At the start of last week, Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio decided to not stick to sports.
Instead, he injected politics into sports by first bringing up the protests (from his now deleted Twitter account) after George Floyd’s murder in response to a tweet about the upcoming January 6th hearings.
A few days later he doubled down on his ignorance by equating the attempted coup on January 6th to a “dust up.”
“I can look at images on the TV [of the Floyd protests] — people’s livelihoods are being destroyed. Businesses are being burned down. No problem,” said Del Rio. “And then we have a dust-up at the Capitol, nothing burned down, and we’re going to make that a major deal. I just think it’s kind of two standards, and if we apply the same standard and we’re going to be reasonable with each other, let’s have a discussion.”
Afterwards, Del Rio issued an apology (from his now deleted Twitter account), but only in respect to his “dust up” comment.
“Referencing that situation as a dust-up was irresponsible and negligent and I am sorry,” tweeted Del Rio. “I stand by my comments condemning violence in communities across the country. I say that while also expressing my support as an American citizen for peaceful protest in our country.”
To be fair, Jack Del Rio has the right to say what he wants and the right to say what he feels.
But guess what.
That right comes with consequences.
We, the people, have the right to respond to people who express their rights to free speech and expression.
We have the right, and responsibility to check them when they’re incredibly and undenaibly wrong.
In this case, everyone definitely has the right to hold Jack Del Rio accountable for the ignorance he freely expressed.
Del Rio was smug in his response to a reporter questioning him about his reference to the George Floyd murder protests prior to the January 6th hearings.
His face was basically daring retorts from reporters.
But like Mike Tyson told us, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
Jack wants to talk tough? Jack wants the smoke?
No problem.
Just be mindful of the repercussions, especially if you’re spouting lies, misinformation or unfactual truths.
We all know January 6th was no dust-up. Far from it.
It was a blatant coup attempt, incited by one man, to overthrow our democratically elected government.
It was a vile, disgusting and violent movement fueled by hatred, ignorance and privilege whose participants injured, destroyed, stole and violated.
Some members even called for the deaths of Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi.
Anyone denying what January 6th was, especially those in positions of power like members of congress and Jack Del Rio, deserves to be checked, held accountable and punished.
That’s what the Commanders and head coach Ron Rivera did by fining him $100,000.
“After reflecting on the situation and circumstances, I have decided to fine Coach Del Rio $100,000, which the team will donate to the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund,” stated Washington head coach Ron Rivera.
Del Rio tried to diminish the significance of the January 6th coup and offered a weak apology after being ripped to shreds.
Then he tried to compare it to the protests after the murder of George Floyd.
There is no comparison.
None.
Even Ed Reed, who rarely tweets, added his fury to the situation.
“Today, im sick and tired! A dust up! 100,000 is not enough, money ain’t nothing to a person who is recycled through coaching. Its always one,” tweeted Reed. “First it was Saban now its Jack to just remind US what it is! Man if u coached by him put your pants on! Its simple right and wrong, Wrong.”
As expected the usual pundits came to Del Rio’s defense with cries of “First Amendment Rights.”
Some bizarrely brought Colin Kaepernick into the situation.
Others believe Rivera fined Del Rio because his comments impacted their path at securing land for a new stadium.
Yet “surprisingly”, none of these defenders told him to stick to sports.
But this is much bigger than a new stadium.
This is about right and wrong.
Jack Del Rio has the right to express his thoughts, but he was dead wrong about about what he said.
As a result, he has the right to be chin checked.
And that’s definitely not wrong.
