49ers Chris Culliver will begin sensitivity training

[El Supremo]

Just to change the subject for an otherwise bad sports news day:

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver will begin sensitivity training and education immediately after the Super Bowl following his anti-gay remarks this week, then start volunteer work with at-risk homosexual youth nationwide.

Culliver is scheduled to begin working with "The Trevor Project," an organization that provides crisis and suicide intervention to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, according to his public relations representative, Theodore Palmer.

"He's so passionate about youth and people being comfortable with who they are and accepted by all," Palmer said in a phone interview Saturday. "He's excited to learn. The plan is with The Trevor Project, and their concerns are that he is genuine about his words."

Palmer said Culliver will spend time volunteering at a crisis center in San Francisco.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130202/chris-culliver-49ers-sensitivity-training.ap/#ixzz2JnSM1QjP

Scandalous!

[LonePirate]

1. If the 49ers were serious about punishing his bigotry, they would suspend him for the Super Bowl

That would send a message to him and others like him that their bigotry will not be tolerated.

[El Supremo]

2. I have to say that what he said was way out of line.

Even for me.

[bluedigger]

3. Why?

Are we supposed to believe he has had some epiphany? Why waste the precious resources of an organization like "The Trevor Project" for some fake rehabilitation of Culliver's reputation. Who gives a shit?

[LonePirate]

4. The 49ers obviously had to administer some sort of punishment to Culliver

The team simply could not sit on its hands here like what might have happened if he played for a team outside of San Francisco. They certainly were not going to suspend him as they should have done or likely would have done if had he insulted another minority group.

I would have preferred the team or the league fine him at least six figures worth of his salary and then donated that to a worthy organization such as The Trevor Project. That would have been more beneficial to them than his volunteered time which won't change his mind and may even cause some friction if his views impact his behavior whlie serving his "sentence."

[bluedigger]

5. This isn't punishment as I see it.

And I'm not sure the 49er's are obligated to punish him, anyways. In any case, it isn't clear that this undertaking is mandated in any way - the story came from his public relations manager, not a team spokesman.

I think the team should have suspended him on whatever grounds they could find, as an embarrassment and distraction to team focus before the game. I don't condone his position, but I don't think being openly homophobic is a fineable offense. The man has a right to his opinion, however misguided and bigoted it is.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. I think we really need to begin looking at this with clearer eyes.

Picture it as being in the 60s/70s (or heck even today) and hearing a soundbite from a white player saying something like this about a black player. Look what happened to Rush when he spouted off about McNabb.

Yes they should be obligated to punish him. For hate speech.

[bluedigger]

7. Then we should be able to take action against religious groups that tolerate it, as well.

I think they can fire him, but they can't make him "like" gays, or punish him until he does.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. I never said anything about making him like anything.

These guys are paid big money for the job they do. A job that most enjoy doing. There is no place for that kind of talk in the NFL. No one's talking about making him "like" anything. He should just shut up with the hate speech, pay the consequences or lose his darned jobs. Goodness knows there's a lot of fine players who never get the chance.

I would love to see a zero tolerance policy for general ass-hattery in professional sports.

[bluedigger]

9. I agree with everything you said.

I don't like being in the position of defending the asshole, but I don't think he's public enemy number one, either. If anything, it shows that the league is becoming more tolerant and people are starting to stand up for equality. If I were the team owner, he would have been gone already, but I'm not. I wouldn't be surprised if Goodell's office schedules an appointment for an ass kicking after the SB, either.

[Iggo]

10. Good. He needs it. (n/t)

[mythology]

11. Given his play today

I think he also needs to go to cornerback training school as well.

He may not be on the team next season, if you couple his stupid words and his awful play.

[caraher]

12. Yeah, he sure got "schooled" tonight

It's a tough position since you tend to wind up on the wrong side of highlight reels, but he also just plain didn't get the job done.