Considers the players situation "modern day slavery." http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Vikings-Adrian-Peterson-calls-NFL-labor-situation-modern-day-slavery-031511 This is something that I've heard intimated before from some players. I really find this kind of thing incredibly distasteful. Aside from an enormous slap in the face to those who suffered greatly under real slavery (and, btw, there are still millions who are under slavery today - there are more who have been kidnapped and put under sexual slavery in today's world than there were in the U.S. at the peak of slavery). What an incredibly insulting thing to say. Let him go and live as a sex slave for two months and then come back and talk that trash. Unbelievable. But, this is where I find players are so incredibly ignorant (I know not all of them see it this way) - who would want to negotiate with such mentalities? I am fine with them getting an honorable deal. But, the very idea that they feel grossly abused while making millions of dollars - to play a sport! And in a profession that they have chosen! (he could have stayed in school and gotten a degree in accounting and be working in an office 50 hours a week making $75 K a year - wonder which he'd rather do?). Ludicrous. Sorry but I just can't abide this kind of thing. He's made millions, he's living in a mansion; if he were smart, he's made enough with football and with endorsements, that he could retire with a couple of really nice homes today in great locations, invest his money in a very secure format and never work another day in his life as well as be able to take luxury vacations every year. That's the last time I'll ever root for this guy. I totally get that he's reflecting a cultural perspective - but, unfortunately it is a cultural perspective of VICTIMOLOGY that is TOTALLY out of touch with reality. If you said to every slave who ever lived, "you can be free and you can play this sport and make millions" - what does he think they'd say? I also get that we all say stupid things. But, this guy needs someone to slap him in the head and beat some sense into him. Unfortunately, I think it's very true that far too many athletes think this way. Sad reflection on our culture. Having been blessed to work with several homeless women near where I live - seeing their attitudes and spirit in spite of terrible circumstances (in many cases none of which is there fault - often they are in their situation because of an abusive husband) - yet in spite of all that they still trust in God, they still have a spirit of not giving up, they are gentle, encouraging, kind (not all of them are perfect) but to see them in their situation and hear something like that from a millionaire football player - boy he needs a beat down! There, I feel better. Sorry for the rant. Had to get that off my chest. Whew...
Slaves didn't get paid and drive Bentley's, have enough capital to start their own businesses and in many ways have the opportunity to set up future generations of their family with some financial head start (doesn't mean they will but they have the opportunity to do so, some of them anyways). Slaves were happy to be fed, not have their wives used for sex by slave masters and such just as a start - let alone the whipping for whatever reason crawled up the master's ***. You feel shorted, O.K., used etc. Fine. But slavery where you become economically empowered? Entitled much?
I am completely fine with them making a lot of money because it's a profession that not many people can do or compete in... However comparing it to slavery is extremely ignorant, IMO.
What a loser. Just lost any respect I had for him. AP, Maybe you should say the owners are ripping the players off, instead of comparing yourself to something that isn't even remotely comparable.
I have a hard time feeling sorry for any athlete, but let's be serious. AP's use of hyperbole in this instance isn't ANY different what goes on on Capitol Hill, in political campaigns, or any other high stakes negotiation or legal battle. And I'm not at all swayed by the "rich" athlete angle. Making 50k a year is a fortune to 90% of the world, so all of the "middle class" peeps who are down on athletes for complaining about making $$$ are being somewhat hypocritical. Besides, lets not pretend that AP is paid his salary simply b/c he plays football. He's paid b/c he generates a tremendous amount of revenue for the Vikings and the NFL. I'd bet dimes to dollars that for every dollar AP earns, he earns 5 times that for his employers. AP is arguably the best as what he does, in the entire world. How much do the worlds greatest doctors, lawyers, stock brokers, actors, marketing execs, arms producers, etc make? And as far as I can tell, none of the people in those professions have an average career length of 4 years, nor can their career and livelihood be threatened by a freakish knee or neck injury. I hate to sound like I'm defending football players, they hardly make good martyrs. But to say that they, as a whole, are paid a penny more than they generate or deserve, I just don't agree with that.
Did you read the article? That's exactly what he was trying to say. " It's easy to jump on someone for an ill advised statement, or take a statement out of context. But no one in their right mind thinks that AP was making a direct comparison to slavery. Personally, I think its more akin to prostitution than slavery. And $10 for a beer is robbery, so is $50 to park. That's what I got from the statement, but that's JMO.
how embarrassing, I mean if I were from colored descendants I would be insulted. To compare their acts of greediness to what happened during slavery is just outrageous. Or even to imply it....what a joke
It is a poor choice of words and he should make a public appology for it. People have lost thier careers over statements that have made light of slavery in the past I see no reason for him to be scrutinized any less then any of those people.
Exactly. He was comparing the way the owners treat their employees to slavery. By "modern day salvery" he means they are as close to slavery as possible without breaking the law. And he wasn't talking about the players, he was speaking up for the stadium staff. They pay them minimum wage, which should be a crime. A fulltime employee at $7.50/hr brings home about $250 per week. That qualifies you for welfare even while working fulltime. No one can support themselves on that wage, especially if they have children. Imagine being a single mother trying to raise a kid on $1000/month. You cant! These people need to work 60-70 hours a week and still cant break above the poverty level.
