Much was said about Steve Coburn's "rant" after the Belmont Stakes a few weeks ago. Pundits and talking heads were quick to rebuke the incensed owner for, well, making sense. The owner of California Chrome, the horse that missed the chance to win the first Triple Crown in 36 years, is embroiled in controversy over his remarks following the race. There was even an angle which tried to paint him as abusive towards his wife. And now, the man has been forced to bend his knee and apologize?
First of all, the guy was upset, but he didn't throw anything and he didn't really even raise his voice that much. And what he said was right: it's not fair to sit out for two races and then compete against horses who have just run in two of the most high-stakes, competitive events of the season. Fresh horses obviously have an advantage (via LA Times):
"It is so typical of the media; you put someone on a grand pedestal and then gleefully rip them to shreds when they screw up.
"The media celebrated California Chrome's unsophisticated background. How refreshing it was, this Cinderella story. Then when a less-sophisticated guy acts in a manner that is unsophisticated, you unleash on him. Personally, I find it refreshing when people in sports actually exhibit unbridled emotions - like Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks did before the Super Bowl, for example."
Then they said that he was mean to his wife because he snapped at her. People, there are real-life bad guys who treat women like dirt and who actually abuse their partners physically and emotionally. Stop going after Wilfred Brimley (via USA Today):
"I need to apologize to a lot of people, including my wife. ... First of all, I need to apologize to the winner. They run a beautiful race. Their horse won the race. They deserve that. I did not mean to take anything away from them.
"So I want to apologize with everybody associated with Tonalist."
Watch the original video here and decide for yourself if Steve Coburn behaved reproachfully or if this whole controversy is entirely media created:
What do you think?
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