ESPN is at rock bottom...

[BDC99]

Rob forked up. That's pretty much all that needs to be said. He's not a racist. He just made a stupid statement that is going to be hard to live down.

If only this were the first (or 300th) time. Parker is a jackass Drip. One day you'll admit it. Maybe.

When Stephen A. Smith is the voice of reason on a race-related topic, you know you've gone off the reservation.

Steak hit this one directly. SAS sounds like a genius. Rob? Well, this is one time my old friend should've just STFU.

My first thought, too.

What's sad is when it started with Chris Berman, and Bob Ley and the game, they were solidly about sports and I loved it.

???

Might be tough to recall, but yes, there was a time that Berman was a well-respected broadcaster.

 

[LongTimeListener]

RG2 weighs in.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/redskins/2012/12/13/robert-griffin-iii-washington-redskins-rob-parker/1768501/?sf7864787=1

"He needs to define what 'one of us' is. That guy needs to define that," he said. "I wouldn't say it's racism. I would just say some people put things out there about people so they can stir things up.

"Robert is in really good shape on who he is, where he needs to get to in order to seek the goals he has in life ... so I don't take offense."

 

[Alma]

If Rob Parker's not talking about authenticity, what he's talking about? I'm interested what people think, especially Drip and his friend offscreen.

Alma, only Rob can speak about what he said. As for my friends (a few more who are African-American have read the posts), they have found the conversation along here interesting. One pointed out that it's amazing how clueless some non African-Americans are and how gullable they are to believing stereotypes.

That's a safe answer for you and for your friends, quite frankly, a copout answer. Sorry, but we engage in reading comprehension all the time as adults and, additionally, we're smart enough to know that most people, once they say something controversial or unfortunate, will suggest they meant something else entirely, when, in fact, they probably didn't.

It's easy to sit there and say "clueless" and "gullible." Deadspin does that all day, then suggests the old "fork all this shirt" solution to thinking and being, which, of course absolves them of any real responsibility for a position. But it's not so easy to sit there and actually provide a thoughtful, intricate answer and deal with the consequences of what might be incorrect.

Alma, there's nothing intricate about what Rob Parker said. It was a stupid statement.

I didn't say his answer was intricate. I wrote that you could provide an intricate answer.

If the best you can do is "it was stupid" -- a 11-year-old kid could tell you that. Lots of things are stupid to say. Saying "RGIII scores touchdowns like a fat man eats donuts!" is stupid. It is stupid for a different reason than what Rob Parker said is stupid.

And when Azrael posits a thought -- whether it's a decent one or not, hard to say -- it's shot down with "my African-American friends think you're clueless." All right then -- what do they say about it? If this issue isn't about authenticity or identity, what's it about?

 

[BDC99]

I'd like to know how the following quotes, from the original post's link, portray Griffin as "distancing himself from his blackness."

"Whenever you can relate to the population of the team that you play for, I think it makes it that much more special," Griffin said. "I don't play too much into the color game, because I don't want to be the best African American quarterback, I want to be the best quarterback.

"But to the fans, and to the fans who think that way and look at me as an African American, it's important that I succeed, not only for this team, but for them," he continued. "Because it gives them that motivation, that hey, you know, an African American went out and played quarterback for my Washington Redskins. So I appreciate that; I don't ever downplay anything like that. Whoever I can go out every week and motivate to do better and to try to go after their dreams, I'm up for that."

...

"I am [aware] of how race is relevant to [some fans]. I don't ignore it," Griffin said Wednesday. "I try not to be defined by it, but I understand different perspectives and how people view different things. So I understand they're excited their quarterback is an African American. I play with a lot of pride, a lot of character, a lot of heart. So I understand that, and I appreciate them for being fans."


He doesn't want to be defined by race, which is what we need in this country. Griffin is embraced by all (OK< most) fans because of who he is, as well as his talent. People like him can transform the topic of race in this country, but I guess the point that Parker wants to make is that he is not doing that by simply not "acting black" or embracing his culture. But I would argue that he is doing exactly that by having kids of all races and nationalities admiring a black man. THAT is the way to combat racism.

