Chris Cooley
If you pay attention to the NFL, you’ve probably heard that Chris Cooley expressed a certain pleasure about watching Tony Romo and the Cowboys implode after a 24 point third-quarter lead against the Lions last Sunday. On DC sports-talk radio 106.7 The Fan, Cooley said:
“It’s amazing, amazing to watch him choke like that,” Cooley said on 106.7 The Fan in Washington. “I’m just saying, (if) I’m up 24 points in the third quarter, if I’m the head coach, I feel like I could probably just take a knee for the rest of the game, punt it away and there’s no way that Detroit’s gonna drive on you that many times. The only way you’re gonna give up that many points is turnovers, right? It’s hilarious to watch him throw pick sixes, too, back to back. I loved it.”
Naturally, Cowboys and Romo fans pounced. How DARE he accurately recount the failures of a rival and be HAPPY about it?!
So these haters did what all haters rationally do…sent Cooley death wishes via twitter.
However, they forgot who they were messing with. Cooley isn’t your average NFLer. He is both a PR person’s dream and nightmare, saying whatever he pleases. It helps him relate to fans, but it can also get him into some hot water. But he doesn’t care, he’s going to do it anyway, and he said as much in his response to these people on his blog.
Here are some highlights, and the full link (which is a must-read) is here:
Though players earn their worth on the football field, there’s not a player in the league unfamiliar with the media. And as a player who has decided to share my real personality with the fan base, I make a clear choice with expressing my political incorrectness as an entertaining attempt to engage as a real person. I will not apologize if my sense of humor and hint of sarcasm is difficult to ascertain by the more serious NFL supporters. I will never make an apology to any offended Dallas fans and I expect every Redskin fan to cheer at the folly of a Cowboy.
…
From genius talking heads like Skip Bayless and former Maryland great Norman Esiason to the bible thumping twitter bullies, it’s very clear that a cult like group of Dallas supporters has emerged to stand in defense of the epic Tony Romo. To them, my tongue-and-cheek opinions scream sacrilege and idiocy. It’s a funny thing, the way simple lighthearted banter can change gears so quickly, but that’s part of the amazing world of sports fanatics. You don’t want me to be boring, but as soon as I’m entertaining I’m crossing a line. You can’t have it both ways.
…
I’d like to give a special thanks to those fans who want to choke me out, burn my house down and not only see me endure career ending injury, but break my neck and die. Clearly football is important to you, you are the people who make the NFL what it is! I’m aware at this point, that I could choose the high road, but a little pettiness makes for much more fun. Plus, I’m assuming if you tweeted you wouldn’t mind a response
He then goes on to post a snippet of the tweets he received with pretty awesome responses (there is also a video embedded of Skip Bayless ripping him).
This is the kind of thing athletes should do more of, not less. Fans want their team to care, want their team to be as invested in games and rivalries as the fans themselves are. But when a player shows he is, he is unprofessional and criticized. Fans are tired of cookie-cutter answers and half-assed comments, but when a players says something interesting he is crucified and sent death threats over the airwave courage of social media.
Make up your mind, and remember that nothing he said was wrong. Cooley was recounting his own feelings, and I wouldn’t be surprised if most players on one end of a rivalry felt the same way when their nemesis has an epic meltdown (which, sorry Cowboys fans, is exactly what the Lions game was).
It’s sports. Fans aren’t the only ones allowed to have fun with it.
