So I hear that the Air Force Football coach, Fisher DeBerry, made some “inflammatory” remarks after their big loss to TCU. To sum up, he basically said that black athletes by and large seem to exhibit more speed on the football field. As he looks at it, his team needs more speed (i.e. more black players), especially based on the thrashing his team had just taken. He didn’t say that other races weren’t fast, indeed he made a point to say that they too had good athletes. But by and large, black athletes seem to be faster.
As I watched “Around the Horn” on ESPN yesterday, 3 of the journalists were incensed that the coach said something like that. They were calling for his head and his immediate firing. They said he was a spokesperson for not just the university but for the country. The only one who stood up for him was Michael Smith—an African American journalist.
Now I am what you might call sensitive to political correctness. I think that refraining from using words that disparage races and people is vital to fostering peace and unity among people groups. But give me a break. This coach just put to words what every coach thinks, what scouts look for, and what fans have accepted for years. Though he may be politically incorrect, he is still correct.
Let’s look at the speed positions in football
Name one wide receiver that isn’t black. I thought of Jason Seahorn. That’s it.
Name one running back that isn’t black. I thought of Alstot. That’s it.
There is a reason why there is a movie called “White Men Can’t Jump.” There is a reason why white farm boys freak out when they play a team of black players. There is a reason why it is tough for you to name white “speed” players. Black players dominate those positions.
So were DeBerry’s statements racist? I guess, BUT HE WAS COMPLEMENTING THE RACE!! There are times when people say things to disparage a race, especially the African American race. This is not one of those times. Give the guy a break. He was only speaking what everyone was thinking.
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6 comments:
to play devil's advocate...
Were Reggie White's comments okay? He made generalizations about every race, all of them intending to be complimentary. The thing is, you cannot make generalizations (however generally true they are) about minorities if you are white. Unfair? Absurd? Double Standard? Whatever, those are the rules. Everybody ought to know them by now.
But while on the subject of fast white guys, I do not think there is a single white halfback in the NFL.
" This coach just put to words what every coach thinks, what scouts look for, and what fans have accepted for years."
I haven't accepted it or thought it. How do explain the same stereotypes (faster, jump-higher, shoot better) said of Jews in the pro-basketball in the 1950's? IT'S NOT A RACE THING!!!! It may be an economical, enviornmental, or social thing but (one more time) IT IS NOT A RACE THING!!!!!
Then where are the Jewish wide recievers? The White wide recievers? The Asians? etc? Are you implying that the NFL is racist, accepting only blacks in those positions?
You are right in saying fast is fast regardless of the race. But where is all the speed outside of those of African American descent?
or white or Jewish Olympic sprinters?
I don't think there is anything incorrect about saying that races are physically different. You must remember that they are generalizations and are therefore only generally true. But physically we are different.
Coach DeBerry is a man with a great reputation and 22 years of coaching experience at the Air Force Academy (his record is 164-99-1). Why is it that we question his racial attitudes now? Why is our knee jerk reaction to forgo any reasonable examination of the content and context of his statements and instead proclaim them 'a mistake,' 'racist' or 'offensive'.
Where can we talk about racial issues in this culture? If we cannot discuss these things rationally, with neither pride nor prejudice, within the world of ideas found in academic university life, where can we? What will be the effects of a culture that prizes equality over freedom? A culture that is so stigmatized by the possibility of personal offense is one where the hallmarks of the liberal society, freedom and responsibility, will undoubtedly be subjected to the tyranny of the minority.
See Air Force Academy Football Coach Criticized For Frank Comments on Race
newcomers teams and business people depend on great newcomers. mobygunner your Racism Overreaction certainly was a great read and I simply had to post to you. I do have a similar passion as can be read at http://serendipitysuccess.blogspot.com/2005/11/update-to-steelers-climb-to-top-of-afc.html although its theme is slanted to one or more of my passions, newcomers is the important thing. Keep up your great thoughts and writings. Other passions inlcude newcomers
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