How come no one has talked about John Feinstein's TERRIBLE article in the WP?

[MK25toLife]

After reading this he belongs in the same category as Wilbon, Shapiro, Cowherd, etc... SMFH at this guy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/05/AR2007120502084.html

[stinkpalmd]

I mean, I guess I can respect the end message of his article about creating awareness about gun violence, but he's all over the place... and I'm not sure he needed to belittle ST's death in order to relay the message. Weird article.

[cjrugger]

Um, whats the problem?

[jivelikenice]

His article was useless. Who is he aroud here? I mean I know who he is but he doesn't cover the Skins and hasn't written much if at all about them in years so who cares what his opinion is on the matter. Jason L. has earned my respect, but I question others on that staff. They may be writing off past merit....

[rdsknbill]

I didn't really have a problem with it

[mrcunning15]

I don't really have a problem with it. I honestly think Synder should use his money for this cause instead of a trust fund for Taylor's child, don't get me wrong it's very tragic that this child will not grow up with a father, but I mean with his insurance policy and not to mention his wife was wealthy too. The child would be alright w/o a trust fund, which to me is the rich people's verison of welfare. I'm prolly going to get blasted for saying this but thats how I feel. I mean if my dad was guned down when I was a child I seriously doubt synder would put a trust fund in my name.

[radagast5]

After reading this he belongs in the same category as Wilbon, Shapiro, Cowherd, etc... SMFH at this guy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/05/AR2007120502084.html

I don't think Feinstein's article (and let's pause to recall how much contempt he openly admits harboring for Dan Snyder) is really off the mark. I think curbing gun violence is agreed by all as a worthwhile goal.

If I'm Dan Snyder, I'm thinking, "OK, I can help this cause." And my first phone call is to John Feinstein asking him to be my speech writer and communications director.

I'd be curoius to see how willing Feinstein would be to fill that position.

[Broohaha]

Feinstein is a complete sh**head. He spend one sentence saying that ST's death was a tragedy. Then he spend 4 paragraphs defending his idiotic friends like Wilbon and Shapiro for jumping to conclusions and acting as if ST's death was his own fault. Then he spends the remainder of his column using the death as some sort of gun control missive.

I agree with the OP -- Feinstein is a disgrace. I am completely fed-up with the Washington Post and the way they've handled this. They've let their dislike for Snyder and the fact that Sean wouldnt talk to the press completely cloud their judgment -- they dont realize how INCREDIBLY PAINFUL this is for Redskins fans and are acting as if Taylor is just a free-agent that signed elsewhere.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Snyder is a huge Republican donor. I doubt he is going to get behind a gun control movement.

I would like to see the Redskins use this as an opportunity to address youth violence in some way though. And I agree that I understand why the team would set up a trust fund for the daughter, but something about it rubs me a little wrong. Maybe it's the amount.

[Larry Brown #43]

It was a useless article. If he kept it strictly about gun control, that would be one thing. But the first several paragraphs address events of Sean's life that had absolutely nothing to do with his murder. For what purpose?

If Charles Barkley were murdered in a botched burglary attempt tomorrow, would Feinstein spend the first four paragraphs of a cloumn talking about how Barkley threw a guy out a window and spat on a little girl, when those events had zero connection to his murder?

[Gigantor]

After reading this he belongs in the same category as Wilbon, Shapiro, Cowherd, etc... SMFH at this guy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/05/AR2007120502084.html

Who reads the washpo anymore?

[Midnight Judges]

Feinstein is a complete sh**head. He spend one sentence saying that ST's death was a tragedy. Then he spend 4 paragraphs defending his idiotic friends like Wilbon and Shapiro for jumping to conclusions and acting as if ST's death was his own fault.

IMO, people should be able to make the distinction between blaming Sean Taylor for his own death and looking to his past as a potential factor (which appears not to be the case at this point).

[nightbird]

I haven't commented because I hadn't even seen it.

Can't say I'm shocked though.

Every time some knuckle-dragging bottom-feeder commits a crime with a gun, self-righteous media people begin a new lecture about how we must all be disarmed.

Come on, the guy compares gun control to cancer research and whines about how not everyone agrees with him.

He also cites nonexistent statistics.

He's a boob.

[westcoasthog]

I mean if my dad was guned down when I was a child I seriously doubt synder would put a trust fund in my name.

Did Snyder draft your dad first round? Did he watch your dad do amazing things for the football team he owned? Did he believe your dad was going to be the cornerstone for the team he has always loved and now owns?

I don't know why everyone has to pick apart the things people do or say to honor/remember/grieve for ST. If Snyder wants to use HIS OWN money for a trust fund that's his right. If somebody wants to cry over his death so be it. If somebody wants to get a tattoo that's awesome. Why is it that people feel they need to bash the good deeds of others? Is it because they aren't doing anything so they trash the people who are so they don't feel bad. Let people do what they want because you wouldn't want them to tell you how to live.

