XPost: alt.sixtyplus, alt.tv.six-feet-under, tacoma.politics   
   From: anthonyb@4ax.com   
      
   Betcha he did.  How's those liberal politics working out for ya   
   in Obama's job market, you dick sniffing queer lover?   
      
   JAJAJAJAJAJA!   
      
   In an article posted to Deadspin entitled “I Was An NFL Player   
   Until I Was Fired By Two Cowards And A Bigot,” former Minnesota   
   Vikings punter Chris Kluwe alleges that he lost his job as   
   Vikings punter because of his public support of gay marriage.   
      
   The article looks back at Kluwe’s 2012 season and alleged   
   interactions he had with former head coach Leslie Frazier,   
   general manager Rick Spielman, and special-teams coordinator   
   Mike Priefer. Kluwe writes that Frazier and Spielman (the   
   “cowards” from the article’s title) were made uncomfortable by   
   his public support of gay marriage. Kluwe also states that   
   Priefer, who Kluwe refers to as the “bigot,” was openly hostile   
   to Kluwe about his support of gay rights, and Kluwe says he   
   believes Priefer was the one directly responsible for him losing   
   his job.   
      
   Kluwe says he is writing the article now to “make sure that Mike   
   Priefer never holds a coaching position again in the NFL, and   
   ideally never coaches at any level.” Priefer is considered a   
   candidate for the vacant Minnesota Vikings head-coach position.   
      
   Kluwe also writes that he would like to continue punting in the   
   NFL, but says:   
      
   “However, it’s clear to me that no matter how much I want to   
   prove I can play, I will no longer punt in the NFL, especially   
   now that I’ve written this account. Whether it’s my age, my   
   minimum veteran salary, my habit of speaking my mind, or (most   
   likely) a combination of all three, my time as a football player   
   is done.”   
      
   Kluwe says the relationship between Priefer and him began   
   deteriorating at the beginning of the 2012 season, after he   
   first made public his support of gay marriage.   
      
   >From the article:   
      
   “Throughout the months of September, October, and November,   
   Minnesota Vikings special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer would   
   use homophobic language in my presence…He would ask me if I had   
   written any letters defending ‘the gays’ recently and denounce   
   as disgusting the idea that two men would kiss, and he would   
   constantly belittle or demean any idea of acceptance or   
   tolerance…Mike Priefer also said on multiple occasions that I   
   would wind up burning in hell with the gays, and that the only   
   truth was Jesus Christ and the Bible. He said all this in a semi-   
   joking tone, and I responded in kind…”   
      
   Later, Kluwe describes an incident where he alleges Priefer used   
   violent language in a team meeting.   
      
   “As [my teammates and I] sat down in our chairs, Mike Priefer,   
   in one of the meanest voices I can ever recall hearing, said:   
   ‘We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and   
   then nuke it until it glows.’ The room grew intensely quiet, and   
   none of the players said a word for the rest of the meeting.”   
      
   Kluwe goes on to describe the deterioration of the relationship   
   between him and Priefer, and then his eventual dismissal from   
   the team.   
      
   The entire article is absolutely worth your time, and while it’s   
   not entirely surprising Kluwe wasn’t retained by the Vikings (a   
   league-average punter making a veteran’s salary is always going   
   to struggle finding a job), it is an interesting look behind the   
   scenes of an NFL franchise, and one man’s look at how he   
   believes his NFL career ended.   
      
   In an emailed statement to USA TODAY Sports, Vikings   
   spokesperson Jeff Anderson wrote: “The Minnesota Vikings were   
   made aware of Chris Kluwe’s allegations for the first time   
   today. We take them very seriously and will thoroughly review   
   this matter.   
      
   As an organization, the Vikings consistently strive to create a   
   supportive, respectful and accepting environment for all of our   
   players, coaches and front office personnel. We do not tolerate   
   discrimination at any level.   
      
   The team has long respected our players’ and associates’   
   individual rights, and, as Chris specifically stated, Vikings   
   ownership supports and promotes tolerance, including on the   
   subject of marriage equality. Because he was identified with the   
   Vikings, Chris was asked to be respectful while expressing his   
   opinions. Team ownership and management also repeatedly   
   emphasized to Chris that the Vikings would not impinge on his   
   right to express his views.   
      
   Any notion that Chris was released from our football team due to   
   his stance on marriage equality is entirely inaccurate and   
   inconsistent with team policy. Chris was released strictly based   
   on his football performance.   
      
   We will have further comment at the appropriate time.”   
      
   Prifer also issued a statement late Thursday afternoon to USA   
   TODAY Sports’ Tom Pelissero:   
      
   “I want to be clear that I do not tolerate discrimination of any   
   type and am respectful of all individuals,” Priefer said in the   
   statement. “I personally have gay family members who I love and   
   support just as I do any family member.   
      
   “The primary reason I entered coaching was to affect people in a   
   positive way. As a coach, I have always created an accepting   
   environment for my players, including Chris, and have looked to   
   support them both on and off the field.”   
      
   Vikings kicker Blair Walsh also backed Prifer in a statement to   
   Pelissero: “I have had countless conversations and interactions   
   with coach Priefer, and I personally can attest to his integrity   
   and character,” Walsh wrote in a statement emailed to USA TODAY   
   Sports.   
      
   “His professionalism in the workplace is exemplary, and I firmly   
   believe that my teammates would whole-heartedly agree. The   
   allegations made today are reprehensible and totally not   
   compatible with what Mike Priefer stands for.”   
      
   http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/01/chris-kluwe-minnesota-vikings-   
   mike-priefer/   
      
                  
      
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