Comments on: Chris Culliver apologizes for anti-gay comments

By: titansrst

titansrst — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:54:29 +0000

Why should he be apologizing if this is what he felt? I totally disagree with his prior comments, but it does not make what I feel any more or less legitimate or correct than what he believes. We need to explore, perhaps, why people believe as they do, but let’s stop the political correctness garbage and get down to real feelings. Then let’s see what’s behind those feelings to see if anything can get us to reach a peaceful consensus. And if not, let’s stop looking for trouble by allowing the media to stir up hornets’ nests.

By: revskip

revskip — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:55:45 +0000

All of the people who are waving the freedom of speech flag should remember that the same arguments made about gays are the hateful arguments made against blacks in the last century. Many people in the NFL did not want to see them in the locker room either (see Washington Redskins).

Hate speech is not free speech and should not be protected under the 1st amendment.

By: bat42boy

bat42boy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:47:46 +0000

Why does he have to apologize for something he believes is right?

By: grudenthediva

grudenthediva — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:08:30 +0000

Reality has a liberal bias. Deal with it.

You can’t whine about “freedom of speech!” (thus signifying you know jack about the actual right) and then go nuts when/if the guy’s PRIVATE employer dumps him. He’s got to toe the company line, which likely includes something about, oh I don’t know, not coming off as some kind of bigoted moron in SAN FRANCISCO.

But no, it’s a problem because supposedly the constitutional and sociological experts here with names like makehersquirt (classy) believe a gay player would automatically feel the irresistible urge to look at their respective inchworms in the shower. Oh no, liberal tolerance agenda barbs…coming from the same people whose party platform makes it mandatory to ostracize and demean women, gays, latinos, blacks, and pretty much anyone who isn’t a crusty old white male. Yeah, you keep that up…you’re doing GREAT!

By: joe2jerry

joe2jerry — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:01:15 +0000

Watching his press conference this morning is so sad.

By: kate773

kate773 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:38:43 +0000

I really wish people would understand what the First Amendment is before saying they don’t have it anymore. Culliver’s First Amendment rights were in no way violated.

By: bosfaninva

bosfaninva — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:33:46 +0000

Everyone commenter using the term “freedom of speech” has no idea what it means.

By: frk49rs

frk49rs — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:31:03 +0000

this is not an issue of free speech. This is not an issue of his rights being violated. this is an issue of saying something asinine.
I’m a Forty Niner fan, have been since Joe Montana, but his comments were absolutely thoughtless.
how many people here talking about his freedom of speech would be saying that if he said after I retire I’m going to open a McDonalds because kids sexually excite me.
do you think you’d be supporting him then no because your opinion doesn’t even remotey coincide with his.
do you think that restaurant would do very well when the parents found out about it?
the organization cannot legally tell him that he cannot say that, what they can say I’m not going to support your views or give you money to speak to your hate, we can suspend you and touch you for conduct detrimental to the team.

By: zerohandicapper

zerohandicapper — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:20:07 +0000

What a coward to apologize. Its so sad how liberal media has become mainstream.

By: joe2jerry

joe2jerry — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:15:13 +0000

Which side is the one who always uses the word hate first?

Which side is the quickest to attack someone’s faith?

Which side claims to be the most tolerant?

Don’t ask a player to give his real thoughts and secretly expect your thoughts to come out of his mouth.

By: rugerman

rugerman — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:46:11 +0000

He was right the first time and just expressing what everyone who plays in the NFL feels inwardly. So much for the First Amendment. Of course, SF is the queer capital of the U.S. so it was inevitable the team would throw him under the bus.

By: fricktacular

fricktacular — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:45:27 +0000

Let the man have a damn opinion.

By: scubagolfjim

scubagolfjim — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:38:02 +0000

It'd be nice if those of you crying about Free Speech actually knew what you were talking about. The GOV'T can't take away your Free Speech. That's all that is guaranteed in the First Amendment. And even that is with exceptions. Libel, slander, etc. When you make your employer look like a fool, that employer can take away your Free Speech within his organization. Also, it's the Free Speech of others to tell you when you're a fool for saying what you said. They didn't say you couldn't say it. They said you were stupid for saying it. Big difference.

By: thejohnsmith1122

thejohnsmith1122 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:32:26 +0000

No offense to athletes out there but besides being actually gay, the next gayest thing is to walk around the showers naked. To be honest, if players really cared about who’s staring at their private parts, don’t you think showers would have curtains or seperators? Some might, but most “public” showers I’ve seen don’t. This is a multi-billion dollar industry, if you feel wierd walking around naked then use your pocket change for actual shower stalls.

Maybe Culliver is just insecure because he likes being checked out by another guy and do the same back.

By: keepingitrealdumb

keepingitrealdumb — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:24:07 +0000

all you people talking about “free-speech” and “his opinion” and
“Constitution this and Amendment that” and “pc world” are focusing on the wrong thing. you are looking at the wrong thing!

he is forced to apologize not cause he doesn’t have the rights .. he is forced to apologize because his opinion has the potential to reduce revenue for the team and the league because it might alienate some communities.

the NFL didn’t get so large and profitable by alienating segments of the population .. they want EVERYONE buying their product .. so opinions like culliver’s jeopardize this maximizing of revenues.

