What year is it? Oh, it’s 2013? Good to know, because Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola set us back a few years today before and after the Lions began their game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Wisconsin Band, one of the best in the nation I must say, typically performs for at least one Packers home game during the season. As someone who grew up across the street from three boys who have ALL played the tuba and marched in the band I am very familiar with this tradition and I have seen numerous pictures of them during these events. In fact, my best friend even got to do a Lambeau Leap into the crowd after his performance (a childhood dream for any die hard Packer fan). The Packer faithful love the band, and the band loves performing at these events. It is truly a win-win, but that wasn’t the case today thanks to Raiola.
According to a Wisconsin tuba player, Raiola and his teammates were engaged in their pregame warm-ups on the field near the goal line when he turned around and called him and the other tubas “Fat mother f**kers” and told them that “they sucked.” According to that tuba player no one in the band had done anything to provoke him, and no other band members I spoke with witnessed anything that could have provoked Raiola. The tuba player I spoke with made sure to point out that the rest of the band hadn’t even been on the field yet, and none of the tuba players said anything to him, so no one in the band could have provoked Raiola prior to him making those comments.
As the band was preparing to play the National Anthem another band member told me Raiola was yelling at him, saying such things such as “Hey fat guy, you want a hot dog?” When this band member did not acknowledge him, he continued to yell at other band members within earshot of him until the band began to play. A third band member told me Raiola was calling a band member near him a “fat fu**” prior to their pregame performance as well.
After the band’s halftime performance multiple band members I spoke with told me he and multiple other band members vividly heard Raiola ridicule a trombone player’s weight while they were performing. One band member reported hearing a female member of the band say “Hey number 51,” referring to Raiola, which multiple band members told me he responded to by calling her “the c-word” as they were walking back to their seats.
This is all in addition to this facebook status which has been shared 243 times as of this writing:
According to this band member Raiola made comments regarding his sexuality, as well as other insults involving his sister and recently deceased mother. An additional band member confirmed this story, adding that one such insult was “[Raiola] was going to take his trumpet and shove it up his sister’s p***y” in addition to Raiola “repeatedly calling him a f*g.” According to this band member “as soon as we stopped for our position to play the National Anthem I just heard [Raiola] yelling continually at him.” Multiple other members of the band reported hearing Raiola uttering homophobic slurs throughout his unprovoked denigrating of the students prior to the National anthem.
This is a developing story and as I confirm more information regarding this story I will be sure to update this post. Raiola, 34, is the longtime starting center for the Detroit Lions. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2001 NFL Draft and has been a regular starter since the 2002 season. He played college football at the University of Nebraska.
It is worth noting that while Raiola’s comments were completely uncalled for, a band member confirmed to me that Lions safety Louis Delmas apologized to him and other members of the band for Raiola’s actions and assured them that he had spoken with him about it. He also added that he enjoyed their performance.
Update: 11:31 am CT 10/7/13
For those asking, I have emailed the Lions director of Media Relations for comment and have not heard back as of this time. At least one other writer has attempted to reach them for comment and has not heard yet back either.
Update: 11:37 am CT 10/7/13
The Lions have issued a statement, this is via Chris McCosky of Detroit News and DetroitNews.com:
@cmccosky: Lions statement on Raiola: “Those reports are extremely inconsistent with the standard of behavior we expect from our players.”
@cmccosky: More from Lions: “We currently are gathering more information and will respond further when appropriate.”
Update: 11:48 CT 10/7/13
Jay Sorgi (@jsorgi) interviewed the father of a band member who witnessed it, listen to the interview and read his article on it here: http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/green-bay-packers/Report-Lions-player-tosses-epithets-at-UW-Band-during-Packers-game-226755831.html
Update: 12:05 CT 10/7/13
My colleague Jeff Risdon weighs in on the Raiola comments: http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2013/10/raiola-and-the-band/
Update: 12:20 pm CT 10/7/13
Jay Sorgi interviews a band member who heard the comments Raiola made: http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/green-bay-packers/Report-Lions-player-tosses-epithets-at-UW-Band-during-Packers-game-226755831.html
Update: 1:53 pm CT 10/8/13
Dominic Raiola has issued an apology. Here is the link courtesy of Jay Sorgi: http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/green-bay-packers/Lions-player-apologizes-for-attacks-UW-Band-members-during-Packers-game-226935431.html
Update: 1:58 pm CT 10/8/13
This will likely be the final update, Pro Football Talk is reporting that the Lions will not discipline Raiola and that he is making a donation to the Wisconsin Band program. No word on how much money he is donating. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/08/dominic-raiola-donates-to-wisconsin-band-wont-be-disciplined-2/
As a member of the band, it was disheartening to hear a professional athlete act this way. His words were unprovoked and offensively hateful. It’s good to see that this is getting the attention it deserves.
Oh, he’s most certainly NOT a professional David. He’s likely been the victim of bullying and hate speech; probably by an overbearing father who pushed him into the game and put more emphasis on that than teaching his son respect for others.
I don’t care WHAT he may or may not have been a “victim” of. There is no reason, in 2013, for ANY person to act that way. MOST ESPECIALLY if they’ve been victims themselves.
I am disgusted by his behavior and by ANYONE who would try an defend h is actions.
Holy assumptions batman!
As someone who has been affected by bullying growing up, I know for a fact, bullying another person doesn’t solve the issue at hand. This is why I need to follow my dream to speak up against it. Bullying is uncalled for. Especially when it is in the public eye, seriously? Can people say lawsuit?
This is what is wrong today. A grown adult acts like this and instead of having him accountable for his actions, we have people jumping out trying to defend and justify his behavior. Kate… you are wrong. Sorry, but you are..
The UW band has a long history of being hated in the Big Ten. They are obnoxious assholes pretty much all the time. Karma serves them right.
Seriously. Ask around about the UW band at other Big Ten schools.
Most band members will tell you that UW is the worst — extremely abusive, rude, and obnoxious.
Kate, I just wanted to tell you that I didn’t think you were in any way trying to defend this alleged behavior due to “victimhood” (which is obvious in your first sentence) but were simply suggesting, as many others did below, why someone might display such hostile behavior. I think people didn’t understand your subtle message, as it wasn’t so obviously sarcastic & jabbing as some people’s comments were regarding this player’s possible past & his motives. I think you were misunderstood, and I’m sorry.
it is not cool to decide to blame “fathers” as if a mother couldn’t be over pushy about sports. Men bashing is just as offensive to me as calling someone fat or a fag. It’s not acceptible to say fathers “probably” are bad people and the likely problem when you don’t know for sure. All men and all fathers are not bad. There are plenty of pushy mothers who don’t teach their sons respect too.
Raiola stinks anyways. He should take himself and his mouth and “ride off into the sunset” – retire.
What needs to get attention is the bands action on the sidelines, hopefully the cameras caught the action and the band will be banned fro further games.
From the story it sounds like the band’s actions were nothing but professional. Why would they be banned from playing? Did you read the article?
what action? The music they played? How this “professional” was intimidated by kids with musical instruments? Don’t be an idiot.
I do not understand this comment. What did the band do that should earn them a banning from performing at the game, which has up until this point been a mutual benefit for fans, the team, the band, etc.?
Could you elaborate on the band’s behavior in the sidelines and why you feel they should be banned from games?
What action? If you’re going to throw out an accusation, please be specific. What did they do that should ban them from games?
Dont sweat this. This guy is a an idiot out walkin around supporter (IOWA) He’ll talk smack about anything badgers because we kick the Hawkeyes around. I will give you that Tim Dwight was a Badger killer though!
Tim:
Just read your comments on the UW band> What did they do on the sideline?
Kick the Hawkeyes around Jay? By my count, Iowa has won 6 of the last 10 games against Wisconsin. Would have been 7 of 10 had Ferentz covered the freakin’ fake punt three years ago to give the Badgers the game on a platter.
