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'High character' individuals embarrassing Lions
by Brian VanOchten | The Grand Rapids Press
Thursday July 24, 2008, 12:10 AM
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mlive.com%2Flions_impact%2F2008%2F07%2Fmedium_ggosder24.JPG)
According to court transcripts, Lions first-round pick Gosder Cherlius placed another bar patron in a choke hold and dragged him across a dance floor.ALLEN PARK -- It hasn't been the most pleasant offseason for Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli, a good, honest man full of the best intentions, in his righteous effort to fill the team's roster with people of high character.
In spite of those efforts, the hits just keep coming.
The latest and most unfortunate hit occurred a few hours before Marinelli stepped to the podium Wednesday afternoon at team headquarters and attempted to sound an optimistic bugle call on the eve of the opening of training camp.
The Department of Defense issued a statement informing the Lions that seventh-round draft choice Caleb Campbell of Army, who entered the 2008 NFL draft in good faith, has been ordered to immediately suspend his pursuit of playing professional football and report for "full-time traditional military duties."
No explanation was given for the sudden reversal of field, but Campbell was told he could apply for release from his service obligation in two years.
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mlive.com%2Fgrpress%2Fopinion_impact%2F2008%2F05%2Fvanochtencol.png)
Some people will cheer, while others will sneer at the ruling.
Either way, it amounts to Campbell, a man of the highest possible character, getting stiff-armed at the goal line, and the Lions fumbling a draft pick.
"Obviously, nobody like surprises," Marinelli, a Vietnam veteran, said with a stiff upper lip. "I feel bad for the player. He's disappointed, but he's got his orders.
"Other than that, it's been a great offseason."
Huh?
In his attempt to put a positive spin on the beginning of camp, Marinelli seemed to forget about the troubling character issues surrounding the team's first- and second-round draft picks -- Boston College right tackle Gosder Cherilus and Colorado middle linebacker Jordon Dizon -- as well as free-agent safety Kalvin Pearson.
Sorry, but these "high-character" individuals have brought nothing but embarrassment to this laughingstock franchise in the past few months.
Let's start with Pearson.
On the morning of the draft, a report surfaced that Pearson, a player Marinelli once coached with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had been arrested on felony domestic violence charges. It is alleged Pearson, 29, attempted to strangle his pregnant girlfriend, then fled the scene before being apprehended.
• Cherilus signs five-year deal
• Lions lose Campbell, set sights on Spikes
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlive.com%2Fimages%2Fsports%2Faudio.gif)
Terrific, huh?
There is increasing speculation Pearson might be innocent of the charges. It might explain why he's still on the roster three months after the incident took place. Even Marinelli cautioned reporters: "Let's not jump to conclusions."
The legal process hasn't concluded. Fair enough.
It nevertheless raises questions about Pearson's character.
The same goes for Cherilus and Dizon, both reporting to training camp with rap sheets.
Six days prior to the draft, Dizon, the 45th choice overall, was arrested in Boulder, Colo., and cited for driving under the influence. His blood-alcohol level was 0.097, above the legal limit of 0.08, according to a police report.
He kept his mouth shut while waiting for someone to choose him. Naturally, the Lions obliged, reaching a full round ahead of where Dizon had been projected to go in the draft and spending their second pick on him.
At the time, Marinelli trumpeted Dizon's character.
"I'm surprised. I don't like to be caught by surprise," he said upon further review. "He's not a bad guy. He called me at home (after the report of his arrest surfaced) and we had a nice, long talk. I'm going to stand side-by-side with him.
"He's got great football character."
Yep, he couldn't help using that same phrase again.
I asked him whether the revelation that Cherilus, the 17th pick overall, who was sentenced to one year of pretrial probation and ordered to pay $52,000 in medical costs to the victim of a bar brawl in which Cherilus participated in July 2007, brought further embarrassment upon the franchise -- especially since it was reported just three days after the Dizon bombshell.
"Am I embarrassed? No," he said.
The problem is Marinelli should be embarrassed. He once again claimed the Lions fully investigated the incident before drafting Cherilus, satisfied with the explanation that a 6-foot-7, 319-pound offensive lineman acted a peacemaker.
Except peacemakers quell disputes.
