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CFL issues fine for post-TD tribute to Michael Jackson

TORONTO -- The Canadian Football League fined Toronto Argonauts receiver Arland Bruce for "excessive actions" during his tribute to Michael Jackson after scoring a touchdown.

 

Bruce was fined an undisclosed amount, the CFL announced Thursday.

After scoring on a 21-yard pass that put Toronto ahead 6-0, Bruce removed his helmet, shoulder pads and uniform top, then laid down in the end zone. Bruce said he was honoring the memory of Jackson by pretending to be buried.

  Freeman: Those wacky Canadians | Watch the highlights

Referees gave Bruce two objectionable conduct penalties for his actions in the game, which the Argonauts won 30-17 on Wednesday night.

"It's not always easy to draw that line, but when you remove your equipment to lay down and delay the game, like he did, that's where we draw the line," the CFL said.

The team said it supported the league's ruling and noted Bruce apologized at a team meeting on Thursday.

Toronto coach Bart Andrus said "next time around he will celebrate in an appropriate manner."

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
 
 

Talk Back
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 21, 2006

July 2, 2009 6:15 pm
Oh, yeah Canadian Football. They should give this guy a bonus, the is the most publicity the league has gotten in the States since Flutie played there I guess. What was that 13 years now? What ever happened to the San Antonio Franchise? How did they do last season?
Reputation:89
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 18, 2007

July 2, 2009 6:07 pm
First we had the spike. That was cool. Then the shuffles came along, and that was funny sometimes. Then there was the autographed ball, and that was clever, i guess, but not to sharpie. Now we get a striptease with an inpersonation of a deceased pop icon. Not cool at all. Obviously this idiot did not attend the prestigious Barry Sanders school of TD Celebration.  I am not going to dump on the ...(more)
Reputation:86
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 30, 2006

July 2, 2009 10:09 pm
So you want to pay tribute to the "King" of Pop and the best thing you can come up with is to take off your equipment and pretend to be buried?  Horrible.  I say one year suspension, minimum for being an idiot!  Pull a glove out of your pants, wear a surgical mask under your helmet, hide a stuffed Chimp in your uniform, replicate the Thriller dance with your fellow wideouts.  S ...(more)
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 13, 2008

July 5, 2009 6:42 pm
A guy at my work came in the other day and said,"wanna see my best Michael Jackson impersonation?"  I said yes, then he laid down and crossed his arms as if he were in a casket.  Not cool.  That not an honor.  The guy who did this is a total disgrace.
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 21, 2006

July 3, 2009 2:14 am
I bashed the CFL, half kidding, in an earlie post but I have to admitt some curiosity about the league. I started googling the teams and found that there is some talent up there and I would be interested in checking out some gage. I do need a little football fix, so I wouldn't mind watching a game here and there. Up here in Boston NESN used to show some tape delayed game, especially ...(more)
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 6, 2007

July 2, 2009 11:36 am

Why would you A) honor a child molester and   B) Even like michael jackson.  how   do ppl like this guy.  he sand well yes but he was so messed up..  just stop with all this stuff about him..  keep him out of sports!!!

Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 19, 2007

July 2, 2009 6:36 pm
Why the hell would you pretend to be buried like michael jackson? i dont even find it necessary to capitalize his name...the dude is/was a child molester and hasnt had a hit in 25 years...

and to take of your pads and helmet and all that other stuff, come on, if you thought that far ahead---think of something more noteworthy and more entertaining than being buried...no wonder you play
...(more)
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 16, 2006

July 3, 2009 1:24 pm
Billy Mays? Or any other person who died recently? What a moron... next time maybe he should do what everyone knows him for as noted in all threads the moon walk... or even the thriller dance... jeez. I wonder when T.O. gets a T.D. or McNabb gets one if they do it will they get fined????
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 17, 2008

July 2, 2009 12:59 pm
Pretending to be dead is just morose and grim.  Nobody remembers Jacko as a corpse, he's a dancer and singer.  Use your brain.
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 2, 2007

July 2, 2009 3:06 pm
Although I think the celebration was over the top, did anybody outside of Canada know that the CFL season was underway?  Does anyone in Canada know that the CFL season was underway?  Sounds like all of the sudden this was free pub for the CFL.  I'm always in the mood to watch some football.  I'll watch a game on the dish now that I know it is on. 
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 14, 2008

July 2, 2009 12:10 pm
Doing anything to get publicity and it worked.  The story gets carried on all the wire services and gets talked about.

Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 13, 2009

July 3, 2009 12:40 am
Seriously? Why would anyone in the right mind tribute him by acting to be buried. That is disrespectful. At least do the moonwalk.
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:May 16, 2009

July 2, 2009 3:04 pm
Why would you do a TD celebration in honor of MJ by pretending you're buried? What poor taste. What's even worse is everyone made fun of the guy/child molestor when he was alive and now that he's dead they all wanna be sad and jump in front of the camera to say how sad and terrible they feel. People are so fake.
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 26, 2006

July 2, 2009 1:36 pm
This is the weakest idea for an honor that I have ever heard of.

He could have worn one glove in the game...Done the moonwalk once he got in the end zone.
Michael Jackson has been around for decades and the best this hack could come up with is dressing down and laying on the ground.

Keep his butt in Canada.
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 23, 2006

July 2, 2009 4:07 pm
A tribute would be doing the moonwalk or spin and kick that Micheal Jackson did....not laying down pretending your dead. Thats an insult.
 
 
 
 
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