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See the original image at latimes.com

Are NFL players flashing gang signs?

latimes.com — The league, concerned that some players might be celebrating by using the hand signals of street gangs, has hired experts to study game tapes.

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  • brainscab, on 07/17/2008, -11/+95Please no gang signs...
    I'm just kiddin, Throw it up!
    • tehknotte, on 07/17/2008, -10/+3watch someone say "dugg for (movie) reference"
  • Ruler4you, on 07/17/2008, -15/+75The only thing "professional" about "professional sports" is that they are getting paid.
    They act like ADD riddled children. I do not support professional sports of any kind any longer. It's just a business like McDonald's. And they treat supporters and viewers like we are waiting in line for a burger, too.

    I'm all on with college sports though. They still show elements of sportsmanship, there is real competition and great effort. All the things lacking in professional sports.
    • rightbrainnow, on 07/17/2008, -0/+13Understandable point of view, but only with Mens Basketball in the NCAA. The BCS is more corporate or business like than anything in professional sports.
      • mydigga, on 07/17/2008, -1/+3That is correct, but the competition is student athletes in their purest form. That's what makes college sports so much better than pro.
    • pintomp3, on 07/17/2008, -1/+11i stopped supporting profession teams when free agency started. if the players aren't loyal to a team, why should i be? all you are rooting for is a corporation.
    • ammundsen, on 07/17/2008, -3/+4I agree with you in that I dont support professional sports. But I find it harder and harder to support college sports. I should say this is really only football and basketball. Baseball at the pro and college level is much more civilized.
      • mnky9800n, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1You mean besides the steroids.
      • ammundsen, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1Yeah, baseball has steroids. But sadly so do a lot of sports. Heck the Tour De France has lost 3 riders this year out less than 200 due to doping. And these riders are using EPO which it seems they are good at detecting since so many riders have been booted in the past due to this drug. Why would they risk getting caught when so many have before them? I'm starting to believe doping is going in every sport and even at the amateur level.

        To some extent I'm not as turned of by doping. People have always tried to get an edge whether by diet or a particular type of training. Some substances have been classified as unacceptable while others are OK to use. The problem is some people are still able to use those substances and get away with it which gives them an advantage. The other competitors know this and figure they had better dope to level the field. I really dont think any modern record in sports has been possible without some sort of performance enhancing substance.
    • Scrappy1850, on 07/17/2008, -3/+7professional... business... NO WAY!! how could they turn pros into a business. that is just SAD. those men should work for free just for our entertainment.
      • mydigga, on 07/17/2008, -1/+2The point he makes evades you...
      • ubuwalker31, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2I dugg you up, but why should sports teams charge so much for season tickets when the State has subsidized Stadiums to the tune of 10s of millions of dollars. And then they hold the city and State to ransom by threatening to move unless they get huge tax breaks. With the amount of our public money flowing into sports teams, we expect them to act like quasi-public servants, especially since we throw them parades like heroes. Sports teams are like museums in a way, a form of publicly funded art...and the public deserves to be treated better....especially since many people consider sports to define the nation....its a national pasttime after all!
      • Scrappy1850, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1@ubu
        ticket prices are too high for families. parking (redskins) is a nightmare. but, i feel like the stadiums are publicly funded because they generate revinue fo rthe cities in tourism and create jobs for people in the immediate area. you can watch games for free on tv and the nationals have $5 tickets and the view from the bars or standing room areas are great. the orioles sell standing room tickets for $7. those aren't options for families though.
    • OstrakonX, on 07/17/2008, -0/+4"I'm all on with college sports though. They still show elements of sportsmanship, there is real competition and great effort."

