Has KG gone too far (Charlie Villanueva comments) Update KG's response

[Fafnir]

I hope most people aren't gullible enough to think that KG said what he claims he said.  Villanueva is likely telling the truth.  

And while I personally find what KG said to be reprehensible, let's not pretend for a second that things just as bad as that, if not worse, are said on a daily basis in the NBA.  Furthermore, let's not pretend that Larry Legend, Cowens, Russell, and other Celtic greats weren't saying equally horrifying things.  

Again, I don't condone what he said, but you are going to head down a very slippery slope if you want to start morally judging most professional athletes.  A slope that will likely leave you not wanting to be a fan.  

I see no reason to believe one over the other.

I'm pretty sure KG talked massive trash and said the word "cancer" along with a lot of f-bombs. Beyond that I don't know what was said.

[RajonRondOWNED]

There's no way KG would have said "Charlie, you are a cancer to your team"... that's the worse trash talk ever.  

Imagine things that we've said in our everyday lives being posted on the web for all to see.  

KG is a jerk but you don't tattle for name-calling.  

He probably called him a cancer, not "you are a cancer to your team"

Charlie V probably thought he heard "you look like you got cancer"

[barefacedmonk]

I do think players are role models and I know that I myself often look up to them for their amazing talent. I always want to think they're good people too or I can no longer look up to them.

This reminds me of school officials telling me when my own son was being bullied to stay out of it and make him take it like a man..that's life...and all that stuff. Well, it's not life. It's not normal and my son grew up to be extremely manly and it wasn't because of being bullied; it was because he had great character and cared for others. He was a soldier who fought in combat in Iraq.

There is a reason that bullying is being stopped in schools - finally - now. It's wrong, cowardly and not manly in any way.

An athlete talking smack on court is same as a bully who takes another kid's lunch money?

Why are so many people trying to compare what they or their children would do or have done or faced in their life to what happens in an NBA game? They are different.

KG didn't do anything to insult or offend any body off court...he was playing for his team in a NBA game. Thats it...

Hound him when he does something similar off court.

You all would have laughed at this if Will Ferrell had said something similar in a movie (Semi Pro maybe). Ofcourse he doesn't mean it...he was working...then why hold KG to a different standard.

Judge him for his actions off court...not what he does on court. Everything is forgotten at the end of 48 mins...by all players...well, CV is an exception.

[jasail]

I can't be the only one who doesn't give two hoots what KG, or anyone else for that matter, says on the court.  

I am Caucasian and grew up playing ball and getting made fun of for my race and its relation to my athleticism.  I saw other dudes get called plenty of derogatory, bigoted and racist things.  Were they rude?  Yes.  Were they things people would be angry about in other forums?  Absolutely.  Did it make people angry?  You betcha.  That was the point.  And if you had self-respect you wanted to hear that, if was fuel to your fire, it was inspiration to stick it to them.  

So instead of Charlie manning up and stepping up his game, or committing a hard foul, he went to the internet and de facto the press.  Maybe it is just me, but I wish this country had more KGs and fewer CVs; I think we'd be much better for it.  

As for the bullying comparison, you are dealing with two different forums: an athletic competition amongst alpha males with adrenaline and an diverse educational atmosphere.  There are behaviors and language that are appropriate only for one forum and the other.  That said, I think the lesson is universal: fight your own battles.   

[Jon]

I hope most people aren't gullible enough to think that KG said what he claims he said.  Villanueva is likely telling the truth.  

And while I personally find what KG said to be reprehensible, let's not pretend for a second that things just as bad as that, if not worse, are said on a daily basis in the NBA.  Furthermore, let's not pretend that Larry Legend, Cowens, Russell, and other Celtic greats weren't saying equally horrifying things.  

Again, I don't condone what he said, but you are going to head down a very slippery slope if you want to start morally judging most professional athletes.  A slope that will likely leave you not wanting to be a fan.  

I see no reason to believe one over the other.

I'm pretty sure KG talked massive trash and said the word "cancer" along with a lot of f-bombs. Beyond that I don't know what was said.

Well, I think the reason to believe Villanueva is that I don't see anyone in their right mind saying, "you're a cancer to the league and your team" and thinking that's good trash talk, especially someone like KG, who is known for trash-talking.  I mean let's be reasonable here. 

Furthermore, Charlie Villanueva (as insensitive as it is to say) DOES look like a cancer patient during chemo.  So it'd make a lot of sense that KG said it. 

Is it possible he didn't?  Sure.  But I don't believe in your heart of hearts that you don't think he said it. 

But like I said in my original post, people seriously offended by this really need to realize that things this bad, if not worse, are likely said all the time in all professional sports. 

[jasail]

I hope most people aren't gullible enough to think that KG said what he claims he said.  Villanueva is likely telling the truth.  

And while I personally find what KG said to be reprehensible, let's not pretend for a second that things just as bad as that, if not worse, are said on a daily basis in the NBA.  Furthermore, let's not pretend that Larry Legend, Cowens, Russell, and other Celtic greats weren't saying equally horrifying things.  

Again, I don't condone what he said, but you are going to head down a very slippery slope if you want to start morally judging most professional athletes.  A slope that will likely leave you not wanting to be a fan.  

