Russell Westbrook Fan Interaction

[caneintally]

White supremacist political football.

That's all this really is. That's the only reason it got brought up on this board, and it's the reason some of the usual suspects are chiming in to tell us how bad Russ is.

So go ahead and carry that ball as far as you can. I mean, you just snuck in a comparison of Westbrook to an animal, so keep up the good work.

What mj2 said .

 

[Jkwo_rivals113955]

I'm talking about the general fan/player interaction and the "you make a lot of money so shut up and deal with it" attitude.

They aren't paid well to listen to verbal abuse, they're paid well because they have a marketable talent that puts them in the top .000001% of the world.

That's a straw man of the argument, though.

I don't think anybody is stating that it's an explicit part of the job description.

But if a company invests that much in you, there is a different set of expectations established versus someone with no job or a lower job.

When you apply for a CFO job on Indeed, nowhere is it going to say "we're looking for a guy who doesn't get into bar fights", but you can be sure that a behavioral clause will exist in the fine print of the contract so that the company has an out if you turn into an embarrassment.

Fair or not, it's probably going to take more than a couple scrapes for you to get fired from the fry station at Burger King.

I'd agree with you making the case that it's pitiful how some people act like athletes are robots to be yelled at (kind of like the phenomenon of grotesque Twitter/YT comments). If I were the owner, I might well bar the guy from the arena for being a prick.

But I'd also expect better from Westbrook.

Does he deserve the abuse? No. Is he being directly paid for the abuse? No. Did he know what he was signing up for ahead of time in joining the league? I'd argue yes. Is the transaction still worth-while given the abuse? Obviously. Would his employer be justified in censuring him? Of course.

 

[morgousky]

I don’t care what’s on his twitter account. It’s totally beside the point. This is just a way for the powerful to go after a common person and protect the privileged. ESPN shouldn’t touch his twitter account, regardless of what’s on it. They are a major news Corporation with real power that can destroy someone’s life over whatever they deem appropriate. Anyone else think that’s just scary? What happens when they set rules that no one can follow?

Not much different than CNN going after a common guy making a meme with trump in WWE. The powerful going after, threatening, and exposing a regular guy shouldn’t be something we support.

Westbrook has a history of this. It doesn’t take much of anything to set him off. And this time, he threatened actual harm to a woman, which should bring calls to completely end his career if we’re being consistent. Which, we aren’t, and it’s not surprising. What is surprising this day and age is people overlooking the powerful abusing their privilege (millionaire players, media ect) and backing them when they attack common people. That’s whats scary to me.

 

[GonzoCat90]

That's a straw man of the argument, though.

I don't think anybody is stating that it's an explicit part of the job description.

But if a company invests that much in you, there is a different set of expectations established versus someone with no job or a lower job.

When you apply for a CFO job on Indeed, nowhere is it going to say "we're looking for a guy who doesn't get into bar fights", but you can be sure that a behavioral clause will exist in the fine print of the contract so that the company has an out if you turn into an embarrassment.

Fair or not, it's probably going to take more than a couple scrapes for you to get fired from the fry station at Burger King.

I'd agree with you making the case that it's pitiful how some people act like athletes are robots to be yelled at (kind of like the phenomenon of grotesque Twitter/YT comments). If I were the owner, I might well bar the guy from the arena for being a prick.

But I'd also expect better from Westbrook.

Does he deserve the abuse? No? Is he being directly paid for the abuse? No. Did he know what he's signing up for to where this should be considered part of the transaction which leaves him far better off than 99.9999% of the world? I think so. Just like the women who frequent his hotel rooms understand that they're not going to enjoy relationship exclusivity.

Sure, but why is that unwritten social contract one-sided?

Actually, it's likely that all of these arenas have rules and regulations that forbid stuff like what the fan was doing. It's just rarely enforced. As close as this was to the floor, and with media and cameras all around, it wasn't going unnoticed. It was just going unchecked.

So it's fine if you want to claim Westbrook "knows he'll be yelled at," but you also have to hold up the part of the social understanding that we all know if you yell at someone and say awful things about their family, that they will retaliate in kind.

 

[GonzoCat90]

I don’t care what’s on his twitter account. It’s totally beside the point.

Westbrook has a history of this.

[laughing]

 

[Jkwo_rivals113955]

Sure, but why is that unwritten social contract one-sided?

