While I would like to stick to the football this week, the “hysteria” over the booing of Jordan Jefferson has really got me worked up.
I admit it, I booed. I actually booed twice. I don’t feel any guilt and don’t wish to take my boo back. I booed Jefferson. He got the loudest part of my boo. Miles got the residual as my boo began to fade as my lungs ran out of air. The second boo was shorter and was confined strictly to Jefferson.
I’m not bothered that many people disagree with the booing. Everyone has a right to their own thoughts. It bothers me that some of these people are so sanctimonious and self righteous. It bothers me that not only do they disagree with a person’s choice to boo, but that they are willing to lash out at those who booed with blanket personal attacks.
Think about it, thousands of people booed a person that ENGAGED IN VIOLENT CRIMINAL CONDUCT, yet the people that booed are “not real LSU fans, morons or idiots.” People at the game booed a person that has testified before a Grand Jury on his own behalf and the Grand Jury sent back an indictment against him. That tells me the Grand Jury DID NOT BELIEVE HIM. We know for a fact that he has lied to police about what happened and has changed his story. He has never publicly denied kicking someone in the face during that bar fight. He has hidden behind his attorney throughout.
This is the guy the “true LSU fans” want to stick up for? Obviously all these folks are OK with Jefferson’s return. Obviously all these folk are OK with a person who ENGAGED IN VIOLENT CRIMINAL CONDUCT wearing the purple and gold and representing LSU. Obviously these folks are more concerned about Jordan Jefferson’s well being and winning football games than they are about players being involved in off the field criminal conduct. I have a sneaking suspicion that if it was their brother or friend that Jefferson kicked, they would feel a good deal different about the entire situation.
Jefferson did not make a mistake. A mistake is leaving your keys in the car or forgetting to stop at the store to pick up the milk. He did wrong. He wasn’t drunk. It wasn’t an accident. He did wrong. And to tell me I don’t have the right to express myself is…well…just plain un-American.
This is my 30th season watching LSU football. I’ve got two degrees from LSU and an LSU tattoo on my right leg to boot. I was here long before Miles and long before Jefferson was even born. I’ve seen a lot of good LSU teams and plenty of bad LSU teams. But I’ve never wavered and never failed to support LSU. So I’ll be damned if someone is going to tell me or others like me that we are not “real LSU fans.” Coaches and players come and go, but the institution is where my loyalty lies, and always will.
That’s all I got this week. Thanks to my loyal readers, even the ones that didn’t boo.
By the way, Tyrann Mathieu is really, really good.
1 comment:
Well said! As I have said elsewhere to you, LSU's leadership--to include its board, president, and AD--completely fell down on this one. Les Miles should be utterly ashamed of himself as well.
Jefferson should not be allowed on the sideline, at practice, anywhere near the team until the end of his trial. Even if he is innocent, the time away from the protective cocoon of LSU football might--just might--wake him up to the fact that he needs to reorder his life and his personality fundamentally.
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