According to court transcripts, bar patron Sean Maney suffered a broken neck and other injuries after Cherilus placed a choke hold on him, dragging him across a dance floor before crashing into a table. He claimed Cherilus and Boston College teammate DeJuan Tribble punched and kicked him while he lay on the floor.
"I thought I was going to die up there that night," Maney testified.
Yet that still raises no character issues?
The tag team of Lions president Matt Millen and Marinelli keep preaching about the "high character" of their draft picks, in particular, and their overhauled roster, in general. It's a phrase that's losing its impact here in a real hurry.
E-mail Brian VanOchten: bvanochten@grpress.com
I can always tell the difference between yours and killers articles. Killers articles are pointless and umb and support and kiss the butts of marinelli and millen. Well written article. I couldnt agree with you more. All i have been hearing all year long before the draft and during free agency how marinelli is bringing in his type of guys with good atiitudes. i mean come on that just shows how much marinelli knows. His 2 highest draft picks have both spent time in jail. One of our free agents is a pregnent women beater. Come on marinelli draft and sign talent not this stuff you call good atiitude. I call your good attitude trouble!
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wow VanOchten, U sure are pesemistic and dont listen well. The lions are looking for more HIGH FOOTBALL CHARACTER guys then guys with high off the feild character.
VanOchten is the worse hack to ever grace the written page. I have yet to see him produce any story line or supporting information on his own. And as a general rule can not realease an article with out a slew of mistakes. (I still crack up when I think about him reporting on the Lions Saftey Shawn Alexander).
First off I fail to see how Caleb Campbell being recalled fits under the headlines of "'High character' individuals embarrassing Lions".
The remainder of the article is a collection of old news and half truths.
The police officer that was attacked by the "victim" Sean Maney states the Maney was removed from the scuffle by Cherilus. It is also rarely reported that criminal charges were brought against Maney as well.
I can tell the difference between Brian's and Killer's articles too. Tom goes to the source for his stories, Brian reads the internet to steal somebody elses.
I refuse to accept the "football character" excuse with these players. Character is character. Football character traits may be more specific towards the game, but they still relate to the rest of life. Examples include being disciplined, displaying good judgment, and recognizing right from wrong. it looks to me like these acquisitions have questionable character.
Classic VanOchten trash.......Every article is poorly written and states the obvious.
Takes quite the journalsit to rip the lions doesn't it?
And a classic cheap shot by saying the lions "fumbled' away the Campbell pick. Only Brian VanO would consider the loss of a 7th round pick to a last second US military reversal a mistake by the Lions.
There is a reason you only write in Grand Rapids
Ok,I may be missing something here, but where are the embarrassments? First, I don't see how Caleb embarressed the Lions. You might have an arguement saying the Army embarressed the Lions, but all this kid did was show up ready to play.
Then you have Dizon. Should he have been driving? No, but he was barely over and most people could have had that same bad luck. It didn't seem that long ago that the limit was .10 and he would have been fine. If the kid learns his mistakes, I really don't see where there is a character issue here.
Now Cherilus I think may have been a little worse. He was breaking up a fight, but got carried away and took it too far. That migh tbe of some concern. Something also tells me that there may more to the story. I wish I could find the article, but I thought I read that if he completed his probation (which I think he did) the judge ordered that his record wiped. I would think that if he was that far out of line in a bar fight, the judge would have came down harder on him.
Yeah I almost never complain about articles (even the ones written by this hack) but give me a break! This is one of the worst articles I have ever read. Go somewhere else and depress the fans of some other team. Let him who has no sin cast the first stone! This article makes me want to do an investigation into VanOchten past and see if he is as perfect as he expects these players to be. If you really want to write about character stick to the grand rapids guys like Grady who was driving SO drunk he couldnt even be arraigned!
the difference between the character that marinelli is talking about and what you're talking about is that marinelli wants guys that lead on the field, that don't give up during the game, that give it their all for the entire season. He has said it himself, he's not looking for choir boys.
You have a case with Pearson, but not with Jordan and Gosder. Jordan was .017 over the limit, that's nothing. Ten years, or so, ago, he would have ben .03 under the legal limit. And with Gosder, I'm happy that the article wasn't about how he got beat up. The dude laid somebody out. I don't think this says anything about Dizon and I think it says something positive about Gosder. Go Lions.
