Ed Christian and Ladarius Phillips allegedly shot & killed

[GH2001]

Something vexes thee?

Jim angers easy at Bammers.

[Snaggletiger]

It's sad that there is a reason to write this article.  I've said it once, and I'll say it again.  This rivalry needs another extended break.

Best post in 7 pages.

[JR4AU]

Jim angers easy at Bammers.

Lately, yeah.

[GH2001]

Lately, yeah.

I see why it does.

This is a chance for them to show they are human and to take the high road. And they don't. They could look past football for a min and think about this as humans. But they don't. If they don't do it during a situation like this, then they never will.

[AUChizad]

So for those wanting to keep up:

Jeremy Thomas, 18 , who was one of the two "people of interest" that were at the party, was arrested and is being interrogated.

Gabriel Thomas, 41, who is unrelated to Jeremy, was arrested for providing false information in the pursuit of primary suspect Desmonte Leonard.

[Buzz Killington]

http://www.abc3340.com/story/18757956/two-arrests-made-in-connection-with-auburn-shootings

[AUChizad]

Another example of bammer class...

https://twitter.com/#!/sw_BAMAhammer

[AUChizad]

http://bamahammer.com/2012/06/11/auburn-shootings-raise-uncomfortable-questions/

1
Auburn Shootings Raise Uncomfortable Questions
Jun 11th, 2012 at 7:06 am by tonyorlandoOpinion

The Auburn shootings in the early hours of June 10 are being reported on and debated in all corners. As what facts we have are dissected and commented upon, there are calls for unity in the spirit of empathy for the victims, as happened last year when Tuscaloosa was ripped apart by a tornado.

We should not, however, be quick to compare this incident to a weather occurrence, that – trailer park jokes aside – hit people of all races, classes and societal boundaries, without motivation or prejudice. This was not a random act of weather. It was an act of violence with motive.

It’s true that sports rivalries are insignificant in the face of this tragedy. Indeed, our hearts – and those of all Crimson Tide fans – go out to the families of the young men killed Sunday morning. Our prayers are that they can find peace in the days to come, and that those responsible are brought to justice.

But tragedy, and the resulting calls for unity shouldn’t drown out honest questions. By allowing our emotions and fear of giving or receiving offense to cloud our ability to think critically, it hinders the pursuit of the uncomfortable truth.

Auburn Police chief Tommy Dawson finally met with the media – after a fifteen-hour delay – to address the ongoing investigation. In his remarks he exercised an interesting bit of selective discretion, noting that in addition to armed fugitive Desmonte Leonard, the Auburn police department were looking for a pair of unnamed ‘persons of interest’ to come forward. Though he declined to give many details on the investigation, he did allow himself one bit of commentary:

    The only connection that the Auburn football team has to this is that they are victims of a brutal shooting. Sometimes the young men get a bad rap, I feel like, but they are the victims today.

No one seems to be saying that Auburn University bears responsibility, outside of the overheated rhetoric on the message boards. But it’s at minimum odd that he would go out of his way to insist that though at least three current or former Auburn players were involved, it has no bearing on the case.

Montgomery Advertiser Auburn blogger Jay Tate has spoken with an anonymous witness to the shootings:

    He saw approximately 7 Auburn football players at the event — along with a few of their close friends. He said the incident began when an unidentified football player made comments about the alleged gunman’s date for the party. The unidentified player didn’t back down when asked to do so.

The New York Times notes that these are trying times for Auburn’s athletic department:

    In March, a Yahoo Sports report revealed that the FBI was investigating a former basketball player, Varez Ward, for shaving points during his college career. Auburn officials acknowledged that it had made a report to the F.B.I., but little has been said or reported on the case since.

    Then in April, a former football player, Antonio Goodwin, was convicted of first-degree robbery. He was one of four men with ties to the Auburn football program who were arrested over the robbery, and the three others are said to face court dates soon. Mr. Goodwin’s trial included testimony that indicated guns and marijuana were part of the culture surrounding the Auburn football program.

