11/21/24
November 08, 2006
Tragedy strikes the University if Miami again.: University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was shot and killed Tuesday night at his apartment complex, the latest shock to a Hurricanes team touched by tragedy and turmoil -- including four deaths in the last decade.
Unbelievable. It's one thing after another at the U. It's a tragedy to be sure, but how much more negative press can this program survive? There's no rationalizing this type of thing, but I can't help wonder what would spark this type of thing.
posted by dyams at 11:35 AM on November 08, 2006
Miami has definetly had their share of tragedys and problems on and off the field within the past few years. This is something that the U of M doesn't need right now. No school needs any student, whether he or she is an athlete or not, needs something like this to happen. But Miami seems to be getting alot of bad luck lately. Their football program,which was one of the best in the nation at one time, seems to be falling apart at the seams as of late. Lets hope they get the killer, and Miami can get through yet another tragedy.
posted by Ghastly1 at 12:45 PM on November 08, 2006
This terrible incident aside, Ghastly, bad luck has nothing to do with Miami's problems. On an unrelated note, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people call anything sad a "tragedy". There's a difference between something bad happening to someone and a tragedy.
posted by Venicemenace at 01:08 PM on November 08, 2006
On an unrelated note, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people call anything sad a "tragedy". There's a difference between something bad happening to someone and a tragedy. I would love to hear your explanation as to why this story can't be characterized as a tragedy.
posted by bperk at 01:39 PM on November 08, 2006
It depends on your use of the term. Wikipedia: "In general usage, a tragedy...is a drama, movie or sometimes a real world event with a sad outcome. However, throughout much of Western thought, tragedy has been defined in more precise terms...it is a form of drama characterized by seriousness and dignity, and involving a great person whose downfall is brought about by either a character flaw or a conflict with some higher power such as the law, the gods, fate, or society." Call me a stickler but I prefer the precise use of the word "tragedy" when relating to real world events or fictional drama.
posted by Venicemenace at 01:53 PM on November 08, 2006
Who would honestly send their 18 year old kid to this school after the last 2-3 years of constant trouble? I'm not familiar with the campus, but it can't be in a worse 'hood than USC (South Central L.A.), and you never hear about their players being shot. Maybe Miami needs to look into on-campus housing for its players if they are such a target. I can forsee a loss of highly prized recruits in the future for the U. I would love to hear your explanation as to why this story can't be characterized as a tragedy. I agree with bperk, this is definately a tragedy.
posted by yay-yo at 02:00 PM on November 08, 2006
According to Merriam-Webster, a tragedy also means a disastrous event.
posted by bperk at 02:07 PM on November 08, 2006
Well, the M-W dictionary is based around common usage, so that doesn't really refute anything I am saying...
posted by Venicemenace at 02:20 PM on November 08, 2006
How can it be classified a "tragedy" when the exact circumstances of his death are unknown to you at this time? how much more negative press can this program survive? Seems to me that a certain subculture glorifies this type of violence, and many Miami football athletes seem to be part of that subculture. I am not saying that Pata was a part of this, but if anything, Miami has not done enough to dissuade the public's perception that they do not discourage or prohibit this type of attitude, and they will certainly continue to have their share of luck landing those athletes so inclined to be part of this culture.
posted by mjkredliner at 02:25 PM on November 08, 2006
I'm with Venicemenace on this one. Unfortunately the tabloid media has overused the word, so now it has developed a wider meaning of 'anything bad'. The M-W merely reflects this. Try looking up the proper meaning of the word 'decimate', and see how that has been changed by incorrect usage over the years.
posted by owlhouse at 02:28 PM on November 08, 2006
How can it be classified a "tragedy" when the exact circumstances of his death are unknown to you at this time? A College student with NFL potential is killed in front of his house for no apparent reason. . . a real world event with a sad outcome involving a great person whose downfall is brought about by either a character flaw or a conflict with some higher power such as... society anything else?
posted by yay-yo at 02:47 PM on November 08, 2006
Getting killed for no apparent reason is the antithesis of a tragic downfall.
posted by Venicemenace at 02:54 PM on November 08, 2006
Arguing semantics seems a bit out of place in this discussion to me. In reference to a "certain subculture", get to the point: what exactly are you trying to say? (I read the link, so it's not like a secret--put it in your OWN words.) Sad, sad, sad.
posted by THX-1138 at 03:04 PM on November 08, 2006
While we argue semantics, the investigation has uncovered little at this point. This truly is 'sad' and 'unfortunate', even if we find that Pata played a bigger role in his own death besides being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
posted by gradys_kitchen at 03:04 PM on November 08, 2006
put it in your Own words. Gangsta culture.
