[Leftcoast]

For most long time Stanford fans our feelings aren't about loving or hating Richard Sherman based upon one instance. We have context that most fans do not.

Personally, I've found him amusing in the past and I'm sure I will do so in the future.  Usually he is fresh air in the NFL's stale self importance.  His New Orleans "interviews " where he grabbed a mic and asked fans on the street what they thought of Richard Sherman were YouTube gold.  He told Skip Bayless what we all wish we could tell him.  He plays with passion and joy that translates to fans watching closely.  So sure, most Stanford fans have the context to keep his poor sportsmanship and taunting in context with the rest of the man.

But we aren 't casual fans.  To the rest of the world Sherman went over the top on Sunday and it was damaging to his reputation on one of the NFL's biggest stages.  In their minds Sherman = Thug and that will be hard to change .  I hope those close to him are telling him the truth - he stepped over a line on Sunday.

From an individual perspective my fandom isn't of the "My country right or wrong" flavor.  I can like Richard Sherman and still think he was an ass on Sunday.  And I do.

[Leftcoast]

For most long time Stanford fans our feelings aren't about loving or hating Richard Sherman based upon one instance. We have context that most fans do not.

Personally, I've found him amusing in the past and I'm sure I will do so in the future.  Usually he is fresh air in the NFL's stale self importance.  His New Orleans "interviews " where he grabbed a mic and asked fans on the street what they thought of Richard Sherman were YouTube gold.  He told Skip Bayless what we all wish we could tell him.  He plays with passion and joy that translates to fans watching closely.  So sure, most Stanford fans have the context to keep his poor sportsmanship and taunting in context with the rest of the man.

But we aren 't casual fans.  To the rest of the world Sherman went over the top on Sunday and it was damaging to his reputation on one of the NFL's biggest stages.  In their minds Sherman = Thug and that will be hard to change .  I hope those close to him are telling him the truth - he stepped over a line on Sunday.

From an individual perspective my fandom isn't of the "My country right or wrong" flavor.  I can like Richard Sherman and still think he was an ass on Sunday.  And I do.