Utter sadness in Kansas City

[KcMizzou]

By Bill Williamson | ESPN.com

This has been on my mind all day.

Still, after traveling 1,000 miles, I have yet to reach any comprehension. I have nothing profound to say about the horrible tragedy this morning in Kansas City that has galvanized the NFL world, other to say I have the same feeling you probably have -- utter sadness.

I awoke this morning to a text saying that a Kansas City Chiefs player murdered his girlfriend and then shot himself at the team’s facility. The text said the player involved was linebacker Jovan Belcher.

Like so many at ESPN, I immediately worked the phones in search of more details of this mind-numbing event. As I traveled to Denver, I thought about what I was going to write in this piece.

What could I say about this event that no one else is feeling or saying?

[+] Enlarge
Chiefs fansJohn Rieger/US PresswireChiefs fans place a sign outside the team's practice facility, site of Jovan Belcher's suicide.
Thus, I want to join the masses and express my thoughts and grief for the family of Belcher’s victim, Kasandra M. Perkins, who died at 22, and the couple's infant daughter. Lives were ended; others were ruined. So terrible.

I also feel for bad for Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel. The Chiefs' general manager and the head coach were talking to Belcher, according to police, just before the player walked away and shot himself.

What a terrible and emotional event to witness. This day will be with these men for the rest of their lives; they will never be able to shake it. Pioli and Crennel went to work Saturday morning to put the finishing touches on another game week in a miserable season. Then they were thrust into the middle of a crisis involving a young man they had grown to care for.

I know Pioli and Crennel are not popular figures in Kansas City these days because of the team’s 1-10 season. There is a strong chance Chiefs ownership makes wholesale changes in a month.

What happens professionally will take its course.

I expect Kansas City fans to loudly support their hurting team Sunday when the Chiefs host Carolina at Arrowhead Stadium. It should go without saying that I hope there are no airplane flyovers imploring for people to be fired, no fan “blackouts” at the game. The voice of the understandably angry Chiefs fan has been heard and it has been noted.

Sunday will be about beginning the healing process and honoring those left behind from this senseless crime. Be a Chiefs fan Sunday. At the core, that’s what you are.

I know some people don’t understand why or how the game can be played. But the Chiefs’ coaches and team captains reportedly played a major role in the decision to go ahead with it. If the Chiefs want to play, I think we can all support that choice.

I’ve been asked a lot Saturday about what Belcher was like. I didn’t know him. I never met him or interviewed him. I knew he was an overachieving player who ended up starting 44 career games after going undrafted.

I know his agent, Joe Linta, very well. He has a well-deserved reputation for representing solid-citizen types. He had always spoken highly of Belcher to me. Linta expressed disbelief Saturday.

Disbelief. That’s all you can feel when something so unspeakable happens.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post...in-kansas-city

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

I disagree. The point has been made. Less is more. At some point it becomes about diminishing returns even before a tragedy happens. The group risks appearing to pile on and marginalizing itself.

And not all critics of the leadership are supporting SOC. There are people who want changes but want no part of a fan revolt. I do think most Chiefs fans are EAGER AND WILLING TO FIND SOMETHING, ANYTHING, TO RALLY AROUND THE CHIEFS. But whatever.

Just keep the media in line because if they turn, when they turn, the movement is toast.

They have been very smart in how they've approached it so far. I trust they will be smart in the next phase. That means being more tactful, but by no means should that mean laying off the pressure.

And your idea of diminishing returns, that is purely your opinion. I am pretty sure hunt knows the twitter account and has seen the blackouts. You can see it in the way pioli has behaved recently. The movement is sending a clear message.

[InChiefsHeaven]

What a season. I could never have envisioned anything that would cause SOC to put the breaks on. Then this happens. I'm still in shock. But I know that SOC is run by good sensible passionate people, and they will do the right thing not just today but for the rest of the season. Nothing SOC has done has been "from the hip". Everything is thought out and discussed, which is why the movement has become very popular. It is all class, and all passion for the Chiefs.

I trust in SOC and the organizers to stay classy and do the right thing. Right now, I'm going to church this morning and lighting a candle for Belcher's daughter. Then I'll come home and watch the game, and yeah...root for my stinky Chiefs.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

I am sorry but nothing SOC does is going to get changes faster than what is happening on the field and now at the stadium. 1-10 and a murder sucide are going to move mountains faster than any fan revolt.

Or it gives the front office something to hide behind. I want them to have time to grieve. I don't want them to be held any less accountable.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

What a season. I could never have envisioned anything that would cause SOC to put the breaks on. Then this happens. I'm still in shock. But I know that SOC is run by good sensible passionate people, and they will do the right thing not just today but for the rest of the season. Nothing SOC has done has been "from the hip". Everything is thought out and discussed, which is why the movement has become very popular. It is all class, and all passion for the Chiefs.

