Fans: Shut The Hell Up About \’The Samurai\’
By Aaron Nagler on Sep 24, 2009 with 74 Comments
Seriously.
I understand fans get upset when the team is playing poorly and I understand the frustration in watching Nick Barnett miss a key third down tackle. But let's be honest - Barnett was far from the only one to miss a tackle on third down against the Bengals. So he follows that play up by making a tackle and he wants to do the 'Samurai' celebration. So what? Fans have gone near apocalyptic on him. You'd have thought the guy defecated on the "G" on the 50 yard line.
Let me ask you this: When Donald Driver drops a ball or two and then makes a catch for a first down and then does his "shake" - do you boo him? Of course not. Driver is getting himself, his team, and the fans into the game. And the fans love it. There's nothing different in Barnett's case expect for the proximity of the plays involved. The guy plays at a million miles an hour, hits a guy and wants to let out some frustration and try to get his teammates pumped up. Nothing wrong with that at all. In fact, I love it and it got me riled up while watching the game - until I looked online and saw a bunch of 'fans' in our live blog ripping on Nick. Really? I'm sorry, but give me a fucking break.
As for all the business on Twitter after the game, and the follow-up incident with Bill Michaels this week, that's just a side show to the main event: Nick Barnett should celebrate whenever the hell he wants and the fans need to remember that he's not their kid. We're not here to teach him etiquette. Get over yourselves and your high-and-mighty notions of when it is and isn't appropriate for Barnett (or any player) to celebrate.
Filed Under: Nick Barnett
The Packers are one of the teams with the fewest “celebrators” in the league. Who, besides Barnett and Driver do this kind of stuff? The Driver comparison is exactly the same thing.
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Doesn’t it make more sense to “fire up” the defense when we’re losing? I mean, if we’re up by 20, there’s not much to fire up, is there?
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Fans who complain about Barnett are overreacting. Bill Michaels is an over-reactive moron. Barnett overreacted. Frankly, Aaron’s post is probably an overreaction.
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I swear, some of us Packers fans just want a reincarnation of the ’60s…we bitch about guys making too much money. We bitch about celebrations. We want to cut somebody as soon as they want a new contract. I think some of us want no names on the jerseys, no celebrating, iron-fisted management, etc. It ain’t 1962 any more, people. Anybody bitching about Barnett SHOULD get over themselves, and they shouldn’t need somebody else to tell them.
Wait… so you want all players to “act like they’ve been there before” and that shows true leadership? So it wasn’t exciting to see when Brett Farve used run down and celberate like crazy? Is the Lambeau Leap not cool either? Its gets kinda old and tiresome for fans to always spout this nonsense that players shouldn’t show any emotion. I do not want a bunch of robots out there. I loved the fact that “Brent” helped us win games. But he also appealled to alot of us coz he played the game the way we always thought we would…with EMOTION! Again this is not directed toward those who only were criticizng “game situation” but directed at those who say “act like you’ve been here before” for all players…except when its not all players (see Donald Driver and Brett Farve)
Amen Ruppert!
Nagler is wrong and Carriveau is right. So what else is new?
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Also the “Samuri” has always sucked. Lame. Lame. Lame.
Corey and Aaron will get to see Rouse close to home, He just signed with the NYG’s. Brandon Jackson suffered a setback with his ankle.
Barnett has history of self-absorbed celebration despite the play of his defense/team. I’m talking about that game in CHI a few years ago (Yes, it was a few years ago, but still).. You know, the one that was played after Nick Barnett was ripped by the media all week. He had a good game, and I understand his feeling vindicated after all the questions about his ability to play at a high level that week. That said, he spent the entire game gloating about the field, acting like a complete buffoon while the Packers were getting their asses handed to them. Yes, I commented on Barnett’s little show last week, because it was too little too late in a game where the Packers were being humiliated. I would expect a celebration like that on a goal line stop to potentially win a game. He stopped a running back for a loss, at a less-than-pivotal moment. Professional football players do it all the time, and get right back to the huddle for the next play.
Does Nick have the right to do what he likes? Sure does. And I have the right to think it is unprofessional and inappropriate.
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Ron la Canne: “..Clifton is out for at least two weeks. Colledge vs. Allen – We’ll find out a lot about Daryn in that game.”
Ron, this is the scariest thing I’ve ever read. Man, I certainly hope we are pleasantly surprised.
VApackerfan – Just remembered that. Absolutely classic.
Agree with you 100%, Aaron. I couldn’t care less about Barnett’s celebrations. I am much more of a fan of cool, but i have more important things to worry about. So do Barnett and the Packers.
The handshake was as awesome as the samurai is lame.
Vapackfan – They only do the handshake at Away games…
Wow. 60 posts…
Anyway, I totally agree with you on this one, Aaron. At least Barnett has a pulse, something this team lacks. More Barnetts and less Hawks would be awesome. Yeah, pretty much got sick of Hawk and his averageness.
Holy comments Batman.
DDD – the only thing that’s new is that it took you over 50 comments to come in and completely miss the point, rather than your usual 5 or 6..
I still don’t understand why this demonstration is necessary. I don’t care if it’s done, but just think it’s more of a ‘look at me’ thing. In high school my basketball coach put an end to me doing such things. It only took once. I love and respect him to this day, as it taught me a life lesson. Paid players should be more professional. If’s it’s OK to do the dance, then be prepared to answer why it’s OK to look like a fool and miss a makeable tackle. And if fans appear to be too emotional, about an emotional deed, commented on by a very, very emotional blogger, then too bad.
Hope I did not miss the point.
Not sure, you made about three different ones. I’m sure ‘the’ point was in there somewhere
I went back and counted – yes I did make three points. Love this site and your work – please keep it up and I will be a continiual participant.
The average CHTV post gets 15-20ish responses. The one that starts ‘Shut the Hell Up… gets 67 (probably a top 5 post). And we wonder how Glenn Beck became so popular…
Oh Christ. Thanks for comparing me to Beck. I may have to quit now…
Hahahah – The Triple DDD comment by Nagler is classic…that made me LOL
Bill Michaels SUCKS
Actually I think Behnke’s comment about Nagler’s comment about my comment is classic. It belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of comments about comments about comments.
If that tackle for loss was the turning point for the pack to come back and win would everyone still be bitching? I highly doubt it!
It’s called excitement… the defense had been stagnant for most of the game, and he was pumped to make a good play… If you’re pissed about it, have you actually ever watched NB play?
I like Barnett, and a particular point of view came to mind after the play, but for the most part I forgot about it. I might not have done it under those circumstances, but he did, whatever. This initial post is keeping the issue alive by stirring the pot. Why not just let the issue die a natural death? I thought it was already over. I’m older (although not WAY older), so you might think my conservatism is related to age, but is it really necessary to tell everyone to shut the hell up about it? This is only football, and we’re Americans after all (well, most of us). Express an opinion and move on, but such statements are overly polarizing and adding expletives are just unnecessary (kid’s stuff). I actually thought for a moment that you might be pandering to Nick since he’s been willing to come on the show. Perhaps some want to be extreme just for effect, but to me, ad hominem attacks and posting expletives should be generally left for the weak minded.