Why no mention of this Steelers' story?

"Thug" means "scary-looking black dude" to a lot of people. It's rare for a white athlete to get the thug label.

 

Kevin Greene always struck me as somebody who had it in him, though I don't remember ever hearing about him busting down a door to get at his girlfriend.

 

Agreed. I know plenty of people who use the word that way. Irritates me to no end.

 

Any defensive player worth his salt has it in him. It's about controlling it.

 

I'm not saying Harrison is or isn't a thug. I'm just saying that's the way the word is used by a lot of laymen.

It's a code, kind of like suburban high school coaches using "athletic" to describe inner-city teams with a lot of blacks on the roster.

 

I get that, Inky, though I was wondering if I should take that a little personally since I'm the one who used it on this thread and I did so because of the man's behavior.

 

And I have yet to hear of a "scrappy" or "gym-rat" inner-city player as well.

 

I've never heard anyone refer to Ryan Leaf as a thug. Many other things, but never a thug.

 

Doesn't mean it's not accurate.

 

I agree. Just that I haven't heard anyone use that term with him before. It's obvious you, and others, have.

 

Just leave him alone! All Right!?