Former Notre Dame Player: "Criminals make teams better"

illinoisportsfan · Aug 29, 2012, 01:53 PM

“I've always felt like, to have a successful team, you gotta have a few bad citizens on the team,” Pinkett told the show. “I mean, that's how Ohio State used to win all the time. They would have two or three guys that were criminals. That just adds to the chemistry of the team. I think Notre Dame is growing because maybe they have some guys that are doing something worthy of a suspension, which creates edge on the football team. You can't have a football team full of choir boys. You get your butt kicked if you have a team full of choir boys. You gotta have a little bit of edge"

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...e-teams-better

Discuss.

FeelYourPaign · Aug 29, 2012, 01:58 PM

Sad to say, he is probably right. I never even played the game, but what do I know. Clearly a very physical, emotional game and someone who is a bit of thug or bully is often very successful in football. Ray Lewis of the Ravens comes to my mind as the classic physical, intimidating, successful player. Not saying he is a thug because I really have no idea, but he sure is scary. And he sure fires up a team.

KBLEE · Aug 29, 2012, 02:00 PM

Even if he believes it is true, it was stupid to say it out loud on a radio show.

illinoisportsfan · Aug 29, 2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KBLEE

Even if he believes it is true, it was stupid to say it out loud on a radio show.

Especially when you work for Notre Dame, who purport themselves as a team of choir boys.

WesterveltVictoryCigar · Aug 29, 2012, 02:24 PM

While he went a bit far with the "criminals", you do need some knucklehead types to play at the highest level, IMO.

Kramer116 · Aug 29, 2012, 02:39 PM

I was listening to this live at work, and I was just like WOW.

They gave him multiple opportunities to back off his statements or reword it and he just dug in and went further.

ncoillini · Aug 29, 2012, 02:46 PM

No thank you, Don't want the drama, team disruption and negative public perception.

KJKobs · Aug 29, 2012, 02:53 PM

Rapists? Check
Murderers? Check (of videographers)

Looks like they are well on their way

IlliniKat91 · Aug 29, 2012, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeelYourPaign

Sad to say, he is probably right. I never even played the game, but what do I know. Clearly a very physical, emotional game and someone who is a bit of thug or bully is often very successful in football. Ray Lewis of the Ravens comes to my mind as the classic physical, intimidating, successful player. Not saying he is a thug because I really have no idea, but he sure is scary. And he sure fires up a team.

Ray Lewis, once upon a time, was charged with murder. (He got into a fight after a Super Bowl party in Atlanta in 2000, a guy in the other group received a fatal stab wound.) The murder charge was dismissed in exchange for him testifying against the guys he was with and a guilty plea to obstruction of justice... so, he's not exactly the choir boy type.

That being said, he does seem to have turned his life around in the 12 years since then, so, take that for what you will. *shrug*

GilThorpe · Aug 29, 2012, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncoillini

No thank you, Don't want the drama, team disruption and negative public perception.

agree 100%

no thanks to the criminals. thats bs. yes, you need some tough guys, lots of tough guys, but not law breakers.

illinicb · Aug 29, 2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KBLEE

Even if he believes it is true, it was stupid to say it out loud on a radio show.

Yes, having that opinion is one thing. Actually saying it is another. Isn't he involved with their radio broadcasts? Perhaps I should say, wasn't he involved with their radio broadcasts?

Perhaps he was misquoted?

gibb52 · Aug 29, 2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilThorpe

agree 100%

no thanks to the criminals. thats bs. yes, you need some tough guys, lots of tough guys, but not law breakers.

+1. You need tough, hard nosed guys that hate to lose. There are plenty of those types out there that aren't gangbangers.

illinicb · Aug 30, 2012, 02:24 AM

Listening to a replay of the interview now. He dug himself a heck of a hole but at some point, it sounded like he was about to clarify what he was saying and take it back. Nope, he just kept on digging. The hosts gave him a couple of chances to walk it back, but he passed on it. In fairness, he said he didn't want murderers on the team.

CaptainHindsight · Aug 30, 2012, 07:24 AM

This concept certainly worked for adam sandler in the Longest Yard.... :laugh:

pizzaman · Aug 30, 2012, 07:59 AM

Normal people would consider the possibility of having some teammates with characteristics common to the tough criminal without actually being a criminal. There are plenty of criminals who are chicken-sh*ts when things get rough and would be awful teammates.

illynifan34 · Aug 30, 2012, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHindsight

This concept certainly worked for adam sandler in the Longest Yard.... :laugh:

Don't you mean Burt Reynolds?

256ILLINI · Aug 30, 2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WesterveltVictoryCigar

While he went a bit far with the "criminals", you do need some knucklehead types to play at the highest level, IMO.

Enter Vontae Davis

Illini2016 · Aug 30, 2012, 08:21 AM

Notre Dame is my second team, and let me say that I am quite unhappy with the trend that he is pointing out in which ND has been recruiting eventual criminals. I would rather try to build a good team around non-criminals than give in and start taking criminals.

laocoon · Aug 30, 2012, 01:00 PM

You can't play football from prison. Just because guys like Brian Urlacher and James Harrison can be abusive on and off the field doesn't mean that is a desirable quality.

