Gov. Dayton defends Vikings’ Peterson, compares football to combat
July 18, 2012 at 6:54 am in Duluth News Tribune
Mark Dayton compared football to combat, calling it “slightly civilized war.” Continue Reading
Gov. Dayton defends Vikings’ Peterson, compares football to combat
42 Comments
Wrong approach Mr. Dayton.
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Mr Foot meet Mr Mouth
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This, from the guy who cowered under his desk and ran home from Washington D.C., after whipping himself into a delusional fear of a terrorist attack targeting just him. Silver spoon raised, privileged throughout his life and has never participated in anything near a football field or an M.R.E. . Yeah, he’s in a great position to comment on football and combat.
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What a stooge.
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Even though it is no longer official policy of some NFL teams to disable opposing players (See: bounty system – New Orleans Saints) football will always have the underlying benefit of injuring people. This is just like rugby, boxing and yes, sadly, a northland favorite hockey. It is part of the goal of football to overpower the opponent regardless of the physical damage. This behavior will continue to lead to brain damage, crippling limb damage including paralysis and… occasionally… death. One could argue the participants are willing victims. Players are offered a substantial reward for their risk. Some will argue that the paralyzed minority from the inner city deserves his wheelchair. He chose to spin the roulette wheel. However, I am saddened by the blood lust heard in the roar of the crowd for each crippling hit and I think such encouragement of this behavior does our children and our society no good. I feel most fail to appreciate the parallels to gladiator events of ancient Rome, an abhorrence still romanticized. Upon deep reflection the gladiator events are mind boggling disgusting. Several hundred years from now our NFL should expect similar accounting: romantic, barbaric and stupid. Yet governments continue to vote to build them their tax supported coliseums. Please stop.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Human beings will always be human beings, you cannot shame them into being something else.
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Lets not support the NFL “war” with tax dollars. That is all I ask. They can still hurt each other and you can watch. I will not watch or pay to support it, nor will I ask that it be made illegal.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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NFL Football is entertaining. But elevating athletes above the rest of us is wrong. There is no excuse for bad behavior. This man is not a role model. He is another Tommy Kramer.
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So we are not supposed to elevate them above us, but it is ok to condemn them prior to having their day in court?
If the surveillance footage shows the alleged behavior, then ok. But there appear to be many witnesses that corroborate AP’s story.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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This isn’t his only infraction. He was pulled over for driving 109 mph on highway 62 at 8pm on a Saturday in Minneapolis. This is a busy stretch of highway with several curves. He was cited for speeding but he could have been charged with reckless endangerment which is the case for anyone driving over 100 mph. Do we draw him in and expect better from him or do we wait until someone is killed? Do we make excuses for his poor behavior just because he is a pro athlete or should we treat him like everybody else? Adrian Peterson’s only concern at the moment is his image. He is trying to protect his lucrative endorsement contracts. The governor should be able to see this situation for what it is…a celebrity gone wild. You may have stars in your eyes Dorkus but I do not.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Yes…stars in your eyes. I highly doubt you would defend the average citizen who was pulled over for the same offense. He’s your sports hero. To me he is just a man. I probably love football more than you do but that doesn’t cloud my judgment.
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In case you think Peterson learned from the speeding incident lesson and was grateful for Minnesota’s leniency, he was arrested a few months later for a second speeding violation.
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Stars in your eyes Mr. Dorkus.
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Holier than thou, Devilchild.
If you have never done anything stupid when you were young, then I am find with you condemning him for his actions.
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Drat…
“Fine” not “Find”.
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Surprisingly I made it through life without breaking the law. Few do. It is really very simple. The rules are there. We just need to follow them. Of course I was afraid of retribution from my father.
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Well, then you are one of the very few on this planet that can claim that distinction.
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I am the product of good parenting. My father instilled the fear of God in me.
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I doubt God would give you any punishment for traveling over the speed limit. There must have been something else driving you..
I am a product of good parenting as well, as I am able to admit that I have made mistakes in the past and I have learned not to repeat them.
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Unless by saying “I fear retribution my father” you mean your birth father and not God.
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The day Governor Silver Spoon leaves, I shall dance a jig.
