This week, in an interview on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb re-ignited an old, familiar debate. During the interview, McNabb suggested that black quarterbacks get criticized “differently,” meaning more harshly, than do white quarterbacks, and black quarterbacks have to do “a little extra” to earn the same praise that a white quarterback would earn. Donovan McNabb was the latest to take the race bait and, with his words, another counterproductive discussion on race in sports ensued.
Such a discussion is destined to be counterproductive because, predictably, people on each side of the argument have retreated to their long fortified positions rather than engaging in any meaningful dialogue. One side claims that McNabb’s statements are outdated and unfounded. The fact that McNabb is an NFL quarterback when so many his black athletic predecessors were not given that opportunity is in itself proof of progress. McNabb gets criticism because he plays for the most unforgiving fan base, in one of the most unforgiving media markets, at the most scrutinized position in sports.
Proponents of this argument will site examples such as Peyton Manning, the white quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, who endured unrelenting criticism of his game despite posting NFL record statistics because, until last season, he had a zero in the most important statistical column: Super Bowl wins. Peyton bashers would even use his University of Tennessee team’s 0-4 record against the University of Florida to prove their case against his NFL record. Being white did not spare Peyton from any of this criticism. Some will argue that McNabb deserves the criticism he is getting for his play today because his team is 0-2 and he has been mediocre on the field. People who make any of these arguments are correct.
Those on the other side of the race argument will argue that it is an irrefutable fact that Donovan McNabb and other black players face challenges that white players do not. Therefore, the journey to achieve and maintain success is, by definition, more difficult for black players than for white players. Those on this side will cite the fact that in the National Football League, in which the majority of the players are black, the vast majority of the on-field leaders (quarterbacks and head coaches) are white. They will argue this is because of the obvious discrimination of white decision makers who are products of a society that is far from color blind.
Article comments
1 - RJ
"Why would the NFL need the so-called Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for any open head coaching position, if decisions were being made based only on merit?"
Because "civil rights leaders" made a big fuss about it, and the liberal sports media that Rush talked about amplified their voices, and so the image-conscious NFL created the Rooney Rule to quiet down the manufactured outrage?
2 - REMF
^ Was that before Rush got busted for Oxycontin, or after?
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Considering you know more about Limbaugh than the rest of us, I'm surprised you don't know this.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
The Rooney Rule was implemented so Norv Turner wouldn't keep finding work. Which means it isn't working.
5 - The Haze
If the comments made by Young of the Titans and Campbell of the Redskins were made before McNabbs,would they get this much press? I don't think they would get the time of day.......unless they were white.
6 - DreMo
You guys are silly. The Rooney rule brought in the likes of Herm, and Mike Tomlin. Tomlin will lead the Steelers to the SB this year. MARK it! He is a 1st rate coach that would have otehrwise been overlooked. Norv Turner is about to take the most potent team in the NFL to shambles. Why do these coaches get recycled when the have repeatedly (Was, Oak) failed and BADLY! Silly rabbits, you will learn. GM's are feeling the heart to get the best candidate in (regardless of race) or get left behind because someone else WILL do it.