RIP Junior Seau

[Uncle.Ruckus]

If this doesn't get people to re-examine their love for football, I don't know what will.

 

[Zeke12]

Something tells me this story will follow the Dave Duerson trail of being traced back to football. Especially with reports that he shot himself in the chest - like Duerson. So sad.

Had the same initial reaction.

 

[mediaguy]

Amazed that NFL.com is acknowledging it on their site before ESPN.

 

[dreunc1542]

My first thought upon hearing this was this article by Pierce from earlier this week: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7871507/metta-world-peace-ray-easterling-our-appetite-sanctioned-violence.

 

[zimbabwe]

Still nothing on Sportscenter.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.

Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.

Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, **** that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.

"Yeah....I am so and so from the such and such weekly.....I hear that your 12-year old child just killed himself.......what can you tell us about it?"

Disgusting journalism.

Maybe we can just report good news from here on out. Would provide a really valuable public service that way.

 

[Pancamo]

8th player from the 1994 SB team to die.

David Griggs-Car accident
Rodney Culver-plane crash
Doug Miller-lightning
Curtis Whitley-overdose
Chris Mims-heart
Shawn Lee-heart
Lew Bush-heart

and now Seau.

Sad. RIP.

 

[Spartan Squad]

Still nothing on Sportscenter.

ESPN calling it unconfirmed, but OTL is mentioning it

 

[Chef2]

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.

Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.

Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, **** that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.

"Yeah....I am so and so from the such and such weekly.....I hear that your 12-year old child just killed himself.......what can you tell us about it?"

Disgusting journalism.

Maybe we can just report good news from here on out. Would provide a really valuable public service that way.

A couple of questions ****:

Why would you call the parents of this 12-year old?

What if it was a 74-year old man that killed himself. Would you call the widow?

 

[Dick Whitman]

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.

Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.

Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, **** that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.

"Yeah....I am so and so from the such and such weekly.....I hear that your 12-year old child just killed himself.......what can you tell us about it?"

Disgusting journalism.

Maybe we can just report good news from here on out. Would provide a really valuable public service that way.

A couple of questions ****:

Why would you call the parents of this 12-year old?

What if it was a 74-year old man that killed himself. Would you call the widow?

Same reason anything is newsworthy. Man bites dog.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Holy crap. I loved watching him play.

RIP.

 

[Chef2]

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.

Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.

Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, **** that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.

"Yeah....I am so and so from the such and such weekly.....I hear that your 12-year old child just killed himself.......what can you tell us about it?"

Disgusting journalism.

Maybe we can just report good news from here on out. Would provide a really valuable public service that way.

A couple of questions ****:

Why would you call the parents of this 12-year old?

What if it was a 74-year old man that killed himself. Would you call the widow?

Same reason anything is newsworthy. Man bites dog.

You didn't answer my question. Are you calling the family of someone if a 83-year old man dies of a heart attack, or a lengthy illness?

 

[Moderator1]

Let's keep this discussion to Junior Seau and maybe the issue of football players/head injuries, etc. Given the nature of some involved in what is becoming the sideshow, I can see this really getting off the rails. And that would **** me off to no end.

Thanks in advance

 

[Pilot]

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.

Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.

Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, **** that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.

"What happened?"

"How are you doing?"

"Do you anticipate a lengthy leave of absence?"

"What would you like the world to know about your wife?"

It's called being a ****ing reporter and not just the toy department. Sucks sometimes, but it's an honorable pursuit.

None of that has anything to do with sports or "missing games." Not a single one of those answers would push me to call him repeatedly the night his wife killed himself.

Once with a message? Fine. A day or so later? Fine. Leaving your number with an intermediary, telling him he can call if he wants to be included, fine. Calling him repeatedly the night his wife killed herself, as if I'm trying to get a score from a late game? Nope. Sorry. If that's what I'm supposed to be doing as a sports reporter, someone else can have my job, because there's no way in hell I'm ever doing that.

I've written about tragic deaths, and I've gotten great quotes from people who were very, very close to the deceased, even involved in death itself. I didn't badger them to get those quotes, though. I made sure, once, they knew their voice would add to the story, and left the rest up to them. If they hadn't answered or wanted to talk, my story wouldn't have been as good and I wouldn't have cared in the slightest. Not everything I do needs to be award worthy.

Again, if I'm supposed to be harassing a grieving husband hours after his wife killed herself, then **** it. I'll do something else.

 

[kickoff-time]

Thanks moddy. Was thinking the same thing.

 

[Pilot]

Let's keep this discussion to Junior Seau and maybe the issue of football players/head injuries, etc. Given the nature of some involved in what is becoming the sideshow, I can see this really getting off the rails. And that would **** me off to no end.

Thanks in advance

Sorry. Posted before I saw you.

 

[Moderator1]

Forgiven. Now, from this point forward ***

 

[Chef2]

Let's keep this discussion to Junior Seau and maybe the issue of football players/head injuries, etc. Given the nature of some involved in what is becoming the sideshow, I can see this really getting off the rails. And that would **** me off to no end.

Thanks in advance

Done deal.

Thanks Moddy.

 

[Spartan Squad]

ESPN finally confirming it after Chargers issued a statement.

 

[BNWriter]

Nothing on any major news outlets yet that can confirm this.

TMZ may be sleazy, but I can't remember them getting a story wrong, can you? (Honest question)

THIS..

I think TMZ qualifies as a Major news org. with regard to this stuff.

<Winces at that thought Re: TMZ.....>, and wishing RIP to Seau.