If you've ever listened to Cherilus talk you would know right away that he is a class guy. Also, it doesn't get mentioned that Gosder's story is completely backed up by the bar owner, who was an off duty police officer. I don't always believe the spine athletes put on their run-ins with the law, but I think I will put my trust in Gosder.
Carlito am reminded yet again not to get a paid subscription to the Grand Rapids Press.
Lumping Campbell in the rest of those guys is really kind of pathetic. The DOD changed a policy the day before training camp started, how the hell is that a slight against anyone and what does it have to do with the guys who were actually involved with criminal aligations?
Brian VanO. -- nice job once again -- for not checking your facts, and cherry picking quotes.
1. The Lions did not "fumble" a draft pick -- they took what seemed a very low risk gamble with a 7th round draft pcik (gambling is all a 7th rounder ever is anyways)and the DOD denied them at the last minute. Hardly a fumble when it has nothing to do with the player or the team.
2. Dizon was not driving, he was parked. He also was curteous, and polite to police. Not weaving wildy over the roads, or careening the wrong-way down a one way street wildly drunk as you imply.
3. I wrote an article on Cherilus much more heavy on fact, and less on hype. It's already been stated that the guy who was "afraid for his life" assualted the bar owner, an off duty officer, when asked to leave the bar. He is a small man, Cherilus is a big man. IF you had ever studied any type of fighting, you would know that it is exponentially harder to subdue someone without serious injury, even for a trained pro, than it is to seriously kill or injure them -- even if it is unintential.
4. The full facts are not out on Pearson's case yet, and I will reserve judgement until that time. Initial reports are usually not the full story, and sometimes are waaaay off actual events.
5. For those who want better commentary on these events, with links to actual facts, check out my blog. I wrote a couple a while back:
Dizon:
http://detfan1979.blogspot.com/2008/06/dui-dizon-under-influence.html
Cherilus (in first third of draft eval):
http://detfan1979.blogspot.com/2008/05/draft-recapeval-part-2-rnd-1-2.html
VanOchten, this article, on the opening day of training camp, is just lame. There are too many other storylines you could be chasing, but you choose this. You could've written this article at least a month ago. You probably DID write it over a month ago and you held onto it until you knew that people would actually READ it in the GR Press. That's lazy journalism, my friend.
This was one of the more stupid things I've recently read and if you don't know why, than you're totally out of touch. This is not E!, it's football. Stop making things up and embellishing just to get us to click on your story. The only clicking you will hear once the season starts will be crickets chirping.
Six different Lions said swear words just last week, Brian. You didn't investigate the breaking news on that.
Pointless article.
All thrashed out long ago. All pretty minor stuff compared to the Pacman/Vick types who really don't care about much but themselves.
What a waste.
BRIAN
your listening to Huge to much, huge slamms the lions and millen everyday and your on his show often. None of these issues are all that serious, except maybe pearsons and like you say he may be innocent. the kids screwed up-it happens but people learn from there mistakes too!! sure the question is now that they get a big paycheck will they party and become even worst-i dont think so-i think there good kids and becoming starters on this team is there number one goal-nothing else.
only two things i can't stand , those who are intolerant of other peoples race and the dutch.
Arrests are arrests. Make all the excuses you want they are arrests. VanOchten, for better or worse, is doing what every New York City writer would do, or Boston, or most every other city.
Wow, I think this guy is the Jim Carty of Pro Football. I wonder if Brian O's favorite sport is WNBA baketball?
To say the lions should be embarassed because a guy got a DUI (gasp! football players drink too???) or because their LAST draft pick, who wasn't going to make the team anyway, cant play because the ARMY told them one thing and then did another is stupid
This inclusion of Campbell is nothing short of retarded. Hack VanOchten - go back to covering elementary school Hopscotch or whatever you did before being allowed to defame the Lions with poorly-researched drivel.
-----------------------
CHERILUS
From MLive June 26, 2008 13:07PM after sentencing:
http://blog.mlive.com/highlightreel/2008/06/gosder_cherilus_sentenced_to_p.html
Link Posted by Baloo92 (07/21/08 at 1:17AM under "5 questions as Lions begin training camp") that gives good early look at how the scene reportedly unfolded taking early stories into account:
http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/articles/2007/07/06/bc_players
There is a lot of stuff in there completely ignored by the Hack VanOchten that calls into question whether Cherilus did anything wrong at all.
Furthermore, I am sick of people calling the injury a "broken neck". Could someone be a little more specific, please. It is pretty clear that his spinal cord was not severed since he walked out of the place after shaking Cherilus' hand, so "broken neck" is just misleading. It was probably just a small chip broken off one of the protruberances of a single vertebra.
DIZON
From MLive June 24, 2008 10:49AM
http://blog.mlive.com/highlightreel/2008/06/report_lions_rookie_lb_dizon_c.html
I just dug up this link and have not re-read the info in it yet. I read one or two additional stories on the incident, so any conclusions I drew were likely from a combination of sources.
I thought Dizon handled himself well in the situation once the police became involved. He sounded like a responsible, stand-up guy that made a mistake. Despite his innocent plea, which points to his lawyer more than anything, he sounds like a guy that will take responsibility for his actions and learn from his mistakes. As others pointed out, many states dropped their legal limits to avoid losing federal funding for highways. He would have been under the limit then and probably was not a danger to others.
-----------------------
PEARSON
Hack VanOchten, himself states, "There is increasing speculation Pearson might be innocent of the charges."
That is news to me. I hope he is TRULY innocent, because if he is not, I want him gone.
so, let's see...where's that list? oh right. here it is...
avoid anything written by pat caputo.
avoid anything written by brad vanochten.
anyone else?
Bengals have more legal issues than the Lions. There, we can all feel better now.
What was the point of this article? I guess if it was to p*ss people off... well, he did a fine job then!
If Carlito didn't know any better, Carlito would think that this reporter reads these Lions blogs, then publishes a story trying to echo the sentiments expressed in these blogs. And a lot of the blog entries have been negatively toned.
Technically he didn't use the words "laughingstock" and "Detroit Lions" in the same sentence, but the same thought is conveyed with """"""""Sorry, but these "high-character" individuals have brought nothing but embarrassment to this laughingstock franchise in the past few months."""""""
Carlito opines that the writing is of the level of tabloid quality, perhaps a 'shocking' photo of Madonna and A-Rod is on the same page in the hardcopy issue?
The situation with Campbell could be a blessing in disguise for the Lions in that they [the Lions] still have Campbells drafting rights. The Lions should get aggressive and sign Spikes, and then when Campbell has satisfied his military duty to country [May 2009], should the Lions still think highly of Campbell and do all the paperwork involved for Campbell to return the Lions, it may turn out to be an extra draft pick that year?
Carlito agrees with coach Marinelli on Campbell's situation. "Salute him [Caleb Campbell] and move on."
Typical uninformed drivel from everybody's favorite GR Press sports hack.
The Lions have buried themselves over the past 50 years on the field, so why do the writers a.k.a (B. VanOchten, D. Sharp) try to bury the Lions by writing negative articles after negative articles. My philosophy is that they write these articles because they are also so down in their own lifes, that they are trying to bring everyone else down to their level, but most people can see through the black and white of their articles.
So Brian, stay in GR and cover the Rampage, and quit covering the Lions, I hear National Enquirer is looking for a sports writer.
Ford loses 8.5 billion this quarter. Lions ticket sales lag. Time for Van Andel and DeVos to buy the Lions and move them to Grand Rapids.
How do you get high energy violent people that you need for your team, to control themselves while off the field? They usually do, but problems exist league wide. The Leo's have done a very good job off the field in past years, Reggie Rogers saw to that, but what did they get? In this league that low character individual exists because of the violent nature of the game. I can live with the fighting and drinking, but beating up women is over the line.
"Half of the people can be part right all of the time,
Some of the people can be all right part of the time.
But all the people can't be all right all the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that." *
""""""""It looks like Carlito learned something yesterday."""""""
