TheAgitator.com
Coach Scold
Thursday, February 5th, 2004Former Nebraska coach and current GOP Rep. Tom Osborne is making a fine name for himself. As a tut-tutting, moralizing, sanctimonious hypocrite.
As coach of Nebraska, Osborne made millions of dollars building championship teams out of guys who, off the field, were mysogonist, lecherous shit bags who raped and beat women, practiced wholesale thuggery, and generally considered themselves untouchable because, dammit, they were Nebraska football players.
And with good reason. They had a coach who let them get away with murder. Or damn near it.
Coach Osborne suspended defensive star Christian Peter just one exhibition game after he was twice accused of rape, once convicted and several more times accused of sexual assault, and, also, of “disturbing the peace, trespassing, urinating in public, refusing to comply with the order of a policeman, threatening to kill a parking attendant, and possessing alcoholic beverages while under the age of 21.”
Emphasis mine, because it’ll be important later.
And that’s just Peter. Let’s talk about Lawrence Phillips, a superstar running back to whom Osborne gave second, third and fourth chances, despite his no contest plea to tossing his girlfriend down a stairwell, in addition to numerous other accusations of assault, sexual and otherwise. Since he’s left Nebraska, the guy’s life has been one long arrest record.
Also, let’s not forget that Osborne, as coach of a football powerhouse, wouldn’t have made his millions were it not for the NCAA’s megabucks television contracts, paid for in large part by the NCAA’s sponsors, of whom a sizeable chunk are beer manufacturers (though Nebraska apparently refuses direct payments from alcohol companies).
So what has Osborne done to make a name for himself in the Congress?
Well, first, he’s lent his name to a nationwide campaign sponsored by (who else?) CSPI aimed at banning all alcohol advertising from college sports broadcasts. Here’s what Osborne told Roll Call about the campaign:
“Most of the young people who participate in NCAA athletics are under the legal drinking age and since intercollegiate athletes are supposed to represent positive values, the alcohol commercials seem particularly inappropriate.”
Emphasis mine. Are you laughing or crying? I’m doing a little of both.
But Osborne isn’t done. His next crusade?
Why, Janet Jackson’s right breast, of course. Outraged by the pop star’s Super Bowl flash, Osborne has circulated a prudish “Dear Colleague” letter, and founded the “Sex and Violence in Media Caucus,” which will use Congressional muscle to muzzle programming too sexy or too bloody for broadcast television.
Programming such as, for example, news coverage of the Nebraska football program while Tom Osborne was coach.
Save us the sanctimonious bullshit, Coach. Fork over your salary from the Phillips and Peter years (perhaps you might donate it to AA, or a battered women’s group), hand back those championship rings, and then, maybe, we’ll build you a little perch from which you can do your moralizing.
To beat the dead horse even more, in a recent article written by the Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz it was mentioned that Tom Osborne, who recently visited Iraq, has “begun to organize a congressional caucus for Iraqi women to maintain effort and focus in this critical area.” The critical area Wolfowitz is talking about is women’s rights in the new Iraq. So, they allocated $27 million for programs to assist Iraqi women and Osborne is leading the way! Just the person we need to represent America… (SIGH)
He and Representatives John Peterson (R-PA), and Mark Souder (R-IN) introduced the bill (H.R. 3720), entitled the
“Empowering Parents and Teachers for a Drug-Free Education Act of 2004. This is to randomly drug test high school kids. I wonder how many of his football players passed random drug tests?
I hate to say this but I agree with you on this one. I’m from Nebraska and a big Husker fan but the only reason this man is in congress is because he won 3 National Championships. He’s planning on leaving congress so that He can run for govenor. He will of course win by a landslide.
Its seem people who vote this moron are the same ones who give me loads of flak when I lay into the “jock mentality”. No doubt they would agree with the accusation that I am “a no-talented faggot”.
And people wonder why things like Columbine happen…
I got a new motto for Nebraska.
Nebraska is for Moron
I remember a Sports Illustrated article on him in the late 90s entitled, “The Quiet Man” . How appropriate.
Rep. Rape Enabler upset about Janet Jackson
Radley has a distressing piece about a former Nebraskan head coach and current member of the house of the Representatives. This pillock is upset about the Janet Jackson breast exposure episode. Of course, he didn’t seem to care that his…
Why do the Cornhuskers have a big red “N” on the side of their helmets?
It stands for ‘Noleje’.
