Did the guy in the Randy Moss mask get any TV coverage? [merged]

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

tuckeverlasting said:

i hope that's not it. i hope you're being funny, cuz' that's not right. if that's it, then that's the stupidest thing i've read on this board and i've been here for a while. i still don't get the original complaint

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As you should well know, patjew is known for glib, highly entertaining, and generally insightful commentary, not stupidity.

As quoted above, Gasper, from the Herald, said the mask was personally offensive. As Moss is himself African-American, patjew was pointing out the only alternative in response to Gasper's ridiculous outrage would be to change the color of the mask, which would likely be even more offensive, to Moss and others given the implications of that redesign.

Gasper was trying to make some Al Jolson-blackface analogy (which, as you recall, had white actors playing the role of African-American characters because African-Americans were prohibited from participating in those events), which is completely out of place in this context as the subject of the mask approved its design, in fact sold it on his site, enjoyed the exchange with the fan wearing it, and the mask was designed to showcase his personality. If he would not be equally offended by a kid wearing a Welker mask (it would then be the wearing of any mask that personally offends him and that would just be bizarre), then Gasper needs to put a cork in it.

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

MassPats38 said:

As you should well know, patjew is known for glib, highly entertaining, and generally insightful commentary, not stupidity.

As quoted above, Gasper, from the Herald, said the mask was personally offensive. As Moss is himself African-American, patjew was pointing out the only alternative in response to Gasper's ridiculous outrage would be to change the color of the mask, which would likely be even more offensive, to Moss and others given the implications of that redesign.

Gasper was trying to make some Al Jolson-blackface analogy (which, as you recall, had white actors playing the role of African-American characters because African-Americans were prohibited from participating in those events), which is completely out of place in this context as the subject of the mask approved its design, in fact sold it on his site, enjoyed the exchange with the fan wearing it, and the mask was designed to showcase his personality. If he would not be equally offended by a kid wearing a Welker mask (it would then be the wearing of any mask that personally offends him and that would just be bizarre), then Gasper needs to put a cork in it.

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Gasper is an excellent young reporter. He just was not well-informed about the fact that it was Randy Moss' own company that sold these masks.

It's the unfortunate danger of real-time bloggging - - the real-time is great, but a writer can really put his foot in his mouth very easily.

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

shmessy said:

Gasper is an excellent young reporter. He just was not well-informed about the fact that it was Randy Moss' own company that sold these masks.

It's the unfortunate danger of real-time bloggging - - the real-time is great, but a writer can really put his foot in his mouth very easily.

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Not a comment on Gasper as a reporter (I really don't read the Herald intentionally anymore (only by links here) so I really have no opinion of him as a writer), just the comment itself.

And I agree - blogs are not subject to the same editing as the traditional printed word and thus snap comments and generally stupid/uninformed opinions are part of the fast delivery.

We found the guy in the mask--he's a 12-year-old kid from New London, Conn.

It Is What It Is Moss Mystery Fan Unmasked

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

MassPats38 said:

Not a comment on Gasper as a reporter (I really don't read the Herald intentionally anymore (only by links here) so I really have no opinion of him as a writer), just the comment itself.

And I agree - blogs are not subject to the same editing as the traditional printed word and thus snap comments and generally stupid/uninformed opinions are part of the fast delivery.

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PS, Gasper writes for the Globe

Christopher_Price said:

We found the guy in the mask--he's a 12-year-old kid from New London, Conn.

It Is What It Is Moss Mystery Fan Unmasked

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Good find and a well-written story, Chris.

I feel like our group must have played "Where's Waldo" looking for that kid. If he was in fact in section 137, our group was right near him in 133 and couldn't see him.

Christopher_Price said:

We found the guy in the mask--he's a 12-year-old kid from New London, Conn.

It Is What It Is Moss Mystery Fan Unmasked

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Nice get, Chris!

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

tuckeverlasting said:

i hope you're being funny, cuz' that's not right. if that's it, then that's the stupidest thing i've read on this board and i've been here for a while.

Click to expand...

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

shmessy said:

PS, Gasper writes for the Globe

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I blame it on the red banner he runs across the top of his blog. I see red, I think The Herald. The boston.com address otherwise would have pointed me in another direction.

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

shmessy said:

Gasper is an excellent young reporter.

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After his Wallace/Moss article, I wouldn't call him a reporter anymore. He has produced what is required for him to reach the next level - a column/article filled with contrived drivel. He is now a Boston Sports Writer.

Christopher_Price said:

We found the guy in the mask--he's a 12-year-old kid from New London, Conn.

It Is What It Is Moss Mystery Fan Unmasked

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Good find Chris. The Patriots should definitely bring the kid back for a playoff game as he was hoping to attend and would help get the crowd roudy.

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

Hardboiled said:

After his Wallace/Moss article, I wouldn't call him a reporter anymore. He has produced what is required for him to reach the next level - a column/article filled with contrived drivel. He is now a Boston Sports Writer.

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Good point. He WAS a good reporter.

Now, the Globe has changed him over to be a columnist. Evidently, for that job, one has to be mentored by Shaughnessy.

He also believes the Patriots still have a shot at the Super Bowl, and has a message for Moss.
“I would tell him don’t worry about what other people think,” Shumaker said. “Just play your game.”

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I love this kid! I may petition to adopt him. Okay, maybe only adopt him as a pseudo-nephew or something, because I imagine his parents would put up a fuss otherwise.


EDIT: Thanks for posting the vids. I was able to DVR the game because it was shown locally (YAY!) but this wasn't included in the broadcast.

YouTube - Randy moss Touchdown dancing mask boy 12 yrs old reveled


Here is the Moss fan and his dad talking on youtube.

MassPats38 said:

As you should well know, patjew is known for glib, highly entertaining, and generally insightful commentary, not stupidity.

As quoted above, Gasper, from the Herald, said the mask was personally offensive. As Moss is himself African-American, patjew was pointing out the only alternative in response to Gasper's ridiculous outrage would be to change the color of the mask, which would likely be even more offensive, to Moss and others given the implications of that redesign.

Gasper was trying to make some Al Jolson-blackface analogy (which, as you recall, had white actors playing the role of African-American characters because African-Americans were prohibited from participating in those events), which is completely out of place in this context as the subject of the mask approved its design, in fact sold it on his site, enjoyed the exchange with the fan wearing it, and the mask was designed to showcase his personality. If he would not be equally offended by a kid wearing a Welker mask (it would then be the wearing of any mask that personally offends him and that would just be bizarre), then Gasper needs to put a cork in it.

Click to expand...

I personally do not get the racial thing at all. And I can confirm with absolute certainty that Randy Moss was in on the joke from the very beginning. Anyone who takes this as racially offensive is completely missing the point and way off base. How can I be so certain that the mask was intended in the spirit of good humor and fun? Well, aside from the fact that Moss has been selling the mask on his own site and through the Pats gift shop, as was pointed out above, I can say for sure, because my company, Realmask.com was the one hired by Moss to make the mask back in April 2005. The Mask idea was completely RM's and he and his management explained to me that it was intended to be a parody of his "big hair" moment from Minnesota. We were contacted just after he was signed to play with the Raiders. Yes, the whole concept is completely tongue in cheek, folks.

At the time that we were hired to make the masks, Moss was excited to join the Raiders and he was thinking about the rabid costumed fans of the black hole. This was his way of making his own humorous statement with his own costume character. Make no mistake that RM has a wicked sense of humor. I experienced it first hand when I had the great pleasure of spending about and hour and a half with Moss in FL when we created the mold of his face for the mask. RM was very specific about what he wanted. I personally showed him the type of mask that I thought would work for him (a heat formed plastic Marilyn Manson face mask believe it or not) and he loved the concept but wanted two specific design elements added to his mask. The first was an Afro. "Not too small and not too big", he said, which he illustrated by holding has arms apart for the size. And, "I want the wig to attach to the mask." OK, I said, "how about we use velcro?", to which he replied, "now you're thinkin!" I will never forget that moment. And so the mask was born. It took all of 30 seconds to decide how it would look and what it would be made of. (And BTW, for those of you that have been lucky enough to meet RM in person you will no doubt confirm that he is an amazing guy that smiles a lot, is polite, low key and genuinely nice.)

So that is the story. Realmask made the mask, designed the packaging. and put it out as a collectors item for RM who does in fact own all of the remaining stock of his masks. Randy was overjoyed with the results and has since used it repeatedly for charity events and charitable purposes including causes benefiting the victims of hurricane Katrina, I believe. He loves the masks and I can say for sure that it was all created in good fun. Anyone who thinks otherwise or takes it as offensive, needs to think again. It makes no sense.

Last time I noticed, there are plenty of African Americans that proudly wear their hair in an Afro. Randy Moss's Afro from MN was especially memorable because he had just removed his helmet and it was a bit out of control when the camera's captured that moment. Many people remember it and so does RM.

And that is the real story of the real Randy Moss Mask. BTW, there are not a huge number of masks left. Look for the ones that have the black stripes below the eyes. Those are especially collectible as only 12 dozen exist. If you happen to find one of those and or one of the autographed copies, hang onto it! And remember the spirit in which the mask was intended. I think the majority of us are in on the humor.

