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

[nessie]

Mr. Williamson Thank You for your post . I agree with everything you said and I think everything you said was heartfelt and sincere.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

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.

Well you are going to have to be patient. You are NOT going to see changes till the season ends and certainly not this week or next.

I think the Chiefs are in the dumps while SOC is on a high. The way to stay on that high is to take a pause and just let the rest of the season play out. ESPECIALLY if the media appears to be doing so which I believe they will. There is no good to come of trying to take on the media AND the Chiefs FO. Public perception is everything.

Bottom line, let's agree to disagree.

[Cephalic Trauma]

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.

I think this is quite possibly the dumbest, most inconsiderate thing I've ever seen posted on this board. You're better than that.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Epic stupid right there.

Go back to your shithole in DC. Nobody wants you here.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by lcarus

I have a sheep that's more interesting than Bill Williamson, and the sheep doesn't even have a particularly tight pussy or a loud screaming voice.

I've been told I have a rather soothing voice, actually. I could be on NPR with these pipes.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Aaaand just like clockwork, the smell of death has lured DEnise back into the Lounge.

Creepy ****ing bitch.

that's what I was thinking

she only pops up to stir the pot, when controversy arises...and she's always on the other side

I'm never an advocate for bannings but my God if Bud Selig has the 'it's best for the league' clause CP should have a 'it's best for the board' clause and rid itself of this disease.

You know how after every 'controversial' banning a thread pops up with a poll asking whether or not so or so should have been banned and it's usually almost always no and by a high %?

I'm thinking Denise would actually lose that one, and that's not a CP norm.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Capt Tasty Cheeks

that's what I was thinking

she only pops up to stir the pot, when controversy arises...and she's always on the other side

I'm never an advocate for bannings but my God if Bud Selig has the 'it's best for the league' clause CP should have a 'it's best for the board' clause and rid itself of this disease.

You know how after every 'controversial' banning a thread pops up with a poll asking whether or not so or so should have been banned and it's usually almost always no and by a high %?

I'm thinking Denise would actually lose that one, and that's not a CP norm.

Blah, blah, blah. This board was Chiefsplanet before it became a platform for Save Our Chiefs. I'm sure there are plenty of people who post here who are lukewarm in their support of SOC and some are even, GASP, not supportive at all.

I've supported the efforts but I know when it's time to declare that enough is enough. That time is now.

Disagree if you want but not many people relish the idea of kicking people when they are this down. Especially when they have been exposed to so much adversity and tragedy like this team has. It's not about football anymore...

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Aaaand just like clockwork, the smell of death has lured DEnise back into the Lounge.

Creepy ****ing bitch.

**** all the mods and all the members that could have erased this drama-whore-terrorist-sympahtizing-TWUNT years ago but didn't...

[The Apostle]

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.

Cannot say that any of this is a rational or warranted reply. This lacks every quality that is needed in a time like this. Disgraceful. Utterly, depressingly, disgraceful post.

[RealSNR]

Aaaand here are all the n00bs with "decency" who found my comments distasteful.

Stay here awhile longer guys. You'll encounter shit twice as terrible as what I said.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by The Apostle

Cannot say that any of this is a rational or warranted reply. This lacks every quality that is needed in a time like this. Disgraceful. Utterly, depressingly, disgraceful post.

Go fist yourself
Posted via Mobile Device