Call me crazy, but I've always had kind of a soft spot for NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The newest member of the Chicago Bears hasn't had it easy since telling the world he suffers from borderline personality disorder. But even that doesn't explain how he could have punched a woman in the face in a New York City nightclub.
Mental illness doesn't get you a pass on being an ass when other people are getting hurt. Sympathy? Maybe. But it's hard not to feel more upset on behalf of the people in his wake. People like Christin Myles, the woman who was celebrating a birthday at a Chelsea nightclub, only to tell cops she was sucked into one of Marshall's rages.
It took a lot of chutzpah for Marshall to come out and admit he's got a disease last year. I get that. Our society is still stuck with some outdated ideas about what it means to battle with demons in your head, and BPD doesn't make a whole lot of sense, even to the scientists who study it. Talk therapy and medicine only go so far in controlling someone's emotional outburst.
I can see how Marshall might have gotten agitated after being kicked out of a club and lashed out at the person nearest him. Sadly, Myles says that was her. Although the wide receiver hasn't been charged, police are investigating her claims that he hit her.
Now let's just walk through this for a minute, people. If a guy is that volatile, if it really happened, it means his aggression has not been controlled. It means his BPD needs more treatment. And the Bears want to put him back on the field this season?
What? So he can beat the snot out of someone else? If he can't control his rage over getting kicked of a club, imagine what he's going to do when the game is on the line.
We're walking a might fine line here between not judging a man because of his mental illness and letting him use it as an excuse. It is, at the end, an illness. Just as the Colts could kick Peyton Manning to the curb because of his neck issues, the Bears can expect the newest guy on their roster get his BPD under control.
Here's some more info on the trade from the Dolphins to the Bears. What do you think Marshall should have to do before the Bears let him play?
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Kanye West is Gay?! 
Comments 9
Ok, I freely admit that this has nothing to do with the article but... what the HECK is up with that picture??? Am I seeing things? Is his left hand ... BACKWARDS??? Please tell me it's an optical illusion, because it's looking awfully creepy to me right now.
As for my Bears picking up Marshall... well, we've had our share of 'problem children' in the past ("Tank" Johnson). With luck, he'll be able to get himself under control, and he'll be an asset to our team. I'm not real happy with our administration right now, so I'm just going to sit back and see what happens.
I'd like to see Marshall provide proof to the Bears Front Office/coaches that he is undergoing treatment and taking whatever meds are necessary for his continued therapy. But, as this is a private medical issue, I expect nothing beyond that to be provided to me, as a fan.
I think the writer needs to do some research on what borderline personality disorder IS. First off, please don't use the acronym bpd, as that actually means bipolar disorder, a completely different and not at all related MI.
Secondly, Borderline Personality Disorder is basically the new politically correct way of diagnosing someone as a psychopath, so yes, it is related to his behaviour of acting like a complete a**hole.
Stephanie, thank you for that clarification... I will admit to thinking "bipolar" when I was reading this article. After you said that I went and read a little, and now I'm as exasperated as ever with Bears Management. I don't know if this is a good trade or not. I honestly don't know what to think. I guess I will just watch and see, like I always do.
And Bills... good point.
Just want to point out that getting treated for mental illness is not a magical cure-all. I used to hate it when I'd have a bad day and my ex would ask if I was taking my meds. WTF, unless you want me to be a zombie, I will still have bad mental health days. I'm *definitely* not excusing his behavior AT ALL, just want to point out that it's still normal to be symptomatic, even when you are on meds and treatment.
Thanks, Ashley... I can kiiiiiiinda see it now. I see the strap. Still can't find the thumb. Still creeped out, but not nearly as bad!
I resent the person AND the statement that called Borderline just another term for "psychopath", as that is not true, AT ALL. If you want the PC term for psychopath, it would be Psychopath (or anti-social, but there are a lot of psychotic disorders), as Psychopathy is a personality disorder charictarized by patterns of disregard the right's of others and societial rules.
Borderline Personality Disorder IS also called BPD, and is a personality disorder charictarized by unstable moods and disturbed personality functions.
The two are CLEARLY seperate and different conditions, so before you go slamming the news story, maybe you should do some reasearch as well.