Robert Griffin III strives to be the best quarterback in football.
Period.
He does not strive to be the best black quarterback in football.
It’s a perfectly reasonable and normal goal to have.
Just as a sportswriter presumably would want to be known as a respected journalist or writer or columnist — not solely a respected black journalist.
ESPN’s ‘First Take’ program features a daily dose of sports topics debated and discussed exhaustively by hosts. Sometimes, the result is entertaining and other times — well, it’s downright painful.
Thursday, Rob Parker’s comments were downright painful to hear.
On the subject of the Redskins star rookie quarterback ‘not wanting’ to be solely defined by race, Parker said:
“But my question, which is just a straight honest question. Is he a brother, or is he a cornball brother?”
He painfully continues:
“Well, [that] he’s black, he kind of does his thing, but he’s not really down with the cause, he’s not one of us.”
“He’s kind of black, but he’s not really the guy you’d really want to hang out with, because he’s off to do something else.”
Parker wasn’t in the barbershop (as he referenced towards the end of his comments) — he was on national television. His comments weren’t painful because of the subject matter — race should be discussed and mentioned as it relates to sports when appropriate. The comments were painful because they were delivered irresponsibly.
When you talk about race without context — when you just merely mention things like: “We all know [Griffin] has a white fianceé” or he may be “Republican” – – you don’t advance any type of dialogue, you hinder it.
And that’s irresponsible.
Griffin hasn’t denied he’s black. He hasn’t denied his impact on DC’s black Redskins fans. When asked, he’s answered those questions candidly and responsibly.
Washington Post sports blogger Dan Steinberg points to Griffin’s remarks on race from last week:
“But to the fans, and to the fans who think that way and look at me as an African-American [quarterback], 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 to do better and to try to go after their dreams, I’m up for that.”
When commentators like Parker ‘go there’ — talk about race irresponsibly — the impact is not just an unfair slight to RGIII. It leads to more of the same criticisms when media members ‘attempt’ to discuss race. Instead of thoughtful conversation, irresponsible commentary leads to rebuke (as it should) and a score of “Commentator questions RGIII’s blackness” type headlines.
Stiletto Jill of sports blog Jocks and Stiletto Jill is spot on, writing:
“I think Rob was trying to have an open and honest conversation about some perceptions that happen in the black community at times. But this wasn’t the right forum for that…”
What’s lost in all of this is that Griffin has not denied being black.
Newsflash — the ‘who’s black enough, who isn’t black, who’s really black’ conversation is an extremely difficult and uncomfortable one to have. Often times, the results are as foolish as the premise.
It’s a conversation history started and certainly not one you’re going to resolve in one television segment talking about an NFL quarterback.
Griffin wants to be the best quarterback on the planet. Some sportswriters have tried to put him in the black quarterback box, compare him to Cam Newton. (Which led to a push back from him.)
RGIII would prefer you compare him to Aaron Rodgers — not Newton. And what’s wrong with that?
Does that make him a cornball?
In October, Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon rightfully commented that the criticism of Cam Newton was based on nothing more than stereotypes of African-Americans who play quarterback. Why else would Newton, in a matter of six games, be compared to Vince Young?
Some Twitter users feel ‘irresponsible’
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Parker conceded near the conclusion of the segment.
Nor did Griffin mean he was denouncing any black quarterbacks that have come before him. It was quite the opposite.
Parker spent much of Thursday defending his remarks on Twitter:
“@nomorevinny: I'm curious how @RobParkerESPN thinks RG3 should act to "be more black".” Bet u didn't even see show. Typical and uneducated
— Rob Parker (@RobParkerFS1) December 13, 2012
Parker also made a point to retweet some of his followers, which he probably felt would give his original comments credibility:
https://twitter.com/A_Mr_Carter/status/279271507207811072
In a media landscape sometimes more concerned on ‘proving’ who is or who isn’t racist, responsible discussion is at a minimum. I’m sure many Redskins fans would prefer it’s never brought up as it relates to Griffin.
And when people like Parker are irresponsible — and don’t understand the gravity of being on national television (not at the barbershop) — the barriers to discussing race and sports together will just keep getting taller.
*Update*
Thursday night, ESPN released a statement:
“The comments were inappropriate and we are evaluating our next steps.”
Also Thursday, Robert Griffin III’s dad (Robert Griffin II) told USA TODAY’s Jim Corbett:
“He needs to define what ‘one of us’ is. The 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.”
Follow theGrio’s Todd Johnson on Twitter @rantoddj