LeBron James Looking Forward to 2010
August 24, 2009While We’re Waiting… Shaq’s Answer to Nash, Michigan’s QB Threesome, and Comparing Browns Preseason Opponents
August 25, 2009Heading into this college football preseason, most people would have figured the biggest story surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes would be about Terrelle Pryor’s development in his first camp as the unquestioned starter and leader of the team. Or perhaps it would be about the Buckeyes going for their 5th consecutive Big Ten title, and how they would overcome having just 11 returning starters in order to do so.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t really been the case, as the sad story of Tyler Moeller’s attack in Florida has been the biggest story surrounding the team thus far. On July 26th, as Tyler Moeller and his family were in Florida celebrating his grandparents’ anniversary, Moeller and several family members were at a bar when Moeller was punched (allegedly sucker punched), and hit his head on the ground, leading to him eventually having to have surgery to relieve the pressure. The extent of his injuries long term isn’t totally clear, but while it is now believed that he will be able to play again at some point, but unfortunately that point in time will not be this season.
When the Columbus Dispatch identified Moeller’s attacker as Ralph Gray Decker, Mr. Decker was faced with the wrath of Buckeye Nation, as he reportedly received death threats and was harassed online via social networking outlets and other means. While the reaction of some Buckeye fans who resorted to death threats and whatnot is unfortunate, their anger was perhaps justified. At the time, Decker was only charged with a misdemeanor and seemed to be facing only a slap on the wrist. A misdemeanor for taking away Tyler Moeller’s season, and perhaps career (as nobody knows what kind of player he will be when he returns), and for robbing Moeller of his chance to shine as the leader of OSU’s new linebacking corps. To many, that didn’t seem fair. And to reiterate, this doesn’t justify any fans threatening the life and safety of Gray Decker and his family, but it does explain where the anger originated from.
Today, though, good news has come to those who were outraged and who wanted to see Decker’s charges increased to a felony. According to the Dispatch’s Ken Gordon, Decker has now been charged with a felony due to the severity and extent of Moeller’s injuries. Decker is now in prison, being held on a $20,000 bond, and he now faces up to five years in prison. It’s important to remember that Decker is still considered innocent at this point, and his attorney claims that he was provoked into attacking Moeller. But according to multiple eye witness reports, Moeller never saw the punch coming and was caught completely off guard by it.
Perhaps it does matter whether Decker was provoked into throwing the “sucker punch” or not, but either way, when you see the pictures of Moeller at OSU’s media day with the staples still in his head, and then you see the smiling face of Gray Decker in his misdemeanor mug shot, it’s hard not to be more than a little angered and to want to see justice handed down to Decker. When you see Decker’s felony mug shot, he no longer looks so happy and smug. Perhaps he is finally realizing the severity of what happened and the damage he caused to another human being over something no more trivial than mere words. It’s something to think about the next time any of us find ourselves in a situation where heated words are being exchanged at a bar. You never know how you might alter the lives of those you are fighting with, and you never know the trouble you might find yourself in.
12 Comments
I hope they do figure out what really happened and I hope that the kid can play again…but if not, I hope he doesnt have any long term issues…
I also hope that the legal process is followed, and that they do what needs to be done…
if Moeller was actually drunk and talking trash to him first, and then the kid punched him, then I hope that comes to light and punishment is given accordingly…
if Moeller was honestly just minding his own business and the dude cracked him in the skull, then I hope that comes to light and punishment if given accordingly…
ultimately, I hope that the truth is what comes out of this, and that Moeller has no ill-effects from it, regardless of if he can play or not…
creative.. still think think the cocky football player deserved this?
Whoa! WFNY goes GIF.
DK, I don’t agree with you. Part of the reason this country is so great is that I can talk trash and school someone verbally knowing full well that the law will never justify someone punching me or otherwise attacking me for it. No matter what Moeller might or might not have said, unless he physically provoked this dude, it doesn’t matter. And even if he physically provoked him, the legal hurdle of proving self-defense with completely one-sided injury results is pretty high.
Craig – I didnt mean to make that sound like I meant that if he was being a drunken tard that it was warranted…I do see where how I worded that, that you might assume that…I just meant that if there was an altercation that took place beforehand, that it would come to light…thats all..
I didnt mean to make it sound like if someone talks trash, that it excuses physically hurting someone else…for as many times as I’ve been on both sides, I’m glad it was never taken to that extreme…
I simply meant that I hope that the truth does come out about the situation, and given that it is still under investigation, and the fact that he has now been charged with a felony, I think we are seeing that…
So, how long after these kids get sentenced do you think we’ll start hearing Stallworth comparisons?
ben… I think the Stallworth situation is on a different planet in terms of comparisons. The only thing these incidents have in common is that they both happened in Florida with Ohio-based athletes. I won’t go into the laundry list of how they are different… but a fatality is at the top of said list.
That being said…maybe us Ohioans should stay out of Florida for a while. I mean, if you HAVE to visit grandma, go ahead. But for goodness sake, stay away from the bars!
here’s to a speedy recovery for Mr. Moeller
Craig,
I have to disagree with you. I think one of the reasons this country is going in the toilet is because people feel they have the right to say whatever they please with no consequences. I see this as the norm on internet forums, and people seems to be carrying this over into real life more and more. Talking trash/running your yap and hiding behind the law is no different than picking fights and hiding behind someone else to protect you.
I don’t condone someone inflicting this degree of injury because of trash talking (and I’m not saying Moeller was trash talking), but I’d like to see some of these folks who like to “school” someone get smacked upside the head and see how eager they are to continue trash talking. Maybe people would be a bit more polite if they knew their actions had consequences.
@ Jason – Yeah, I forgot to use all caps. It was more of a sarcastic statement than an actual one.
@9
I can’t tell what lines you are drawing about how one may physically retaliate against a speaker. May the speaker then hit back if he believes the first guy went too far?
I imagine lines of provocation could be appropriately drawn, but until then it sounds like a plan for a costly escalation of violence, and I think the law has appropriately drawn a line that a person who physically retaliates against a speaker can get locked up and/or sued for battery.
I can tell you from first hand experince with MR.DECKER that he(decker) was the agresser.I was in a fight with him at a casino in fl. where I live.just a month before this happened. He stated to me he was going to rape my wife and then kick my a…. He tryed to sucker punch me as we where on are way outside. I got him first.I was arrested because I through the first punch,even though there was about 8 people saying he had been theating me for 10 mins.after review of the video my case was dropped.But make no mistake,This guy starts fights. I hope tyler is getting better.