Reaction from pro athletes to the video of former Rutgers coach Mike Rice verbally and physically abusing his players was swift and -- mostly -- unified.
LeBron James, Jared Sullinger, Jalen Rose and many more current and former pros came down hard against Rice:
If my son played for Rutgers or a coach like that he would have some real explaining to do and I'm still gone whoop on him afterwards! C'mon
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 2, 2013
I would of snapped on the coach from Rutgers.... I would sit before I take some abuse from that man
— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) April 2, 2013
The video of Rutgers HC Rice ABUSING players is APPALLING! He should be FIRED ASAP. I'm embarrassed for College Basketball. #NCAA
— JALEN ROSE (@JalenRose) April 2, 2013
But Chipper Jones, the former Atlanta Braves third baseman and future Hall of Famer, chimed in on Wednesday, and his reaction was quite unique.
I got cursed at and called names by a ton of people growing up. Were they fired? Nope! Do I care? Nope! What's the big deal? Toughen up!
— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) April 3, 2013
Yeah, been hit w/ bball equipment on purpose, been dragged around a football field by my facemask and ran suicides til I puked! I ain't mad.
— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) April 3, 2013
It's hard to know what's more troubling -- that these things happened to Jones, or that he actually thinks what went on at Rutgers was acceptable. Times have changed, and telling players to "toughen up" after repeated incidents like these is simply not the answer.