Hindsight on Herschel
Posted 10:16 p.m., April 14, 2008
COLA -- It's obviously sad what former UGA great Herschel Walker has dealt with for years, a personality disorder.
Couldn't help but think today, as this news trickles out, about the comments Walker had this past fall toward Steve Spurrier. Maybe they make a little more sense now. Or, at least we understand what extenuating reasons might've caused Walker to call out the BC.
Remember when Spurrier was asked about Georgia's players running on the field to celebrate against Florida, and he said, if it were his team, he would send some scrub reserves in the game to instigate a fight? That way, he reasoned, some of the UGA players -- starters -- would have to sit out future games.
Walker heard that -- and didn't like it.
"So my question I say to him is, if he’s got that much guts, why don’t he step in a ring against me?" Walker said in an interview with the AJC. "You don’t say something that silly, because you’re going to get somebody hurt. Georgia was punished, because that's a penalty. They didn't go out to hurt anyone. [Spurrier] talks about hurting somebody. How much guts do you have? Step in a ring with me, and then we’ll see.”
Spurrier, of course, dismissed the comments.
I honestly wondered about Walker's mental state when I read his charge at Spurrier. Now, I feel like I've got answers.
I can't help but be a little skeptical, too, about Walker's admission. Not the news itself, but the timing.
It bugs me big-time when athletes/coaches/etc. come forward with such things to plug their forthcoming book, which is the case with Walker. Might be an interesting read, but, still, I don't like shameless acts of self-promotion. And this smells of one.
-- Th
Comments
Posted by JohnShaferUGA on April 15 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shameless act of self-promotion is a stretch. It is without doubt self-promotion, after all what autobiographies are selfish in nature and who in their right mind would not promote a book that is about to be released. But to call it shameless is basically saying that he should not discuss a very big chapter in his life and not discuss his very serious affliction.
I believe Walker's mental state has nothing to do with the comment he made in response to Spurrier's idiotic comment about sending scrub reserves to instigate a fight. Think if he actually did send scrubs in to instigate a fight. What message does that send to the players? Thanks for practicing all spring and fall. Thanks for choosing my school above all other big schools recruiting you. I am not going to allow you to play. But, in the event that I want to rough some people up, you are my guy.
USC has always been classy. I have always respected the program and the fan-base. It remains high-class everywhere except at the head coach position.
Posted by JohnShaferUGA on April 15 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Second sentence...meant to say what autobiographies are not selfish in nature...
Posted by thaney ( Travis Haney ) on April 15 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
John, it's a good point you make. Shameless is a poor word choice.
I'm sure, on some level(s), it's difficult for Herschel to come forward about his mental issues. And, you're right, he'd be foolish not to try to plug the book however he can.
I guess I just get worn down by the "shock value" of forthcoming books. It seems like every week, someone's got a "shocking revelation" about themselves are someone else in the public eye. At times, it's pure cowardice. Jose Canseco immediately comes to mind, although his previous allegations have proven to be more true than false.
I'm just not a fan of promoting yourself, when it boils down to it. But I guess that's what makes money and sells books, huh?
While the messages in some autobios might be helpful to some, the primary reason they're written and sold is to make money, which is selfish. So, I'm going to have to disagree and say they are all selfish in nature, but maybe not necessarily 100 percent so.
-- Th
PS -- I thought Spurrier's comments were silly and elementary myself. I think he did, too, and that's why he quickly came back and said he was joking. But, me guessing based on how much I've heard him, I think this was Spurrier being Spurrier, shooting from the hip. I think he regretted it soon after. I don't know a single college football coach that would condone fighting, Spurrier included. Especially at a school that famously was in a fight within the past decade.
It does make you wonder, though ... if Spurrier were on the UF sideline at the time ... would his shoot-from-the-hip reaction have been to send scrubs in to fight?? Hm.
Clearly, though, what Walker said transcended Spurrier's childishness. I still wonder if his disease led to him making such odd-ball remarks. Picking a fight with a 65-year-old man? Heisman v. Heisman? C'mon.
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