If the Badger band didn’t have such a checkered past, I’d believe these reports.
Wasn’t this where Randy Moss simulated wiping his rear on the goalpost after a score? Wasn’t this supposedly a referrence to the tradition of fans mooning the other team in Green Bay? Not sure about this particular band, and there is no excuse for Raiola’s behavior, but a visit to Lambau Field has not been void of misbehavior from the home team fans. I sure appreciate Delmas for saying something.
And you believe that to be…what exactly?
Being a former band member we are taught discipline from the very beginning. Any bad behavior on the band’s part would NOT tolerated! Anyone who breaks the band rules is immediately asked to leave the band. The band staff wants us to be professional on AND off the field.
I live here in Wisconsin but am a die hard Lions fan as I’m originally from MI. Living here now, I religiously watch the Pack play every sunday & also enjoy your band playing. I was at that game & wasn’t aware anything like this was going on. I apologize so much that this happened to your band members. Despite the actions of 1 unprofessional a$$, your performance was terrific as always & you were all professional & it didn’t affect the show at all. Good job not letting him ruin a wonderful game day!
I was super close to the field right next to the tubas and watched the lions guys stretch and get ready . I was watching Dominic Raiola the most cause he played at Nebraska and that is where I am from. He never said one thing to any one let alone to the band. This page is full of bologna..who the hell is Tom Melton’s?
Sorry, but if he was silent, 10 different band members as well as multiple parents who attended wouldn’t all be telling the same story about what happened. It wasn’t the word of one kid that caused this all…it was a large number of reports. I’m not sure what you think you were watching, but it definitely took place (take it from a witness)
Of course, I’d certainly take the word of some college students, especially since I’m sure professional athletes have nothing better to do before a game than observe college band male tuba players. This makes perfect sense. And I’m sure there never was a Packer fan, or a college band member, who said anything AT ALL to goad an opposing team before a game. I’m sure how this was reported, that the Wisconsin band was completely blameless is entirely true. In fact, just the other day when I was at the Spurs game last winter, Tony Parker came over and called me a fat accountant. And then he mocked my deceased father and called my brother names, even though he had no way of knowing my father was dead or that I even had brother. And since I didn’t do anything to provoke him, and I completely ignored him, it must just have been dumb luck that he knew all about my family. So maybe I should just file a lawsuit like one poster on here suggests, because that’s what made America great-instead of learning how to get along with people and act maturely, bringing a lawsuit every time someone does something you don’t like, because, hey, there’s nothing worse than bullying, and if you want to just make something up, and post it on the internets, and ruin someones reputation, that’s totally a great idea, even if that’s a different kind of bullying.
I’d take the word of a band member, whose musical and academic pursuits are genuine, long before someone who has dedicated their identity, ego, and personal standards to the idea that “football” makes them a superior and contributing member of society.
So now that he apologized and is donating money to the band are you going to stick to this story?
Sometimes you have to stand back, pinch yourself..and ask if you are on the right Planet….. it is disturbing..along with everything else happening in the news currently. I think tis country is in big trouble..if we allow bullies to reign. Not only on the field but in every walk of life!!
Maybe it is a case of brain damage due to blows to the head. Seriously.
As a member of the band, this is something I’ve grown used to. Nothing surprising at all as I read this, only the fact that his teammates apologized for him. Not saying it’s right, but this sort of thing happens all the time (doubly so for a male clarinetist, such as myself) at my school.
Just want to say how proud I always am of the UW Marching Band, and that I think you all handled yourselves brilliantly and professionally. Yay UWMB!
Someone should of grabbed a cop & had Him cited for disorderly conduct….Then filed a Suit for Libel
Some folks the world just might get along WITHOUT. Raiola had shown himself to be a loser human being, on a loser football team, from the bigget loser city in the nation– the decaying Detroit. Here’s a ‘shout-out’ to the entire Wisconsin Marching Band (“ON, WISCONSIN!) from an old-timer (1970) UCLA Solid-Gold Sound bandsman. Keep ’em coming!
What’s “the c-word?” He told her, “you’re a the c-word?” I don’t get it. Was he talking about “cunt?”
He said the word to her, I just didn’t feel it was necessary to put that word in the story.
Yes, you’re correct, you can’t put that word in the story here. 99.8% of prople know what the C-word is.
Thank you Tom – for this story and for being professional enough to write the story in this way. You are correct – there was no need for that word to be written out, just like this football player had no right to say that to anyone.
I have a couple of thoughts – wondering why the Detroit Safety apologized to the band after the abuse – why didn’t he just stop the abuse? If he heard it and felt the need to apologize for it, then he should have stopped it. To walk around behind this player and apologize for his behavior will do nothing to change it – bad behavior left unchecked remains bad behavior.
Secondly, please update this story when possible. I would hope that individuals in the Detroit Lions organization would hear of this and would respond in a way that has this player getting some intervention. It is obvious this player is ignorant and it may be that some education on the subject of tolerance would do him a world of good!
Thanks for keeping it professional Tom – keep up the good work!!
Just wondering why you chose to write pussy as p***y yet spell out f** in the same segment?
Thank you for pointing that out, I apologize for not bleeping that out. I just edited it now.
Oh. I thought he meant clarinet.
He is being a smart ass
i bet he supports raiola.
he is not a smart ass. he is indeed a very dumb ass.
Surfer Dude, seriously? Quit trolling.
I can’t help but wonder if this Detroit Lions Player Raiola has a mental illness. perhaps he was released too early after a regimen of shock treatments and mind altering drugs from a mental ward? My son among many witnesses saw and heard him impart his verbal assault on our young band members. This cant be the first time he he shared his obscenities to unsuspecting bystanders. Maybe he tried out for the band at Nebraska and they saw him as a poor ungainly misfit. Maybe he suffered scorn and was ostracized by his peers for failure to cultivate a career as a trombone player. Yes that’s probably what happened……and at yesterday’s game he just snapped! This doesn’t excuse his behavior. I’m curious to know seriously why he behaved like a rabid mouth foaming mad dog, targeting our youth? His ghetto talk had to of had an intention behind it. Was he some how provoked? If so how? Was he intending a bloody riot? I’m impress that our band carried out their performance in spite of this. And one more thing…….where was security?
Maybe when he was a child, his favorite toy was accidentally trampled by a marching band. But, hmmm, that doesn’t explain the angry homophobic slurs… Maybe playing Center for so many years, with another man’s hands between your legs 60 times per game, has him confused about his sexuality and this is how he takes out his anger at his own secret desires for Matthew Stafford. I mean, it sounds like there are several horrible things working here. Poor Dom is a victim to be sure, to be pitied. 🙂
Your comment made me snort! 😀
In the grand tradition of uplifting and exciting sports movies, I think you have just written the plot of the next blockbuster! Homophobic, band-hating pro football center, scarred for life by a homosexual marching band when they crushed his favorite toy, vows revenge. When he meets a plucky, say-anything tuba player, the sparks fly, until, in a moment of vulnerability, the footballer lets down his guard and learns the error of his ways. It’s the feel-good movie of the summer! Artie Lang and Jack McBreyer star in Paramount’s “I’m With the Marching Band”, coming to a multi-plex near you!
This is the funniest reply from anyone on this post!!! As a former band member, band mom and college band mom, I say the poor football player has that concussion disease that all those unfortunate players get from too many hits to the head. He is manifesting his ignorance or brain injury….or showing his I.Q. which must be pretty dang minimal….
Makes me wonder if it was a steroid induced rage?
Same thought ran through my mind, he looked a little thick headed and beefy to me.
Maybe he needs a drug test? It could be multiple concussions, along with steroids……It is obviously not a normal thing for a professional player to pick on a band member from college….Maybe jealously for not actually graduating from a college? He’s probably really mixed up in the head.
Or maybe he says stuff like that to get a laugh because he knows overly sensitive people will throw a hissy fit about it for weeks afterwards.
Who gives a crap Kate? I am so tired of people never having to be accountable for their own behavior. He was a crude bully. Mauree-you should be a writer
Donovan Raiola, Dominic’s younger brother, attended UW and played for the Badgers in the early / mid 2000s.
Sad to think that someone like Raiola, who gets thousands to play in the NFL, would act in this manner!! Just shows no matter how much money you have , it can’t buy you CLASS!!
AMEN
Thousands? He must be the lowest paid starter in the NFL. No wonder he’s so delusional.
You are so right Dawn……..CLASS (Taught, Observed, Priceless)
FWIW: I think its worth noting that his brother, Donovan, played at Wisconsin.
Sore loser!
This happened prior to the game stupid comment
This is just bad reporting. Was there an attempt to reach the football player for comment? How about the coaches or team reps? I’m not condoning what he did, by any means but this is poorly written and does work to resolve what happen.
RC, huh? Are you a Lions fan or what? We are friends of one of the band members who confirmed this happened. There’s nothing wrong with the reporting. It’s a blog article, LOL, not a feature on CNN.
I’m not a fan of the Lions or football for that matter. In fact, I’m a band and drum corps nerd. A link to this came across my facebook. While I understand that this isn’t CNN, the author has to understand that in this day of instant viral information responsibility must be taken especially when making these accusations. If the football player DID do these things then burn him at the stake but simply reporting what one person said without fact checking or getting all accounts (or even making an attempt to do so before reporting) is hearsay and actually places the author at risk for a libel suit. Even a simple “an attempt to reach Raiola and others from the Lions has been made, but thus far has not been responded to,” would add credibility to the story.
Actually, have another Lion player apologize is a pretty good indication the Mr. Raiola actually said what was reported. My goodness, the reporting on this event — compared to the rest of the crap floating around the internet — is stellar.
Did you not read where he posted that a fellow team mate came by and apologized later for Raiola’s behavior? That’s confirmation enough for me!
Well said! I was at that game…
It was not just one member of the band making accusations, read the article other members of the band heard what was said!!!
Agreed. Let’s get the facts straight before everyone hops on the hate wagon. It’s ironic that everyone’s hating on someone for a “hate speech” without any proof.
I’m going to reiterate what someone else said. Many of us reading this article are friends of the people who were insulted by Mr. Raiola. The word of our friends is proof enough for us. If you want a diplomatically worded article by someone who does not know anyone involved in the situation the closest you are going to get is ESPN and the other news articles that are linked at the bottom of the post (in the Updates), but you should note that even those are not completely unbiased. ESPN needs to be very careful not to make an accusation while reporting an accusation, that makes for very vague writing.
I feel I should say (for transparency) that I was a member of the band for the last 4 years.
Read the article RC… the reporter IS trying to get to the source… geeze
Still think it’s poorly written now that multiple other reporters have backed up the story and he not only apologized but donated money to the band?
This makes me sick. This guy should be brought up on charges, penalized and fined for his degrading remarks.
No problems with a fine. Will not support criminal charges based on speech. We sure as heck do not want to go there in a society that values free speech.
I agree. No criminal charges or anything crazy like that. He’s just an idiot for doing it and is setting a terrible example for a team that needs a good one!!! He’s usually a great example most of the time!!
Brought up on charges, Really!
Charges for….what exactly? Aren’t most college band members adults, too
Don’t get me wrong, as a former band geek with two band geek teens in high school, this is the big mouth guy most band members have had to deal with since middle school. BUT, insults are, generally, not illegal. If you want him brought up on charges for calling a band member a fa***ot or a female band member a c**t, there wouldn’t be enough jail space in the country to handle the influx.
could the coach or NFL not fine him for unprofessional conduct
I hope he gets kicked off our team, I’m sick of him being a poor example & cancer to our team. That’s a sad shame that he chose to act in that type of manner!
Check his contract…many players have ‘morality’ clauses built-in to dissuade behavior such as this. But, I don’t see a law broken here.
My name is Gino Salomone and I am a producer at Fox 6 on a show called Studio A that runs from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. I read your blog and was wondering if we could get you to Skype in to the show today to talk about it. You can reach me at gino.salomone@fox6now.com
Best,
Gino
I would like to see that as well. I hope he contacts you Gino.
He called me earlier this morning!
Sad to hear, especially since his brother Donovan played football at the University of Wisconsin.
If this really is accurate, 2 Thumbs up to Delmas for being a professional and 2 Thumbs down for Raiola for being totally classless. If I were the Detroit Lion head coach, you would be released immediately!
Proof? Heresy, in America we have this thing called innocent until proven guilty.
Audio? Video? Realistically, you might want to add allegedly in your article before every allegation because this is a defamation of character suit waiting to happen. The clicked on link says allegedly, but This article is written like a fact article. Thats a slippery slope and as a reporter you should know better.
I’m a Lions fan, anf I hear Raiola isn’t the shining beacon of kindness, but there are some pretty serious claims in this article.
1) innocent until proven guilty applies ONLY in a court of law you moron, not here.
2) multiple people HAVE CONFIRMED HIS ACTIONS. INCLUDING A TEAMMATE LOUIS DELMAS.
3) You’re a frickin idiot, plain and simple. There is no defamation for TRUTHFUL REPORTS, which this has been confirmed. More importantly, in order to proceed witha defamation suit, he would have to prove malice and intent to cause harm, in addition to this not being true. Your comment is as idiotic as Raiola.
Plenty of hate in your comment TWB for someone just looking for some confirmation. Isn’t that interesting…
This is lovely. Someone blogging against hate calls another person a “moron” and an “idiot”. People are so quick to cry foul and bash anyone. Maybe you and Raiola should have a contest over who can be the most offensive and call the most names, hey?
When did Delmas confirm anything? The fact is, the band members provoked this.
Really Tim? A fact? With all the complaining about wanting confirmation/sources that others are doing on here, it sure would be nice if you backed up your claim with some actual proof, instead of repeatedly spouting off the same vague statement about the UW band taunting players with absolutely zero corroboration.
As you’ll see elsewhere, I and others have gone to Google, as you suggested, and returned with one pathetically mild case of “taunting” a player (Moss, that he laughed off) and several cases of Raiola lashing out (against Miami and Detroit fans and Chargers players).
Speaking of Raiola. Let’s say the band did taunt him. Let’s even say they went so far as to hurl dozens of slurs and expletives at him from the start (though the article makes the case that he started in on them before most of the band was out there), he still merits blame for how he reacted. He’s a long-tenured professional athlete who’s been dealing with hostile crowds for years. You really think he’s in any way right to lash out as described, regardless of the circumstances? If he really had a problem, he should do like you’ve said and get the band booted, not by cussing them out, but by talking to team/stadium officials. Y’know, the official channels that are paid to deal with such things. To act as he did, provoked or not, is shameful, reprehensible, and inexcusable.
Jericho, are you not familiar with the shady past of the Wisconsin band, a band that has been in the spot light for behavioral problems?
Tim, I’m familiar with the 4 year old (read: enough turnover time that those responsible in the band are mostly, if not all, gone) hazing incidents. They were bad. Not the worst committed by a band by any stretch, but still bad. Those involved were punished, and the entire band was suspended for two games, if I recall. Since the current band is largely unrelated to those responsible for the hazing, I’m not sure how that factors in here at all.
Beyond that, all I’ve seen is whining from other fan bases about the UW band without any independent facts backing up their complaints. None. Come to me with that, and we’ll talk about whether THIS band (and not bands from 3, 4, or 5+ years past) is full of shameful characters.
