. my feelings ^
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Is that how it goes.

[rhummer37]

Rhummer - Again, if its good for wilbon to say, its good for us to say right.



Not sure I follow your logic


So...you all should be bashed as rude, merciless, ignorant-yet-know-it-all-morons, like some of you said Wilbon was????

I realize that some of the comments on this thread were made with no ill will; and I certainly meant no ill will in my responses. I am speaking more to those with genuine disdain directed toward the cardio patient in question.

[Syllable]

Not sure I follow your logic


So...you all should be bashed as rude, merciless, ignorant-yet-know-it-all-morons, like some of you said Wilbon was????

I realize that some of the comments on this thread were made with no ill will; and I certainly meant no ill will in my responses. I am speaking more to those with genuine disdain directed toward the cardio patient in question.

I see what Rhummer is saying, for what we all saw as despicable to pull out all the negatives while someone went through something life threatening, some people on this forum seem to have no problem doing it.

[rhummer37]

No different than what others posted on this thread, only we all know WIlbon will live.

I guess my problem is that I do not know how anyone else could not have had feeling somewhere similar to those expressed by Wilbon.

Around 10:30 the morning S Taylor was shot, when I first saw the breaking news (that he was shot, not dead or in critical condition, etc.) come across the bottom of sports center, the first thing I thought was: that moron, why was he still hanging around the crowd with whom he got in trouble with years ago.

Given his history, I do not know how anyone could have totally ignored the idea that it was an event from his past coming back to haunt him. So when Wilbon said his statements, I did not understand the backlash.

I know neither S Taylor nor M Wilbon, so I am no better judge of character than any of you; just figured I had nothing better to do on a Friday night than to get to the bottom of this wrath.

[shally]

His initial comment was borderline tasteless, and that was the point. And certainly Im not holding him to a different standard than Mariotti, or Shapiro or that fool Whitlock. Point is, I expected better of Wilbon and while it does him credit that he manned up in Dec 3 chat, his initial reaction still bothers me. He should've known better and he should've been more sensitive to the fans of the Redskins, and fans of Sean Taylor:

This is what pissed people off....on the day he was shot:

"I know how I feel about Taylor, and this latest news isn't surprising in the least, not to me. Whether this incident is or isn't random, Taylor grew up in a violent world, embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it. He ain't the first and won't be the last. We have no idea what happened, or if what we know now will be revised later. It's sad, yes, but hardly surprising."

No different than what others posted on this thread, only we all know WIlbon will live.

respectfully, we DONT know how long mr wilbon will live, even if he believes he has a good prognosis

my grandfather had a mild heart attack (granted it was decades ago) but he was sent home to recuperate at home and had a second, massive one about a week later and died before the paramedics could get to him.

[Keino]

respectfully, we DONT know how long mr wilbon will live, even if he believes he has a good prognosis

my grandfather had a mild heart attack (granted it was decades ago) but he was sent home to recuperate at home and had a second, massive one about a week later and died before the paramedics could get to him.

Well we don't know if any of us will wake up tomorrow, but is far less likely that Wilbon will expire than it was for S.T. I mean the encouraging news we got from Taylor was that he MAY have opened his eyes. Wilbon wrote a friggin column yesterday. I think a clear signal that he is in his way to recovery.


I guess my problem is that I do not know how anyone else could not have had feeling somewhere similar to those expressed by Wilbon.

Around 10:30 the morning S Taylor was shot, when I first saw the breaking news (that he was shot, not dead or in critical condition, etc.) come across the bottom of sports center, the first thing I thought was: that moron, why was he still hanging around the crowd with whom he got in trouble with years ago.

Given his history, I do not know how anyone could have totally ignored the idea that it was an event from his past coming back to haunt him. So when Wilbon said his statements, I did not understand the backlash.

I know neither S Taylor nor M Wilbon, so I am no better judge of character than any of you; just figured I had nothing better to do on a Friday night than to get to the bottom of this wrath.

My first reaction was not that. My first reaction and thought was exactly what was reported. A Botched roberry in which Sean was a hero in protecting his wife and child. What any of us would do in similar circumstances. And given what history? Various perceptions of him as a thug? I didn't have those perceptions.

There is a time and a place for everything. The morning the man was shot and fighting for his life without any facts was the wrong time to be talking about Taylor "embracing a violent lifestyle". My bet is that Wilbon never had a conversation with the young man, so how is he to know what the man loved and embraced, yet he had no problems opining about it while the guy was on his deathbed. Clearly he loved his girl and his daughter, as he sacrificed his life to save them.