      Yeah, okay. 8 out of 10 college football players I've met at my school are unrelenting douchebags who care only about getting picked up by an NFL team.
      • ElectricC0wb0y, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2Hence competition to get to the NFL...
    • josereyes0, on 07/17/2008, -1/+4You probably haven't heard of the University of Southern Criminals.
    • billwands, on 07/17/2008, -0/+0College sports are as corrupt or worse than professional and the worst part is that stupid useless agents and supposed friends are getting the bulk of the money compared with the spoiled stupid pro players and their big ugly SUV's. Give me a break and pull your head out of you a$$
  • ohnoerino, on 07/17/2008, -1/+4"While acknowledging that he wasn't "into the etymology of gestures," NBA Commissioner David Stern took immediate action after league officials examined video of the incident." Is this really the guy that is going to sniff out these "gang signs"? I don't think etymology has much to do with it at all.
    • enclaved, on 07/17/2008, -0/+6What? Of course it does, lets play dictionary.

      etymology: The origin and historical development of a linguistic form as shown by determining its basic elements, earliest known use, and changes in form and meaning, tracing its transmission from one language to another, identifying its cognates in other languages, and reconstructing its ancestral form where possible.

      linguistic: A meaningful unit of language, such as an affix, a word, a phrase, or a sentence.

      language: Communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols.

      now again, how does etymology not have much to do with it at all?
  • ColonelTribune, on 07/17/2008, -0/+5The more important-sounding the title, the less likely he'll be able to figure out squat.
  • RegalGSX, on 07/17/2008, -8/+181I just figured all black people were in a gang.
    • Aitese, on 07/17/2008, -5/+54I'm digging you up because I'm assuming you're being sarcastic...don't make me look like an ***** here Regal.
      • ssn697, on 07/17/2008, -0/+4Judging from all his other comments, he is here on Digg to be comic relief.
    • Cuchanu, on 07/17/2008, -20/+2Offensive but ignorance is funny.
    • sovereign3, on 07/17/2008, -1/+31Just in case anyone's looking, the black guy Dugg it up. So it's okay to laugh! I just figured he was being sarcastic and found it funny.
    • tulanian12, on 07/17/2008, -3/+12*creeps out from behind bush*

      is it safe to laugh?

      ok
    • jct821, on 07/17/2008, -5/+2Look, kids! It's a ZING!
    • clak, on 07/17/2008, -4/+2I thought the comment was funny too, but my only concern is that some of the 12 year olds who come on Digg, don't always read sarcasm in comments and will interpret this as an acceptance of racism. Anyway, not at all in your control, but you might want to consider a /sarcasm tag the next time you say something that sounds racist, but is meant to be a joke.
      • Rippleeffect, on 07/17/2008, -1/+1Most 12 year old kids on Digg wouldn't care if you called them a racist or not. At that age, you're either overly sensitive (you wouldn't be here if you were), or just don't care what people say about you either way.
    • farmerjohn48pan, on 07/17/2008, -2/+2That's too funny! You were kidding right?
    • jason4188, on 07/17/2008, -3/+2You can take the ***** out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the *****.
    • supreme0armor, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2do we need a lesson in sarcasm / satire?

      http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?vide ...

      http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?vide ...
  • levelred, on 07/17/2008, -0/+31Spiking the ball is a gang sign.
  • macman012, on 07/17/2008, -10/+1Pictures or it didn't happen... wait... *****.
  • homah, on 07/17/2008, -0/+14Of course they flash gang signs. It all started with the Ickey Shuffle back in '88.
  • waterdrop, on 07/17/2008, -15/+2If you blood throw it up!
  • Sunnygurm, on 07/17/2008, -11/+4The No Fun League should maybe watch a few hip-hop videos and see that half of the signs are directly from Soulja Boy's latest hits.
    • richnojutsu, on 07/17/2008, -0/+11Which is reason enough to put a stop to it. Soulja Boy sucks.
    • lexbex, on 07/20/2008, -0/+0lol---:)
  • NeoHomer, on 07/17/2008, -7/+48We should quit calling them by the name they like and call them by the truth: COWARDS. Gangsters are pure cowards, that's why they run in gangs. Cowards and wusses, the whole lot of 'em.
    • bschonec, on 07/17/2008, -7/+12Dude, I wish I could give you a year's worth of Diggs. I've been saying the same thing for years....
    • pintomp3, on 07/17/2008, -2/+13but we glamorize them with tv shows like sopranos and movies like the godfather.
      • NeoCortex, on 07/17/2008, -3/+3Don't confuse "ganster" with "gangsta".

        At least with the mafia, ***** was organized. And there was less random acts of violence, as long as you kept your nose out of their business.
      • pintomp3, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2you obviously don't know about the violence that happened during prohibition. think of these "gangstas" as the mafia but now the prohibition is drugs instead of alcohol.
    • Eezyville, on 07/17/2008, -6/+1What makes you think that? I'm sure you know so much about urban culture thats why you made such a well thought out answer.
    • slotimus, on 07/17/2008, -8/+7Like Americans in the Army!
      • rashawty, on 07/17/2008, -1/+7Americans in the army are there because they believe in the country, want to do something good or are looking to use the system to improve themselves. There are no cowards, soldiers don't start wars politicians due. We are just the ones unfortunate enough to have to die for their decisions.
      • crazy0, on 07/17/2008, -3/+1thats a sweet sentiment ra but those who possess that quality are few when compared to the many "frat boys"
      • coyote1284, on 07/17/2008, -1/+3@crazy
        No, it's just that the "frat boys" get more media attention that it appears that way. "Infantry unit delivers school supplies and cookies to Basrah youth" isn't "news-worthy". "Army squad beats Iraqi woman to death" is. Reports of people doing what their supposed to do we call "fluff", at best. It's reports of people ***** up that "sells papers".
      • slotimus, on 07/17/2008, -1/+1Its hard to concentrate on the school supplies when they are murdering innocent civilians and raping women.
    • crazy0, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1you know...i think thats the kinda thing that just needs to be said in person na'mean
    • nafnosseb, on 07/17/2008, -1/+2true true
      cowards and wusses...with guns and knives....who say "come over here and say that again"...but no worries they can't get you on digg.
      • crazy0, on 07/18/2008, -0/+0well whats the lesson then??? dont be talkin *****, come correct and MYOB..... dont go into hoods that
        1. you aint welcome in (and if u must go to visit, again come correct)
        2. have no boys there
        3. talkin *****

        what kinda lame gets jumped in their own hood..lets be real
  • bodies_collide, on 07/17/2008, -7/+2so cardinals are bloods, and giants are crips?
    • Crosshare, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2Great, not Goodell is going to make the entire league do a lock in at the rec center.
  • sovereign3, on 07/17/2008, -0/+10I just want to point out that Dennis Northcutt of the Jacksonville Jaguars, pictured in the thumbnail, isn't one of the players suspected of using gang signs. He was just one of the players quoted saying that many of the signs players use could be interpreted as a "gang sign."

    • praisethelard, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2Ok, that was confusing. I was gonna say "Looks like he's just running, to me."
    • ssn697, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2He's going down for dropping a dime!
    • NCg8r, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1I wondered why they would put a Jaguar, much less Northcutt, in the photo for gang signs. He's the LEAST likely guy on our team to run with the `bangers, IMHO... Most of the gang signs I see down here in Jax are from the 14 year olds walking as I drive by. . .
  • jamessavik, on 07/17/2008, -9/+7So many NFL players get arrested or are on drugs, they might as well be gang-bangers.

    • pintomp3, on 07/17/2008, -1/+4you could say the same about the music industry or wall street in the 80s.
    • ChoobaChabba, on 07/17/2008, -3/+5Gang bangers and gang members are NOT the same thing.
    • jamessavik, on 07/17/2008, -2/+1Oh, I'm sorry. Pardon my ignorance.

      The words that I was looking for are overpaid prima donna SCUM-BAGS that are ruining the game.
  • bschonec, on 07/17/2008, -2/+8What gang signs? It's obvious they're trying to add up the score on their fingers.....

    Buried as inaccurate...
  • Eezyville, on 07/17/2008, -3/+35Lol who did they hire? Snoop Dogg?
    • swordphish, on 07/17/2008, -0/+7That made my day.
    • maci01, on 07/17/2008, -1/+5I'm a gangsta, but y'all knew that
      The Big Boss Dog, yeah I had to do that
      I keep a blue flag hanging out my backside,
      only on the left side, yeah that's the crip side.
      • boardthis, on 07/17/2008, -2/+5it's also the gay pierced ear side.
    • alucinante, on 07/17/2008, -1/+1yes. he is the only gangster in the world.
  • BryanG412, on 07/17/2008, -9/+4Puy ya sign in his face gang sign in his face...
    --Three six mafia
  • jzuska, on 07/17/2008, -2/+5Short answer. Probably.
  • Cuchanu, on 07/17/2008, -5/+8You can take the football player out the ghetto but not the ghetto out the football player...

    I don't see what the deal is but I guess it's corporate America's policy of making a homogeneous workforce. Don't want to scare any old ladies...
    • knut, on 07/17/2008, -0/+3It's corporate America's way of preventing their well-payed athletes from getting killed. eg: Darrent Williams.
  • carterfsmith, on 07/17/2008, -1/+8With more than 750,000 criminal street gang members in the United States (approximately the population of Austin, TX), government officials at all levels are searching for ways to restrict the negative impact of gang-related activity on the community. The NFL gets it, why not the Secretary of Defense?
    http://gangfighters.blogspot.com
  • wrmjr, on 07/17/2008, -1/+25I might get buried for this, but gang involvement in professional sports is a serious issue because there are very often ties to organized crime. Whether we like it or not, these are multi-billion dollar businesses and there is an enormous amount of betting on these sports. Any hint of organized crime involvement could cost these businesses millions of dollars.
  • Stevo23, on 07/17/2008, -0/+8FTA: "A lot of guys when they get into the league, they aren't actually throwing up gang signs as if they're still active gang members, or were ever gang members," said Wiley, who grew up in South Los Angeles. "But it's just like Reggie Bush wearing [the area code] 619 under his eyes. It's just kind of to symbolize where you came from."

    The irony, Wiley said, is often the athlete flashing the sign was "allowed an opportunity to make it as far as we could without being approached by that lifestyle, that violence, all the stuff that went on in the neighborhood.

    "We were given an access pass to get beyond those things. And then we get to the NFL and we want to be tough. We want to get to the NFL or NBA and we want to be hard, get tattoos everywhere, throw up gang signs. . . . And those guys know that. You don't live that lifestyle and graduate out of it."

    At least that guy seems to realize what a privileged position he's in as a professional athlete, and why it's dumb the way his fellow players act.
    • farmerjohn48pan, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2If the sum of your being is a gang sign and you need it to "symbolize where you came from" I feel very sorry for you.
  • funkyfree, on 07/17/2008, -6/+4so lets just feed into the hysteria that all blacks are gang members. give me a break. we have much bigger chickens to fry.
    • staticneuron, on 07/17/2008, -2/+7I see...... I see......... So we could temporarily distract these black gang members by feeding them fried chicken?
    • bschonec, on 07/17/2008, -3/+1I see what you did there..... some sort of racial reference to fried chicken, eh?
  • Rooobbbbb, on 07/17/2008, -1/+39At least it's not one of those terrorist fist bumps.
    • slotimus, on 07/17/2008, -0/+4Emmit Smith was in al-Qaida. His feet were weapons of mass destruction.

      Also, the 'Terrorist Sign' is one finger in the air professing that all praise and worship is due to Allah(swt). The only problem is that 'normal Muslims' will be seen doing this at times of strife, time of happiness, or sometimes times of whenever they feel like it.
  • chieffan, on 07/17/2008, -1/+13So Billichick was stealing gang signs?
  • brownbagdog, on 07/17/2008, -7/+2Reggie Bush represent'n the 6 - 1 - 9
  • ssaxusggid, on 07/17/2008, -9/+0Gang signs? NFL are you serious? These guys are professionals...it's not like you're dealing with street thugs.
    • Trifold, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2...unless of course you're dealing with the Cincinnati Bengals.
  • snotrokit, on 07/17/2008, -2/+6Note to LAT. If you are going to put a picture in your article, it would really help your story if the picture you put with the article had someone actually signing something. Just a thought.
  • Scienceticist, on 07/17/2008, -5/+2Shawne Merriman's spasmodic dance following a sack? Gang sign.