In any case, the larger point still stands. Let’s accept that you are 100% correct and every member of this band is a hazing, vitriolic, angry punk who had no right to be on the sideline and that they started in on him, taunting and belittling him non-stop the entire day. Let’s just assume we live in the same world you do where that’s true. It still does not in any way excuse Raiola’s behavior. He’s a 13 year veteran, and you’re telling me he still gets riled up enough by what people (and in your mind, punk students) say to lash out the way he did? Really? And that’s acceptable to you? They started it, so it’s fine for him to act that way? Frankly, that’s embarrassing and pathetic. The man is a professional who’s dealt with hostile crowds for 13+ years (counting college). It’s long past time he learned to deal with it, keep his mouth shut, and play. No matter what might have been said to him (of which again, you offer ZERO proof apart from your same vague statement about how the band has an awful, infamous past and that Google will turn up mountains of proof of this), he was absolutely in the wrong to react as he did. End of story.
It’s a blog article to just put the word out there, not a huge news report that will be used as evidence in court. It doesn’t need to be written to where the supreme court can use it in a prosecution. It just needs to relay what the writer was told.
Well, there are claims of this happening not once but multiple times and if you go back and read the article again you will see this just didn’t happen once during that day but multiple times to multiple band members. The Badger Marching band is one of the most professional musical groups that represent Wisconsin. These band members are held to the highest caliber of musicianship and professionalism. I have witnessed not one but lots of these young adults (not kids all over 18) on and off the field and if they (more than 1 more than 5) said this happened what have they to gain by saying this? Nothing! Also, if a fellow team mate went out of his way to apologize for Raiola’s behavior, then it is very obvious that something did happen, enough to make his fellow team mate unease enough to go over and apologize. Now if Raiola is a man then he needs to come forward and fess up. But you know what, I bet he doesn’t cause there is one difference between him and the band members and that’s a few million a year in earnings. Remember these band members do not get paid for what they do!!!!!! They do it for the love of the music and for the fans! Go Badger Marching Band, your #1 in all the hearts of Wisconsin.
How about another incident when he was at Lambeau last year where he got into it with some fans behind the Lions bench. Same type of language, etc. as witnessed by my daughter and those aroud her. This is nothing new for him
There sure were plenty of serious claims in this article, and he has now apologized and donated money to the band as a result of them. That good enough for you?
I’m a 37 year old Lions fan and I have been for 23 years. This is disgusting for Raiola to have done this. Forget the weight of the kid(s) or the fact that they’re in the band, or anything else, these are 18-23 year old college students. If somebody had provoked Raiola or threw something at him, or whatever, then I could almost say eh it happns. It would still be 100% wrong but I would understand it a little bit more. The Lions have lost at that stadium something like 23 straight times, Calvin Johnson was ruled out, and Raiola is a veteran and leader on that team, could he have channeled that energy in a different direction? He really should be embarrassed and Jim Schwartz needs to start coming down hard on these guys with the being stupid, on and off the field. Unbelievable
I’m a big time Lion’s fan but I’m really disgusted & ashamed to hear of such a childless acy by one of our players & of course it would be Dominic Raiola. He’s the type of cancer that continues to hinder the mental growth & success of this team trying to become a winner & I personally don’t ever want to see him Iin a Lions uniform again. I hope this story gets back to Lions coaches & organization & that he gets disciplined accordingly!
Somebody will approach Raiola about this, so we’ll wait to hear what he has to say. If he said ANYTHING to them at all, it is inappropriate and I, as a Lions fan am embarrassed. He should know better, EVEN IF being taunted. I’m not completely sold this happened yet. I know there are character guys on our team who would’ve said something to him.
He apologized and donated money to the band for what it’s worth.
Nick Fairley is 291lbs does he call him a fat guy and hate him too? I mean there is no doubt he is a fat dude.
Raiola is 295 lbs, does he hate himself?
Like I don’t get it? This claim makes no sense to me.
Yes, he hates himself. That is the root of the problem.
Weight does not define fat… Brian Urlacher weighed 258 lbs when he retired, would you consider him fat?
This type of “journalism” is what’s wrong with Bleacher Report. The author is reporting something without going through proper channels first. A real journalist would get as much details from BOTH sides and let the reader decide an opinion on what took place. The author should, at the very least, have contacted the Lions organization for a quote and put they could not be reached for a comment, if that were the case. Instead we get a one sided piece that belongs on Facebook, a blog, or a message board. If the author doesn’t know how to follow the proper channels to ensure quality reporting, then maybe they should leave journalism up to the professionals.
I have sent an email to their director of media relations but I have not heard back. My colleagues who cover the Lions informed me they have been stonewalled by the organization as well.
In case you haven’t noticed, this is a wordpress site. Ergo, it IS a blog. Before you criticize, maybe you should take the 5 seconds to look at the URL.
This IS a blog. Did you miss that, or do you often use blogs as your source of hard-hitting journalism and criticize them for not being professional?
Bro you aren’t on the Bleacher Report. You are on a BLOG. Therefore by way of your statement you have made your comment irrelevant. Go write a proper complaint on the corresponding website that you wish to refer to.
Hey AF23, read it again, and you know what, Lions are keeping their mouth shut because they already have enough problems and know it happened!
What problems do the Lions have? None that I know of, although there are several teams that do have issues. Lions are 3-2, 2-1 in the division. They’ll likely be 4-2 with a favorable schedule after playing 4 of the first six on the road. The Falcons just lost again, so if Detroit wins the games they should, which I’m pretty sure they will, they’re going to not only go to the playoffs, but compete for the division. The packers weren’t world beaters, it was 6-3 at halftime. We still get them at home and i love our chances. That was on a football note. I’m thinking this was blown WAY out of proportion. Lets not forget this isn’t the first incident involving this band. They hate Detroit, and a bad Detroit team has been an easy target for a long time. This wont, and shouldn’t, go anywhere. Let’s find another team to vilify for a while big media machine.
Is anyone else at least a little bothered that everyone is ready to crucify Raiola based on a Facebook post and a wordpress blog that only uses unnamed sources (when remaining anonymous really doesn’t make any sense in this case…)? No disrespect to anyone, and I think if this is true that Raiola should be punished if the reports are true, but this feels like a really, really thin story.
I chose to keep the people who spoke to me anonymous because I didn’t think it was necessary to include them in the story. If necessary I can name names, but I don’t think that is necessary right now.
Agree with this statement, seems pretty thin and far fetched to me as well. Also, if Raiola was commenting on a specific band members sexual orientation, recently diseased mother, and sister; that would take a lot of extra work for Raiola to have that much information about a college band member. I at least hope it’s not true, for everyone’s sake
“. . . commenting on a specific band members sexual orientation, recently diseased mother, and sister; that would take a lot of extra work for Raiola to have that much information about a college band member.”
It doesn’t have to be true for him to say it, does it? Jeez!
1. Is it still thin and far fetched? 2. He can comment on any of those things without knowing A. his mother had recently died or B. knowing that the band member had a sister.
On the comments concerning the young adult’s mother…no one assumes Raiola had any prior information about her death. More than likely, he made a ‘yo momma’ joke, and the band member noted that his mother had passed away.
THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING THIS
Your “colleagues”?? Anybody can be a “reporter” utilizing word press. I still say this is very fishy. If any of it is true, he won’t escape repercussions. It just isn’t logical though. An offensive lineman calling people fat? I’m gonna say this is bullshit.
I’m with you Mike, I’m very bothered. To be clear, if its true he should be disciplined. But there is no logic to it at all. A lineman calling people out about weight? I can’t believe BLEACHER REPORT put this on their site. They obviously have no filter and can’t call themselves reporters. I guess this means i can start a word press blog and accuse Peyton Manning of just about anything and BLEACHER REPORT will post it with no confirmation at all. If this happened, it is SAD. If it didn’t happen, it’s just as SAD.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, but it clearly happened.
I am!! I am! (bothered, that is)
Still a thin story?
Ironically enough, I believe Raiola’s younger brother played for the Badgers football team. So one of his family members received an education courtesy of Wisconsinites.
As a Lions fan, this is embarrassing. Even if he was provoked, (which clearly he wasn’t) what does he gain from talking shit to college kids? All these disciplinary issues are a reflection of the leadership on the team and it’s time for change. Shwartz is setting an awful example and it’s really starting to show at this point. 34 years old and can’t handle himself around some young 20-somethings. GTFO you bum.
You would think that as people mature they would learn that bullying is not acceptable and the outcome that words can truly harm others. Sickening.
I find this story a little hard to believe. No one except the band member has been quoted. Anyone can say anyone said anything. Would you guys believe me if I told you when I went to GB to watch the lions play that fans were calling me a sand nigg*r? Oh we’ll it it must be true because I said they did. I find it very hard to believe that absolutely out of no where without anyone saying anything to him or any other player that he just decided to start ripping these guys. To me, this article is as credible as N’tl inquire.
If you count the sources that he used, you will notice that there are no less than ten different band member witnesses even if you assume that when he claims “multiple members” he means only one. Do you think it is possible to get that kind of consistent story from 10 people who, most likely, were not standing next to each other and were witnessing this?
Well Bob then why did the team mate apologize? Cause it happen!
Still hard to believe? Still as credible as “N’tl inquire”?
These comments by a group who moons the football team as they leave the stadium. Packers fans that sexually assault people. hmm
Why didn’t the Coach stop him? He must have heard him.
As a former member of HS and College Bands quite a few years ago, it’s very sad to see that all these years later there are those who still behave this way. Even tho our HS Band was pretty large and one of the best in the State we used to get that kind of abuse +. We were often spit on by people when we were in visiting stands and had to cross in areas where there were seats above us. We would have food and drink thrown on us and sometimes physically attacked if we were caught getting drinks and food alone. We had to be sure to be in groups and still at times have idiots jump us causing us to have to fight to defend and protect ourselves. I was hoping that Bands no longer had to endure such idiotic behavior! I would hope that at least the HC, GM, and owner of the Lions would have a meeting with this ape and punish him, have him verbally apologize to the UW Band Director by phone…in their presence, and then fine him and make him attend some counseling. This cannot just be swept under the preverbial rug! BTW our HS Fight song was from the music to On Wisconsin!!
This made news? Who cares. These kids are whiny girls. You’re a grown man stick up for yourself. Talk crap back to him. These players get the most vile things said to them and they don’t cry like babies about it, they be men about it. These kids go to same university with the most classless fans outside of the SEC. I don’t feel bad for these kids not one bit. Especially when Wisconsin is home to the most classless and fat fans in the world
Did you know you’re kinda a dick. I just thought I’d point that out since you like to point out other people’s flaws also.
You are correct….except that while he “is” one, he clearly doesn’t “have” one.
Spot on!
Another one who comes on here and condemns “allegations” by Raiola, but chooses to resort to name-calling. Too many glass houses and not enough stones to go around……
wow…you sound pretty class less yourself there pal. Hope you aren’t raising any children. People like you are what’s wrong with our society!
You are an idiot! I am in awe of your idiocy.
Good of you to join the discussion, Mr. Raiola.
Is that you Dominic?
Most band members are taught to retain discipline and show respect while in uniform, as they are representing something more important than themselves on an individual level. It is part of the foundation of building professionalism in their lives – a skill that some athletes and people like you obviously don’t feel imperative to acquire.
You’re adorable Dominic. Picking on kids to make yourself feel better.
Kiss my ass dude, no they go out instead and rape women, do drugs and bully people. Seems like you one of them.
Classless fans ? Have you ever been to Green Bay for a game ? We are not a bunch of low life’s like some surrounding States . When you come to our stadium, we try to make you feel welcome and have a good time. I have seen very little conflict there in all the years I’ve been going. We don’t burn our city’s during holidays !!!!
you are realy brave to talk shit like that you must be from detroit the least you coud do woul be brave enough to post your name coward
Come on over to Wisconsin and say it to someone’s face you dumb fucker. I’d prefer you come talk to me, but I bet anyone could whoop your ass the same. You’re an idiot. Packer fans have an amazing reputation in the nfl.
How can you call your self a polite packer fan. Saying what you just said doesn’t make yourself or other packer fans look like they have a great reputation for nfl …I have to say I’m embarrassed!
I think this is a perfect opportunity for the Lions management to take a national stance on bullying and suspend this guy for a few games without pay
You know what that’s not such a bad idea to do. The Lions won’t do that though, nor would any other team. To take a veteran player and make him look bad or bury him Nationally, warranted or not, is not going to happen. Now, if because of this, they start a campaign against bullying and left Raiolas name out of it, that may work. With the Internet now, social media, facebook, twitter, and so on, bullying is a very serious issue in this country, and others for that matter, and it needs to be taken seriously. Kids and teens kill themselves over it and that’s a major problem. It’s very sad and it effects a lot of families. Bullying needs to be more in the forefront and dealt with on a regular basis.
Sounds like a good idea!
Seems to me that you should have both side of a story; however, that wouldn’t make for a story.
It would be great to get the truth on the other side of the story, but all that we’ll see is the NFL’s “official” story.
I reached out to them for comment, they never responded. They did, however, handle this pretty well as far as reaching out to the Wisconsin Band.
About time someone put these fucking nerds in place. If I was to bet, I would say this nerd just wants his 15 minutes though. If it’s true, good for Dom. DIE BAND NERDS
Wow! Another moron…thanks for making most people look good, idiot boy!
Oh, the irony John Shea… oh the irony.
Oh hello there Mr. Raiola glad you could join us.
I hope the lions fine him or something. I don’t care who you are playing, what band is playing, that is not ok and makes the Lions as a team look horrible.
Hopefully the kick the band members out that were taunting him.
You’ve still yet to prove that he was taunted, troll.
Link or slink.
As classless as Raiola appears to be, a big thumbs up to Louis Delmas for doing what he did and showing he has class. Unfortunately we here more about the guys like Raiola than we do guys like Delmas, but thankfully there’s just as many if not more good guys than bad guys.
Keep in mind: This is coming from a guy that makes a living by another man putting his hands up his ass…
It’s funny that a football center would call UW Band members “fat.” Did he watch them go through their routine? Or even their run-out? If he had to put out that much sustained effort for as long as they do in the band, he’d probably have to stagger to the sidelines and grab an oxygen mask.
Ah yes…another “classy” Fusker …..
Its just the usual Wisconsin penis envy that has always existed with Minnesota and Illinois, I thought Michigan had a little more class, by the way I lived in East Lansing for 3 years. So lets see if the Lions do anything about this, bet they won’t. Just join the ranks of Randy Moss and Lovie Smith and be a Wisconsin hater, don’t matter to us, 10 years from now we’ll still be talking about Detroit not being able to win a game in Wisconsin in what 33 years.
No matter how much they insult others, the Lions still have to reside in bankrupt, crime-ridden Detroit.
As a UW band alum, we were used to getting harassed by the opposing fans, and sometimes a team member. But, it’s usually after we’re beating the hell out of them on the field, not before the National Anthem. It’s disappointing, but not surprising given Raiola’s obviously low IQ. Like all bullies, he’s lashing out at his own shortcomings – which apparently have a lot to do with fat, gay men with vaginas?
You do realize that the UW Band has had a history of this with players. They need to be banned from the sidelines if they can’t act properly.
Huh? Did you actually READ the article?
Tim you’re an idiot please go back to the rock that your crawled out from under.
No Time, they don’t have a history of this. They have a professional stature about them that makes them the envy of most college level marching bands across the USA.
You’ve still yet to prove that he was taunted, troll.
Link or slink.
OMG…what an ass. He should be fined…or suspended…or thrown out of football. Probably learned this behavior from his oh-so-classy coach.
Who’s to say what is the truth?
And to think that just last week, Mr. Ford called the Bears a bunch of thugs! Ironic at best.
Horrible and somewhat ironic considering his brother played his college football at Wisconsin
Who gives a damn. Let’s see some proof you fat band cunt 🙂
I laughed so hard at you spelling my name wrong in an attempt to insult me. Thank you for that.
If a football player can be fined $5000 dollars for not wearing pink shoes than I feel he should be fined for this.
What is is about Detroit’s ownership that they keep drafting trash? Suh is another prime example.
Your comments are just as offensive and childish as the alleged comments from the article. Let’s be adults.
What is untrue, childish or offensive about what Mr. Godsil said? Suh IS a piece of trash — even his own teammates don’t want to practice with him. You don’t get a reputation like his — with all of the game video clips of him and his dirty shots — when you are innocent.
I wish I was in the band’s tuba section because I give it back as well as I take it. I’m a tuba player myself that also happens to be a hockey player. I understand the mentality of someone acting like this and it’s quite easy to put them back in their place without being half as vulgar. A guy like this is fragile in between the ears. There is a reason why he is paid to push around other fully grown men for a living.
At the same time not all guys who play professional sports for a living are dirt bags like this guy. I have been on many fields at pro and college games alike and have seen some great gestures from pro athletes to band members in the past from letting members sit on their heated benches before halftime in some harsh frigid weather to handing out bagged lunches after a performance.
They aren’t all bad guys. Don’t let one bad apple spoil the bunch.
Yes it is unfortunate that one bad apple spoils it for others.
I do not believe this story at all. Sounds stupid.
The UW Band has a history of taunting players, this isn’t the first time a player has gone back at them.
You’ve still yet to prove that he was taunted, troll.
Link or slink.
Yeah, sounds stupid.
This isn’t the Wisconsin Band first issue with players, maybe the Packers need to keep them off the field if they can’t act properly.
Proof?
Ever heard of Google? Even one of the Packer beat writers Tom Silverstein has said they band has had issues in the past.
I used Google. Got nothing. Searched Silverstein’s archives too. Nada.
Unless you’re referring to the time the tuba players spelled “Where You At, Moss?” with their tuba covers. And if you are, if that’s the shining example you’ve got, then you’re insane. There is a chasm of difference between inanimate objects taking an incredibly harmless shot at a star player and a player making profane, derogatory, and targeted remarks against individual band members.
Also, funny story if you watch the video of that “taunting,” Moss was laughing about it. If there was taunting, THAT is how you respond as a professional and an adult, not by hurling insults.
My son in the band was on the receiving end of some spit from this player. All other things aside, that can be a felony. No. Just no. Roger Goodell needs to hear about this.
Your stupid son should have shut his mouth. If you taunt someone, expect a reply.
You have zero credibility, Tim Dwighter. You have emotional, unresolved issues with band members, particularly UW band members, and your rude remarks make you look foolish. There is your reply.
I can confirm without a doubt that Raiola was unprovoked. I think you should shut your stupuid mouth before accusing the University of Wisconsin Marching Band for provoking an NFL player…
No one gives a crap about the stupid band. If the dumb band members can’t keep their mouths shut, they shouldn’t be welcomed back.
After having been in the UW band from 2007-2012 I can attest to the fact that if taunted we are specifically told not to respond. I have been verbally assaulted by many groups of opposing fans and bands, many similar to you Tim D. Not only are your claims that we’ve had issues on sidelines in the past irrelevant but this recent encounter was initiated pre-national anthem before the band even entered the field. I also had the pleasure of marching on Lambeau 4 times with 4 different opposing teams, never had an issue.
It’s well known around the Big 10 that the Badger band tends to taunt and talk alot, maybe Lambeau will finally wise up and ban the band all together.
Come on guys, stop feeding the troll.
“Alot” is not a word; it is two.
Hey Tim, get a life, seems the Packer organization has a high respect for the Badger Marching band and I am sure that if there was a problem with the band it would have been dealt with on the spot. Seems you need some intervention yourself. Were you bullied or were you a bully ! Safe to assume from your comments you were a bully!
You’ve still yet to prove that he was taunted, troll.
Link or slink.
This idiot should have been escorted off of the field by the police and promptly thrown in jail. Then heavy fines by the NFL should be levied against him. His sexual comments are nothing more then unwanted and unwarranted sexual abuse which such result in prison time. This person has a real problem and should no longer be allowed to play for any NFL team. Furthermore, he should have lose any of his contract earnings for the current season and for the remainder of the season. I don’t know if this jerk has a family of not but if he does, his wife needs to get into treatment ASAP as if he treats complete strangers this way how does he treat her!
The band members should have been thrown out long before that, they were the ones that started taunting him.
Thrown in jail? “Escorted off the field and promptly thrown in jail” Yes because that’s how it works now, we take one side of the story and throw the accused in jail based off of accusations. Seems like a legit way to do it. I’ve been sticking up for the band members involved because of the ‘bullying’ aspect and the effects that bullying can have on a young person. I’m a 20+ year Lions fan, but that’s one of the more ignorant and stupid things I’ve ever heard. I mean, huh??
Your a fuckin idiot
I like how people want the other side of the story, guess what, the player and the team will just deny it ever happened. He might get a little “talk” in private from one of his coaches but I doubt even that will happen. This idiot talks smack all the time, he has gotten into pre game fights before with Packer players because of the crap he talks which he must think fires his team up or something. Obviously it doesnt work as the Packers have owned the Lions for 23 straight games!
Pregame fight, when? Please refrain from making stuff up.
http://nesn.com/2011/12/lions-chargers-involved-in-pregame-scuffle-as-teams-emerge-from-tunnel-video/
Yeah HE’S the one being cast in a bad light.
He’s a saint. Isn’t he?
http://www.zimbio.com/Dominic+Raiola/articles/4/Detroit+Lions+Dominic+Raiola+Stands+Vulgarity
Not the Packers, but he has gotten into a pregame fight (others probably go unreported). http://nesn.com/2011/12/lions-chargers-involved-in-pregame-scuffle-as-teams-emerge-from-tunnel-video/
Then there’s his love fest with his own fans. http://www.zimbio.com/Dominic+Raiola/articles/4/Detroit+Lions+Dominic+Raiola+Stands+Vulgarity
Yeah. I’m sure the UW band is to blame.
As for their taunting history. This is what Google came up with: http://brianshah.net/2004/11/15/uw-band-taunts-minnesota-vikings/ That’s it. No multiple incidents, no widespread history.
Looks like yep beat me to the links.
Yep beat me to it, Hey Timmy Boy, where’s your defense of Raiola now?
The irony of this comment is absolutely beautiful.
Does the band member have a name? Do any of the other “multiple” band members have names? I am not doubting your story, but to choose not to name any of the band members does detract a little bit from it. Did they ask not to be identified? If so, then that needs to be said in your report. Or did you choose for some other reason to not name names? Again, not to excuse Raiola’s reported conduct in any way.
I chose to leave them out of it for now, but if necessary I can name names. I just didn’t feel that it was necessary at this time.
Well, the in the same vein, you could have simply said a “Detroit Lions player.” It seems if such a charge is being leveled, it lends credibility if the person leveling the charge is known.
Will you be reporting the band members that were taunting Raiola?
Hey Timmy Boy! Do you have names of the band members that were suposedly taunting Raiola? I thought not… guilty of your own crime.
Tom did respond to this earlier. At least one of the names has been published in other articles, though.
I don’t think that names are important. It is non of our business who it was, it is our business that it happened and that it needs to be dealt with.
Doc – the names are easily found. This isn’t some “official report” and Tom can do whatever he wants. How about you do your own research and write up your own blog with all the names – would that make you feel better?
although the comments were awful and horrible and showed zero class and were simply to provoke… there were not necessarily wrong
The detroit lions? Are they in the CFL or is that an arena league team? Oh, I just saw that they had a scrimmage with the GB Packers – Green bay smashed them – guess if the center would worry more about football than the band, maybe they wouln’t have lost as bad
The Lions’ record is what? The Packers’ record is what? Stick to the story and stop worrying about football records…..
