Another reason to love Junior Seau (and hate Ryan Leaf)

[TrueBeliever]

Heard this on Dan Patrick's radio show the other day when he was talking to Rodney Harrison, thought y'all would enjoy it.

Rodney was talking about how rookies get hazed by having to take their teammates out to dinner and pick up the tab. In Rodney's case this was like 2 or 3 grand.

But then Rodney said that when Ryan Leaf went to San Diego, he took the players out but refused to pay the bill (what a rhymes-with-witch!)... so Junior Seau stole Leaf's credit card!

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Heard this on Dan Patrick's radio show the other day when he was talking to Rodney Harrison, thought y'all would enjoy it.

Rodney was talking about how rookies get hazed by having to take their teammates out to dinner and pick up the tab. In Rodney's case this was like 2 or 3 grand.

But then Rodney said that when Ryan Leaf went to San Diego, he took the players out but refused to pay the bill (what a rhymes-with-witch!)... so Junior Seau stole Leaf's credit card!

I remember a similar story during training camp in which Seau plowed into the red-jersey'ed Leaf, also causing Leaf to wig out. I knew then and there that Leaf was never going to be the man on that team.

Regards,
Chris

 

[efin98]

I remember a similar story during training camp in which Seau plowed into the red-jersey'ed Leaf, also causing Leaf to wig out. I knew then and there that Leaf was never going to be the man on that team.

Regards,
Chris

Possible the two might be connected?

 

[Disco Volante]

I think hazing is lame as hell.

 

[Tyler.Durden]

I think hazing which is demeaning is overboard, but carring the vets bags and picking up a few meals is within bounds for mini camp is ok.

 

[DarrylS]

There is a fine line between hazing and rites of initiation into the millionaire boys club... this sounds like the latter.

 

[Bertil]

I think hazing is lame as hell.

Wow, you've never been part of anything, have you?

 

[amazinPats]

Wow, you've never been part of anything, have you?

No, he's correct. Hazing is stupid.

 

[mtbykr]

Awesome! I miss Rodney, he brings credibility to the NBC studio analyst

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I think hazing is lame as hell.

as a parent of two kids, i feel strongly about hazing and any form of bullying that demeans or injures another, whether emotionally or physically.

but picking up a $2,000 dinner tab when you're a first round draft pick with an eight figure guarantee? carrying bags for veterans (BEFORE the season begins, not when you're playing "for keeps" together as a team)? neither is hazing as I would define it. the one is a harmless initiation into a club of very wealthy people (where the rookie presumably gets to enjoy the meal as much as the next guy); the other is a harmless way of reminding guys that there are folks who've come before them and helped build the team they've joined.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I remember a similar story during training camp in which Seau plowed into the red-jersey'ed Leaf, also causing Leaf to wig out. I knew then and there that Leaf was never going to be the man on that team.

Regards,
Chris

I KNEW I liked Richard Seau! Thanks for that story.

 

[Disco Volante]

Wow, you've never been part of anything, have you?

Well, it's clear you have no reasonable justification for hazing and rather just make snark remarks.

Not surprising giving you support such a ridiculous act.

 

[patchick]

Wow, you've never been part of anything, have you?

I know others have already piled on this, and I know that hazing is a tradition in certain kinds of groups but...

Have you ever joined something for the first time -- a team, a school, an organization, a company, a neighborhood -- and been welcomed warmly, lent a helping hand, and made to feel wanted? Did anyone ever go out of their way to include you and show you the ropes? And if so, did that really leave you feeling a lack of team spirit? Hard to believe.

Just to be clear, I'm not defending a guy who just signed a megabucks rookie contract stiffing on a tradition of picking up the tab for his teammates. That's just being an antisocial jerk. But the idea that hazing is essential to "being part of anything" is just nonsense, IMO.

 

[olschool]

On lasts night's pre-game show, Rodney Harrison, said he was hazed by being thrown out of bed,stripped,wrapped with tape, and being thrown in an empty elevator for a 23 story ride. All for refusing to sing a song as the Chargers hazing routine.

I agree hazing is stupid and can get out of hand, as happened to Rodney.
But, it's an ancient military tradition, to get new recruits to realize that they're all in it together and have to suffer or succeed as part of a team.

I don't think it has a place in kid's sports, but when you're an adult you're on your own.

 

[shmessy]

I don't think it has a place in kid's sports, but when you're an adult you're on your own.

Good point.....and that works for the ones doing the hazing - - they're adults and if anything goes wrong are subject the laws and punishment of the local jurisdiction.

Leaf was a jerk and rightly should have been ostracized.

However, no matter how much of a God fans may think Seau is, stealing someone's credit card isn't OK no matter what.

 

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

Meh hazing can be good spirited and bad, I remember seeing a picture in SI of Brady spraying Cassel with a hose while he was lying face down in the mud (Good spirited). Then theres always the bad spirited hazing like the losers who get talked into elephant walks to join a frat.

 

[JackBauer]

However, no matter how much of a God fans may think Seau is, stealing someone's credit card isn't OK no matter what.

Oh boo hoo. When you're that wealthy, it's really not that big of a deal.

 

[Disco Volante]

It's unprofessional, immature and technically illegal.

 

[efin98]

as a parent of two kids, i feel strongly about hazing and any form of bullying that demeans or injures another, whether emotionally or physically.

but picking up a $2,000 dinner tab when you're a first round draft pick with an eight figure guarantee? carrying bags for veterans (BEFORE the season begins, not when you're playing "for keeps" together as a team)? neither is hazing as I would define it. the one is a harmless initiation into a club of very wealthy people (where the rookie presumably gets to enjoy the meal as much as the next guy); the other is a harmless way of reminding guys that there are folks who've come before them and helped build the team they've joined.

That wouldn't even be hazing...that's more along the lines of tradition. Pick up the check, carry the equipment, carry the bags, carry the water- with the exception of paying for meals every team from high school upwards does that for the new people.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

The 21st Century has truly become the Weenie Century if whiney fans get their panties all atwist over harmless 'hazing' or initiation rites involving HORRORS! rookies buying dinner for veteran team mates.