Posted on 12/14/2005 3:00:38 PM PST by NittanyLion
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has expressed surprise and disappointment after hearing of racially charged criticism made by Philadelphia NAACP president J. Whyatt Mondesire in a Nov. 27 column in the Philadelphia Sun.
[snip]
"Especially being the same color I am," McNabb told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Obviously if it's someone else who is not African-American, it's racism. But when someone of the same race talks about you because you're selling out because you're not running the ball, it goes back to: What are we really talking about here?
[snip]
"I always thought the NAACP supported African-Americans and didn't talk bad about them. Now you learn a little bit more."
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
When exactly did he insult McNabb?
Let's not get carried away here. The truth of the matter is that McNabb is Philly's golden child and the front office has sacrficed every other offensive player in order to pay and placate McNabb.
Lots of QBs have average at best wide receivers. Look at Michael Vick - the best receiver he has is the tight end.
You are right that the Eagles front office treats every other player like they are replaceable, but I don't see McNabb standing up for them either.
That is another sign that the players didn't dislike Owens like we were led to believe. Attending Owens' birthday party was a slap in the face to McNabb and 19 Eagles player did it.
I guarantee that you wouldn't see 19 players from the Patriots or Colts show up at a receivers party that was thrown off the team for battling Brady or Manning. In those cases, the players would tell the banished receiver that they are still his friend but that showing up at his party would not be appropriate during the season.
Anyone have any idea about who McNabb is referring to when he said "more things are found out them that the don't want people to know"? Maybe Rush with his painkiller addiction? If so, real classy move there Donovan.
And why would a classy guy be laughing about people losing their jobs?
So far I count three guys that lost their jobs: Limbaugh, Freddie Mitchell and Owens. Anyone else?
That is not at all what happened in this editorial. The writer is saying that McNabb is using his race to cover up his ineptitude. The NAACP guy is at least right when he points out that McNabb does wrap him self up in a blanket of race. Whether McNabb is good or not is up for debate.
The NCAAP doesn't have a stellar record on accusations of racism, but would we rather they be right on occasion or consistently wrong?
I will say that McNabb has a 100% record of being on the wrong side in any conservation on race. How exactly can McNabb reason anything that Limbaugh or Mondesire said about him as racist? Either McNabb is an idiot or he knows how to play the victim. My bet is on the latter.
Yeah, that's in no way a slight against McNabb. Limbaugh's comment was on the media overhyping McNabb, who at the time was very mediocre in terms of overall stats and ranking. Limbaugh said he thinks McNabb is a good quarterback, it's just that the media was making him out to be a legend that he isn't.
Even people on FR took his comments the wrong way? Wow.
I'd be interested to hear your idea, because I don't have the slightest clue...
McNabb is a very good quarterback who just had the misfortune to 1) get in the crossfire of passionate Eagles fans and 2) be in the middle of racial tension for all the wrong reasons.
Most QBs drafted in the first round find themselves in the crosshairs of passionate fans - that is nothing new or out of the ordinary.
As far as being in the middle of racial tensions, McNabb very much contributed to the hightening of those tensions. Rather than actually reading and understanding the comments made by Limbaugh and Mondesire, McNabb reacted in both situations by accusing the person of ignorance and racism. McNabb has had ever opportunity to say, "I took the time to read the comments and while I may not agree with Limbaugh/Mondesire, I am not going to accuse them of racism just to play a victim." Instead, McNabb continually says that he is "hurt" by the comments.
Just spitballing on why McNabb and not Culpepper or Vick, but I think it might go all the way back to the day he was drafted. The Philly fans were livid that the Eagles took him over Ricky Williams. Voila, instant victim for the PC media to feel sorry for.
I think he is a decent QB, but Vick is a better athlete(though I'm not convinced he'll ever be more than a RB who happens to throw the ball), and Culpepper is probably the better pure passer, but neither one plays in one of the largest media markets and gets to make soup commercials with his mom.
Sorry, but this guy is pretty spot on. McNabb has ability but his nerves our shot. I have heard from people who know that he was a total mental mess the night before the Super Bowl. He choked in the big game and lost the respect of T.O., who despite being a egotistical bastard, showed up to play with an injury. That led to TO's antics this season.
McNabb literally does not have the stomach to be Elway/Montana/Marino type QB (Witness him puking his guts out when he could have been winning the Super Bowl). He is an inner-directed personality who lets the pressure get to him both on and off the field. He's not clutch--and that's what separates the great from the good.
I have heard this mentioned, but lots of first round draft picks have been met with hostility from fans - especially QBs.
Also, Atlanta is the 9th largest media market in the country with the differences beween 5 through 10 pretty insignificant. Philadelphia is #4, but is much smaller than NY, Chicago and LA.
I think it all goes back to the Limbaugh comments. Before those comments, lots of black QBs had their accomplishments inflated somewhat, but McNabb became a very special case when someone like Limbaugh opined on the matter in front of a national sports audience.
Culpepper and McNair keep a pretty low profile and don't seem to have the "everyone who criticizes me is a racist" type demeanor that McNabb does.
Vick is somewhat of a lightning rod but more because he is somewhat redefining the position. His passing rating is actually pretty poor, but he wins games. Time will tell if he is just a glorified Kordell Stewart or something more.
That being said, I think what sets McNabb apart is that he has the image and demeanor more of an Howard University educated civil rights worker than an athlete. Right or wrong, most people just perceive Vick, Culpepper, McNair and the rest of the QBs that happen to be black as just athletes or jocks.
McNabb, however, projects a different image. Maybe that is why McNabb's accomplishments are trumpeted, while those of Doug Williams who actually won the Superbowl and Steve McNair who came within 6 inches are practically ignored.
Where does this guy address McNabb's nerves or mental state when playing? You are trying to make a point that this guy didn't. What specifically did this guy say that he is "spot on"?
Obviously, you fellows have missed the point entirely. As a 'Colored Man,' McNabb SHOULD run the ball himself every third play or so, because as a 'Colored Man,' himself and presumably a sensitive member of the NAACP, he should be impervious to age and the wear and tear of 20 years of football in school and the NFL. Obviously, 'Colored Men' are physically superior.
Obviously, by handing the ball off to other 'Colored Men,' or even worse, by cavalierly flipping it to them, he is aping the behaviour of those nasty white slaveowners of yore, who gave the dirty jobs to "Colored Men."
Obviously, Rush Limbaugh is not allowed to criticize a 'Colored Man,' because he is a disgusting white bigot, and probably a Republican. Obviously, as a 'Colored Man,' Mondesire is entirely free of bigotry and race-consciousness.
Either McNabb is an idiot or he knows how to play the victim. My bet is on the latter.
Obviously, a safe bet, or, as they used to say in Philly when I worked there, "Yo, you're covered." But as an Eagles fan, let me tell you this, McNabb ain't much, but he's doing OK, and he's all we got. If he starts running the ball again and gets hurt, he will prove he's an idiot and I personally will break both his kneecaps, proving he is a victim.
Yo, in South Philly, that's a win-win situation.
****************
I'm disillusioned and disappointed in McNabb. He's not the man I thought he was.
First off, Jerry Mondesire has been a race hustler for decades in Philadelphia. Second, McNabb has class and it bothers the heck out of certain elements of the "black community" that McNabb doesn't speak in ebonics, wear his cap sideways, and have lots of visible prison tattoos. See, that makes Donovan a "sellout". I am perfectly fine with McNabb and his comments.
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