RIP Junior Seau

Chef2 · May 2, 2012

Dick Whitman said:

Chef2 said:

Pilot said:

Dick Whitman said:

Chef2 said:

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.
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Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.
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Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, fuck that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.
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"Yeah....I am so and so from the such and such weekly.....I hear that your 12-year old child just killed himself.......what can you tell us about it?"

Disgusting journalism.
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Maybe we can just report good news from here on out. Would provide a really valuable public service that way.
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A couple of questions Dick:

Why would you call the parents of this 12-year old?

What if it was a 74-year old man that killed himself. Would you call the widow?

Dick Whitman · May 2, 2012

Chef2 said:

Dick Whitman said:

Chef2 said:

Pilot said:

Dick Whitman said:

Chef2 said:

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.
Click to expand...

Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.
Click to expand...

Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, fuck that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.
Click to expand...

"Yeah....I am so and so from the such and such weekly.....I hear that your 12-year old child just killed himself.......what can you tell us about it?"

Disgusting journalism.
Click to expand...

Maybe we can just report good news from here on out. Would provide a really valuable public service that way.
Click to expand...

A couple of questions Dick:

Why would you call the parents of this 12-year old?

What if it was a 74-year old man that killed himself. Would you call the widow?
Click to expand...

Same reason anything is newsworthy. Man bites dog.

KYSportsWriter · May 2, 2012

Holy crap. I loved watching him play.

RIP.

Chef2 · May 2, 2012

Dick Whitman said:

Chef2 said:

Dick Whitman said:

Chef2 said:

Pilot said:

Dick Whitman said:

Chef2 said:

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.
Click to expand...

Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.
Click to expand...

Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, fuck that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.
Click to expand...

"Yeah....I am so and so from the such and such weekly.....I hear that your 12-year old child just killed himself.......what can you tell us about it?"

Disgusting journalism.
Click to expand...

Maybe we can just report good news from here on out. Would provide a really valuable public service that way.
Click to expand...

A couple of questions Dick:

Why would you call the parents of this 12-year old?

What if it was a 74-year old man that killed himself. Would you call the widow?
Click to expand...

Same reason anything is newsworthy. Man bites dog.
Click to expand...

You didn't answer my question. Are you calling the family of someone if a 83-year old man dies of a heart attack, or a lengthy illness?

Moderator1 · May 2, 2012

Let's keep this discussion to Junior Seau and maybe the issue of football players/head injuries, etc. Given the nature of some involved in what is becoming the sideshow, I can see this really getting off the rails. And that would piss me off to no end.

Thanks in advance

Pilot · May 2, 2012

Dick Whitman said:

Pilot said:

Dick Whitman said:

Chef2 said:

Rag around here ran a story about a 12-year old local kid that committed suicide.

They tried to call his parents and get a comment from them.

Has not gone well for the paper.
Click to expand...

Did it happen in public? That's a tough one. I remember calling a high school coach over and over one night trying to reach him after his wife committed suicide. I hated doing it, and thankfully he never answered. We ended up not reporting the cause of death, just that she had died, and I got an earful from a friend for even going that far. I told him it was relevant that she had died because he was missing games.
Click to expand...

Jesus, what were you going to ask if he'd answered? "So, sucks about your wife, but how do you think the team will do in your absence?"

Damn, fuck that. I'll mop toilets or flip burgers before I ever do that.
Click to expand...

"What happened?"

"How are you doing?"

"Do you anticipate a lengthy leave of absence?"

"What would you like the world to know about your wife?"

It's called being a fucking reporter and not just the toy department. Sucks sometimes, but it's an honorable pursuit.
Click to expand...

None of that has anything to do with sports or "missing games." Not a single one of those answers would push me to call him repeatedly the night his wife killed himself.

Once with a message? Fine. A day or so later? Fine. Leaving your number with an intermediary, telling him he can call if he wants to be included, fine. Calling him repeatedly the night his wife killed herself, as if I'm trying to get a score from a late game? Nope. Sorry. If that's what I'm supposed to be doing as a sports reporter, someone else can have my job, because there's no way in hell I'm ever doing that.

I've written about tragic deaths, and I've gotten great quotes from people who were very, very close to the deceased, even involved in death itself. I didn't badger them to get those quotes, though. I made sure, once, they knew their voice would add to the story, and left the rest up to them. If they hadn't answered or wanted to talk, my story wouldn't have been as good and I wouldn't have cared in the slightest. Not everything I do needs to be award worthy.

Again, if I'm supposed to be harassing a grieving husband hours after his wife killed herself, then fuck it. I'll do something else.

kickoff-time · May 2, 2012

Thanks moddy. Was thinking the same thing.

Pilot · May 2, 2012

Moderator1 said:

Let's keep this discussion to Junior Seau and maybe the issue of football players/head injuries, etc. Given the nature of some involved in what is becoming the sideshow, I can see this really getting off the rails. And that would piss me off to no end.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Sorry. Posted before I saw you.

Moderator1 · May 2, 2012

Forgiven. Now, from this point forward ***

Chef2 · May 2, 2012

Moderator1 said:

Let's keep this discussion to Junior Seau and maybe the issue of football players/head injuries, etc. Given the nature of some involved in what is becoming the sideshow, I can see this really getting off the rails. And that would piss me off to no end.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Done deal.

Thanks Moddy.

Spartan Squad · May 2, 2012

ESPN finally confirming it after Chargers issued a statement.

BNWriter · May 2, 2012

Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! said:

Dick Whitman said:

kickoff-time said:

Nothing on any major news outlets yet that can confirm this.
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TMZ may be sleazy, but I can't remember them getting a story wrong, can you? (Honest question)
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THIS..

I think TMZ qualifies as a Major news org. with regard to this stuff.
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<Winces at that thought Re: TMZ.....>, and wishing RIP to Seau.

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RIP Junior Seau

Chef2 Well-Known Member

Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

KYSportsWriter Well-Known Member

Chef2 Well-Known Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

Pilot Well-Known Member

kickoff-time Well-Known Member

Pilot Well-Known Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

Chef2 Well-Known Member

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RIP Junior Seau

Chef2 Well-Known Member

Dick Whitman Well-Known Member

KYSportsWriter Well-Known Member

Chef2 Well-Known Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

Pilot Well-Known Member

kickoff-time Well-Known Member

Pilot Well-Known Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

Chef2 Well-Known Member

Spartan Squad Well-Known Member

BNWriter Active Member

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