THAT is why he is forced to apologize .. not because he doesn’t have the right .. but because it will cost his bosses money!

get it?!?! so stop focusing on the Constitution and PC and Amendments and focus on what is real in this world

By: patriotinvasion

patriotinvasion — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:23:37 +0000

SparkyGump says: Jan 31, 2013 8:46 AM

Who cares what a player’s sexuality is? As long as they play at high level on the field and stay out of trouble off of it, I sure don’t. I mean really; if you had a player who helped your team win a Superbowl would you care if he was gay?
_____

I think the locker room issue is the problem. For the same reason women don’t want to share a locker room with men who are sexually attracted to them, the same goes for men when showering amongst others. Is what it is.

By: patriotinvasion

patriotinvasion — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:20:33 +0000

Oh the horror! An American said something that other people don’t agree with and may be, gasp, offended! Quick, find a PR rep to write some phony statement to make things better. Please.

By: omniusprime

omniusprime — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:20:08 +0000

Culliver doesn’t seem to understand which city his team plays in. He says he just said what thoughts were in his head but doesn’t feel that way about gays? Obviously he doesn’t have much in the way of thoughts in his head and thinking is obviously not his strong suit, definitely his weakest link.

Yep and sure enough the evangelical christian lunatic fringe haters have to come here to spew their religious hatred. Gay is here to stay so best get used to it little whining neanderthals.

Go 49′ers!!!

By: joe2jerry

joe2jerry — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:17:42 +0000

I agree dretwann, names like bigot, hate monger, and others only show persecution from the other side. You can offend anyone these days by stating your opinion. The media asks that very question in hopes he will not walk the PC line and they can write no less than 20 stories in two days. Manufacture the scoop…

By: rmfields

rmfields — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:13:50 +0000

dretwann, he has the freedom to speak. As far as I know, he isn’t being fined or arrested. But along with freedom of speech, one also has to deal with the consequences, especially if you are in the spotlight and representing your organization. Imagine if you (assuming you work) publicly made those statements. Your employer would probably have a word with you. Heck, you might even be fired for it.

Don’t give me that “the Constitution no longer matters in this country”. Just because you’re ALLOWED to say anything you want doesn’t mean you won’t get any flak or the things you say.

By: detruthhurts

detruthhurts — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:13:47 +0000

He shouldn’t apologize! Who cares what the f—-ts think! Yall aint”special”!

By: fivetwopickup

fivetwopickup — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:08:14 +0000

Cleary Chris Culliver has never seen the Grant Hill PSA.

By: azarkhan

azarkhan — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:07:05 +0000

He has a right to his opinion and he has a right to not like gays. He should not have apologized.

By: jgreeds

jgreeds — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:06:51 +0000

Have you seen this guy’s tweets?

There is no way he put that statement together.

By: dretwann

dretwann — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:05:48 +0000

It is a shame he apologized for sharing his opinion with someone who asked for it. I guess, unless you are going to remain PC, you do not have the freedom to speak. The Constitution no longer matters in this country. Before anyone says he wasn’t made to apologize, I can pretty much guarantee a threat from his employers was waiting if he did not.

By: tennis22drew

tennis22drew — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:59:21 +0000

I’m guessing the Artie Lange environment had something to do with this

By: stevietimmy

stevietimmy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:57:09 +0000

Who cares what he thinks/believes… no one really cares. I collect a paycheck from my employer and they in turn expect me to earn that money through my work. They also have expectations that I will not do certain things while I am on company time (and some other things even when I am not).

I could even understand if this happened at Media Day with a bunch of mics shoved in his face and questions being fired at him in quick succession. But no, he goes on a radio show while representing an organization and starts babbling about the thoughts in his head. Bet’cha he was a lonely guy on Media Day, so this was his “Look at me! Look at me!” moment.

So no, this isn’t about “freedom of speech” or whatever. If this second-string CB wants to void his contract with the Niners and go pump gas, change tires (no offense to any of you who pump gas or change tires) or even start his own business then he can spout all he wants about the thoughts in his head without fear of repercussions. There, you now have your freedom of speech. Just don’t do it on the company’s time that is paying you hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

By: SparkyGump

SparkyGump — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:46:57 +0000

By: godofwine330

godofwine330 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:46:46 +0000

I don’t know why people apologize for it. It would make them uncomfortable to have some guy who they KNEW was gay possibly staring at their junk in the shower. Really, in sports, the gay debate probably has more to do with that than the actual teammate lining up next to you on the field. I would not apologize for how I truly felt, and it that gay people are so offended by every little thing nowadays.

Would a woman want a strange man in the shower with them, possibly staring at them? No. Same deal. I would not mind a gay person on my team, but I would not want him in the shower with me or in the lockerroom when I am naked.

By: keepingitrealdumb

keepingitrealdumb — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:39:13 +0000

the guy is a bigot .. and a dumbass. hopefully he meant what he said in his apology and grows and learns and leaves his bigotry in his past.

until then .. the 49ers org should assign a PR guy to tag along with him for the rest of these media days who will advise him on how to answer each and every question so it won’t distract the team from the task at hand