It might surprise you to hear that I agree with much of what you said - as someone who has studied linguistics I do find it fascinating. I also agree with the level playing field aspect. However, the problem is we are not there yet. And that is a problem. For example, just this past week I had my civil rights voted on after going through several months of having outright lies told about me and people like me as the anti-gays tried to ensure we did not gain equality in one important area. Society largely remains silent when those lies are told. Consider how on the political shows seemingly anytime they talk about gay issues they make sure to have an anti-gay on for the other side (usually someone from a recognized hate group that has been demonstrated to deliberately and regularly use falsified or misleading info to demonize gays). When discussing other minority issues, how often are racists, neo-nazis, etc brought in to provide "balance"? Never. A level playing field is a wonderful goal. But we are not there yet.
Calling a player an a****le, or a d**k, or a bastard, jerk, douche, idiot or any other generic insult is less bothersome because it's directing a word to one specific person that no one else should take offense to. Calling someone a racial, religious, ethnic or homophobic slur that can offend millions of people is a big deal. THAT'S the difference. It's bad for public perception, and it's just not professional behavior. When you're on the clock, you're responsible for your own conduct, and offending a lot of people isn't good for business. Personally, language doesn't bother me. I think allowing players to let fly with any and all language with no punishment wouldn't be the end of the world. But since the Laws of the Game specifically mention obscene language as a red card offense, it's clearly being made known that a soccer pitch isn't a place to act like complete buffoons. And if that's the case, you also have to consider the level of seriousness, and Burch crossed the line by a couple of steps. Plus which, as I've already said -- since one MLS player had already been whacked for three matches for this, Burch can't exactly claim ignorance to the policy.
I don't think 3 regular season games (Clark) is the same as 3 playoff games (Burch). It's a far harsher penalty imho. Either Clark should have gotten 6 games and Burch 3, or Clark should have gotten 3 games and Burch 1 or 2. Or something like that. The penalties aren't of equal measure. Other than that, good for MLS and Garber for not taking this crap.
Sandon Mibut, I wonder why you're so sure that this kind of stuff goes on every game? I know you're a DC fan; do you go to their games and observe this? Not being sarcastic, I seriously want to know. Because if you're right that homophobic slurs fly out every match, then the league is wrong to punish Burch just because he got caught. Hoser?
It is because the league says it is and stands behind their words in this case. Good for them. Have they been more suspendable than violent (I'm not as worried about cynical fouls personally) fouls?
You could just as easily its more important to be more careful of what you say in the playoffs. I don't buy your argument. They treated Najar just as they treated others during the regular season. Also, if Seattle doesn't make the final, is Burch suspended for the first game of next season? If not, it was a lighter penalty actually.
Yes, suspensions carry over. Or if Burch leaves the league in the offseason and Seattle didn't make MLS Cup, if he comes back in 5 years (or whenever) he'd still have to sit his first game. Similarly, if Blanco were to ever play in the U.S. again, he'd be suspended for his next 2(?) USOC games.
How is it wrong? Isn't that how our entire justice system works--by punishing those that have been caught breaking the rules/law/etc.? By punishing Burch, the league is trying to send out the message that using such language on the field is a punishable offense, if there is evidence that proves such language was used. Think of it as how cities/counties/states enforce speed limits. People speed all the time--does that mean we shouldn't punish those that are caught by the police? Of course not...the hope is that the threat of being caught--no matter how small--should be enough to deter this sort of behavior.
This is like the rambling answer that Adam Sandler gives at the end of Billy Madison in the academic decathalon. You get zero points. You've drawn about a 100 degrees of separation from reality cause and affect.
My dad is quadriplegic and doesn't get upset when people say "That's lame." Or "stop being lame." If he wanted to, he probably could, and I would respect that and avoid using the word in a negative connotation. I grant that the connotation with the word lame is not as intense as a select few other words, but words are only "bad" when we perceive them as such. However, until people can get past the connotation, it is important we are sensitive to their very real pain felt from those words.
I'd be willing to bet that it's thrown around more than most would like. You're talking about a high intensity, high pressure, fast paced environment with A LOT of testosterone being secreted. As the southpark episode illustrated quite well I think, "******" has become a synonym for douchebag.
