Should Pro-athletes be given preferential treatment to leave the military?

[NNN0LHI]

Poll question: Should Pro-athletes be given preferential treatment to leave the military?

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/04/29/armystory.html

Army will loosen rules

Pro-caliber athletes can get out early

Former Army offensive lineman Joel Davis had three NFL teams seriously interested in him before the 1996 draft.

But each team kept asking Davis the same question: when will he be available to play? Maybe in half a decade.

Davis had a five-year military commitment to serve after graduating from West Point.

"I know I was fighting an uphill battle," Davis said. "But that hurt me. I couldn't really give them any answers. I think it hurt my chances."

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Why does the phrase...

"tough shit" keep swirling around my brain?

[drdtroit]

2. NO!

Be a MAN Mr. Davis. That means honoring your commitments.

[Doctor_J]

3. they should be moved to the FRONT of the draft line

all those "Athletes for Smirk" from last year should have themselves ro their service-aged kids moved to the front, pronto. As for Lt. Davis, some time between when he went to West Point and when he graduated, he obviously forgot WHY he went there.

[elvisbear]

4. Maybe Roger Staubach should have a talk with him...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Staubach

[makhno]

5. Me, me, me. Selfish prick.

Wasn't a strong desire to serve his country the reason Mr. Davis decided to attend West Point instead of a civilian university? If he wanted to be a pro football player rather than a combat leader, he should've perhaps been a little more honest during the admissions process and his years at West Point.

[tammywammy]

6. No

I think this is disgraceful to all everyone who joins the military. You signed up for this, and you have to follow through. I would be more inclined to want to give leeway to those joining the reserves and have families. But, overall, you joined, you signed on the dotted line knowing what was expected of you (or what could happen, i.e. reserves being called up), and you should have to fulfill those obligations, whether or not you could make more money as a pro athlete.

[havocmom]

7. Let them out early so they can make outrageous $um$ doing ritual war

in sports arenas? NO.

I also think the clowns who start the wars should be on white horses, wearing plumed helmets leading the charge too.

Sorry sports heroes but you are not as important as the meighbor down the block who is supporting a family and keeps getting his/her regular enlistment, reserve, or guard duty extended because of Stop Loss. Prowess on the playing field is not as important as being home to take care of real life.

Early outs for jocks is more corporate welfare. Pro teams need stars to make $$ for the Board Room Set. Fuck that shit.

[chalky]

9. Exactly. HELL NO. n/m

[w13rd0]

8. Not unless they also let leave the following:

Parents
Brothers
Sisters
Fathers
Mothers
Exceptional academics
people with dreams
people who don't want to shoot people

[MercutioATC]

10. Alright...who said "Yes" and WHY????

[G_j]

11. only if the violinist

for the community orchestra, the guy with a lawn mowing business, and the woman with the nail salon can...

[Stirk]

12. Just out of curiosity, what the hell is the argument *for* it?

Because he stands to make alot of money...? Am I to assume that we're openly admitting that military service is beneath the rich, and dying for your country is only a poor man's duty?

[bemildred]

13. Everybody should be given preferential treatment to leave the military.

It's an "all volunteer army", right?

[Bill McBlueState]

14. Yes

Then it will be that much clearer to the average Jack and Jill just how easy it is for the rich to avoid service, while the poor often have no other option. Anything to cast a critical eye on the military's practices is a good thing, I say.

[Sapphire Blue]

15. Would this be the haves & the have mores?

First reaction... they (if they're chickenhawks, along with all other chickenhawks) should be the first to serve in their Leader's war.

Rationally thinking... get all the troops out now & stop this immoral war... and put their Leader & Co. on trial for war crimes.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

16. Military doesn't want to risk negative propaganda (e.g., Pat Tillman).

A high profile military/athlete death would only highlight the CONTINUED DEATHS of our American soldiers...even after the pitiful "democratic" Iraqi elections.

JB

[leftofthedial]

17. yes, absolutely

so should NASCAR drivers and evangelical preachers

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. And, everyone other millionaire in the entertainment industry.

Gotta keep the people amused while the slaughter continues.

[leftofthedial]

20. what's bread?

without circuses?

[democracyindanger]

19. COWARDS.

[kitkatrose]

21. No fucking way!!!!!

Why the fuck would you do that??? I couldn't get out early if I was a scientist working on a cure for AIDS or what have you, why the fuck should a pro-athlete? What the hell kinda use does the world have for an athelete??? Over a scientist, or a teacher, or a police officer, or a hundred other damn jobs. This is why our education sucks in America. Apparently we value sports so much that the army is considering letting them out of their obligation--that they fucking knew when the signed up--to play a damn game. What a goddamn stupid idea!!!


:mad: :nuke: :mad: :nuke: :mad: :nuke: :mad: :nuke: :mad: :nuke: :mad: :nuke:

[jmm]

22. This guy didn't know he could play football before

he joined the military? If he wanted to be an NFL prospect he shouldn't have joined the military.

[soup]

23. You make entirely too much sense.

Is that allowed?

[Jack Rabbit]

24. They didn't used to get preferential treatment.

Ted Williams served as a bomber pilot in two wars.

Willie Mays did his military service. It probably hurt his overall career figures.

During the Vietnam era, many people were infuriated at Muhammad Ali and Joe Namath for avoiding the draft, but both had good reasons. Ali was a minister and a conscientious objector and had to fight in the courts to make sure that ministers of his faith would have the same rights to be exempted from the draft as ministers of any other faith. Namath simply had bad knees. The US Army wouldn't take him and classified him 4-F. That the New York Jets were willing to take a chance on those knees and pay him a boatload of money to play quarterback was their business. Neither Ali nor Namath could have been said to have received preferential treatment.

Roger Staubach, who won a Heisman Trophy at Annapolis, fulfilled his obligations to the US Navy and promptly resigned from the service and went to play for the Dallas Cowboys. No one could complain about that and no one did.

The first military athlete I noticed getting what appeared to be some kind of preferential treatment was Napoleon McCallum, who graduated from Annapolis and played for the Raiders in 1986. In order to play in the NFL, the Navy had to make sure that McCallum was given a duty assignment compatible with his football career. However, McCallum had to give up football after the 1986 season and fulfill his obligation to Navy until 1990, when he resigned his commission and went to play for the Raiders.

The case of yet another Annapolis graduate, David Robinson, raised more eyebrows. Drafted into the NBA by the San Antonio Spurs in 1987, Robinson was released from his obligation to the Navy after only two years instead of the usual five. Robinson began his impressive pro basketball career in 1989.

[NNN0LHI]

25. Republican Jack Kemp sought and received a medical deferment

He was declared unfit because of a knee injury during the Vietnam War, though he heroically continued as a National Football League quarterback for another eight years.

Don

[ridgerunner]

26. I voted yes

I'm a vet, I finished my tour in the Navy back in 93, and back when I was in they would let people out if they came into money, i.e. they hit the lottery or a rich relative died and left them a fortune.

A pro football career averages about five years. Why not let the person sign a contract that once their career in the NBA, NFL, etc. is over they will fulfill their contract with the government?

[NNN0LHI]

27. Was there a stop loss policy signed by a Chickenhawk in effect...

...during the time period you are talking about?

Don

[ridgerunner]

28. Actually in 92-93

they couldn't get people out of the military fast enough. I know lots of fellows who took early outs, they retired before 20 years, they didn't get retirement but a lump sum for time served.

[ridgerunner]

30. and btw

the stop loss is total bullshit.

[VOX]

29. Apparently serving their country gets in the way of their making millions.

Nice that they have their priorities straight. :sarcasm: