Courage Defined.

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

OB1🤙

Breaking Good
20+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2003
Messages
2,200
Reaction score
1,246
There aren't too many of us around that could go out on a football field and go 3/3 on field goals (including the one that iced the game) and 3/3 on PATs a day after burying a 3 month-old son who suddenly died (of what sounds like SIDS, at least at first glance).

That takes courage.

I am generally against the idea that athletes are the world's bravest heroes.

Fact is, dude gets paid $1.1 million to work 16 days a year.
 
Because he never practices?

extra point kickers/FG kickers are the least in working out and get paid fatly. not to mention when they get "breathed on", there's a penalty. sorry but, loafers extreme. agree with above.
 
extra point kickers/FG kickers are the least in working out and get paid fatly. not to mention when they get "breathed on", there's a penalty. sorry but, loafers extreme. agree with above.


I'm not saying we should give the guy a medal of honor. But spending a bunch of hours day in and day out kicking a piece of leather through metal poles has got to be monotonous. I'm sure there is some stretching/weight lifting as well.

All this said, his hourly rate is fat...you are correct sir.
 
I am generally against the idea that athletes are the world's bravest heroes.

Fact is, dude gets paid $1.1 million to work 16 days a year.

Uhhh,

Nobody said the fact that he gets paid to kick a football makes him a brave hero.

It was that he went out and did so a day after burying his previously healthy infant son.

Just pretend he was a college kicker then, you heartless bastards.:eyebrow:
 
Uhhh,

Nobody said the fact that he gets paid to kick a football makes him a brave hero.

It was that he went out and did so a day after burying his previously healthy infant son.

Just pretend he was a college kicker then, you heartless bastards.:eyebrow:

Ummm... how much money would he have passed up if he'd chosen to sit the game out? You think he still would've gotten paid to his contract if he'd told the team owners, "I buried my son yesterday. I don't want to play today. Pay me anyway." Check me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe NFL players have very generous bereavement clauses in their contracts. Usually it's: You play, or you don't get paid.

I'm not sure you're correct in calling us the heartless bastards here. And, I'm not sure I'd call Matt Bryant's actions "courageous". Selfish? Callous? Insensitive? Maybe those are better words. And, I wonder how his wife felt about the whole thing.

I'm not as generous as you. The guy's kid dies, he buries him one day, flies back to the east coast the next when probably the rest of his family needs him, and then goes and plays football to "cope" with the loss. And, he's a great guy because he "dedicates" his efforts to his dead son. (Cue the sappy violins and end-credits to the film "Rudy"... give me a break.)

There are many examples of courage out there (e.g., running into the twin towers while they were on fire to save people, etc.), but I just don't find this to be one of them. It would've been far more courageous for him to have sat the game out and been with his family.

-copro
 
I think you guys underestimate how hard it is to kick a field goal, punt a football 40+ yrds with adequate hangtime or be good at kickoffs....for years and years!!

The analogy is similar to a construction worker looking from the outside in and not understanding why FP's are pissed making a 150K salary...

I do feel his pain about loosing a kid...hats off for staying focused and being determined. It takes a lot.
 
tough crowd.

We really are! I didn't think anyone would be with me.

Can you imagine the news story "Minimum-wage laborer goes to work after infant son dies" and people calling it courageous? Of course not. Lots and lots of working people have tragic events happen to them, including the death of family member, and have obligations or responsibilities that still must be attended to the next day. Most don't get paid $1.1 M/yr or get their mug on national TV.
 
I'm not seeing why him playing football is more courageous than actually standing up to the team owner and saying "sorry, gotta be with my family, I'm not going to play". That would actually take courage. It seems, however, that he took the path of least resistance.
 
Football and all other sports are games. Thats it. A game. And these guys get paid millions to do it. Thats not courage.

This is courage:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HM2 with Battery D, 2d Battalion, at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa. During the early morning hours, an estimated battalion-sized enemy force launched a determined assault against the battery's position, and succeeded in effecting a penetration of the barbed-wire perimeter. The initial burst of enemy fire caused numerous casualties among the marines who had immediately manned their howitzers during the rocket and mortar attack. Undaunted by the intense hostile fire, HM2 Ray moved from parapet to parapet, rendering emergency medical treatment to the wounded. Although seriously wounded himself while administering first aid to a marine casualty, he refused medical aid and continued his lifesaving efforts. While he was bandaging and attempting to comfort another wounded marine, HM2 Ray was forced to battle 2 enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing 1 and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the hail of enemy fire to other casualties. Once again, he was faced with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. HM2 Ray's final act of heroism was to protect the patient he was treating. He threw himself upon the wounded marine, thus saving the man's life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. By his determined and persevering actions, courageous spirit, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his marine comrades, HM2 Ray served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in defeating the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.[1]
 
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HM2 with Battery D, 2d Battalion, at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa. During the early morning hours, an estimated battalion-sized enemy force launched a determined assault against the battery's position, and succeeded in effecting a penetration of the barbed-wire perimeter. The initial burst of enemy fire caused numerous casualties among the marines who had immediately manned their howitzers during the rocket and mortar attack. Undaunted by the intense hostile fire, HM2 Ray moved from parapet to parapet, rendering emergency medical treatment to the wounded. Although seriously wounded himself while administering first aid to a marine casualty, he refused medical aid and continued his lifesaving efforts. While he was bandaging and attempting to comfort another wounded marine, HM2 Ray was forced to battle 2 enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing 1 and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the hail of enemy fire to other casualties. Once again, he was faced with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. HM2 Ray's final act of heroism was to protect the patient he was treating. He threw himself upon the wounded marine, thus saving the man's life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. By his determined and persevering actions, courageous spirit, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his marine comrades, HM2 Ray served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in defeating the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.[1]

Yes. Thank you. This is an example of courage defined.

-copro
 
We are so lucky we have so many who have performed such service, far more then we deserve.
 
Clearly, a war hero's courage is far and away greater than the act of kicking a football. Maybe "courage defined" was a little much. I just thought it was a very touching story, especially in watching videos of him speaking about it afterward, when he was talking about the running dialogue in his head during the game between him and his dead baby.

The point I was (apparently poorly) attempting to make was that it takes guts to bury your kid, then go out and execute a highly skilled task with tens of thousands of people counting on you to perform.

That's all. Just a touching human story.

I'll take my ball and go home now.
 
Football and all other sports are games. Thats it. A game. And these guys get paid millions to do it. Thats not courage.

This is courage:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HM2 with Battery D, 2d Battalion, at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa. During the early morning hours, an estimated battalion-sized enemy force launched a determined assault against the battery's position, and succeeded in effecting a penetration of the barbed-wire perimeter. The initial burst of enemy fire caused numerous casualties among the marines who had immediately manned their howitzers during the rocket and mortar attack. Undaunted by the intense hostile fire, HM2 Ray moved from parapet to parapet, rendering emergency medical treatment to the wounded. Although seriously wounded himself while administering first aid to a marine casualty, he refused medical aid and continued his lifesaving efforts. While he was bandaging and attempting to comfort another wounded marine, HM2 Ray was forced to battle 2 enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing 1 and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the hail of enemy fire to other casualties. Once again, he was faced with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. HM2 Ray's final act of heroism was to protect the patient he was treating. He threw himself upon the wounded marine, thus saving the man's life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. By his determined and persevering actions, courageous spirit, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his marine comrades, HM2 Ray served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in defeating the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.[1]

Sorry, Dude,

you are wrong.

Yes, courageous military dude was obviously the pinnacle of courage.

Not all of us are enlisted assassins ready, willing, and trained to kill the enemy and protect our homies.

So we go about our regular lives.

Some of us put people to sleep for a living.

Some of us operate on people for as living.

Some of us work at Taco Bell.

Some of us kick footballs through the uprights for the NFL.

SO WHERES THE DISPARITY ALL YOU MO FOS ARE CLAIMING?

"OHHHHH....... SO THE FACT THAT HE'S ABLE TO MAKE SOME GREAT C-NOTES IN THE NFL KICKING FOOTBALLS INSTEAD OF "WHATEVER ELSE" sorry, COLONEL....we're "fighting" a war that shouldda never been fought....so if you're a ....uhhhhh.....HERO in this war thats a fu kkin joke to begin with....dodging bullets.....saving comrades....yeah, thats patriotic and all....but...uhhhhh....WHO ARE YOU TO SAY KICKING A FIELD GOAL IN A GAME THAT OUR COUNTRY LOVES AND STRIVES FOR IS LESS MEANINGFUL THAN "YOUR HERO" DOING SOMETHING "HEROIC" IN A WAR THAT IS STUPID AND MEANINGLESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I LOVE WATCHING OUR IGNORANT HUMAN RACE TRY AND PLACE JUDGEMENT ON OTHERS.

I dont think place kicker dude awoke with thoughts of selfishness like you dudes who implied that his plight was "less" because of his salary.

Has nothing to do with that.

Like it has nothing to dowith the soldiers from our country that are fighting a war that really has nothing to do with us.

SO, PROSERS, WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GIFTED NFL KICKER WHO LOSES A KID, AND A SOLDIER WHO GOES OFF TO A WAR THAT MEANS NOTHING AS FAR AS THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED? IS THE SOLDIER REALLY "MORE OF A HERO"? IN A MEANINGLESS WAR?

We are all fighting "OUR WARS."

Some of us drive around in the middle east trying to avoid bombs.

Some of us put people to sleep.

Some of us kick a football thru uprights.

WE ARE ALL HUMAN.

Living life.

FIGHTING OUR WARS.

Losing a baby is, I can imagine, devastating. There are some COLD-HEARTED MO FOS OUT THERE in internet land, minimizing dudes loss because he's in the NFL.......every wanna you guys REALLY need to take a look in the REALITY MIRROR.......

There is no difference.

In emotion.

Kicker dude strived for excellence in the presence of deep personal loss.

Doesnt matter if you are a TACO BELL MANAGER, AN NFL KICKER, OR AN ARMY AIRBORNE RANGER....

CARRYING ON IN A POSITIVE WAY in the waves of adversity

IS A HERO.

You guys stuck on the fact that he's in the NFL have some very near-sighted spectacles on.
 
Last edited:
Hahahaha Lovely post Jet.

Way to articulate in words what I was thinking and was too lazy to post by typing it all.

Dude I read in the other thread that you are busy and may stop posting. What's up with that sh it?
 
Football and all other sports are games. Thats it. A game. And these guys get paid millions to do it. Thats not courage.

This is courage:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HM2 with Battery D, 2d Battalion, at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa. During the early morning hours, an estimated battalion-sized enemy force launched a determined assault against the battery's position, and succeeded in effecting a penetration of the barbed-wire perimeter. The initial burst of enemy fire caused numerous casualties among the marines who had immediately manned their howitzers during the rocket and mortar attack. Undaunted by the intense hostile fire, HM2 Ray moved from parapet to parapet, rendering emergency medical treatment to the wounded. Although seriously wounded himself while administering first aid to a marine casualty, he refused medical aid and continued his lifesaving efforts. While he was bandaging and attempting to comfort another wounded marine, HM2 Ray was forced to battle 2 enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing 1 and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the hail of enemy fire to other casualties. Once again, he was faced with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. HM2 Ray's final act of heroism was to protect the patient he was treating. He threw himself upon the wounded marine, thus saving the man's life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. By his determined and persevering actions, courageous spirit, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his marine comrades, HM2 Ray served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in defeating the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.[1]


Fact is,

IT IS COURAGE.

To be able to face insurmountable personal adversity.......

AND CARRY ON.

