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News & ArtsThursday, December 17, 2009
Hetero Another Professional Athlete, Another Domestic Dispute, Another Accident
Posted by Charles Mudede on Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 9:49 AM
HuffPo reports:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry has died, one day after suffering serious injuries upon falling out of the back of a pickup truck in what authorities describe as a domestic dispute with his fiancee.Because it ends with a death, a Chinese animation of this incident will not be funny.Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. Henry was 26.
Henry was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after being found on a residential road "apparently suffering life-threatening injuries," according to police.
Police said a dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee [Loleini Tonga] was driving away from the residence.
This image was taken from Loleini Tonga's Myspace page:
3
Except in this instance, it's not clear that the dead guy is the victim. Jumping into the back of a pickup truck is pretty aggressive behavior. He sounds like an abuser to me. For all we know, she was terrified and trying to flee for her life when he jumped into the back of her truck.
From everything I've heard about Tiger, he's the victim of the DV.
From everything I've heard about Tiger, he's the victim of the DV.
4
What's goin on in the mind of people these days, this just so senseless.
Such a beautiful couple, such a beautiful future encapsulated in that photo, wasted. This stupidity is precisely what people like the above want to see happen in minority communities. It's time to wake up and cut the self-destructive foreign attitudes before it's too late.
Such a beautiful couple, such a beautiful future encapsulated in that photo, wasted. This stupidity is precisely what people like the above want to see happen in minority communities. It's time to wake up and cut the self-destructive foreign attitudes before it's too late.
6
one less asshole in the world.
(anyway, riding in the back of the pickup is contraindicated because of the absence of restraining devices...)
(anyway, riding in the back of the pickup is contraindicated because of the absence of restraining devices...)
7
What kind of fucking stupid moron jumps in the back of a moving pick-up truck? Shit, he deserves a Darwin Award for this.
8
WTF was an Cincy receiver doing in NC during the NFL season? do the Bengals have a bye this week?
the Bengals may want to add a clause or 2 to their player contracts. "stay out of pickup beds", "stay the city where you play during the NFL season", etc.
the Bengals may want to add a clause or 2 to their player contracts. "stay out of pickup beds", "stay the city where you play during the NFL season", etc.
9
They were raising three kids - hate to see such reckless behavior and poor choices when small children will be affected. He must have felt invincible when he jumped into that truck bed. Too many parents just don't think - this one just happens to be a public figure....
11
Apparently, LC hasn't read up on Chris Henry.
Long story short, the dude was heading towards a violent end by age 30. All the signs were present. Either he would be shot, or shoot someone. He had been arrested on weapons charges, drug charges, and assault charges on separate occasions. It would not be a surprise if this was a DV situation spun out of control. Much like Sean Taylor, the violent world & behaviour he could not leave behind caught up to him.
All the stories you are going to hear about, "he was a sweet guy, misunderstood, really turned his life around, etc." should be treated as unwitting lies. He had managed to fool a lot of people with the sad puppy dog routine, but his repeated actions betrayed who he really was: a thug without a clue or hope.
Long story short, the dude was heading towards a violent end by age 30. All the signs were present. Either he would be shot, or shoot someone. He had been arrested on weapons charges, drug charges, and assault charges on separate occasions. It would not be a surprise if this was a DV situation spun out of control. Much like Sean Taylor, the violent world & behaviour he could not leave behind caught up to him.
All the stories you are going to hear about, "he was a sweet guy, misunderstood, really turned his life around, etc." should be treated as unwitting lies. He had managed to fool a lot of people with the sad puppy dog routine, but his repeated actions betrayed who he really was: a thug without a clue or hope.
12
the bengals have a game in SD on sunday. WTF was an NFL reciever doing 500 miles away from his team ON WEDNESDAY? WTF, Bengals management?
13
9
They were shacking up.
And had three kids.
Shacking up guarantees a lot of drama and mayhem in the lives of children.
They were shacking up.
And had three kids.
Shacking up guarantees a lot of drama and mayhem in the lives of children.
15
@13 "Shacking up"? What is this, the 60's? Sock it to me! Did you read the part where the fiance had recently picked out a wedding ring? Marriage does not equate to the lack of drama - far from it. I don't think a wedding ring would have kept this guy out of the back of that pick up!
