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Blount: Sorry for Boise State

Letter to the editor

By LeGarrette Blount | University running back

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Published: Thursday, October 1, 2009

Updated: Thursday, October 1, 2009

Though the incident at Boise State happened before the start of classes, there probably are few members of our University community who are unaware of the images and media reports of my regrettable actions following the Oregon-Boise State football game. There is no justification for my behavior — not the “heat of the moment,” not the “agony of defeat,” and definitely not anything said or done by an opponent.

Being a student-athlete at the University of Oregon should be about being a good student working to positively represent the University and its football program under coach Chip Kelly, and handling both victories and defeats with sportsmanship, class, and character. That night, I used poor judgment and lost self-control. My actions reflected poorly upon my teammates, our football program, and our University.  And for this, I offer my sincerest apologies and heartfelt regrets.

On a personal note, I probably will never be able to erase the memories of the post-game events of that day. Given this, I do not expect to be given a second chance to be a positive and responsible member of the football program and of this community. Going forward, what I hope for is the opportunity to show that I am able to earn a second chance as a University student. And if I am so fortunate, I believe that I also will demonstrate that I am a better man and a better human being for having lived through this unfortunate experience.

Sincerely,

LeGarrette Blount

 

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153 comments

LeGarrette Blount
Mon Jan 4 2010 09:00
Now that the season are over, I wants to thank you that support me. Expecially Jenny H whos unwavering props and improving grammar cushioned the blows I took from the media. and Jenny H, if the night classses keep working maybe one day you can write appology letters for me.

Groin-grabbingly yours,

LeGarrette Blount

Mrs. Spanarkel
Wed Dec 23 2009 17:30
Jenny H. I must admit that your writing has improved slightly. The night classes must be helping. Your last post, although lacking any sense of style whatsoever, was grammatically correct.
Jenny H.
Thu Dec 10 2009 01:04
I'm so glad the Ducks are going to the Rose Bowl, and I think Blount played a great game. Of course, if the Ducks hadn't won or if Blount had not made such a sportsmanlike return, I was fully prepared to attempt steal the spotlight once again with a cleverly misplaced use of the word "your."
a.f.
Wed Nov 25 2009 21:51
Just to clarify, I am the previous poster "A.F.". I forgot to indicate that in my last post.
Your name
Wed Nov 25 2009 21:48
I apologize for my quick and inflammatory response. I did in fact write my previous response in the heat of the moment, and looking back on it, I now realize I could have articulated my point in a more precise and less aggressive manner. I was merely trying to say that I believe the vast majority of individuals who criticize Blount are doing so because of his poor behavior and lack of sportsmanship, not because of his skin color. In addition, those who question the authenticity of his letter have legitimate reasons. I am in an interracial relationship, and my girlfriend and I take racism very seriously. I personally know how hurtful it can be. However, I also find it hurtful when people use racism as a tool to make other people's opinions less valid. It seems that as of recent, playing the race card has become a trend among many Americans, who use the stamp of racism to try and lessen the legitimacy of people's arguments when there is no indication of racism in their opinion to begin with.

Many people, such as myself, have heard Blount speak on camera. It is hard to believe that he wrote his letter all by himself without any sort of outside help. Obviously, pointing this out is not a direct attack on his ethnicity, but it is merely questioning the validity of his letter based on his past public appearances in which his vocabulary and speech do not seem to match his usage of English in the letter. Granted, he could be someone who has poor verbal skills and perfect writing abilities, but I doubt that. Although my previous post was written in haste and filled with hostility, it was a reflection of my anger about the usage of "racism" and the ignorance of the poster who calls themselves Dallas. If you knew me personally, you would know that I take racism very seriously. It is still a problem in America (although it is often blown out of proportion) and continues to be a bigger problem around the world. However, when people use it in an argument when there is no clear evidence or proof of it, they are throwing it around carelessly, thus causing it to be less effective in situations where there is clear evidence of racism. The verbal insults in my previous post only reflected my emotion at the time, and as a result, my post was not taken as seriously as I would have liked. Hopefully, my personal opinions are better expressed in this current post.

James William Bottomtooth
Fri Nov 20 2009 15:00
Re: Senor Piptusi

Indeed my good man. It would be a sheer delight to read about Mr. AF's take on something more profound. Perhaps the motivation behind Jenny H's deliberate misrepresentation as a wordsmith. I recently read about a gentleman being prosecuted for misrepresenting himself as an officer of the U.S. army. I’d bet all the crumpets in Britain that Mr. AF would find Jenny H’s crime far more destructive.