Whether you're a Taco Bell Manager, a construction worker, or an NFL kicker....

CARRYING ON MEANS YOU'VE GOT COURAGE.

Word.
 
I LOVE WATCHING OUR IGNORANT HUMAN RACE TRY AND PLACE JUDGEMENT ON OTHERS.

I hope you feel that way, because there is alot of "judgment" passed down in this forum. Some good, mostly bad.
 
We really are! I didn't think anyone would be with me.

Can you imagine the news story "Minimum-wage laborer goes to work after infant son dies" and people calling it courageous? Of course not. Lots and lots of working people have tragic events happen to them, including the death of family member, and have obligations or responsibilities that still must be attended to the next day. Most don't get paid $1.1 M/yr or get their mug on national TV.

sorta disappointing that you think money or media coverage minimizes ones personal loss. there's some seriously cold, heartless bastards in this piece.
 
I am generally against the idea that athletes are the world's bravest heroes.

Fact is, dude gets paid $1.1 million to work 16 days a year.

Dude, No offense, but do you have any idea what this guy is going through?

Have you ever lost a child and had to go back to work almost immediately like nothing ever happened?

This happened to me right in the middle of my 4th year of med school during interview season. I had to cancel the remainder of my interviews, but my rotation schedule had to go on if I was to graduate on time. What made matters so much worse was that I was on a Peds rotation at the time. It was horrible and I have no idea how I got through it, probably with the support of my wife and family.

Burying your kids is not something anybody should go through.

I agree it took great courage to come back so soon. It is more than most could do.
 
Sorry, Dude,

you are wrong.

Yes, courageous military dude was obviously the pinnacle of courage.

Not all of us are enlisted assassins ready, willing, and trained to kill the enemy and protect our homies.

So we go about our regular lives.

Some of us put people to sleep for a living.

Some of us operate on people for as living.

Some of us work at Taco Bell.

Some of us kick footballs through the uprights for the NFL.

SO WHERES THE DISPARITY ALL YOU MO FOS ARE CLAIMING?

"OHHHHH....... SO THE FACT THAT HE'S ABLE TO MAKE SOME GREAT C-NOTES IN THE NFL KICKING FOOTBALLS INSTEAD OF "WHATEVER ELSE" sorry, COLONEL....we're "fighting" a war that shouldda never been fought....so if you're a ....uhhhhh.....HERO in this war thats a fu kkin joke to begin with....dodging bullets.....saving comrades....yeah, thats patriotic and all....but...uhhhhh....WHO ARE YOU TO SAY KICKING A FIELD GOAL IN A GAME THAT OUR COUNTRY LOVES AND STRIVES FOR IS LESS MEANINGFUL THAN "YOUR HERO" DOING SOMETHING "HEROIC" IN A WAR THAT IS STUPID AND MEANINGLESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I LOVE WATCHING OUR IGNORANT HUMAN RACE TRY AND PLACE JUDGEMENT ON OTHERS.

I dont think place kicker dude awoke with thoughts of selfishness like you dudes who implied that his plight was "less" because of his salary.

Has nothing to do with that.

Like it has nothing to dowith the soldiers from our country that are fighting a war that really has nothing to do with us.

SO, PROSERS, WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GIFTED NFL KICKER WHO LOSES A KID, AND A SOLDIER WHO GOES OFF TO A WAR THAT MEANS NOTHING AS FAR AS THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED? IS THE SOLDIER REALLY "MORE OF A HERO"? IN A MEANINGLESS WAR?

We are all fighting "OUR WARS."

Some of us drive around in the middle east trying to avoid bombs.

Some of us put people to sleep.

Some of us kick a football thru uprights.

WE ARE ALL HUMAN.

Living life.

FIGHTING OUR WARS.

Losing a baby is, I can imagine, devastating. There are some COLD-HEARTED MO FOS OUT THERE in internet land, minimizing dudes loss because he's in the NFL.......every wanna you guys REALLY need to take a look in the REALITY MIRROR.......

