Rashard Mendenhall fired by Champion over Osama bin Laden tweets

[NeoConsSuck]

Source: USAToday

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is being dropped as an endorser by corporate sponsor Champion over his controversial tweets objecting to the celebration over the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of U.S. commandos Sunday.

Champion is "ending our business relationship" with Mendenhall since the athletic brand doesn't think he "can appropriately represent Champion," spokesman Matt Hall told Game On! Thursday night.

Mendenhall also questioned what really happened to the Twin Towers during the September 11th attacks. Before deleting it from his Twitter feed, he tweeted he has "a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

The NFL running back recently signed a 4-year contract extension to endorse Champion through 2015. That extended his first 3-year deal with the unit of Hanesbrands signed in 2008.



Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/05/rashard-mendenhall-fired-by-champion-over-osama-bin-laden-comments/1

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Shades of Ari Fleischer: "People have to watch what they say and watch what they do."

Yea, I'll watch what I do, one of them is not to purchase Champion products.

[demosincebirth]

1. I guess you'll show 'em

[Thrill]

2. "a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

Is there something wrong with his eyes?

[Sonoman]

7. More correctly...

"There's not a pilot on the planet who could fly those planes at those speeds."

I have a couple of neighbors who are retired astronauts and I have several friends who are ex-Blue Angels. They all believe the planes were remotely controlled. They claim that the planes would have been basically uncontrollable (in human hands) at those velocities.

One of my astronaut friends even asked Lee Hamilton for an opportunity to testify to the 'Panel' and was turned down. My friend is a level-headed, cool and rational guy who is also a rock-ribbed 'pub.

Anyway...

Sonoman

[Gregorian]

10. Have you posted that other than right here?

I'm curious about what you said. I've never heard of such a thing. But then I only flew single engine light aircraft. I'd sure like to hear more about the "uncontrollable" part. That doesn't sound right to me. I'm intrigued.

[high density]

13. How does a Blue Angels pilot know how a 767 handles at those speeds?

That's like saying a guy who has a Porsche 911 knows the limits of driving a commuter bus.

[titaniumsalute]

19. That's bunk

Hydrolics allow a pilot to do whatever he needs to do with a plane. If the plane's velocity is too high to respond to the hydrolics (rudder, elevators, aerilons, trim, etc.) than it doesn't matter if a human or computer is flying the plane.

Do you know how easy it is to fly a plane once it has taken off? I do. It is simple. If those terrorists could do some basic things like read a handheld GPS and use some autopilot it is simple.

[Sonoman]

3. Man, that's pretty harsh.

Maybe they can grab Timmy Teabow.

Sonoman

[tomm2thumbs]

4. maybe he can sue Twitter now for losing his Champion deal

a lot of folks want to blame someone else, so may as well go for the gusto

[tularetom]

5. Mr Mendenhall has a right to his opinion, ill informed though it may be

Champion has a right to fire him, short sighted though their action may be.

I'm having a hard time trying to muster up any outrage on either side of this one.

[onenote]

6. That's okay. I just ordered a nice Champion sweatshirt.

And now I may order a second one.

[Sonoman]

9. Dude, it's May 5th.

Sweatshirts for Summer?

And doesn't Champion put their logo on the breast of the garment?

I cannot imagine myself wearing a visible logo.

Heck, I even cut the tags off of my Levi's.

Sonoman

[onenote]

12. small logo on sleeve. Big college logo across chest

the champion logo is barely noticeable. And I needed a new sweatshirt, they were on sale, and I'll be using it during cool nights in the mountains this summer.

[SpartanDem]

8. It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side..

Anyone says who says that about OBL needs to fired

[IamK]

11. Total Tool

[emilyg]

14. I;ll boycott Champion.

[Honeycombe8]

15. Well, when you're a corporate spokesman, you have to be non-controversial.

Corporations don't want controversy. They would've gotten rid of him if he'd tweeted something controversial about "those pro-abortion people" or the like.

It's not WHAT an endorser says, or the stance taken. It's the CONTROVERSY that's the problem.

Corporations hire people to sell products. Products won't sell to people who are offended by controversial statements....one-half, either right or left, won't watch the commerical or buy the product.

You takes your chances when you're an endorser and decide to be controversial.

[pmorlan1]

16. Wow

I guess Rashard didn't know that in 2011 America it's ok to be a cheerleader for torture but it's not ok to voice a different opinion about the USA, USA chants and celebrations about the death of Bin Laden or to be skeptical about what the government tells us about 911 (they couldn't even tell us the truth about the death of Bin Laden). You either go along or you don't get along, that's the message folks. Land of the Free - Home of the Brave.

[fujiyama]

21. .

.

[lunasun]

17. Free speech in USofA ....BUT not Corporate America nt

[robcon]

20. 1st amendment only prevents Congress (or government) from abridging speech.

Free speech can be can abridged by non-governmental people or institutions on private property.

e.g., you can't put a Target ad in Wal-Mart's parking lot.

[fujiyama]

22. I don't know it's a first amendment right to have multi million dollar endorsement deals

[Baclava]

18. Maybe this will inspire him to a 2000 yd rushing season, with no fumbles.

I don't care about the stupid things Mendy says, but I agree he has a right to say them. Just hold on to the damn ball.

"Mendenhall reportedly had just inked a four-year contract extension with the brand"

Sucks for the kid to lose money over this, but he's only 23, we'll keep him.

Go Steelers!

[classysassy]

23. " Fear make cowards of us all "

Why are Americans afraid to speak freely about the bad things our government do,if you are doing something in my name and I disagree with your actions I should be free to speak out and defend my position without fear of my government(We the people)?.