Hat tip: Mr Irrelevant.
Well, thanks for being an a sensative man, Michael Wilbon. In his latest Chat House session, he was asked various questions about the Sean Taylor shooting. His responses were a little surprising:
I know how I feel about Taylor, and this latest news isn't surprising in the least, not to me. Whether this incident is or isn't random, Taylor grew up in a violent world, embraced it, claimed it, loved to run in it and refused to divorce himself from it. He ain't the first and won't be the last. We have no idea what happened, or if what we know now will be revised later. It's sad, yes, but hardly surprising.
There's a ton of speculation about the details of his condition and the details of the incident, but this isn't a blog and we're not going to get into wild guessing and speculating here, though we will try and responsibly discuss other points of interest surrounding the latest strange episode relating to Taylor.
Again, I'm not the least bit surprised about the Taylor episode ... why would I be considering his history, even since he joined the Redskins?
Nice. It's fine that he hates bloggers. Most "journalists" do ... especially the ones who vaulted from print media to TV personality (like they don't see the irony in that). However, I don't remember seeing any blogs speculating about Taylor's injuries or cause of them. I saw people relaying information and sending out their hopes and prayers for recovery.
Wilbon, however, decides to imply that Taylor had this coming to him because of a certain lifestyle. The same lifestyle that him at home with his girlfriend and young daughter at his home. Like Chris Mottram of Mr Irrelevant said, it's like "suggesting the slutty girl from high school deserved to be raped."
Whenever we hear about an athlete getting shot outside a nightclub or at a party, we say "why don't they just stay at home and forget all that mess?" Taylor was doing exactly that, and his life was taken away from him anyways.
Thank you Wilbon for reminding us that your not one of those bloggers who just spout off anything to be heard.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
11-27-2007 @ 8:56AM
Sara said...
This makes me sick. Why do people feel the need to open their mouths like this?? Especially when Taylor lost his life. It's almost as if they are blaming him. I don't care what happened...this is a tragedy...a talented young man with a family and loved ones. I personally am devastated as a fan, I know I am not the only one. And I can only imagine what his family is going through. My heart and prayers go out to them in this time. Rest in Peace Sean you will be deeply, deeply missed.
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11-27-2007 @ 9:24AM
Justin said...
Can you at least pretend to care, Mr. Wilbon?
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11-27-2007 @ 9:37AM
Gere said...
I am saddened at this guy losing his life to home invaders/robbers, yet he did have a fairly checkered past that is undisputible. I doubt if the real facts have yet to come out in this case BTW. When was he shot and how long was it before the 911 folks were called is what I really want to knowand have clarified? Otherwise, its just another sad event inside the black community where someone who appeared to be actually trying to do the right thing, was killed by others that apparently had other ideas.
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11-27-2007 @ 9:55AM
Winslow said...
This killing is reflective of a larger societal problem and should remind us the many who have lost their lives in similiar ways without as much media hype, commentary, or speculation.
Sadly, because of the fame his case will probably get solved as many others do not.
Lastly, heartfelt sympathy goes out to his child, family, and friends
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11-27-2007 @ 10:36AM
ACE said...
If IMUS WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF HIS WORDS AND HE WAS CLEARLY JOKING and WAS KNOWN FOR THIS OUTRAGIOUS REMARKS *LIKE A HOWARD STERN* THEN MICHAEL WILBON SHOULD BE FIRED FOR HIS REMARKS!!! WILBON REMARKS ARE NOT ONLY OFFENSIVE THEY FAR EXCEED ANY COMMENT IMUS EVER MADE...
FIRE MICHAEL WILBON.....let's be FAIR
*this is coming from a Black Male! For those that feel I am partial towards Imus....
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11-27-2007 @ 10:37AM
Skins Fan said...
Michael Wilbon is obviously not a man of God, nor does he even care about the sanctity of human life. I guess when he made his comments he never thought that this human being would eventually loose his life leaving behind a finacee, and an 18 month old daughter who now will never have the opportunity to know her father.
Mr. Wilbon, I hope that 1 day you realize that sometimes you shoulod put your own jaded opinion of people aside and just say a prayer for someone in need.
For the little girl Sean Taylor left behind, I pray for you, I pray you come to realize one day that it was because of you that your father wanted to be a better man, a devoted father and an inspiration to call.
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11-27-2007 @ 10:50AM
roger said...
Well its funny because isn't this coming from the same man that suggested that someone would..should...could...take a cheap shot at Brady because his team was running up the scores.So he is not surprised that Taylor should get into this situation that caused his death because of his violent past...BUT..its o.k. to suggest violence in a football game just because of a supposed high score. I don't know but stricks me as hypocritical to say the least.
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11-27-2007 @ 10:59AM
AWOL0213 said...
