Wow Shalrie... wow... good job slick... no really... good job. Getting arrested in your own hotel is hard to do. I am no stranger to traveling for work and staying in hotels. I used to tour with with rock bands, crazy hotel parties were the norm, never once did things escalate to people getting arrested or even getting thrown out by the hotel (well guests of said hotel). All of these parties had alcohol, many had some sort of illicit substance and in 1 or 2 instances of women of ill repute. Getting thrown out of and arrested from your own hotel is a tough thing to do. I've also had my fair share of experiences with cops, somehow I've managed to not get arrested, generally not defying their requests works pretty well especially when you are yet to commit on offense, even if they are ridiculous and if the cop is on a power trip (what cop isn't on a power trip?). Just remember this rule... DON'T PISS OFF COPS... not that hard.Obviously we only know what we can glean from the police report. What we know is that Joseph was asked to return to his room after the party was broken up, again in the stairwell where he refuses. When he is evicted from the hotel he goes to his room and gets his bags like he is going to leave and then refuses to. Shalrie appears to have had multiple options to keep the situation from escalting and he chose not to make use of those options.
This along with his drug related suspension from last year is starting to show a trend of misconduct and it's not the Shalrie that we know. Some people think that this is not that big of an incident, and if it was a younger player we would probably laugh about it, shrug it off and move on but it's not. Shalrie is the captain of this team, he is our most notable player, he is what this team is built around and who the fans rely on the most. Perhaps Shalrie has finally cracked under the pressure of this, maybe he's tired of playing in Gillette, maybe he's tired of watching attendance numbers fall, he has alluded to the last 2 in the past.
Now did the Revolution over-react in sending him home? I don't think so, this coupled with a 6 game suspension from last year is unacceptable behavior from the captain of our team. He's lucky he didn't lose the armband after last years shenanigans. The argument has been made that the Revs should have kept this quiet and given him a stern talking to and make him pay in practice the next day, seeing the pattern that is starting to emerge one should consider that perhaps maybe he has had a stern talking to in the past that has stayed out of the public eye. The Revolution were protective of him and what happened last year chalking it up early on to personal issues, again they did not release details as to why he was sent home this time. Considering that there was some media presence as well as fan presence while the Revs were training in Orlando, questions would have come up when people noticed him and Alston missing, so they did what they needed to by informing us of Joseph and Alston's dismissal.
The question now comes should Shalrie still be captain of the Revolution when the team first hits the pitch March 20th. He has tarnished his reputation, as well as made the team look bad. One must look at some of the qualities that are expected of a team captain:
- Lead by example
- Handle conflicts and problems
- Behave responsibly and professionally
- Inspire and motivate the team
- Mentor younger players
Shalrie, we still love you, the fans need you and you have been one of the few beacons of hope we've had during the past few downward trending seasons. You haven't lost the fans yet but buddy... you gotta get your head on straight, you're on thin ice. You, the team, and the fans will be lucky if you come out of this without any kind of league suspension. The team may fine you and well I think it's appropriate and upon reflection I hope that considering your actions you'll agree. I think you owe the team and the fans an apology and a promise to get your priorities straight and act like the quality veteran player and captain that we know you are and can be. We know that things are not great in New England these days and maybe your getting fed up just like many of the fans are, but the fans are with you and you need to keep them with you and on your side. As I said we need you, so please from here on out do the right thing, accept the consequences of your actions and put in everything you got in this season for the fans at least.
If he were to be replaced, who gets the armband? I'm not entirely convinced. Obvious choice seems Reis, but, I don't love the idea of the keeper as captain. Besides that, I truly don't think there is anyone.
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