Osbourne supporting a push to eliminate underage drinking would be like Barry Switzer supporting a ban on automatic weapons in college dorm rooms…
I find it particularly inappropriate that Honda is an official sponsor of Little League baseball. Afterall, ALL the players in Little League are under the legal driving age and I think these commercials, though aimed towards the viewing public, have the additional effect of encouraging the underage players to drive without a license.
Since Little League players are supposed to represent positive values we cannot continue this association with Honda which clearly advocates the youth of America to go for a joy ride.
Right on the money.
Mark S. -
Out-frigging-standing.
(Potentially Honda-driving) parents are an integral part of Little League.
I would say potential-Honda driving parents are as integral to Little League as 21-and-over viewers are to College Football.
Who was it that said in a blog/article recently that “greed is good”?
Hey, this guy is just looking out for numero uno. Isn’t that what being a libertarian is all about?
Coaches, team moms/dads, driving the little buggers to practice and games, and oh yeah, PAYING FOR IT ALL!!!
Andrew
There is no need to attach the entire state of Nebraska because you disagree with the politics or the coaching stylle of our ex-football coach.
Sorry about the spelling I was in a hurry
You tell him, Peggy! Where do you live, darlin’? Wanna grab a brew?
Back off, dude! I seen her first! Peggy, how do you feel like moving into my 4th story apartment? How’s your calcium intake?
Brian — Perhaps my sarcasm wasn’t clear enough in my first post. I’m agreeing with you and Radley. Beer advertisements are intended to speak to the television audience who are primarily over 21. By following Rep. Osborne’s logic into the world of Little League baseball I was hoping to show his logic for what it truly is: ridiculous, illogical, and reactionary.
Lawrence –
If you really want to woo Peggy tell her about the supplemental insurance you just bought.
Mark–
Got the sarcasm, misinterpreted the meaning. Pardon me. I’ll go have another cup of coffee and recalibrate my subtlty meter…
Mind you own business, man. I don’t know nothing ’bout no supplements
Supplements, now there’s something I know about! There’s the kind you get from the needle and the kind you get from that dude at the gym and……….
The Osbourne File
Radley Balko takes aim at ex-Nebraska head football coach Tom Osbourne, a man who’s mistaken if he thinks we don’t
As one who has lived in Nebraska and attended UNL for a graduate degree, I too was amazed by the sanctimonious pronouncements of Tom Osbourne. Other than the fact that the ground he walks on is worshipped, what other qualification does he have to represent Nebraska? Then again, Nebraska has elected some strange critters:
- Hal Daub â AKA Eddie Munster, Sr. Congressman who became Omaha Mayor. Divorces Korean wife when she becomes a liability. Also known for opening mouth and inserting foot.
- Jon Christensen â former Congressman -dumps hot wife for (now former) Miss America. They are such the purrrrr-fect couple.
- Ernie Chambers â Guy keeps the Unicameral honest. Nothing like an ex-Black Panther to stir things up. Alone, he makes Nebraska politics interesting after I have moved away. Every state needs a barber or two to reflect the views of the non-lawyers (a barber that understands the laws of procedure extremely well). Alone, he keeps everyone annoyed, which I think is a good thing.
Actually, I like Omaha Mayor Lee Terry. But in Nebraska I had met with all these folks (except Osbourne, the coach from heaven). Now living in the DC area, I havenât even sighted my Congressman (Moran), and Iâm more politically involved now than when in Nebr.
Talk about hypocritical… I didn’t see a single person in that group of posts, including the writer of the article, that knows, or has even met Tom Osborne(there is no U; he’s not related to Ozzy). I have met him on many occassions, and for all of you to pass judgement is unforgiveable.
First of all, it would help if the writer had his facts correct.. Peter was CONVICTED of only one thing, public urination. Phillips assaulted a woman, yes, but was not accused, arrested, or convicted of anything else while at Nebraska.
I’m not condoning Peter or Phillips of their actions… strictly stating facts that the author conveniently left out. Phillips was suspended for 6 games for his conviction (also left out of the story). To the poster that wondered about drug testing at Nebraska, yes, they did random drug tests, and they did them frequently… it was a problem at Nebraska for about two years in the early 80’s, and Osborne squashed it by insisting on drug testing at NU.
Also, since when is running for office on name recognition a crime?? Jesse Ventura and Arnold come to mind, and I’m sure Osborne is quite a bit more in tune with the issues than they are.
