Today In Repugnant Would-Be Moralism
By Phil Mushnick, professional crotchety old crank who has no use for you kids today and your hippity-hop music and saggy jeans, wishes to bring a balanced perspective to Adrian Peterson’s weekend. On the one hand, Peterson’s two year-old son was beaten to death. On the other hand, Peterson has done some bad stuff too, and Phil Mushick will decide how Adiran Peterson should deal with tragedy thank you very much:
Thus it was unsurprising Peterson’s downside went ignored. In 2009, he was busted for driving 109 mph in a 55 mph zone. He dismissed that as no big deal, which was doubly disturbing — his older, full brother was killed by a reckless driver.
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Of course, we all have to operate from are our own set of values, our personal sense of right from wrong. Perhaps, given current standards among NFL players — mostly college men, no less — Peterson qualifies as a man of good character.
Still, I’m stuck with what I’ve got. And it’s sickening the NFL’s latest MVP, hours after his son died — allegedly murdered — declared he was “ready to roll,” ready to play football.
Me? I’d be fighting for breath, my knees weak with grief, demanding to know why, who, how. Then, I suspect, I’d seethe with rage, swearing retribution. I even think I’d take off a day or two from work. Maybe a week.
Let me get this straight — the guy’s two year-old son was beaten him to death and you choose this occasion to imply that he had it coming because he was once pulled over for speeding? Are you shitting me? At least he didn’t commit the ultimate sin of using PEDs.
Does Mushnick then go on to blame Peterson for his son’s death because…he didn’t choose the mother’s future romantic partner? And also imply with no evidence that Peterson wasn’t providing the mother with financial support? Oh yes. I don’t think it’s Adrian Peterson’s character we should be worrying about here.
…Brien notes this classic from Mushnick, in which he argue that black alternate jerseys are about appealing to “urban” gangs. These aren’t racist dogwhistles; they’re more like racist Bart Simpson’s interlocking bullhorns.