stwasm Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm Judge John Burlew made some interesting comments on Tuesday in connection with the situation involving Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman. Calling the NFL "hypocrites" for promoting alcohol consumption while preventing players who drink it from playing, Judge Burlew said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, "This case upsets me more than anything else, primarily . . . with the National Football League. The allegations are that you had a legal substance – alcohol -- in your body, a substance which they advertise from and get money from, millions of dollars a year from." Burlew added: "You don't like alcohol, take those Budweiser commercials off TV. Stop selling alcohol in the stadium." The comments were made in connection with a hearing regarding allegations that Thurman violated the terms of his probation resulting from a 2006 DUI arrest. The matter was continued for two weeks, so that Thurman could retain a lawyer. You might be wondering what Judge Burlew's thoughts on the NFL and its sponsorship strategies have to do with Thurman's case. The answer, well, is nothing. But, you see, judges are elected in most states, and plenty of the registered voters in Hamilton County are very upset about the league's decision to cast Thurman aside for a second season. And Burlew is up for re-election in 2008. And a little grandstanding from the bench that generates local news coverage is a helluvalot cheaper than billboards and the television commercials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 He's equating the act of drinking alcoholic beverages with a DUI... ? Talk about going from step 1 to step 3 and completely bypassing step 2, which is the decision whether or not to get behind the wheel of a car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dallasfan Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 If he stayed out of trouble, he should be reinstated, but I don't think the NFL advertises alchool, in fact players aren't allowed to do alchool comercials. A couple years ago John Elway did one, before he filed his retirement papers, and the league mad a fuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKM311 Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 I see what the Judge is saying, but agree that the difference is he got a DUI, he didn't just drink alcohol. Our company events all have alcohol, but that doesn't mean I won't be fired if I got a DUI. What the judge is missing is the fact that the NFL is punishing his decision making not the fact that he had alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C26 Run Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 The Judge does bring up an interesting point though. Of course Thurman was wrong to drive while drunk. No one can dispute that. But the hypocrisy of the NFL is there. During an NFL broadcast you can catch beer commercials almost after every time-out. :helmet: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twenty-eight Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 **** it. I'm blaming the NFL for the price of a thirty pack of Coors light being twenty-five ****ing dollars. Oh the hypocrisy. I hope Odell gets his **** together, I enjoyed watching him on the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 I thought Odell took a test and that's what got him banned again. Basically, the DUI wasn't what got him suspended another year it was that he tested positive for alcohol afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twenty-eight Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 He broke his probation...correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paloosa Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 This is a judge who wants to be re-elected and wants to make his name to be known. Another thing is Odell Thurman is trying to make it look like he is a victim and not the abuser. He is using the law and twisting the truth to benefit himself. If you look at the law when it comes to DUI and DWI, the law says you have to go to rehab, and among other things, possibly suspend your license. Most people get a slap on the wrist and get probation. If you go through that probation without incident then they don't bother you. But if you think that you can get away with it and violate your probation then they will come down with the hammer swiftly. If you are in the Military or in the government with a security clearance and you get a DUI or a DWI then you will lose you clearance. What is even worse is that you get demoted and possibly lose your job. Getting kicked out of the military because of DUI or DWI is much worse than getting suspended from the NFL. At least if you clean up you act you can always get back in the NFL. If you get kicked out of the military for DWI or DUI then you can never get back in. Plus you can lose a lot more that can affect the rest of your life. So Odell Thurman needs to clean his act up and face the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thetimeisnow Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Finally a judge with common sense wonder who appointed him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouvan59 Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Burlew added: "You don't like alcohol, take those Budweiser commercials off TV. Stop selling alcohol in the stadium." Hey judge, have you ever revoked someone's parole because they violated the no-alcohol provision of that parole? If so and you take a sip every once in a while then you are calling yourself the same type of hypocrite. NFL players are allowed to consume alcohol until they show they can't handle it. Odell Thurman failed to live up to his end of the bargain which was spelled out for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No_Pressure Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 He kinda has a tiny point, but I'm sure if an NFL player had a party at his home, got drunk and danced around harmlessly with a lampshade...hell if he just got drunk and went to sleep, nobody at the NFL offices would care about it the next morning. They only act when the drinking involves the law, like with a DUI...and if you take a test that shows you have recently had alcohol in your system AFTER you get in trouble for some kind of legal problem, most people should have no sympathy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjfootballer Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 He's a Bengal. He broke the rules, then broke them again. Not our concern. But nice article Stwasm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyal2Washington Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 No one can dispute that. But the hypocrisy of the NFL is there. During an NFL broadcast you can catch beer commercials almost after every time-out. :helmet: Only problem with that comment is that the NFL doesn't sell advertisment time during games. The game carrying networks, FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN, decide who to sell time to. The NFL has no ability to tell the networks to not sell air time to Bud or Coors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacase Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Only problem with that comment is that the NFL doesn't sell advertisment time during games. The game carrying networks, FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN, decide who to sell time to. The NFL has no ability to tell the networks to not sell air time to Bud or Coors. Yeah but I am sure if you by a beer at the stadium it has the redskins logo on it as well as the NFL shield. If there was no legal restriction on him to not drink alcohol then he should have been allowed. Oh and no you do not get kicked out for having a DUI in the military. I know several soldiers Officer and NCO who over the years have got DUI's and still are in the military (reduced promotion potential) and I know a couple people who have DUI's that have clearences. It takes more than on DUI to get kicked out or to get your clearence pulled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxiumone Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Yeah I am sure the Beer Companies were holding a gun to Odell's head and told his drunk ass to drive. I wish people would stop blaming others for their actions and take personal responsibility. Now a days it is always someone else's fault Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Hypocrisy in the NFL?? You mean like the barrage of commercials ending with warnings about erections lasting more than 4 hours, followed by indignation over a saucy commercial for Desparate Housewives or a split second flash of a nipple cover.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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