Donovan McNabb Can't Think for Himself...?

There's a lot of things that the media does that I have a problem with. One thing in particular though, especially with sports media, is that the press tends to be hypocritical when it comes to honesty. They desire for athletes, coaches and personnel to be more forthcoming with information; but when it's an opinionated matter, they want to tell that person how to think and feel.

This was more obvious to me over this past week with the airing of Donovan F. McNabb's interview for HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," taped before the season. In this interview, to summarize, he stated that Black quarterbacks get criticized more than their Caucasian counterparts. This isn't about whether or not he was wrong. This is about other people telling him that his opinion is invalid, and trying to force an alternative upon him.

It does not matter whether or not you agree with McNabb's assessment. You could believe he's flat out wrong. Where I have a problem is when people look at a situation through a keyhole and believe they have the entire picture. I'll explain...

Ever since being booed at the 1999 NFL Draft, Donovan McNabb has been the subject of criticism, and it's not just been by White people. Aside from Rush Limbaugh's ignorance, he's even been seen as an Uncle Tom for wanting to be a Black "pocket passer," and use his mobility last. Mind you, the person that said that worked at the NAACP; so take that for what it's worth. Never mind the stories of the other Black quarterbacks--Warren Moon, Doug Williams, etc.--that he already knows. He's caught negative flack his entire professional career, with most of it being drenched in racial connotations. So I think he has a little experience in how he should feel about the scrutiny Black quarterbacks face.

My point is not that he was right or wrong. My point is that the media shouldn't ask for candid, truthful remarks; then just dismiss his honest feelings as him just being salty over the Eagles' 0-2 record. Oh, that's right. This was taped before the season started, meaning that if they started 2-0 and he had 9 touchdown passes these comments would still be the same. For some reason, a lot of the media overlooks that small yet undeniably significant fact. I say that to say this, Terry Bradshaw's never had melanin-filled skin, and Jason Campbell and Vince Young have never been booed...yet. So until you've lived in Mr. McNabb's cleats, don't be so quick to tell him how to think. Oh, by the way, he's right....still.



By: Johnathan D. Tillman