[FarmBoy]

Sherman didn't damage his persona "brand" too much with his interview: http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2013/sto...ng-jerseys

Sherman breaks the top 10 [NFL Jersey Sales] for the first time. He is the only defensive player in the top 10.

This list is for total Jersey sales since April 1, 2013, so to move into the top 10 for the season, just days after the "incident" shows how many fans he made. I'm sure he made some "enemies" as well, but those folks are fans of other teams who wouldn't be buying what Sherman is selling anyway. Perhaps he's hurt his ability to become a name brand spokesman for products with broad appeal (e.g., Subway sandwiches), but he's probably strengthened is value amongst his niche fan base.

It's kind of amazing the Seahawks have 3 of the top-10 jersey sellers in the league, considering they're not exactly a big market.

[FarmBoy]

Sherman didn't damage his persona "brand" too much with his interview: http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2013/sto...ng-jerseys

Sherman breaks the top 10 [NFL Jersey Sales] for the first time. He is the only defensive player in the top 10.

This list is for total Jersey sales since April 1, 2013, so to move into the top 10 for the season, just days after the "incident" shows how many fans he made. I'm sure he made some "enemies" as well, but those folks are fans of other teams who wouldn't be buying what Sherman is selling anyway. Perhaps he's hurt his ability to become a name brand spokesman for products with broad appeal (e.g., Subway sandwiches), but he's probably strengthened is value amongst his niche fan base.

It's kind of amazing the Seahawks have 3 of the top-10 jersey sellers in the league, considering they're not exactly a big market.

[Cardinal96]

I think this is much ado about nothing.  When I first saw the interview, I agreed Sherman could have been a better sport.  But he was interviewed RIGHT after making the biggest play of his career which sent his team to the Super Bowl.  I am willing to forgive some competitive juices in that scenario.  And an ESPN reporter made a good comment.  He noted that most athletes their public persona is much better than what they are actually like in person.  The opposite is the case with Sherman.

[Cardinal96]

I think this is much ado about nothing.  When I first saw the interview, I agreed Sherman could have been a better sport.  But he was interviewed RIGHT after making the biggest play of his career which sent his team to the Super Bowl.  I am willing to forgive some competitive juices in that scenario.  And an ESPN reporter made a good comment.  He noted that most athletes their public persona is much better than what they are actually like in person.  The opposite is the case with Sherman.

[CornFed]

CNN's Piers Morgan likes Sherman.  Had a cross-promo w another CNN show that will have Sherman on Friday.  But there was a preview shown and Piers jumped in wholeheartedly on Richard's side.

Don't want to start an entirely new vein of this thread (but, after all, I'm learning that tangents are part of the life blood of The CardBoard), but the fact that Piers Morgan sides with Sherman on this mitigates the persuasive efforts of those who are trying to help us understand RS more completely.  Does anyone have insight into how Nancy Grace comes down on this?

[CornFed]

CNN's Piers Morgan likes Sherman.  Had a cross-promo w another CNN show that will have Sherman on Friday.  But there was a preview shown and Piers jumped in wholeheartedly on Richard's side.

Don't want to start an entirely new vein of this thread (but, after all, I'm learning that tangents are part of the life blood of The CardBoard), but the fact that Piers Morgan sides with Sherman on this mitigates the persuasive efforts of those who are trying to help us understand RS more completely.  Does anyone have insight into how Nancy Grace comes down on this?

[Kathy]

Sports Illustrated enjoyed its highest website traffic day ever on Jan. 20, thanks to Richard Sherman:

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/sp...mn_b200359

[Kathy]

Sports Illustrated enjoyed its highest website traffic day ever on Jan. 20, thanks to Richard Sherman:

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/sp...mn_b200359

[FarmBoy]

Sports Illustrated enjoyed its highest website traffic day ever on Jan. 20, thanks to Richard Sherman:

For such a poor communicator, apparently he's well-read...  ::)

[FarmBoy]

Sports Illustrated enjoyed its highest website traffic day ever on Jan. 20, thanks to Richard Sherman:

For such a poor communicator, apparently he's well-read...  ::)

[PrinceLightfoot]

I certainly get what you're saying, and if the title was Richard Sherman = evil person, or Richard Sherman = worse than the lowest of the low murdering/drunk driving NFL scum, I would agree with you wholeheartedly.

