Rivers a shameful hire
It seems CBS 4 is scraping the bottom of the barrel in hiring Reggie Rivers, the military-hating former Denver Broncos running back to be a commentator for the station’s Broncos games.
How can CBS 4 hire him after what he has said about the men and women — both past and present — of our armed forces? He has said that we are all a bunch of paid slaves.
CBS 4 should check on whom they hire before hiring them. This is as sorry an employee as I have ever seen. Besides, he was a sorry running back and he is a very poor commentator. Come on, CBS 4, can’t you do better?
Joe Lucero, Wheat Ridge
Military hating? Are you aware that Reggie Rivers is a "service brat"? That his father retired from service in the US Air Force (as mine did)? Are you aware that the comment Rivers made is because those members of the military & the National Guard, who have attempted to leave the miltary when they "thought" their enlistments were over found that they missed the "fine print" in their enlistment papers which says that the military has the right to keep them for up to 8 years (even though the members thought they were signing up for 4 years)?
Here's military hating for you:
A president who enlisted in the Guard during the Vietnam War to avoid actual combat (remember this was an era when Guard members NEVER served on the front lines), who cannot prove that he even met the terms of that enlistment (magically, all his paperwork has been lost or destroyed - despite the fact that the military has records of folks who served in WWI & WWII); who declared a war on Iraq based on lies then understaffed & undersupplied the effort - and under whose watch (also due to underfunding) Walter Reed Hospital - which used to be the premiere VA hospital in the US - along with other VA hospitals have become an embarassment; who claimed "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq in 5/2003 since which time more members of the military have died there than were killed on 9/11; who is the only president in time of war to grant tax cuts while funding the war separately from the national budget and refusing to consider the draft to give the members of the miltary who are on their 3rd, 4th or 5th tours of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan a break (although magically we the people can pay the mercenaries of Halliburton, which got a no-bid contract, thanks to VP Cheney, their former CEO, who got 5 draft exemptions during the Viet Nam era before he aged-out). Did I mention that folks who come back minus limbs have waited up to 2 years for their prostheses? Or that if someone comes back suffering PTSD, the military is stating that person must have had a pre-existing mental condition, so being in a combat zone is not what triggered their illness? NOW THAT'S A MILITARY HATER!
Good job Mary, you go girl!!
Posted by larrymc on September 8, 2007 06:37 AMIn-re Mary's comment that Reggie is a service brat etc...so what. I am too...we lived just outside Lowry in the 60's...the neighborhood had many service brats and not all of them loved the military, in fact some hated it with a passion and grew up that way. Just because someones father was in the service does not presuppose that children, etc share the same view.
Insofar as Reggie being a commentator on a sports show...it is pretty much harmless position as sports broadcasting is not known for its intellectual depth. I remember Reggie having his own current events show on channel 12 or 6...he was clueless, could not control the focus of the show or guests when they got into a loud argument. In fact, Reggie looked at the camera like a deer on a road when illuminated by car lights. If he were doing hard news and or commentary it would be a problem...not because he may or not be anit military, etc...only because he is not a terribly bright person. So, sports is perfect for him.
I have always found Rivers to be an appealing, friendly, fair and up-beat personality, on both radio and TV. He is the kind of "watchable" talking head, like Mike Landis or Ed Sardella (I guess I'm dating myself). Add to his TV presence a thorough knowledge of football, relationships with the Broncos, a wonderful sense of humor and sharp wit and channel 4 has made an outstanding choice.
Saying soldiers are "slaves" is military hating? Get a grip. I'm an Army brat, enlisted, and foot soldiers were despised cannon fodder when I was a kid. As the child of a foot soldier, I was at best a second-class citizen myself. You went into the Army then, fifty years ago, because it was better than panhandling, and you were treated like slaves by the sons of the rich.
Less than ten years ago, enlisted men with families were living on food stamps. Like firemen, policemen, and teachers, our servicemen are honored with lip service and paid pennies.
Rivers may, like many of us who saw it firsthand, hate the lie-driven, rich-serving machinery of the corporate military, but that is no disrespect to the brave Americans, like my father, who gave their lives to that machine is service to their country.
