LARNED — When I was a kid, we played a game called “piling on.”
You would get somebody on the ground and then everyone else would jump on top creating a big pile of bodies.
That phrase has been used throughout history to also mean jumping in with more negatives when someone has done something wrong.
It is alive and well today.
There are a lot of folks “piling on” against athletes, teams, owners and leagues. I am a little put off by these “holier than thou” attempts at self-righteousness.
The latest example of piling on is by the Anheuser-Busch Company who made this statement: “We are disappointed and increasingly concerned by the recent incidents that have overshadowed this NFL season. We are not yet satisfied with the league’s handling of behaviors that so clearly go against our own company culture and moral code.”
REALLY?
Their “own company culture and moral code?”
This from the world’s No. 1 beer maker and thus, the world’s No.1 pusher of alcohol?
This from a company that targets teens and pre-teens with a lot of their advertising suggesting that if you want to be “cool,” be “hip,” you’ve got to have a bottle of beer in one hand while you do almost all other things in life?
That’s donkey dung and I’m not buying it!
Just as disingenuous is the Radisson hotel chain based in Minneapolis who stated that they were suspending their sponsorship of the Minnesota Vikings over the Adrian Peterson affair.
They said, “Radisson takes this matter very seriously, particularly in light of our long-standing commitment to the protection of children.”
Once again, REALLY?
I would like for Radisson to spell out the details of their “long-standing commitment to the protection of children” other than having room charges so expensive that most parents can’t afford to take their children there!
Piling on.
That’s all it is.
Kick somebody while they are down and use it to put yourself in a place of piety and, oh yeah, make sure that you get a big press release and get it on all of the radio and television networks. That way folks will know that you are “increasingly concerned” about things that really don’t concern you.
If these companies aren’t just “piling on” and promoting their own image, then let them instead of making grandiose press announcements get out in the real world and put their money where their corporate mouths are.
Give some of those corporate dollars to help deter child abuse, domestic violence and all of the other ills of all of society, not just those of a few professional ball clubs.
Otherwise, it’s just “piling on.”
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In the aftermath of last Friday’s blowout loss to the Hays High Indians, we learned that they have a lot more athletes than do the Panthers.
Great Bend is struggling to move the football, to put points on the board.
The Panthers are not going to line up and consistently blow people off of the line of scrimmage although they do have the makings of a decent running game.
However, opposing teams are “stacking” inside, not fearful of the passing game.
If head coach Tony Crough and his staff can find the right mix in a short passing game to take some of the pressure off of the running game, then perhaps some more scoring might happen.
Six points in two games is discouraging, but this is a young ball club that everyone knew would have some growing pains.
At 0-2, the Panthers host Garden City on Friday evening, which also brings a 0-2 record to town.
It looks to be the best shot for Great Bend to get their offense in gear, though the Buffs will be favored.
 
Charles Tabler is a contributing writer from Larned.