Having listened to and read up on the Caleb Campbell issue, and what the mass media calls “a move to help enlistment numbers,” it is time to get it right already.
Let me take the time to apologize to some ahead of time, but this one hits close to home for this vet, whose brothers are "still in it to win it." I'm just another ignorant soldier talking about sports and the war, the exact same conversation is taking place on every base in the military.
Campbell isn't the first athlete to join the service: Joe Louis joined the Army as did Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams was a pilot in the Army Air Corpse, Hank Greenberg, Billy Southworth, Bob Feller, Billy Martin, Stan Musial, Smokey Bill Read, and Bobby Mercer among many others. They all make soldiers proud, and none; including Caleb, expected special treatment.
Caleb Campbell was commissioned and signed a contract two years ago locking himself into military service, and pride for country until 2010. He finished his officer training school and was told he would be eligible to play professional sports in accordance with the then Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Having already listened to Mike Greenberg this morning on ESPN Radio trash the issue with his self-professed ignorance it is time to set the record straight, before full-blown media hysteria takes place on how evil the military is for not letting poor Caleb play a sport.
Giving Greenberg a pass, he said that he thought that it was because keeping Campbell active might attract recruits to join up, and increase numbers.
Now, to correct Mike, Lt. Campbell is a Recruiting Officer – look out Berkeley! His job is to attain quotas of enlisted men and women, go out into the public; to state parks, to malls, and most of all to high school and college campuses to much the dismay of many. They recruit others to join during a War on Terror with two fronts; Battlefronts Iraq and Afghanistan; and are demonized for it too.
He is not any closer to going over to Afghanistan or Iraq then he is of going to start as the new quarter back for Green Bay. This is all being sold you by way of some AP reporter who doesn’t know what it means to be a soldier, other than the fact that he is a hired mercenary reporting as he is told.
He probably has a guaranteed location in the states, while others suffer what is referred to as a “Wish List.” What would those he recruited think of him while over-there listening to him play games on the Voice of America Radio while in Baghdad driving a Hum V next to Curly-Joe?
One organization really said that "the NFL draft might actually save a soldier from the war," as if he didn't volunteer at all, and had no parental guidance-or will of his own. Did the Vietnam draft just happen again and someone forgot to tell us? Maybe that publication was thinking that a game was acutally more important than issues outside the realm of sports - real issues that impact the world, per say.
There once used to be "community drives" in support of soldiers past, maybe we could bring those days back and start by donating some microphones to scrap for our boys over-there.
Campbell said many classmates approached him with curiosity asking why he didn’t have to serve his term out. The fact is, regardless of him saying he could have had the best of both worlds in serving/recruiting for the Army while playing for the Detroit Lions, it is a morale issue and Caleb got too big, too fast.
It is way too public and now all the soldiers know about it, and unless they can release all those boys who have jobs waiting at home for them, than sorry Caleb-drop your rocks and grab your socks.
Plus what if some protestor got really out of hand on 'ole Caleb?
It isn’t about his classmates. It is about the ones he and his classmates order about on a daily basis, and sometimes to their deaths. The enlisted men are over-there sweating it out every day, stinking like pork sweats and no bath for a month, seeing no loved ones, no girlfriends, eating Meal Ready to Eat kits, not knowing how they’re families are doing, not seeing their kids and living every day under the threat of being shot, or blown up whilst being in 115 degree weather and in a perma-state of ball soup.
They serve so that their kid brothers and sisters, cousins, neighbors, or kids won’t have to do the same thing, and some get injured bad, while others don't make it out, but move on in grace.
The last thing a soldier, or the military wants to think of is how that guy is back in the states, making millions, partying with cheer-leaders (no, not ESPN reporters), playing football and traveling about the United States while they are in a place like Fallujah, or Hallabja - where there is proof of WMD's and it is just not reported.
Take it from a Veteran, this is not about NCAA rules and regulations, this is about the enlisted. Not the officers, but the millions that serve them and thousands that die under them who need their morale to be positive and need society to be supportive, which doesn’t mean demean their service and all those dead by bringing them home from what some call a worthless war-that smarts.
The troop morale should not be undermined, especially while some say that all the Iraqi government has to do is to care for its’ people and then we can come home. What has been going on over there for the past thousand years? It is an ongoing religious war that has roots back to the 12th century, along with having ties to Hitler.
