Afterwards, however, there was little avoiding one incident that took place after the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers. Richard Sherman, regarded by many as the best cornerback in the NFL, ranted about Michael Crabtree, a 49ers receiver with whom he'd had a week-long verbal battle prior to the game. The tirade, which frankly I found to be pretty standard macho fare from an NFL player, was much criticized afterwards by people across the country. Some, apparently, found Sherman's behavior unacceptable, referring to Sherman as a thug.
For the record, here's what Sherman said:
I'm the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you going [sic] to get.
He went on to refer to Crabtree as a mediocre receiver.
It should be noted that although this outburst was given at maximum volume to a startled Erin Andrews, the network's startled sideline reporter, it lacked any profanity or threats. Frankly, I don't see what all the fuss was about.
But on social media, people are allegedly ripping Sherman for being a thug. I find this so far out there that I'm agog at it. Thug? I guy says the above, albeit in a loud voice, and he's a thug? Really? I find a player like Richie Incognito a much likelier thug than Richard Sherman. I don't like what Sherman did, and I wouldn't do it myself, but I understand the emotion behind it. The only thing that was wrong about it in my estimation was the delivery.
If people are looking for thugs, there are better examples in the NFL. The aforementioned Mr. Incognito, for example, qualifies. But if thuggery is really sought, try the NHL. Check out this game between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks which took place the day before the Seattle-San Francisco game:
A mere two seconds into the game, the players on the ice began fighting. The teams put out their fourth lines, not their most talented players and ones usually populated by enforcers, on the ice for the puck drop. Hockey touts the manly nature of its game to justify fighting, and sometimes, sadly, there may be good reason for a fight. But two seconds into a game?
So those critics who labeled Mr. Sherman as a thug were wrong. One may disagree with his delivery -- odd for a communications major from Stanford -- but by no means was what he did thuggish.
Mr. Sherman, however, couldn't leave it alone. Tired of the complaints that came in the aftermath of his post-game comments, Mr. Sherman said this:
The reason is bothers me is because it seems like it's an accepted way of calling somebody the N-word now. It's like everybody else said the N-word and then they say thug and that's fine. It kind of takes me aback and it's kind of disappointing because they know.
Essentially, I disagree on this point with Mr. Sherman.
I have not, nor will I seek out, the tweets and other commentary wherein the term thug has been thrown around. If someone has suggested, obviously, that Mr. Sherman is a nigger thug, that is unconscionable. Thug behavior isn't associated with any particular ethnic group, and use of the term nigger is patently offensive. So without the benefit of reviewing a good sample of social media associated to Mr. Sherman's outburst, the first point is that anything transparently racists in the commentary is simply wrong.
Second, as Mr. Sherman's behavior after the game can be expected -- he just helped his team reach the Super Bowl, so his excitement should be anticipated -- so too should the detractors and racists who will come out of the woodwork at any opportunity. There is an element within our society that will never accept true equality between the races, and thanks to social media, they have a forum to express their base views. It's an unfortunate result of living in a free society.
But Mr. Sherman takes things to far by suggesting, without limitation, that the use of the term thug when applied to a black person is a dodge around using the term nigger. Ndamukong Suh, who plays for the Detroit Lions, is often criticized for his on the field play. Here's one such play that was roundly criticized:
Here's Albert Haynesworth, by no means the equal of Mr. Suh on or off the field, doing about the same thing:
I have no trouble accepting the application of the term thug to either of these incidents. I disagree with its application to Mr. Sherman's comments, but I don't see how stomping on another player's head qualifies as anything other than thuggery.
Should I refrain from labeling these incidents as thuggery simply because both perpetrators are black? That makes no sense. To try and cherry-pick racist comments from otherwise race neutral language is dangerous. I fully understand hatred of the word nigger -- although at the same time, I'm mystified and horrified at its continued use within the black community -- but this notion that people have shifted to thug as a suitable replacement strikes me as sophistry.
Martin Luther King said content of character versus color of skin as the factor to be considered in judging. It's a worthy standard. But the standard should be applied equally. To claim that someone using the term thug is being racist simply because the speaker is white is wrong. One can question the judgment of the critic invoking the term thug, but I don't believe racism can be imputed.
Dr. King did not say or even suggest that judgment, or by implication criticism, could not be leveled at blacks. He hoped that it would be a race neutral criticism. He didn't say that the criticism had to be correct, either. Knuckleheads who couldn't see Mr. Sherman's tirade for what it was are out of line to suggest thuggery. Mr. Sherman, likewise, is wrong to find racism in every criticism.
Sometimes, we need to consider the words of that other King, Rodney, and just try to get along.
(c) 2014 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles
The reason it bothers me is because it seems like it's an accepted way of calling somebody the N-word now," he said. "It's like everybody else said the N-word and then they say 'thug' and that's fine. It kind of takes me aback and it's kind of disappointing because they know.
No comments:
Post a Comment