There is no difference.

In emotion.

Kicker dude strived for excellence in the presence of deep personal loss.

Doesnt matter if you are a TACO BELL MANAGER, AN NFL KICKER, OR AN ARMY AIRBORNE RANGER....

CARRYING ON IN A POSITIVE WAY in the waves of adversity

IS A HERO.

You guys stuck on the fact that he's in the NFL have some very near-sighted spectacles on.

Taco bell manager??? right! Well dude we are gonna leave it at this. You and I have a very different opinion as to what a hero is.
 
Jet, I gotta humbly disagree.

I think it was self-centered for this dude to go back and play in that football game, not courageous.

He did it to cope (his words, not mine) with his son's loss. Likewise, what kind of payout would he have given up if he'd sat out? (I seriously don't think the Bucs would've paid him if he'd said, "I'm not playing today." Think what kind of precedent that would've set.) Fact is, he chose the money and the self-serving psychiatric reasons for playing. He didn't do it for his son or his family; he did it for himself and his teammates.

I'm not saying that it didn't suck what happened to him. But, don't you think his time woulda been better spent with his family that day? I'm not making a value judgment on what he ended-up doing. He can do whatever he wants. It's a free world. He did nothing "wrong" by anyone's stretch of imagination. But, I just don't find what he did to be particularly courageous. And, I think it is truly sad if this type of behavior becomes our barometer for courage.

-copro
 
I think it was self-centered for this dude to go back and play in that football game, not courageous.

Fact is, he chose the money and the self-serving psychiatric reasons for playing.

He didn't do it for his son or his family; he did it for himself and his teammates.

And, I think it is truly sad if this type of behavior becomes our barometer for courage.

I'm not making a value judgment on what he ended-up doing.

Do you see what you just did there?
 
Jet, I gotta humbly disagree.

I think it was self-centered for this dude to go back and play in that football game, not courageous.

He did it to cope (his words, not mine) with his son's loss. Likewise, what kind of payout would he have given up if he'd sat out? (I seriously don't think the Bucs would've paid him if he'd said, "I'm not playing today." Think what kind of precedent that would've set.) Fact is, he chose the money and the self-serving psychiatric reasons for playing. He didn't do it for his son or his family; he did it for himself and his teammates.



-copro

Wow.

I disagree with ya, Cop.

I disagree with usnavydoc.

So we either get into a big Matt Hughes showdown complete with a REAR NAKED CHOKE, a buncha expletives and name calling,

or I follow both of your's (You's?) 🙂laugh🙂 very eloquent example of how to disagree...

hmmmmmmmmmm....😆

jet puts down the thirty ought six...

"We disagree, gentlemen. And thats OK."

🙂eek🙂
 
Wow.

I disagree with ya, Cop.

I disagree with usnavydoc.

So we either get into a big Matt Hughes showdown complete with a REAR NAKED CHOKE, a buncha expletives and name calling,

or I follow both of your's (You's?) 🙂laugh🙂 very eloquent example of how to disagree...

hmmmmmmmmmm....😆

jet puts down the thirty ought six...

"We disagree, gentlemen. And thats OK."

🙂eek🙂

no offense, but isn't is 30-odd-6? 😉
 
no offense, but isn't is 30-odd-6? 😉

No, it's 30-aught-6. 😉

It's derived from it being a .30 cal round, and the "aught-6" part comes from the fact that it was originally manufactured in 1906 ('06, or "aught-6"... an old-timey way of saying "zero" or as a "nothing" placeholder). You will also see people spelling it "ought", as a variation.

It can also be referred to as the 7.62x63mm NATO round (not to be confused with the Winchester .308 round, which is designated 7.62x51mm NATO). It was and still is a popular and powerful cartridge, used mainly in the WWII era in the M1 carbine and still as a solid, dependable, flat-trajectory, hard-hitting, beefy modern deer hunting and sniper round.

