*Rashard Mendenhall is making headlines with comments made on his official Twitter page regarding Osama bin Laden’s death.
The Pittsburgh Steelers running back on Monday tweeted: “What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side…”
Mendenhall didn’t hold back, even making a reference to the Sept. 11 attacks.
“We’ll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style.”
The Steelers felt compelled to act. On Tuesday, team president Art Rooney II released a statement.
“I have not spoken with Rashard, so it is hard to explain or even comprehend what he meant with his recent Twitter comments. The entire Steelers organization is very proud of the job our military personnel have done and we can only hope this leads to our troops coming home soon.”
Mendenhall, who profiles himself as a “conversationalist and professional athlete” on his Twitter page, turned some heads in March, as well, when he supported a comment by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson comparing the NFL to “modern-day slavery.”
“Anyone with knowledge of the slave trade and the NFL could say that these two parallel eachother,” Mendenhall posted at the time.
Mendenhall is coming off a tremendous season, as he led the AFC champions in carries (324), rushing yards (1,273) and rushing touchdowns (13). He has 2,439 yards in three seasons since being drafted in the 2008 first round out of Illinois.
In the 2010 postseason, Mendenhall ran for 230 yards on 61 carries in three games with four touchdowns, as Pittsburgh defeated the Baltimore Ravens (31-24) and New York Jets (24-19), before falling to the Green Bay Packers 31-25 in the Super Bowl.
Among his other bin Laden tweets:
“I believe in God. I believe we’re ALL his children. And I believe HE is the ONE and ONLY judge.”
“Those who judge others, will also be judged themselves.”
“For those of you who said you want to see Bin Laden burn … I ask how would God feel about your heart?”
“There is not an ignorant bone in my body. I just encourage you to think.”
Mendenhall’s string of tweets ended around 6 p.m. Monday. He has not tweeted since.
Sports radio talk shows in Pittsburgh — and around the nation — were fielding calls on Tuesday about his comments.
Mendenhall has 13,631 followers on Twitter, and he personally follows 66. Included in the group he’s following is the Dalai Lama, comedian Sarah Silverman and the Park Community Church in Chicago.
Please stick to playing football! They shyt was on TV when the planes went into the buildings and Osama took credit for it!
so u believe everything u c on tel-I-vision? sounds like ur the 1 who needs some enlightening.
IF it’s coming out his mouth…yes I do believe it! Maybe you need to get a television!
Where did he say he was defending Bin Laden? He’s right when he says it’s wrong to celebrate somebody’s death. Two wrongs don’t make it right nor will it bring back those 3,000 innocent lives lost. I sure didn’t go around whooping and hollering like a fool. As much as the media put out how much of a monster Bin Laden was, I don’t think that our government, pre- President Obama, had clean hands in 9/11 either. This government KNEW it was going to happen. Killing Bin Laden is not going to stop the terrorists abroad or on our own soil. We seem to forget that we have domestic terrorists right here in the USA. I’m glad this young man had the balls to speak his mind against the sheep mentality that is so prevelant.
Obama is not some innocent hero either.
If someone has the intelligence to challenge the status quo, they are demonized, flogged, tarred and feathered.
So many people are so caught up they dont think for themselves.
ITA
And? What the hell is wrong with what this guy said? I give him kudos for having the wherewithall to dare to have an independent thought.
This country is always touting its “freedoms,” freedoms of speech and whatnot and yet when one person dares think outside the crap fed to them by the mainstream, they are demonized.
Whatever. Good for your Rashard.
I don’t have any problems with what is said…he’s making a logical point.
To me Americans are hypocrites.Killing is ok if it fits their agenda.Doesnt it say in the Bible,thou shalt not kill or is there some small print I havent seen to that commandment,arent we supposed to be a Christian based nation,dont judge or you will be judged,forgive or you will not be forgiven,etc etc,but the rules only apply when it fits their agenda.As someone pointed out yesterday,bin Laden was on the FBI’s most wanted list but not for 9/11,as they had no proof of his role.So we are supposed to believe Mr Weapons of Mass Destruction Bush that bin laden masterminded 9/11.It’s funny when the US shows people outside this country burning flags,hanging presidents in effigy,they are pissed,but it’s ok to celebrate a person,no matter what he allegedly did,death.I admire the young man’s courage,but now Mendenhall will probably be demonized.I would hope that I would never act, the joyous way for anyone dying,the way alot of people did when bin laden was killed.
oh my a man after my heart! if only more prof athletes had such consciousness.
Cosign all posts. This man formulated an intelligent thought and is being villified for articulating it. Only in Amerikkka. *smh*
For those who believe in God, knows that EVERY and ALL things are according to HIS will, so EVERY and ALL things that has happened was pre-destined, things that are happening is pre-destined, and things that are going to happen………. and I agree, death shouldn’t be celebrated… i had to tell my daughter that whose birthday is on 9/11…. but HIS will shall be done, it’s really just that simple.
All of the calamities and things we see has been written.