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bigtalkradiofan
Guest
I heard this, this morning on ESPN Colin Cowherd's show - anyone know where I find the audio of the New York ESPN Radio affiliate's interview with Mr. Nader? I've searched the ESPN website for the audio but had no luck.
http://www.leagueoffans.org/terrellowensletter.html
Nader to Lurie, Tagliabue: Rescind Terrell Owens' Suspension and
Inactive Designation
Ralph Nader's letter to Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey
Lurie, and NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue follows:
-----
November 10, 2005
Jeffrey Lurie
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Philadelphia Eagles
Paul Tagliabue
Commissioner
National Football League
Dear Messrs. Lurie and Tagliabue,
I am writing to urge you to rescind the misguided suspension and planned
inactive designation of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens.
If the Eagles management declines to remedy its mistake, Commissioner
Tagliabue, you should intervene to overturn the team's decision, which
dishonors this country's traditional respect for free speech and cheats
fans of an opportunity to see arguably the best receiver in football.
Let him play.
There is no question that Terrell Owens' comments have been boorish and
unwarranted. However, the comments were just that -- comments.
It should be the policy of the Eagles and the National Football League,
as well as other sports teams and leagues, that players not be punished
merely for what they say.
There is a great tradition in this country of respecting free speech,
and the Eagles and NFL should express those values in handling even
churlish speech. This is not a matter of law: U.S. constitutional speech
protections and most state speech protections do not extend into the
workplace; and the NFL collective bargaining agreement affords teams the
right to suspend players for "conduct detrimental" to their team, a
provision that has been interpreted to cover speech and other expressive
conduct. No, it is not a matter of law, but of principle. And the
principle should be: employees are not penalized for speaking out, even
if what they have to say strikes management as ill-informed or offensive.
That the Eagles' proposed punishment for Owens -- a four-game suspension
followed by an inactive designation for the rest of the season -- is so
harsh, and so far in excess of punishments applied to other players who
have engaged not in ill-considered speech, but criminal conduct or
serious wrongdoing, points to how injudicious the Eagles' approach is.
There is, as well, a consumer issue at stake here. Fans have purchased
tickets for Eagles' games, in Philadelphia and elsewhere, on the
assumption that they will see one of the game's most exciting receivers,
so long as he is healthy enough to play. The Eagles' action denies them
this opportunity.
If the Eagles do not want Terrell Owens on their team, then they should
release him. Instead, the Eagles propose not just to suspend him for the
term permitted by the collective bargaining agreement, but to make him
inactive for the duration of the season. This vengeful approach keeps
him as an effective hostage -- kept away from the fans who would like to
see him play.
I look forward to your response, and would be pleased to discuss these
matters with you further.
Sincerely,
Ralph Nader
Founder, League of Fans
http://www.leagueoffans.org/terrellowensletter.html
Nader to Lurie, Tagliabue: Rescind Terrell Owens' Suspension and
Inactive Designation
Ralph Nader's letter to Philadelphia Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey
Lurie, and NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue follows:
-----
November 10, 2005
Jeffrey Lurie
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Philadelphia Eagles
Paul Tagliabue
Commissioner
National Football League
Dear Messrs. Lurie and Tagliabue,
I am writing to urge you to rescind the misguided suspension and planned
inactive designation of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens.
If the Eagles management declines to remedy its mistake, Commissioner
Tagliabue, you should intervene to overturn the team's decision, which
dishonors this country's traditional respect for free speech and cheats
fans of an opportunity to see arguably the best receiver in football.
Let him play.
There is no question that Terrell Owens' comments have been boorish and
unwarranted. However, the comments were just that -- comments.
It should be the policy of the Eagles and the National Football League,
as well as other sports teams and leagues, that players not be punished
merely for what they say.
There is a great tradition in this country of respecting free speech,
and the Eagles and NFL should express those values in handling even
churlish speech. This is not a matter of law: U.S. constitutional speech
protections and most state speech protections do not extend into the
workplace; and the NFL collective bargaining agreement affords teams the
right to suspend players for "conduct detrimental" to their team, a
provision that has been interpreted to cover speech and other expressive
conduct. No, it is not a matter of law, but of principle. And the
principle should be: employees are not penalized for speaking out, even
if what they have to say strikes management as ill-informed or offensive.
That the Eagles' proposed punishment for Owens -- a four-game suspension
followed by an inactive designation for the rest of the season -- is so
harsh, and so far in excess of punishments applied to other players who
have engaged not in ill-considered speech, but criminal conduct or
serious wrongdoing, points to how injudicious the Eagles' approach is.
There is, as well, a consumer issue at stake here. Fans have purchased
tickets for Eagles' games, in Philadelphia and elsewhere, on the
assumption that they will see one of the game's most exciting receivers,
so long as he is healthy enough to play. The Eagles' action denies them
this opportunity.
If the Eagles do not want Terrell Owens on their team, then they should
release him. Instead, the Eagles propose not just to suspend him for the
term permitted by the collective bargaining agreement, but to make him
inactive for the duration of the season. This vengeful approach keeps
him as an effective hostage -- kept away from the fans who would like to
see him play.
I look forward to your response, and would be pleased to discuss these
matters with you further.
Sincerely,
Ralph Nader
Founder, League of Fans