Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin

Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - Printable Version

+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin (/thread-12097.html)

Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - martyup - 05-29-2016

CMAC fires a shot across the bow of the sports press.Â Good move for his H'man trophy campaign?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6QqDF4Ny0w

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - Velodoc - 05-29-2016

Was it PT Barnum who said, "All publicity is good publicity."Â And there is nothing wrong with his opinion, as addressed in video.Â

Combined with SI article, this is great for Stanford and CM's H-man chances.Â Anybody who hasn't seen him play will tune in next season, even those sleepy-eyed East Coast sportswriters who can't stay up past 11:00 pm.

I'm really interested to see how he plays when he's "chippy" cause he's pretty damn good when not pissed off.Â

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - Oasis - 05-29-2016

Probably the biggest biases Christian faces -- and they are enormous -- are (1) he is from Stanford and not a Big-10 or SEC powerhouse (factory) like Ohio State or Alabama and (2) the Heisma-n voters are too lazy or uninterested to tape Stanford games and watch them during their prodigious spare time.Â

But while I think it's secondary, I believe another prejudice also exists.Â Christian doesn't fit the dominant (and maybe the only acceptable) narrative in contemporary American culture: member of discriminated-against minority or gender through exceptional talent and industry defeats obstacles white male bigotry has (directly or indirectly) placed in his/her way and wins the American dream.Â Any story that doesn't fit that narrative is less compelling in our culture.Â To see this all you had to do was watch the Heisma-n show last year.Â I kept waiting for them to say Christian was an academic All-American (and maybe add that he was doing that at the most selective university in major college football).Â Not a word about it.Â If Deshaun Watson or Derrick Henry had been an academic All-American, do you think we would've heard about it fewer than 1,000 times during the show?Â Academics are relevant to the Heisma-n's integrity criterion,* so the notion that "well, that doesn't matter" is nonsense.Â It was bias.Â ESPN knew damn well Christian was an academic All-American.Â (It was announced about 4-5 days before the Heisma-n.) But a guy like Christian being smart and accomplished at an elite university didn't fit the Narrative.

The injustice done to Christian last year irritates me all the more because he probably will not have the same caliber supporting cast around him asÂ last year, at least not early in the season.Â And he'll have to study.

Â *"The outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work."

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - terry - 05-29-2016

The video has a headline, in quotation marks, that says "Christian McCaffrey: 'White athletes get underrated.'"

Did McCaffrey actually say that -- "white athletes get underrated"?

I don't think so.

So why is it in quotation marks?

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - washingtonismoney - 05-29-2016

well, considering the ESPN opinion shows just distorted Shaw's comments re: satellite camps we have no particular reason to believe journalistic integrity is at the top of their priorities list.

Then again, it's not *that* far off the spirit of McCaffrey's comments to the SI writer. If they'd dropped the quotation marks it'd be a fair paraphrase.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - TreesAndBirds - 05-29-2016

(05-29-2016, 06:40 PM)washingtonismoney link Wrote:well, considering the ESPN opinion shows just distorted Shaw's comments re: satellite camps we have no particular reason to believe journalistic integrity is at the top of their priorities list.

Then again, it's not *that* far off the spirit of McCaffrey's comments to the SI writer. If they'd dropped the quotation marks it'd be a fair paraphrase.

I dont think it's a fair paraphrase. He wasnt saying that white quarterbacks, first basemen, or goalies are underrated, so he wasnt referring to athletes generally. And I dont even think he was saying that white running backs are underrated. I think he is saying that he is underrated because he is white.Â And while he didnt say this, I think the reason that people might underrate him is because very few white running backs have had significant success in the NFL in recent years.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - terry - 05-29-2016

(05-29-2016, 06:50 PM)TreesAndBirds link Wrote:I dont think it's a fair paraphrase. He wasnt saying that white quarterbacks, first basemen, or goalies are underrated, so he wasnt referring to athletes generally. And I dont even think he was saying that white running backs are underrated. I think he is saying that he is underrated because he is white.Â

Yes, exactly. I didn't understand McCaffrey to be making a general statement about white athletes. But ESPN invented a quotation that made it seem that way.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - FarmDad.01 - 05-29-2016

The last five white running backs to win the H*man are Steve Owens (Oklahoma, '69); Joe Bellino (Navy, '60); Billy Cannon (LSU, '59); Pete Dawkins (Army, '58); John David Crow (Texas A&M, '57).

Since 1950 the NFL, both merged and unmerged, has been led in rushing by these white running backs: Eddie Price (Giants, '51); Alan Ameche (Colts, '55); Rick Casares (Bears, '56); Jim Taylor (Packers, '62). In its 10-season existence, the American Football League was led in rushing by these white running backs: Billy Cannon (Oilers, '61; Dickie Post (Chargers, '69). So out of 75 pro rushing titles, white running backs won... six.

