Leodis McKelvin incident worries Ravens
Football players are people, too, and several Ravens were stunned after learning that the front lawn of a home belonging to Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin was vandalized after the Bills’ season-opening loss to the New England Patriots on Monday night.
"It’s always a concern," cornerback Domonique Foxworth said of player safety. "People like that are out there. You assume that it happens to Hollywood celebrities with regards to stalkers and crazy people, but we’re celebrities and we’re kind of a big deal to a small portion of society. So we have to be aware of that. That’s scary and disheartening, to say the least."
An obscenity and the score of the 25-24 loss were painted in white on the grass. McKelvin fumbled a kick return that the Patriots turned into the game-winning touchdown.
"I never thought that you’d have fans like that," punter Sam Koch said. "People do make mistakes, and he was trying to make a play for his team. It was just unfortunate that he fumbled the ball. It’s just every unfortunate that somebody has to go do that and damage property like that."
Professional athletes are becoming targets of overeager and sometimes angry fans who take wins and losses almost as seriously as the players and coaches for whom athletics is their livelihood.
Fullback Le’Ron McClain said he has banned as many as 10 people from his Twitter account because they directed racial slurs at him.
"To have an idiot do something like that to a man and his house or anything and it’s about a silly game of football, it’s pretty much crazy to me," McClain said. "Every player in the NFL needs to be on alert about that."
Comments
McKelvin made a fluke mistake that could have happened to any player at any time.
This sort of extreme fan behavior somewhat justifies almost equally extreme views from an increasing number of NFL players who believe it's in their best interest to carry guns for safety.
What if the people who vandalized his yard had seen him in person?
Were the culprits cowards that wanted to send an anonymous message? Probably.
Might they have attacked McKelvin, conceivably with weapons. if they'd seen him? Possibly.
As despicable as what these fans did I'm optimistic that they're part of an extrordinarily small minority that would do such as thing.
As it happens this small minority gives the whole organization a black eye.
Posted by: Venice Beach John | September 17, 2009 3:22 PM
Yea ok Foxworth, your house should be vandalized too if you do something stupid like bring the ball out from the end zone with your hands team blocking
Posted by: Anonymous | September 17, 2009 4:58 PM
Coward too ashamed to type your name after posting that idiot remark. Those people take the game too serious!! If the Ravens had did that I would have mad but I would not vandalized someone's home. I hope they catch who ever did that and they do some time. It will send a message to those other nuts.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 17, 2009 5:48 PM
Two disparate comments in a row by someone named "anonymous"....I am typing this while in a lecture about schizophrenia...maybe a little ironic?
Posted by: Jeff | September 17, 2009 6:16 PM
to Anonymous that posted at 4:58
no one is perfect and people, even the professional players makes a mistake. but yea that was a stupid comment to post. also are you saying that a player like foxworth does not deserve privacy like we all do with our own properties?
Posted by: Sun | September 17, 2009 6:19 PM
One thing for sure is every person have made a mistake at work, that is if you work? However,we don't get treated like this. When they catch this person or people they should recieve the same penalty that Burress got since it's this kind of thing that made him carrying the gun in the first place. It's so easy to point the finger of shame at those who feel threathen but usally the offenders get off scott free. I not saying that it is right to carry handguns but I can see why. what if his family was there would they had hurt them??? who knows. protect the players better NFL your a multi-billion dollar industry.
Posted by: shane | September 17, 2009 6:37 PM
Looks like some cowards posting here, I bet not one of them would have the guts too say a word to any of these players in person!It's only a game, and yes even pros make stupid mistakes , but it is still only a game!
Posted by: MikeB | September 17, 2009 6:38 PM
Lighten up, Ravens. In other countries they kill players for losing soccer games. Here in the U.S. we're only at the Turfing Front Lawns stage, so it will be at least another generation before you have anything to really worry about.
Posted by: Bernie | September 17, 2009 7:01 PM
Usually people who have lost big bucks betting on a game are the ones who carry out vandalism in frustration, being drunk at the same time doesn't help.
Posted by: Evan | September 17, 2009 8:27 PM
they went too far by vandalizing his house, but mckelvin went to far with his mouth post game. if i remember correctly he said something like, "i would absolutley run it out again. if it happened 100 times, i run it out 100 times. thats just me." come on dude, you clearly should have taken a knee, just man up to it. maybe it was the fact that you said something cocky that infused that group of fans over the top to do something stupid.
Posted by: scott | September 17, 2009 9:12 PM
I went to the Ravens game in Buffalo two years ago and their fans were animals. So this incident does not surprise me. We were treated like sheet from the time we pulled into the parking lot. One pregnant Ravens fan was coming up the steps in our section and she was pelted with food, beer and coins. It was a totally classless display by the Buffalo crowd. I hope the team does move to Toronto, because those fools do not deserve a team.
Posted by: Sean | September 18, 2009 7:18 AM
What if that was the Super Bowl?
Posted by: Sampson | September 18, 2009 12:07 PM
My gosh it is a game. if you screw up at work, does that give your co workers the right to throw trash on your lawn?
Posted by: Anonymous | September 18, 2009 12:55 PM
Should learn to hold on to the ball and this stuff wouldn't happen!
Posted by: JaySON | September 18, 2009 1:47 PM
From the headline I thought the article was going to be about the Ravens being worried about repeating the McKelvin stupidity of bringing the ball out of the end zone, not that they would be worried about about a couple of 14 year old pranksters.
Posted by: tm | September 18, 2009 4:22 PM
The police found out who did it -- two teens from McKelvin's neighborhood. McKelvin asked they not be prosecuted. Ironically, the incident got him a lot of sympathy, that otherwise would have been contempt and loud booing (this Sunday), and they're expecting a big cheer for him at the game. Instead of a big cheer, I myself would give him a big dunce cap and make him stand in the corner the whole game. Or, paint the scarlet letter "M" on his helmet (for MORON"). However, I don't condone the vandalism for any reason. Period.
Posted by: easywriter01 | September 18, 2009 6:15 PM
I hope they catch the punk and prosecute.
I also hope Massachusetts doesn't make him their next Senator.
Posted by: Derf | September 18, 2009 9:13 PM