But my point is that Sherman's outburst seems to be symptomatic of a character flaw of his. This isn't a lone incident. Sherman is (probably, I doubt many people on this board have truly had enough personal interaction with him to know) a good guy who did a bad thing, and has done similar bad things often.

And I don't think discussing that is ugly, or racist, or out of bounds.

Please, do not misunderstand my point. The title itself summarily passes judgment before discussion and opposing views were even heard - had the title said "Richard Sherman's Interview" followed immediately by a post why one would consider it classless within the spectrum of our everyday society, then I wouldn't have had such a passionate response. Thank you, CJ90, for understanding so well.

Many here have noted this pattern of "classlessness" without noting the context of that event. If you have ever been an athlete competing at a high level, you assume a character much like a musician assumes a character before taking the stage or an actor taking a scene. Do you dislike the actor because he is the antagonist in a movie (or for that matter the protagonist if you are a Seahawk fan)? During one of my high school  football games in Texas, I remember telling a chippy nose tackle that I was going to "Take his mother out to dinner, eat her dinner, then have her for dessert!" during a flag discussion by the refs. Anyone who knows me personally knows that is not me in everyday society. I am not direct or confrontational; easy-going but passionate would probably be the description. I was also a performing musician and a singer - while on stage I had to be outgoing and entertaining and sometimes fake to accommodate those who hired me for a performance! (I loved music but did not always feel like snapping to my feet to perform for others...that made it feel more like work than joy especially when asked to play the same song five times a day every weekend). My point is that he assumes that character during games or during personal attacks on him which he has never initiated.

This explanation may provide insight, but to others it may just sound like an excuse. In the context of everyday society, I did not like what was said. In the context of heavy competition, saying something like "No one is better than me. NOBODY!" is expected and understandable. He will learn to turn off that switch as he matures. Beyond that, it would be best to take a moment and learn more concerning Sherman instead of just sampling what is shoved to the forefront of the media as they feast on the ratings on what everyday society considers outlandish.

[PrinceLightfoot]

I certainly get what you're saying, and if the title was Richard Sherman = evil person, or Richard Sherman = worse than the lowest of the low murdering/drunk driving NFL scum, I would agree with you wholeheartedly.

But my point is that Sherman's outburst seems to be symptomatic of a character flaw of his. This isn't a lone incident. Sherman is (probably, I doubt many people on this board have truly had enough personal interaction with him to know) a good guy who did a bad thing, and has done similar bad things often.

And I don't think discussing that is ugly, or racist, or out of bounds.

Please, do not misunderstand my point. The title itself summarily passes judgment before discussion and opposing views were even heard - had the title said "Richard Sherman's Interview" followed immediately by a post why one would consider it classless within the spectrum of our everyday society, then I wouldn't have had such a passionate response. Thank you, CJ90, for understanding so well.

Many here have noted this pattern of "classlessness" without noting the context of that event. If you have ever been an athlete competing at a high level, you assume a character much like a musician assumes a character before taking the stage or an actor taking a scene. Do you dislike the actor because he is the antagonist in a movie (or for that matter the protagonist if you are a Seahawk fan)? During one of my high school  football games in Texas, I remember telling a chippy nose tackle that I was going to "Take his mother out to dinner, eat her dinner, then have her for dessert!" during a flag discussion by the refs. Anyone who knows me personally knows that is not me in everyday society. I am not direct or confrontational; easy-going but passionate would probably be the description. I was also a performing musician and a singer - while on stage I had to be outgoing and entertaining and sometimes fake to accommodate those who hired me for a performance! (I loved music but did not always feel like snapping to my feet to perform for others...that made it feel more like work than joy especially when asked to play the same song five times a day every weekend). My point is that he assumes that character during games or during personal attacks on him which he has never initiated.

