Felger and Mazz - Creating False Naratives one day at a time
- Thread starter HomeBrew1901
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That may have been the case back in the 70s and 80s, but they've cleaned up PEDs in the NFL since then. Convienantly stereotyping all NFL players as PED users is very lazy.
There's obviously people in all sports that will try to use, but people are making it sound like it's a rampant problem and that's not the case. I'll wait until the autopsy on his body to come through before I characterize him as a steroid user. You know, actual evidence.
Similarly, in Felger's defense, there's a lack of evidence on the other side of this, too. Head injuries are obviously awful and need to be addressed. But we can't go completely off the rails every time a player dies and decide that it was due to the head trauma suffered in the player's career. It'd be nice if there were more evidence than the correlation that he was a football player. There's enough smoke in the aggregate for this to be an issue regardless of the specifics of Seau, but it is sort of unfomfortable how quickly everyone has decided that he killed himself due to concussions. The act is likely far too complex to be so simply defined, and it's a bit opportunistic to try to use this event to further that agenda. It may be entirely appropriate, and before I get slaughtered I'm not saying that concussions aren't in fact a huge issue--just sensing that the natural contrarian Felger is likely reacting to everyone making this into an immediate open and shut case when logic dictates that this situation is far from understood.
I'm not sure Felger is saying that though. He seemed to be arguing, at least in the 5 o'clock hour, that these guys put their bodies through hell, but he seemed to be limiting himself to only consideration of that plus the drugs they also do (legal or not) to try to gain any advantage they can under the rules. I didn't hear him argue about the other psychological issues (ex-NFLer, different phase in his life, etc) when I was listening, and I did hear his open on the issue earlier. But, if he was, I agree with you. A choice like this is never simple. It's awful, tragic, sad, depressing, all those things, but never simple.
Felger also had a complete lack of tact, which, when talking about a sensitive issue such as this makes him sound like a real dickhead.
What was the worst adversity that Felger has ever faced? Moving from Milwaukee to Boston? Not having the right sweatervest to wear to work? I'm done listening until hockey starts
Don't ever underestimate the emotional and psychological trauma of having to root for Brian Winters, Sixto Lezcano, and Don Majkowski from a thousand miles away.
Felger is a smug, arrogant douche bag and Mazz seem to be the classic douch bag sidekick. Really hate this side of Boston sports talk. I often find myself tuning into the Comcast TV broadcast in the afternoons hoping to get some up to the minute info on the Boston sports scene and more often than not end up turning the TV off after a few minutes. And yeah the whole Texas tough guy rant from yesterday was pretty sickening, but I guess being an asshole is his (and a lot of other guys') schtick.
I generally think Felger is the best radio host on any of the two stations' regular shows. F&M is a generally fantastic show during football and hockey season, even if it means Yes Man Mazz ((a roll I think he still embodies but occasionaly sidesteps during baseball season). With that said, they've been borderline unlistenable since baseball started. The Seau stuff is the icing on the cake of a pretty terrible few weeks for them.
No because likely half of the country would see me as a smug, arrogant douche bag and my running mate as the classic douche bag sidekick. But thanks for asking.
Felger will probably go much easier on Seau now. He always gives his fellow BU guys the benefit of the doubt.
Too soon?
McAdam will fill-in today. Chris Gasper is scheduled to fill-in for the first half of next week.
I like both McAdam and Gasper, but isn't it a little curious they're not having Bertrand fill-in for Mazz? With Mazz home recovering from surgery, does "The Sports Hub" think they can't take the risk of fielding a barrage of calls demanding beetle replace Mazz full-time?
I'm probably the only person in the world who cares enough about substitute radio hosts to read into these decisions, but I find it to be curious that Bertrand won't be given Mazz' chair over the next week.
I like both McAdam and Gasper, but isn't it a little curious they're not having Bertrand fill-in for Mazz? With Mazz home recovering from surgery, does "The Sports Hub" think they can't take the risk of fielding a barrage of calls demanding beetle replace Mazz full-time?
I'm probably the only person in the world who cares enough about substitute radio hosts to read into these decisions, but I find it to be curious that Bertrand won't be given Mazz' chair over the next week.
