Exploring the Racial Hypocrisy in the NFL

In a Week 10 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, QB Cam Newton ran in a one-yard touchdown to seal a 27-10 victory over said Titans, much to the displeasure of Tennessee fans and players.

By now, we should all be familiar with the written letter a frustrated Tennessee mother and fan wrote in discussing her displeasure with the QB's moves. Here is the full note written by the mother to Cam Newton after the loss.

Dear Mr. Newton,

Congratulations on your win in Nashville today. Our team played well, but yours played better. Kudos to the Panthers organization.

That game happened to be my nine year old daughter’s first live NFL experience. She was surprised to see so many Panthers’ fans sitting in our section of the stadium; that doesn’t happen much at fourth grade football games. And she was excited we were near the end zone, so we would be close to the “action,” particularly in the second half.  Because of where we sat, we had a close up view of your conduct in the fourth quarter. The chest puffs. The pelvic thrusts. The arrogant struts and the ‘in your face’ taunting of both the Titans’ players and fans. We saw it all.

I refuse to believe you don’t realize you are a role model. You are paid millions of dollars every week to play hard and be a leader. In the off season you’re expected to make appearances, support charities, and inspire young kids to pursue your sport and all sports. With everything the NFL has gone through in recent years, I’m confident they have advised that you are, by virtue of your position and career choice, a role model.

And because you are a role model, your behavior brought out like behavior in the stands. Some of the Panthers fans in our section began taunting the hometown fans. Many Titans fans booed you, a few offering instructive, but not necessarily family friendly, suggestions as to how you might change your behavior.

My daughter sensed the change immediately – and started asking questions. Won’t he get in trouble for doing that? Is he trying to make people mad? Do you think he knows he looks like a spoiled brat?

I didn’t have great answers for her, and honestly, in an effort to minimize your negative impact and what was otherwise a really fun day, I redirected her attention to the cheerleaders and mascot.

I could tell she was still thinking about it as we boarded a shuttle back to our car. “I guess he doesn’t have kids or a Mom at home watching the game,” she added.

I don’t know about your family life Mr. Newton, but I think I’m safe in saying thousands of kids watch you every week. You have amazing talent and an incredible platform to be a role model for them. Unfortunately, what you modeled for them today was egotism, arrogance and poor sportsmanship.

Is that what your coaches and mentors modeled for you, Mr. Newton?"

I personally don't have much of a problem with what this woman said, besides the fact that she says Newton displayed "poor sportsmanship." The same linebacker who had a problem with Newton had a sack celebration of his own earlier in the game. She forgot to shield her kid's eyes from that, though. Anyways, she has a small point. There comes a point in time where too much may be too much. As far as NFL players celebrating goes, there are two sides, which one you take is up to you. There is one side, the side Cam Newton appears to be on, that this sport they are playing is a GAME. Games are meant to be played and thus, having fun is allowed. The other side of needs to get realized. These players earn millions to play said GAME. With those earnings should come some responsibility and professionalism. With the NFL spotlight never being brighter than it is today, these players need to realize they are role models to young kids in society. Yet, what is so wrong with Newton telling kids to have fun? His dancing should show children who watch him that having fun is the main objective of this sport. Through all the millions, endorsements, championship wins or losses, the main objective is to have fun.

Here is where my problem comes in. 

Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce scored a touchdown and ensued a celebration similar to Newton's in nature. Before we get into what is upsetting, let me first say that I am on the side of having fun. I have zero problem with any player, white, black, hispanic, or asian, celebrating. To me, neither of these celebrations deserved an outcry. However, one did. Guess which one? Here's where the outrage should be targeted. The hypocrisy fans around the NFL show toward celebrations is disgusting and at times laughable. Kelce thrusted the air in a sexual manner. Where were the letters? Kelce ensued in arrogant struts? Where was the outrage then? For many of you, this was the first time you have seen this Kelce celebration. Those reasons are up to you to decide. Here is another example. 

Again, I have zero problem with Palmer on this one. Hell if I threw the laser of a pass he did to extend the lead against the Seahawks, who knows what I would do. My problem lies with the hypocrisy. On this celebration, the NFL promptly fined Palmer $11,576.Do you want to know what fans had to say about this obvious and egotistical celebration? They started a "Thrust Fund". A goddamn "Thrust Fund".  A total of 223 people donated a total of 2,000+ dollars to the Carson Palmer Thrust Fund. The proceeds were given to charity. No outrage, no half-hour segments on sports talk shows across America. Nothing. Palmer admitted to seeing some friends in the stands and he got excited. That is fine! These guys are humans, but the fact that no backlash occurred for either of these events has to get you wondering. 

This past weekend, we all witnessed the violent and flat-out dirty hits laid on various Steeler players by linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Burfict has numerous accounts of dirty play throughout his NFL and Collegiate careers. Whether its twisting ankles, knocking over cameras, or hits to defensless receivers. Burfict did it all. Take it for what its worth, but Burfict's tackles have ended Leveon Bells' season, and have seriously injured Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. Here is the vicious hit on said wideout, Antonio Brown. 

Read mo

The violent hit costed the Bengals 15 yards, and costed Burfict his first three games next year. All these penalties are much deserved. After the game, Burfict was the subject of name-calling throughout the country. Burfict was labelled a thug, and to be honest his actions may have proved that, despite this being his first suspension in the NFL

Now here is a play from yesterdays Divisional Playoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.

 

Amendola, a New England receiver with no real history of violent hits throughout his career, delivered this foul hit on Chiefs' safety Flemming. There will be no thug-labelling for Amendola. Why? Is it because he does not have a history of such dirty plays? Or because of the color of his skin?

The fact is, this is not a football problem. This is not an NFL problem. This is a societal problem. I am not naive and understand that racism will live on for some time now. However, that does not justify this hypocrisy amongst white and balck culture we are seeing from the fans. It starts and ends with us. Again, I have no problem with what players do today. It is all fun and games and any player, no matter of color, should be allowed to express themselves in any manner they choose. When we start to discriminate is where I have to draw the line.