Lion's Coach and Vietnam Veteran, Rod Marinelli, said of Campbell, "He was issued a helmet and all ready to go." Coach would do well to recall the helmet of honor which is required of all who sign to "serve." It is what it is, an unfortunate delay of one who voluntarily made a promise - he wasn't drafted by the military.
This war is not a game and ESPN ought to take better care for those that fight and die in it. Then again, ESPN is owned by Disney who's considering a merger with CNN. Jane Fonda was married to CNN owner Ted Turner and she was a war sympathizer, just on the wrong side.
She actually went to Vietnam and visited the Hanoi Hilton where McCain was held prisoner for 5 long years after being shot down in a Navy Jet. She turned troops over to the North Vietnam officers because they were trying to pass notes to her, that said thing like, "Hey, can you tell my mom I am still alive?" or "What year is it?"
These type politics are of the same mind frame that want to merge with ESPN/Walt Disney so it is consistent that they pollute the subject of soldiers voluntarily fighting for our way of life in such a poor manner.
Ms. Fonda-Turner protested openly in the US against our troops and joined John Kerry in France in support of North Vietnam cheering him on as he threw his medals away…the same medals that represent military-honor and for which millions have died, yet he just casually tossed them aside like trinkets to feed the politically starving. It's a good thing the 60s aren't around anymore.
So maybe ESPN’s ignorance is just your typical on-the-job training of those wanting to merge with CNN's Ted Turner, which in itself is "TnT."
ABC is also partnered-up with ESPN, and is owned by Viacom who owns cable-wide networking for whom the broadcast avenue is made available to those who report "newsworthy events." They tell us how bad or most recently successful the Bush Administration has been, but then glorify the war with shows like Generation Kill while young eyes watch in shock and awe.
Ask a soldier how he feels if you can’t take a vets word for it.
The media’s job is to take your eye off the ball to make you forget the troubles and help you spend your money on its parent corporation and their sponsors. Happy consumers spend the most, and those that the corporations push into office give the best benefits to them.
Military Enlisted Numbers actually went up, in some cases by 156%, despite the War on Terrorism, and their Battle Fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq; and in lieu of rising death tolls, yet those at NBC and ABC report that the enlisted numbers are down. THe military has not made some of it's current quotas because their golas are based on the previous years numbers and the highest amount of enlisted occured directly after 9.11.
Of course you will not hear that from Tom Brokaw of NBC, which is owned by GE, one of the largest of all military contractors; and polluters of the world who actually got tax breaks from the Democrat ruled Congress in 2001 to clean up the Hudson River which they polluted with PCB’s (not WMDs). Needless to say The Sierra Club and the NY Times are not happy at all about it.
These reporters on the war come off plainly like sympathetic humanitarians but will not report their own parent companies improprieties - which is of course hypocritical of the disingenuous pontificators.
You can visit the actual military websites "rather" than listen to glorifed boobs - at USAF, USMC, ARMY, and Navy to learn more about troop morale, Caleb Campbell and what the actual soldiers think and then you will not have to listen to what corporate reps want you to believe the soldiers think because you will know first hand, from the soldier himself.
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2 months ago
Your points are well taken, but I don't think you can argue the fact that the ARMY has set itself up for a PR nightmare after first telling Caleb that he can play, and then changing their mind the day before camp. That's a terrible PR move.
from 2 months ago
I dont think the Army cares too much about PR. But it was a little messed up, they could have told him sooner that he'd have to fulfill his contract, I guess they knew 2 weeks ago
from 2 months ago
First off, let me say what I forgot to mention in my initial comment and that is Thanks to you and others like you for doing what you do.
Now back to the article haha. See, I think PR is very important for the ARMY, especially at a time like this where you are trying to recruit. Another aspect is that teens and young men like to have options; everyone does. You want to work, go to school, or be around a place that gives you flexibility and isn't TOO rigid. Now I understand that there is a fine line when it comes to the Army, but by letting one guy leave his obligations and play in the NFL, it would have sent the message to other kids considering joining the ARMY or going to a D1 school that, "Hey.. If i play well enough, the ARMY will accommodate me and let me go that route also".
PR for any organization is really important and giving the appearance that "okay you can go....... no wait come back i changed my mind" is not a good one. They should have made one decision, in advance, and stuck to it.
from 2 months ago
One more thing I left out. Colin Cowherd mentioned this on ESPN Radio. Detroit is one of the poorest cities in America and has the highest or second highest crime rate. You know as well as I do that you don't go to Beverly Hills to recruit.. you hit the cities where there is the greatest population of impressionable youth who are looking for direction. Having Caleb, as a military guy who was granted an exception to play in the NFL would have been a bigger recruiting tool in that region than any others you can think of. Nothing beat's a "Great Story" and this was an opportunity that the Army fumbled away.
from 2 months ago
good points Shaun. THough if kids want leniency they can join the coast guard, reserves or state guards. The Army / military isnt a place for the half hearted, and all that seek a role in serive to their country ought not to be lied to about that.
I understand your point, and I think we can both agree that there were some politics involved with the decision. Whats more important, enlistment numbers or morale of those serving right now, who may re-enlist?
As far as recruiting in the city, these guys are officers - not dorm rats, you should see some of the officer base housing down in Annapolis, it is very nice and historical. Plus he'd have a 9 mil on his side along with a partner wathcing his back - they dont go to the street corners, they go to schools and malls - which nowaday might be just as dangerous.
Detroit didn't seem to have any problems selling out for their Pistons. It is just a bigger issue when there are about 10 million active duty right now
from 2 months ago
Shaun, thank you for pointing out that exactly what you said was straight from Colin Cowherd's show. Almost everything you said Colin said on his show this morning. Kudos for giving credit where it's due. It definitely was a good show today.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Chris. If I feel what someone says is worthwhile, I'll use it in debates but its important to give credit for the person who came up with it.
from 2 months ago
It's always good to give credit where do, and I did not mean to call out Mike Greenberg or his self professed ignorance to this issue, and just wanted to over a vets take on the issue of sports and war; and this was a good opportunity to do so, and I like the debate Shaun, so I thank you too.
2 months ago
All good points. Great article though. i just got done reading Doyels' (can't remember his first name) article about this on CBSsportsline.com. It's pretty rediculous.
Good job and well put, Patrick. Shaun does have some good points though.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Tyler, yes he does have some points, but the needs of the many outweigh the few; that is to say that there are way too many active duty soldiers going through hell right now and politics would not let those guys down like that, plus-the dude is an officer, not a pan-handler.
Detroits economy wasnt so bad that the Pistons didnt sell out, and they had a Stanley Cup winning Red Wing team. If it is about economy, then talk the Titans or Buffalo Bills, not too mention other states who control their own budgets. Besides, ole Caleb wouldnt impact their economy anyhow-in all honesty, they need more than one guy, unless his name is Barry David Sanders-the best
2 months ago
I see you points about this the media does not report the positive things about the military I just wrote a piece about that I worked on a show in Dallas and had to set the host straight about recruiting and retention numbers that are at an all time high, he kept agrueing but I had the facts for him and he was like wow I did not know that
because the media will pounce on any negative and the Army just fed them one
from 2 months ago
There you are John. Hows all been? Tell me about it, the media will make up controversies in order to get certain figures more political pulll, who then return the "favor" and it does no good for the real guys on the ground. You set em straight huh- Good On'Ya!
I would guess it is up to the military''s commander in chief to prove the militarys success, as one who is seeking his position right now seems to be waivering on like a pirate on a plank! Dubya's dad went to see the troops before he left office, and I would expect the same from his son.
2 months ago
Good points Patrick I think he just got swept up in it the media made a big deal of this the army should have kept their word it is bad p.r. and the already biased media that you and john point out will hit the dod for this just watch
from 2 months ago
The DoD cares a less, and can take a good hit, sometimes they hit back pretty good too <(^_^)>
2 months ago
I was in the guard does that count? ha!
from 2 months ago
The guard counts-have you check out the guards site. Most have blogs right in them, I went and found my old unit last weekend-like they were lost or something, but got in touch with some old friends - and got all caught up on the latest. It was a good feeling, and brought back some of the espirit de corps. HooRah
from 2 months ago
Patrick is certainly biased as well as mis-informed in regards to this issue. Not once has Lt. Campbell complained about his situation nor has he taken the army to task for any reason. He has stood by the leadership at West Point and will continue to serve his country with honor and integrity. Petty jealousies like those exhibited in this article should be disregarded and ignored. If you want to debate this issue at an institutional level, fine by me. However, leave the personal references to Lt. Campbell out of it. He is honor and duty bound to serve his country and nothing he has said or done has betrayed that.
2 months ago
I have been good just busy with school and the baby so I am just now getting back to writing a little. and yes dave the guard counts to me if you put on any uniform for any job you get my respect even the Chair force
from 2 months ago
I heard that John! Hey, at least they do have combat controllers and dont forget the 81st-Paratroopers - we just do most of it from way up above. chair force, i love that one. I used to hear Air Farce a lot. Ahhh... the cadences, huh? Enjoy it while you can, and be the best trainer that you can be because it gets passed down to those that take your spot.
Take good care of the baby, and yourself too-dont forget the latter
2 months ago
First and foremost, as Shaun mentioned; Patrick, John, and Dave, thank you so much for the service you have contributed to our country. There are not enough words to explain the sacrifice you three (and millions of others) have chosen to take for The United States of America. It is people like you that make me proud to live where I do. I am honored to be able to freely fly Old Glory.
Everyone who has commented before me has made some completely valid points on the topic of Caleb Campbell. It seems since the original story broke, I have heard points of view from all sides: veterans, current enlisted soldiers, broadcasters, and other talking faces in the media. However, there is one side of the story I have not heard from; the fan.
I was born and raised in Michigan, and I have closely followed every professional team in this state. As a (cough) Detroit Lions fan, I am a little ticked off that the Army reneged on their initial statement of letting Mr. Campbell play. The articles I have read and other information I have heard about Campbell as a football player gave me some sort of hope to better times for the franchise myself and every other Michigander has loved to hate for many years.
The mishaps the state had to deal with the abrupt retiring of Barry "Check for your Jock Strap, Mr. Linebacker" Sanders, the dozen or so no-name running backs since then, the lack of a solid quarterback for many years, Matt Millen and the WONDERFUL job he has done since taking the helm, and the countless wide receivers taken in the first round (dare I mention Charles Rogers??) have done nothing but lower the approval rating we fans have of the franchise itself.
Every year I, along with other Lions fans, get hopped up on some new acquisition or some small hint that the organization is taking a step in the right direction, only to be let down come season's end (or, in the case of last year, the half-way point of the season).
Strangely enough, which hasn't happened since Barry retired 10 years ago, this letdown has come before the season even started.
I had faith in Caleb Campbell as a player, and apparently we'll have to wait a few years to latch on to his ray of hope again. As if we haven't waited long enough...
from 2 months ago
Thanks for the comments and I feel your pain. Your franchise did take a hit as Barry left, far too early. Certainly it is unfortunate, but I can tell by your words that you kind of understnad, much like Caleb does.
His service is the priority here, and in a way his best serives is to honor the sctive duty and reservist, who really get yanked out of their houses and put on a battle field - for real. I can only imagine the frustration of sitting out another NFL season, but I think you can see, that whenever the dotted line is signed and oath taken all bets are off.
Rest assured, becuase I know fans are thinking it, they will not put him overseas for another Pat Tillman tragedy. He will be state side and working out, maybe even with the team on the side, but just can not faithfully execute his Lions contract. Now we really know how those guys I mention at the top of the article felt and what the fans felt too - but they and society had it much worse then, it was WW2.
You know, this will really inspire and motivate troops with the way Caleb is handling this, and that has no priceless. THose guys have it tough, theyre ordered to shave everday, not to eat any candy bars, or McDonalds, and basically have none if the luxuries of home, and live in a oven of sand - I guess the line of thought is to keep them mean, like pit bulls, and ready to attack.
This will turn out to be a patriotic story for Detroit and Campbell if the media doenst crush it and throw mud all over the place.
Thanks for the comments-I appreciate that point of view, becuase it wasnt raised until now. You always have your Michigan football, you still have hockey, and some baseball to watch too-which your still contending in.
R-PR
2 months ago
Patrick: you had me all the way up til the time you started making as many wild claims as you say Greenie did on his show. There is no network cabal. Disney is not merging with CNN and ABC is not associated with Viacom. Disney owns ESPN and ABC. CNN is owned by Time Warner and Viacom is another conglomerate altogether that owns CBS, Showtime and other various media outlets. So Jane Fonda isn't creeping up with her political stuff from Vietnam through her ex-husband of many years who sold Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner. I know it's hard to stop when you're ahead. You were there for a long while. Your point was well taken and I get it. Just don't lose the rest of us who don't want conspiracy diatribes rather than sports news analysis.
