Especially cities that have populations of congenitally resentful people; Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast...we’re talking committed drinkers. In London, you get your dilettantes and your gradually disillusioned, but only the native cynics really deliver.

As a dual citizen, and one who has read books about how governments work, I can safely assure you that you are full of shit.

This fucking dolt knows the difference between prejudice and racism, and how racism by proxy works as opposed to situational racism. The conceit that racist acts or a prejudiced orientation are absolute indicators is essentialist in the extreme. It presupposes an incapacity to absorb moral and ethical lessons. It…

My know-nothing bs has known a lot of guys who worked with drank with, socialized with, fought for and with black guys and took care of families who also spoke easily about “them” and “bad neighborhoods”. People are inconsistent. There are lots of people of all races who swear they aren't racist but are in some ways.…

Sure, it can. But, unless I’ve forgotten something, Rocker hasn’t been contrite about anything. He’s also 20 years older than Cooper.

So’s your capacity for nuance. “Virulently” when used in conjunction with “racist” is typically used to describe white supremacists or separatists, people who regard non-Caucasian people as sub-human. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a nice resource, if you want to read up on them.

Everyone is, one way or another. But, just about everyone resists the idea that they are “virulently” so, mostly because they’re not. “Racism” isn’t zero-sum; it manifests in most people in passive ways. Anyone who claims to be “color” blind, or to ignore ethnicity or religion or tradition or accent is unequivocally…

You probably weren’t there when it did. There was no meritocracy like the NFL. There wasn’t any sharing of facilities, even utilities in a lot of areas. There’s no way to compare how Rhodesia, Namibia, South Africa worked with anything like America today. Apartheid wasn’t just prejudice; it was legally enforced…

Ever sung along to a hip-hop tune and not bleeped yourself when the n-word rolled around? Ever made a joke about Irish weddings or funerals, or imitated an Indian guy? Joked about an angry Latina? You want any of that filmed?

No. I never said he wasn’t racist, just not “virulently” so. The same can probably be said of you, unless you've never, ever engaged in any behavior offensive to any minority. Never made fun of Irish drunks, Indian Guys, Latins, African American names, made a Polish joke or wondered if an Italian guy knew a bookie.

You'll notice I said what I meant, not that he's elite among NFL players. You can't ignore the fact that he has always been at the top level of his sport. There is no up after the NFL. out of @1.4 million guys on an annualized basis, he's one of @ 1600 who play each year in the NFL; the numbers get even smaller when…

Didn’t say he was almost certainly not a racist. Some dude called him “virulently racist” based on a single event (that we know about). Are you virulently racist? Ever made fun of an Asian driver, Jewish Doctor/lawyer/accountant, Irish drinker, white dancer, black guy’s fashion choice, black kid’s name, Indian guy’s…

A) I think he’s an asshole

Still not convinced Cooper is “virulently racist”. Used a horrible word, sure. But, he’s been an elite ( if you’re in the NFL for any significant time, you’re elite compared to the @1.4 million high school and college players) player all his life, basically surrounded by black guys. I don’t know how he could be…

Well, shit. At least you've come by your cynicism honestly. But seriously, you cannot let them flip the script. Not on that. Not ever. No. Fuck no. I don't even know you, and I'd probably split the subpoena fee.

Clearly, I own shoes older than you.

That all depends on the number of negative experiences one has had in Mexico with ceviche. Things can go very, very, please let me die wrong.

Couldn't let me have my moment, could you? It's like finally landing the plane with that chick you've been nuts about, only to find out a few days later she gave you the clap. 7 beers, since you're asking.

I am gonna have a goddamn beer. Fuck it, I might have two. This is great. Not, “You don’t have to worry, it’s not twins.”, great, but pretty fucking great.

Except he didn’t constantly miss work and his time in rehab, depending on his state and his company, and any in-force collective bargaining agreement, would likely entitle him to at least some job protections. “At will” employment situations such as you describe aren’t quite as simple as you describe, depending on…