Again, if you had the same thoughts, Shame on you. Stop being so easily swayed by the media portrayals of people.

[WarEagle]

Well we don't know if any of us will wake up tomorrow, but is far less likely that Wilbon will expire than it was for S.T. I mean the encouraging news we got from Taylor was that he MAY have opened his eyes. Wilbon wrote a friggin column yesterday. I think a clear signal that he is in his way to recovery.

My first reaction was not that. My first reaction and thought was exactly what was reported. A Botched roberry in which Sean was a hero in protecting his wife and child. What any of us would do in similar circumstances. And given what history? Various perceptions of him as a thug? I didn't have those perceptions.

There is a time and a place for everything. The morning the man was shot and fighting for his life without any facts was the wrong time to be talking about Taylor "embracing a violent lifestyle". My bet is that Wilbon never had a conversation with the young man, so how is he to know what the man loved and embraced, yet he had no problems opining about it while the guy was on his deathbed. Clearly he loved his girl and his daughter, as he sacrificed his life to save them.

Again, if you had the same thoughts, Shame on you. Stop being so easily swayed by the media portrayals of people.

I first learned about the shooting from this board, with a thread called "Sean Taylor Shot..." or something. Of course I thought it was outside of a club, because he was in the NFL, not because he was ST. But I quickly learned that I was wrong. Wilbon should have written an entire column taking back the wicked things he said about Sean while he was in ICU fighting for his life. I reserve the right to remain furious at him until he airs a more honorable retraction and clarification.

The image of Sean dying as a hero defending himself, his family, and his house, remains with me and causes my eyes to tear up if I think too hard about it.

[csquared]

Well we don't know if any of us will wake up tomorrow, but is far less likely that Wilbon will expire than it was for S.T. I mean the encouraging news we got from Taylor was that he MAY have opened his eyes. Wilbon wrote a friggin column yesterday. I think a clear signal that he is in his way to recovery.




My first reaction was not that. My first reaction and thought was exactly what was reported. A Botched roberry in which Sean was a hero in protecting his wife and child. What any of us would do in similar circumstances. And given what history? Various perceptions of him as a thug? I didn't have those perceptions.

There is a time and a place for everything. The morning the man was shot and fighting for his life without any facts was the wrong time to be talking about Taylor "embracing a violent lifestyle". My bet is that Wilbon never had a conversation with the young man, so how is he to know what the man loved and embraced, yet he had no problems opining about it while the guy was on his deathbed. Clearly he loved his girl and his daughter, as he sacrificed his life to save them.

Again, if you had the same thoughts, Shame on you. Stop being so easily swayed by the media portrayals of people.

Keino than let me ask you this......... Why did one of his best friends (Antrell Rolle) go on camera and say ......"They’ve been targeting him for three years now."? He also said he did not believe the killing was part of a burglary gone sour, and that Taylor had many enemies on the streets of Miami....... Now this guy knew him a heck of alot better than anyone here. So when his best friend comes out and says something like that what should we think?

[rhummer37]

Again, if you had the same thoughts, Shame on you. Stop being so easily swayed by the media portrayals of people.

I understand what you are saying; however, I have no information about the man at all if it were not through the media.

I can only judge the man who- and now I may inadvertently sound like I am bashing S Taylor- skipped rookie symposium, served vigilante justice over some punks who stole a pair of ATV's, spits on competitors to show superiority, got a DUI, would not return the calls of his Head Coach, and had friends fearful of his wellbeing in Florida as a result of his past history (did I miss anything?).

All of that has nothing to do with the media's portrayal; it was the result of decisions he made. I believe this provides further context and support for the initial reaction held by some (myself included) who followed the situation.

[smoak]

I understand what you are saying; however, I have no information about the man at all if it were not through the media.

I can only judge the man who- and now I may inadvertently sound like I am bashing S Taylor- skipped rookie symposium, served vigilante justice over some punks who stole a pair of ATV's, spits on competitors to show superiority, got a DUI, would not return the calls of his Head Coach, and had friends fearful of his wellbeing in Florida as a result of his past history (did I miss anything?).

All of that has nothing to do with the media's portrayal; it was the result of decisions he made. I believe this provides further context and support for the initial reaction held by some (myself included) who followed the situation.


Seriously, you're killing me. Lets just change the subject.