2 months ago
I guess that's far enough Pam. I didn't say that they were partnered-up, I said that there is "speculation" and that the media giants are considering merging, so I provided the links so that the reader could check out what our competitors are up to, and this is kind of a political hot bed; so I found it appropriate. Please tell us, where did you read that they are not merging-investors would like to know....
This is not Vietnam, I tried to draw that out- that this is a "voluntary force"; and no one "needs saving from the war," unless its some 3 legged stray dog in Iraq - because soldiers joined on their own. The Disney, ABC and potential CNN merger just fit nicely with Hanoi Jane Fonda-which again-really happened, and I provided a link to that too.
The Big 3 are run by big money corporations - I simply said it and provided the info to it so that readers could verify it – unlike they do on their military bashing news "shows." Not a lot of people know who Time Warner even is so I didn't mention them, but could have thrown a kernel about their owning AOL, and AOL Sports is another competitor who’ve had its share of controversy. But I think CNN is a more well known company and are more “politically motivated” than is AOL.
Like everything else, my pointing these facts out is just business-not a conspiracy. News jockeys are all-in it to make the big buck, & are paid by those like Jack Welch along with other big money corps,who get every amount of tax breaks as the evil red lobbyist do. They are not the sympathetic humanitarians that they make themselves out to be, if they were then they’d be working for missionaries like Mother Theresa and not always on the Fonda-esque "political mission" which in the long run is very pertinent to this article,
Somehow people never hear that GE IS a huge military contractor and more guilty of pollution than those they sell their hardware too...it is no more a conspiracy than are Oil Co who want to drill in new sites on US land who are told us to have started the war back in 1990 and are no more killing the world with too much carbon dioxide save any volcanology, than is GE and their PCBs.
Thanks for the comments and the opportunity to respond Pam and have a great weekend
R-PR
from 2 months ago
sorry, meant "fair enough"...it all ties in well though as it is the media who are blowing this out of purportion with lines like those in the article.
SO I say to the media "If the war were really about oil, then why have the dempocrats blocked us for a decade regarding drilling on US soil or arent the soldiers lives worth it to them to have to explain?"
I've worked a campaign or 2 in my day, and am no-spring chicken to the issues of the day that Pam said do not belong in the piece - as its too conspiracy theory oriented. I think I tied it in well, and showed the relevancy.
Maybe not enough though. I'll try harder next time - and again, did offer my apologies in the second paragraph to the sport junkies who could really give a wooden nickel about the Campbell issue to begin with....
2 months ago
I guess that's fair enough Pam. I've worked a politcal campaign or two, and am no spring chicken in this arena.
I didn't say that they were partnered-up, I said that the media giants are considering a merger & I provided the links so that the reader could check out what our competitors are up to, and this is kind of a political hot bed; so I found it appropriate.
This is not Vietnam, I tried to draw that fact out, this is a ”voluntary force”; and no one "needs saving from the war," unless its some 3 legged, stray dog in Iraq - because soldiers joined on their own. The Disney, ABC and potential CNN merger just fit nicely with Hanoi Jane Fonda-which again-really happened, and I provided a link to that too.
Its no more a conspiracy than is the war about oil, and the big 3 medias are run by big money corporations - I simply said it and provided the info to it so that readers could verify it – unlike they do on the military bashing shows. Disney just used to be a little more softer about it’s “PR.” Not a lot of people know who Time Warner even is so I didn't mention them, but could have thrown a kernel about their owning AOL, and AOL Sports is another competitor and they’ve had a share of controversy as well. But I think CNN is a more “politically motivated” company than is AOL.
Like everything else, my pointing these facts out is just business-not a conspiracy. News jockeys are all-in it to make the big buck, & are paid by those like Jack Welch & other big money corps who get every amount of tax breaks as the evil lobbyist do. They are not the sympathetic humanitarians that they make themselves out to be, if they were then they’d be working for missionaries like Mother Theresa and not always on the Fonda-esque "political mission" which in the long run is very pertinent to this article,
Yet somehow people never hear that GE IS a huge military contractor, one of the largest & more guilty of pollution than those they sell their hardware too. It is no more a conspiracy than are Oil Co who want to drill in new sites on US land, who are told us to have started the war back in 1990 or are killing the world with too much carbon dioxide save any volcanology. If the war was about oil then why haven’t these politically motivate media networks pushed for more in house drilling, or are soldiers just not worth it? You see, it is all relative.
Thanks for the comments and the opportunity to respond Pam and have a great weekend
R-PR
2 months ago
ooooops, the dreaded double post.
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