"Go Cards" emblazoned on McNabbs AZ lawn...

[Arizona's Finest]

LOL - I think Silver takes this a tad too far. The racial overtones he suggests are wildly irresponsible and had nothing to do with this "crime" IMO. This is just kids being kids. Or Cheese/Donald being cheese/Donald (at least his puppy was safe

Pretty funny though.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...slug=ms-morningrush011909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

What was going through the mind of the misguided juveniles who used gasoline to desecrate the front lawn of the house in Chandler, Ariz., where McNabb and his wife, Roxie, live with their children over the offseason. According to a friend of Mrs. McNabb’s, “Go Cards” and other similar messages were burned into the front lawn one night last week. This had to be especially scary to the couple’s four-year-old daughter, Alexis, who was staying in the house with Roxie and the couple’s six-week-old twins. Apparently one of the culprits was identified after leaving a box at the scene with a mailing label affixed bearing his name and address, so we’re obviously not talking about criminal masterminds here. But it’s tough to imagine that anyone over the age of eight doesn’t understand that burning something on the lawn of a house occupied by African-Americans carries deeper social overtones that are highly disturbing. I’m told Donovan took a photo of the damaged lawn and used it as a motivating force for Sunday’s game. I hope it’s the last time he or any other professional athlete ever has that opportunity.

 

[BCEagle]

Juvenile, stupid, yes ... but not so funny if you are an African-American.

 

[Mulli]

Burning something on someone's lawn is just something you do not do. Ever.

 

[Gambit]

Juvenile, stupid, yes ... but not so funny if you are an African-American.

Not funny if you're any race. It's not like it was a burning cross. Someone of any color would have the right to be POed.

 

[justAndy]

If they had burned a message like "Get out, (N bomb)" it would be a racial incident.
It's a sports fan incident - yes, the perpetrator should be cited for vandalism and have to make restitution, but there is no hate crime here.

 

[RedViper]

I think the racial aspect overstates the case, but as far as kids being kids, thats only true if its okay for kids to be criminals. You keep excusing that stuff, eventually they become like Andy Reid's kids. You fail to teach your kids to respect other people, respect their property, all the time, no matter what, you end up with dirtbags. Also it really sucks to let fandom degenerate into criminal acts.

McNabb's lived in the Valley for years, has always been a cool guy, and an assett to our community. It would be really gross if suddenly he no longer felt welcome here.

 

[Mulli]

This had to be especially scary to the couple’s four-year-old daughter, Alexis, who was staying in the house with Roxie and the couple’s six-week-old twins

Seriously. Babies. How stupid and uncaring can you be over a football game?

 

[Team G]

Not cool! AZ sports fans have a history of being classy so let's not start this crap now.
In contrast, did the eagles fans do anything to his house in Philly after losing the game? (Remember Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams after losing the world series?)

 

[Mulli]

I think the racial aspect overstates the case, but as far as kids being kids, thats only true if its okay for kids to be criminals. You keep excusing that stuff, eventually they become like Andy Reid's kids. And it really sucks to let fandom degenerate into criminal acts.

McNabb's lived in the Valley for years, has always been a cool guy, and an assett to our community. It would be really gross if suddenly he no longer felt welcome here.

Yep.

 

[Spielman]

If they had burned a message like "Get out, (N bomb)" it would be a racial incident.
It's a sports fan incident - yes, the perpetrator should be cited for vandalism and have to make restitution, but there is no hate crime here.

No, it's not a hate crime, it's just an idiot. But I'd find it a lot scarier were I an African-American, regardless of the intent.

 

[justAndy]

But I'd find it a lot scarier were I an African-American, regardless of the intent.

I'll concede that.
I guess only black juvenile delinquents should pull that prank on a black athelete?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Seriously. Babies. How stupid and uncaring can you be over a football game?

C'mon now... I know the depths of human stupidity does not surprise you!

 

[Mulli]

C'mon now... I know the depths of human stupidity does not surprise you!

True enough. Not at all.

 

[Mulli]

I'll concede that.
I guess only black juvenile delinquents should pull that prank on a black athelete?

How about we just cross off burning anything other than a bag of poop off the list of "pranks?"

 

[TucsonDevil]

Can I get a clarification here? Did they light the gasoline on fire? You can "burn" lawn by simply pouring gasoline on it... and it kills the lawn directly underneath it. This is how some football fields lines were drawn in the past (at school yards and such).

If they didn't 'light it on fire', I don't see the racial overtones.

Just the same... just leave a sign on his fence, don't kill the grass or landscaping. Not cool.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Stupid and potentially catostrophic but not racially motivated.

I am unsure why it would be scarier to an african american then to anyone else. I think we need to get over holding those of different races to different standards - today especially. Anything burning in anyones front lawn is a scary thing.

It's not like it was a cross burning. THAT would have been racially motivated and over the line.

 

[D-Dogg]

Yeah, usually gasoline isn't needed for a "prank"

 

[Mulli]

Can I get a clarification here? Did they light the gasoline on fire? You can "burn" lawn by simply pouring gasoline on it... and it kills the lawn directly underneath it. This is how some football fields lines were drawn in the past (at school yards and such).

If they didn't 'light it on fire', I don't see the racial overtones.

Just the same... just leave a sign on his fence, don't kill the grass or landscaping. Not cool.

Good point.

Bag of poop is still funnier.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

LOL - I think Silver takes this a tad too far. The racial overtones he suggests are wildly irresponsible and had nothing to do with this "crime" IMO. This is just kids being kids. Or Cheese/Donald being cheese/Donald (at least his puppy was safe

[/I]

I agree! Adding the suggestion of Race being a factor is pretty weak. On the other board everyone is just freakin out about how horrible this is. I laughed when I first read it. I think it was pretty stupid to light it on fire, the gas would have done a fine job of killing the grass and left a great readable message for along time.

 

[conraddobler]

It's not racial IMO at all it's just people being stupid.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

How about we just cross off burning anything other than a bag of poop off the list of "pranks?"

Thats the thing, the kids or whoever it was that did this are idiots, I agree! But growing up all the kids did stupid pranks that now would piss me off if kids did them to me. We TP'd houses all the time, heck most parents condoned it. And of course the classic poop in a paper bag.

 

[abomb]

Stupid. It's just a game Focker.

 

[Mulli]

Thats the thing, the kids or whoever it was that did this are idiots, I agree! But growing up all the kids did stupid pranks that now would piss me off if kids did them to me. We TP'd houses all the time, heck most parents condoned it. And of course the classic poop in a paper bag.

Oh yeah, I will plead the fifth on my teenage years.
Lighting the gasoline makes the difference to me, however.

 

[Perfectionist]

Would love to meet the parents, wonder if they are as classless as their kids?

 

[DieHardCardFan]

Lighting the gasoline makes the difference to me, however.

Agreed! Lighting it is where it became dangerous! But not racial.....