This explanation may provide insight, but to others it may just sound like an excuse. In the context of everyday society, I did not like what was said. In the context of heavy competition, saying something like "No one is better than me. NOBODY!" is expected and understandable. He will learn to turn off that switch as he matures. Beyond that, it would be best to take a moment and learn more concerning Sherman instead of just sampling what is shoved to the forefront of the media as they feast on the ratings on what everyday society considers outlandish.

[Mick]

Sherman is a wannabe greatest corner-back, and god bless him for wanting to be so and trying so hard to convince all of us that he is so.  Maybe he will be the Gonzales of all time, or maybe just the McEnroe of his time.  Regardless, either would be a great achievement.

Sherman intercepted 13.8% of the passes thrown his way this season (8 of 58).  Next best was Logan Ryan of New England at 9.4%,third on the list is Brandon Boykin of Philly at 6.7%.  He allowed a 41.1 QB rating on passes thrown his way in 2012.

[Mick]

Sherman is a wannabe greatest corner-back, and god bless him for wanting to be so and trying so hard to convince all of us that he is so.  Maybe he will be the Gonzales of all time, or maybe just the McEnroe of his time.  Regardless, either would be a great achievement.

Sherman intercepted 13.8% of the passes thrown his way this season (8 of 58).  Next best was Logan Ryan of New England at 9.4%,third on the list is Brandon Boykin of Philly at 6.7%.  He allowed a 41.1 QB rating on passes thrown his way in 2012.

[Oasis]

People seem to be taking obvious hype in a WWF world way too seriously.

[Oasis]

People seem to be taking obvious hype in a WWF world way too seriously.

[BostonCard]

[BostonCard]

[Bruce Wang]

From the feature on Kobe in the March 31st issue of the New Yorker.

We all know Kobe's competitiveness.  He compares it to Richard Sherman.

He felt an overwhelming sense of camaraderie when...he saw the [Sherman] deliver his now infamous rant..."What you saw in [Sherman] was the truth of athletes at the highest, highest, highest level...So when you see Sherman just kind of let it out, that's been inside of him from Day One. This is why he is the best at what he does, because that's how he feels. Now when other people see that, it scares the [sh!t] out of 'em, right? But for people that understand that - like, how I see him, I'm all 'Yeah, oh I think that every day.'...What Sherman represents is something bigger than a kid from Compton that went to Stanford, that's an All-Pro cornerback...That drive to overcome obstacles in your life, it's consistent across the board. It just happens to have the face of a kid from Compton that went to Stanford." I could almost picture the Nike commercial unspooling from his mouth, and wasn't overly surprised to see a picture turn up, two and a half weeks later, on Bryant's Instagram account, showing Bryan with his arm around Sherman. Caption: "On my Nike set with the champ @RSherman_25 #differentanimalSamebeast

I think this is the commercial the article mentions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJn64kkpOSc#t=16

With regards to the comparison between Sherman and Kobe, the only things they have in common seem to be competitiveness, athletic talent, and skin color.  Otherwise they strike me as very very different cats.  Sherman's the far superior role model.  He graduated from not just any college.  He graduated from Stanford.  He hasn't gotten in trouble with the law.  And he has a much better relationship with his parents.

As you can tell, I'm not a Kobe fan.  So I find myself surprised that I'm getting parenting tips from the man.  I will never let Publiette beat me at Chutes & Ladders again.

[Bruce Wang]

From the feature on Kobe in the March 31st issue of the New Yorker.

We all know Kobe's competitiveness.  He compares it to Richard Sherman.