    Peyton Manning throwing a touchdown? Gang sign.

    Ed Hochuli calling unnecessary roughness? Gang sign.
  • Warcrack, on 07/17/2008, -2/+5Oh yes. Just like Paul Pierce was.
  • CherrySmith123, on 07/17/2008, -4/+1hmmmmmmmmmm
  • tmaiden, on 07/17/2008, -13/+2.._________.__________.____
    |..................|......._____|........|
    |........|.........|.......___)...|.......|
    |........|.........|.......|.........|.......|___
    |____ |_____|____|.........|________|
  • MasterTroll, on 07/17/2008, -4/+11Terrorist Fist Jab?
    • endlessoul, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2The preferred nomenclature is the "Ceiling Punch."
  • sysop073, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2Are these experts in gang symbols or experts in videotape watching? Either way, not every day you get to break out those particular skills
  • DeFex, on 07/17/2008, -3/+3Best athletes in the world? WTF
  • minorthreat, on 07/17/2008, -2/+2In middle school the principal ordered me to take off my chain wallet because it was a gang sign. I told him that he and all the teachers who wore ties were in a gang as well and they should remove their ties. Ah....there was nothing like being a smart ass 14 year old, especially when you make a valid argument based on the adults logic....
  • johneyoung, on 07/17/2008, -1/+6Los Lobos kick your ass, Los Lobos kick your face, Los Lobos kick your balls into outer spaaaace!
  • scoottie, on 07/17/2008, -7/+1seriously isnt there something better to report on ..... like brittney spears?
  • evo8ftw, on 07/17/2008, -2/+2Oh god. Whats next NFL players fined for inappropriate material on their myspace page?
  • boardthis, on 07/17/2008, -1/+1i'm sure most of the officials' signals can be construed as gang signs also. so are they going to pick on mike carey and ed "hercules" hochuli too?

    pretty lame IMO.
    • Misanthrope, on 07/17/2008, -1/+2Yeah. Gangs regularly use "arms straight up in the air" or the always-gangsta "hand on top of the head". Or maybe you mean the "arm pointed out at a slight angle"...that's street, yo.

      Honestly...I have no idea how you could even think you make sense?
      • boardthis, on 07/17/2008, -0/+1makes as much sense as multi-millionaire NFL players supposedly flipping signs while on the field to promote gang activity and violence.
  • PolishLogic, on 07/17/2008, -2/+2Gang signs? Who knows.

    Although, I can think of a few NFL players I'd like to see become victims of gang violence.
  • krnldmp, on 07/17/2008, -1/+1Why wouldn't they?
  • OliveStreet, on 07/17/2008, -2/+2You see a lot of gang signs being flashed in baseball, too. Especially by the pudgy white guy standing along third base.
  • Crosshare, on 07/17/2008, -1/+4So has anybody actually figured out if any players have really done this. I would like to see one example on a highlight reel. I watch a ***** ton of football and have never seen anything that represents a gang sign.
  • FearFactory, on 07/17/2008, -0/+14I'd be flashing the Shocker at the cheerleaders
  • catcher6250, on 07/17/2008, -2/+3waste of life article, buried
  • alucinante, on 07/17/2008, -1/+2I don't get it.
  • saltyjustice, on 07/17/2008, -2/+5Solution: WATCH HOCKEY
  • mustache, on 07/17/2008, -0/+2Gang signs? Dennis Northcutt is whiter than I am.
  • r3negadeX, on 08/11/2008, -0/+2This is not relevant to the sport of football, or to anything else in life, in any way whatsoever. Buried.
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