Talking Cleveland sports with Mike Burgermeister (@jimkanicki) – WFNY Podcast – 2013-08-22
August 22, 2013NFL News: Browns waive punter T.J. Conley
August 22, 2013FACT: On December 11, 2012, a Tuesday, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Greg Little was cited at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, where he allegedly blew through a red light en route to the local Interstate. He was cited for failure to obey a traffic controlling device as well as a failure to properly display an updated sticker on the back of his North Carolina license plates. Both charges were ultimately dismissed after not being pursued by the city of Cleveland.
FACT: On April 13, 2013, a Saturday, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Greg Little was cited for a failure to stop following an accident on south-bound Route 176. In addition, Little’s ticket, again provided to him by the City of Cleveland, had line items for speeding (reportedly in excess of 100 miles per hour), illegally passing, and what is being classified as “drag racing.” Little was found guilty of the first of the four charges. He was fined $350 and was given six points on his driver’s license. The other three charges were not pursued.
FACT: The town of Lindale, Ohio processes roughly 4,000 speeding tickets per calendar year, the majority of which are handed out under the bridge which separates them from Brooklyn, Ohio on Interstate 71. As of this publication, Mr. Little was not cited by an officer from Lindale, Ohio, meaning that (gasp) roughly 4,000 other individuals were.FACT: On May 10, 2013, a Friday, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was handed a citation on the burgeoning W. 25th street. He was clocked by a patrolling officer for traveling at 45 miles-per-hour in a 25 mile-per-hour zone, doing so without assuring proper clearance with regard to other vehicles around him.
FACT: On Sunday, July 31, 2011, the author of this piece was cited for traveling 45 miles-per-hour in what was a 25 mile-per-hour portion of Lakewood, Ohio. He was running a bit late for what was a charity sand volleyball tournament. The result was a payment of roughly $125. His team finished third in the tournament.
FACT: On May 28, 2013, a Tuesday, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Greg Little was cited for parking illegally on Cleveland’s Prospect Avenue near the relatively new apartments that house many of the city’s in-season athletes. In addition to his parking faux pas, Mr. Little was cited for having dealer plates on his automobile, ultimately urged by the city to get this issue rectified:
FACT: Roughly two or three times per weekday, the author of this piece witnesses local traffic authorities writing parking violations for cars that litter Cleveland’s Euclid Avenue and its adjacent streets. These spots are either monitored by meters or are limited by time spent.
FACT: On August 13, 2013, a Tuesday, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was stopped for traveling 98 miles-per-hour southbound on Interstate 71 near the W. 150th exit, just north of the I-480 split. This case is still open.
FACT: As of May, 2013, it was reported that the average number of speeding tickets issued per day, nationally, is 112,000. Roughly 21 percent of all drivers will receive a speeding ticket in a given year. The top state in terms of driving citations: Ohio.
FACT: On August 19, 2013, a Monday, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Greg Little was cited for traveling 81 miles-per-hour in a Cuyahoga County portion of Interstate 71, just north of the Ohio Turnpike. This point on Interstate 71 is roughly five miles north of where the freeway becomes a 65 mile-per hour zone. This case is still open and the player is due in court on September 4, 2013.
FACT: The author of this piece frequently travels well north of the posted 60 miles-per-hour speed limit on the Cuyahoga County portion of Interstate 71, commuting along this stretch multiple times per day. More often than not, the author of this piece, despite the excessive risk-taking in his travels, is passed by other highway inhabitants who are traveling that much faster, often in excess of 80 miles per hour.
FACT: On August 22, 2013, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Greg Little addressed the media in Berea, stating that he has spoken to his head coach Rob Chudzinski. Little said that in his most recent event, he was going with the flow of traffic, “perhaps a bit faster.” He says that he is aware of his transgressions and that “regardless of how many good things he has done, it only takes one bad one.”
