[Dcouncil] Belichick versus Sherman

[Bruce Ullman]

I see your point.  Many white media people may have been stereotyping Sherman as an angry, scary, out of control threat because of his black face and dreads, while Belichicks's understated delivery and his middle aged, white, calm appearance may have done the opposite.  On the other hand, many people, regardless of race, are put off by what looks and sounds like a violent rant, no matter where it comes from.  

I knew Sherman was a Stanford graduate and pretty articulate before the end zone episode.  Therefore, I was actually surprised at his actions and thought to myself, "Is he trying to look like a thug (which he isn't) to make some kind of point?"  As to Belichick, I respect his football acumen, but he has always struck me as untrustworthy, under-handed, and secretive; now, maybe vindictive too.  

So yes, you may very well be right.  And so was Doyel.

Bruce

----- Original Message -----
From: "James Davenport" <jdaven at jlab.org>
To: dcouncil at jlab.org
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 12:04:49 PM
Subject: [Dcouncil] Belichick versus Sherman

Hello Fellow Council members,

I wanted to get opinions on what I've witnessed over the past week in regards to the Richard Sherman NFL situation. I realize a great many of you don't concern yourselves with the American Football culture in this country. I apologize if you see this email as an intrusion on your time and work day. For the rest of you, I'm sure you possess passing knowledge of the events that transpired after the NFC Championship game between the Broncos and the 49ers. You may also be privy to the press conference Bill Belichick held the day after the AFC Championship game. Gregg Doyel wrote a great article on the level of spite and despicable behavior Bill Belichick showed in his press conference against Wes Welker (http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/gregg-doyel/24414957/hate-shermans-rant-its-got-nothing-on-belichicks-welker-accusation). I think it illuminates an implicit bias among the media in our country that only one article brought to light how much worse Belichick's comments wer!
 e when compared to Sherman's. The article Doyel wrote was the ONLY article discussing what Belichick did in a negative light. The vaste majority of pieces focused on Sherman's actions. Could it be that it was a situation whereby journalist saw this "big angry black man" in his post game interview with Erin Andrews? Twitter apparently blew up with racist references to Sherman, who just so happens to be a Stanford graduate and an All-Pro. People labeled him a "thug" in racist tweets based upon the both his post-game interviews. I wonder if Lovie Smith, or Herm Edwards, or Tony Dungy, or Dennis Erickson, or Raheem Morris had said the same things about an opposing player if it would've been viewed differently.

_______________________________________________
Dcouncil mailing list
Dcouncil at jlab.org
https://mailman.jlab.org/mailman/listinfo/dcouncil