A Different Take on the Greg Plitt Situation

[Joe Pietaro]

I am choosing to look at the death of Greg Plitt differently from the rest of the industry. Sure, it's still a tragedy and I feel bad for this guy's family. But let's be realistic for a moment and say what everyone is thinking or telling each other off the record: Plitt was extremely irresponsible and his actions put other people in danger, as well, and he is fully responsible for causing his own death doing a ridiculous stunt.

As more and more verified info comes out, his actions are mind boggling and this was a totally preventable incident.

I wrote an op-ed on it on MuscleSport Mag:

http://www.musclesportmag.com/2015/0...onsible-stunt/

[Octavius]

Nicely done Joe,

I'm not sure how the rest of the media outlets are covering this tragedy. I think your take is sound. If Plitt did perish while performing the stunt as described, well that's just beyond foolish.

I'm glad you brought up the advertiser angle. Any more info on what it was?

[Professor X]

Common sense.
You can be killed by debris flying off the train track alone.

[Joe Pietaro]

Nicely done Joe,

I'm not sure how the rest of the media outlets are covering this tragedy. I think your take is sound. If Plitt did perish while performing the stunt as described, well that's just beyond foolish.

I'm glad you brought up the advertiser angle. Any more info on what it was?

Thanks, Octavius. I haven't heard anything solid about the people who were with him. They have been called a "camera crew" in some outlets, but it could have been two friends with a camcorder. Not sure if they were from the alleged energy drink company or people working with Plitt on his own website.

The train itself has a video camera affixed to the top of it and that was the one that the Burbank authorities mainly used to ascertain what occurred. I'm sure that if there was a second camera, it was also confiscated and its contents viewed.

[davidcua]

I am choosing to look at the death of Greg Plitt differently from the rest of the industry. Sure, it's still a tragedy and I feel bad for this guy's family. But let's be realistic for a moment and say what everyone is thinking or telling each other off the record: Plitt was extremely irresponsible and his actions put other people in danger, as well, and he is fully responsible for causing his own death doing a ridiculous stunt.

As more and more verified info comes out, his actions are mind boggling and this was a totally preventable incident.

I wrote an op-ed on it on MuscleSport Mag:

http://www.musclesportmag.com/2015/0...onsible-stunt/

Good article!
But that's still sad and will always picture Greg as an incredibly positive role model. Nobody's perfect, he was an Adrenaline Junky and it didn't end well for him unfortunately.

[Sandwich]

Agreed about the irresponsibility. In fact, he was reckless.

[Curt James]

Anthony Roberts posted a status update on Facebook. I defended Plitt, assuming there was no way anyone would try to outrun a train. Then I saw the TMZ article or blurb.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... they have reviewed video of the accident and it shows Plitt standing on the tracks as the train barrels toward him. Shortly before the train reaches Plitt he assumes a runners stance and bolts down the track.

The video shows the train closes in on Plitt as he races at breakneck speed, but he loses the battle and the train "clips" him ... throwing him off the track to his death. It happens quickly and after getting struck he disappears from the video.

Regardless of the reason for his death, I'd prefer to let the man be dead for at least a week before calling him irresponsible, reckless, or ridiculous. :-/

Fwiw, Plitt was a former Army Ranger. I'm sure those people have a different view on what is possible but, yeah, life (and death) surprises them as much as the next person.

May he rest in peace.

[sassy69]

When people get hurt or killed in situations where it just shouldn't happen, sadly there's a WTF??? going thru my head - knowing who he is, but also wonder WHY in God's name he's near a train track. It is very sad, but definitely a wtf as well. Sometimes I think social media and pocket video / web cams have moved us backwards a couple links in evolution.

[Sandwich]

Yeah, he was in the special forces, and did graduate from West Point. Those cadets are serious business. It is not easy to survive WP much less Ranger academy. I had some friends who went through it. Some made it; others failed.

The problem I have is when bb want to add "he trained hard", "he was ripped", "great lats!", etc. to a man's entire life, as if that's the best thing he ever did.

Epic ignorance and so stereotypical...

[Curt James]

[Curt James]

Train tracks seems to have been a recurring theme.

[hifrommike65]

I think it's a tragedy any way you look at it, & I suspect a series of bad judgments were involved. I miss Greg. This should have never happened.

[cook]

A local sports radio station was talking about this yesterday.They were having a field day making fun of him and calling him a dumbass.Saying he probably calls everyone " brah" after every sentence.It was sad to see a persons death reduced to this.

[Joe Pietaro]

A local sports radio station was talking about this yesterday.They were having a field day making fun of him and calling him a dumbass.Saying he probably calls everyone " brah" after every sentence.It was sad to see a persons death reduced to this.

That is terrible. A guy did lose his life, regardless of the circumstances. Exactly the reason why I chose to word my article on it carefully, being harsh but not crude or disrespectful.

I have the biggest problem with this being that Plitt put other people in danger and the train conductor and engineer have to also live with themselves knowing they accidentally killed someone. Both guys are on administrative leave now, which is protocol.

[Maniacal]

Train tracks seems to have been a recurring theme.

If only he'd have struck this pose at the right time, the train might've simply sped over him.