Caleb Campbell -- No longer allowed to play.

That is beyond insulting to those that serve our country and protect your whiny ass at the risk of their own lives.

I cannot begin to express how angry this comment makes me.


It's okay, JR. The concept of "Service Before Self" is alien to some people.

While it does suck it happened a day before camp, he made a commitment when he went to West Point to serve his country. Politics aside, he made a commitment. He's not going to bitch about it because it makes him look bad. He's going to serve his time and come home to play. Stay safe Caleb. I wish you well and look forward to seeing you play in 2 years.

So, everyone in the military is either a kid, or an insane adult.

Good to have you back, irish!

:benched:

Most of the enlisted people I see are young. All I'm saying is its amazing what testosterone fueled young men will do.

Campbell was not trying to "get out" of his contract with the Army. He was trying to fullfill it in a different way that would have benefitted the Army and him but the military is not know for its flexibility so in reality he should have known this was never going to happen. Last time I checked contracts were two way streets and CC was ready (and still is) ready to hold up his end, unfortunately the Army didnt live up to their end of the bargain when they told him he could play.

What I would like to know is what happened to the minor league pitcher who took advantage of this rule before Caleb Campbell?

During the E:60 piece about Campbell an Army officer referenced the baseball player who I believe pitched in the Mariners system. He said that there was a great write up about him in some newspaper and the officer said, "You can't buy that kind of publicity" and something to the effect of "That does a lot more for the Army than another soldier would." So, it's not like the rule was made for Campbell. The officer stated that the same offer extended to people who had a shot at American Idol, as well.

Also, Campbell would have served as a recruiter for the Army while he was in the NFL, so it's not like he was going to totally blow off his duty to this country. This doesn't that look that great for the Army and will prevent any player with NFL dreams from attending West Point.

What I would like to know is what happened to the minor league pitcher who took advantage of this rule before Caleb Campbell?

During the E:60 piece about Campbell an Army officer referenced the baseball player who I believe pitched in the Mariners system. He said that there was a great write up about him in some newspaper and the officer said, "You can't buy that kind of publicity" and something to the effect of "That does a lot more for the Army than another soldier would." So, it's not like the rule was made for Campbell. The officer stated that the same offer extended to people who had a shot at American Idol, as well.

Also, Campbell would have served as a recruiter for the Army while he was in the NFL, so it's not like he was going to totally blow off his duty to this country. This doesn't that look that great for the Army and will prevent any player with NFL dreams from attending West Point.


Most people that go to West Point do not have aspirations of playing professional sports in the 1st place. Obviously playing sports was at least at one time secondary to his aspirations of serving his country.

Most people that go to West Point do not have aspirations of playing professional sports in the 1st place. Obviously playing sports was at least at one time secondary to his aspirations of serving his country.

I'm aware of that, but I'm just saying, that's going to make guys shy away.

I'm aware of that, but I'm just saying, that's going to make guys shy away.


They were shying away well before this. This does make thing worse though.

That is beyond insulting to those that serve our country and protect your whiny ass at the risk of their own lives.

I cannot begin to express how angry this comment makes me.

I think 8 years in the Army gives me the right to whine. I used my ROTC scolarship to pay for college and the Army used me to pay it back. All I can say is one of the happiest days of my life was when I bid the Army farewell after fulfilling my contract and being honorably discharged.

I think 8 years in the Army gives me the right to whine. I used my ROTC scolarship to pay for college and the Army used me to pay it back. All I can say is one of the happiest days of my life was when I bid the Army farewell after fulfilling my contract and being honorably discharged.

I was unaware of your military experience and agree that it provides you with a different insight. Because the military is, in part, a bureaucratic nightmare, I am also aware that many leave the services feeling frustrated, angry and bitter. The feelings and experiences of individuals like yourself, however, does not nullify or discredit the real sacrifices made by those who chose to remain in the service.

As someone who has not served, I have the utmost respect for those who have done so. My father was career military and served in two wars (Korea and Vietnam) both as an enlisted man (Korea) and officer (Vietnam). He, like many young men, initially joined as a way out of their particular circumstances but remained out of a sense of duty and self-sacrifice. During his time in Vietnam, I still remember waking up and regularly wondering if my father was alive (I was 5-6). I remember my friend when he found out his father would not be coming home. During my youth, most of my friends were military brats whose parents were lifers. All of these adults, without exception – both enlisted and commissioned, demonstrated a sense of self sacrifice and duty to others that made a deep impression on me.

To me, your initial comment seemed insulting to these people and to their choices. On its face, it still seems that way to me. You paint your disrespect with a broad brush and it appeared to cover many people for whom I have a deep and abiding respect.

I was unaware of your military experience and agree that it provides you with a different insight. Because the military is, in part, a bureaucratic nightmare, I am also aware that many leave the services feeling frustrated, angry and bitter. The feelings and experiences of individuals like yourself, however, does not nullify or discredit the real sacrifices made by those who chose to remain in the service.

As someone who has not served, I have the utmost respect for those who have done so. My father was career military and served in two wars (Korea and Vietnam) both as an enlisted man (Korea) and officer (Vietnam). He, like many young men, initially joined as a way out of their particular circumstances but remained out of a sense of duty and self-sacrifice. During his time in Vietnam, I still remember waking up and regularly wondering if my father was alive (I was 5-6). I remember my friend when he found out his father would not be coming home. During my youth, most of my friends were military brats whose parents were lifers. All of these adults, without exception – both enlisted and commissioned, demonstrated a sense of self sacrifice and duty to others that made a deep impression on me.

To me, your initial comment seemed insulting to these people and to their choices. On its face, it still seems that way to me. You paint your disrespect with a broad brush and it appeared to cover many people for whom I have a deep and abiding respect.

My army buddies & I used to laugh at guys like you, the kind that were so gung ho and into the military but yet couldnt find the time or balls to serve. Maybe next time you should think before you paint with a broad brush. I did not totally hate my time in the army mostly because it showed me where I did not want to be and how I did not want to end up. I used to recommend the military to anyone unsure of what to do with their life but now with the way the military does not honor its end of the contract by changing the rules as they go without regard for the personal lives that have chosen to serve I no longer recommend it as an option because once you are in you cant get out.