We won't ever really know the story regarding Belcher. His teammates have spoken well of him and he was a positive role model up until yesterday for young kids.
And several people have said he was jealous and controlling with her along with being a hot head so who knows. Maybe a guy who was nice, friendly in public but a total ass in private. Again who knows.
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Did the NHL not support Craig MacTavish after he murdered a young woman? Does no one remember fondly of his playing career? When he dies, will he be remembered fondly? Why is Myles Belle getting so much sympathy after killing someone?
MacTavish killed a woman accidently by hitting her with his car. Yes, he was drunk so he definitely needed to be held accountable but if you can't see the difference between this and pumping nine bullets into your spouse during an argument than I don't know what to say. MacTavish has also spent the rest of his life rectifying that horrible mistake he made rather then killing himself in front of people who cared about him. I have no problem with people remembering Belcher as a good player but preaching about him being a good person is too much.
As for him having mental illness, I'm sure he had some issues but his actions weren't the actions of a man who has completely lost his mind. More likes the actions of a dirtbag who couldn't control his psychotic impulses and then took his own life instead of facing the consequences.
And several people have said he was jealous and controlling with her along with being a hot head so who knows. Maybe a guy who was nice, friendly in public but a total ass in private. Again who knows..
Human interaction is a complex field. It's quite possible that he was both a nice guy who his teammates liked and whose presence they enjoyed and a man with temper/jealousy issues with regards to women. People don't always fit into neat templates.
Kansas City Chiefs officials knew that linebacker Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend were having relationship problems, and the team provided the couple with counseling in an effort to help, a police official said.
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When Belcher arrived at Arrowhead on Saturday, he encountered Pioli in the parking lot and told him the assistance the team had offered hadn't fixed the couple's problems and now "it was too late," police told The Star.
Pioli tried to persuade Belcher to put down his gun as Crennel and linebackers coach Gary Gibbs arrived at the scene.
Belcher thanked the men for everything the team had done for him and asked if Pioli and team owner Clark Hunt would take care of his daughter, The Star reported.
After that, Belcher reportedly said, "Guys, I have to do this."
"I was trying to get him to understand that life is not over," Crennel said Monday. "He still has a chance and let's get this worked out."
When Belcher heard police sirens approaching, he knelt behind a vehicle and shot himself in the head.
Not the biggest NFL fan but I've literally been thinking about this all day. I know the people hit most by this is the girlfriend's family and his family, ultimately the one who suffers most is that baby girl but I can't help but picture what it was like for the coach and GM... That plea of desperation to try and salvage what already became a worst-case scenario...
Really saddening. Prayers for the families of both sides and to the Chiefs organization.
I'd like to see a study comparing the brain damage prevalence among former NFL/NHL players and compare it to other professions and then do an economic risk-benefit analysis of pro sports vs. regular jobs based on the jobs an average prospective athlete is most likely to take based on their educational achievement and demographic background.
I don't understand how people 'justify' this saying he had head injuries/mental illness/drug abuse/alcohol problems.
How does that change anything? Since when does having person issues make it OK to kill someone and orphan your child?
No one is trying to justify it. Saying CTE causes brain damage which causes irrational behavior is not justifying it. He's still a villain and would be facing stiff, deserved punishment had he not taken his life. But to ignore that it may be a cause would be foolish. It's not a matter of justifying anything, but trying to look out for future players who may eventually suffer from CTE.
No one is trying to justify it. Saying CTE causes brain damage which causes irrational behavior is not justifying it. He's still a villain and would be facing stiff, deserved punishment had he not taken his life. But to ignore that it may be a cause would be foolish. It's not a matter of justifying anything, but trying to look out for future players who may eventually suffer from CTE.
No more than his alcoholism, partying, jealously, anger, drug abuse, etc.
I think labeling it as a 'cause' is better than saying it was the reason he did it.
Who's talking well of the guy? I swear some of you are making things up.
Exactly, the only "talking well" of the guy were the select few (myself included) who said, "hold on here, let's wait until the details become public before we make conclusions".
Who's talking well of the guy? I swear some of you are making things up.
I never said anyone was. I just said in my own personal opinion that it is impossible to talk well of the guy after knowing what he did. I was contemplating trying to find a kind way to say it but could not.
Apparently Belcher was questioning the mother if he was the real father or not, according to his mother at least...
Also looks like the NFL is going to do a great job in setting up a life, well at least financially, for the little girl going forward. I know it's just money, and anyone would rather have their parents... but at least it's something.