Posted by Mick on September 8, 2007 07:42 AMReggie delivers the sting. He was fired once because he told truth about the Middle East Plantation. Reggie is also a descendant of slaves. Our teen troops are earning maybe $20K, while our illegal contracted American soldiers are being paid $150K-$300K with lucrative disability compensation packages.
Criminal illegal Mexicans are America's newest slaves. They are re-introducing blacks like me to slavery, and the plantation masters this time around are US Sen. Shamnesty Salazar (skipper, SS Amnesty)and President Bush. Both are surrender monkeys, draft dodgers, K-K-K, communist-siders and defeatist. Salazar has used his criminal "homies" to even nullify the votes of blacks in Northeast Denver. For the first time in decades there are no blacks on RTD's board of directors (13 whites and 2 Latinos). Those illegal "boogers" register and actually vote.
Bush, Salazar, Billie Mae Owens, Mitt, Rudy, Lott, Allard (communist-sider), Lamborn, Tancredo, Fred, BoPeep, Cheney, Boehner, McConnell, etc., are all guilty of pimping black slaves. 55% of the "soldier -draftees" killed in Vietnam were black, while we only comprised 12% of the nation's entire population. When NAM broke-out, this band of racist panty-waists, broke for their mommas dress-tails.
I served America for 23 years as a steam propulsion engineering officer and shipboard CHIEF ENGINEER in 3 nuclear powered subamrines, 4 surface combat ships, and 3 deployments to Vietnam. I hate our military too. Bush is using them like the Gestapo because he has Rx drugged them, like Saddam used chemical weapons on the Kurds, our troops are using chemcial weapons on unsuspecting Iraqi citizens too. Bush is Hitler. Hitler vaporized Jews. Bush is vaporizing Arabs. Go #38!
Posted by 40acresandmymuleandNAMvetbennies on September 8, 2007 07:57 AMAs a conservative, quite naturally I disagree with Reggie's politics but as a color commentator for professional football he is an excellent fit.
Who better than an intelligent, articulate former football STAR?
I only wish that Hancock, Groff, Marshall, Wedgeworth-less, Jones, T. Carroll, Patterson, and Uncle Obama's Cabin (Congressional Black Caucus-CBC-comical blacks in congress-42 MT suits and dresses), had a fraction of the backbone, that Mr. Reggie Rivers possesses. It is truly sad that blacks in Northeast Denver are being denied their voting rights by Salazar, and he has excluded them and black disabled Vietnam veterans, from the federal funded jobs and contracts (cash-cow) in the T-REX, CBMS, Fas Tracks, Fitz redevelopment project, etc. This Soul Train gang, has made Bull Connor, so very, very, proud.
Posted by 40acresandmymuleandNAMvetbennies on September 8, 2007 08:26 AMI only wish that Hancock, Groff, Marshall, Wedgeworth-less, Jones, T. Carroll, Patterson, and Uncle Obama's Cabin (Congressional Black Caucus-CBC-comical blacks in congress-42 MT suits and dresses), had a fraction of the backbone, that Mr. Reggie Rivers possesses. It is truly sad that blacks in Northeast Denver are being denied their voting rights by Salazar, and he has excluded them and black disabled Vietnam veterans, from the federal funded jobs and contracts (cash-cows) in the T-REX, CBMS, Fas Tracks, Fitz redevelopment project, etc. This Soul Train gang, has made Bull Connor, so very, very, proud.
Posted by 40acresandmymuleandNAMvetbennies on September 8, 2007 08:27 AMI only wish that Hancock, Groff, Marshall, Wedgeworth-less, Jones, T. Carroll, Patterson, and Uncle Obama's Cabin (Congressional Black Caucus-CBC-comical blacks in congress-42 MT suits and dresses), had a fraction of the backbone, that Mr. Reggie Rivers possesses. It is truly sad that blacks in Northeast Denver are being denied their voting rights by Salazar, and he has excluded them and black disabled Vietnam veterans, from the federal funded jobs and contracts (cash-cows) in the T-REX, CBMS, Fas Tracks, Fitz redevelopment project, etc. This Soul Train gang, has made Bull Connor, so very, very, proud.
