A warning to all Warpath members

As much as anyone on this site, I have had fun at the expense of current Redskins, ex-Redskins, and opponents. With that in mind, I will ask everyone to read this post:

http://www.thewarpath.net/showthread.php?t=7911

Understand that jokes about this will not be tolerated. There will be no warnings other than this one. Posts will be deleted upon first read, and if I have anything to say about it (and I believe that I do) the user will be banned.

Have a pleasant weekend.

While I appreciate the serious nature of this issue, I'm not so sure such a stern warning is necessary, especially a preemptive warning. I do believe that most Warpathers know not to go there and crack jokes about such a sensitive issue. I also understand that within any group, even within the Warpath, there are going to be a few clowns. I'm sure that was the audience you intended to resonate with, Brud. So I can appreciate what you're doing with the warning. But with such a stern tone, and before any "clowns" actually cracked any inappropriate jokes, the site starts to feel a bit uptight.

Mind you, I'm totally on the same page with you, it's not a funny thing to joke about. And I'm not a mod, so maybe there is a reason, to which I'm not privy, explaining why the site needs to be so mindful of it's Ps and Qs. I guess the point of this rambling post is just to wonder if such a stern tone is really necessary.

No love lost though.

While I appreciate the serious nature of this issue, I'm not so sure such a stern warning is necessary, especially a preemptive warning. I do believe that most Warpathers know not to go there and crack jokes about such a sensitive issue. I also understand that within any group, even within the Warpath, there are going to be a few clowns. I'm sure that was the audience you intended to resonate with, Brud. So I can appreciate what you're doing with the warning. But with such a stern tone, and before any "clowns" actually cracked any inappropriate jokes, the site starts to feel a bit uptight.

Mind you, I'm totally on the same page with you, it's not a funny thing to joke about. And I'm not a mod, so maybe there is a reason, to which I'm not privy, explaining why the site needs to be so mindful of it's Ps and Qs. I guess the point of this rambling post is just to wonder if such a stern tone is really necessary.

No love lost though.

If I was to begin pointing fingers at those who have made inappropriate comments about former Redskins, I would start with myself. The boundaries for such behavior are pretty lenient here. I wanted to make sure everyone knows that such boundaries do, however, exist - and that cracking wise about sexual abuse is way past them.

Nearly everyone has a story about telling jokes at a party, when all of the sudden someone breaks out the inappropriate racist or sexist or fill-in-the-blank-phobic joke. The whole gathering is spoiled by one person's idiotic insensitivity. This was to remind everyone not to be that guy.

This was to remind everyone not to be that guy.

no one likes me :(

This story explains a lot about Coles's demeanor, particularly around the press. He was one of the most unapproachable players I'd ever met; you could see him physically tense-up and bristle whenever the press approached him. He always avoided making eye contact, giving brief and often curt answers to reporters' questions.

It's obvious now that much of that behavior was a product of the defense-mechanism he's developed from coping with such an emotionally damaging trauma.

I sincerely feel bad for him now, especially since I had developed a genuine dislike for the guy while dealing with him as a member of the press for two years, then hearing how he treated Joe Gibbs and the team leading up to his departure.

When you find out that someone has been carrying the burden of such a dark and painful secret in their life, it totally changes your perspective on all their past behaviors, and forces you to think twice next time the impulse to judge may strike.

no one likes me :(
lower case, not Upper Case. ;)

I think it is very admirable that coles would share this story with everyone else. It really shows that he wants to make a difference in other's lives who might be experiencing something like this or might have experienced it in the past. It's pretty remarkable how he was able to cope with this and put it behind him and turn into an NFL star. It takes courage to come out with a story like this and I hope he has a good future ahead.

I always liked coles because he has always been a blue colar guy with a great work ethic. this article was great because it showed his motivation.

Coles' story is compelling and all too real in the society we live in. It just goes to show you that child molestation and rape is not alien to those in the NFL, NBA, NHL or any other sport. The most positive result of Coles' story is the fact that he seems to have confronted his past and moved to a point to share and hopefully help others to overcome such a tragic and horrible experience.

I always respected Coles because he NEVER appeared to be afraid to go over the middle. My respect for him has now skyrocketed; he's willing to talk publicly (in the New York Times no less) about something that is so very personal and emotional.

That takes a lot of guts. I applaud the man. I’m sure it will help other children that have suffered the same.