"I said that." *
-Bob Dylan - Talkin' World War III Blues
While I agree the Pearson and Dizon incidents are very troubling, the Cherilus incident is less so for me. I went to a school with a big time football program and worked for the team so i was friends with a lot of the players and can tell you there's always some frustrated, jealous, bitter ahole who when they get drunk get beer muscles and like to start fights. I wasn't there so I don't know all the details--neither was Brian--but I suspect Gosder tried to pull some big mouthed masshole off a friend and when the guy doing the pulling is as big as Gosder, the guy getting pulled can get seriously hurt. I'm not sying the guy deserved to get seriously injured, but this one incident doens't make Gosder a bad kid either.
Marinelli defined his term football character when he first got here. If anyone is confused on what it means to him (being his term, not ours) dig it up. Then chat about your opinion Brian.
Living in GR, I can assure those who don't that Brian and his journalistic ability is sadly aligned with the others. No wonder they can't give away their paper here.
Doesn't anyone remember that the writer does not write the headline! I think Huge could explain that one you you.
Too many Lions slappies here. They are a horrible excuse for an organization. They will NOT succeed with Millen (worst GM in NFL history). The cupboards are bare folks!
These situations do bring their character into question, football or otherwise. It does not mean these individuals are good or bad character people. While making poor decisions and displaying a lack of judgment is a sign of poor character, showing remorse, owning up to a mistake, and working to correct it is sign of high character. We will have to see how these men conduct themselves moving forward in order to determine their true character.
Oh, and BTW... Carlito... I'm inpressed, that's the second or third positive post I've read from you. :) Other than the thrd-person shtick, good read.
Nice piece of work Brian! Geesh could you be anymore of a moron! Brian, have you ever made a mistake as a young person? That's a part of growing up. These rookies are still kids to some extent. They don't have the wisdom that comes from living life. Just because someone shows poor judgment in one situation does not mean that there character as a person is in question. Besides as some of the other posters have commented. Coach Rod is talking about football character. Word to the wise.....engage brain first and then write second.
"Oh he wouldn't have been considered drunk under the old standard of .10." WHAT!
Most of you people are missing the point here. The fact that this guy, 6 days before the NFL draft. Would have a few drinks and then get behind the wheel of a car doesnt scream out intelligent person. The thing that bugs me most is that this info was out and the Lions still reached for this guy in the second round. Nice drafting! We could have clearly nabbed him in the third.
Don't write on hear anymore. Horrible article if trying way to hard to be pessimistic telling one side of every story just to hate. You're the worst kind of journalist. Like the dude from the 5th season of the wire
Mogwaifan, First of all, take the "Mog" out of your name. Second we're not slappies, we're fans. Third, I wouldn't expect anyone who likes the music from Mogwai to like football. Go listen to Mogwai, put on some eye liner and cry to yourself. Or you could try to be a fan. I'd rather have you as a fan.
Go Lions.
Finally a journalist who covers the Lions that calls it like it is . . . I'll take the truth over Killer's rainbows and butterflies anyday.
I dont see anything wrong with a team of felons. It could be worse though, Pacman Jones was available for a while.
With the way Ford's business is going, I hope the odds are in favor of him selling this team soon. And Millen getting fired but that goes without saying.
Brian writes: "Sorry, but these "high-character" individuals have brought nothing but embarrassment to this laughingstock franchise in the past few months."
The only thing wrong with the sentence above is the first word, "sorry." Sorry for what, Brian. Truth is truth. So write it without apology. This IS the laughingstock franchise of the NFL. (including the Bungles) Sure, the slappies hate the article, and personally attack Brian. Sorta' like killing the mailman, don't ya' think? Or the process server that brings your notice of a court date.
How anyone could excuse and deify (Elmer Fudd, a.k.a. Rod Marinelli) a coach that speaks out of both sides of his mouth on a regular basis is beyond belief. Well, anywhere except here on this forum.
Hoping all the slappies take it easy on me for the above post so here's a big "ATTA-BOY" to all you so called "true fans." Go Lions, 19-0 Superbown champs Baby.
Well I bet Rod and Matt did a lot more research than Brian did before writing this article. Or any of his articles for that matter. Seems kind of hypocritical when the media will takes bits and pieces from an interview, add some fluff and call it a story and hope that everyone believes it. Ok, so Dizon got a DUI. A lot of people do. Let the courts punish him and get over it. As far as Cherilius, the lions knew about this and decided to take him anyway. Marinelli does look for Character guys and I he could probably couldn't find enough talent at the convent. Stop trying to create animosity with these stories.
