Freddy's Letters: Long and Sanctimonious

by riversmccown on Oct 3, 2011 9:19 PM CDT in Freddy's Letters

Freddy had quite a few topics to talk about this weekend. The unbridled joy of the Houston Texans beating a team that has been in the NFL's "in" club for most of the last decade. The sheer terror of watching Andre Johnson go to the ground as if he had been shot. The cruelty that comes with watching referees take every great play of the game away from your team at some point.

But no, instead he has to write about the community.

This has been one of the best communities on SB Nation for quite some time. What we saw this week was ... a disaster. An abomination. Steelers fans were very proud of their one fanpost despite how terribly unfunny and dumb it was. We rightfully gave them the business for it, then seemed to turn around and adopt that same spirit. The personal attacks were all over the place. The number of subjects that probably shouldn't be breached on a sports blog rose quickly, and most tellingly, Ben Roethlisberger's past foibles led to a lot of this letter.

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That's why I don't like to post in the threads for "ask fans of team X".

Just reading through the comments in those two threads last week was sad.

BTW picture won’t load for me.

Prediction: 11-5 AFC South champions.

by Ethan Matz on Oct 3, 2011 9:25 PM CDT reply actions

As someone who's done the "Ask fans of Team X" before (successfully)

It’s just like all fanposts, shots, etc. It has the potential to be abused, but one of the best things about blogs is that they are generally self-policed. I understand the sentiment of never posting in it, but it’s more on the people than the concept, which in and of itself is fundamentally sound. It’s just that the execution is flawed and bias is always existent.

But those comments were terrible. Completely agree. We’re better than that. All of us are.

How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Was too far to huck a beer at a Stro’s player as per bone’s request. Jess (girlfriend) said I was too far, I said challenge accepted, a security guard said guess again.-BD34

by ak2themax on Oct 3, 2011 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks, rivers.

This was much-needed. Several pleas for restraint went unnoticed during this week’s festivities. Hopefully, the wisdom of a child will get through to people.

by Nashmeister on Oct 3, 2011 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

Hear, hear.

The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.

by Stupendous Man on Oct 3, 2011 9:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I tried to make peace.

and I will say i have been guilty of the pointing out Ben’s mishap and I apologize.

"Taco Joe - the beacon of optimism" TexansDC
THEREALALLENOU: "@Joeeatstacos... You're like the second testicle to my Tom green. I dont NEED you, but life is better when your around lol"
AllenOU is the Montgomery to my Patton
God blessed Texas, but he has forsaken the Texans

by Taco Joe on Oct 3, 2011 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah me too

making fun of Ben was one thing, but the actual act is a horrible evil.

Good checkpoint Rivers, thanks man

by MeMongo on Oct 3, 2011 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions

by the way

a lot of the things that get directed toward Ben come from the inner hero from many who oppose what he has (allegedly) done, and like to see the bad guy punished in the end for his deeds. Still not a great platform for football humor given the seriousness of the subject.

by MeMongo on Oct 3, 2011 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Echoed

I’ve got a post discussing this, as well as some other issues, scheduled to publish at 5 a.m. CDT tomorrow.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Oct 3, 2011 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

<3 Rivers and Freddy

Capt. Nately: You're a shameful opportunist! What you don't understand is that it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.

Old man in whorehouse: You have it backwards. It's better to live on your feet than to die on your knees. I know.

-Catch 22-

by Jordann on Oct 3, 2011 9:41 PM CDT reply actions

I luv Freddy

Ben is what he is. I did not read any of the discussion that prompted this response. Don’t matter. This is typically hilarious Freddy stuff. Rivers, please keep Freddy a regular presence at BRB. I laughed so hard at the Ben-Mario pics that I almost made my pants the same color as Ben’s.

It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are OVERDUE to get to the playoffs, much less the big big dance...Go Texans!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on Oct 3, 2011 10:14 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I like this Freddy comment very much.

Freddy is wise for his years.

"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."

Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake

by Xiane on Oct 3, 2011 10:19 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Its too bad that so much controversy sparks between fellow SB Nation blogs.

It would be nice if we could all get along, but such is the nature of sports. Either way, I’m glad that we, as a community, are supporters of each other, our team, and our city first and foremost.

by brightshinies on Oct 3, 2011 10:27 PM CDT reply actions

with some we get along great, like Colts fans

by MeMongo on Oct 3, 2011 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Which you wouldn't expect

by ak2themax on Oct 3, 2011 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions

This is true.

And Saints fans were classy, agreeable, and fun as well (as far as I saw).

by brightshinies on Oct 4, 2011 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Saints fans

were terrific.

The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter

by MDC on Oct 4, 2011 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions

This

Blind fandom is all I got left.
"Down to clown with some other chick's lady bits" ~ MDC

by Lone Spot on Oct 4, 2011 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

They also make great desserts.

The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter

by MDC on Oct 5, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

This was awesome Rivers

This is the best Freddy letter so far. As Xiane said, this kid is truly wise and we can all learn from him.

by ak2themax on Oct 3, 2011 10:56 PM CDT reply actions

Would someone be kind to an old man

And print out the captions in the pictures in this post? They’re too small for me to read, and they become illegible when I enlarge the picture.

Thanks.

by LedTexan on Oct 3, 2011 11:43 PM CDT reply actions

They were difficult to decipher, but here's what I got out of it. I could very well be wrong.

First picture:

Mario: If your pants were white, then now be yellow, peon.

Second picture:

Ben: Draw me like one of your French Girls.

Third picture:

Mario: LOL RAPE!!!!!!
Ben: LOL IRONY!!!!!
(ALLEDGEDLY)

GET A SILK BAG FROM THE GRAVEYARD DUCK TO LIVE LONGER.

by Synchysi on Oct 4, 2011 1:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

Appreciate the help.

by LedTexan on Oct 4, 2011 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions

i've always believed that

sports + emotions + knowledge of words = egregious hyperbole, unfortunately with Ben’s previous problems there was easy fodder for jokes and alot of us didn’t take the high road and got carried away. I didn’t because I don’t comment much, but i did here…..

by TiEaB on Oct 3, 2011 11:47 PM CDT reply actions

I hate Ben Roethlisberger. I do, and I don't see that changing any time soon, if ever.

But I also know that I’ve made some of those jokes that Freddie is talking about. I’m not proud of myself for it. Matter of fact, I’m downright ashamed of letting my baser emotions get the better of me.

Rape isn’t funny, period, and it’s just not worth the attempt at the cheap laugh for me anymore.

To anyone who has had this happen to them, or knows anyone that has had this happen to them, I apologize, truly, and you will not hear any more jokes about the subject from me; no matter how much I hate Roethlisberger and wish he’d get eaten by a pack of starving coyotes.

Despite my better judgment, a manager at Battle Red Blog.

Supreme Galactic Editor of Battle Red Onion.

I am a visionary, I am a genius, and now I am angry! Now where are those pants at?!

Football is war by other means. - Carl von Clausewitz...sorta.

by UprootedTexan on Oct 4, 2011 12:05 AM CDT reply actions

wow so now you just gonna punish the coyotes?

- Feeling the five stages of grief since 2002.

"It's either gonna make you a man or a coward. One of the two. I'm a be a man. I ain't never seen a coward, heard a coward, coward not in ma vocabulary." - Lawrence Vickers

by NoSafetiesNeeded on Oct 4, 2011 6:53 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs