Written By: Derrick Bond
Twitter: @bond_agent187
As I sit here on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I’m proud of much of the progress minorities and society as a whole have made since his era in the 1960’s. As a young black male I understand I’m very fortunate for the contributions that Dr. King and countless others made so that I may have a better life and the generations after me might as well. As a fan of sports, I have however noticed many instances where racial lines have still been made apparent in literally just the last two weeks of major sports. The 1st instance involved National champion and Heisman trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston. In his post game interview moments after finishing off a perfect undefeated season at Florida state he was criticized for his speech and vocabulary. Many individuals on social media (twitter) began mocking him and slandering him because of the way he spoke including the previous quarterback for National Champion Alabama’s mother Dee Dee McCarron. She tweeted “Am I listening to English?” Many began bringing Winston’s intelligence into question over a 30 second interview. I heard a 20 year old kid excited about his team’s accomplishments on the biggest sports stage he’s ever played on with a down south accent. How many could handle the instant celebrity and pressure he faced all season and appear flawless in every second of camera time? His intelligence was not in question when it was released he had a 4.0 GPA in high school or that he achieved academic greatness in his 1st years at Florida State.
The other instance that comes to mind is the backlash that cornerback Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks received after his emotional interview with sideline reporter Erin Andrews. After making the deflection that led to an interception against the San Francisco 49’ers Sunday in the NFC championship game, Sherman had a very exciting interview to say the least. The tipped pass was intended for Michael Crabtree, Sherman’s heated rival and talented player in his own right. The game decided who would represent the NFC in the Super bowl so understandably there was passion and emotion involved. Coming directly from making the incredible play Sherman gave a loud and boisterous reaction to Andrews during the interview. Via Twitter some commented to Erin saying they were afraid for her to which she quickly replied “why” and that he was just showing passion. Many began saying Richard was classless and that they would be rooting against him in the future. They even questioned his intelligence and said he was just another dumb jock. Sherman is an articulate man raised in Compton, California who achieved a 4.0 GPA in high school and graduated from Stanford University, an esteemed college known for academics allot more than sports. In no way am I saying that a school or grades make you a genius, take it from a graduate of a Nationally known University (Ohio State) who met all types of different people some who were not the sharpest tools in the shed. However, in our society certain levels of education and places of learning do carry weight and Stanford is definitely on that list. Sherman did not curse or disrespect anyone in his interview he was just guilty of showing passion. Though, the reaction showed that allot of people saw one thing. A large tattooed black male with his hair in dread locks screaming at a cute “scared” white woman. I saw an athlete expressing emotion after an incredible play and game. Human beings are not robots, they do have feelings and the NBA, NFL communities and other entities must realize that they will be displayed and are impossible to remove from the game. I see we are still fighting to break down stereotypes and race related assumptions.
Couldn’t agree more man