Best regards,

Arnold
realmask.com

monsterman said:

I personally do not get the racial thing at all. And I can confirm with absolute certainty that Randy Moss was in on the joke from the very beginning. Anyone who takes this as racially offensive is completely missing the point and way off base. How can I be so certain that the mask was intended in the spirit of good humor and fun? Well, aside from the fact that Moss has been selling the mask on his own site and through the Pats gift shop, as was pointed out above, I can say for sure, because my company, Realmask.com was the one hired by Moss to make the mask back in April 2005. The Mask idea was completely RM's and he and his management explained to me that it was intended to be a parody his big hair look from Minnesota. We were contacted just after he was signed to play with the Raiders. Yes, the whole concept is completely tongue in cheek, folks.

At the time that we were hired to make the masks, Moss was excited to join the Raiders and he was thinking about the rabid costumed fans of the black hole. This was his way of making his own humorous statement with his own costume character. Make no mistake that RM has a wicked sense of humor. I experienced it first hand when I had the great pleasure of spending about and hour and a half with Moss in FL when we created the mold of his face for the mask. RM was very specific about what he wanted. I personally showed him the type of mask that I thought would work for him (a heat formed plastic Marilyn Manson face mask believe it or not) and he loved the concept but wanted two specific design elements added to his mask. The first was an Afro. "Not too small and not too big", he said, which he illustrated by holding has arms apart for the size. And, "I want the wig to attach to the mask." OK, I said, "how about we use velcro?", to which he replied, "now you're thinkin!" I will never forget that moment. And so the mask was born. It took all of 30 seconds to decide how it would look and what it would be made of. (And BTW, for those of you that have been lucky enough to meet RM in person you will no doubt confirm that he is an amazing guy that smiles a lot, is polite and genuinely nice.)

So that is the story. Realmask made the mask, designed the packaging. and put it out as a collectors item for RM who does in fact own all of the remaining stock of his masks. Randy was overjoyed with the results and has since used it repeatedly for charity events and charitable purposes including causes benefiting the victims of hurricane Katrina, I believe. He loves the masks and I can say for sure that it was all created in good fun. Anyone who thinks otherwise or takes it as offensive, needs to think again. It makes no sense.

Last time I noticed, there are plenty of African Americans that proudly wear their hair in an Afro. Randy Moss's Afro from MN was especially memorable because he had just removed his helmet and it was a bit out of control when the camera's captured that moment. Many people remember it and so does RM.

And that is the real story of the real Randy Moss Mask. BTW, there are not a huge number of masks left. Look for the ones that have the black stripes below the eyes. Those are especially collectible as only 12 dozen exist. If you happen to find one of those and or one of the autographed copies, hang onto it! And remember the spirit in which the mask was intended. I think the majority of us are in on the humor.

Best regards,

Arnold
realmask.com

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Thanks, Arnold. It's already been pointed out in this thread that Randy is 100% behind the mask and that there is no reason, in this instance, to assign any racism charge. Great insight, though, about the history of the mask and Randy.

Looks like you may be getting real busy with this product very shortly! (I'll look for one updated with the facial hair!)

monsterman said:

And that is the real story of the real Randy Moss Mask. BTW, there are not a huge number of masks left. Look for the ones that have the black stripes below the eyes. Those are especially collectible as only 12 dozen exist. If you happen to find one of those and or one of the autographed copies, hang onto it! And remember the spirit in which the mask was intended. I think the majority of us are in on the humor.

Best regards,

Arnold
realmask.com

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Great Story ... I'm glad we get to enjoy Randy Moss play the game.

Re: Real Randy Moss fans will enjoy this.

Patjew said:

I guess that guy would have been less offensive if Moss's mask had him in white-face.

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Just to heighten the absurdity, the kid who was wearing the mask is black himself!

YouTube - Randy moss Touchdown dancing mask boy 12 yrs old reveled

shmessy said:

Thanks, Arnold. It's already been pointed out in this thread that Randy is 100% behind the mask and that there is no reason, in this instance, to assign any racism charge. Great insight, though, about the history of the mask and Randy.

Looks like you may be getting real busy with this product very shortly! (I'll look for one updated with the facial hair!)

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Now a mask with the updated facial hair would be a riot. All anyone would need to do is purchase a similar style mustache and beard combo from the local costume shop and glue it on. The harder part is getting on camera. You'll need some luck and or a good seat to pull that one off.

That's a great story, Arnold. Thanks for taking the time to share it with the fans here.