Actually, it's likely that all of these arenas have rules and regulations that forbid stuff like what the fan was doing. It's just rarely enforced. As close as this was to the floor, and with media and cameras all around, it wasn't going unnoticed. It was just going unchecked.

So it's fine if you want to claim Westbrook "knows he'll be yelled at," but you also have to hold up the part of the social understanding that we all know if you yell at someone and say awful things about their family, that they will retaliate in kind.

I agree with you, but the key phrase there is "in kind".

He threatened to beat up the dude and his wife, which was unprecedented at that point.

And as I said, I'd have kicked the guy out as the owner.

 

[GonzoCat90]

I agree with you, but the key phrase there is "in kind".

He threatened to beat up the dude and his wife, which was unprecedented at that point.

And as I said, I'd have kicked the guy out as the owner.

It seems like there was a lot more than one statement made from each side. So it's impossible to say what "in kind" really means. I'm just referring to saying awful things back to him.

Ideally, they'd have just thrown the guy out. But being able to pay for those seats comes with a lot of leeway, which is another interesting one-sided part of these social contracts.

 

[morgousky]

[laughing]

Not seeing the comedy but ok. Glad to make your morning Gonzo.

Still waiting on your outrage at a grown, rich, powerful man telling a common woman he’s going to curb stomp her.

Think Westbrook might beat women in his spare time? Do we even care? He’s rich and socially approved, better be careful with one.

 

[monty41]

What is ESPN saying about Westbrook telling a woman he was going to F her up. That’s really all that matters and it’s what I’d like to know.

You've brought this up, repeatedly. I don't think anyone would argue that saying that isn't a bad thing, but watching the video it felt like a throwaway comment sort of meant to disrespect the guy. I would almost guarantee there was no intent behind him saying that. I usually enjoy your posting but you're defending a guy who has been kinda exposed as a real POS - see the "He should go back to where he came from #maga" tweet someone dug up

 

[cat_in_the_hat]

I want everyone to notice Boogie Cousins at UK or John Wall. They were met with REAL hostility on the road in the SEC. You never once saw a Cal player even dare engage a fan. Because Cal knows how this works.

It’s not that fans are always right. But they ARE the customer, so yea, to an extent they are. If it’s bad enough have them removed but telling a player to SYD is NOT bad enough.

What happened to athletes using the hate as motivation? WTH have “the Lebrons” done to professional basketball? Man I wish people would have enough of this and just abandon the league. Then we could hear how fans are responsible for Westbrook having to sell his 4th Porsche.

I'm going to disagree with you a little, but from a different perspective. If I were the owner of a franchise, I would want families to feel comfortable coming to games. I would make it very clear that shouting things that might make it uncomfortable for parents who bring their kids to game is unacceptable. If I were an owner, I would be more concerned about how people like that would affect my other paying guests than how it affects the players on the floor. I don't think profanity, sexual innuendo, etc., should be tolerated in an environment where kids are present. Anyone who acts like that at a sporting event should be removed in my opinion.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Maybe his reaction to what the fan apparently said struck a deep nerve? That kind of back and forth has existed on basketball courts, football fields, work place, etc. for decades and I’ve never seen anyone react to it that way.

Maybe it did. Didn't justify physical threats towards the man and his wife

People say things to me that strike a nerve. I don't threaten to f them up. It really isn't that hard to not physically threaten people.

With news this morning... it Sounds like the fan may be as bad our worse. his Twitter acct deleted today But one tweet found from LAST year called Westbrook a classless piece of **** and he needs his ****ing *** beat.
And there is supposed to be much worse.

Two teammates said it was “family” directed. A lot more on the fan came out this morning... he sounds like a turd; that probably crossed the line.
Never would I thought I would defend Westbrook... I’ve snapped like over words... but I had my “fan” thrown in segregation (the hole) for two days

The guy was a jerk. His tweets didn't elicit the response, his statements did.

Last night, Russ was very clear what set him off. The comment about being on his knees. His teammates all verified that was what was said.

Only now are we told it was racial and/or towards his family. Where was that info last night? Oh ya, it was before anyone thought this may be trouble.

