It was bound to happen…
That somebody on the politically correct California coast would call out the 49ers Super Bowl opponent for bad behavior. And truth be told, we probably deserve it.
Enter sportswriter Ann Killion and he piece dissing the Chiefs for putting up with serial domestic abusers like Tyreek Hill, Frank Clark, Kareem Hunt and Jovan Belcher.
“Super Bowl doesn’t hide how 49ers, Chiefs differ on a disturbing NFL issue,” the headline reads.
“The Super Bowl is a time when teams celebrate all that is good and special. Not the elements that are dark and disturbing,” Killion begins. “But both the 49ers and the Chiefs have had plenty of challenging times in their past. Both teams have faced, in multiple instances, issues of domestic violence.
“Teams have to weigh talent versus tolerance. What behavior will they tolerate? Where is the line drawn? The teams — at least the current regimes — have taken different approaches in grappling with one of the NFL’s darkest issues.”
Long story short, unlike the Chiefs, the 49ers have taken the high road and distanced themselves from things like Hill’s nefarious, bad behavior last year.
Reuben Foster mug shot
“This wasn’t the first time the Chiefs had confronted domestic violence,” Killion continues. “Far from it. In May, USA Today wrote a story detailing the extensive domestic-violence history surrounding the team.
“Linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his partner in 2012, then drove to the Chiefs’ facility and shot himself.
“This offseason, the Chiefs traded for defensive end Frank Clark. Clark, who was drafted by the Seahawks in 2015, was kicked out of Michigan after he was arrested and charged with assault for allegedly hitting his girlfriend. He pleaded no contest to a lesser charge.”
Ah, but by contrast the 49ers have taken the high road, Killion says.
“The 49ers, of course, have had their own issues,” she writes.
Like when the team cut loose high draft pick, linebacker Reuben Foster.
“I think that’s a defining moment for the culture of this team,” said 49ers CEO Jed York. “We are team first.”
“I believe it was a defining moment for the team,” Killion writes. “It was a difficult decision, but the type that makes a team grow. It sent a clear message that talent is not the only thing the team values. That a player has to be accountable and dependable. That he must put his team first.
“Foster was particularly talented. He quickly was picked up by Washington.
“Hill is particularly talented. He could be a difference maker in this Super Bowl.
“If so, the Chiefs would like you to believe it is a feel-good story.”
As opposed to what Killion knows the awful truth, in fact to be; that the “just win, baby” Chiefs will do just about anything to win – even at the expense of what’s right.
Give me a fucking break. Because they let Reuben Foster, they are now on the “right” path and absolved of their past sins? Geezus, they let Aldon Smith hang around for years after numerous run-in’s with the law. Ray McDonald, Chris Culliver, et al. ALL professional sports are loaded with guys of “questionable” character. I don’t worship ANY of these guys. I root for the laundry they are wearing. Any NFL team that thinks they have a 53-man roster of all stand-up guys is delusional. It requires extreme violence to play professional football. There has to be a percentage of players on each team that do a shitty job of turning that off when they leave the field.
This dude’s article is a bit like asking a guy, “Do you still beat your wife?” Both yes and no are wrong answers. Hooray! The 49er’s have fewer wife beaters on their team than the Chiefs. Allegedly.
I defend NONE of this behavior. I’m just not going to make the teams I root for take a purity test. Players come and go. The laundry lasts forever.
Go Chiefs
Nice job, Jim…
I particularly like the part where you root for the “laundry”
“the “just win, baby” Chiefs will do just about anything to win – even at the expense of what’s right.”
– Chiefs the new Raiders, mid-west? Hard to argue the contrary – not far as winning it all (no such luck), but in terms shenanigans/worse – a definite maybe. Where there is smoke, is colored ‘Silver & Black’… more Raiders ahead. First, let us recall late-1990’s Schottenheimer Chiefs nod reportage – on field concerns some them, off-field others.
