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Title: Vikings' Adrian Peterson compares NFL to 'modern-day slavery'
Source:
TwinCities
URL Source: http://www.twincities.com/ci_17619356?nclick_check=1
Published: Mar 15, 2011
Author: Jeremy Fowler
Post Date: 2011-03-15 20:43:13 by Happy Quanzaa
Keywords: None
Views: 19486
Comments: 34
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson compared NFL owners' treatment of players to "modern-day slavery," according to an online interview published today by Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo's Doug Farrar, who conducted the interview Friday with Peterson, removed that comment from the story later today, explaining on Twitter that he wants to give Peterson the chance to provide context. Peterson, who is known to be thoughtful when speaking with the local media in Minnesota, is in Africa with other NFL players on a goodwill trip and unavailable for immediate comment. The owners and players couldn't agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement last week after more than two weeks of federal mediation. Shortly before the players union decertified, Peterson spoke to Yahoo to promote a recent appearance on the online reality show "Double Take." The NFL declared a lockout when the CBA expired at 11 p.m. CST. "The players are getting robbed. They are," Peterson told Yahoo. "The owners are making so much money off of us to begin with. I don't know that I want to quote myself on that." When discussing other players feeling the same way, Peterson said: "It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money. ... The owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money. I understand that; these are business-minded people. Of course this is what they are going to want to do. I understand that; it's how they got to where they are now. But as players, we have to stand our ground and say, 'Hey — without us, there's no football.' " Peterson is set to make $10.72 million in base salary in 2011. Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant took exception to Peterson's comment, writing on Twitter: "Their is unfortunately actually still slavery existing in our world. Literal modern day slavery. That was a very misinformed statement." Added Grant: "But I understand what point he was trying to make. I just feel like he should have been advised a little differently."
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 23.
#1. To: Happy Quanzaa (#0)
Something tells me this goober doesn't understand the reality of slavery.
Pro athletes aside, I do feel college athletes of major money making sports like basketball and football are treated like slaves or indentured servants by the colleges. If you factor in the compensation of room and board and a free education they are still way under paid while college sports system rakes in billions in profits. Also, they can't be paid for endorsements or get any gifts but some college coaches get paid million dollar salaries and have no such restrictions.
Oh yes, a more oppressed bunch of people you won't find than college athletes. Just watch the NCAA hoops tourney and you'll see abuse like you've never seen before. I'll bet the coaches even whip the players at halftime in the locker room. It's just terrible, people that think slavery ended in 1865 have never attended a college sporting event. I wish I'd been as oppressed and abused as the scholarship starters when I was in college.
Exploited is the word. Remember the Janissaries of the Ottoman empire were still slaves to the Sultan even if they were living in the palace barracks.
I wish somebody would exploit me like I was some kind of a college or pro athlete.
Most college athletes leave broken after 4 years and broke.
What's your solution? A Affirmative Action program for the pros that requires them to hire bums to sit on the benches? Maybe even a AA program to hire handicapped midgets to play center on bb teams and running backs on football teams? How about blind pitchers for baseball team,or even blind archers for archery teams? Yeah,THAT's the ticket! Those poor handicapped people and midgets are criminally underrepresented in pro sports,and it's time for the feral gubbermint to put down it's cloven hoof and enforce a little "equality" for them! No justice,no peace! No justice,no peace! No justice,no peace! Pick it up,mah bruthas. Or how about a government program that pays them to ride around the country and play exhibition ball? These bozos got a FREE 4 year college education out of it,and if they had applied the energy to getting their degree that they applied to playing sports,they have the ability to go out and get jobs just like the rest of us. You "equality of outcome" idiots make my head hurt. Life ain't fair OR equal,so get used to it. Somehow I suspect the people who are 10+ years out of college and still trying to pay off their student loans ain't going to be all that sympathetic to their cause.
Pay them a salary, nimrod. A share of the profits the college makes from TV. Compensate college athletes for what they are - semi-pros and pay them accordingly.
They are already getting a salary,in the form of a full free ride for all 4 years of college.
#26. To: sneakypete (#23)
God-boy obviously hasn't looked into the costs of tuition and fees at top colleges lately. It isn't exactly chicken feed.
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#3. To: sneakypete, Happy Quanzaa, Ferret Mike (#1)
(Edited)
#4. To: Godwinson (#3)
I do feel college athletes of major money making sports like basketball and football are treated like slaves or indentured servants by the colleges.
#5. To: Happy Quanzaa (#4)
Oh yes, a more oppressed bunch of people you won't find than college athletes
#6. To: Godwinson (#5)
Exploited is the word.
#9. To: Happy Quanzaa (#6)
I wish somebody would exploit me like I was some kind of a college or pro athlete.
#14. To: Godwinson (#9)
Most college athletes leave broken after 4 years and broke.
#16. To: sneakypete (#14)
(Edited)
What's your solution? A Affirmative Action program for the pros that requires them to hire bums to sit on the benches?
#23. To: Godwinson (#16)
Pay them a salary, nimrod.
Replies to Comment # 23. They are already getting a salary,in the form of a full free ride for all 4 years of college.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 23.
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