The Lions actually are 1st in the division.
Thomas Strausbaugh, was that supposed to be funny? What a lame comment though, get a clue on how to be funny, then stop back. A CFL team, what a joke. I mean wow! That was soo funny!!
Funny how this gets more attention than the fact he’s a poor excuse for a father too. A big deal was made about how he brought his two sons to Ford Field dressed in his #51 jersey, while the 6 year old son he kept hidden from his wife and the public until just recently sat home and watched him on TV. To top it off, from what I’ve heard, he was behind on support for the entire off season and the Lions even had to garnish his pay. His demeanor must have a lot to do with his personal issues, but that in no way is an excuse for being a bigoted ass.
Do you cheer for Finley? He was behind on his child support…but then again, Finley has 6 kids and multiple mama’s.
Don’t worry about what players are or aren’t off the field. You’re not a perfect human being that does everything 100% the right way all the time. Worrying about what kind of a father he is and his child support status, gimme a break. I love all the Holier then thou attitude that some people have in their comments! These players have the same issues and downfalls as you and I.
@Detlions76 – Perhaps, but most people have enough integrity to keep their judgments (if any) to themselves. Being on a professional team and acting like you’re a 13 year old boy bully isn’t going to do much to enhance his, nor his team’s, franchise. Cheers.
I think most trombone players are gay. My professor of music theory says the same thing.
You must enjoy playing the trombone with your music professor.
I am assuming that everybody forgot about the time the UW band taunted Randy Moss when he played for the vikings?? Yup, yup.. WI fans…. leave it to them to make more out of something then they should….
“I think”
Sorry, I knew you were lying when you started with this…
A few years ago when Matt Flynn spanked the Lions this same player was trash talking fans as well. The whole stadium reacted in a chant 51 sucks. He is such a great player that we didnt even know his name. An organization that employs various dirty players like Suh is this really something unexpected? Even their coach showed no class by calling a pointless timeout at the end of the game. The band was amazing dont let this loser ruin your awesome performance.
Oh boo hoo, so you got called some names. To be the bigger “man” in the situation is to not let it bother you and go on living the life that you live. Nothing bothers a bully more than when you literally do nothing about it and go on living a happy life, all this did was bring more attention to him, which he clearly wants. This all stems from a society where everyone has to be politically correct which all it does is cause “panic” where there is none.
They can’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true.
I love that commercial!
If you think the Wisconsin Marching Band is one of the best in the nation, you clearly don’t listen to/watch many college marching bands. They play with blatty tone quality, have sloppy marching technique, and watching them try to turn a corner in the Tournament of Roses parade is usually comical. They aren’t even in the top half of the bands in the Big Ten, let alone one of the best in the nation.
That being said, Raiola should be suspended and have to travel to Madison and apologize in front of the entire band at a rehearsal.
Im actually from wisconsin, and love the band, but remember that during badgers games the student section chants eat sh** fu** you. So lets really put this into perspective as hateful taunting. Its a very large pot calling the kettle black
That was really unbelievable on how a someone would say horrible comments to someone unprovoked, but good on Louis Delmas for stepping up and being a real man in this situation.
Tom,
You may wish to rename your PNG picture of the Facebook status in this article. The picture’s file name contains the person’s name that you removed.
I would bet anything this guy’s been a bully his whole life. I can’t imagine how miserable he’s made kids all through school.
Am I the only one wondering how Raiola knew that the kids mother had recently died? Seems a little fishy to me unless he was wearing something as a tribute to her…
I don’t know, but would guess that Raiola merely said some nasty things about this kid’s mom and it just so happened that she had recently died and therefore the taunts had more weight to them.
What’s funny is that most of the band people I know say they hear much worse things come from the mouths of the Wisconsin band, a group with a very poor reputation amongst its peers.
America is really becoming pussified , with all the tree hungers, media outlets , and everyone who has a computer expressing their views. I’m sure there is more to the story. You don’t think these bands not just Wisconsin , but bands in general heckle opposing teams, your outta your freakin mind. It’s football,shit gets said so ” Move Along” . Jeez . Can’t do Shit in this Country it seems without someone somewhere being offended. Grow some Balls People.
Not the same Dominic Raiola that thought it was hilarious to take a dump on the floor of his RA’s room while living in Harper Hall? Nah, couldn’t have been THAT guy
Isn’t this the norm for how band members are greeted at sporting events? I thought it just came with the territory.
And his brother played for Wisconsin.
Classless… Sad…
What a joke! If you have ever been to a Wisconsin football game and sat by the band this is tame. They even have vulgar chants the whole stadium participates in. Worse fans and student section in the Big Ten bar none
This is particularly disturbing considering the fact that not only is his alma matar now a B1G school, but his younger brother, Donovan, was UW Badger Football alumnus!
You’d think there would be more talk in the article about some of the past issues the Wisconsin band has had on the road that lead to the suspension of their band leader.
Their band leader!?! Do you even know who he is? That is absolutely laughable.
Tim are you talking about the hazing incident that happened over 4 years ago? You keep bringing it up but dont ever elaborate. So what did the band do? Was it this current band or a previous one?
If those “issues” were somehow relevant to a 13-year veteran not being able to keep his shit together and keep from berating a bunch of college kids (punks or not), then there likely would be. Even then, it would be pretty darn irrelevant, since what they may or may not have done in the past (of which you and the internet offer zero evidence) has no bearing on this incident. What, Raiola heard about their alleged taunting history and decided to go off on them for it? There’s no excuse for what he said. None. He’s the bad guy in this instance. Get over it.
As it is, there’s zero evidence that the band members said anything in this instance, making any supposed past misconduct even more completely inconsequential to the story than it already is. Tough luck for your raging hard-on against the band. Maybe next time it’ll be their fault and you can sweep in with your sanctimonious condemnation?
Now there are reports that late this afternoon the Lions front office called UWMadison to apologize for Raiola’s actions. NOT GOOD ENOUGH! This guy has gotten away with too much, he needs to be made an example of.
Maybe the Lions should just gloss over it like the Wisconsin band has down to their much more serious infractions, Mike Leckrone should have been fired.
Well as a band member in the USMC, it’s sad to see people act this way towards intellectually inclined musicians who deserve more respect than that. Sad to see that he also dishonored our nation by ridiculing and making rude comments to those who were simply paying their respects… Saddening as it may seem, he’s just another high school jock trying to get some attention using the typical ass hole maneuver to attract attention. He’s not the brightest crayola sitting on the marker board… But I would also expect that from someone who plays on a team who never makes it to the playoffs as well. Go cards!!
The good news in this story is that other players are standing up to Dominic. I don’t think this is an example of us being set back by several years. Rather, it’s an example of boorish behavior not being condoned by his teammates, and (hopefully) his organization. Is Dominic a fool? Clearly. We shouldn’t suffer fools lightly, and I look forward to following this story to its conclusion.
That’s just disgusting.
No it isn’t good. Who cares? If what this meathead said bothers you, then you have serious self-esteem issues. It is hilarious that what he said bothers ppl. If he said this to me or my friends, it’d be a hilarious inside joke. Grow up nerds.
As an ex band member at a big university I got to say the Wisconsin fan were extremely rude to us band member at a bowl game back in 2005. They were calling us fat and told us we didn’t deserve to march on the same field as there band. They also were cursing and flicking off are color guard.
Obviously his action were very crude and uncalled for, no one should ever say those things to anyone.
but, half of you sit here and type pointless insults directed towards him or other people posting here, you are dangerously close to being no better than he is.
Also stop falling for the people who troll on here.
What I absolutely do not get. Is how all these people are getting upset for him calling people slurs and names. Then they themselves are name calling here as well. Stay class act classy. Don’t act the way of those you are complaining about .