posted by mjkredliner at 03:06 PM on November 08, 2006
So are you saying he was killed by "gangstas"? Or rappers? Or by the trappings of a subculture?
posted by THX-1138 at 03:22 PM on November 08, 2006
While we argue semantics, the investigation has uncovered little at this point. Of course that doesn't stop people from implying that his death was because of hip hop music.
posted by bperk at 03:29 PM on November 08, 2006
Yeah, that's it. Here lies Miami Football, done in by hip-hop music. RIP
posted by mjkredliner at 03:33 PM on November 08, 2006
It's too bad, It should have turned out Different. God Bless his Family.
posted by yachts360 at 03:38 PM on November 08, 2006
The whole sad point of this story is a 22 year old college student/athlete was killed. Apparently he had a chance at being drafted next year. The Tragedy is what his family and freinds will have to go through wondering what could have been while missing an important piece of their lives. Who gives a shit what music he listened to, or what subculture you want to classify him in.
posted by jojomfd1 at 03:45 PM on November 08, 2006
I read the FPP as "Tragedy strikes the University of Miami again", and you will see that I implicitly did not link Pata to any such subculture. Pata's death is indeed unfortunate.
posted by mjkredliner at 03:56 PM on November 08, 2006
Thank you jojo. Thats all I was trying to say. One thing I do agree with you on venice is "bad luck" has got nothing to do with whats going on with Miami U's problems. I take that quote back. But I don't think that the use of the word "tragedy" should have been blown out of the water like it was. Thats all. No big deal. From what I have heard is there are still no leads as to why and who did it. Can't go blaming the hip-hop community for this uncalled for incident. It's like blaming suicides on lyrics in some music that a person was listening to before he or she took their life. Absolutely ludicrous is the way I see it
posted by Ghastly1 at 04:05 PM on November 08, 2006
Tell his mom this isn't a tragedy, just unfortunate. God bless his family.
posted by sgtcookzane at 06:08 PM on November 08, 2006
I can't believe Miami is in trouble again. This football team needs some discipline. The players are out of control. The program should be cancelled for a year or two so the players can be shown some discipline.
posted by nort_12345 at 06:18 PM on November 08, 2006
The program should be cancelled for a year or two so the players can be shown some discipline. So, what, you think these athletes, some with aspirations of professional careers, are just going to sit around for "a year or two" and "be shown some discipline?" That's naive at best. If that happened (not that it would be a bad thing, mind you), the exodus of players seeking transfers would begin immediately, and they'd be picked up by other D1 programs soon afterwards. Perhaps suspension of the football program would restore a litte institutional dignity and discipline, but the players aren't gonna stick around and swallow that pill.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:45 PM on November 08, 2006
Tell his mom this isn't a tragedy, just unfortunate. So the only acceptable comments regarding a horribly sad, unjust and wrong event are those that can be made directly to the grief-stricken relatives of the victim? I disagree. I realize a discussion on the use of the word "tragedy" is slightly off topic but I don't think it's necessarily out of line. It sounds like some people here are only cool with two observations on the article linked by the FPP: "This event is tragic" and "Miami football is a mess". Honestly, I really don't know what further insight can be gleaned on either front beyond that expressed in the first two responses.
posted by Venicemenace at 07:20 AM on November 09, 2006
Seems to me that a certain subculture glorifies this type of violence, and many Miami football athletes seem to be part of that subculture. I am not saying that Pata was a part of this Right, but because he's black he's guilty of being part of it until you see an article that explicitly says he listened to classic rock exclusively and bought pants that were tight in the waist. My personal opinion is that your views on young black men, as expressed here over the course of many months, are badly dated.
posted by yerfatma at 03:02 PM on November 12, 2006
What a crock of shit. My views on young black men are no different than my view of anyone else, please feel free to use the archives to back up your claim, I can give many more examples of where I have obviously applauded men of color. I was addressing the problems at Miami as a whole. Hint: do a search of "Miami University gangstas" and compare the number of matches to "Any other University" gangstas. Turn a blind eye if you wish, but I am not the only one to draw that conclusion. My personal opinion is that your views are psuedo elitist snobbery.
posted by mjkredliner at 01:07 AM on November 13, 2006
ESPN interviewed his high school coach last night, who said that Pata never was like that (referring to the reputation U of M has). It's hard to say right now what the motivation was for such a senseless act. I'm just hoping they catch the %^&*@%!! that pulled the trigger.