-copro
 
No, it's 30-aught-6. 😉

It's derived from it being a .30 cal round, and the "aught-6" part comes from the fact that it was originally manufactured in 1906 ('06, or "aught-6"... an old-timey way of saying "zero" or as a "nothing" placeholder). You will also see people spelling it "ought", as a variation.

It can also be referred to as the 7.62x63mm NATO round (not to be confused with the Winchester .308 round, which is designated 7.62x51mm NATO). It was and still is a popular and powerful cartridge, used mainly in the WWII era in the M1 carbine and still as a solid, dependable, flat-trajectory, hard-hitting, beefy modern deer hunting and sniper round.

-copro

Additionally used during WWII in(your favorite and mine) the Browning Automatic Rifle or B.A.R. for short. Can you imagine a 300RPM 30.06?
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0r5aWLJC0Q[/YOUTUBE]

See we can find many reasons to revert any thread back to firearms!!!
 
Courage defined. Courage defined?

I don't quite get the pissing contest. Does it really matter? Courage is defined every day by everyday people. I've seen all kinds of courage. It's everywhere if you look. It's doing what's right instead of what's easy. It's doing something really hard for whomever happens to be doing it.

I know someone who found out his father was molesting his son. He had to call the police and testify against his father which put him in jail, probably for the rest of his life. That's courage.

Someone else I know just found out his wife is cheating on him and wants to leave him. Just getting up and getting dressed without hitting the bottle again takes courage for him.

The real truth is that we all are faced with the need for courage on a routine basis. Maybe not the death of a child or the horrors of war, but we are faced with choices, however small they seem. Like in baseball, you may only be beating the Orioles (no offense), but that is who you are playing on that day. Sometimes your only opportunity for courage may be standing up for those who can't do so for themselves. I may not be able to fight off people who are trying to kill me. I hope I never have to face the loss of one of my children. But I can try to make the right choices with the decisions that I face today.

And sometimes I find that real friggin' hard to do.

So it's not bad to see examples of when people are doing the right thing, especially when it's hard.

I don't care if your penis is bigger than mine today, I'm happy with what I have. In fact I hope I don't ever have to whip it out in a big way. That would be great for me.
 
No, it's 30-aught-6. 😉

It's derived from it being a .30 cal round, and the "aught-6" part comes from the fact that it was originally manufactured in 1906 ('06, or "aught-6"... an old-timey way of saying "zero" or as a "nothing" placeholder). You will also see people spelling it "ought", as a variation.

It can also be referred to as the 7.62x63mm NATO round (not to be confused with the Winchester .308 round, which is designated 7.62x51mm NATO). It was and still is a popular and powerful cartridge, used mainly in the WWII era in the M1 carbine and still as a solid, dependable, flat-trajectory, hard-hitting, beefy modern deer hunting and sniper round.

-copro

my bad, looks like you both (jet and cop) are correct. ought = zero. apparently aught = zero as well. huh, who knew.
 
Do you see what you just did there?

Oh, I know what I did. I called into question those of you who used this as an example of "courage defined." So, yes, my value judgment is on those of you who have such a low threshold for what constitutes courage.

I could care less what Matt Bryant did/does. Just proof, though, that anyone can rationalize anything.

-copro
 
WHO ARE YOU TO SAY KICKING A FIELD GOAL IN A GAME THAT OUR COUNTRY LOVES AND STRIVES FOR IS LESS MEANINGFUL THAN "YOUR HERO" DOING SOMETHING "HEROIC" IN A WAR THAT IS STUPID AND MEANINGLESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Apparently I'm someone with a better adjusted sense of perspective than you are.

One guy did something personally and emotionally difficult, that provided entertainment for others and a massive paycheck for himself. Good for him, he's coping and living the dream. The other risked his life and ultimately died defending and administering first aid to others who would have died without his efforts.

It's sad that the concept of heroism has been so diluted and watered down that you feel you need to rant in ALL BOLD CAPS that it's arrogant and inappropriate for others to point out the difference.
 
