Dwayne Bowe Salutes 'Javon' Belcher

[Mr. Laz]

Dwayne Bowe Salutes Jovan Belcher By Wearing A T-Shirt With His Name Misspelled

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DEC 3, 2012 12:00 PM17,080 42Share


Barry Petchesky

I think it's entirely reasonable for people to disagree on the proper way to commemorate a complex tragedy like that of Jovan Belcher, who killed his girlfriend before killing himself. Of those who argued for the Chiefs game going on as scheduled because football provides a distraction from the awful parts of life, and those who said the game should have been postponed because it was unfair to ask Chiefs players and coaches to take the field so soon after a traumatizing event, neither side was "wrong"—they were just stating their opinions.

You can see both sides of the argument on how Belcher should have been commemorated. It's easy to grasp the argument that Belcher was a murderer before he was a suicide, that taking his own life is the only thing that separates him from Rae Carruth or O.J. Simpson and he shouldn't be celebrated for it, that it's an insult to Kasandra Perkins's death to marginalize her for her more famous killer. On the other hand, Belcher was the famous one, and the only reason fans feel a connection to this horror at all. He was clearly a very troubled person, and if he wasn't strictly a tragic figure, it's impossible to expect those who knew him in life to vilify him now.

It's definitely OK to turn this into a public debate on larger issues. If the wake of nationally relevant firearm deaths isn't the time to bring up gun control, when is? But this runs the risk of polarizing a tragedy for political means, and distracting from the perhaps more germane issue of mental illness.

Everyone deals with sadness in their own way, and there's no single "right" way to mourn, especially when tragedy and crime intermix. Maybe the only "wrong" thing you can do is tell someone else that their grief isn't the right kind of grief, as if that's something that can be dictated. Any way someone chooses to react to Jovan Belcher's murder-suicide—yes, even with dark humor—is fine if it works for them.

That said, spelling "Javon" Belcher's name wrong on the commemorative t-shirt is definitely the wrong way to grieve.

[Chief_For_Life58]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I think the team handled it right, with the moment of silence for domestic violence victims and by choosing not to commemorate the player in any way. He doesn't deserve it.

But at the same time I think Bowe's perfectly entitled to personally mourn the loss of a teammate and friend however he chooses.

this

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by SNR

And yeah, I know this is about the spelling. Whatever. Nobody said Bowe was a scholar.

Hell, we don't even know whether he made the shirt.

[BoneKrusher]

Originally Posted by Old Dog

WAY up there.....that's where Cassel was throwing footballs

[Chief_For_Life58]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Hell, we don't even know whether he made the shirt.

ya right like he made that shirt

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Old Dog

WAY up there.....that's where Cassel was throwing footballs

Above the goal post

[Discuss Thrower]

Also: perhaps misspelling is an inside joke.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Hell, we don't even know whether he made the shirt.

I think some hoes about to get exported.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Also: perhaps misspelling is an inside joke.

That never happens.

Your and idiot

[Brock]

ANOTHER knucklehead move by Bowe! Can't wait till he's playing with Andrew Luck!

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

That never happens.

Your and idiot

No, he's a geneous.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I was laughing about that, too. I mean, he's got pictures of himself all over his wall.

I'm in a band, and I have pictures of myself (and band) framed and hanging in my home studio.

Now, am I conceited? no... but those are good memories hanging there to remind me that I set out to achieve a goal and accomplished it.

I don't fault bowe for having cool pictures of his accomplishments up on his wall.


Ps: I'm guessing Bowe had a local print shop do the graphic design and print that t-shirt... so the misspelling is on THEM, most likely not on Bowe. (although it very well could be if he spelled Jovans name out for them)

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

No, he's a geneous.

It's "genious".

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

Now, am I conceded?

It's good to hear you haven't given up.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

It's "geenyous".

fyap....

I love Daweyne Bow even if he kant spul.

[Ceej]

Snapbacks and tattoos, bro!