At the risk of intruding upon our weekend bloggers, I wanted to post an update to our prior posting on the Seahawks’ cornerback Richard Sherman. Sherman has now been fined by the NFL, not for his infamous post-game interview, but his unsportsmanlike conduct on the field after the final play against the San Francisco 49ers. He will pay almost $8000 for his taunting of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree. As someone who has long objected to increasing example of poor sportsmanship (as well as excessive celebration) incidents in football, I believe the fine is well deserved, though (as I previously stated) I felt Crabtree also acted in a rude manner in refusing to shake Sherman’s hand and shoving Sherman’s face mask. I would have liked to see him fined as well.
I thought the earlier discussion over Sherman was interesting in the sharp difference in how his interview was perceived on this blog. I continue to view Sherman’s conduct in that interview to be disgraceful and unprofessional. I do not believe that it is racist to describe a player screaming at an interviewer and into a camera in this way as “thuggish.” I was surprised by many who not only stated that they felt that the conduct was acceptable but by those who said that they liked this type of trash talking. Sitting with my kids and watching the game, I did not view the interview as “thrilling” but obnoxious. In my view, this is a controversy that turns not on the different way people view race but the different way people view conduct. For some, those issues are inextricably linked and race is distorting the view of the conduct. I found many of those views to be insightful. There are clearly racists who came out in this debate, but I do not believe that the majority of people objecting to Sherman’s rant were acting out of some latent racist motivation. I also do not believe that to call out a black athlete for such conduct must only be due to latent racism. I truly believe that a white player would have been similarly criticized by many of those objecting to this incident. Sherman went directly from an unprofessional taunt on the field to an unprofessional rant on television. His conduct warranted condemnation and, as discussed earlier, this is not a free speech issue.
We have criticized people of all races on this blog for uncivil and “thuggish” conduct. It does not matter that Sherman has a degree from Stanford or that he has an impressive life story. He is an adult and his conduct on the field and in the interview was disgraceful for a professional athlete in my opinion. He certainly has company in this ignoble group, but that does not excuse his conduct.
As I mentioned earlier, I thought it was great that the Seahawks have cracked down on thugs in the stadium who taunt and harass visitors from other teams. If this effort is going to successful, the players need to be held to a minimal standard of conduct on the field. Otherwise, we will allow this game (like other games) to decline to the lowest common denominator of conduct.
Obviously, for those who said that they like to see this type of trash talking or that they believe it is too late to conform the conduct of professional athletes, this is a rather moot point. However, I do not. I have long criticized the decline of civility and basic norms of conduct in our society. That may certainly make me prissy or old-fashioned in the view of many. I must admit that I find myself in a diminishing minority. For those of us who hold to such views, Sherman’s taunting on the field and screaming in the interview was all too familiar and outside of the bounds of professional conduct.
I believe that Sherman should have been reprimanded by the team for the interview as unprofessional and unbecoming for a member of the Seahawks (while the interview occurred on the field and he was in his uniform, it is not subject to the NFL rule or fines). Clearly, many disagree and I am glad that we can discuss those different views on this blog without personal animus or assuming the worst motivations of people. There are good faith views on both sides of this controversy. Issues that touch on race produce strong passions as well as strong rhetoric in such debates. We should not shy away from discussing such issues on this blog but we should show that such discussions can occur without labeling people on the other side as necessarily racists or apologists.
The fine was well deserved for the taunting. A fine against Crabtree would be equally well deserved. I fail to understand why his shoving of the face mask was not denounced and penalized.
@nemerinys: “What I don’t understand is how people want to watch, and encourage their children to watch, an extremely violent and dangerous sport, and then be so troubled over some trash talk.”
Exactly. I have a complete breakdown in understanding this aspect of culture in the United States. The violence of football seems to be almost universally ignored and accepted.
Our very odd society essentially says: “You can hit that person until he bleeds and has permanent brain damage, but we will not tolerate you boasting or even remotely verbally-antagonizing that same person in public, especially not at a volume that some feel is too loud.”
