Nowak Fined for comments

ZoomZip · 03-17-2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

See posts #5, #6 of this thread.

Right, right... but posts 5 and 6 also contain the same assumption that may, or may not, be true. There are other possible interpretations that may be valid here.

Aero · 03-17-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoomZip

Right, right... but posts 5 and 6 also contain the same assumption that may, or may not, be true. There are other possible interpretations that may be valid here.

I actually hope you are correct. I hope he didn't say anything racist, but I'm just not sure why they didn't come right out and say he didn't say anything racist in the press release. Seems like the best way to put the whole thing to rest once and for all. That way there is no question about it.

ZoomZip · 03-17-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aero

I actually hope you are correct. I hope he didn't say anything racist, but I'm just not sure why they didn't come right out and say he didn't say anything racist in the press release. Seems like the best way to put the whole thing to rest once and for all. That way there is no question about it.

I think the person cited in AreliusIV's post at 11:02 today would agree with you:
http://dcunitedblog.blogspot.com/2006/03/mls-cop-out.html
http://dcunitedblog.blogspot.com/2006/03/shame-shame.html

In fact, I can gurantee that person would agree with you. MLS's press release was, ultimately, more confusing than claifying. It could support the viewpoint already advanced here. Or it could cover a number of other things.

dysko · 03-17-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoomZip

Right, right... but posts 5 and 6 also contain the same assumption that may, or may not, be true. There are other possible interpretations that may be valid here.

Please share them with us...

Based on what I have seen and heard, I have made my own conclusions. What are yours?

ZoomZip · 03-17-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dysko

Please share them with us...

Based on what I have seen and heard, I have made my own conclusions. What are yours?

First, let me admit that the entire "League trying to protect Nowak after he made racist comment" scenario is, given the facts, possible.

Now, here's another situation that fits the facts, the one I think actually happened...

MLS has no idea what was said. They have Ellinger/Harris/RSL on one side saying Nowak made a racist comment. They have Nowak/Payne/Walker on the other side saying "No, he never said that, but he did order a tackle on Harris to take him out of the game" (the now infamous "back to hospital".) They have an AR or 4th official who says "You know, I totally missed the entire thing. I didn't hear either of those two things, because I was paying attention to the field and not to sideline banter."

Faced with this scenario, MLS issues its press release because while they can't prove that Nowak said something racist, they can't disprove it either. However, Nowak and Company have admitted to a comment that sounds unsportsmanlike without being racist. Accordingly, not able to determine what actually happened, but knowing that the benign interpretation is still a problem, they fine Nowak for "Inappropriate comments" since that can cover either situation. In their mind, it gives them a "split the baby, we have the judgement of Solomon" answer. In reality, it just makes things worse since you can interpret the situation any which way.

All I'm saying is that one can't look at MLS's release and instantly assume that Nowak is guilty of saying "back to Africa." Alternate scenarios fit the facts just as well.

AreliusIV · 03-17-2006, 03:59 PM

So, he either made a racist comment or he ordered his players to take Harris out. Marvelous…

keyph · 03-17-2006, 04:17 PM

This is all just a bunch of media hype and BS. Even if he did say to go in and hurt Harris, this is nothing new in the world of sports, just take a look at what goes on in the EPL or Bundesliga, or even the case of Temple coach Chaney sending a player in solely to committ hard fouls because he thought the other team was "setting illegal screens". Retaliation is not a new thing and should be expected. :headbang:

ZoomZip · 03-17-2006, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

So, he either made a racist comment or he ordered his players to take Harris out. Marvelous…

Look, I ain't saying he is right to have made such an order. But one is an order of magnitutde or three worse than the other. At least for me. YMMV.

dysko · 03-17-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoomZip

First, let me admit that the entire "League trying to protect Nowak after he made racist comment" scenario is, given the facts, possible.

Now, here's another situation that fits the facts, the one I think actually happened...

FAntastic... as you said very plausible. Anyway you cut it something happened that shouldn't have and the baby has been split in two. That doesn't mean we can't haras Nowak when DC pays SLC a visit. :signrocko

prk166 · 03-18-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deuce

I think we should all wear hospital scrubs and carry signs telling Nowak where to go!
I will wear mine unless I am on the field this year... in that case I have a full set of scrubs i can donate to the cause....

I'm game. I like what they could tie into. Know anyone else that might have a used pair of scrubs a big blonde polack like me could borrow? Seems like that could tie into it somehow. I still wish I could think of something catchy that would tie in that Dema was out hackin' poeple down for DC United and Nowak didn't send him back to the hospital. Hhhhmmmm... maybe I should read up on Piotr's bio again an dsee what polish / old club stuff coul come into play in a sitaution like that too.

As for firing him, I'm not a fan of racism but as some have said people make mistakes. Saying a mean thing doesn't mena you're a mean person. Even if he said a racist thing doesn't mean he's a racist. And at that presuming that "send him back to Africa" is a racist thing or at best ignorant. It implies that somehow all of Africa is "black" and that just isn't the case. At the very least one needs to seperate it into Saharan and Sub-Saharan if not more than that. But I'm not a fan of hate crime laws. if you kills somene it's bad no matter why you did it. The length of the sentece can take into account things like that through the judge.

But I'm babbling. I like the scrubs. I'll see what else I can think of.