 

[coachcombs57]

I don’t care what’s on his twitter account. It’s totally beside the point. This is just a way for the powerful to go after a common person and protect the privileged. ESPN shouldn’t touch his twitter account, regardless of what’s on it. They are a major news Corporation with real power that can destroy someone’s life over whatever they deem appropriate. Anyone else think that’s just scary? What happens when they set rules that no one can follow?

Not much different than CNN going after a common guy making a meme with trump in WWE. The powerful going after, threatening, and exposing a regular guy shouldn’t be something we support.

Westbrook has a history of this. It doesn’t take much of anything to set him off. And this time, he threatened actual harm to a woman, which should bring calls to completely end his career if we’re being consistent. Which, we aren’t, and it’s not surprising. What is surprising this day and age is people overlooking the powerful abusing their privilege (millionaire players, media ect) and backing them when they attack common people. That’s whats scary to me.

So, you dont care the guy has a history of racist thoughts/behavior...but RWs history is a valid reason to condemn him. Got it.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

I'm talking about the general fan/player interaction and the "you make a lot of money so shut up and deal with it" attitude.

They aren't paid well to listen to verbal abuse, they're paid well because they have a marketable talent that puts them in the top .000001% of the world.

There are people who aren't even paid well that deal with statements of this severity. I know I heard worse and it isn't even that rare.

I don't threaten to f up the person and their wife. If I did, I wouldn't expect people to think it was ok.

So why is it ok for him? Because he's an athlete?

 

[wromanp7]

So, you dont care the guy has a history of racist thoughts/behavior...but RWs history is a valid reason to condemn him. Got it.

I actually think he meant it should be fair and equitable regardless of common or privileged.

 

[morgousky]

You've brought this up, repeatedly. I don't think anyone would argue that saying that isn't a bad thing, but watching the video it felt like a throwaway comment sort of meant to disrespect the guy. I would almost guarantee there was no intent behind him saying that. I usually enjoy your posting but you're defending a guy who has been kinda exposed as a real POS - see the "He should go back to where he came from #maga" tweet someone dug up

It doesn’t matter, I’m talking about a standard.

He tells a woman he’s going to beat her ***, I’ll take him at his word. I’ve never told a woman I’m going to beat her ***. He’s a POS and it shows what he’s really like. And society says there’s no place for men who behave that way towards a woman.

But now all of a sudden it’s “aw shucks, he didn’t mean it. Come on dude”.

Spare me that lecture because I think it’s all insanity, I’m just trying to figure out the rules.

You can threaten to harm women if:

1. Rich
2. Athletic
3. Approved social status and background.

And no one will take you on.

If you’re a common person, the media will attack you over harmless memes and unapproved language.

Westbrook is not a victim no matter how many people try and make it so. Go to your workplace and have a woman scream something at you, threaten to beat her ***. See if you have these same people coming to your defense. Won’t happen.

 

[Flipflopsandsocks]

The people who dont watch NBA and have zero interest in the NBA according to other threads are the people most outraged. Hmm...

 

[GonzoCat90]

Not seeing the comedy but ok. Glad to make your morning Gonzo.

Still waiting on your outrage at a grown, rich, powerful man telling a common woman he’s going to curb stomp her.

Think Westbrook might beat women in his spare time? Do we even care? He’s rich and socially approved, better be careful with one.

It's because you refuse to look at any of this with any nuance or context.

 

[Wall Knight Teague]

This picture is a great example of how pussified this country is when someone actually consideres this out of bounds during a professional game.

Good lord. Grab these people some depends and a bucket for those tears.

This is why Jordan remains the king. He would have laughed at this nonsense.

Players today are so soft. Pat, I'm sad to say, sounds like a SJW little snowflake. "Should we shut up and dribble?"

I'd love to know the worst things Jordan heard playing against the Jazz. The insult that triggered lil ***** Westbrook wouldn't make the top 10. Jordan just used the vitriol to rip their hearts out.

Even weaker to throw in the race card. They were talking about you sucking di**, Westbrook, nothing racist about that. Nice LeBron impression, though.

 

[Allcats08]

Players today are so soft. Pat, I'm sad to say, sounds like a SJW little snowflake. "Should we shut up and dribble?"

I'd love to know the worst things Jordan heard playing against the Jazz. The insult that triggered lil ***** Westbrook wouldn't make the top 10. He just used the vitriol to rip their hearts out.

Even weaker to throw in the race card. They were talking about you sucking di**, Westbrook, nothing racist about that. Nice LeBron impression, though.