Everything in this piece is true. Sure, there are worse things players could do (Pacman, Chris Henry, Rae Carruth for that matter), but there are definitely BETTER things too. The 'football character' bit is just another one of those cliches Rod. It is absolutely embarrassing to the organization.
Character in this instance:
"one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual." To me , football character is the more specific attributes or features that make up an individual as a football player.
My issue is with the character versus football character debate. The two are not completely indistuinguishable, A person's football character is a more of a subset of his overall character. Many football character traits relate to life off the field. Too often fans and media cherry pick certain traits to make their case while ignoring others.
One instance should not define one's character. I believe these instances do bring their character into question. Not necessarily good or bad character, simply questionable character.
Too bad we can't rank these articles like Amazon.com product reviews.
Fayre was never a high Charater person, His drug hidden by the NFL because they didn't want to suspened him. Joey Harrington was the highest charater person.
I don't care as long as NFL dosn't suspend you. I don't care if your on RODS as long as you don't get caught.
Well most of you all have said basically what i was thinking about this article. The only other thing to say is that the Lions got a first hand taste of our federal government and their ineptness. Actually I am not even sure what to call it, at some point it almost seems a cruel power trip and on another point it seems they just dont have a clue. I read the initial article yesterday evening and I got a sick feeling in my guy, kinda like when I realized that W was elected for a second term. It just amazes me.
Showmee
We aren't the laughing stock of the NFL because of these two incidents, but because of our year-in & year-out losing record. Though we can point to last year's downward spiral as proof that the Lions were not yet filled with Marinelli men because they gave up, it's silly to point to these two incidents as evidence that Marinelli failed to bring in the right men. Their character in practice and on game day will do that. We'll have to wait and see.
tjdog21-I agree, Im so sick of negative articles by D. Sharp and Van Hairpiece. I've boycotted all D. Sharp articles for at least the last 5 years. How hard is it to predict that the Lions will have a bad season and then when they do, you say I told you so. Last year when they were 6-2 we were so caught up in the euphoria of winning that we forgot to call them to the carpet, and then when we went on that season ending slump there they were beating their waxed chest hairs and saying it wouldnt last. How original. Find some new material or get a job at hair club for men. I know I sound a little harsh, but I'm experiencing PMS (Pre Millen Season) It hits me right around this time of the year, you know water-retention, anxiety of the new season and all...Oh by the way (Does this post im writing make my butt look big) I thought so...
10-6
"High Character" Individuals causing problems...
Can we include HUGE...from The HUGE Show?
I mean...doesn't he have the "highest character" in all of radio?
http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/rwas/index.php?category=3&id=117
"Simonson admits to consuming 6-7 beers, enough to hamper anyone's good judgment...."
I question VanOchten's writing, reporting and haircut character. WTF is that anyway?!?!!
That was the weakest, most pathetic excuse for an article I have ever read. I will from this point forward make it a point to check the author before reading, and if it is VanOchten I will pass.
Campbell is the highest caliber of 'Character' guy you could ask for, and he is only making headlines because the Army reneged on a promise it made to him.
Dizon was wrong for driving over the legal limit, but lets be honest here, he wasn't three times the legal limit or something. Everyone makes mistakes and if this is not a trend I give him a pass. He does not have a history of bad decisions like this so cut him some slack.
The situation with Gozder is hard to judge. You get conflicting reports on this, and I noticed that Brian conveniently left out opposing sides on this story. If he had mentioned the fact that charges were pressed against the man that Gozder had pulled off and restrained it would have blown a huge hole in his theory. Don't let pesky little things like facts and details hold you back Brian!
What a waste of my time! I can't even believe I am responding to this trash. Go report on the Bengals or something, at least there you will have real off field issues to lie about.
gandawg makes the best point. Killer, Tony Ortiz, Nick Contanika, and Dan Miller compromise their journalistic credibility everyday by spouting the Company line from the Team so they can maintain their access to the players, coaches, etc. It's refreshing to read the truth.
gandawg makes the best point. Killer, Tony Ortiz, Nick Contanika, and Dan Miller compromise their journalistic credibility everyday by spouting the Company line from the Team so they can maintain their access to the players, coaches, etc. It's refreshing to read the truth.