All this is not to say that in the NFL, McCaffrey will blossom into the next Gayle Sayers, whose otherworldly skills and style I believe he shares (plus, better hands). Rather, for two generations white running backs haven't been football's go-to guys. I think McCaffrey was stating that empiricism may be a handicap when it comes to judging his performance.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - ThePassionOfTheChryst - 05-29-2016

I don't disagree with his point, though I grimaced a bit when I originally heard what he had said.Â He's about as privileged as folks come, so I don't know that he will garner much sympathy.Â But that doesn't make him wrong, and it is nice to see high-profile athletes actually having opinions that could ruffle a few feathers.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - ThePassionOfTheChryst - 05-29-2016

(05-29-2016, 07:43 PM)FarmDad.01 link Wrote:The last five white running backs to win the H*man are Steve Owens (Oklahoma, '69); Joe Bellino (Navy, '60); Billy Cannon (LSU, '59); Pete Dawkins (Army, '58); John David Crow (Texas A&M, '57).

Since 1950 the NFL, both merged and unmerged, has been led in rushing by these white running backs: Eddie Price (Giants, '51); Alan Ameche (Colts, '55); Rick Casares (59ers, '56); Jim Taylor (Packers, '62). In its 10-season existence, the American Football League was led in rushing by these white running backs: Billy Cannon (Oilers, '61; Dickie Post (Chargers, '69). So out of 75 pro rushing titles, white running backs won... six.

All this is not to say that in the NFL, McCaffrey will blossom into the next Gayle Sayers, whose otherworldly skills and style I believe he shares (plus, better hands). Rather, for two generations white running backs haven't been football's go-to guys. I think McCaffrey was stating that empiricism may be a handicap when it comes to judging his performance.

One of the many things to like about McCaffrey is that he forces lazy broadcasters to avoid the usual skin color based comparisons.Â It is most noticeable with black quarterbacks, who are almost always either Michael Vick or Vince Young, but with McCaffrey, you can't use the default Gerhart/Hillis fallback.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - terry - 05-29-2016

(05-29-2016, 07:43 PM)FarmDad.01 link Wrote:The last five white running backs to win the H*man are Steve Owens (Oklahoma, '69); Joe Bellino (Navy, '60); Billy Cannon (LSU, '59); Pete Dawkins (Army, '58); John David Crow (Texas A&M, '57).

It doesn't change the basic point, but how about John Cappelletti?

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - martyup - 05-29-2016

(05-29-2016, 05:28 PM)Velodoc link Wrote:Was it PT Barnum who said, "All publicity is good publicity."Â And there is nothing wrong with his opinion, as addressed in video.Â

Combined with SI article, this is great for Stanford and CM's H-man chances.Â Anybody who hasn't seen him play will tune in next season, even those sleepy-eyed East Coast sportswriters who can't stay up past 11:00 pm.

I'm really interested to see how he plays when he's "chippy" cause he's pretty damn good when not pissed off.

I agree.Â It is always a tightrope walk when you bring race into play.Â However, he seems to have framed his point well enough to avoid the race card backlash.Â I think he always plays with a chip on his shoulder.Â I think all great competitors conjure up some external motivation to push themselves to excellence.Â He seems to be the perfect athletic machine with a laser focus and extreme preparation.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - OutsiderFan - 05-30-2016

I think Christian could really do some great good in the position he is. It's one thing to point out that he is bothered by the fact he is not fairly judged because he is white.Â It would be another thing entirely, and make him a great leader in society, for him to make Stephen A's point at the same time.

Namely, he could point out the "unfairness of him being judged unfairly as a white RB," but at the same time say "just as black men or people of color sometimes aren't considered for certain positions because they are of color."Â THAT would create a big national conversation about not racism per se, but racial prejudice, that would be really good to have.Â This is the kind of thing that would elevate CMac not just as a guy using his position to look out for himself, but to also show perspective and concern for others.Â Frankly, he'd be viewed as more than just a "dumb football" player, and someone who is using his position for something more.

I think it'd be awesome, especially considering his head coach is black, and the stereotype of head coach is white, and the great RB is black, is so pervasive.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - BostonCard - 05-30-2016

Agree with OutsiderFan.Â If he just complains about how male running backs are viewed unfairly, he runs the risk of coming across as whiney.Â If he makes a broader point about stereotypes in sports, whether it's about how white running backs don't get considered "explosive", black quarterbacks are rarely praised for their decision making, or Asian basketball players are consistently underrated, or that all athletes and especially football players are stereotyped as being dumb jocks, he can make a point that transcends his own circumstances

BC

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - TreesAndBirds - 05-30-2016

I think he made his point and that he is best off dropping it for now. This area is complicated and a minefield and while I have never met him, I find it hard to believe that a 20 year old is going to do a great job navigating this issue while focusing on academics and football. If he is really passionate about this issue then he needs to do what he needs to do, but I think he is more likely to make his point and improve his credibility by having another great season.

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - CompSci87 - 05-30-2016

(05-30-2016, 10:47 AM)Boston Card link Wrote:male running backs are viewed unfairly

Paging CowboyIndian! Joke needed!

Re: Don't Judge Him By the Color of His Skin - BostonCard - 05-31-2016

(05-30-2016, 12:39 PM)CompSci87 link Wrote:[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=15124.msg164109#msg164109 date=1464630427]
male running backs are viewed unfairly

Paging CowboyIndian! Joke needed!
[/quote]

I don't even know how I did that.

BC