AWFUL choice of words, but I think he just made a mistake here. Let's give him a chance to apologize before we crucify him.
Some of these players can no longer suprise me. They are "**** for brains", so they are what they are. No sense in getting mad at them anymore, as it would be like getting mad at the mentally challenged.
Sorry, I read it seems pretty easy to see what he said. He was certainly talking about the players, thats easy to see.
They don't have to work at the stadium if they are not satisfied with their pay, just like they don't have to bring a child into the world if they can't support themselves.
I'm not going to get too upset over this really dumb, not-thought-out statement. It was stupid, but NFL players aren't exactly rocket scientists. But mainly because I already had absolutely zero sympathy for athletes. Yes, they worked their asses off to get to the NFL, but they should be ecstatic at what they get to do for a living and how much they get. No different that the whiney bastards that work in my company. All they do is complain all the time when currently, my industry (research scientist) is a dying industry. These guys have a good job and make damn good money and don't have to do any physical labor or work outside. quit the *****in and appreciate what you have because 90% of the population would love to trade places with you.
That's surprising, the only curmudgeons (if any) at the research facility I used to work at were old guys already of retirement age. Everyone for the most part really seemed to like their job.
I personally think every last one of these players and owners get too much money. What they're doing is driving up the price of going to a game and it's to the point, considering the economy, that they're driving the market nearly out of reach for the average Joe, who makes 40 grand a year.
I don't get the point. He is paid damned good, and this is what he wanted to do since he was in pop warner football. His *** is living a dream...
Take it from a black guy, Adrian Peterson is a modern day idiot. Disclaimer: I don't speak for all black or partially black people. They wish I would speak for them. Cause I'm awesome. I don't think he's overpaid. Capitalism at work baby! I'm all for that. But to then decide his millions are slavery, that's where he's an idiot.
Oz, I totally agree. o matter how you slice it, the fans will get screwed. Owners lose? They'll raise ticket, parking concession prices & screw the fans. Players lose? They'll play w/ less effort and the on field product will suffer. Either way, the fans are going to take a hit. When the fans take a stand and say their tired of being trampled on, things may change. Till then, its a battle over who's going to benefit the most from fans being screwed.
Exactly. Hell hyperbole even happens here on this board. Its ok though because we're the ones saying it.
Well sometimes circumstances change for a person. A lot of single parents didnt start as single parents. Oops, daddy is in jail. Oops, daddy is dead. Then mommy has to get whatever job she can to bring in money. It happens all the time. Its not always something that can be planned for, and its not easy to get out of. Minimum wage is a joke, bottom line. No one should be making $12,000 a year working fulltime. Thats bull****.
He never said he himself feels treated like a slave. He said the owners run their business like modern day slavery. Its true in some aspects, as it is with most large corporations. The CEOs and owners crack the whip to increase stock prices and revenue, but dont pass the rewards on to the ones making it possible. Instead they work them like dogs and will lay them off or replace them without thinking twice after years of loyal service. Some companies treat their customers that way. Directv is ridiculous with it. They make you pay $100 upfront to RENT an HDreceiver, then you pay a monthly rental fee on top of that, and they make you sign a 2 year service extension when you get the box stating that if you end your contract early you must pay $24/mo for the remainder of the contract. Regardless of how long youve been their customer, they will treat you this way. The $100 upfront fee easily covers their cost on the box. The monthly rental fee is pure profit for them. And the $24/mo termination fee is a scare tactic which should be illegal in this circumstance. The way these companies treat people is insane. This is the equivalent of buying a box of cereal at the store, and then being obligated to buy only that brand of cereal for 2 years or you are subject to a charge greater than the cost of the cereal. Thats what we're coming to.
Minimum wage is also destroying American Samoa. The minimum wage is a massive overreach by government. What is payed to workers should be determined by the worker and management. There are places in the world where the daily wage is $1.
I sometimes enjoy this too much. Slavery is not paid work. Just using the phrase crack the whip does not make it slavery. CEO's do their duty to shareholders or they lose their jobs. I won't delve into the part about not passing on benefits to workers because I assume you based this on a statistical survey of companies and not just conjecture. Anecdotal evidence, which we all know is the most complete kind. Consumers just expect companies to do right by them but consumer advocacy is a part of Capitalism. It's just that society has gotten so lazy and used to convenience that they would rather the government deal with it. It is up to consumers to take their hand out of the door when DirecTV slams it shut on their hand over and over. And no, it is not akin to having to keep buying the same box of cereal. It's akin to signing a contract with Kellog's to buy exclusively Kellog's brand cereals for two years. Then you decide to breach the contract, so a stipulation of the contract is you pay a fee for a year. Oversimplification bro. You need to understand that the Capitalist system has four main branches, Consumers, Government, Enterprise, and Charity. The consumers have a role to play OTHER than just buying stuff.
Except slave didnt' make any wages, couldn't quit, had no personal freedoms. Every single person working at a big corporation, or NFL, or anywhere, can quit. They can leave their job. They can go watch a movie. They can do basically anything they want. No matter how far you try to stretch the analogy, it isn't going to fit. How many slaves DREAMED about being slaves. None. A customer entering into voluntary contract to purchase a consumer product is now slavery. Godwin's law has a companion. Adrian Peterson's law of slavery analogies.