Updated July 31
Little bit different Hate Mail this week. My Caleb Campbell rant generated 90 percent of the e-mail, and it was split right down the middle, which means -- I'm doing the math for percentages, 90 times 50, carry the one, move the decimal -- 45 percent loved it and 45 percent hated it.
You know me. Normally I lean heavily on the hate. Because that's fun. But to print only the outrage this week would suggest that most readers disagreed with my position on the U.S. Army, and this topic is way too important to do that. So this week, we're going 50-50. Or 45-45. Or whatever.
I did the math. All you have to do is read. It's like the SAT, minus the numbers. And minus the impossible vocabulary questions. Which means it isn't like the SAT at all.
Shut up and read.
From: Brian
What's obscene is your anti-American rant. Move to Canada! Your views are dangerous!
My views? Your passive acceptance is much scarier. Like newspaper in a litter box, people like you have lined the history of the world. They're the ones who sat back and allowed dictatorships.
From: John Cuozzo
I had the same reaction as you when I heard the latest on Caleb Campbell. It's not whether or not this was a good regulation -- it's that our government LIED to him. If I could write any good, I'd write just as pissed off a response as you did.
Don't worry about how good, or not good, you write. Anger trumps talent most of the time. Look at my career.
From: Mark McClure
This article has no business being published at CBSSports.com. You're entitled to give an opinion, but this is a sports site. Stick to sports, not politics.
Caleb Campbell is a crossover topic. If you're not smart enough to comprehend that, slap your parents. They gave you those crappy genes.
From: Evan Simon
Bottom line: The morons in charge of this country have lost another PR battle. Campbell would be 1,000 times more valuable as a recruiting tool than as just another grunt in combat gear in the field. It's amazing to me that those with the most power often exercise the least amount of common sense.
I'm getting used to that idea. Kind of like the school president being the dumbest person on campus, and the doctor down the street being the neighborhood's biggest airhead.
From: Harris
Nobody cares what you think. Left-wing loon.
You care what I think. And you're scared of it. As well you should be. I'm far from alone in my beliefs, and as an added bonus, my side is the side of intellect. So what I'm saying, Harris, is you're not just scared. You're scared and you're stupid.
From: Cam
Wow, I always thought this country was a little messed up, but this isn't toeing that line. This is jumping OVER the line, turning around and flicking everyone off. I can't believe the government would do this. We should be ashamed to be called Americans.
Careful, Cam. They're listening. And they're packing heat.
From: Dennis
Doyel, you're something else. You should be shot. The man signed up for military school knowing full well he was going to have the possibility of going to war. The military needs him, and you talk trash about the decision. It's punks like you, talking freely, who these soldiers die for. You are a disgrace.
And you're the big-talking voice of reason.
From: B. Mercurio
I share your exact thoughts about our government, and would never let my sons serve this country or these people. I've never been so embarrassed to be an American -- what's being done to Caleb is an absolute travesty.
Seems so simple, doesn't it? But apparently it's not.
From: John in Canton
Grow up, dude! Adults know that this is a big mean world ... sometimes promises are broken. I served 22 years in the Army, and the Army breaks promises every day. Ask anyone who has been a soldier for more than a month and they'll tell you there are no promises when it comes to serving in uniform. If the government offers you a golden egg, it's probably a yellow grenade.
God bless the USA.
From: J. Woods
In the end, to the Army, Campbell is just one more body. Of all agencies, the military predicates itself on honor, yet shows so little of it at its highest levels.
Apparently your definition of honor, and my definition of honor, doesn't jibe with the military's definition of honor. Or with this next guy's definition.
From: Dave
You are way out of line. Campbell signed a commitment and knew the consequences. You obviously have no sense of honor. Unlike Second Lt. Campbell, you just whine and have zero comprehension of sacrifice. Freedom isn't free. As ironic as it sounds, Caleb Campbell is a soldier who will die for your right to be a liberal jackass moron.
It's awfully easy to let someone else die, isn't it Dave? Try being this cavalier with your own life, or the lives of your children. Until then, take your empty talk of honor and shove it up your ...
From: Earl
There's a name for military officers who do what they did to Caleb Campbell. When I was in the Army, we called them brass-holes.
Brass-holes ... sir!
From: Greg
As a service academy graduate and someone in his 18th consecutive year of service -- including time in Iraq -- I can tell you Caleb Campbell was not screwed. He is being called to do what he agreed to do when he entered West Point. You disgust me.
Fair enough.
From: Matt Paluszek
This will blow up in the Army's face if he doesn't come back in one piece. Great article -- you knew the military yahoos were going to send you hate mail, but you still wrote it. Nice.
I knew they were coming, but I have to admit this next one gives me a chill.
From: Howard E. Halvorsen
Awww. You're looking for fairness in life? Are you still in preschool or something? We are at war, jackass! Like so many of us, Mr. Campbell volunteered and will now serve his country. The only thing I regret about my time in service was keeping turds like you safe.
You regret that I'm safe ... and I'm the bad guy here? Enough. I'm moving on.
From: Billy
I don't think Coach K really gives a crap what you think.
Truth is, I think you're wrong. He's smart enough to know an intelligent, thoughtful reporter (me) when he sees one, and I think it eats him up that I've not liked him. But that's water under the bridge once my guy brings home gold.
From: Greg
Do you think Coach K even CARES what you think about him? None of the rest of us do, either. No one takes you seriously -- you're just a bitter clown, and apparently everyone but you recognizes that.
A bitter clown could be funny, come to think of it. Happy face, big feet, funny nose ... but bitter personality. I like it.
From: Chris H.
Great piece on Coach K. I like the way you start out with a forgiveness piece and then turn it into a piece trashing him anyway. Was your column "snarky"? Because even though I don't know what that means, "snarky" seems like a good word for it.
I wasn't trying to be snarky. I was trying to be nice. Maybe the readers are correct. Maybe I am just a miserable human being.
From: Dan O.
You're just a miserable human being.
Way to pile on, Dan.
From: Jake
Your columns make me feel OK about having irrationally violent emotions when watching sports. Are you the sports writing evil twin of Tucker Max?
Tucker Max better get letters from readers asking if he's "the non-sports writing evil twin of Gregg Doyel." He just better.
From: Brian Frisch
I'm sure Coach K has been very worried about winning your support. I have a theory that you're actually hoping beyond all hope that Team USA loses so you can keep on hating.
No way. I'm so American, it hurts.
From: Tom G.
I'm surprised that your editor let you vent the way you did about the Army Cadet. You came across very ... un-American.
You have completely confused being unsatisfied with being un-American. That's a mistake commonly made by stupid people.
From: Thomas Burns
You should be ravaging the major U.S. sports for their shameful facades of testing. OK, I feel better. And I just flashed you -- actually your screen image -- a peace sign.
I'm glad we're not fighting anymore, T.B. And I'm also glad the only thing you flashed was a peace sign.
From: Chris H.
Freeman wants Tonya Harding's goons to attack you. (See No. 22). Hahahahahaha. That's the best thing I've read on this site in three weeks, including the last couple of hate mails. That's the kind of first-rate journalism I expect out of this site.
Next time you feel the urge to write me a nice letter about Freeman ... wait 10 minutes for the feeling to pass.
