Evan Habeeb-USA Today Sports
For anyone not familiar with the story of “The Scarlet Letter” let me give you a very quick description. A young woman named Hester Prynne was accused of adultery and had a wear a scarlet “A” on her body. This was done to humiliate and shame her in front of the whole town. What in the hell does the Scarlet Letter have to do with football? I’m glad you asked.
As we all know the preseason games for most teams kick off this Thursday and Friday night, respectively. The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens start out this Thursday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since the beginning of the social media age people have had the right to express their feelings on their current mood, politics, sports, and my favorite pictures of what they’re having dinner — very necessary to show that off.
On Facebook especially, I get to see a ton of status updates during Raven games both good and bad, mostly bad though. Even during preseason games I’ll see some unnecessarily negative comments. This is for preseason games mind you, where wins and losses mean nothing.
If you don’t see where this is going let me spell it out for you. I’m creating my own Scarlet Letter which is this article that I’m currently typing right now. Every ridiculous and irrational comment I see on Facebook not just this Thursday, but for all the preseason games will get this article posted on their wall with a #I under it so everyone can see how irrational you are.
Some examples I’ll be looking for. After a Joe Flacco interception “We’re paying over 20 mil a year for that?” After a Tandon Doss drops a ball “Anquan Boldin wouldn’t have dropped that! Doss should be cut”. After the defense gives up a long pass play “That wouldn’t have happened if Ed Reed was still around.”
I could go on with that forever, but you get the point. It’s only the preseason, people; mistakes will happen; it’s not the end of the world. Preseason games are around to help work out the kinks. Don’t go getting all crazy or else you might get my scarlet letter posted on your Facebook wall for all to see. Stay classy, Baltimore.
Dan Abeshouse is a Baltimore Ravens Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Danabeshouse82, Like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google
