Commentary: A verbal blunder by Winslow

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- You know what? I'm sick and tired of headline-making athletes doing or saying something they regret after the fact.

I'm not sure if that's a total indictment of Kobe Bryant. After all, he has yet to be tried on an alleged rape charge, and I always have believed in the premise of innocent until proven guilty.

However, guilty of rape or not, he did admit to being an adulterer and apologized for that afterwards, which put him in the doghouse with many people.

That's why I have trouble accepting the apology of Kellen Winslow, the star tight end and likely All-American this season at the University of Miami of Florida.

In case you're in the dark, a very emotional Winslow went into a profanity-tinged tirade Saturday afternoon after his football team was beaten by Tennessee, 10-6, and eliminated from this season's national championship chase.

In his locker room comments, he started with the officials after he was hit with a 15-yard unsportmanlike conduct penalty after what looked like a pretty good block in which two Tennessee players were injured, and no one was spared.

"I hate refs," said Winslow, who also was penalized for taking off his helmet after making a first-down pass reception. "I can't even get hyped up after a play. I can't even get our crowd hyped up. It's B.S., man. Then we get called for holding, and they don't call anything on them. It's B.S. I don't give a flying you-know-what about a Vol (Corey Campbell was injured on the play). I don't give a damn. He would do the same thing to me. It's war. They don't give a freaking you-know-what about you. They will kill you. They are out to kill you. If I didn't hurt him, he would hurt me. I'm a (expletive deleted) soldier."

On Sunday, after a supposed cooler head had prevailed, Winslow issued a statement through the university, which said in effect, I'm sorry.

"After speaking with the press, I immediately regretted my comments and felt embarrassed for my family, my team, the University of Miami, our fans, alumni, and myself," Winslow said. "What I have learned from this experience is to take my triumphs and failures in stride. My outburst should in no shape or form be a reflection on this institution or the Miami football program. As for my reference to being a soldier in a war, I meant no disrespect to the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in the Armed Forces. I cannot begin to imagine the magnitude of war or its consequences."

Well Kellen, in this case, I'm the one who is sorry.

It didn't help that Winslow issued a resounding NO COMMENT when asked about the future of starting quarterback Brock Berlin, who played miserably against the Volunteers (two fumbles, two pass interceptions) and likely will be benched next Saturday when Miami plays Syracuse.

People are likely to disagree with me, but this is yet another example of a person who said something stupid without using his brain before his mouth (see Rush Limbaugh).

This is a GAME ... PERIOD. And for those fans and non-football players who say the same thing all the time, wake up. People are dying in this world in a REAL war fighting for their countries. Innocent people are living in WAR zones, hoping they can live long enough to sleep just enough to see another sun rise.

I know this is a young man, playing a man's game, and sometimes, emotions rise to a fever pitch, but this young man from whom we should accept an apology is the son of a Hall of Fame player who, to my knowledge, is opinionated but never has made such heated and irrational comments.

When are people going to learn that when you make page one comments like this and they show up in print, are heard on radio, and seen on television, there will be a price to pay and many times, the public will be unforgiving.

I guess Mr. Winslow should be ready to face the wrath of a public, much of which has always despised the school he plays for. He just gave many people the ammunition they need for be even more critical.