Jump to content
[[Template core/front/custom/_customHeader is throwing an error. This theme may be out of date. Run the support tool in the AdminCP to restore the default theme.]]

Cincinnati judge lectures NFL on alcohol


The Misfit
 Share

Recommended Posts

A judge told suspended Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman today that the NFL was wrong to suspend him for the season after Thurman was convicted of drunken driving.

 

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge John Burlew called NFL officials “hypocrites” for promoting alcohol consumption during games but punishing players for drinking.

 

This case upsets me more than anything else, primarily ...with the National Football League,” Burlew said. “The allegations are that you had a legal substance – alcohol -- in your body, a substance which they advertise from and get money from, millions of dollars a year from.”

 

Burlew said if the league really wanted to crack down on alcohol abuse, they would give everybody who left a football stadium a blood alcohol test.

 

“You don’t like alcohol, take those Budweiser commercials off TV,” Burlew said. “Stop selling alcohol in the stadium.”

 

Burlew’s comments came as Thurman appeared in court on a probation violation charge.

 

Thurman was suspended last season and for the coming season by the NFL for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy after he was caught drunken driving. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said Thurman can apply to get back on the field after the 2007 season.

 

The suspension comes after the league put in place a tougher personal-conduct policy to protect the league’s image and reverse the wave of off-field incidents involving players.

 

In June Burlew sentenced Thurman to spend six days in an alcohol treatment program, spend two years on probation and pay a $250 fine on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

 

Thurman was charged last September after Cincinnati police stopped him on Kellogg Avenue in the East End and a Breathalyzer test showed Thurman had a blood-alcohol level of 1.8, more than twice Ohio’s legal limit to drive.

 

Thurman said in court that he was an “alcoholic and will be one the rest of my life.”

 

Thurman said after his arrest he spent four months at an in-patient alcohol treatment program followed by out-patient treatment.

 

Thurman was arrested earlier this month for violating his probation by failing to report to his probation officer by July 24. Thurman, who at the time also owed $574 in fees, fines and costs, was arrested on the charge Aug. 7.

 

He is being held at Turning Point, an alcohol-treatment program, pending the outcome of his case. The probation violation case was continued for two weeks to give Thurman time to get a lawyer.

 

Hear ye hear ye

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He's an alcoholic and violated his probation, I see nothing wrong with what Goodell and the league are trying to get across here. This judges analogy is wetodded. So what if the NFL promotes alcohol, are they saying we should drink it everyday, all the time? No, they are advertising a LEGAL product. And they are also punishing players who do things that are ILLEGAL. Thurman has a problem......at least he's man enough to admit it, but he shouldn't be playing football until he's fixed his problems, and clearly he still hasn't.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This case upsets me more than anything else, primarily ...with the National Football League,” Burlew said. “The allegations are that you had a legal substance – alcohol -- in your body, a substance which they advertise from and get money from, millions of dollars a year from.”

 

Are you freaking kidding me? Alcohol may be legal indeed but driving with certain levels in your system are not legal. This judge's credibility comes into question now. What happens when he gets a convicted drunk driver in his court who states he was driving home from an NFL game? Does he let him go?

 

Another moronic, liberal judge set to completely turn our society upside down...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you freaking kidding me? Alcohol may be legal indeed but driving with certain levels in your system are not legal. This judge's credibility comes into question now. What happens when he gets a convicted drunk driver in his court who states he was driving home from an NFL game? Does he let him go?

 

Another moronic, liberal judge set to completely turn our society upside down...

 

I don't know the judge, but methinks the chance of a judge being a liberal in Cincinnati is pretty much nil.

 

I just thought it was funny. The judge is obviously concerned about the Bengals D this season, even while administering justice. That's how it should be, yo. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have no sympathy for Thurman, but.....

 

Has Goodell ever given an explanation for the additional year suspension? Don't you think he oughtta?

 

Shouldn't he say EXACTLY why Thurman was suspended another year, so other teams can tell their players not to do it?

 

Again, read my first line above, I have no sympathy for Thurman. He probably deserves what he gets. His own fault.

 

But, I find it amazing Goodell gets to say no dice on reinstatement w/o a reason given. (It doesn't sound from local news that Thurman or the Bengals were given the reason either)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have no sympathy for Thurman, but.....

 

Has Goodell ever given an explanation for the additional year suspension? Don't you think he oughtta?

 

Shouldn't he say EXACTLY why Thurman was suspended another year, so other teams can tell their players not to do it?

 

Again, read my first line above, I have no sympathy for Thurman. He probably deserves what he gets. His own fault.

 

But, I find it amazing Goodell gets to say no dice on reinstatement w/o a reason given. (It doesn't sound from local news that Thurman or the Bengals were given the reason either)

I was pretty certain it was because he didn't meet the terms of his parole & was subsequently arrested yet again. I would be willing to bet Goodell gave both the organization and Thurman his reasons and IMO it should be left up to Thurman and/or the Bengals if they want to make that information public knowledge. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would be willing to bet Goodell gave both the organization and Thurman his reasons and IMO it should be left up to Thurman and/or the Bengals if they want to make that information public knowledge. :D

 

I would think he'd give them his reasons, and I'd agree w/ your statement. But much of what I've read seems to indicate otherwise.....

Just strange.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

didnt thurman get in trouble just before the league denied his suspension?

 

as for the judge.. he is up for re-election in 2008 and is trying to score points with as many bengals fans as he can.. so i dont take anything a politician says, who is about to run for reelection, seriously.

Edited by jjpro11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

He's an alcoholic and violated his probation, I see nothing wrong with what Goodell and the league are trying to get across here. This judges analogy is wetodded. So what if the NFL promotes alcohol, are they saying we should drink it everyday, all the time? No, they are advertising a LEGAL product. And they are also punishing players who do things that are ILLEGAL. Thurman has a problem......at least he's man enough to admit it, but he shouldn't be playing football until he's fixed his problems, and clearly he still hasn't.

 

Alcoholism is a disease. Thurman is admitting of having a problem. Judge has a point to the degree that when your family leaves any stadium after a game you run the risk of getting hit, killed, etc by a drunk (.08 or better in a lot of states) driver. Cigarettes are "legal" too, but you can't smoke in most places now (including stadiums)--although there are designated areas. Just because it is legal doesn't mean promotion and sales of one of the largest problems in America (drinking & driving). Most Americans if asked will admit of doing two(three) things that are illegal--speeding and drinking (past the limits set) while driving. Combined they are what statistics and ruined lives are made of....NFL, Nascar, MLB, etc.....are places you want to avoid when the event is over...I would bet that if it was possible to have a check point just as you leave a venue after a game to test drivers, one in two or three would be legally (illegally) drunk! Believe this is what the judge is referring to...... :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information