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15
If they had postponed having children until they were willing to commit to each other three kids wouldn't be missing a dad right now.
If they had postponed having children until they were willing to commit to each other three kids wouldn't be missing a dad right now.
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I'm inclined to agree with @2, but of course don't know all the facts. Chris Henry had a history of run-ins with the law (DUI, assault, gun charges). As a result, he was suspended for 2 games in 2006, 8 games in 2007, and 4 games in 2008 by the NFL. He also had disciplinary problems in college, which led to him dropping to the 3rd round of the draft, despite having 1st round athletic ability.
@8 - He was injured and out for the season
@8 - He was injured and out for the season
20
@ 4
"It's time to wake up and cut the self-destructive foreign attitudes before it's too late"
That's rich coming from Hateschild! LOL! Where is the tolerance when it comes to human rights in Uganda and gay equality issues?..
BTW Hateschild why does this situation keep happening with black (and in the case of Tiger woods) part black athletes... Something in the water? Or soemthing more sinister like genetics? Perhaps white gay men are making them behave this way? Yes, yes, blame gay whitey!
"It's time to wake up and cut the self-destructive foreign attitudes before it's too late"
That's rich coming from Hateschild! LOL! Where is the tolerance when it comes to human rights in Uganda and gay equality issues?..
BTW Hateschild why does this situation keep happening with black (and in the case of Tiger woods) part black athletes... Something in the water? Or soemthing more sinister like genetics? Perhaps white gay men are making them behave this way? Yes, yes, blame gay whitey!
21
I'm not sure that we'll ever know if he was truly starting to turn his life around or not (he will probably be remembered more glowingly than his reputation deserves). Tragic end to a short, violent life.
22
@18 And if I woke up dead this morning I wouldn't be here, either. Poor logic - these kids did not deserve to exist absent married parents. Check out Dan's ongoing "Every Child Deserves a Mother and a Father" for many instances where marriage does not guarantee the lack of drama and mayhem.
23
Shacking up guarantees turmoil, instability and uncertainly in the lives of children.
Statistically, married families will experience less.
Married families where the parents are faithful to each other, even less.
If those parents postponed having children until marriage, still less.
Do you see how that works?
Statistically, married families will experience less.
Married families where the parents are faithful to each other, even less.
If those parents postponed having children until marriage, still less.
Do you see how that works?
24
I don't know anything about this guy, but he had a beautiful face:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/art…
RIP, beautiful face. Too bad the man who wore you didn't make better choices.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/art…
RIP, beautiful face. Too bad the man who wore you didn't make better choices.
25
Would your attitude towards this guy, and his possible crimes of domestic violence, change any if you knew that they were caused by traumatic brain injury?
I'm not saying they were; you'd have to do an autopsy to see if his brain is full of tau instead of living cells. But he's a football player, and most football players receive dozens or even hundreds of traumatic brain acceleration events in every game, and every practice. Emotions, anger, and violence are controlled by parts of the brain, and football-related Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy destroys those areas of the brain.
Maybe he wasn't an asshole; maybe he was just a football player. Maybe there's no such thing as an asshole. All we are is our brains.
I'm not saying they were; you'd have to do an autopsy to see if his brain is full of tau instead of living cells. But he's a football player, and most football players receive dozens or even hundreds of traumatic brain acceleration events in every game, and every practice. Emotions, anger, and violence are controlled by parts of the brain, and football-related Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy destroys those areas of the brain.
Maybe he wasn't an asshole; maybe he was just a football player. Maybe there's no such thing as an asshole. All we are is our brains.
26
@23 You have selected a single variable - "shacking up" - and use it to support a conclusion - guaranteed drama and mayhem. You then try to apply group statistical analysis to a single situuation - this tragedy. Many, many factors led to this situation, yet you focus on the lack of a marriage. And where did this crap about fidelity come into it? This is just my Spidy Sense tingling here, but I suspect you don't think "bad people", as defined by you, should have kids.
25 years ago I used my "mailbox minister" status to marry two young kids where the woman was very, very pregnant, desperate to get married right away because the church they were trying to join wouldn't let them in otherwise, and the minister there refused to perform the service because she was pregnant! What hypocracy.