Really?? The trash-talk is where the problem should be addressed? It’s time to pull your heads out of your collective posteriors if you think that after watching hours of violent conflict, only interrupted by stomach-churning propaganda and advertisement, you should be outraged by a man yelling over crowd noise into a mic.
The word ‘thug’ means someone who commits or threatens violence. The use of ‘thug’ or ‘thuggish’ has long been co-opted to insinuate what whites would call ‘ghetto’ conduct and criminality. Hence, the racist accusation.
Richard Sherman’s conduct could have been described as “rude” or “unsportsmanlike,” but most decidedly not “thuggish.”
Prof. Turley and others were and are wrong to use either word to describe Sherman’s short but crude braggadocio. As to his “screaming,” he was, in fact, shouting to be heard over the crowd’s loudness, the noise of which was filtered for television viewers.
What I don’t understand is how people want to watch, and encourage their children to watch, an extremely violent and dangerous sport, and then be so troubled over some trash talk.
Annie,
You are just absolutely correct….
Swarthmoremom,
It’s too bad that some individuals engage in putting people in boxes of their making without even knowing that person. I wonder why some people feel so comfortable making such assumptions and then running with them using them in an argument, or to harrass, or for some odd reason most people of good will would never engage in. It’s tiresome, frustrating and really should stop. I’ve actually shown my children statements by such individuals and they seem to think such people are not normal and should be ignored whenever possible. I know that can be difficult to do though.
Chris Hayes in whiter than Casper the Ghost.
One of the many great dynamics of a team is that leaders on the team, not coaches or management, but players, can create a positive chemistry. I’ve coached teams like that. I didn’t like the concept of appointing captains. If the players wanted to I would not object. That only happened a couple times, and they chose wisely. Because you see, NOBODY can get a wayward player in line like another player. It is obvious that in just a couple years, Russell Wilson has become the team leader. You could not have a better one. He came to the UW for just his senior year and his teammates elected him captain, before he had played a game!
It’s interesting that there’s still bickering going on here but Richard Sherman has gotten his mind right. A sit down w/ his teammates was quite effective. A positive thing happened. And, I’m the only one to acknowledge it, twice. How about a pat on the back to Sherman, Wilson, teammates, management for turning a positive into a negative. Now, Sherman can revert to his old ways, but so far so good.
Seems like a dance we have all heard before.
Suffering Suckatash
My husband read this thread and thought that I should clarify the false statements that were made. I was not born with a silver spoon nor do we live in an exclusive community. We live in the middle of a large city. This is not the first time this individual has misrepresented me or my family on this blog.
ap,
Thanks for the link. That was an interesting interview.
“Chris Hayes speaks with Richard Sherman” (and a second clip titled “Richard Sherman: From Compton to Stanford”)
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/sherman-crabtree-confrontation-good-natured-128493123835
Elaine M. wrote:
“I DO think discussing the reality of racism in America is uncomfortable for some people.”
I agree. Thanks for the video, Elaine M.
nick,
I don’t think Jonathan considers the discussion “phony.” I DO think discussing the reality of racism in America is uncomfortable for some people.
Elaine, Another great bit of Rock that is provocative and has much truth. I can only speak for myself but I would trade places w/ Obama, Colin Powell, Michael Jordan, Oprah, etc. in a heartbeat. I’ve actually had this discussion w/ a group of folks I know[black and white] and it was enlightening. I routinely have discussions on race w/ black people I know. There is honesty, trust, respect. That’s why I get so incensed @ the PC discussions. They’re phony. I hate phony.
Oh my, people who are concerned about racism in this country are now called hand wringers.
Chris Rock:
“A black man with a C average couldn’t get a job managing a Burger King. But a white man with a C average just happens to be the President of the United States.”
“None of ya would change places with me! And I’m rich! That’s how good it is to be white!”
“I love being famous. It’s almost like being white.”
“If you’re black, you got to look at America a little bit different. You got to look at America like the uncle who paid for you to go to college, but who molested you.”