Posted by 40acresandmymuleandNAMvetbennies on September 8, 2007 08:27 AMI'm a vet and like it or not when you sign on the dotted line you are owned by the miltary. Maybe the term slave is a little strong but you do what they tell you, and you go where they tell you and there is nothing you can do about it. Now you are also told you are there to fight for our freedoms and defend our country and you buy it because your a 18 or 19 year old that doesn't know any better. Then you get shipped off to some country like Iraq or in my case Veitnam and soon you realize you are not defending your country you are in the middle of someone elses war while defence contractors and companies like Haliburton and Brown & Root make billions while you see people die all a round you. So you get a whole new look on how and why wars are fought. So Reggie if you read this don't buy into this pro Bush cons theory that you are either with us or your against us bull-s--t. I spent 4 years as a military slave and never had a chance to really fight for my country.
Posted by larrymc on September 8, 2007 08:42 AMI gotta ask, why does the RMN insist on printing letters like this? Why does a guy like "Brian Stuckey" get published seemingly once or twice a week with their right-wing drivel?
You may not agree with Mr. Rivers' politics, but there's no denying the guy is a sharp commentator, with an insider's view of the game, and precise command of the language.
This Lucero gentleman chose to take a quote by Rivers completely out of context and make a big deal out of it, and the Rocky abets this disinformation by printing the letter. Unbelievable.
Anybody ever heard of a "channel changer"?
Supposed to be one of them there new fangled inventions that lets someone choose the station he, or she, wants to watch. And I bet that would work for choosing the program with a sports comentator, too.
I don't watch all that much football; but I do remember the days when Reggie Rivers was one of their players. As I recall, he usually did an outstanding job; and he always did appear to be well versed in all aspects of the game. Seems to me, that's what one would want in a sports commentator; but, I guess there's no accounting for some people's tastes.
Oh! Well! It's Channel 4 doing the hiring, and paying the salary. So, we're right back to that channel changer, for those who don't like the person doing the job. Aren't we?
Posted by Old Grouch on September 8, 2007 09:36 AM40acresandmymuleandNAMvetbennies LIED AGAIN
(but who is surprised?)
“guilty of pimping black slaves. 55% of the "soldier -draftees" killed in Vietnam were black, while we only comprised 12% of the nation's entire population.”
I REPEAT: 40acres, you lying sack of shit. How can we believe anything you say when you just make up phony facts to gain sympathy. How many times have you been corrected, called a liar for the following statistic:
"Also 55% of the "soldier-draftees" killed in Vietnam (in-country) were black like me, and we only comprised 12% of the nations' population"
ACTUAL FACTS you FOOL:
• 88.4% of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian; 10.6% (275,000) were black; 1% belonged to other races.
• 86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics); 12.5% (7,241) were black; 1.2% belonged to other races.
• 170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 (5.2% of total) died there.
• 86.8% of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were black; 1.1% belonged to other races.
• 14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were among blacks.
• 34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms.
************************************************
• Overall, blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population.
******************************************************
Please note these FACTS 40acres, so you can refer to them in the future. The URL link for your reference (please tattoo on your arm for ready reference) is:
http://www.ptsdsupport.net/vietnam_warriors.html
They also have statistics on those with emotional and mental problems as a result of the Viet Nam conflict. Perhaps you can figure out where you fit in these categories.
Posted by on September 8, 2007 09:53 AMSee the bottom line is anyone that even comes close to question this prez or his little war the right wing nut jobs comes at them with all they have. They make claims of we hate the troops, we hate america, we want to lose the war, we are for the terroists. These are their only ways to defend the worst prez in american history.
Posted by larrymc on September 8, 2007 09:54 AMI thought Rivers was actually standing up for the troops in talking about how they were treated unfairly - like slaves.
I guess it all depends on the context of how you hear and accept spoken words.
And 40acres, you are a lying racist pig.
Posted by carl on September 8, 2007 10:20 AMshane, The rocky printing left wing drival DAILY is how it is supposed to be,right?
Posted by on September 8, 2007 10:27 AMAh! I've got it now!