Predictably, the Auburn fan base has come out against the article and author Pete Thamel, accusing him of an anti-Auburn bias. We have reached out to Thamel for comment.

This is not, despite what some think, evidence that Auburn football is an asylum run by the inmates. On the other hand, neither is it wholly without merit to ask questions about the culture surrounding the Auburn football program, the editorializing of the Auburn police chief to the contrary.

Fans close ranks and rally around the flag; that’s a luxury afforded fans of a particular sports team. Being a fan can allow emotion and loyalty to school colors and mascots to cloud all objectivity. Part of being a tribe is to ostracize any who dare speak out of step with the party line.

In the face of this senseless tragedy, it is vital that we disregard rivalries and gamesmanship – not only for the sake of those affected, but to be objective in the pursuit of the truth. Sports fans of all stripes should want this.

Auburn football is not a victim. Certain past and current members of the Auburn team are victims, as are their families. But Auburn football – like Alabama and all other teams – should be judged as always, by the actions of its representatives.

Fuck you, bammers. Seriously.

[JR4AU]

http://bamahammer.com/2012/06/11/auburn-shootings-raise-uncomfortable-questions/Fuck you, bammers. Seriously.

bammer says: football = life

[GH2001]

bammer says: football > life

FIXT

[JR4AU]

FIXT

yeah, true dat!

[AUChizad]

Listening to Finebaum now (for the first time in over a year).

He has Lars Anderson on now.

There's a litany of things that you could lump this in with, but I just don't think you can. And I know that New York Times story upset a lot of people in Auburn. You know it's just trying to smear the school, and lumping this in with everything else, where I don't think you can throw this in there. And Auburn does have a perception problem nationally. And I've talked to Gene Chizik about it, and he hates it. I think Gene Chizik is very well equipped to deal with this tragedy, because more than any coach I've ever covered in my eighteen years at Sports Illustrated, he preaches the notion of family so much. The defining thing, if you go to play for coach Chizik, he will recruit you and say you're going to join the family, join the family. And I know that he is absolutely devastated right now, but I think he's the proper guy to lead the program through these really murky waters and just try to make sense of all this, and just try to lead the program forward.

[Saniflush]

Listening to Finebaum now (for the first time in over a year).

He has Lars Anderson on now.

Huh.  I wonder who created that perception problem?

[AUChizad]

Huh.  I wonder who created that perception problem?

To be clear, that is Lars speaking, in case you were wondering. I thought it went without saying Finebaum wouldn't say anything that kind about Auburn and/or Chizik.

[GH2001]

Listening to Finebaum now (for the first time in over a year).

He has Lars Anderson on now.

I admit, I tuned in too and heard all that. First time I have tuned in since the 2010 Iron Bowl week.

I like the one line: People are forgetting that this was a couple of Montgomery guys who shot up some Auburn kids they did not know.

[Snaggletiger]

I've been listening from the start.  So far, it's been pretty straightforward and PF has stayed respectful without throwing out the obligatory "thought provoking" questions.  Plant the seed and open the door for the unwashed to take the discussion to a forum on the thug culture at Auburn.

[Godfather]

I've been listening from the start.  So far, it's been pretty straightforward and PF has stayed respectful without throwing out the obligatory "thought provoking" questions.  Plant the seed and open the door for the unwashed to take the discussion to a forum on the thug culture at Auburn.

Got to have things to discuss tomorrow.

[bottomfeeder]

"thought provoking" and "bammers" don't belong in the same paragraph.

[Shug Dye]

He didn't get to where he's at by being a dumbass. The motherfucker is good....today he's all concern and propriety.....but it will come.

[Saniflush]

To be clear, that is Lars speaking, in case you were wondering. I thought it went without saying Finebaum wouldn't say anything that kind about Auburn and/or Chizik.

Yea I got that.  Was just asking a rhetorical question.