I see no reason to believe one over the other.

I'm pretty sure KG talked massive trash and said the word "cancer" along with a lot of f-bombs. Beyond that I don't know what was said.

Well, I think the reason to believe Villanueva is that I don't see anyone in their right mind saying, "you're a cancer to the league and your team" and thinking that's good trash talk, especially someone like KG, who is known for trash-talking.  I mean let's be reasonable here. 

Furthermore, Charlie Villanueva (as insensitive as it is to say) DOES look like a cancer patient during chemo.  So it'd make a lot of sense that KG said it. 

Is it possible he didn't?  Sure.  But I don't believe in your heart of hearts that you don't think he said it. 

But like I said in my original post, people seriously offended by this really need to realize that things this bad, if not worse, are likely said all the time in all professional sports. 

College sports, high school sports and pickup games, taboot.

[barefacedmonk]

Muhammad Ali used to talk a LOT of trash...nobody complained about that...he used it to get into his opponents head (remember him calling Frazier a Gorilla?)...yet he has earned plenty of respect and fame...and I'm sure there are many people who look up to him as a fine role model.

If you are going to ask your kids to look upto some athlete as a role model...pls also let them know that athletes are human beings too and aren't perfect.

[LarBrd33]

Charlie V is a serious dork.  Tweeting to the world that KG was a meany-head should get him beat up after class.  I hope KG steals his lunch money and breaks his bicycle. 

[Fafnir]

I hope most people aren't gullible enough to think that KG said what he claims he said.  Villanueva is likely telling the truth.  

And while I personally find what KG said to be reprehensible, let's not pretend for a second that things just as bad as that, if not worse, are said on a daily basis in the NBA.  Furthermore, let's not pretend that Larry Legend, Cowens, Russell, and other Celtic greats weren't saying equally horrifying things.  

Again, I don't condone what he said, but you are going to head down a very slippery slope if you want to start morally judging most professional athletes.  A slope that will likely leave you not wanting to be a fan.  

I see no reason to believe one over the other.

I'm pretty sure KG talked massive trash and said the word "cancer" along with a lot of f-bombs. Beyond that I don't know what was said.

Well, I think the reason to believe Villanueva is that I don't see anyone in their right mind saying, "you're a cancer to the league and your team" and thinking that's good trash talk, especially someone like KG, who is known for trash-talking.  I mean let's be reasonable here. 

Furthermore, Charlie Villanueva (as insensitive as it is to say) DOES look like a cancer patient during chemo.  So it'd make a lot of sense that KG said it. 

Is it possible he didn't?  Sure.  But I don't believe in your heart of hearts that you don't think he said it. 

But like I said in my original post, people seriously offended by this really need to realize that things this bad, if not worse, are likely said all the time in all professional sports. 

As I said before I'm sure KG actually said:

[bleep][bleep][bleep] Cancer [bleep][bleep][bleep]

or

[bleep][bleep][bleep] Cancer patient [bleep][bleep][bleep]

They had to clean it up for his statement no matter which version you believe.

[indeedproceed]

and the award for "most obviously made up spin story of the year" goes to kg's published

[FatjohnReturns]

What makes KG great is his emotion for the game. Its also his biggest weakness. He gets so hyped up he feels compelled to talk.

My word this thread is long. Has anyone read all 18 pages of this thread?

[RajonRondOWNED]

I am concerned that too many middle aged white men are making judgments on what trash talk is being said in a basketball game.

I've played pick up games in Harlem.

That trash talk would make Charlie V suicidal.

[dlpin]

I am sorry, but getting worked up over this is absolutely ridiculous. And I say this as someone who lost his father to cancer, and had cancer affect most of my family.

Newsflash: I bet that trashtalk in the NBA also involves misogyny, racially insensitive remarks (including the N word), ageism, and that more than a few players use handicapped people or the mentally retarded to make fun of others.

It is trash talk. It is taking place between two grown men. It was not done publicly.

KG shouldn't even have to apologize for this crap.

And if you think he does, well, please apologize for all the times you used insensitive words in private. Apologize for all the times you watched south park and laughed at the jokes they make at the expense of the mentally retarded, physically handicapped, the poor, and hungry, and so on. Apologize for every time you called someone retarded or any other word associated with any disease or mental condition.

[barefacedmonk]

I am sorry, but getting worked up over this is absolutely ridiculous. And I say this as someone who lost his father to cancer, and had cancer affect most of my family.

Newsflash: I bet that trashtalk in the NBA also involves misogyny, racially insensitive remarks (including the N word), ageism, and that more than a few players use handicapped people or the mentally retarded to make fun of others.

It is trash talk. It is taking place between two grown men. It was not done publicly.

KG shouldn't even have to apologize for this crap.

And if you think he does, well, please apologize for all the times you used insensitive words in private. Apologize for all the times you watched south park and laughed at the jokes they make at the expense of the mentally retarded, physically handicapped, the poor, and hungry, and so on. Apologize for every time you called someone retarded or any other word associated with any disease or mental condition.

TP.

[j804]

I am concerned that too many middle aged white men are making judgments on what trash talk is being said in a basketball game.

I've played pick up games in Harlem.

That trash talk would make Charlie V suicidal.

So it has to do with race now?