He felt an overwhelming sense of camaraderie when...he saw the [Sherman] deliver his now infamous rant..."What you saw in [Sherman] was the truth of athletes at the highest, highest, highest level...So when you see Sherman just kind of let it out, that's been inside of him from Day One. This is why he is the best at what he does, because that's how he feels. Now when other people see that, it scares the [sh!t] out of 'em, right? But for people that understand that - like, how I see him, I'm all 'Yeah, oh I think that every day.'...What Sherman represents is something bigger than a kid from Compton that went to Stanford, that's an All-Pro cornerback...That drive to overcome obstacles in your life, it's consistent across the board. It just happens to have the face of a kid from Compton that went to Stanford." I could almost picture the Nike commercial unspooling from his mouth, and wasn't overly surprised to see a picture turn up, two and a half weeks later, on Bryant's Instagram account, showing Bryan with his arm around Sherman. Caption: "On my Nike set with the champ @RSherman_25 #differentanimalSamebeast

I think this is the commercial the article mentions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJn64kkpOSc#t=16

With regards to the comparison between Sherman and Kobe, the only things they have in common seem to be competitiveness, athletic talent, and skin color.  Otherwise they strike me as very very different cats.  Sherman's the far superior role model.  He graduated from not just any college.  He graduated from Stanford.  He hasn't gotten in trouble with the law.  And he has a much better relationship with his parents.

As you can tell, I'm not a Kobe fan.  So I find myself surprised that I'm getting parenting tips from the man.  I will never let Publiette beat me at Chutes & Ladders again.

[Mick]

So I find myself surprised that I'm getting parenting tips from the man.  I will never let Publiette beat me at Chutes & Ladders again.

I may be misremembering the exchange, but I seem to recall Miller on Maher's show, and this exchange after the childless Maher had given an extended amount of childrearing advice:

Maher (to Miller) "What's so funny?" or "What are you laughing at?"

Miller: "I think it's funny that the one giving the most advice about raising kids is the guy who doesn't have any."

[Mick]

So I find myself surprised that I'm getting parenting tips from the man.  I will never let Publiette beat me at Chutes & Ladders again.

I may be misremembering the exchange, but I seem to recall Miller on Maher's show, and this exchange after the childless Maher had given an extended amount of childrearing advice:

Maher (to Miller) "What's so funny?" or "What are you laughing at?"

Miller: "I think it's funny that the one giving the most advice about raising kids is the guy who doesn't have any."

[teejers1]

Publius, I think Kobe's observation is on the mark.

As for role models, Kobe was pretty high up there until he had the Colorado Incident . . . which I will forever cynically view as his attempt to gain "street cred."  IIRC, Kobe was never fully embraced by the hardscrabble hoops community because he was raised in upper middle class family and was well educated (n/w/s going directly from HS to the NBA).  Didn't he spend time in Europe (Italy or France) and speak the language fluently?  That didn't help on the street cred front, either.

[teejers1]

Publius, I think Kobe's observation is on the mark.

As for role models, Kobe was pretty high up there until he had the Colorado Incident . . . which I will forever cynically view as his attempt to gain "street cred."  IIRC, Kobe was never fully embraced by the hardscrabble hoops community because he was raised in upper middle class family and was well educated (n/w/s going directly from HS to the NBA).  Didn't he spend time in Europe (Italy or France) and speak the language fluently?  That didn't help on the street cred front, either.

[StannyBoy]

he grew up in Italy for an extended period so he is fluent in Italian. But the CO incident has hardly him trying to gain street cred. He was just being an idiot.

[StannyBoy]

he grew up in Italy for an extended period so he is fluent in Italian. But the CO incident has hardly him trying to gain street cred. He was just being an idiot.

[yvonne]

As for role models, Kobe was pretty high up there until he had the Colorado Incident . . . which I will forever cynically view as his attempt to gain "street cred." 

Well, that's certainly a new name for it.

[yvonne]

As for role models, Kobe was pretty high up there until he had the Colorado Incident . . . which I will forever cynically view as his attempt to gain "street cred." 

Well, that's certainly a new name for it.