Can we all agree that when it comes to eliminating the scourge that is Violence Against Women, there is no method more efficient than insisting fantasy football analysts become more socially conscious? From the not-at-all grandstanding Phil Mushnick in Friday’s NY Post :
On ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” Wednesday, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen was brought in to discuss NFL matters, including possible punitive action against Chiefs’ RB Larry Johnson, accused of assaulting a woman, his fourth such charge in the last five years.
Mortensen speculated that Chiefs’ coach Herm Edwards is unlikely to allow Johnson to slide. After all, Mortensen concluded, Edwards is the father of two daughters.
Huh? Assaulting women is a depends-on-your-point-of-view issue? Had Edwards (or any other adult male) been the father of two sons he reasonably would be more likely to overlook or even excuse Johnson’s conduct? What if he had one of each; would he be on the fence? One needs to be the father of daughters to grasp the gravity of – or even over-react to – such charges?
Come to think of it, those who should be most disturbed by the charges against Johnson are those whose mothers are women.
On CBS Sports’ Fantasy Football Web site, yesterday, the issue was analyzed with no-nonsense clarity: “Owning Johnson in Fantasy play is a very risky proposition at this point.” Now that’s more like it. Yup, it’s less a case of women beware than buyer beware!
Meantime, Giants’ lineman Barry Cofield Sunday explained the gyrating sack dance he performed that day: “I call it the, ‘Don’t tase me, bro.’ I hope everybody enjoyed it.” Yeah, in the throes of an NFL crime wave, funny stuff.
Mushnick may or may not be aware the phrase “don’ tase me, bro” was popularized not by an NFL serial offender, but by a widely circulated You Tube clip that showed a student being zapped during a John Kerry Q&A. (Unrelated) crime wave or not, Cofield’s homage is funny stuff. But if Phil would like to suggest a more appropriate form of between-the-lines self expression — surely there’s a way in which to celebrate a touchdown and stage a protest against Larry Johnson’s heinous deeds — I’m sure Chad Johnson’s suggestion box is wide open.