CHIEFS
It seems to me I’ve heard this song (and danc) before, it’s from an old familiar score: Broncos 30 Chiefs 7 – 1998 ‘Monday Night Meltdown’ lingers memory: the KC roster included (among other) former Raider Chester McGlockton (he reportedly asked the Chiefs to ‘get me out OAK/to KC’) as well future Raider same, Andre Rison.
Also, Bam Morris, Tamarick Vanover, Wayne Simmons and Derrick Thomas (names Chiefs fan remember, if not only for their ‘football’), also Kansas City’s team. Coming off first place ’97, fell cellar/4th place ’98 – in turn Schottenheimer exited stage right, season’s end.
Cowinkydink?
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Century 21 edition Chiefs of the last few seasons an well-documented history lack of discipline – coach (does anybody really know what time it is?), player(s) variously on-field and/or off.
Solution: trade one, re-sign another, add a couple more (by my count, that’s 2 more – your rationale may vary.) List includes current as well past players traded/ released / not resigned (too much time/space name them all/Chiefs fan knows the names.) Not legion (yet) perhaps, but cohorts well on the way based tendencies such, nod history.
* * * * *
Speaking Roman terms (off topic): chuckle to this day when recalling former Chiefs DE Wilbur Young. In answer a (nimrod) reporter question post game, inferring WY could have done better, the reply – “hey man, I ain’t no Army!”
* * * * *
RAIDERS
When referencing Raiders ‘just win baby’, an history goes ‘way back’ 60’s, purveyors a ‘french foreign legion’ modus operandi, questionable resume/rap sheet players as well prodigious talent too many to name. Not only that, the Raiders motto ‘Pride & Poise’ a bit tragic, paradoxical – comical even, benefit time.
Evidence is, Raiders placed less importance on character/’makeup’ than on ‘winning’ by any means necessary; the book ‘Cheating is Encouraged’, presume sportsmanship on field as well deportment off not held the same regard.
KC 2020, the parallels are not lost on the initiated swiss chiefs fandom… as that vague ‘window’ often referred to is about to slam shut (the cost of re-signing overhypes deux mahomes and jones): ‘If you want it (Lombardi Trophy) here it is come and get it – but you better hurry ’cause it’s goin’ fast.
😎
Of note: saw an interview today wherein current players both the Chiefs and 49ers could not name the Superbowl’s (number of) or QB’s (by name), past incarnations their own teams had appeared in, or won.
As some guys may not (nod former Cowboys LB Thomas Henderson re: Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw) be able to spell ‘cat’ (even aft supplying them letters ‘a’ and ‘t’) – no surprise – as the ‘indoctrination’ today’s youth school same, lack of edification terms real history as well their own team, appalling. ‘No need learn spell ‘check’, jus’ has ta be able sign an cash it dawg’… ay caramba
😎
So maybe Kevin Kietzman was right? Andy Reid can’t discipline people? Nah.
Speaking of KK…
It’s almost unbelievable not to be choking down Kevin’s views and opinions on an event of this magnitude coming to Kansas City. Unthinkable, no less.
But clearly he seems to be laying low, licking his wounds and wondering what went wrong…he ws so invincible, bulletproof for so long.
Frankly, it’s wrong that nobody has bothered or been able to dig him up and at least get his two cents.
I’m enjoying his absence from the KC sports scene. Hope he never EVER comes back.
Well, stay tuned…
This is really lazy journalism. Too much low-hanging fruit. Every team has skeletons in their closet. I agree with With Jim, how easily she forgot the multiple trials and tribulations of Aldon Smith from Raytown BTW. Not to mention Ray McDonald, Chris Culliver, Bruce Miller, Ahmad Brooks, Tramaine Brock, & Rueben Foster. See how easy that is? That’s just within the last 5 years. Doesn’t matter in the least to me. I also root for the laundry.
Seems obvious now, that Killion’s focus was very narrow and selective
“Lazy journalism” is by and large the only thing practiced today. Seriously, go and count up how many retractions that the NY Times, Washington Post, et al. have had to make over the past 5 years.
And the nitwits in the media wonder why most of the population doesn’t believe a word they say. “We’re not the enemy!” No you ARE the enemy. You aren’t telling the American people the truth.