Do I know Rodney the person better than I know Luis Castillo? Of course. If Luis Castillo had injuries similar to Rodney's and took HGH to help heal from them, would I be as forgiving? Probably. It is impossible for the majority of fans to understand just what these men are doing to their bodies, and most fans don't care -- they just want big hits (have you ever watched "Jacked Up" on espn??) by big players when they sit down on Sunday with a beer and some wings.
I obviously have no idea how old you are or what you do for work, but let's say for argument's sake that your boss was starting to question your performance at your $75k/year job. Some young kid a year out of college is hot on your heels, and he makes $20k/year less than you. But if you smoke pot a few times a month -- something that by most studies isn't harmful for you but is illegal -- you'll perform better at your job. Do you do it??
smy
Thanks for chiming in SMY. Great article!
I think I speak for many of us fans that yes, we do have a faint if not that good comprehension of the actual pain and suffering that many of the players go thru to earn their $ and make us happy. So, when some of them are injured and work aggressively to return (not to make us happy I suspect but more to earn their pay and to a smaller extent, their love for their game), we fans are thrilled to see them back in action, especially those like RH who make a big difference to the team.
I guess the disappointment in RH's case was that we considered him as a great representative and leader of the team that we love so much. Many of us are proud to love the Pats, proud to talk to other NFL fans about how the Pats are always a TEAM, and gloat over the fact that amazing men such as Tedy Bruschi (for his truly mind boggling win in his fight against a devastating physical condition) and Troy Brown (the epitome of a selfless player) prefer to be play for us.
So, when one of the most effective and admired team leaders of our beloved Pats succumbed to forbidden means to contribute, it certainly shocked/greatly disappointed many beer chugging ordinary fans like me who hate to see any smear or * on the growing legend of the current Pats.
My answer to your question: considering the various consequences of getting caught using pot, among which:
- tarnishing my reputation, which includes serving as a role model for kids and others in the community and the workforce,
- putting my employer and my colleagues in a bad light especially considering how much limelight and attraction we have,
- getting banned from working for a few weeks thereby penalizing my employer and my colleagues for no fault of theirs,
I would say that I would refrain from using it and instead have a chat with my boss about what I could do to save my job.
I am probably going to get ridiculed by other fans to get realistic but that's my honest response that I am convinced I will do under those circumstances.
This does not mean that I am trying to pass judgement on RH. Though I feel disappointed and will support RH when he returns, he did break the rules and must face the consequences. It will be interesting to see how Mr. Kraft responds to this...wish he forgives and welcomes him back.