ESPN is Racist II
Three days ago with the country in the wraps of war, and the sports world caught in the grips of the games that will decide our nation’s Superbowl contenders, ESPN couldn’t produce enough coverage of Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick and his marijuana charges.
Almost every commentator aired out their heartfelt convictions against Vick, accusing him of being an unfit leader and a classless guy. The Falcons General Manager actually held a press conference expressing his disgust toward Vick. Today Vick was found innocent, with no weed in his system or in the mysterious water bottle he held, and it’s a blurb scrolled across the bottom of ESPN.
Hmmmmmmmm. Accused is a headline. Not guilty is a short mention.
ESPN has continually depicted Black athletes like Vick in a negative light on accusations alone. Chicago Bear defensive lineman Tommie Harris is currently being dragged through the mud before a case has been made. Where as the Duke Lacrosse team received only the deepest sentiments from all ESPN coverage, an unbiased two-sided approach. When a Black player is accused of any incident the immediate coverage is overwhelming, but if cleared of all charges, the question of racism never is raised.
In Vick’s case - disposing of a ‘questionable’ water bottle - why is an airport security officer looking through garbage anyway? If it were Bill Gates would he be looking through garbage as well? ESPN never raises these questions, the commentators never apologize for calling players classless, and the accusation is treated as guilty. We all remember Kobe Bryant.