 

[LongTimeListener]

How the fork did this idiot get where he is? Is there some body of redeeming Parker work out there that I've missed?

Well, I think it's because ESPN doesn't think Rob Parker is a "cornball brother."

And frankly, I don't blame Parker for going here - the entire point of the show is to try and by "edgy" and "hip" and argue and push the envelope and so every day these people have to try and go over the top to outdo themselves.

It was bound to happen.

Ding, ding, ding. Doubt it would happen, but if ESPN decided to fire Parker, he could file a lawsuit. "Hey, I was only doing what the producers wanted. They wanted me to play of the role of the idiot/asshole. And I nailed it."

Of note to this: The last time we were bantering about First Take and ridiculous racial assertions about the Redskins' quarterback, it was when Bayless said white folks wanted RG3 to fail and Kirk Cousins to take over.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/92343/

Same show. Same producers. Same everything except just the idiot in the other chair speaking this time.

 

[dixiehack]

Had never heard of Rob Parker before today. I guess if you want to be well known, say or do something outrageous.

That's forking meta.

 

[Mark2010]

Why does anyone give a rat's ass what Rob Parker thinks or says? I sure don't. I don't waste my time watching this nonsense.

 

[3OctaveFart]

The problem with First Take, besides being bad TV, is it used to have a rotation of reasonably sane or competent moderators.

 

[spikechiquet]

I guess someone just needs to ask RG3 how long he has been a black quarterback.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Why does anyone have to be any level of black or white or green? Jeez, just live life as you're meant to live it. All I know is that Griffin, Taneyhill and Manziel have done Texas college quarterbacks proud as far as choice of wife/girlfriend.

And Brip saying what his "friends" are saying is like when someone on here says, "My friend just told me about this great new porn site, and yes, Sonner, it's free!"

 

[poindexter]

I didn't say his answer was intricate. I wrote that you could provide an intricate answer.

If the best you can do is "it was stupid" -- a 11-year-old kid could tell you that. Lots of things are stupid to say. Saying "RGIII scores touchdowns like a fat man eats donuts!" is stupid. It is stupid for a different reason than what Rob Parker said is stupid.

And when Azrael posits a thought -- whether it's a decent one or not, hard to say -- it's shot down with "my African-American friends think you're clueless." All right then -- what do they say about it? If this issue isn't about authenticity or identity, what's it about?

When Azreal posits a thought which says that he thinks Rob Parker's "approach to the subject was meant to be sincere", I really don't think its hard to say whether its a decent thought. Its not even close to being a decent thought. Its a downright lousy thought. Rob Parker is paid to throw shirt against walls, not have sincere discussions.

 

[Azrael]

I didn't say his answer was intricate. I wrote that you could provide an intricate answer.

If the best you can do is "it was stupid" -- a 11-year-old kid could tell you that. Lots of things are stupid to say. Saying "RGIII scores touchdowns like a fat man eats donuts!" is stupid. It is stupid for a different reason than what Rob Parker said is stupid.

And when Azrael posits a thought -- whether it's a decent one or not, hard to say -- it's shot down with "my African-American friends think you're clueless." All right then -- what do they say about it? If this issue isn't about authenticity or identity, what's it about?

When Azreal posits a thought which says that he thinks Rob Parker's "approach to the subject was meant to be sincere", I really don't think its hard to say whether its a decent thought. Its not even close to being a decent thought. Its a downright lousy thought. Rob Parker is paid to throw shirt against walls, not have sincere discussions.

Don't misquote me. Thanks.

I think I understand what Parker was trying to get at here - 'authenticity' is a central question in urban African-American culture - but this wasn't the place to have a nuanced Q and A about it. Bad tactical move, even if his approach to the subject was meant to be sincere.