They've been seeming to want to tap into McAdam more recently, he's started popping up a bunch. I think it's probably as likely that they're trying to justify some of the money they're paying these guys as anything else. Or even they want to keep McAdam around and he's making noise about not getting on air enough. I think you're reading into it way too much, in general I think the populace at large likes Mazz enough.
Like I said in my post, hoping to get up to the minute info on the Boston sports scene, especially during baseball season. Live in the northwest corner of the state and I'm limited as to whats available. Also like listening to the different POVs of some of the callers, just as I like reading the thoughts of different members here. Prefer to watch or listen to something "local" after work rather the ESPN offerings each day and this is really my only option. I haven't had the opportunity to listen to a lot of sports talk in other markets, but it seems to me that for the riches we've been blessed with in the past decade the talking heads have extremely short memories. I understand they have time to fill each day and ratings to get and perhaps this is what drives the douche baggery because lovefests and kumbaya isn't going to drive ratings.
As I said, I didn't hear the "no sympathy" part, but I didn't think he came off as overly douchey when discussing Seau yesterday. He didn't wax poetic like the other hosts did throughout the day, but his stated opinion was that he wasn't surprised that this happened to Seau and people wanted to gloss over what effect the speculated PED use may have had on his brain. That if the NFL really wanted to get to the root of the issue they wouldn't just blame concussions and would try and have a tighter PED policy because he thinks they go hand in hand, and there is some merit to that line of thinking.
The only reason a lot of people didn't like what Felger had to say was because Seau was a Patriot for a few years and a very popular and well liked player. If this were Bart Scott people would be idolizing Felger for "speaking the truth".
The only reason a lot of people didn't like what Felger had to say was because Seau was a Patriot for a few years and a very popular and well liked player. If this were Bart Scott people would be idolizing Felger for "speaking the truth".
Well, missing the whole "no sympathy" portion sorta makes the rest of his statement douchy, out of touch and shows that he is a complete asshole with little compassion.
Because he doesn't have sympathy for a guy who committed suicide and left his family behind?
Edit: From what I have heard on the radio and on TV I think Felger is missing something. I do agree that he comes off as an ass when it comes to a lot of personal stuff that isn't related to sports. It's like he is missing an empathy gene and doesn't really relate to people well, at all. I still cringe at how he reacted on the air and handled Steve Buckley after Buck came out of the closet and then went on Felger's show on Comcast, it was one of the worst and most uncomfortable interviews I have ever seen.
That doesn't mean that Felger doesn't like gay people, just that sports make up pretty much his entire life and I don't think he is particularly fond of many of the athletes he covers in general and has the opposite of hero-worship that other writers have so he doesn't handle issues like this particularly well.
Edit: From what I have heard on the radio and on TV I think Felger is missing something. I do agree that he comes off as an ass when it comes to a lot of personal stuff that isn't related to sports. It's like he is missing an empathy gene and doesn't really relate to people well, at all. I still cringe at how he reacted on the air and handled Steve Buckley after Buck came out of the closet and then went on Felger's show on Comcast, it was one of the worst and most uncomfortable interviews I have ever seen.
That doesn't mean that Felger doesn't like gay people, just that sports make up pretty much his entire life and I don't think he is particularly fond of many of the athletes he covers in general and has the opposite of hero-worship that other writers have so he doesn't handle issues like this particularly well.
It wasn't just Seau though, that he was talking about, he was saying he feels no sympathy for ANY suicide victim and that they are all selfish and basically need to "sack up " and deal with life. It is an extremely ignorant position to take.
And I'm sure he doesn't really believe it. Who thinks this way, really?
He's trolling for listeners.
My guess is Felger probably thinks he's standing up for the suicide victim's family and friends by saying that and doesn't have any experience with mental illness or depression. It's this lack of sensitivity and awareness that are part of the problem, frankly.
Edit: SJH, I know a lot of people that feel the exact same way that he does and I can understand where he is coming from. I think PH hit the nail on the head though, Felger has zero self awareness or sensitivity when it comes to these topics.
Do you think that they are ignorant and completely dis-compassionate to the idea of depression?
That's a tough one to answer and I know I won't be able to do it justice because this is a deep and complex issue. I don't feel that they are ignorant and I don't think dis-compassionate to depression fits. I think you can be both understanding and sympathetic towards people that are suffering from depression while at the same time being unsympathetic towards those that decide suicide is the answer. Especially for people who commit suicide and leave a family behind.
