SADLY, Tom Cable will be able to sleep in his own bed and not a jail house bunk in the future. Not that anyone really thought he'd ever be jailed, or even arrested.
WORKPLACE BULLY
But, let's just ignore Cable's violence to an employee and pretend we're really investigating -- I'm talking about the pretense of the Oakland Raiders management, the district attorney's office and the (please bow your heads) National Football League.
Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein announced Thursday that after a two-month investigation, he is not filing criminal charges against Coach Tom Cable because no charges are warranted.
The Oakland Raiders coach was investigated for 'allegedly' attacking assistant coach Randy Hanson at a training camp meeting Aug 5 at the Napa Marriott.
BUT WAS IT INTENTIONAL?
Randy Hanson may have gotten a broken jaw, but the DA says he couldn't find any evidence that Tom Cable broke it "with intention." Nope, just an accident. No aggression, no animosity -- after all that would indicate some intent, right?
Hey Lieberstein, why there are so many folks filling our prisons who never intended to hurt anyone?
In a prepared statement, DA Lieberstein stated that Cable rushed toward Hanson, but another assistant coach stepped between the two men. Cable bumped into the other coach, causing that coach to bump into Hanson's chair. At the time, Hanson was leaning back on the chair with his feet on the table.
A RESULT OF FORCE
"As a result of the force, Mr. Hanson fell over, at which time he most likely fractured his jaw." said the statement.
It sounds like dominoes or a multi-car accident on an icy freeway. Except the guy who hits the first car causing the accident doesn't get off because the wreck was unintentional. "But officer, I didn't MEAN it!"
There were three other assistant coaches in the room, who were questioned by investigators. The coaches said that when Hanson was on the ground, Cable grabbed him by the shirt and continued yelling at him. But they said Cable did not strike him.
JOB INSECURITY OR CREDIBILITY
Lieberstein said he and his prosecutors listened to the accounts of the other assistant coaches and found their statements to be credible.
Cable has denied that any punches were thrown during the training camp incident and said that "nothing happened." If he claims to be calm, charming, handsome and well-proportioned, I'll believe him.
Hanson's account: "From my blindside, Tom Cable threw me from my chair and into a piece of furniture that a lamp sat upon," he told Yahoo! Sports. "He was screaming, 'I'll f---kill you! I'll f---kill you!' And I have no reason to believe he wouldn't have killed me if they hadn't pulled him away."
I think Hanson feared for his job initially and that could have had something to do with why he waited to tell investigators how Cable broke his jaw. Now, Lieberstein is resting his decision to not charge Cable on the witness accounts from three other assistant coaches working under Cable.
Who doesn't think that their jobs and future in the NFL would be threatened if they witnessed against their boss, the head coach?
And then Lieberstein, pictured right minus any grey hair, said his office hasn't treated this case any differently than other cases. Of course not. That's why he had his statement handed out in press releases and why he had a press conference for his own national camera time. Why didn't he have one of his assistant prosecutors handle the press conference? Are you kidding?
As for the Oakland Raiders? "The Raider organization waited patiently for a comprehensive legal process to conclude and now this matter has been resolved," said Mike Taylor, Raiders spokesperson, according to the Associated Press.
Oh yes, the NFL announced Thursday night that it would review the DA's decision and investigation, then decide if Cable should face discipline under the league's personal conduct policy. Right.
But, the New York Times reports that commissioner Roger Goodell has taken "a hard line against players who have violated the policy, and last week Goodell left open the possibility of disciplining Cable even if he was not charged."
I'd love to see a list of the folks with whom Goodell has taken this hard line and the punishment they received.
Oh well, they always leave you with a little hope and a chant: Hit 'em again, harder, harder!
Perhaps we should light a candle now for all of those who will be hurt in the future because members of the NFL know that they will not be punished for acts of violence off the field.
TO READ "FOR TOM CABLE'S LOVE OF WOMEN: HIT'EM AGAIN, HARDER, HARDER" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "A DISGUSTING BULLY: RAIDERS COACH PUNCHES ASSISTANT AND FRACTURES JAW" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "WORKPLACE BULLIES: A PROBLEM OF EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "NFL VIOLENCE: OAKLAND RAIDERS ASST COACH TELLS POLICE HEAD COACH BROKE HIS JAW" CLICK HERE .
by Sharon McEachern
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