Very well written piece Tom, I’m glad to hear that you were one of the main proponents in helping spread this really important coverage. I’m a firm believer that as we move into the future, it is crucial that we all contribute to increase general equality and acceptance in this world that we all share. Thank you for the important story and I will be sure to share it!
The UW band has a long history of being hated in the Big Ten.
They are obnoxious assholes pretty much all the time.
Karma serves them right.
Don’t make the UW-Band out to be saints all the time. As there is possibility of Mr. Raiola doing this, I do think there is truth to band member starting this verbal altercation.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3624729
this story is from 2008, that’s 5 years ago. By now they have totally different members as well as if anything really had happened the band, like it was in that article, would have been reprimanded.
Bandsupporter, go to an opposing game that the Wisconsin band attends, and listen to their mouths. I find it disgusting that they are the ones crying here, when I’ve heard much worse from their band members in the stands.
Typicle brainless thug with no father involved in his life.. So sad…
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My High school just had the UW Marching band at our homecoming game Friday night. no foul language or back talking was heard from them….I would know since i was by the band the whole time. This has been the second time the UW Marching band has played at my High school, the last time was my junior year in 2008 and they were just as cordial and respectful. the only thing they did to maybe offend the other team, which was SPASH, was to not play in front of their stands. yes I know that at the Badgers football games (which I’ve been to 3 in the past) there is quite a lot of BS-ing coming from the Student section and where the band is. But never, when they have been elsewhere have I myself heard anything bad from the Band. I’m not a follower of the Lions obviously since I’ve lived in WI my whole life so i cant comment on the history of any of the lions players or team but i know that the band has higher standards and have played many years at least once year at a Green Bay game. if they had a history of being a problem don’t you think they would have been stopped by now???
This is truely sad.
I find myself at 56 yrs. with some not so good health on SSD. I enjoy watching footbal and baseball games. The band is the bomb we all know this. As it gets harder to keep my health up these are the kinds of things I truely enjoy.
I love my country and when a really great band like UWM’s marching band plays the National anthem it does me well.
Really? you’re going to take down my comment. I mean you start the article off with “…is this 2013?” and in some morally justified fashion you decide that a. free speech is great but only if you believe the same way i do and b. EVERYONE in 2013 really treats EVERYONE the same. The fact of the matter is the kid really is a band fag because that’s what you were referred to as in my school if you were a member of the band. So, to me the kid is a band fag. I’m sorry if we were raised in different households but i respect your right to forum in this matter as well. Furthermore, i would like to add that i don’t care who you are if you see a gay person or black person or fat person you automatically associate them with that stereotype and anyone who disagrees with that hasn’t taken an philosophy course in college (and spare me the “Ohhh i graduated from blah blah blah with a degree in blah” because those who do the whole look at me I’m educated and disagree just are annoying). Lastly, i swear 90% of you posters sound like little babies. OMG little timmy got called a name. Take a step outside of your little bubble of everyone be nice to everyone else world and learn to accept the fact that not everyone is going to tell you how special you are all the time. If you just learn how to deal with someone calling you names the world will see a lot more individuals with character and toughness which is often lacking in todays society…btw i was first chair trumpet so you can all shove it and I’m sure my sister would laugh if someone told her to shove my trumpet in her vag because i sure did. Now, proceed to find every little condescending point you can make about some sentence within this paragraph and be sure to reply it below.
Joe i respect you’re opinion, but are you that fucking ignorant that because your school called them band fags then its ok? So if your school called white people ho**ies or black people ni**ers or asians c**nks then its ok for everybody. Does calling someone names make you a better person or being called names make you a stronger person?
No I don’t believe that calling someone a name makes them a stronger person. Also, I don’t believe that NOT calling someone a name makes them stronger. If you were able to handle your emotions while reading my response like a rational, content absorbing, person you would have seen that in no way did I say that calling someone names makes them stronger. The point I made was (paraphrasing of course) that I’m sick of everyone trying to cradle these kids and just ESSENTIALLY deleting words from the English language because people are too soft to handle their connotations. If I know anything about bullies, which I like to believe I do because they always made me laugh back in the day, its that they feed off of peoples responses. Little wieners like people in this comment board who cry injustices when something irrelevant to themselves happens halfway across the country just fuel people like me who find it entertaining to watch you all get so worked up over some words. I just think it is absolutely comical that you all are going to seriously try and prevent people from saying WORDS lol I mean if you really want people to stop saying these things then stop reacting to them because I’ll tell you what that would bore the hell out of me. No one likes censorship and if you do then f you lol
You really think the starting Center for Detroit Lions knows about a “recently deceased mother” of one of the band members? I can believe all the other stuff but when he supposedly brings this up I get really skeptical of the whole story……
Still skeptical?
Who cares a rat’s ass about what any football player does, let alone a so-called one that speaks so=called hate speech.
Suck it up and move on..more of the pussification of america….
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So, in a world of cell phones and during a televised NFL game, NO ONE recorded any of this? And seriously, “Hate Speech”?
that’s a pretty crappy thing to those bandies. just because they are nerds with issues doesn’t mean the football player should yell at them.
It sounds bad, but it will be good to get his side of the story. More tolerance is needed all round http://wp.me/pDjed-1Ed
Wisconsin’s band actually has a pretty bad reputation across the country, and have been banned from several stadia across the country. At Ohio State, for instance, a group of trumpet players encircled a stadium usher and blared their horns at him, causing permanent hearing loss in one ear. They’ve been suspended for serious hazing infractions by their own university, and other than people from the University itself, I’ve never heard anyone have anything positive to say about them. Does that excuse what the football player allegedly did? Of course not, but I’d be very surprised if his comments were unprovoked.
Is there any Proof of this ? Like anything on video ?
Why would he do this ?
and How do we know he did ?
How about the fact he admitted to it?
That’s a solid place to start.
No one else thought it was funny that a heavy guy was commenting on someone else’s weight?
Regardless of who it was toward, this is gross behavior.
The band sounds like you’re quoting a bunch of 9 year olds.
It funny too me how you break down a man phych off some band geeks accusation!
I’m guessing you’re one of those people who laughed at the band in high school? Band kids work harder than anyone– Constant practice, discipline.. You can’t have less than a high B from the band I am in. I’m guessing you’ve never had more than a C with trying to juggle everything. So please, learn some manners before commenting.
Don’t worry guys. He’s going get chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and blow his sad pathetic brains out in a few years.
I don’t understand why everyone has made it about the game of football itself, this has nothing to do with football. It has to do with the shitty attitudes the football PLAYERS have. The band did NOTHING to provoke any of them at that time, and even if they had previously there is no reason a GROWN ADULT should be saying those kind of things. Grow a pair people. I’m younger than every single one of you, most likely, and i’ve enough sense to know that man should NOT have been saying those things.
I’ve had run-ins with members of the Wisconsin band before. There’s no way this was entirely unprovoked. There’s not a more classless group around than the Badger band. I’m sure once members finally took what they’ve been dishing out to other people for years it didn’t feel too nice. The children had to run and tattle once a football player called them fat. But of course, they were doing nothing wrong to get those directed taunts.
Having known many members of the band for over 5 years now I’d love to see some proof to back up this claim. If you have some audio proving they provoked him I’d love to hear it, but everyone I talked to supported the claim that no one said anything to him outside of “Hey Number 51” after the halftime show. I don’t get to make baseless claims based off of stereotypes, so neither should you.
Marching band not a real sport? I have been in a marching band for 4 years now and let me tell you, it is a real sport. I would love to see these football players do what us marching band members do. Sure some will be able to but some wont. I bet a lot would have major difficultly playing 16th note runs on a clarinet at fortistisimmo at 180 bpm while backwards marching from the front of the field at one 30 to the back of the field at the other 30 in 28 counts.
The Green Bay Packers got back on track in Week 5 with a 22-9 win over the Detroit Lions. The Packers are now 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in division games.
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show
up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
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Frank
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