Obsidian Potency 3.0
McNabb Is Right [edit]
posted Thursday, 20 September 2007
I'm putting the Obsidian back into Obsidian Potency by commenting on a current sports story. Sorry, media scrutinizers: no matter how much you pepper Donovan McNabb about his comments, the fact is that he's right.
Yes, even in the year 2007 black quarterbacks are scrutinized and judged more harshly than their white counterparts.
Black quarterbacks are questioned about their running much more than white QBs are - and it' snot because white QBs are all unathletic statues in the pocket. Nobody asked Steve Young or Brett Favre why the didn't run more -- on occasion, they might even have been asked to run less. Their running was always regarded as complementary to their game. Even Jake Plummer got a pass on people questioning his ability to be a complete physical QB, even though his career was mostly mediocre. But with black QBs like McNabb, running the ball is almost inevitably an issue of discussion.
There are always questions about whether most black, athletic QBs are 'complete' enough...or rely too much on their athletic ability and not enough on technique. This happens across sports: white players are more often called "smart" and "hard-working" while black players are often labelled "talented" and "gifted" -- as if black players are stupid and/or don't work hard to develop their skills.
Even some idiot blacks seem to judge black QBs more harshly: wasn't it a black NAACP local Philly guy who accused McNabb of 'selling out' by not running the ball MORE? Also, wasn't Rush Limbaugh tatooing McNabb in the media, accusing him of being overrated because (ironically) the media is afraid to say bad things about a black quarterback?
When does a white QB ever face situations like that?
And that question reporters asked McNabb about Rex Grossman was stupid and irrelevant. Someone asked if any QB got criticized more last year than Rex Grossman. First of all, the answer is yes -- David Carr comes quickly to mind. Second, just because Rex happens to be a crappy starting quarterback on a good team doesn't make McNabb's point any less valid. If you suck, you will get criticized regardless of your skin color. But good black QBs get criticized in a different way (and usually more severely) than good white QBs do. Good white QBs are more likely to have their flaws glossed over.
It's just like any position in this country traditionally held by whites. Sadly, it probably happens less in sports than it does in other fields. I was always taught as a child that blacks have to do a bit extra to get ahead in the workplace compared to whites. Don't believe the affirmative action/discrimination lawsuit hype (which is completely rare and exaggerated in real life): when it comes to work, blacks, women and Latinos operate on a shorter leash.
It shouldn't be this way. But it is this way, whether the reporters questioning McNabb agree with him or not. The truth hurts.
Yes, even in the year 2007 black quarterbacks are scrutinized and judged more harshly than their white counterparts.
Black quarterbacks are questioned about their running much more than white QBs are - and it' snot because white QBs are all unathletic statues in the pocket. Nobody asked Steve Young or Brett Favre why the didn't run more -- on occasion, they might even have been asked to run less. Their running was always regarded as complementary to their game. Even Jake Plummer got a pass on people questioning his ability to be a complete physical QB, even though his career was mostly mediocre. But with black QBs like McNabb, running the ball is almost inevitably an issue of discussion.
There are always questions about whether most black, athletic QBs are 'complete' enough...or rely too much on their athletic ability and not enough on technique. This happens across sports: white players are more often called "smart" and "hard-working" while black players are often labelled "talented" and "gifted" -- as if black players are stupid and/or don't work hard to develop their skills.
Even some idiot blacks seem to judge black QBs more harshly: wasn't it a black NAACP local Philly guy who accused McNabb of 'selling out' by not running the ball MORE? Also, wasn't Rush Limbaugh tatooing McNabb in the media, accusing him of being overrated because (ironically) the media is afraid to say bad things about a black quarterback?
When does a white QB ever face situations like that?
And that question reporters asked McNabb about Rex Grossman was stupid and irrelevant. Someone asked if any QB got criticized more last year than Rex Grossman. First of all, the answer is yes -- David Carr comes quickly to mind. Second, just because Rex happens to be a crappy starting quarterback on a good team doesn't make McNabb's point any less valid. If you suck, you will get criticized regardless of your skin color. But good black QBs get criticized in a different way (and usually more severely) than good white QBs do. Good white QBs are more likely to have their flaws glossed over.
It's just like any position in this country traditionally held by whites. Sadly, it probably happens less in sports than it does in other fields. I was always taught as a child that blacks have to do a bit extra to get ahead in the workplace compared to whites. Don't believe the affirmative action/discrimination lawsuit hype (which is completely rare and exaggerated in real life): when it comes to work, blacks, women and Latinos operate on a shorter leash.
It shouldn't be this way. But it is this way, whether the reporters questioning McNabb agree with him or not. The truth hurts.
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