BigFrank,
Too bad it's not the truth though. Just one hack's opinion of things.
Van Ochten do you merely get paid for stirring up controversy? Do you do interviews and write fresh comments or do you put a negative spin on other stories?
Campbell was a low level draft and would have been a loooong shot to make the team. The publicity was great and it was sad to see the Army change their policy when they did - poor timing!
As for Dizon, it was an OVI. He handled it well and he will be punished. He hasn't blamed anyone else for his mistake and he must learn from the mistake.
Cherilus wasn't a part of this organization when he was arrested. He has received and accepted his punishment- move on.
Pearson's case is still out. It may be very serious but domestic violence laws are much differnt than other criminal laws and law enforcement (I'm a cop) has been directed by the courts to be proactive and make arrests to protect possible victims when similar non domestic cases would be handled much differently. Go LionS!
Haaaaaaaaaaaa LMFAO.....Never seen a pic of Van Oct before. WOW looks like he has been "over the limit" a few times himself. So when was the last time that you had a few too many and got behind the wheel BV? Not that it is ok to do so but you know what is said about people that live in glass houses......
Yes, because clearly you want choir boys to play the most violent professional sport.
Brian, wow did you miss it! You are way off base with Campbell and failed to make your point with the rest. Let me ask you a question, how clean are your closets? I'll bet there are some skeletons there. Everyone, including you, makes mistakes. The only crime with that is if you do not learn from them.
M-live should stop letting VanOchten be and embarrassment to them.
Hey VanDouche, nice way to tie an unfortunate situation with Campbell to issues that have happened, and been covered, months ago.
Do you even have a journalism degree, because you write like some wannabe bozo that is trying to make a name for himself with controversy.
Detfan1979 said everything that needs to be said on the issue (beat me too it :))
Van Ochten is a tool who relies on speculation and emotionally saturated drivel. I would expect better writing from a high schooler.
Talk about an embarrassment: VanOchten continues to be a lazy journalist. He better watch out or the Langoliers will get him.
funny how you trash Pearson, then turn around and say that he may be innocent....so what is your point, He may be bad or he may not be bad??? Unless you know something we don't, why don't you wait until you give your opinion after you know the facts. Same thing with Campbell, the army doesn't say anything until July 23th, so you then bash the Lions. As for Dixon, do we put all the people who get pulled over for drinking and driving in jail? Are all the people who drink and drive bad people??? I'll bet there are a few of your relatives who have drank then drove. Gosder was trying to break up a fight, and grabbed one of the main combatants, shame on him, what a terrible person...Brian, don't quit your day job.
So Bigfrank85...just what were the facts that Brian stated...Let me help you, here they are _________, that's right, there weren't any.
Talk about an embarrassment: VanOchten continues to be a lazy journalist. He better watch out or the Langoliers will get him.
Has anyone else noticed that your average post by either rgriffis or wrfetish is more entertaining and informative than anything written by VanOchten?
The one great thing about the internet is that it exposes the utter lack of knowledge and/or skill of the average journalist.
Kowalski does a fine job. Guys like VanOchten and Huge are less interesting than your average idiot fan.
VanOchten is just trying to become a noticed writer. But he sucks.
Reading this moron, you would've thought they were arrested for murder or something. A few drinks and a bar fight? lol
On the Dizon situation... You're saying that .097 is the basis of your story?! VanOchten you're a chump! when you were growing up the DUI level was .1 AND THAT WAS JUST A LIGHT BUZZ! BUT OMG! .097 he must not know how to play football. Whatever! The "justice" system is using this NEW .08 just to make money. Tell me when he blows a .29 and does real damage. That's something to worry about. .097 really?!
I agree I hate these high character players it makes no sense. Just get talent like jermey shockey would have been nice. I so sick of the Lions.
Brian,thanks for covering for me.I've been a little busy lately !!!!
I like the part about cherlibust and his buddy kicking the guy on the floor repeatedly.I don't feel sorry for cherilus.You reap what you sew,and the judge in the civil case will for me be the final objective opinion.Most "peace makers" don't get fined 50g,but I suppose the judges in ma. ARE ALL AGAINST THE LIONS TOO !!!!