Apparently I'm someone with a better adjusted sense of perspective than you are.

One guy did something personally and emotionally difficult, that provided entertainment for others and a massive paycheck for himself. Good for him, he's coping and living the dream. The other risked his life and ultimately died defending and administering first aid to others who would have died without his efforts.

It's sad that the concept of heroism has been so diluted and watered down that you feel you need to rant in ALL BOLD CAPS that it's arrogant and inappropriate for others to point out the difference.

I use BOLD CAPS ALOT, Dude.

I rant, laugh, emphasize, minimize with BOLD CAPS..

Don't really care whether you like the style or not.

We're all human.

We all fight our own battles.

No, IT'S SAD that the dude awoke and his baby was dead.

Carrying on, regardless of his role in society, took COURAGE.

You don't have to carry an M-16 and shoot at bad guys to elicit courage.
 
Don't really care whether you like the style or not.

Not criticizing your style, just that you felt such an absurd position was worthy of emphasis at all.

No, IT'S SAD that the dude awoke and his baby was dead.

Carrying on, regardless of his role in society, took COURAGE.

You don't have to carry an M-16 and shoot at bad guys to elicit courage.

Now you're conflating heroism and courage. Stay on topic. 🙂

His kid's death sure was sad, and playing in the game took some courage, but it's not heroism. Heroic deeds are done for selfless reasons and involve personal risk.

Kicking a ball, regardless of circumstances or societal entertainment value, is not heroic. I suppose it might be heroic if you live in a Taliban-dominated region of Pakistan where sports are banned and playing a charity futbol game to raise money for Achmed's new kidney might get you beheaded in the town square.

Heroism is something special. It's not something within the grasp of a football player in an NFL game.
 
Heroism is something special. It's not something within the grasp of a football player in an NFL game.

I don't disagree with this. But, currently living in Oklahoma, I know a lot of people (who take football just a little too seriously) that would disagree with this statement.
 
Not criticizing your style, just that you felt such an absurd position was worthy of emphasis at all.



Now you're conflating heroism and courage. Stay on topic. 🙂

His kid's death sure was sad, and playing in the game took some courage, but it's not heroism. Heroic deeds are done for selfless reasons and involve personal risk.

Kicking a ball, regardless of circumstances or societal entertainment value, is not heroic. I suppose it might be heroic if you live in a Taliban-dominated region of Pakistan where sports are banned and playing a charity futbol game to raise money for Achmed's new kidney might get you beheaded in the town square.

Heroism is something special. It's not something within the grasp of a football player in an NFL game.

I see your point.

Point well taken.

Never thought about the difference between heroism and courage.
 
Dude, No offense, but do you have any idea what this guy is going through?

Have you ever lost a child and had to go back to work almost immediately like nothing ever happened?

This happened to me right in the middle of my 4th year of med school during interview season....

I don't have any idea what he's going through. I haven't been there. Apparently you have, OK. I was pointing out that this particular person is getting attention over this event because he's already a well-known and wealthy person. Bad things happen to all people, NFL kickers and MS4's alike. But to make a big deal about this guy (I know this is a media issue - juicy human interest stories) being a symbol of courage does a disservice to "regular" people who go through the same thing.

To put it more concisely, I was talking about our interpretation of the event, not the event itself.

...I think.
 
Kicking a ball, regardless of circumstances or societal entertainment value, is not heroic. I suppose it might be heroic if you live in a Taliban-dominated region of Pakistan where sports are banned and playing a charity futbol game to raise money for Achmed's new kidney might get you beheaded in the town square.

PGG - absolutely on fire . Multiple posts totally on point tonight.

What's the "PGG" stand for?
 
Now you're conflating heroism and courage. Stay on topic. 🙂

Your point is well taken, but you're attempting to turn a thread pointing out an episode of courage into one that defines heroism. No one will argue the example that defines heroism here, as it is the epitome of such. JPP is absolutely correct though in that Bryant showed great courage in his action.