I say focus on this football player's inner demons, feel sympathy for the kids, and leave marriage out of the equation.
25 years ago I used my "mailbox minister" status to marry two young kids where the woman was very, very pregnant, desperate to get married right away because the church they were trying to join wouldn't let them in otherwise, and the minister there refused to perform the service because she was pregnant! What hypocracy.
I say focus on this football player's inner demons, feel sympathy for the kids, and leave marriage out of the equation.
27
From what I know, the guy wasn't a rapist or murderer. I think all of you should hold passing judgment on someone that you clearly don't know. He has family and friends that are grieving right now.
Maybe he was a bad mofo, maybe not. Which of you sloggers can claim to be so flawless? That's what I thought.
Maybe he was a bad mofo, maybe not. Which of you sloggers can claim to be so flawless? That's what I thought.
28
@ Fnarf, I'm under the impression that linemen are the ones really susceptible to that since they're the ones hitting their heads every single play. This guy was a receiver. Yeah, still not good odds, but combine that with his age and I'd guess his head was pretty healthy. Of course, he might have had a head injury as a kid...
@ Sir Vic, LC will rush to the defense of any black person anywhere, no matter what they've done, if they are being criticized by a white person. And she has the nerve to call any of us "racist."
@ all the judgmental jerks here, you sure are acting like you know all the facts. Maxbell, I'm singling you out as a vile asshole of the lowest order for gloating over this death. Maybe he was heading for a reprehensible act of violence, or maybe he was heading for redemption. You sure don't know and have no place judging.
@ Sir Vic, LC will rush to the defense of any black person anywhere, no matter what they've done, if they are being criticized by a white person. And she has the nerve to call any of us "racist."
@ all the judgmental jerks here, you sure are acting like you know all the facts. Maxbell, I'm singling you out as a vile asshole of the lowest order for gloating over this death. Maybe he was heading for a reprehensible act of violence, or maybe he was heading for redemption. You sure don't know and have no place judging.
29
23, I'm sure this guy would have settled right down and become a model husband. Such a violent guy, the kids will be better off without him.
Loveschild is for this violent, tubulent couple having kids out of wedlock? (About 71% of black children are born to unwed mothers) However, a stable gay marriage and home are not as good?
Loveschild is for this violent, tubulent couple having kids out of wedlock? (About 71% of black children are born to unwed mothers) However, a stable gay marriage and home are not as good?
30
@12 Max,
While it seems apparent that this young fellow was doomed by his own behavior, I agree that Bengal management and the owner of the Bengals, Mike Brown particularly deserve a bit of blame. Coach Marvin Lewis didn't want Henry back because of his criminal activity and aberrant behavior. Brown gave him (Henry) a "second chance". Clearly, it failed.
Beyond tragic and sad, it is also getting redundant regarding the behavior of both college and pro male athletes. If they're not being shot or doing the shooting (to themselves or others), they're getting arrested for assualt, rape, theft or even pot smoking and are dying young from freak accidents or drug abuse or alcoholism. That's usually followed by "he was a soft spoken fellow", "a real talent", "a family man" and "he was beginning to control his demons". In addition, many of these fellows have huge financial problems and young children as well. To say the least, it's a bloody shame. Alas, it is an all too familiar of a story. Sigh.
While it seems apparent that this young fellow was doomed by his own behavior, I agree that Bengal management and the owner of the Bengals, Mike Brown particularly deserve a bit of blame. Coach Marvin Lewis didn't want Henry back because of his criminal activity and aberrant behavior. Brown gave him (Henry) a "second chance". Clearly, it failed.
Beyond tragic and sad, it is also getting redundant regarding the behavior of both college and pro male athletes. If they're not being shot or doing the shooting (to themselves or others), they're getting arrested for assualt, rape, theft or even pot smoking and are dying young from freak accidents or drug abuse or alcoholism. That's usually followed by "he was a soft spoken fellow", "a real talent", "a family man" and "he was beginning to control his demons". In addition, many of these fellows have huge financial problems and young children as well. To say the least, it's a bloody shame. Alas, it is an all too familiar of a story. Sigh.
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