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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: 19774
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 # 8.
#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.
Not even close. They can leave anytime they want,and the best ones have the opportunity to go pro after their freshman year if they want. The thing that surprises me the most is that ALL the best ones DON'T go pro after their freshman year. If they stay and play for "free" for another 3 years they risk the chance of having a career-ending injury before they have multi-million dollar insurance contracts against injury,and then when do they have because a BullShit degree in biz management,art history,or nose picking that MIGHT qualify them for a job as a assistant manager at a local McDonalds. Any that are one of the few who can count past 20 without dropping their pants,they can always go back to college once their retire from pro-sports. IMHO,and kid that is offered a pro contract and stays in school is a fool.
#10. To: sneakypete (#8)
Sneaky, its risky to do so because if you do and don't get accepted you are out of the system. No college education for free and no pro contract. NBA is like that - don't know about the rest. I would - its best to even skip college and go right from highschool to pro, IMHO but the pro leagues resist that also - it happens but for rare talent.
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#3. To: sneakypete, Happy Quanzaa, Ferret Mike (#1)
(Edited)
#8. To: Godwinson (#3)
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.
Replies to Comment # 8. Not even close. They can leave anytime they want,and the best ones have the opportunity to go pro after their freshman year if they want.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 8.
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