Mendenhall robbed at gunpoint in Chicongo

[Capt. Larsen]

Steelers rookie Mendenhall robbed at gunpoint, unhurt

May 5, 2008
CBSSports.com wire reports



CHICAGO -- Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint along the Chicago lakefront early Monday, his mother and agent said.

The former running back was not hurt in the robbery, during which two people stole Mendenhall's wallet and cellular telephone, his mammy, Sybil Mendenhall, told the Chicago Tribune.

"He didn't get hit or anything, he didn't get hurt or anything," Sybil Mendenhall said. "He's fine."

Police spokesman John Mirabelli said a man and a woman were robbed at the lakefront around 2 a.m. Monday by two offenders, but declined to identify the victims. No one was in custody for the crime, he said.

"It was obviously a scary moment," Mendenhall's agent, Mike McCartney, told the Chicago Sun-Times. "But he is fine. He is doing great. He said he doesn't have anything that is worth his life."

The Steelers selected Mendenhall with the 23rd pick in this year's NFL draft.

The 20-year-old Mendenhall skipped his senior year at Illinois to enter the draft.(TNB) He was the 2007 Big Ten offensive player of the year.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10814114

Wait until he starts 'clubbin' in Pittsburgh!

 

[screamingeagle]

Chicongo!!!

Love it!

 

[Freethinker]

Rashard Mendenhall critiques "bussiness of entertainment" NFL

I didn't want to start a new thread for a mediocre black athlete but I thought his comments on the NFL and modern day football were spot on.

I'll share some of the pertinent parts of his "retirement letter".

What was more difficult for me to grasp was the way that the business of entertainment had really shifted the game and the sport of football in the NFL. The culture of football now is very different from the one I grew up with. When I came up, teammates fought together for wins and got respect for the fight. The player who gave the ball to the referee after a touchdown was commended; the one who played through injury was tough; the role of the blocking tight end was acknowledged; running backs who picked up blitzing linebackers showed heart; and the story of the game was told through the tape, and not the stats alone. That was my model of football.

Today, game-day cameras follow the most popular players on teams; guys who dance after touchdowns are extolled on Dancing With the Starters; games are analyzed and brought to fans without any use of coaches tape; practice non-participants are reported throughout the week for predicted fantasy value; and success and failure for skill players is measured solely in stats and fantasy points. This is a very different model of football than the one I grew up with. My older brother coaches football at the high-school and youth level. One day he called me and said, "These kids don't want to work hard. All they wanna do is look cool, celebrate after plays, and get more followers on Instagram!" I told him that they might actually have it figured out.

So when they ask me why I want to leave the NFL at the age of 26, I tell them that I've greatly enjoyed my time, but I no longer wish to put my body at risk for the sake of entertainment. I think about the rest of my life and I want to live it with much quality. And physically, I am grateful that I can walk away feeling as good as I did when I stepped into it.

His views of how football has devolved into entertainment and self-glorification sounds similar to many of our views here. Kudos to him for speaking such truths and walking away from "easy money" to pursue what interests him.

It should also be mention that Mendenhall stated, "I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style." This was immediately after Bin-Laden's alleged killing. He caught major flack from the media corporations and DWF nation for this.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rashard-mendenhall/rashard-mendenhall-retirement-_b_4931316.html

 

[Don Wassall]

Mendenhall seems quite perceptive and not interested in conforming to societal norms and hive groupthink. Good for him.