[LoudMouth12thMan]

Not a bad article. I didn't think it was in poor taste. :2cents:

[TD Riggo]

D.C. has one of the toughest gun control programs in the country. Look at their crime rate!

Gun control does nothing but give the criminals a better chance at not getting killed while perpetrating their crimes.

"Gun control" is law-abiding citizens being able to hit their target!

[Jahbird]

I am tired of defending the post, so I wont. Let's just say that being the arguably the world's most prominent Newspaper next to the NY Times still isnt enough for some people. Sports writers are idiots the world over, not just at the Post (watch around the horn to see what I mean) but the article is spot on. He didnt bring up ST's past to belittle his death...All he said was that it needs to be part of the story, which I agree with. Yes, Wilbon, Cowherd, and others were out of line. However, should we forget that Sean made some bad decisions? No, we should not, his mistakes and then the rebound from them, is what made sean so special. That is how Feinstein presented Sean's past in the article-as some bad decisions he made. He did not present Sean's past as the REASON for his death as Wilbon did.

[TD Riggo]

Did Snyder draft your dad first round? Did he watch your dad do amazing things for the football team he owned? Did he believe your dad was going to be the cornerstone for the team he has always loved and now owns?

I don't know why everyone has to pick apart the things people do or say to honor/remember/grieve for ST. If Snyder wants to use HIS OWN money for a trust fund that's his right. If somebody wants to cry over his death so be it. If somebody wants to get a tattoo that's awesome. Why is it that people feel they need to bash the good deeds of others? Is it because they aren't doing anything so they trash the people who are so they don't feel bad. Let people do what they want because you wouldn't want them to tell you how to live.

Exactly! Everyone, even supposed Skins "fans," loves to come here and bash their owner for anything from Vinny Cerrato to the price of nachos! Then, he does something truly wonderful and they bash him again.

I don't know what I'd think if I were Snyder and I read all of this day-in, day-out crap that was written about myself here! (My guess is that he doesn't, and thus doesn't care!)

Sean Taylor had a great philosophy about the Press and the public in general. He said he had "no control over what is written, thought, or said about [him], and that [he didn't] really care. People will think what they want, and they are entitled to do so, even if they're wrong."

[TD Riggo]

I am tired of defending the post, so I wont. Let's just say that being the arguably the world's most prominent Newspaper next to the NY Times still isnt enough for some people. Sports writers are idiots the world over, not just at the Post (watch around the horn to see what I mean) but the article is spot on. He didnt bring up ST's past to belittle his death...All he said was that it needs to be part of the story, which I agree with. Yes, Wilbon, Cowherd, and others were out of line. However, should we forget that Sean made some bad decisions? No, we should not, his mistakes and then the rebound from them, is what made sean so special. That is how Feinstein presented Sean's past in the article-as some bad decisions he made. He did not present Sean's past as the REASON for his death as Wilbon did.

The POINT is, Sean's "decisions" had NOTHING to do with his murder, in HIS own home, defending HIS fiancee and daughter! Therefore, this piece-of-garbage article should NEVER have been written!

There is a reason why newspaper circulation in this country continues to quickly dwindle, and the Post and the Times are at the head of the mudslide! Because they employ idiot, extreme Left-wing writers and print garbage like THIS! The sports section should be devoid of a Left-wing (or Right-wing for that matter), senseless rant about gun control, unless if it's regarding some shooting competition!

[CallMeGreen]

Thanks to the OP for bringing this to our attention. I've followed Feinstein for years and generally thought him to be a well thought-out writer. This however, is without a doubt the biggest piece of crap he has ever produced.

I mean, I guess I can respect the end message of his article about creating awareness about gun violence, but he's all over the place... and I'm not sure he needed to belittle ST's death in order to relay the message. Weird article.

For a best-selling novelist I'd certainly expect better. The biggest issue I see here is that Feinstein has become the same opportunist that he so often criticizes. How dare he attempt to shame Snyder and Gibbs into fronting a cause [gun control] that he himself obviously feels so strongly about. It's one thing to make a public call to arms and make a "request" for someone so as to enlist their help, but talking down [as only Feinstein can do] to Snyder and the entire Redskins organization only makes him look smaller.

I don't think Feinstein's article (and let's pause to recall how much contempt he openly admits harboring for Dan Snyder) is really off the mark. I think curbing gun violence is agreed by all as a worthwhile goal.

If I'm Dan Snyder, I'm thinking, "OK, I can help this cause." And my first phone call is to John Feinstein asking him to be my speech writer and communications director.

I'd be curoius to see how willing Feinstein would be to fill that position.

I'm not against someone pushing for gun control, but it's the way Feinstein tries to make his case that irks me. Calling someone out in the paper is not really the smart way to get someone to help you. As he pointed out, it's only been a week since Taylor's death.

Let's see what has Snyder been doing for the last week that's so important he couldn't start the battle against gun control?<total sarcasm> So far, he has fully supported the players and coaches (by insulating them from the media), flown the entire organization and several former players to Miami at his cost, attended a funeral for one of his team's best and most respected players, comforted and supported Taylor's grieving family, worked on a tasteful tribute that fans and family can be proud of and produced affordable mementos (jerseys, hats, towels) in record turnaround time to fill a need for hurting fans. Oh, don't forget the proceeds of these items go to a fund to support Taylor's young daughter. AND, he started the fund and has already committed $500K to it. And tonight, the team plays its 2nd game in five days. This was all in a week Mr. Feinstein. For all we know, maybe he's already started an effort to support single mothers, gun control, and world peace.

Sorry Mr. Feinstein, you're bad timing of epic proportions is [iMO] even worse than the off-base things Wilbon and Cowherd said immediately following Taylor's death, well before most of the facts had come out. Their comments were in ignorance, and for the most part have been appropriately ammended. But, you in your self-righteous, condescending ignoramity, have the benefit of hind-sight at your disposal, yet you failed to use it. Rather than see what Snyder and Gibbs have been doing, you attack and fly flags for your own cause. I'm sure you have no idea what they're planning or discussing seeing as you never step foot in Redskins Park.

No, you Mr. Feinstein are a pompous ass. Feelings or emotions be damned. If you feel so strongly about gun control, write a book about it. That's what you do. I'm sure Taylor's family and even the Redskins organization might be supportive of your effort. But how dare you to be so unfairly critical when people are still grieving their friend and fallen teammate. And you sir, had the benefit of hindsight.

[Horatio]

What else do you expect from a liberal newspaper like the Post? It's Feinstein's OPINION that the Redskins' prior cooperation with the NRA is an "embarrassment."

"Guns should be available to people in law enforcement, to the military and to hunters if, in fact, hunting has to continue." Um, Mr. Feinstein, maybe you're not aware of the Second Amendment. It was set up that way FOR THE VERY REASON of preventing guns from only belonging to the military or police, because the Founding Fathers were trying to prevent the same kind of tyranny that was being enforced on them by the British.

Funny, I don't recall Feinstein writing an anti-gun column after Taylor shot up that SUV with an AK-47.

Go take a history lesson, Feinstein. And yes, I need a gun...to protect me from nuts like John Feinstein.

[#98QBKiller]

Ahhh, exploiting Taylor's death for his personal political reasons.

[Jahbird]

The POINT is, Sean's "decisions" had NOTHING to do with his murder, in HIS own home, defending HIS fiancee and daughter! Therefore, this piece-of-garbage article should NEVER have been written!

There is a reason why newspaper circulation in this country continues to quickly dwindle, and the Post and the Times are at the head of the mudslide! Because they employ idiot, extreme Left-wing writers and print garbage like THIS! The sports section should be devoid of a Left-wing (or Right-wing for that matter), senseless rant about gun control, unless if it's regarding some shooting competition!

Uber republican Tom Clancy considers the post, the times, and CNN to be the foremost news agencies in the world. Feel free to bash sports writers, but if you think that liberals, not the internet and 24 hr news media, is responsible for the decline in Newspaper numbers, then maybe you should pull your head out of your butt and take a look around.

As to the part of the article about Sean...These newspaper stories were not solely about Sean's Death, they were about sean as well. Unfortunately, the young man made some bad decisions...They may not have been part of his death but they were part of his story. In order for people to understand how wonderful he was, as we all do, they need to know that he got knocked down real low but was on his way to incredible heights.

[skinstzar]

I had a huge problem with Wilbon and Cowherd and I'm generally not a Feinstein apologist. In fact I hate his stance on Tiger Woods with a passion. This article however I have no problem with. His point is that Taylor's death is no more tragic than that of most killed senselessly by guns, and he is right about that. I loved ST. I admire what he was becoming as a human being and football player. What Feinstein is saying is that all gun deaths are tragic. He is just wants people to focus on the big picture.

[BAFGA]

Snyder is a huge Republican donor. I doubt he is going to get behind a gun control movement.

I would like to see the Redskins use this as an opportunity to address youth violence in some way though. And I agree that I understand why the team would set up a trust fund for the daughter' date=' but something about it rubs me a little wrong. Maybe it's the amount.[/quote']

With all of the NRA ads at FedEx Field, I doubt you will see Snyder back any sort of gun control initiative.

That being said, i can't see Snyder out hunting or going to the shooting range. He doesn't fit the profile.