It's all about Celebrity Worship!
A senile old Hollywood has-been ham - playing at the role of President of the United States, when he was in such touch with reality as happened on occasion - is to be "deified", because he was a Republican.
On the other hand, a local Freshman Sports Commentator, for the Donkeys Football Team, is to be "vilified", and "condemned" because he expressed a thought that offends a Republican.
All comes down to being of the Right religion.
Shakespeare said it so well:
"What fools these mortals be!"
Posted by Old Grouch on September 8, 2007 10:58 AMlarrymc 9:54-
Hmmm,
I must be old fashioned , but,
if my countries sworn enemies rhetoric matches my partys talking points,
I'm switching partys.
Posted by Get Real on September 8, 2007 12:17 PMLucero, if you don't like the commentary on the TV turn off the volume and listen to the game on the radio. And if you can't stand looking at Reggie Rivers, get a brick and throw it at your TV every time they show him. That'll solve your problem! But thanks for pointing out Rivers' appearance on the games. I won't miss a one if he's on it.
Posted by Stan Broyles on September 8, 2007 12:36 PM"Shameful" Eh?
Obviously there should be a political litmus test for football announcers. In fact, I don't think even grocery bagger jobs should be given to anyone who disagrees with the Preznit. Of course only 30% of the population would be eligible for employment, but let them eat cake!
Posted by on September 8, 2007 01:05 PMOG
I wasn't aware that Reggie had political opinions. Who cares anyway? I always found him as sharp as a fresh marshmallow and changed the channel. Where do you suppose those other guys left those channel changer thingies? (I should talk. I have 4 of them for this TV. I'm not allowed on my feet at all and the cats keep stealing the remotes. Two of them are 4o+ lb half bobcats. The other one is a mini cat. 4 pounds is all she weighs and she's 3 years old.)
Now let Rivers say unkind things about Saint Elway or Blessed Shanahan and I'll be the one selling the spoiled tomatoes.
Posted by momma y on September 8, 2007 02:08 PMmomma y,
It's a real pleasure to see that you are still with us. I hope all goes well, and that you are getting better daily.
Religion and politics - or is it political religion (?) - manage to generate so much heat, and so very little light. I don't honestly watch all that much of any of the games anymore - the Rockies having left the local channels for "greener pastures" on cable - so I really can't say I'm all that much entitled to an opinion. But the idea of a Sports Commentator being chosen on the basis of a political point of view on a particular subject just manages to elude me completely.
Yet, as we see here on this line of postings, Shakespeare was so right: "Much ado about nothing."
Take care; and have a good weekend.
Posted by Old Grouch on September 8, 2007 02:22 PMOG
Thanks,
It isn't religion and politics that cause the problems. It's the religion of politics and the politics of religion. I am still fond of imagining the extremists from both ends being locked in a room with two loaves of bread, a gallon of water and a loaded pistol.
The weekend will be only as good as my nephews coming up to close out my garden. I don't expect much. 24, 22 and 15. The fifteen year old has a lot of homework and, unbelievably, says it's his job to get good grades and go to college. He is remarkable. Other two only show up when I'm cooking. Next week we'll have the annual fall BBQ with smoked ribs, chicken and brisket. Family brings the food and I fix it. This year my neighbors will help me with the fixin. That's when I'll see the two oldest up here to get the garden set for the winter.
Good wishes to you as well. I"m going to have the great good pleasure of handing a greedy lawyer bankruptcy papers next week. I got a 6.5 million dollar judgment against Yellow Cab and this guy made an agreement with YCCA bankruptcy attorney that they would settle with me for 100K. Got my check in June. Forty five hundred dollars. Seems we signed an agreement to exchange an unsecured 6.5 million for an unsecured 100K. And this guy wants $2750 for that "service." That puts us over the bankruptcy limits by enough that the lawyer handling it says it's a formality. OOPS off subject. Sorry.
Check out the Speakout about school snacks.
Posted by momma y on September 8, 2007 03:08 PMFrom the looks of these posts Joe, you are in a minority with other conservative crybabies who can't handle the truth.
