Dear Mr. Flacco,
I am not surprised.
I am not stunned.
I am not saddened or dismayed.
I am not saddened or dismayed.
What I am is confused.
Here is a snippet from your official website about your support of Special Olympics Maryland:
Joe provides substantial support to Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD) and annually participates in the Polar Bear Plunge (2009-2011), benefiting the nonprofit which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
In 2009, Joe co-hosted the SOMD Holiday Party with former teammate Adam Terry. In November 2010, Joe visited with SOMD athletes at the Ravens' flag football exhibition. Joe also attends the Special Olympics Maryland Summer Games Kickoff each June.
Wow.
You obviously care deeply about the Special Olympics.
Oh, wait, maybe you did care and something happened because you stopped showing up in 2011.
Hmmm can't imagine what the falling out must of been.
Oh, maybe you dropped the R bomb at the 2010 SOMD Holiday party.
I can see how things may have gone sour.
Oh, but wait, I am on a tangent.
The real purpose of this correspondence is to point out to you the problem with using the R word.
You stated it beautifully yourself.
"Yeah, I think it's retarded."
(the move of the Super Bowl to a potential cold weather venue)
You know that's not the part that hurts, you know the retarded bit.
The part that hurts is when you say
"You know I probably shouldn't say that."
Again, not so bad.
It's when you said
"stupid"
As in having the Super Bowl in a cold weather venue is stupid.
So here's the bad part.
In your mind retarded = stupid.
"But I did not mean it in reference to......" Yadayadayada
"It's just a word....." Yadayadayada
Shut it.
Just shut it and make no excuses.
Get down on your knees and ask Him for forgiveness.
Next, explain yourself to your wife, the mother of your son. Break down if need be.
Next, pick up the phone and get in touch with SOMEONE at Special Olympics Maryland and arrange for a meeting.
THEN and ONLY THEN shall you be fully prepared for said "Super Bowl".
Priorities, get them in order.
Be A Stand Up Guy.
Let Baltimore Rave about You.
OWN UP
BE THE EXAMPLE
RAISE THE BAR
You should probably share this experience with your teammates and coaches.
Make Baltimore proud in more ways than one.
How great would it be for the Baltimore Ravens Franchise to jump on the bandwagon.
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD
Thou shall not speak the word on the practice field, in the locker room, and heaven help you not on that game field.
Fines all around for those who can't refrain and donate those fines to
SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND
What better way for
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD
to infiltrate our schools than for the
Baltimore Ravens to set the tone.
We must protect this house.
I must protect THIS house.
Respectfully yours,
Bridgie's Mom
“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Wow.
You obviously care deeply about the Special Olympics.
Oh, wait, maybe you did care and something happened because you stopped showing up in 2011.
Hmmm can't imagine what the falling out must of been.
Oh, maybe you dropped the R bomb at the 2010 SOMD Holiday party.
I can see how things may have gone sour.
Oh, but wait, I am on a tangent.
The real purpose of this correspondence is to point out to you the problem with using the R word.
You stated it beautifully yourself.
"Yeah, I think it's retarded."
(the move of the Super Bowl to a potential cold weather venue)
You know that's not the part that hurts, you know the retarded bit.
The part that hurts is when you say
"You know I probably shouldn't say that."
Again, not so bad.
It's when you said
"stupid"
As in having the Super Bowl in a cold weather venue is stupid.
So here's the bad part.
In your mind retarded = stupid.
"But I did not mean it in reference to......" Yadayadayada
"It's just a word....." Yadayadayada
Shut it.
Just shut it and make no excuses.
Get down on your knees and ask Him for forgiveness.
Next, explain yourself to your wife, the mother of your son. Break down if need be.
Next, pick up the phone and get in touch with SOMEONE at Special Olympics Maryland and arrange for a meeting.
THEN and ONLY THEN shall you be fully prepared for said "Super Bowl".
Priorities, get them in order.
Be A Stand Up Guy.
Let Baltimore Rave about You.
OWN UP
BE THE EXAMPLE
RAISE THE BAR
You should probably share this experience with your teammates and coaches.
Make Baltimore proud in more ways than one.
How great would it be for the Baltimore Ravens Franchise to jump on the bandwagon.
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD
Thou shall not speak the word on the practice field, in the locker room, and heaven help you not on that game field.
Fines all around for those who can't refrain and donate those fines to
SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND
What better way for
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD
to infiltrate our schools than for the
Baltimore Ravens to set the tone.
We must protect this house.
Respectfully yours,
Bridgie's Mom
“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is perfect. I know he "apologized" but it was in his head that retarded=stupid. I had to share your blog with my friends. I hope you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteThank you and share away. In writing this is the hope we can learn from each other.
Delete