I've been very close to NBA games on a number of occasions, know people who've played professionally and both anti-gay terms and the n-word are used regularly in the locker room and on the court. Bob Costas recently said in an interview that anti-gay terms are regularly thrown around on NFL fields and in the locker room. We know there's racist language used, and I'd wager Suarez and Terry just happened to be two who were caught. If you've played competitive sports, and for me it was more basketball than soccer although I do play pickup soccer, you hear just about any insult you can imagine. Right or wrong, it's part of the game. You test another guys manhood, both physically as well as verbally. I remember being a few feet off the court during a Kings/TWolves playoff game about ten years ago, and Garnet yelling at Stojakovic he's a soft, Euro pu*** fa*****. Trash talk is normal during a game. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'd prefer certain topics not being discussed but I'm not sure that'll ever happen. Some people might not agree with this, but having competed myself and knowing others who have at high levels, as well as discussion based off when Garnett called Charlie V a cancer patient during an NBA game, there's an unwritten rule that what is said on the field/court stays on the field/court. Stuff like this is said all the time. We even saw Kobe using an anti-gay slur towards a ref last year. I think we just see it more because of technology and all the close-ups of players during games. This stuff always happened, we just have more access to it now given technology. Of course this stuff happens across all leagues, and worse is said regularly, but sometimes a player has really poor timing when there's a random closeup of him during a game, like what happened in this case. We probably wouldn't have heard anything from players on this if it wasn't for the camera closeup. It's partly because it's common. Notice Will Johnson didn't even react live on tv.
Far worse goes on. I spent two years standing on the sideline in KC back in 96 and 97 and 10 years on the bench for the KC Attack of the NPSL/MISL and players do not hold back on language or insulting each other. Sometimes it is directed at another player, sometimes it is directed at no one in particular. I have heard guys threaten each other's lives. I have heard guys say they are going to fvck another's mother or sister, and all kinds of stuff. I am not sure how anyone who has ever played an intense sport at the high school level or above can think this doesnt go on. This kind of stuff goes on continually in all games. I've said it in games and I've had it said at me in games. I've heard it said in my adult league I play in now. Thinking this stuff doesnt go on is a very ignorant and really childish viewpoint. Not sure what kind of Candyland world you live in to think a bunch of grown men battling it out physically dont insult each other in the worst ways possible.
Look I've used the f word towards people in the past in pretty friendly leagues. But times have changed, and now I feel it's pretty much the same as using the "n word". Simply speaking, don't use the F word.
This is the thing. To people in my generation, "******" doesn't mean "gay." Ultimately, in casual every day life (not in term papers), the Marrium-Webster dictionary means jack shit. Real organic language is given meaning by people, not books. For the above reason, this word get's thrown around A LOT on the field. Punishing players the few times a year this language is actually observed/recorded by officials is counter productive IMO
From the looks of things, many MLS fans never played sports of any sort. Or went to recess. Or played with kids on their street.
Exactly. I have seen players who are good friends off the field call each other derogatory terms and once the game was over, it was forgotten. It isnt right, it isnt wrong. It just is. The players either participate or accept it and if they dont, they choose to become part of the culture that is being a professional athlete.
Not to mention that bringing attention to it actually increases exposure that it happened. If he is being punished because it offends people then why make it a story where more people can be offended. It is a contradiction.
It's one of the most competitive and macho environments you can find yourself in. I'm not saying it's right, but the use of language in those environments is reality. I'll say this though, if you're offended, you shouldn't be a sports fan. If you're up in arms about this, and at the same time think you're favorite player doesn't use derogatory language, whether it's Beckham, Henry, Tom Brady, Kobe, Jordan, whoever, you're lying to yourself. If you think this is an exception and you're team is above it, you're lying to yourself. If you're a fan of sports, you put up with it. If you've competed, you know it's the norm. If you're the least bit surprised or think this is rare, or somehow have a huge problem with it even though you sit and root for your team every week, you're in denial or ignorant to pro sports.
No. Players doing this kind of thing are going to be heard by the ref. My point is that IF (big if) this penalty is due to the camera being on Burch, that players say this stuff all the time, then it's a chickenshit and unfair move by the league. It's the difference between only arresting people who are caught on camera committing a crime vs. also arresting people who are seen committing a crime by witnesses.
Of course it's because of the camera. Refs don't get involved in trash talk. When was the last time you saw a ref card someone for strictly trash talking another player? An NBA ref handing out a tech for trash talk between players? They card/hand out techs for abusing the ref, or unnecessary contact, cards for hard tackles in soccer, maybe a tech or flagrant foul in the NBA. But refs don't get involved in trash talk other than to maybe tell players to shut up and get on with it because they're holding up the game.