AzIlliniFan · Aug 30, 2012, 01:08 PM

And here's the reason some thoughts are better left unsaid.

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefoot...comment-083012

SPINCOM · Aug 30, 2012, 01:29 PM

Now, if you have the WHOLE TEAM of bad citizens, then you will REALLY have a successful team.

Oh, wait, he is from Notre Dame!.. That makes sense.

SPINCOM · Aug 30, 2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncoillini

No thank you, Don't want the drama, team disruption and negative public perception.

Agree 100%. Just ask coach Dantonio.

Groundhogday · Aug 30, 2012, 11:42 PM

Wow, if Pinkett was right that Purdue defense could have been really good this year.

Quote:

Purdue has dismissed senior linebacker Dwayne Beckford following his latest arrest... Beckford has been arrested four times since June 2011.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...-latest-arrest

Aug 29, 2012, 02:53 PM	#8
KJKobs Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 871	Rapists? Check Murderers? Check (of videographers) Looks like they are well on their way __________________ Twitter: @KJKobs

Aug 30, 2012, 02:24 AM	#13
illinicb Location: Northbrook Posts: 5,749	Listening to a replay of the interview now. He dug himself a heck of a hole but at some point, it sounded like he was about to clarify what he was saying and take it back. Nope, he just kept on digging. The hosts gave him a couple of chances to walk it back, but he passed on it. In fairness, he said he didn't want murderers on the team. __________________ "I could care less" does not mean the same as "I couldn't care less"

Aug 30, 2012, 08:21 AM	#18
Illini2016 Location: Chicago/Champaign Posts: 370	Notre Dame is my second team, and let me say that I am quite unhappy with the trend that he is pointing out in which ND has been recruiting eventual criminals. I would rather try to build a good team around non-criminals than give in and start taking criminals. __________________ ILLINI BEARS CUBS BULLS BLACKHAWKS Class of 2016

Aug 29, 2012, 01:53 PM	#1
illinoisportsfan Posts: 499	“I've always felt like, to have a successful team, you gotta have a few bad citizens on the team,” Pinkett told the show. “I mean, that's how Ohio State used to win all the time. They would have two or three guys that were criminals. That just adds to the chemistry of the team. I think Notre Dame is growing because maybe they have some guys that are doing something worthy of a suspension, which creates edge on the football team. You can't have a football team full of choir boys. You get your butt kicked if you have a team full of choir boys. You gotta have a little bit of edge" http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...e-teams-better Discuss.

Aug 29, 2012, 01:58 PM	#2
FeelYourPaign Location: Barrington, IL Posts: 2,294	Sad to say, he is probably right. I never even played the game, but what do I know. Clearly a very physical, emotional game and someone who is a bit of thug or bully is often very successful in football. Ray Lewis of the Ravens comes to my mind as the classic physical, intimidating, successful player. Not saying he is a thug because I really have no idea, but he sure is scary. And he sure fires up a team.

Aug 29, 2012, 02:00 PM	#3
KBLEE Location: Montgomery, IL Posts: 6,239	Even if he believes it is true, it was stupid to say it out loud on a radio show.

Aug 29, 2012, 02:24 PM	#5
WesterveltVictoryCigar Location: People's Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 5,854	While he went a bit far with the "criminals", you do need some knucklehead types to play at the highest level, IMO.

Aug 29, 2012, 02:39 PM	#6
Kramer116 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,595	I was listening to this live at work, and I was just like WOW. They gave him multiple opportunities to back off his statements or reword it and he just dug in and went further.

Aug 29, 2012, 02:46 PM	#7
ncoillini Posts: 553	No thank you, Don't want the drama, team disruption and negative public perception.

Aug 30, 2012, 07:24 AM	#14
CaptainHindsight Location: Champaign Posts: 298	This concept certainly worked for adam sandler in the Longest Yard.... :laugh:

Aug 30, 2012, 07:59 AM	#15
pizzaman Location: Northwoods of Wisconsin Posts: 1,783	Normal people would consider the possibility of having some teammates with characteristics common to the tough criminal without actually being a criminal. There are plenty of criminals who are chicken-sh*ts when things get rough and would be awful teammates.

Aug 30, 2012, 01:00 PM	#19
laocoon Posts: 195	You can't play football from prison. Just because guys like Brian Urlacher and James Harrison can be abusive on and off the field doesn't mean that is a desirable quality.

Aug 30, 2012, 01:08 PM	#20
AzIlliniFan Posts: 2,042	And here's the reason some thoughts are better left unsaid. http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefoot...comment-083012

Aug 30, 2012, 01:29 PM	#21
SPINCOM Location: Chatham, IL Posts: 61	Now, if you have the WHOLE TEAM of bad citizens, then you will REALLY have a successful team. Oh, wait, he is from Notre Dame!.. That makes sense.