Mr Uncle Leroy
All Star
thats what a columnist/ESPN analyst said.
This whole discussion reeks of attention-seeking, and repeating it does me no credit. Quite the opposite. But I have a history of transcribing controversial things said about D.C. athletes, so here ya go.
Robert Griffin III has been asked about his race repeatedly this season. He has not, to my knowledge, ever brought the subject up himself. Every time hes been asked about it, he has managed to appear thoughtful and considerate without possibly offending anyone.
Im not sure hes ever handled the race question better than on last weeks Comcast SportsNet special, when Chick Hernandez talked about being a black quarterback in D.C.
Whenever you can relate to the population of the team that you play for, I think it makes it that much more special, Griffin said. I dont play too much into the color game, because I dont want to be the best African American quarterback, I want to be the best quarterback.
But to the fans, and to the fans who think that way and look at me as an African American, its important that I succeed, not only for this team, but for them, he continued. Because it gives them that motivation, that hey, you know, an African American went out and played quarterback for my Washington Redskins. So I appreciate that; I dont ever downplay anything like that. Whoever I can go out every week and motivate to do better and to try to go after their dreams, Im up for that.
Again, I dont know how he could possibly have handled that issue which he did not raise himself any better.
But people keep asking. The rookie was asked about race yet again on Wednesday, this time by an ESPN reporter. He delivered a similar answer. It was an answer that showed hes actually thought about the issue, but it was steadfastly non-controversial.
I am [aware] of how race is relevant to [some fans]. I dont ignore it, Griffin said Wednesday. I try not to be defined by it, but I understand different perspectives and how people view different things. So I understand theyre excited their quarterback is an African American. I play with a lot of pride, a lot of character, a lot of heart. So I understand that, and I appreciate them for being fans.
Well. This led to a Thursday discussion on First Take, ESPNs abysmal debate program. Panelist Rob Parker was asked, What does this say about RGIII?
This is an interesting topic, Parker said. For me, personally, just me, this throws up a red flag, what I keep hearing. And I dont know whos asking the questions, but weve heard a couple of times now of a black guy kind of distancing himself away from black people.
I understand the whole story of I just want to be the best, Parker continued. Nobodys out on the field saying to themselves, I want to be the best black quarterback. Youre just playing football, right? You want to be the best, you want to throw the most touchdowns and have the most yards and win the most games. Nobody is [thinking] that.
But time and time we keep hearing this, so it just makes me wonder deeper about him, Parker went on. And Ive talked to some people down in Washington D.C., friends of mine, who are around and at some of the press conferences, people Ive known for a long time. But my question, which is just a straight honest question. Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother?
What does that mean, Parker was asked.
Well, [that] hes black, he kind of does his thing, but hes not really down with the cause, hes not one of us, Parker explained. Hes kind of black, but hes not really the guy youd really want to hang out with, because hes off to do something else.
Why is that your question, Parker was asked.
Well, because I want to find out about him, Parker said. I dont know, because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancée. There was all this talk about hes a Republican, which, theres no information [about that] at all. Im just trying to dig deeper as to why he has an issue. Because we did find out with Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods was like Ive got black skin but dont call me black. So people got to wondering about Tiger Woods early on.
Then Skip Bayless asked Parker about RGIIIs braids.
Now thats different, Parker said. To me, thats very urban and makes you feel like wearing braids, youre a brother. Youre a brother if youve got braids on.
Then Stephen A. Smith was asked for his take. He exhaled deeply.
Well first of all let me say this: Im uncomfortable with where we just went, Smith said. RGIII, the ethnicity, the color of his fiancée is none of our business. Its irrelevant. He can live his life any way he chooses. The braids that he has in his hair, thats his business, thats his life. I dont judge someones blackness based on those kind of things. I just dont do that. Im not that kind of guy.
What I would say to you is that the comments he made are fairly predictable, Smith went on. I think its something that he may feel, but its also a concerted effort to appease the masses to some degree, which Im finding relatively irritating, because I dont believe that the black athlete has any responsibility whatsoever to have to do such things.
Let me say this clearly. I dont know of anybody who goes into something trying to be the best black anything. We understand that. Thats a given, Smith said. But I do think its important to acknowledge a level of pride and a feeling of a level of accomplishment for being somebody who happens to be of African American descent, who competes and achieves and accomplishes things on the highest level while also bringing attention to some degree anyhow to the pride that they feel being black. Because theyre allowing themselves to be a reminder to those who preceded them, who worked so hard, accomplished and achieved so much, but were denied the accolades that that individual is receiving.
Later, Parker was given an opportunity to clarify whether he was judging Griffins blackness.
I didnt mean it like that, he said. We could sit here and be honest, or we can be dishonest. And you cant tell me that people in the barbershops or people that talk, they look at who your spouse is. They do. And they look at how you present yourself. People will say all the time, youre not gonna get a job in corporate America wearing those braids. It happens all the time. Lets not act like it doesnt, because it does.
The only conclusion Im willing to make about all of this is that the show would have been much more thoughtful had Griffin been on the panel. Or had he replaced the panel.