As for Osborne, he is a strong Christian man, and was and still is involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes…. he HAS donated parts of his salary in the past (to many charities, and to his assistant coaches for loyalty). Anyone who says he did what he did to win football games needs to read his book, “More than Winning”, and you might then truly understand why Osborne is the most RESPECTED man in our fine state!
Also, what is wrong with the legislation he is working on??? Good for him to try and get legislation passed… some Congressmen and women don’t make any effort at all…
Shame on all of you for trying to bring down a fine human being… the only hypocrites are all of you.
Yeah! He’s a great guy. At least he is passing laws, even though they are laws that try to take away people’s rights. So what? He’s a great guy! Do you EVEN KNOW what his winning percentage was?
Feh.
Andy get knotted.
I am sorry but Radley is not the only source for info on this bloke. He may have been a good coach, but he turned a blind eye to his players behaving criminally.
However, once he gets into power he legislates (or tries to) against other people, who are at this time doing LEGAL things. Don’t you think this is just a tad hypocritical?
As far as him being a Christian…so what? It just adds to Radley’s point.
>>>Save us the sanctimonious bullshit, Coach.
Andrew and Doug…
What law is he trying to pass that squashes your rights??? Keeping beer ads off college programming?? Keeping Janet’s boob off primetime TV?? Helping Iraqi women get some freedom?? Yeah, sounds like he wants to do some real destructive stuff here…
And which of you two know all the facts of Tom Osborne and how he handled the situations of Peter and Phillips??? Do either of you live in Nebraska, or do you only believe what you read online?
This author did NOT include all the facts; Osborne took each incident by any player at Nebraska on a player by player basis… he kicked off numerous players for all kinds of problems… these are problems that happen at EVERY single university and college in America. He did not turn a blind eye at all… The only reason people singled out Nebraska is because they are successful. If former Baylor basketball coach Dave Bliss became a lawmaker, then we might have reason to question is ability to do so… do I need to elaborate?
and yes Doug, I know Tom Osborne’s winning percentage, and the fact that he is a smart coach, does not mean he can’t be a smart politician… keeping boobs off public primetime television is not going to hurt anyone… if you want primetime boobs, get Cinemax like everyone else.
I’ll answer your replies.. Andy
He is trying to quash all of our rights by telling the NCAA who they can and cannot do business with. He is quashing rights by telling the networks how to conduct their programming. It seems that the public outrage over the breast at the superbowl incident was strong enough that the major networks will make sure it never happens again. A law against is highly unnecessary.
You also say that the coach has kicked many players off the team for discipinary reasons, I’m curious how many of those were star players? Because getting rid of the third string busts just frees up more scholarships.
He’s spending MY money on these things. He wants to spend MY money to help Iraqi women. He wants to spend my money to try to tell networks what they already know and try to regulate. He wants to spend MY money to tell advertisers what TOTALLY LEGAL products they can and cannot promote and at what times.
What rights is he trying to squash? The right to keep my money from being pissed away on POINTLESS and USELESS governemnt waste.
What Anvil and Doug said.
Doug, Anvil, and Andrew..
OK… you don’t like what he is spending your money on… finally, you give a good answer!! I encourage you to contact YOUR Congressmen/women and tell them to oppose his ideas. I, for one, can see his point, because his intentions are good… but I also respect your point, too.
Now, Anvil… to answer your question, Osborne kicked Terrell Farley, ALL AMERICAN LINEBACKER, off the team before the BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP in 1996, a game which we LOST, thanks to Farley, and cost us an invitation to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, costing the University MILLIONS of dollars….
Farley was caught DRUNK DRIVING, and was dismissed shortly before a 37-27 loss to Texas, which kept us from returning to a fourth consecutive National Championship game… I could explain why Farley’s absence cost us the game, but then you’d have to be a football fan to understand, and I’m guessing you’re not.
hmmm… why was Osborne scrutinized in the first place?? Was it because he is successful??? Again, you are only reading half of the story (the author’s BIASED views)… if you want to know more, than read Osborne’s book, “More than Winning”, and he explains how he handled each situation in DETAIL and why he did what he did…
if you still don’t respect him after that, then that is your opinion…
but without knowing both sides of every story, it is easy to form a one sided opinion.
Andy
Us? We don’t recall you being on the team, Andy. Pop-Warner don’t count.
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Terrible issue. I’m really impressed. Money rules, - this is not the right way of life.
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