People in Sports Revered in Death or Retirement Wo Were Jerks

Tweener · Jun 2, 2018

X-Hack said: ↑

Gibby actually signed an autograph for me when I was about 8. It was at the concession stand at MSU's old Kobs Field between games of a doubleheader his junior year -- players used to get hot dogs and cokes in between games. He was very friendly (he was also with a bunch of girls). It was the only year he played college baseball. I should have held onto the scorecard because it was probably one of the last autographs he signed that he wasn't getting paid for. Once he was on the Tigers, he became a total dick.
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Interviewed him years ago and he wasn't what I would call a jerk. Maybe crotchety. He answered my questions and cracked a couple jokes, though.

Monday Morning Sportswriter · Jun 2, 2018

I didn’t spend a whole lot of time covering pros, but Larry Brown was a dick, compared to everyone else in that Pacers organization. I have nothing nice to say about him.

tapintoamerica · Jun 2, 2018

Ray Lewis is a candidate. Covered up for a murderer. Walked on that. Skated in reputation because of his excellence as a player and public willingness to believe anybody who says he's a changed man.

MisterCreosote · Jun 2, 2018

Monday Morning Sportswriter said: ↑

I didn’t spend a whole lot of time covering pros, but Larry Brown was a dick, compared to everyone else in that Pacers organization. I have nothing nice to say about him.
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He always struck me as humorless, but nice enough. Just a basketball savant.

CD Boogie · Jun 2, 2018

murphyc said: ↑

I realized I forgot to answer this question, so here goes:
1. As I mentioned earlier, stories indicated Earnhardt mended a lot of fences at Daytona, including talking with Kyle Petty for the first time since Adam was killed 9 months earlier.
2. That interview Earnhardt did with DW three days before the race. "I've got it all" was Earnhardt indicating everything was finally in place in his life.
3. Three drivers were killed in 2000 from basular skull fracture, the same injury that would kill Earnhardt. After two of the deaths in 2000, rumor has it Bill France Jr. recognized it wasn't good for business to have top drivers like Jarrett and Wallace questioning safety, so he asked Earnhardt to poo-poo safety concerns. Earnhardt did just that at Richmond in Sept. 2000, declaring the HANS device a "damn noose." I believe Earnhardt realized big changes were needed, but he couldn't bring himself to reverse his strong man public stance. He knew his death -- and his death alone -- would force NASCAR to make the needed changes.
4. The verse from Stevie Waltrip on Earnhardt's dash that day was Proverbs 18:10; "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."
5. The night before the race, Earnhardt, Terry Labonte and some executives were talking about how Earnhardt would break Labonte's consecutive start streak at Talladega that spring. Earnhardt wanted to make sure Labonte could financially benefit in terms of diecast and trinket sales. Labonte recalled Earnhardt saying "That's if I make it that far." Labonte looked around the group and everyone was chuckling -- except Earnhardt.
6. Reports of Earnhardt getting an extra kiss from his wife, and holding the minister's hand longer than usual before the race started.
7. The weather was beautiful for the 2001 Daytona 500, Chamber of Commerce perfect with plenty of sunshine. Earnhardt always wore his trademark black goggles on days like that. But on that day, he wore clear goggles. Why would the Man in Black do that? The only answer that makes sense to me is he knew he would be right behind his son at the end, and wanted Jr. to see the pride in his eyes.
8. An extra dose of freakiness: During the preseason media sessions, Dale Jr. shared a dream he had that seemed so real: he won the 2001 Daytona 500. A reporter asked where his dad was. Jr's answer: "He wasn't there."
Taken individually, there is some conjecture and odd coincidences. But add them all together, and I believe it shows Earnhardt knew he would die, and he was fine with it.
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Man, only NASCAR could bake a cake like that of Christianity, mysticism and derp to create a narrative.

LanceyHoward · Jun 4, 2018

tapintoamerica said: ↑

Ray Lewis is a candidate. Covered up for a murderer. Walked on that. Skated in reputation because of his excellence as a player and public willingness to believe anybody who says he's a changed man.
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If you me Lewis in person what was he like? On television he always struck me as overbearing but I have no idea if that was how in cam off in personal interactions?

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People in Sports Revered in Death or Retirement Wo Were Jerks

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