- Skipped Rookie Symposium??? Who really cares??
- The vigilante justice as you put it shows you didn't follow the case. It CLEARLY was a case of that DJ-ing DA trying to make a name for himself. His own words even indicate that. Was ST blameless? Probably not, but I'll take his words over those of convicted thugs with long rapsheets. This is what makes me so upset b/c of the number of people who are so uniformed.... Don't feed into it.
- Spitting is digusting and ST was ripped here for that. There is nothing you can say that will draw a link from spitting on a football field to being involved in gun crime.
- The DUI was thrown out. Thanks to the idiot media (which includes guys like Wilbon) the DUI gets front page billing and the dismissal gets back page.
- Returning the Coaches calls is a unrelated football matter
- His "friends"??? Who? There were a few people that wanted to run their mouth after his death, but I think that was more b/c they wanted attention. I personally couldn't tell you which of the people were truly ST friends and really knew him as a person.

Nobody here (that I saw) wished any true harm on Wilbon, but if he wants to act without a SHRED of journalistic integrity or ethical resbonsibility, then he should be prepared for the reaction. He is classless IMO and just because he had a heart attack doesn't change that. I wish him the best as I would almost anyone, but I'm not giving him more respect that he showed ST, the Redskins organization, Redskins fans, and any other person who read hist article. He was wrong, and we're just giving him a taste of his own medicine. If anything, he should have sincerely apologized and maybe he wouldn't be a victim of this anomosity.

[rhummer37]

Seriously, you're killing me. Lets just change the subject.

1 Skipped Rookie Symposium??? Who really cares??
2 The vigilante justice as you put it shows you didn't follow the case. It CLEARLY was a case of that DJ-ing DA trying to make a name for himself. His own words even indicate that. Was ST blameless? Probably not, but I'll take his words over those of convicted thugs with long rapsheets. This is what makes me so upset b/c of the number of people who are so uniformed.... Don't feed into it.
3 Spitting is digusting and ST was ripped here for that. There is nothing you can say that will draw a link from spitting on a football field to being involved in gun crime.
4 The DUI was thrown out. Thanks to the idiot media (which includes guys like Wilbon) the DUI gets front page billing and the dismissal gets back page.
5 Returning the Coaches calls is a unrelated football matter
6 His "friends"??? Who? There were a few people that wanted to run their mouth after his death, but I think that was more b/c they wanted attention. I personally couldn't tell you which of the people were truly ST friends and really knew him as a person.


You did not disprove my claim that being chased down by vengeful punks from S Taylor's past was a reasonable opinion to come to.

1- Shows character; being told to do something by your employer and leaving early (wasn't he there day 1?) is unacceptable
2- It takes a certain kind of person to pistol whip these "convicted thugs" and tell them you are going to kill them
3- Shows character; spitting is an unnecessary and immature way to show superiority over an opponent
4- please do not confuse thrown out with innocent; money talks;
"Taylor was given field-sobriety tests, which he failed, then refused to take a breath test, Newlin said. " http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4846-2004Oct28.html
5- shows character; avoiding contact with your boss is unacceptable
6- BFF A Rolle was the one I was thinking of; you do not get to decide who makes false statements for attention

[akhhorus]

His initial comment was borderline tasteless, and that was the point. And certainly Im not holding him to a different standard than Mariotti, or Shapiro or that fool Whitlock. Point is, I expected better of Wilbon and while it does him credit that he manned up in Dec 3 chat, his initial reaction still bothers me. He should've known better and he should've been more sensitive to the fans of the Redskins, and fans of Sean Taylor:

This is what pissed people off....on the day he was shot:

"I know how I feel about Taylor, and this latest news isn't surprising in the least, not to me. Whether this incident is or isn't random, Taylor grew up in a violent world, embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it. He ain't the first and won't be the last. We have no idea what happened, or if what we know now will be revised later. It's sad, yes, but hardly surprising."

No different than what others posted on this thread, only we all know WIlbon will live.

I repeat my comments from this thread.

No matter how you feel or interpret his comments, its still borderline tasteless to "try to get him back" when he's had a heart attack.

[akhhorus]

Keino than let me ask you this......... Why did one of his best friends (Antrell Rolle) go on camera and say ......"They’ve been targeting him for three years now."? He also said he did not believe the killing was part of a burglary gone sour, and that Taylor had many enemies on the streets of Miami....... Now this guy knew him a heck of alot better than anyone here. So when his best friend comes out and says something like that what should we think?

And Wilbon pointed this out, even as he was saying that he was wrong about his comments, that Rolle(and Taylor's cousin) thought that Taylor was targeted.

[Keino]

Keino than let me ask you this......... Why did one of his best friends (Antrell Rolle) go on camera and say ......"They’ve been targeting him for three years now."? He also said he did not believe the killing was part of a burglary gone sour, and that Taylor had many enemies on the streets of Miami....... Now this guy knew him a heck of alot better than anyone here. So when his best friend comes out and says something like that what should we think?

