Other than the “Kars for Kids” jingle, we can think of possibly no other song as obnoxious as the 1974 classic, “Feelings.” It is possibly the most over-sung song in the history of Karaoke.
We recall the song under the strangest of conditions, as the Houston Texans (currently at 1-9-1) prepare to take on the Cleveland Browns (at 4-7). The game, under normal conditions, would be a sleeper. You would clean the bathroom floor or check the dog for fleas during a game of this diminished magnitude.
Caveat: I have friends in Houston and friends in Cleveland and wish all of them great draft picks next April; both NFL cities have suffered long enough.
The Side Show
However, many fans will watch and many fans will have strong opinions. Some will be downright steamed about the trials of Browns QB Deshaun Watson as he resumes his career, and that “up-there, somewhere” in a corporate seating area, 10 women and a lawyer named Tony Buzbee are hoping he fails. In fact, some journalists (primarily based in Cleveland) have called for the NFL to BAN the women from attending the stadium and also to accuse Attorney Buzbee of manipulating the women in a similar manner as Deshaun Watson manipulated them.
Not really.
Cleveland, you didn’t do this. Before you jump on the outrage bandwagon, think of your wives, partners, daughters, nieces and grandchildren. Think of them as massage therapists who were simply trying to do their job when one of their clients grabbed their hand and…
Deshaun Watson was accused by something like 24 to 26 (as of June 2022), Houston-area massage therapists of sexual assaults and sexual misconduct. I am intentionally not being specific about the numbers because just yesterday (November 29, 2022), new accusers have come forward. The QB was fined $5 million by the NFL as Buzbee brought forward a lawsuit.
A serious caveat: though the women were mocked as being gold-diggers, opportunists and much worse, they are professional massage therapists who really didn’t care for Watson’s forcing their touch on his privates or for being given “a show” of his genitals. In addition to the fine, he was given an 11-game ban and mental health counseling.
The NFL has a history of throwing money against sexual assault cases. They don’t go much further than the surface of the surface.
These are not rich women that Buzbee represents. After the lawyer’s firm and the IRS take their cuts, if any of the women clears $100,000 for their humiliation it will be a lot.
The Outraged Journalists and Fans
On Sunday, December 4, 2022, in addition to the protests outside of the stadium, undoubtedly the cameras will pan to the ten women and their lawyer. They will probably sit there, talk amongst themselves, maybe give an interview or two and it will outrage several journalists whose feelings will be crushed on behalf of their fan base.
The feelings of the journalists include sentiments such as “Deshaun paid his dues,” “Deshaun served his time,” and that “Deshaun will be distracted by the side show.” I am not a gambler, however my hunch is that Deshaun will be rusty at first but the Browns should prevail and move up to 5-7. But if they lose? The journalists will feel bad. They will tell the fans to feel bad. Why? Because the ten women, many rows back, distracted his performance.
I well remember the Ray Rice incident, when running back Rice punched his wife unconscious in an elevator. The NFL rather trivialized it at first, and in fact, when he returned to the Ravens following the “he said, she said” hand-slap he was cheered by the fans. Until…the TMZ tape emerged and Rice was made into an ex-Baltimore Raven.
Feelings
As a sports ethics and business ethics keynote speaker and consultant, let me tell the Cleveland faithful, that ethics doesn’t care about your feelings. Deshaun Watson “served no time.” I know what serving time means.
And no one who is sexually abused should ever be banned for standing up for their rights.
The world is filled with feelings these days. The world is outraged at this and that, but the line must be drawn when victims are further victimized by journalists taking a pandering stance. Deshaun Watson badly needed ethical training but it is too late for that. Sports Ethics is no joke, and it’s no sad song at Karaoke night.
We Respect Your Privacy.