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You mean Governor Fruit Loop.
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No, been calling him Governor Silver Spoon since Day 1.
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It appears that Mr. Dayton’s stupid comments filter is malfunctioning again…
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While I don’t think anyone (including the Governor) should excuse this behavior, he is right on a few things. Some of our sports (football in particular) does basically amount to a war zone. Your intent is to stop your opponent at pertty much all cost within the “rules” of the game…..remember, even a military war his some rules (Geneva Convention), although they aren’t always followed, nor are they in football, hence penalties.
There does seem to be something in the human physche that loves to see violence committed against others (hit him hard…put him down, gain another yard) I guess we haven’t evolved quite enough yet.
We worship all the wrong people in this country. I don’t know Adrian Peterson, and no offence to him, maybe he really is a nice guy, but he’s no role model just because he can run a football better than most others.
A recipe for disfunction, take some young people who don’t have a lot of life skills yet, give them millions in salary to play a childhood game, offer them hero worship by the masses, and as the Governor said, give them lots of free time…..you’re bound to have problems…duh !
If you want to find a role model to respect look at your parents or others around you who work hard 5 or more days a week (all year no less) to put food on your table. a roof over your head and did all they could to offer you a good start in life…..there’s your role model, not Mr Peterson.
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So now we have a mentally challenged governator making excuses for an over paid prime-Donna? I thought governor delusional was all about looking out for the little guy, but now it appears he’s cast his lot in with other millionaires. Why am I not surprised. I guess money DOES prefer to associate with money. And I can only assume the same stands for intelligence. Anybody who claims that getting paid $11million a year is a form of slavery must be a few bricks short of a full load. No wonder Dayton likes him. Birds of a feather……
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Governator is a tradmarked term for Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Since there is discussion on role models; Who is a better a better role model?
Thumbs Up Adrian Peterson
Thumbs Down Govorner Goofy
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I heard a rumor that Mars was going to launch an attack on Duluth. I’ll comment on the model thing when I get back from my Martian Invasion Shelter. I’m Reserving a place for the Gov if he’s interested. I’d invite Adrian, but I don’t know how he’ll react when I tell him it’s time to leave.
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I agree that we should wait until a person has their day in court prior to condemning them. The main issue here is the Governor’s drawing a comparison between war and football, as justification for bad behavior. An athlete who gets paid obscene money, sleeps in the finest hotels when away from their ridiculously luxurious home(s), and has servants to cater to every whim is in no way comparable to our fighting men and women coming home from actual war zones. I’m sure the Governor regrets what he said, and I hope he issues an apology to our past and current servicemen and women.
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That is an odd photo, is Dayton trying to execute the 5-point palm exploding heart technique?
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I go with governor goofy… Better gov than senator, but still goofy.
Bring back Jesse…
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And his history channel crew. Reality governor.
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I’d like to see Gov. Dayton support the troops half as much as he does millionaire NFL players and billionaire NFL owners. Sickening.
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Last year I attended the funeral of one Minnesota’s last surviving WWII prisoners of war. A letter was read from the commander of the MN National Guard at the funeral. The funeral home secretary was overwhelmed to by calls and letters from members of the MN National Guard, some of whom were deployed at the time. Twenty year old soldiers in Afghanistan left messages of condolences for the family and friends. There was absolutely no acknowledgement from the office of the governor of the state of MN.
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Only because the Dumb a—- keep calling these actors “heroes”.
Their have been some in the past, real men type, Rocky Bleier, Pat Tillman, Joseph Bellino, Joe Haering, Roger Staubach, Ralph Heywood, Don Steinbrunner, and Bob Kalsu that served their country faithfully and had payed the sport of football. Two of which died in Vietnam. And of course the tragedy that happened to Pat Tillman.
Dayton has no idea what real servicemen go through and should get better advisers.
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Bravo, Hugh. Good stuff.
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Sorry, I have a hard time believing anyone who self proclaims that they haven’t broke any laws.
Ok, you haven’t been caught, but with our expensive legal codes, you broken a plenty.
That’s not an indictment on you as a person, it’s just reality…..everyone has.
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Maybe I should break one. I wonder which one?
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