I trust in SOC and the organizers to stay classy and do the right thing. Right now, I'm going to church this morning and lighting a candle for Belcher's daughter. Then I'll come home and watch the game, and yeah...root for my stinky Chiefs.

You won't be watching the game unless you have Sunday Ticket. It's not being televised here.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

They have been very smart in how they've approached it so far. I trust they will be smart in the next phase. That means being more tactful, but by no means should that mean laying off the pressure.

And your idea of diminishing returns, that is purely your opinion. I am pretty sure hunt knows the twitter account and has seen the blackouts. You can see it in the way pioli has behaved recently. The movement is sending a clear message.

Which was heard and put SOC on the map and in the spotlight in a big way. Go out on top with class. It is about more than wins or losses now. It is about supporting those human beings who happen to live this while the rest of us just like to think we do.

SOC the organization has more to lose than gain at this point. IMO. With power comes great responsibility.

And the great thing about SOC is that the change of ONE word changes everything. Support Our Chiefs.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

Which was heard and put SOC on the mapnand in the spotlight in a big way. Go out on top with class. It is about more than wins or losses now. It is about supporting those human beings who happen to live this while the rest of us just like to think we do.

Which is why I fully support their decision to lay low for a while. I feel bad for what happened to rac and pioli, but that doesn't change the fact that they don't deserve to come back next year. And I have no confidence that will happen until it happens nor that it will happen without fans being vocal about it.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by SNR

**** you for talking down to us, Bill.

****er sounds like a parent telling a child to say "Please" and "Thank you" and other practices of good manners.

We're not ****ing reeruns. We got hit on this tragedy way harder than you and your fat ****ing ass.

I wish Belcher were still alive so he could go kill you.

**** Bill Williamson.

Epic stupid right there.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Which is why I fully support their decision to lay low for a while. I feel bad for what happened to rac and pioli, but that doesn't change the fact that they don't deserve to come back next year. And I have no confidence that will happen until it happens nor that it will happen without fans being vocal about it.

Look, it is December. Have some compassion and humanity. Maybe some humility. These guys have had a nightmare of a season. They only have a month left. Maybe the greatest thing we could show them is mercy vs appearing to beat a dead dog.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

You won't be watching the game unless you have Sunday Ticket. It's not being televised here.

Crap. Didn't realize that...well, I'll be listening to Mitch and Lenny then.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

Look, it is December. Have some compassion and humanity. Maybe some humility. These guys have had a nightmare of a season. They only have a month left. Maybe the greatest thing we could show them is mercy vs appearing to beat a dead dog.

These guys are professionals and competitors. When I played sports, I didn't care about heckling as much as I cared about losing. The greatest thing we as fans can do for them is to ensure they get a front office that enables them to win and has a sense of decency to let players be a part of the community again. And this has never been about the players. Only one player (Cassel) which was much more a commentary on the front office that kept putting him in bad situations.

And again... you are assuming we are beating a dead dog as if the message has been sent, when Kansas City just came off of a GM who was in power for 20 years without being held accountable. Sorry, I don't buy the message has been sent until we see actual changes.

A sense of decency is what SOC is doing by realizing that right now, this is more than just a game. But the end objective hasn't changed. There is absolutely no reason for Romeo or Pioli to be back next year. I'm sorry the players have to get in the way of the mistakes of their leaders. But both the fans and players will be significantly happier when the team creates a culture of winning. More importantly, keep in mind that you are asking us to be compassionate to a front office that has shown no compassion for us and, seemingly, their employees.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by SNR

Exactly. I'm not taking back the comment about Belcher killing Williamson.

If people aren't able to take it with a grain of salt, that's their problem.

I do, however, really apologize about what I said to stevie.

A little quick research by Bill would have shown the ignorant lazy ****er that SOC had already ceased all plans for today.
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[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Epic stupid right there.

While I will agree the killing part was a little out there, Bill was most definitely talking down to SOC acting as though he was telling them to do something they had already done
Posted via Mobile Device

[BOUTY]

Raider fan here, from s.org.Condolences to you guys, today promises to be an emotional day, I'm sure. Good luck to the team, the fans, and thoughts go out to the victims families and friends

[Austin Ed]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Yeah, that's just ****ed up. I'm with you there.

The author of the articke was definitely talking down to the Chiefs' fan base. He said that he "hoped" there would be no banners as though we needed his parental guidance. In your desire to appear sane and rational, you failed to recognize the insult.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Austin Ed

The author of the articke was definitely talking down to the Chiefs' fan base. He said that he "hoped" there would be no banners as though we needed his parental guidance. In your desire to appear sane and rational, you failed to recognize the insult.

And did it after SOC HAS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THEY WERE DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID
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