I could literally see lebron crying on the bench from an altercation like this. Then during his post game interviews talking about how it’s an insult to women everywhere and that kind of talk and language doesn’t exist in his locker rooms.

 

[Flipflopsandsocks]

Players today are so soft. Pat, I'm sad to say, sounds like a SJW little snowflake. "Should we shut up and dribble?"

I'd love to know the worst things Jordan heard playing against the Jazz. The insult that triggered lil ***** Westbrook wouldn't make the top 10. He just used the vitriol to rip their hearts out.

Even weaker to throw in the race card. They were talking about you sucking di**, Westbrook, nothing racist about that. Nice LeBron impression, though.

You're the one who actually sounds like a SJW snowflake. You're doing the projecting thing that yall do.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Two wrongs don’t make a right situation, IMO.

Fan is obviously a moronic piece of white trash and Westbrook has a screw loose and a rage problem. This fan has an unhealthy hatred of Westbrook and a pro athlete needs to know better than to engage with someone like that.

I say put em in the ring and let em box. Winner can keep talking. Loser can STFU.

 

[GonzoCat90]

There are people who aren't even paid well that deal with statements of this severity. I know I heard worse and it isn't even that rare.

I don't threaten to f up the person and their wife. If I did, I wouldn't expect people to think it was ok.

So why is it ok for him? Because he's an athlete?

The point is he (or you, or whoever) shouldn't "have to" hear it. Why some of you just accept it as a fact of life and don't condemn it but have a problem with his reaction is what I take issue with.

If it's no big deal for the fan to say it, and it's just part of the sports experience, then what Westbrook said in return is just heckling back and not serious.

If what the fan said is egregious and serious, then it should have been dealt with and Westbrook was reacting in an equal way.

 

[MbergCat]

There's your hero Conor Mac dressing just like Russ and all other young affluent people do now a days. There's Bones Jones literally the pound for pound the baddest dude on the planet making a pretty kissy face for the cameras and posed up like a woman. You think he's "punk *****" as you put it. Russ' is a street kid from freaking Compton if you don't think he'd absolutely whip people you don't know up from down.

Just because you're a street kid from Compton doesn't mean you know how to fight....what the people said to him might not have been right, but he still acts like a premadonna *******. It drives me crazy when people say someone is from a certain area, therefore their tough guys.

 

[Blueaz]

What is ESPN saying about Westbrook telling a woman he was going to F her up. That’s really all that matters and it’s what I’d like to know.

They were saying THAT is over the line (obviously) and he should get a huge fine and more.
IMO. Suspend for a few games, fine and volunteer work at a domestic abuse center.


Oh...one of his defending teammates is Patrick Patterson. So, if you want to say PPat is not telling the truth; that’s up to you.

Not trying to argue, but you know that there fans who cross the line.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

I remember several years ago, I was talking to a co-worker about the hostile way of the internet and social media. Everything from Twitter to the asinine comments on a newspaper website below a routine story of some sort. People, in that virtual world, are simply mean, angry, hostile - and say things you never would say to someone's face. My question that day was how long does that continue before the "internet way" invades normal every day real life - how long before people start to talk to each other in the same way when face to face.

It is coming to pass. For now in this limited context - I'm in the seats, you're on the court/field, I will say very ugly things because it's 2019 and that's how we talk.

 

[morgousky]

It's because you refuse to look at any of this with any nuance or context.

He told a woman he was going to F her up. There’s no excuse but I’m glad you think it’s ok because of context, whatever that means.

There is no consistency

 

[Trinity45]

When will the people on the floor (owners, players) learn to let security handle issues and stop interacting with fans? Should be a lot of fallout over this one.

You know when M.J. was being heckled by a fan for dunking on a smaller player, he went out and dunk on Melvin Turpin and then asked the fan if he was big enough for him. Just ignore the stupid fans and prove yourself on the court. Other wise these outburst are just going to make Westbrook a bigger target for fans.

 

[Shaudylo]

Sorry, but hes soft. Are we to believe ppl only pick on poor Russell? You don't think lebron, cousins, etc get sh!% from fans. Only Westbrook is the fragile one that knows hes protected on the court

Don’t know why you used Cousins as an example considering he’s been recorded cursing out a fan too.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It's why I never really had a problem with Artest and O'Neal throwing bombs on fans back in 2004. Fans thought there was a protective barrier, and they decided to throw things at the players, thinking "It's not like they'll do anything".

.. well, they did do something. And since then, fans decided it might not be a good idea to throw things at players.

Maybe fans will think twice about mouthing off to a 6'3" jacked Westbrook. Guys like Westbrook and Artest have ensured that fans can't do whatever they want with no chance of repercussions.

 

[cats#1again]

He’s a *****. I’d bet dollars to doughnuts he couldn’t whip my sister. Have y’all ever seen a badass that wears women’s clothes? Me either. He knows security will be there to intervene so he talks **** like Connor McGregor. The very definition of punk *****.

Conor backs it up though

 

[GonzoCat90]

He told a woman he was going to F her up. There’s no excuse but I’m glad you think it’s ok because of context, whatever that means.

There is no consistency

Remember what I said about shouting into the abyss?

 

[MakinMusic_rivals]

I’m a Westbrook fan based on his play. The guy is an animal on the court. Tough to argue against his motor. Probably plays harder night in and night out than all others. He needs to get some emotional maturity. It’s unfortunate that a fan did it but it happens in every sport. You have to be more mature than the fan and ignore it or grab security and point them out.

 

[Shaudylo]

Yep...failed.

"Come at me n***** boy" is one of his tweets so, again, I'm sure this guy is 100% without fault smh

That tweet is fake someone changed their name to his screen name .

However he did tweet out that Russell Westbrook should go back to where he came from in 2018 #Maga

But I’m sure some on this board will say that’s not racial .

 

[JamesLee]

Westbrook absolutely crossed the line. He should be fined and even forced to attend counseling under the NBA's watch. I know there are certainly things I've said in my past that I regretted or knew after some time had passed that it was over the line. Hopefully Westbrook learns to regret his horrible comments at some point. As for the fan, and fans in general, there does need to be a certain level of accountability for them when they verbally attack athletes. People claim "they're getting paid millions of dollars, it's part of the job." But it's not. People in arenas and stadiums, much like those who take to Twitter, feel a sense of boundary between themselves and who they are ripping into which eliminates any consequence or accountability. That should change. Westbrook should be fined/suspended and the NBA should learn from these altercations that at some point we'll see another Malice in the Palace and who knows how badly someone could get hurt next time.

 

[mustnotsleepnow]

Should he have said he would beat a woman? ABSOLUTELY not. Never condone violence against women. Fine him heavily or whatever is deemed necessary.

But you guys in here saying that fans can say whatever they want to players or they have the right to say whatever they want are the usual "I hate the NBA" and "These guys make WAY too much money". You're telling on yourselves....again.

 

[mustnotsleepnow]

That tweet is fake someone changed their name to his screen name .

However he did tweet out that Russell Westbrook should go back to where he came from in 2018 #Maga

But I’m sure some on this board will say that’s not racial .

Well...I, for one, am SHOCKED. [eyeroll]

By the way, you're absolutely right on your last sentence, unfortunately.

 

[Shaudylo]

Should he have said he would beat a woman? ABSOLUTELY not. Never condone violence against women. Fine him heavily or whatever is deemed necessary.

But you guys in here saying that fans can say whatever they want to players or they have the right to say whatever they want are the usual "I hate the NBA" and "These guys make WAY too much money". You're telling on yourselves....again.

And this is exactly how Utah fans act .

This incident .

They also had a fan that mocked Derek Fisher daughter having cancer .

They also held up a cardboard picture of Stephen Jackson dressed up as an inmate while he shot free throws .

Utah fans are out of control from some of the stories the nba players have told .

 

[king of cali]

The people who dont watch NBA and have zero interest in the NBA according to other threads are the people most outraged. Hmm...

Yep. The sh*t is comical.

 

[king of cali]

You know when M.J. was being heckled by a fan for dunking on a smaller player, he went out and dunk on Melvin Turpin and then asked the fan if he was big enough for him. Just ignore the stupid fans and prove yourself on the court. Other wise these outburst are just going to make Westbrook a bigger target for fans.

You’re talking about basketball taunting. Much different than the conversation that is being had about Westbrook. What is being alleged had nothing to do with basketball.

 

[KingOfBBN]

I remember when Marcus Smart lied about a racial slur to justify going into the stands. It’s super predictable.