Posted on 05/22/2021 2:17:06 AM PDT by conservative98
Co-host Max Kellerman suggested Tebow should highlight that Colin Kaepernick hasn't had a chance at a comeback
-----------------
ESPN "First Take" host Stephen A. Smith took aim at former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow on Thursday, arguing that "white privilege" was a factor in his NFL comeback at age 33 after years out of the league.
Tebow signed a one-year contract this week with the Jacksonville Jaguars after spending the last several years pursuing a professional baseball career in the New York Mets’ minor league system. During Thursday’s episode of "First Take," Smith said he "had a problem" with the team’s decision to sign Tebow as a tight end – a position he has never played – while other athletes were left seeking their next opportunity.
"I’m happy for him, meaning Tim Tebow specifically, but when you look at the totality of the situation, If I'm gonna bring up white privilege when I brought up Steve Nash getting the job in Brooklyn, is this not an example of white privilege?" Smith said. "What brother you know is getting this opportunity?"
"That makes people uncomfortable because we’re talking about race when I say something like that," he added. "Let me be the first to say – I don’t give a damn how you feel. I mean what I say. It is white privilege because that’s not something that’s happening for any brothers out there."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
What Smith apparently doesn't understand is that Tebow is being given this highly irregular opportunity not because he's white, but because he has tremendous public and marketing appeal outside his football skills. If he's not good enough to make the team at a new position his career will end, but he's being given a chance to make the team because it's a great PR stunt by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jacksonville organization knows that he brings a ton of energy and positive media coverage to the team, and it might just attract the attention of some fans who have refused to watch the NFL in recent years.
Smith is absolutely wrong when he says that no black player would be given the opportunity to do this. I contend that Reggie White would have been given a similar welcome back to the NFL if he had staged a comeback five years after his retirement -- and for the same reasons.
If Stephen Smith wants to make this a racial issue, perhaps he would do well to ask himself why so few black NFL players in recent years have had the kind of broad appeal for their character and personalities that Tim Tebow has.
Everything is about skin color.
Not enough black, owners, GMs, managers, coaches and front office people.
Never a word is said about the number of pro black players, unless the sport is golf.
I have tried to watch some sports talk shows, but they are even worse than cable news outlets.
The first one to mention race is the racist.
Hence some 9 billion rounds of ammo sold to American gun owners per year? :D
Rookie mini camp for the Jags was last week. I'm a long-suffering Jets fan so I don't follow the Jags much, but I don't recall seeing one article about how Lawrence did, as compared to numerous media reports about Tebow, Tebow, Tebow.
The over paid, pampered and self important egomaniacs of the NFL need be reminded football is just a game and they are just entertainers getting paid to play a game for school boys.”
Tebow’s jersey is now the number one selling jersey in the NFL. Smart move Jags.
Funny. I was just on another thread about the Monaco GP being broadcast on ESPN and surmising that politics would be injected into the coverage; lo and behold ...
No, Reggie “WHITE” privilege.
Mass racist plots everywhere you look.
Oreo cookies!
Bananas!
Yet, no one yelled racism the other day when Emmitt Smith hired a black guy to make his birthday cake. Hope Emmitt didn't pay over $15 for it. A 12 year old could be more creative. A plastic Emmitt cut out, some plastic helmets, a plastic star and a plastic "happy birthday" is truly pathetic.
Our 10 year old kid made a cake similar to this. The Uncle Sam was hand crafted, not manufactured plastic junk.
Tebow has three advantages. He works hard. He has a tight relationship with the coach. He has a healthy contagious attitude all the time.
Maybe four. He has a fetching wife. Which doesn’t hurt.
You’ve nailed it. !!!!
Kaepernick went 2-14 in his final year with the 49’ers, correct? Was washed up. Can’t admit that. Can’t take personal responsibility.
But we all know that Kaepernick, as washed up as he thoroughly was, was given opportunities, and plenty of them after being released by the 49’ers.
Tebow hasn’t made the team yet. And, he might not.
Kap wanted a huge salary and a presumptive starter’s role. He has turned down multiple tryout offers.
Ba da bing
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.