I didn't pay much attention to Antrelle Rolle. He was not on ground level, and his version/speculation flew in the face of everything that the Lawyer was saying, who was speaking for the Family (Including the girlfriend).

But I cannot answer the question as to why Antrelle Rolle would choose to speak out from hundreds of miles away, despite Police, the G/F and the family lawyer all saying it was a botched robbery. I can tell you why media ran with his comments....they were more sensational.

[Keino]

I repeat my comments from this thread.

No matter how you feel or interpret his comments, its still borderline tasteless to "try to get him back" when he's had a heart attack.

Your entitled to that opinion, but the quote that pissed everyone off (Myself included) is not nearly as benign as you portrayed them earlier in the thread.

Furthermore, nobody wished ill on him, just opined that they are not surprised (Sarcastically).

[Keino]

You did not disprove my claim that being chased down by vengeful punks from S Taylor's past was a reasonable opinion to come to.

1- Shows character; being told to do something by your employer and leaving early (wasn't he there day 1?) is unacceptable
2- It takes a certain kind of person to pistol whip these "convicted thugs" and tell them you are going to kill them
3- Shows character; spitting is an unnecessary and immature way to show superiority over an opponent
4- please do not confuse thrown out with innocent; money talks;
"Taylor was given field-sobriety tests, which he failed, then refused to take a breath test, Newlin said. " http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4846-2004Oct28.html
5- shows character; avoiding contact with your boss is unacceptable
6- BFF A Rolle was the one I was thinking of; you do not get to decide who makes false statements for attention


I am glad to see that even after the facts have come out, you are perfectly okay with blaming the victim of Sean Taylor's murder.

[rhummer37]

I am glad to see that even after the facts have come out, you are perfectly okay with blaming the victim of Sean Taylor's murder.

You either did not understand what I said, or you just did not read it.

I never blamed S Taylor for his death; I know what happened. I was merely showing the fact that it was not some outlandish idea M Wilbon had when he wrote his column and made his statements. S Taylor made decisions which revealed himself to be a bit of a punk (evidenced by the events I listed).

Did he "clean up his act" shortly before his demise? That is what they (fans/coaches/family/friends) said when he was shot; I do not know if it was true or not, never met the guy. And it does not really change anything, as Wilbon pointed out in his column: him changing does not make those around him change.

I did not come here to bash Taylor. I was just stating the history from which Wilbon and I pulled our initial reactions from.

[WarEagle]

Hope Wilbon had an ambulance in the driveway during the 4th quarter tonight...

[akhhorus]

I didn't pay much attention to Antrelle Rolle. He was not on ground level, and his version/speculation flew in the face of everything that the Lawyer was saying, who was speaking for the Family (Including the girlfriend).

But I cannot answer the question as to why Antrelle Rolle would choose to speak out from hundreds of miles away, despite Police, the G/F and the family lawyer all saying it was a botched robbery. I can tell you why media ran with his comments....they were more sensational.

Rolle was saying that at the time Wilbon(and other journalists) were saying that saying similar things and before anyone was really saying that it was a botched robbery. Rolle might have been "miles away", but he also was one of Taylor's best friends, and if his first thought was that Taylor was targeting, even if he wasn't, I don't think its going out on a limb for someone like Wilbon to bring that up.

Your entitled to that opinion, but the quote that pissed everyone off (Myself included) is not nearly as benign as you portrayed them earlier in the thread.

Furthermore, nobody wished ill on him, just opined that they are not surprised (Sarcastically).

I didn't say you(or anyone) wish him ill. I said y'all were making tasteless comments to get Wilbon back for what you perceived/decided he said. No matter what he said, even if he didn't apologize, its still tasteless.

[Keino]

I typed a nice response to this, posted it and everything and it disappeared.

I don't have the energy for a repeat, but I essentially said that if Wilbon's initial comment wasn't equally tasteless, then why did he feel compelled to apologize?

I then went on to say that I reserve the right to offer forgiveness on my own terms, and while my initial statement lacked taste, Wilbon's did as well, only he made his with the power of a National News publication as his medium. So his reaction at best can be described as "irresponsibly tasteless". I am not subject to the "Laws of Journalistic Integrity", since I have not nearly the power to shape views.

I also never claimed to not have made tasteless comments before, and will make many more in the future.

[WarEagle]

Wilbon was back on his ESPN program today screaming at Tony Kornheiser like nothing happened last week. I don't know if he's ignorant or just stupid.