I'd have to respectfully and forcibly disagree. Just like I would never be unsympathetic to someone who leaves behind a family b/c they contracted AIDS or got cancer.
If you think suicide is a choice then you don't understand depression. A person's brain is literally malfunctioning during depression -- they are in no position to "decide" anything any more than a person under the influence of narcotics is in a position to decide things.
As someone who has fought this fight on this board before, I thank you both.
It was a simpler time when I could come on and cry about Felger rippin'on Rondo.....he still does, but after all this shit......
NBA champion and dominant big man Tyson Chandler offers up his own take on KG: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfEblhH4us4&feature=player_embedded
"And it took a freakin' rookie, a guy who hasn't even been here a WEEK, to finally step up and say 'enough is enough.' What does that say about the guys collecting 8 digit salaries on this team? They still haven't pulled their heads out of their butts from last September!"
There, I just saved you all 4 hours. Go read a book, or watch an interesting film, instead. Unless you're amused by self-parody.
There, I just saved you all 4 hours. Go read a book, or watch an interesting film, instead. Unless you're amused by self-parody.
" Absolutely Mike absolutely! " Also, Kermit from the Muppets..................frog..........."
I'll watch because I like when Gasper talks NBA.
And I'm trying to finish a paper and I have nothing better to use as background noise.
edit: Because he's not French.
At least Wiggie was wiling to call out Felger when the topic of Mental Illness and suicide came up again. Felger really has no tact at all. "Oh look at me, yup, i have no sympathy, i am jerk, har har har". I hate him. And i REALLY mean i won't listen anymore until Hockey season. I thought I might get some good NBA talk with Jasper on, but, meh.
Wiggy took Felger to the woodshed on the Seau issue (wow, I can't believe I just typed that). Felger comes off as UNLIKEABLE and plain out like a douche whenever he talks about how he "has no sympathy for Junior Seau if he committed suicide due to depression." I believe at one point today Felger referred to some of the sympathy for Seau as "garbage."
Wiggy brought up several contradictions in Felger's argument, too, as Felger continued to attempt to manufacture his "suicide take."
One of Felger's strengths as a host is that he never appears to be malicious on the air. It's almost as if Felger's winking at the listener while he's taking the contrarian viewpoint on the Patriots or anything Boston Celtics.
But he has to stop talking about the Seau story. His opinions on it are all astonishingly offensive.
But is Felger saying anything that is so outlandish? I absolutely disagree with his "suicide take" but that opinion is something millions of Americans agree with. My brother in law recently tried to kill himself and half my family talked about how he was selfish. A tremendous number of Americans can't understand serious, clinical depression (CTE related or not). Try reading the comments about Seau on espn.com or PFT.com - many are just as naive as Felger's. So even though I find Felger's opinion ignorant, I bet much of the audience is on his side.
He was alos talking about how "if he did it b/c he was out of the limelight of football, blah blah blah"...even though he later admitted he doesn't believe this to be the case...he said it at LEAST 6 times that how it was a BS excuse to kill themselves..."oh woe is me, i miss football, wah wah wah" It was actually sort of bizzarre
At this point, until there is more news on the topic, I wish he would just drop it and stop talking about it because it's not doing him any favors and his is the only show that is still talking about it every time I listen to the show. Granted it is mostly because callers keep bringing it up, but it just snowballs from there, he just needs to put a moratorium on the topic until something new comes out that is more than speculation.
I'm also pretty sick of him linking every young player that is learning how to hit for power of using PEDs. Will Middlebrooks is a young guy and his body is starting to fill out so he can start hitting for power, that doesn't mean he is juicing. It was good to hear Gasper call him insufferable.
I'm also pretty sick of him linking every young player that is learning how to hit for power of using PEDs. Will Middlebrooks is a young guy and his body is starting to fill out so he can start hitting for power, that doesn't mean he is juicing. It was good to hear Gasper call him insufferable.
While they may be, my take on this? Someone close to Mike Felger committed suicide.
Why think this? We know that Felger has no problem making confident declarations despite being in a position of almost total ignorance (e.g., "Garnett is only playing well because he wants a new contract.")