And to those who criticize his wealth and fame, unless you're willing to prove he asked the media to write about and sensationalize his story, then your words fall on deaf ears. Wealthy or poor, losing a child has to be one of the worst emotional feelings that a human can experience, and moving on, however one does it, is courageous.
 
If i'm not mistaken the title of the thread is COURAGE DEFINED not heroism defined.

If you'd kindly refer to the post I responded to, you'll note that the word hero was used five times, once in a size 8,322 font. 🙂

Once you've spent some time on teh internets, you'll find that the topics discussed in threads often stray from the title, especially when pedants, nitpickers, grammar nazis, and sarcastic bastards like me get involved.
 
I don't have any idea what he's going through. I haven't been there. Apparently you have, OK. I was pointing out that this particular person is getting attention over this event because he's already a well-known and wealthy person. Bad things happen to all people, NFL kickers and MS4's alike. But to make a big deal about this guy (I know this is a media issue - juicy human interest stories) being a symbol of courage does a disservice to "regular" people who go through the same thing.

To put it more concisely, I was talking about our interpretation of the event, not the event itself.

...I think.

Sorry to single you out, dude.

I just thought that your original statements were pretty callous. Yeah, maybe he is getting attention based on his stature in society, but I don't think it minimizes what he is going through.

It is something I don't wish anybody should have to go through.
 
I guess it all depends on your own interpretations of those words. I absolutely feel for the guy, but I don't know that he necessarily faced any fears when he played in the game, so I don't see it as courage. He definitely showed some strength, in that he was able to go on so soon after a tragedy and complete a job.

That is really strange that someone would call him 'selfish'. It takes some serious cajones to believe that you know how someone in this situation should act. I'm sure everyone in that family was doing what they could to cope, and maybe they all felt that the father playing in the game was best or the situation.
 
I guess it all depends on your own interpretations of those words. I absolutely feel for the guy, but I don't know that he necessarily faced any fears when he played in the game, so I don't see it as courage. He definitely showed some strength, in that he was able to go on so soon after a tragedy and complete a job.

That is really strange that someone would call him 'selfish'. It takes some serious cajones to believe that you know how someone in this situation should act. I'm sure everyone in that family was doing what they could to cope, and maybe they all felt that the father playing in the game was best or the situation.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

uhhhh....you obviously dont have kids either.....sorry....an assumption....

UHHH, POOH, DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

YES OR NO.
 
I have kids and I don't know if that is the course of action I would have taken. Would any of you goto work the day after burying your child? Can't say that I would, but we are also forgetting about his wife, we don't know the conversation between them after the funeral. Thus, what he did may have been the best for them. Who are we to judge?
 
Jet, I gotta humbly disagree.

I think it was self-centered for this dude to go back and play in that football game, not courageous.

He did it to cope (his words, not mine) with his son's loss. Likewise, what kind of payout would he have given up if he'd sat out? (I seriously don't think the Bucs would've paid him if he'd said, "I'm not playing today." Think what kind of precedent that would've set.) Fact is, he chose the money and the self-serving psychiatric reasons for playing. He didn't do it for his son or his family; he did it for himself and his teammates.

I'm not saying that it didn't suck what happened to him. But, don't you think his time woulda been better spent with his family that day? I'm not making a value judgment on what he ended-up doing. He can do whatever he wants. It's a free world. He did nothing "wrong" by anyone's stretch of imagination. But, I just don't find what he did to be particularly courageous. And, I think it is truly sad if this type of behavior becomes our barometer for courage.

-copro
cop, i think you are taking devil's advocate positions these days just to be difficult or something. the guy lost his 3 month old baby, is probably devastated, but is going to carry on as best he can. I seriously doubt the guy is sweating his 1/16 of his salary being gone, even if some organization would do that.. I'm sure he was trying to be a man and carry with his life. dont overthink it too much.
 
Top