Chris Cooley Not Above Telling His Readers How Stupid They Are

Last week, a sports blog posted a report about a pending three team trade which would, among other moves, send Chris Cooley from the Redskins to the Browns. It turned out to be completely made up, but not in a clever, satirical or humorous way -- really, it was a demonstration on how not to blog about sports and made me momentarily understand why the MSM dislikes what we do. ↵↵But before everyone realized this sports blog, which shall remain nameless, had fabricated a feasible, yet fake, trade rumor, Cooley took the opportunity to address the possibility of being traded to Cleveland. He wrote on his blog, “I would be pissed if I got my ass shipped to Cleveland.” That’s it. This then sent Browns fans into a frenzy, feeling that Cooley had disrespected their beautiful city. Presumably fed up with it, Cooley posted an email he received from a Browns fan on his blog, which read:↵

↵↵⇥Your a [expletive] douchebag. How you gonna talk [expletive] about Cleveland like that? I hope we do trade for your ass just so I can boo you during home games. Grow up and be a professional. You never know we’re your gonna end up this is the NFL so talking [expletive] about a city you might end up in is kind of idiotic. I used to have a good impression of you and be a fan. Now I see what a [homophobic slur] primodonna you are. Peace [homophobic slur]. ↵↵

All that just for saying he’d be pissed if the Skins dealt him to Cleveland. Touchy. Cooley wasn’t content to merely post that email on his blog, however. He responded:↵↵⇥I’m glad that I have a chance to respond to you, as well as the many other outraged Cleveland fans that have commented on this site. I was nothing short of amazed when the comments to the trade rumor post soared past the 200 mark, but embarrassed for multiple Browns fans with their outrageous remarks. [...]↵⇥↵⇥Dennis, by your brilliant writing style and obvious intelligence I should be surprised that you took my comment out of context, but I guess you just never know. So for you I will clarify, really all I was saying was that I do not want to leave DC. Any team or city could have been interchanged and I would have made the same statement. “I would be pissed to go to San Diego, Baltimore, or even New England.” Nothing wrong with any of their teams, fans, or cities, I’m just happy where I am. Your, wait, (you’re) kinda idiotic.↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥Oh! I almost forgot. John Elway wanted me to ask you how it felt almost getting to the Super Bowl? That must have been awesome!↵⇥

↵↵As a rule of general practice, it’s probably best for Cooley not to give into the urge to respond to hateful, idiotic comments/emails. People come to the internet to anonymously, and irrationally, unleash their pent-up anger. He needs to brush that stuff off; be above it all. But believe me, I fully understand the temptation. ↵↵Oh, and Dennis the Browns Fan wrote Cooley back and apologized. No word on how if felt to almost make it to the Super Bowl.↵

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