-JWB

LeGarrette Blount
Fri Nov 20 2009 14:49
me too.
Senor Piptusi
Fri Nov 20 2009 14:46
As a publisher, I feel that I must weigh in on this as well. While AF's vigor should indeed be applauded, his writing style is far too objective. With such a middle-of-the-road perspective, most would struggle to find his statements of fact compelling. I’d love to see this gentleman wrap his lexicon around a more controversial position.
Mrs. Spanarkel
Wed Nov 18 2009 15:36
In response to a.f.
What passion! What zeal! In all my years as an elementary school teacher I have never seen writing like this. At the moment I am completely speechless and more than a bit aroused. A.F. you a teacher's dream, a writer of the highest caliber and, dare I say, a wordsmith. Jenny H. you can learn a lot from this man.
Austin
Wed Nov 18 2009 15:08
a.f.

You used the wrong "your"

a.f.
Wed Nov 11 2009 00:54
my response to dallas:

shut your mouth you racist piece of garbage. no one mentioned his skin color but yourself. we don't care. we care about morals, values, good clean football. you ignorant racist bastard you, why don't you join a supremacy movement. everything in your god damn comment was tying into the fact that he's black. i'm sick of hearing people like you who never shut up about the race thing. we don't care. we don't. you do. if anyone commented on the fact that blount couldn't write the letter himself they are probably right. not because he's black, but because he's not articulate and not very intelligent. quit trying to label anyone else with an opinion a racist when we can all see that your the racist. you look at everything through race colored lenses.

Jenny H.
Tue Nov 3 2009 23:04
This is brilliant! Frankly, I'm tickled by the fact that my innocent, grammatical error created such a stir. So glad I could take the spotlight off Blount for a few minutes. *laugh*

Mr. Blount, I hope you earn the right to play in the Stanford game. You have the support of a fellow "idiot." *wink*

Oh, and Mr. Bottomtooth... The BIRD is the WORD!

James William Bottomtooth
Thu Oct 8 2009 14:07
Old Ducker,

Can we get back to the more important issue of Jenny H's misrepresentation as a wordsmith? Please only add constructive observations regarding the extent Ms. H's glaring ineptitude.

Thanks in advance,

JWB

Old Ducker
Wed Oct 7 2009 19:59
Apology accepted, LeGarrette, for throwing that completely unjustified and regrettable (incredibly awesome) right cross.
Mr. Frankle
Tue Oct 6 2009 14:22
I teach first grade and feel like I must weigh in on this. I deliberated quite a bit and I realized that Jenny H. cannot write and indeed is no wordsmith.
Mrs. Spanarkel
Tue Oct 6 2009 14:19
"While I might be the wordsmith that brings the story to life, it's there name on the final article, because it's their soul behind the message."
That's an interesting comment, especially when you consider that millions of people can write but Jenny H. doesn't understand first grammar but calls herself a wordsmith.
Austin
Tue Oct 6 2009 13:59
Jenny H "the wordsmith"

You used the wrong "there"

My name
Tue Oct 6 2009 13:03
I've heard this kid speak and there is less than zero chance he wrote this himself. The apology I'll buy because the guy wants to play pro football and be ridiculously wealthy. The only way that happens, is with this apology. Him writing it is as likely as Lindsay Lohan winning an Oscar.
Dallas
Sun Oct 4 2009 12:46
It REALLY upsets me to hear that some of you have labled this young man "thug", "hoodlum". you've criticised his statement saying he didn't write this. this young man, this young, Black man had a moment of WEAKNESS, in the most HEATED, hard fought games Oregon will ever play. If ANY of you have played football, in a tense moment some of tend to LOSE OUR COOL! Why is it that NONE OF YOU, have ever questioned what EXACTLY did that Boise State player say to Blount to make him go off like that? why is is that it should be a HARDER fine, a more tougher penalty when it involves an African-American male? Can we ALL just face the fact that he had a LAPSE in judgement, and its over. Now I personally think that to make amends for this "so-called" horrendous crime he committed, this will just motivate him to get his ASS out there and Run that ball down the opponents throat and try to get Oregon into a possible BCS game.
Big CEE
Sun Oct 4 2009 12:34
GOOD FOR YOU Mr. Blount!!!! You've apologized FULLY, I feel you are sorry for what you did. Learn from your mistake, and see to it that you NEVER let this happen AGAIN!! Get out there and do what they gave you a scholarship for. Good luck to you young man!! God bless!






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