Most professional athletes refuse to speak out. They pride themselves on toughness, but when it comes to taking a stand 99% of them are lemings, cowering behind the nearest tree. Come day’s end, it’s almost always about getting paid, getting pub, getting ladies. Never about actually being proactive; about being strong.
So all hail Hines Ward, who spoke out today and is—unambiguously—100 percent in the right:
From SI.com: “They league doesn’t care about us anyway. They don’t care about the safety of the game. If the league was so concerned about the safety, why are you adding two more games on? You talk about you don’t want players to drink … and all you see is beer commercials. You don’t want us to gamble, but then there are (NFL-endorsed lottery scratch-off games).”
I mean, amen. The safety issue is the biggest bit of hypocricy. The NFL talks safety, safety, safety—and wants to add two regular season games? It makes no sense whatsoever. None. The whole drinking thing is just as bad. You talk, talk, talk about drinking responsibly, etc—than have your fans get sloshed on $12 cans of Miller.
A new respect for Ward. Big time.