Posted by hikingartist on September 8, 2007 03:21 PMI do not agree with Rivers' politics, but he is covering football, not the Iraq war. He knows something about that subject, and he does a much better job than the sports clowns on the 10:00 p.m. news--Bienvenu, Lombardi and Soicher.
Posted by rwing on September 8, 2007 03:35 PMLucero, rediculous; Reggie is being employed to give comment on a FOOTBALL GAME; this has nothing to do with his politics; can you not see down your road? I can! Slaves?! I didn't know that soldiers were forced into service or that americans go to Mexico and drag people here to work; and they even get paid
Posted by brain on September 8, 2007 04:52 PMOG "But the idea of a Sports Commentator being chosen on the basis of a political point of view on a particular subject just manages to elude me completely."
Remember when Rushbaugh was with ESPN for what eight days?
Posted by Holy Reality on September 8, 2007 06:23 PMLimbaugh made a stupid statement, with his usual twist, about someone's race. He was released. He also "guaranteed" that WMD's would be "found in Iraq within 30 days" and said that wind generators were "sucking birds into them just like jet airplanes into their turbines". I think Reggie will stick to the games (one of his specialties) and leave the BS to Limbaugh. We'll see.
Posted by Stan Broyles on September 8, 2007 07:15 PMGet Real had an epiphany:
"I must be old fashioned , but,if my countries sworn enemies rhetoric matches my partys talking points,
I'm switching partys."
...and here I thought you'd always be a little Republican talking-points puppet..
Posted by Charles B on September 8, 2007 09:00 PMCharles-
As opposed to a terrorist talking points puppet like yourself?
Putting politics over the good of your own country , and rooting for bad news and defeat is so "progressive".
Why do you hate America?
Posted by Get Real on September 9, 2007 11:40 AMHey Joe Lucero,
You don't have to pretend or fabricate an issue to hate Reggie Rivers, just have the courage to admit you're a racist and get on with it.
So tell us why haven't you enlisted and deployed to help with G aWol Bush's "surge" ? Do you hate the men and women of the armed forces so much that you'd leave then short-handed in a losing battle?
The Military you claim to love is woefully short of new fools willing to fight and die meaningless deaths for the Repuglikan's lies., so put your blood where your SUV oil supply is, put your boots on the ground in Iraq and get busy "supporting your troops", chickenhawk coward.
Shane:
It's called freedom of speech, it's also called 2 sides of the coin, one might even go so far as to say why on earth does the RMN print so much left-wing "drivel"
God forbid that there's another way of thinking out there.................
Posted by Heather on September 9, 2007 11:44 PMNo comments about his skills. Letter writer is only upset because Rivers is not a Bush boot-licking toady. Newsflash, you are now in the minority. Most people are waking up to the lies from Bush/Cheny Co.
Posted by just sayin' on September 10, 2007 07:29 AMDUH!
The newscasts were all agog, and fired up, last night. The Donkeys won an opening season game for the first time in . . . however long. By ONE POINT, too!
Don't know what the TV Sports Commentator's politics have to do with that. But, on a line of postings supposedly dealing with the football team, it might be sort of . . . pertinent, maybe? . . . anyway, just thought it ought to get mentioned in passing.
Posted by Old Grouch on September 10, 2007 09:10 AMWho cares about who is commenting on the over-priced, too many commercials during a game, 12 minutes of actual action, 16 WHOLE games, professional football? B O R I N G! ! !
Besides, just in case all of you Rabid Broncos fans haven't noticed, for the first time in a VERY long time, your baseball team is playing meaningful games in September. They have a few teams to leap frog over, but they still could pull this out!
And, just to put the icing on the cake, the Chicago Cubs lost again yesterday and are out of first place having to play the very surprising St. Louis Cardinals tonight. GO BREWERS!
Posted by Dan2 on September 10, 2007 12:21 PMJohnny joined up and Jimmy was there and George got a Seargant's rating
Don't give your right name the Army don't care
And the life is so fascinating
Let's all go barmy, live off the Army
See the world we never saw
If we get feeling down we wander into town
And if the population should greet us with indignation
We chop off your bits because we like our hamburgers raw