FACT: The author of this piece just wasted the last hour of his day digging up mere traffic violations of two individuals who are being chastised by some for doing the same thing that countless others do every day.
While WFNY does not condone the breaking of clearly stated laws, it also does not condone pontificating and bloviating with regard to two wide receivers in the middle of the preseason, serving as in attempt to conflate behind-the-wheel tendencies with other erratic on- or 0ff-field behavior. There is a level of inherant risk-taking involved in being willing to run full speed on a crossing route into the arms, and helmet, of a ready-and-waiting linebacker. Little’s accident was obviously not safe; Gordon’s speeding is frowned upon. But let’s not act surprised when these same individuals, who live in every state, are willing to travel in excess of the speed limit—the same behavior that can effectively be linked to non-NFL players across the country.
43 Comments
Littering and….? Littering and…?
FACT: 127 mph isn’t your run-of-the-mill speeding violation. It’s inexcusable recklessness.
FACT: Blowing off a court appearance isn’t a small thing. It shows a complete disrespect for the law.
Yeah….these are what we call “opinions.”
I’m not sure exactly meow I feel about this, but I’m thinking about it right meow. Alright meow, where were we?
Yes, those are, but those are incidents that aren’t quite as common among most commuters/drivers. 127 or 98 are not numbers I ever/typically hit (and I drive reasonably fast). Also, while they didn’t pursue it, drag racing is not all that common, either.
If they each had a number of speeding incidents like 40 in a 25, or 80+ in a 65, it would be easy to wave off and say ‘come on, they are no different than other people, they just got unlucky more (perhaps because of the cars they drive)’. But going 98 or 127 or drag racing? A little bit harder to wave away.
It may be indicative of reckless behavior, but anyone table-pounding for the two to be reprimanded by the team/league should be embarrassed.
FACT: Representatives from various NE Ohio law enforcement divisions are waiting at your front door, and would like to have a talk with you, Scott.
I’m frankly more concerned that our #1 and #2 receivers don’t have the field and situational awareness to avoid cops whilst speeding. How are they going to avoid Safeties, both Strong and Free?
Got. To. Have. Your. Head. On. A. Swivel.
Must needs get these youngsters into the Garry Owen Driving School.
Okay, Bernie. Now apologize.
“Opinions”???? Seriously????
Whatever.
CONCLUSION: the author justifies classically reckless athlete behavior with the old “if goin’ 127 is a crime, well, lock me up.”
Nah, I get it. The question is whether it’s newsworthy. But don’t cry for the poor jocks. This is a small price for public fawning. If the crime isn’t a biggie, then neither is the publicity. If you like people watching you, expect people are watching you. It’s not that hard.
Scott needs to go to your school. If it has a section called “peace officer interactions.” Because I suspect he’s this close to rattling off the Browns’ players driving speeds as soon as he’s asked for license and registration.
That’s a 300 level course, but we do offer it.
I keep thinking that pic is Freddie Mercury, in a Village People get up. That can’t be right.
Sorry about that, Craig. These WR get that syrup in ’em, they get all antsy in their pantsy.
OBSERVATION 1: Seeing as how Messrs Little and Gordon don’t care that they get caught and fined for speeding and/or reckless operation of a motor vehicle, they likely do not care about the publicity, either.
OBSERVATION 2: We’re silly for caring ourselves – either way.
A fact which hundreds of people do everyday and those who have money and access to lawyers get away with everyday. Step down off that high horse for just a second why don’t you.
Just a minor infraction…meow. It will all blow over….meow. Cleveland fans being meow about Cleveland athletes….meow.
The fact that you don’t know who that is saddens me.
Scuse me, Craig. Was that a yeah sure? or yes sir?
note: Travis Benjamin isn’t mentioned being cited above. and, we know he has speed.
you have some homework to do tonight Harv. It will be worth your time meow
Say “Car Ramrod”!
ok, got it now. Holy crap, this was one place where people did not talk to me like my kids.