Rob Parker on RGIII’s blackness | DC Sports Bog
This whole discussion reeks of attention-seeking, and repeating it does me no credit. Quite the opposite. But I have a history of transcribing controversial things said about D.C. athletes, so here ya go.
Robert Griffin III has been asked about his race repeatedly this season. He has not, to my knowledge, ever brought the subject up himself. Every time hes been asked about it, he has managed to appear thoughtful and considerate without possibly offending anyone.
Im not sure hes ever handled the race question better than on last weeks Comcast SportsNet special, when Chick Hernandez talked about being a black quarterback in D.C.
Whenever you can relate to the population of the team that you play for, I think it makes it that much more special, Griffin said. I dont play too much into the color game, because I dont want to be the best African American quarterback, I want to be the best quarterback.
But to the fans, and to the fans who think that way and look at me as an African American, its important that I succeed, not only for this team, but for them, he continued. Because it gives them that motivation, that hey, you know, an African American went out and played quarterback for my Washington Redskins. So I appreciate that; I dont ever downplay anything like that. Whoever I can go out every week and motivate to do better and to try to go after their dreams, Im up for that.
Again, I dont know how he could possibly have handled that issue which he did not raise himself any better.
But people keep asking. The rookie was asked about race yet again on Wednesday, this time by an ESPN reporter. He delivered a similar answer. It was an answer that showed hes actually thought about the issue, but it was steadfastly non-controversial.
I am [aware] of how race is relevant to [some fans]. I dont ignore it, Griffin said Wednesday. I try not to be defined by it, but I understand different perspectives and how people view different things. So I understand theyre excited their quarterback is an African American. I play with a lot of pride, a lot of character, a lot of heart. So I understand that, and I appreciate them for being fans.
Well. This led to a Thursday discussion on First Take, ESPNs abysmal debate program. Panelist Rob Parker was asked, What does this say about RGIII?
This is an interesting topic, Parker said. For me, personally, just me, this throws up a red flag, what I keep hearing. And I dont know whos asking the questions, but weve heard a couple of times now of a black guy kind of distancing himself away from black people.
I understand the whole story of I just want to be the best, Parker continued. Nobodys out on the field saying to themselves, I want to be the best black quarterback. Youre just playing football, right? You want to be the best, you want to throw the most touchdowns and have the most yards and win the most games. Nobody is [thinking] that.
But time and time we keep hearing this, so it just makes me wonder deeper about him, Parker went on. And Ive talked to some people down in Washington D.C., friends of mine, who are around and at some of the press conferences, people Ive known for a long time. But my question, which is just a straight honest question. Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother?
What does that mean, Parker was asked.
Well, [that] hes black, he kind of does his thing, but hes not really down with the cause, hes not one of us, Parker explained. Hes kind of black, but hes not really the guy youd really want to hang out with, because hes off to do something else.
Why is that your question, Parker was asked.
Well, because I want to find out about him, Parker said. I dont know, because I keep hearing these things. We all know he has a white fiancée. There was all this talk about hes a Republican, which, theres no information [about that] at all. Im just trying to dig deeper as to why he has an issue. Because we did find out with Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods was like Ive got black skin but dont call me black. So people got to wondering about Tiger Woods early on.
Then Skip Bayless asked Parker about RGIIIs braids.
Now thats different, Parker said. To me, thats very urban and makes you feel like wearing braids, youre a brother. Youre a brother if youve got braids on.
Then Stephen A. Smith was asked for his take. He exhaled deeply.
Well first of all let me say this: Im uncomfortable with where we just went, Smith said. RGIII, the ethnicity, the color of his fiancée is none of our business. Its irrelevant. He can live his life any way he chooses. The braids that he has in his hair, thats his business, thats his life. I dont judge someones blackness based on those kind of things. I just dont do that. Im not that kind of guy.
What I would say to you is that the comments he made are fairly predictable, Smith went on. I think its something that he may feel, but its also a concerted effort to appease the masses to some degree, which Im finding relatively irritating, because I dont believe that the black athlete has any responsibility whatsoever to have to do such things.
Let me say this clearly. I dont know of anybody who goes into something trying to be the best black anything. We understand that. Thats a given, Smith said. But I do think its important to acknowledge a level of pride and a feeling of a level of accomplishment for being somebody who happens to be of African American descent, who competes and achieves and accomplishes things on the highest level while also bringing attention to some degree anyhow to the pride that they feel being black. Because theyre allowing themselves to be a reminder to those who preceded them, who worked so hard, accomplished and achieved so much, but were denied the accolades that that individual is receiving.
Later, Parker was given an opportunity to clarify whether he was judging Griffins blackness.
I didnt mean it like that, he said. We could sit here and be honest, or we can be dishonest. And you cant tell me that people in the barbershops or people that talk, they look at who your spouse is. They do. And they look at how you present yourself. People will say all the time, youre not gonna get a job in corporate America wearing those braids. It happens all the time. Lets not act like it doesnt, because it does.
The only conclusion Im willing to make about all of this is that the show would have been much more thoughtful had Griffin been on the panel. Or had he replaced the panel.
Rob Parker on RGIII’s blackness | DC Sports Bog
rgiii.