WELL I REALLY DONT KNOW ALOT ABOUT MR. TAYLOR BUT HOME IS WHERE YA SUPPOSE TO FEEL SAFE ..NO MATTER WHAT .. NO BODY DESERVES TO BE GUNNED DOWN IN COLD BLOOD NO MATTER HOW MANY RUN INS WITH THE LAW OR WHAT THEY HAVE EMBRACED./.. I SEE HOW WILBON DEFENDS IT TODAY ON PTI.. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY ...
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11-27-2007 @ 11:12AM
DELORES JONES said...
to mike wilbon, we always have brothers putting down other brother but remember what you say because i wonder what people have to save about you if this was you. a life has been lost and taken at a young age. he is not the only young black man who has had a bad start and want be the last. fame is very hard to except and i am not rich but i could imagine how it would be to wake one morning and your hold life has changed so quick. pray for the family and send out blessings. someone like mike might not know what that is or have forgotten but be careful what you say because god works in misterious ways. god bless the family and ignor people like mike wilbon, he has not grown up yet.
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11-27-2007 @ 11:21AM
Sara said...
I am disgusted by Wilbon's comments. I've read and heard other comments like this... it's absurd.... like they are blaming Sean himself for someone coming into his home and taking away his life... from his daughter, his fiance, his family, friends and loved ones. It's dispicable and these people who are disrespecting this man who has just lost his life at such a young age, with such a promising future ahead of himself.... should be ashamed of themselves and learn to keep their ignorant, judgemental opinions to themselves. Even if just for the sake of the family and those that love Sean. Have some respect...
RIP Sean Taylor
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11-27-2007 @ 11:22AM
NikNik said...
Today, my main concerns are this man's family. My heart was heavy this morning when I got the news. I knew people would slander him and not look at the bigger picture, and that's Sean Taylor lost his life over something that was probably senseless. He was so young and had his whole life ahead of him. I'm praying for the family, his child and mostly the ignorance of some people in this world today. I myself feel like he was targeted. I pray that who ever is responsible, their hearts will be convicted and they will come forward.
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11-27-2007 @ 11:39AM
Black Belt Joans said...
The robber was there because Taylor was wealthy. The fact that Taylor was thugged out would actually serve to deter most level-headed criminals... look what happened to the guy who took his ATV last season.
If my destiny is to be shot... I want it to happen as I'm charging at my vanquisher with a machete. When the deal went down, Sean Taylor wasn't hiding under the bedsheets like some sissy.
RIP, tough guy.
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11-27-2007 @ 11:43AM
ers said...
I was watching PTI when Wilbon said these comments. And sportz assassin, your column is exactly the reason why your blogging on aol sports and not writing legitmate work. Wilbon said that he is disturbed in the fact that he is not suprised in this incident. He's just stating the obvious. Now you got all of these people responding trying to hang Wilbon for comments that weren't meant to be like you are portraying. Taylor had a history of questionable activity that probably had a little something to do with this shooting. Is anyone sure of it?? No.. but Wilbon was just stating that he was disturbed that this incident isn't all that surprising considering Taylor's past. You are implying that Wilbon thinks that he deserved getting shot because of his past, but that is not what he meant. Take a look in the mirror and stop wondering why your just a blogger...
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11-27-2007 @ 11:50AM
PapaDink said...
Wilbon is 150% right. If you surround yourself with fools doing stupid things, you have a great chance of becoming a victim yourself, S/H.
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11-27-2007 @ 11:57AM
rich.berger said...
I understand what Wilbon was saying and I applaud him for doing so.
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11-27-2007 @ 12:09PM
cindy said...
I know people that have met Wilbon , They say that he is VERY insensitive..Well,, He is..
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11-27-2007 @ 12:10PM
iluvlutha said...
Whatever!!!!!I can see a person like Wilbon making statements like this..He is not even in the same league as Taylor was.. He is very Sad!!!!
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11-27-2007 @ 12:27PM
RustyShackleford said...
Mr. Wilbon is just exercising his 1st amendment right by voicing his opinion. We have too many self-appointed "speech policemen" who go through their lives looking for a reason to be offended.
Get over it already.
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11-27-2007 @ 12:29PM
Do Da Da said...
The guy is right. Yeah, it sucks when anyone dies, but when you refuse to seperate yourself from a lifestyle that is likely to get you killed, don't be suprised when you get killed. Don't forget all the shady incidents this guy has been a part of in the past. The guy lived his life like a street thug, he died like a street thug. So many people want to embrace this thug life style learn from this.
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11-27-2007 @ 12:37PM
Janet said...
Wilbon,
I am sooo disappointed in you. You have supposedly been a member of the Redskins "family" for many, many years. If this is the way you respond to tragedy of one of our own, you no longer exist for me. I will never read your column again, and "Pardon the Interruption" shall not run in my house again. (sorry, Tony!) You should change the name to "Pardon the Idiot."
Rdsknsldy
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