Yeah, you’re right, woj. Okay, I’m stepping down off the horse.
So Little drove 127 mph. What’s the big deal? It’s not like he had an accident or anything, right?
And Gordon ignored an order to appear in court. So what? Everybody does that. Besides, it’s not like he’s ever been in trouble with the law before or anything.
I’m sure these were just two isolated incidents that have no bearing on their character and there’s really no need for them to change their behavior at all.
Thanks for setting me straight.
That’s all I could think about. I was going to make a comment like “at least it’s speeding, and not SMOKING THE REEFER” but I knew I wouldn’t be the first
I’m sorry Chud, when these receivers get that syrup in them, they get all antsy in their pantsy
Damn I thought I was going to be the only one to think of that!
I’ve got to assume these guys are messing with you…
Headline from Cleveland.com
“Browns’ Greg Little, Josh Gordon reprimanded by Chud for speeding”
Yeah, that high-horse Chud should be embarrassed.
Nope. They’re serious.
Stealing my stolen line? See my shenanigans are cheeky and fun. Your shenanigans are cruel and tragic.
I want a liter of cola
Evil Shenanigans!
Nope its not an opinion, according to the states dmv website, speeding infractions of 30 plus mph are treated differently than those less. 127 mph is 2x’s the excess speed. 30 miles or more is legally defined as a 4 point violation, as opposed to a 2 point violation. Thus it is in fact a FACT that 72 mph over is not a run-of the mill violation, since – you know – it has a special category in the Ohio Revised code
Blowing off court dates results in a contempt of court charge, which is the courts way of saying “you have disrespected me”. Chad Johnson recently blew off court dates and mocked the court and he was charged with contempt – or disrespect – of the law. This is a FACT, not an opinion. With all your moxie, why don’t you prove me wrong and simply not show up for your next speeding ticket court date?
Some more food for thought. When talking about traffic please don’t use compass directions to describe how fast you are driving. Travelling “well north of the posted speed limit” sounds confusing when talking about travelling on a highway that also runs north/south.
Also there are no highway inhabitants – vehicularly speaking – everyone is going somewhere, you can’t inhabit a thing that’s only purpose is to move you from one place to another. If you are going to write a smug/smarmy piece, and comment accordingly, deriding those you disagree with, you’d better spend another semester in journalism 100.
Mostly you just come off sounding like as big a douche as the people you are critiquing.
In my opinion, the 2 things that make this a story are the single excessive speed story 127 in a 55, and Little’s not showing up for a court date. Regardless of your opinion, neither of these things are things that average Americans do every day. Add in Little’s history at NC with parking tickets, and Gordon’s tight rope walking just to not get kicked out of the league and you have something that needs to be addressed.
To summarize, this piece sounds like it was written by a complete turd, who reacted without thinking.
I didn’t know either. In my world Sherriff Buford T. Justice is the only figure that should grace such an article. These kids today.
“On the radio you sounded… taller”.
“pontificating and bloviating”
What??
I’m gonna pistol whip the next person that says Shenanigans
There you are. Where in Hell, Michigan have you been?
We had formed a search party, but they got lost. The search party that went out to find the search party ended up in Vegas and we had to bail them out of jail.
I didn’t steal it, as you can tell by my somewhat confessional on your post… Although there should be a rule about posting “YOU MUST READ EVERY SINGLE POST BEFORE POSTING SO TO NOT INADVERTENTLY STEAL SOMEONE’S INTELLECTUAL AWESOMENESS”
INEXCUSABLE!!!!! /hand-wank /fart noise
I see you are still on your high horse. Maybe if the Browns had men of such high morals they would have a championship by now.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Driving at 127 mph anywhere in Cleveland is public endangerment. Drivers who go that fast lose their ability to properly react to other drivers, objects, or road conditions. It’s comparable to driving intoxicated.
Perhaps it’s not major news, but it sure as hell shouldn’t be defended or brushed aside as harmless, common behavior.